E-410/e510
- Thread starter howeikwok
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So far only with kit lens for $1150. If you want body-alone, get the kit and sell off the 14-42. I start bid at $80
microcosm
Senior Member
Sigma is the only FourThirds consortium lens maker... Oly dun give them lenses to make Stigma may just drop their support for FT, especially the initial struggle to test market and maintain a small range of FT mount Stigma lenses... if I were Stigma and I see the initial demand for FT mounts I oso sian 50% liao.
Stigma may have been under non disclosure agreement to STFU from Oly... you know, maybe due to the general perception that Stigma stuff are 'B-grade'... but like I said before, if Oly is willing to pay the dollars, Stigma or any lens manufacturer is certainly able to churn out A-grade Zuikos. That translates to 'top dollars' for end users to pay too
While of course, it is safe to assume that this is the case, please look at the following facts :
- Olympus is not only a lens maker, but a critical optics manufacturer. They also innovated many photographic technologies used today by Nikon, Canon and other camera manufacturers.
- There is no such thing as STFU kind of non disclosure agreement. You should see the size of Olympus factory versus Sigma's. And the molding equipment Olympus use for their elements manufacturing process. Mind blowing...
- If Olympus has already indeed outsourced their lens manufacturing to Sigma, it would have been all the kit lenses, and never in the boss' lifetime the High Grade and Super High Grade (Sigma manufacturing skills is far far far away). The equipment needed to yield that kind of elements is unmatched by any other Japanese company (hence the price of the 7-14mm lens). But the kit lenses themselves are made by Olympus China factory...
- And more importantly, what would that do to Olympus' reputation? They might be a smaller player in the photographic market, but in medical and critical optics business, Olympus is far ahead of the Japanese rivals. (If the word "rival" can be used). There is a reason why Olympus is also known as the Japanese Leica. The top three optic company in the world is Leica, Carl Zeiss and Olympus. Sigma, Tamron and Tokina are considered C-grade citizens in the world of optics.
When you look at charts, please ensure you see the reference each of these lens makers uses. How many lines are their charts representing. That is clever marketing. For the fact that Olympus did not insist that in the catalog, Sigma follows their charts is a lot of grace and leeway to Sigma.
Not to put Sigma down, they are starting to produce better elements, just that to compare Sigma to thoroughbreds like the Big 3, is a tall order.
Just wait a little longer.. I am not sure how long.
There would be a body option then.. :bsmilie:
microcosm
Senior Member
Some sellers in the US are already giving this option...
Reseller 1
Reseller 2
Reseller 3
Therefore it should be available as body on option in Singapore soon enough...
An NDA is an NDA and such 'gags' are quite commonly applied in OEM/ODM manufacturing for one reason or another. Manufacturers have been known to lose contracts because of leaks.
I've not physically visited Oly's ZD lens factory or Sigma's so I cannot comment what they make in those production lines, but it is hard to deny Sigma manufacture and sell more SLR lenses than Olympus in the last 5 years and they certainly are able to spare some capacity to make ZD lenses, according to Oly's specs of course.
Well for a start, nobody's saying the entire ZD line has been outsourced to Sigma. We're not privy to that kind of info as to who makes what and where, we can only speculate. We don't know if Sigma makes or is involved in manufacturing those pricey F2.0 lenses for Oly or not. But I have stated before, if Oly is willing to pay the A-dollars, they can get A-lenses whether its from Sigma or Cosina or Tokina.
With the efficiency of contract/OEM manufacturing, many companies are finding it more feasible to just do the R&D and design and outsource production to contract/OEM/ODMs. Oly may not even need to maintain a manufacturing line. If its cheaper to outsource and still get the quality, why not? Its all a matter of profitability and enhancing shareholder value these days.
If the ZD 8mm is indeed made by Sigma according to Oly's spec and the uncany semblance in design between the Sigma and the ZD and close release dates, the ZD's performance is good isn't it?
MichaelLee
Senior Member
not sure what the Olympus marketing strategy. In Japan u can buy e410 body alone..around SGD950+.
Maybe Oly SG is handicapped by being supplied with 410s with kit lenses only.
What I do know is that Oly didn't have THAT many 410s to supply worldwide in the various kit configurations... SG admittedly is a small market.
To add to that Sigma-manufactures-for-Oly-thingy:
Sigma manufactures third-party lenses for almost all(?) makes.
Oly lenses probably makes up a very small portion of their total lens production capacity; i.e. Oly is really not keeping Sigma afloat, the Canikons do.
It is more plausible that Oly is in closer cooperation with Panasonic (a much, much, much larger entity than both Oly and Sigma combined... twice over!) than Sigma where lens development and production is concerned.
Sigma manufactures third-party lenses for almost all(?) makes.
Oly lenses probably makes up a very small portion of their total lens production capacity; i.e. Oly is really not keeping Sigma afloat, the Canikons do.
It is more plausible that Oly is in closer cooperation with Panasonic (a much, much, much larger entity than both Oly and Sigma combined... twice over!) than Sigma where lens development and production is concerned.
cuttingedge
Member
Thanks microcosm, went down to Cathay and had a chat with the people there, got me an FL50 (so I don't have to upgrade again in future once I hit the limitations of the FL36), an RM-1, and a Sandisk Extreme IV 2GB card.
Now just waiting for the E-510 to hit our stores.
Thanks microcosm, went down to Cathay and had a chat with the people there, got me an FL50 (so I don't have to upgrade again in future once I hit the limitations of the FL36), an RM-1, and a Sandisk Extreme IV 2GB card.
Now just waiting for the E-510 to hit our stores.
Solid. I like your commitment; bought the accessories before the DSLR. :thumbsup:
microcosm
Senior Member
Thanks microcosm, went down to Cathay and had a chat with the people there, got me an FL50 (so I don't have to upgrade again in future once I hit the limitations of the FL36), an RM-1, and a Sandisk Extreme IV 2GB card.
Now just waiting for the E-510 to hit our stores.
If you want to play with some of the HG lenses before buying them, let me know and we can go out for a test shoot together.
Just picked up a catalogue from Audio House and they are selling the Olympus E-410.
Comes with 14-42 lens
1GB + 2GB card + cleaning kit thrown in...
Retails at RCP $1299
and here is the best part..
They put in the catalogue "Price before 50% OFF*" With that '*' there.. I can't seem to find any T&C for that..but with 50% off.. it is a steal..
Comes with 14-42 lens
1GB + 2GB card + cleaning kit thrown in...
Retails at RCP $1299
and here is the best part..
They put in the catalogue "Price before 50% OFF*" With that '*' there.. I can't seem to find any T&C for that..but with 50% off.. it is a steal..
microcosm
Senior Member
What the... 50% off what??
I think they have some sort of promo if you guess the last number of the toto *not sure on this* they will give you a 50% off discount from your purchase, just saw this on the forum.
microcosm
Senior Member
Really? I take number 5 and number 34. Ha ha ha... tio liao can claim ok?
Hi, first post in 4/3
Anyway, just like to say, I got the catalogue too, and this is what i found on the front cover:
1D Sale
*Simply guess the first number of the 1st prize for 4D draw (Wednesday) and stand to win 50% refund via Audio House vouchers!
Hope that clears things up a little
Hi, first post in 4/3
Anyway, just like to say, I got the catalogue too, and this is what i found on the front cover:
1D Sale
*Simply guess the first number of the 1st prize for 4D draw (Wednesday) and stand to win 50% refund via Audio House vouchers!
Hope that clears things up a little
Ceh, meaning, pay full price first...
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