[ Lamentation ] - E5 Shortage?


The demise of 4/3 DSLR format is quite sad... I used to be one of the advocates for 4/3 format in this forum due to the quality of the Zuiko glass and Kodak CCD. In spite of the less than stellar high ISO image quality, I could make the kind of images I wanted with the E-1 and E-500, love the colours and tonality. However, once the format started using CMOS (marketed as NMOS) sensors, I find that the images lost its 'soul', the colour shifted away from what I liked in the older bodies. That was tolerated as one can still shoot in RAW and do post-processing.

IMO, the format lost its way with the release of the E-3, whereby you basically have a relatively small sensor in a large body that is as large and heavy as fullframe cameras such as the 5D and D700. To me, that doesn't make sense at all, the format is not playing to its strengths of being smaller and lighter but with equivalent performance. Once consumer compact bodies such as the E-620 are discontinued, I no longer see any future in the format and like microcosm above, I am now using a Nikon D700, which ironically, in terms of ergonomics and the colour/tonality of the images, is rather similar to the E-1 but you get the much better high ISO performance and resolution.

m4/3 is a good thing to have happened, perhaps a 'natural evolution', hopefully Olympus and Panasonic don't screw it up like what they did to 4/3, hope they release a m4/3 body in RF format but with integrated VF soon.

Tao, since you have the D700, i'm curious what are the lens you are using now. I tried the D7000 (i know it can't compare to the D700) for a day with the 18-200mm... didn't like the way the camera buttons were built and of course i think the Z12-60 would beat the hell out of the 18-200 lens in all aspects of sharpness and colours.

But if ever in the future... maybe a D900 in the distant future should the 4/3 really crash... what would be the lens to replicate the 7-14, 12-60 and 50-200 on the Z system in terms of sharpness and IQ?

Thanks!!
 

Tao, since you have the D700, i'm curious what are the lens you are using now. I tried the D7000 (i know it can't compare to the D700) for a day with the 18-200mm... didn't like the way the camera buttons were built and of course i think the Z12-60 would beat the hell out of the 18-200 lens in all aspects of sharpness and colours.

But if ever in the future... maybe a D900 in the distant future should the 4/3 really crash... what would be the lens to replicate the 7-14, 12-60 and 50-200 on the Z system in terms of sharpness and IQ?

Thanks!!

It is getting OT, let's talk about this in the Nikon forum or thru' PMs but I have to say I can't adapt to the layout of Nikon's consumer cameras such as the D7000 too. Anything that is D200 onwards is fantastic ergonomically. :)

At this point of time I am shooting with prime lenses with both D700 and EP1 only, which has always been my preference since film days.

Once again, that is something very lacking in 4/3 lens range and am glad that m4/3 is getting very right.
 

It is getting OT, let's talk about this in the Nikon forum or thru' PMs but I have to say I can't adapt to the layout of Nikon's consumer cameras such as the D7000 too. Anything that is D200 onwards is fantastic ergonomically. :)

At this point of time I am shooting with prime lenses with both D700 and EP1 only, which has always been my preference since film days.

Once again, that is something very lacking in 4/3 lens range and am glad that m4/3 is getting very right.

Indeed it is, but as suggest, I suggest you talk about it through PM, you can talk whatever you want hahahah

Really? I never really liked the Nikon ergonomically, but its probably just my hands hahaha, the only thing I like is its a lot of dials and switches, but the part I hate is the grip part, not big and deep enough, not even on the flagship, though the D300 with grip felt ok, but nothing compared to any of the flagship Olympus cameras sadly.

What is the lacking? May I know?
 

Well, I just bought my E-5 today and I bought it at a US$200 discount. I think they were ready to get them out of there. They had practically every micro Four-Thirds product available in the case, but the E-5 and the E-420 were the only Four-Thirds bodies.

I'm so shocked--the auto focus works, even in a dim room with the 14-54mm! It's only been more than 7 years since I bought the E-1 and they finally have something I can use, even though I won't likely use the auto focus anyway.
 

Well, I just bought my E-5 today and I bought it at a US$200 discount. I think they were ready to get them out of there. They had practically every micro Four-Thirds product available in the case, but the E-5 and the E-420 were the only Four-Thirds bodies.

I'm so shocked--the auto focus works, even in a dim room with the 14-54mm! It's only been more than 7 years since I bought the E-1 and they finally have something I can use, even though I won't likely use the auto focus anyway.

:bsmilie::bsmilie::bsmilie:
 

I know it seems funny, but I really have no use for auto focus. It was interesting to see that it actually worked where the E-1 would not.

I'm noticing that the camera body is bigger but not what I'd call big. I handled a lot of Nikon bodies in the 1970s and those were huge. The lack of the mode dial is just strange. Nothing is intuitive but I'm sure that, once I get everything set, I won't have a problem.

The shortage I've noticed is not the E-5, but every lens and accessory for the E-series. For a while, I saw many refurbished lenses and any lens seems difficult to find now. The twin flash and ring flash seem to be gone but the adapter ring is still available strangely.
 

I know it seems funny, but I really have no use for auto focus. It was interesting to see that it actually worked where the E-1 would not.

I'm noticing that the camera body is bigger but not what I'd call big. I handled a lot of Nikon bodies in the 1970s and those were huge. The lack of the mode dial is just strange. Nothing is intuitive but I'm sure that, once I get everything set, I won't have a problem.

The shortage I've noticed is not the E-5, but every lens and accessory for the E-series. For a while, I saw many refurbished lenses and any lens seems difficult to find now. The twin flash and ring flash seem to be gone but the adapter ring is still available strangely.

I know that particular habit of yours, no worries. You'll get used to it, I miss the E-1's mode dial when using the E-3, but I got used to pressing buttons without looking eitherway
 

I know that particular habit of yours, no worries. You'll get used to it, I miss the E-1's mode dial when using the E-3, but I got used to pressing buttons without looking eitherway

I suppose everything will fall to hand shortly, though it's not the season for me to shoot, as it's been below freezing at night.

Getting my hands on a Panasonic DMC-GH1 with the m.Zuiko 12mm and the Panasonic 8mm fisheye at the store, I think the future won't hurt too bad, as they refine things. The 12mm reminded me of older, German mechanisms. The GH1 EVF did not impress me but it wasn't horrible. If the E-5 goes and we have to depend on Panasonic for compatible bodies with grips, I think the GH* series will be more than capable.

Remembering something mentioned last year when the E-5 was introduced, I expected a follow-up to the E-5, whether it was a major enhancement or a replacement, but nothing has materialized and the year is almost finished.
 

I suppose everything will fall to hand shortly, though it's not the season for me to shoot, as it's been below freezing at night.

Getting my hands on a Panasonic DMC-GH1 with the m.Zuiko 12mm and the Panasonic 8mm fisheye at the store, I think the future won't hurt too bad, as they refine things. The 12mm reminded me of older, German mechanisms. The GH1 EVF did not impress me but it wasn't horrible. If the E-5 goes and we have to depend on Panasonic for compatible bodies with grips, I think the GH* series will be more than capable.

Remembering something mentioned last year when the E-5 was introduced, I expected a follow-up to the E-5, whether it was a major enhancement or a replacement, but nothing has materialized and the year is almost finished.

I guess Olympus have other things to worry about, rather than an E-5 replacement.

If I'm forced to replace my camera now, I will go for either the GH2 or E-P3. Otherwise, I am happy to wait until an obvious choice appears.
 

I guess Olympus have other things to worry about, rather than an E-5 replacement.

If I'm forced to replace my camera now, I will go for either the GH2 or E-P3. Otherwise, I am happy to wait until an obvious choice appears.

I think your choice depends on the focal length and weight of any lens you might use. The GH2 seems the practical choice and the E-P3 seems the emotional, warm-and-fuzzy choice. If Olympus could use the GH2's sensor and wring every bit of goodness out of it, as they have with the sensor in the E-5, I think they'd have a winner.
 

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