The following discussion threads are started by reputable and reasonable forum participant over at DPR. They are also current user of Olympus and 4/3 equipment. Their thoughts, views and opinions are honest and revealing.
E-5 and the truth about Olympus
Your predictions vs Olympus statements
The threads were a good read. And the statement about us photographers not being able to see any stark improvements and tech jump until the next sensor breakthrough is very true.
I look at what we have versus what is coming, and honestly, as a photographer, I would not need to upgrade to the new E5 unless my dust filled E3 conks out.
BUT, digital photography has delivered in the decade when "film suppose to die off slowly" is better than film ISO performance. Though there are those who will claim film is still better, but without film labs support, it is still a pain to shoot film these days. But digital has given us better ISO performance (I cannot remember shooting bast ISO400 on film that often, though there were rare cases where I did shoot on very high ISO and super grainy Black and White film). The ability to print a high resolution 8 x 10 print with almost no graininess and sharpness that only high end SLR could produce. The currently available E-System cameras and lenses has already satisfied me.
With the E5, I am disappointed that Olympus chose to use the bloody E3 chassis. That really put me off because the E3 is really inferior in ergonomics as compared to the earlier E1, and even E10/E20. I still don't understand why they did not choose to go back to that superior ergonomic handling of the past, but I believe "market acceptance" is a key factor here. E-1 was simply too weird looking for the masses, until they hold one. But that said, it has been done.
** I hate the E3 because of the prism/focusing glass design. Under really harsh environments, it does not keep dust out as well as the E1.
Truth is, I have faith that the E5 will have improvements over the E3. The engine update/upgrade itself is already something to look forward to. (I remember being blown away by the E-P1 images for the "new color" though I did not really like the E-PL1 because the colors produced by the latter was not "Olympus-ish".) And having video functionality would be nice for events that a "sweeping capture" of a scene can help me remember the place better.
But what scares me is how the E5 was put together "roughly". Instead of designing a camera with faster processing with great power management, they chose the easier way of slapping on fast processors and then introducing (most likely expensive) new high capacity batteries. We know Olympus factory batts are more than S$100 per piece, so one can only imagine the price of the new high cap batt. I don't like that. I am still very concerned about (1) Overheating with the new fast processors. (2) Battery drain speed when used with the older BLM-1.
While it is touted as "better imaging" with "video capabilities" and " world's first you-wanted-it high res swivel screen", I am still concerned about the chassis design and the electronics behind it. Being Olympus flagship, it HAS to be tough. Very tough. The E1 was a tank, and went everywhere I went. Under harsh weather conditions and what's not. Canon and Nikon has upped their "toughness meter" and this made me expect more from Olympus. But I might be disappointed again, because the E3 was a great disappointment. The prism/focusing screen dust issue was never resolved. Dust accumulated as quickly as 3 months after it was serviced. I didn't even bother to bring it back this time.
And to my horror to see the same form factor in the new E5. That is where I lost it.
So yes, I am looking forward to the new camera for its imaging abilities. But for the hardware design... it is rubbish. They went backwards in camera design. They did so well with E1... but was that camera so hard to update its design? Maybe it is. One will find it hard to update "perfection". No wonder the E1 has its cult status.
I can only wait and see.
