Olympus Digital Pen? - What's old is new again

[lomofool]

Olympus has been running a series of Olympus Pen anniversary videos and rumour has it that it will eventually lead to the release of the new olympus m4/3. It seems that the new m4/3 body will have some original pen styling details and I hope that they would keep it compact as I am a big fan of the original Pen Fs. Some details can be found here.

I can't wait to see how it compares to the G1 and this is one time that I am contemplating getting a digital body. What does everyone else think?

Cheers,
Des

 

[The Dry Box]

I think it will satisfy the small form factor, large sensor demands ala dp1/2.
But I do not think it'll attact the majority of compact consumers, who do not sees the difference in sensor size in the first place. But it'll certainly attracts a lot of enthusiats!

Small form, slient shutter, large dof coverage and unobstructive exterior will makes it very attractive to photojournalism and documentary photography. It'll never replace my grd as a compact camera though, since the bulk is still going to be there with the lens attached.

I'm buying it if there's a decent 14mm and fast 25mm prime for it.

 

[mdzmr]

Its already officially announce.
Here: http://www.dpreview.com/news/0906/09061601olympusep1.asp
Very sexy cam.

 

[limonello]

It's hot! (Or cool?)

Only questions that bug me: Will the AF be as fast and how easy will be to manual focus with that rear LCD? If it's as good as a Panny G1, this baby is going to fly off the shelves!

 

[Fotophilic]

i can't wait to get my hands on it.... :devil:

 

[chiif]

Judging from the intro... this guy is going to be a hot seller...

Quote from the first page....

for years now we've been imploring every manufacturer who would listen to us to build a non-reflex interchangeable lens camera around a large sensor, and the E-P1's styling (and all metal construction) harks back to the glory days of the mechanical camera in the 60's and 70's, when men were men and cameras were built like swiss watches.... Perfect it ain't, but when we first saw the E-P1 we couldn't have been happier, and we just wanted to run off with it and start taking pictures.

What a well written intro...

 

[adamadam]

Is it a vertical half frame?

 

[limonello]

Chiif, any ETA on the CV Zoom Finder?

This will be a natural companion to the EP-1 with a M- or other lens-mount adaptor.

 

[Belle&Sebastain]

crap, white or silver?;p

 

[chiif]

Chiif, any ETA on the CV Zoom Finder?

This will be a natural companion to the EP-1 with a M- or other lens-mount adaptor.

Nope. Not in yet.

Actually for half frame (x2 crop), the zoom finder doesn't seem to help.

 

[limonello]

Nope. Not in yet.

Actually for half frame (x2 crop), the zoom finder doesn't seem to help.

Dang! You're right. What's needed is a 24/30mm-70/100mm zoom finder instead with markings at 24/28/30/34/56/70/80 !

 

[Yatlapball]

do u think it will exhibit the same smearing as in the G1? Hmmm.

 

[drakon09]

do u think it will exhibit the same smearing as in the G1? Hmmm.

I don't think so Jom.

Oly's approach to image processing is always easy on the noise reduction. All the image samples so far seem to hold true to that.

I'll try to post a sample up if I can get my hands on a production model.

 

[osocan]

Being an e-300 user myself, I am not sure that this is true. Having said that, the smearing never really bothered me. Not a pixel peeper myself. In any case, initial photos from the E-P1 do seem to have minimal NR.

As this thread appears in the RF sub-forum, I think most of us here are interested in the digital pen's capability from an RF user perspective. The slow AF speed, if confirmed to be true, coupled with the lack of a snap focus or scale focus capability could be a deal breaker for me.

 

[The Dry Box]

it also doesn't have focal point markings on any of the kit lens. I think I'm going to find my 6 feet and make my own marking on the focus ring. =P

Oh yes, I am getting it.

 

[osocan]

I have never thought about that In that case, I'll be following the release closely

 

[chiif]

As this thread appears in the RF sub-forum, I think most of us here are interested in the digital pen's capability from an RF user perspective. The slow AF speed, if confirmed to be true, coupled with the lack of a snap focus or scale focus capability could be a deal breaker for me.

Reading the dpreview made me have an impulse to go out and grab this little beast immediately. Although I don't need another digital camera, this little thing is just so cute... I guess the designers got it right this time.

As for the AF speed, if the intent is to take snap pictures, just turn the AF off and set manual focus and infinity focus, at f5.6 or f8, almost everything will be sharp on 14mm(28mm 2x crop) at 3m and beyond. If you really want snap, just get the LTM version of CV 15mm/f4.5 and you have a good digital RF at 2x crop.

I do like the idea that the lens retract all the way when on wide. But it does seem a little "vulgar" when at zoom. :bsmilie:

The 5min 720p HD is very sweet... make this guy a sure winner who want a compact camera for holidays. I think if they make the HD feature with no time limited, it will be a GH1 killer. Just imagine, you can produce a short movie just with the new 50 nokton! Can you swallow that amount of bokeh? :bsmilie:

I think the dpreview guys really really like this little camera. The whole review is more advertorial than a review. Amazing flowery sweet words used.

Can start buying Olympus shares now... :bsmilie:

 

[osocan]

Chiif

My pocket feels very wet now...it's the tears from my wallet...

btw...any prize for guessing correctly the first person to post bokeh pictures from the new 50 Nokton?

 

[chiif]

Chiif

My pocket feels very wet now...it's the tears from my wallet...

btw...any prize for guessing correctly the first person to post bokeh pictures from the new 50 Nokton?

Lens not in yet! But looking at the schedule, it should be (1) Earliest next Wednesday (2) Latest next Friday

But that really depends on whether on Japan side whether they ship by today or tomorrow or next Monday.... :think:

I am as eager as anyone... :sweat:

 

[drakon09]

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=516041


The main E-P1 discussion is in the above thread folks.