I doubt Olympus will have E-5 as the only body in the catalog for 4/3. As per video posted, he did mention that there will still be a middle-range dSLR in the 4/3 catalog. So, I infer that probably only the E-3digits will be phased out, the E-2digits will remain.
Personally, I am a user of the E-520 and that's my only body. It does make sense if I move to the E-620, i would gain a new sensor with higher MP count, swivel screen, new image processor, better AF (more points and x-type) and access to higher ISO speeds. But for current E-620 owners, I don't see why the lack of a replacement for the E-620 body would faze you so much, maybe cause I'm using a
older body? E-620 has the newly adopted 12.1MP sensor as all the current bodies now, and that may eventually be the
sensor standard for many years to come, if they remain firm that 12MP is sufficient. Any updates w.r.t to the E-620 body would likely only involve the image processor, perhaps AA filter.
And I think the E-620 has a better AF-sys than the E-520 and I know the frustration when it just hunts and hunts and hunts. But I doubt AF speeds of E-3digits will improve to E-5/E-30 levels in the next few years (if they continue 4/3 entry levels) and if it really does match the E-3/E-5 focusing speeds, aren't they killing the E-5 and the E-30? If faster AF is a concern for you then perhaps (in all seriousness) another camera from another manufacturer or moving up to the E-30 would be a wiser decision like what albertri has done. You've gotta evaluate what you need and what you have. We shoot with entry level Olympus and honestly, AF is rubbish in lowlight.
If we look at the problem from another angle. Which body do you think is long due for replacement? The E-620 (12.1MP, Truepic III+) launched last year or the E-3 (10.1MP, Truepic III) launched 3 years ago? Imho, it would be the professionals using the E-3 who would be
utterly shocked if they announced a E-620 replacement instead of the E-5 this Photokina.
If a company is to showcase new technology, it would definitely be showcased in a flagship/concept model not? And besides, technology comes with development, and development
takes time, it will take a while before m4/3 can match up with the current 4/3 catalog. Are we too short-sighted to not see what the future could bring? I'm sure Olympus knows that it's banking on it's lenses, dropping their already matured 4/3 lenses would be an extremely difficult corporate decision and if they really do drop it in the future, they would probably have a very good reason for it, why kill the goose when it still lays its golden eggs? Until Olympus Mirrorless technology has reached the level at which the current 4/3 bodies are at now, I don't see why they would kill enthusiast models like the E-30, and the spokesman (Toshi Terada) has already backed that up. In fact, I suspect a E-30 replacement is coming, but that's just my own suspicion. Like I mentioned in my earlier post, this pseudo "despair" will eventually fade away once technology improves.
I believe we're a pampered bunch, the entry level users. Olympus has loaded quite a lot of functions into entry level bodies that the few ways to differentiate between the 4/3 product lines are AF-performance, viewfinder size and maybe some other minor things that I'm too lazy to think off the top of my head now.
It is still too early to make statements w.r.t 4/3 future when everything currently is based on floating rumours found off the net. Let's wait to see what technology brings for Olympus instead.
For arctos, perhaps AF assist from a FL-36 may help in focusing, not to mention that flash would help to freeze motion of your moving nephew, so you wouldn't get blur hands and feet. I have a FL-50R and the AF assist is very useful. AF locks alot faster than without assist, even in
near complete darkness. Besides, I don't think getting a camera for its swivel screen is frivolous, to me that's a pretty major design update.
For albertri, I don't think the Nissin flash you got has AF assist. So, if you're still holding on, try getting an Olympus flash.