Sorry olympus but you lost a loyal customer.

I've used olympus cameras from my first "serious" 35mm camera, an OM-1 back in the 70's. Later bought an Om-2n and an OM-4. Bought a dozen prime lenses for that system along with a bunch of macro stuff. I stuck with their manual focus system all the way into the digital age mainly because of the excellent optics.

I then bought an E1 with the 14-54, the 50-200 + an 11-22 as my first digital stuff. Later got an E300 and a 50mm macro and finally bought a E410 + pancake to carry around. I accepted I needed to buy new lenses and lost the investment in my OM glass. Until these latest m4/3, the sensor upgrades they have done seemed more sideways than moving forward, esp on higher ISO noise. I was waiting for what they accomplished with this OMD sensor.

I realized the earlier E camera had noise issues at higher ISO settings but believed in later years this sensor size disadvantage would become a moot point, which it has.  What I didn't expect was for Olympus to dump making cameras that work with these lenses before that happened.

So now I have to buy a new mirrorless body I don't like + all new glass to get this better IQ I -could- get if they simply had put these same electronics into a Exx or EXXX dSLR body.  Or I can buy their "pro" model with 4 year old sensor technology instead? Do they expect their customers to accept this or are they simply focused on trying to market to "new customers"?

Well whatever their reasoning, they have lost me as a customer. I just bought a Nikon D5100 and started in a new system. I would have loved if olympus had released a real DSLR with this great sensor technology they put in their m4/3 and I would finally be able to use these great DZ lenses to their full potential. That doesn't look likely to ever happen. I would have been happy to buy a new body. Instead I am an unhappy customer who will likely never buy their products again nor recommend them to anyone.  My mistake I guess for believing in 4/3.

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Stacey

I understand your point very well. Although sometimes it is hard to separate purchase decisions from emotions, most of FT users will have to take the decision what next. The world is pushing us to "develop" that means to buy a new gear because there is better equipment every year so pictures are better and our reference point to judge our photos is also changing, we are becoming more demanding and also new possibilities are being created by modern equipment. Of course some photos will never age, it is also true.

Being loyal to the company if you are an anonymous photographer (i.e. anonymous for the company) doesn't make sense to me but also being angry for a company doesn't make sense. However "lessons learned" should contribute to a good decision, so my thinking is pretty similar. In my view changing from 4/3 to m4/3 is more than changing brand (like moving to Canon or Nikon) it is also moving from mirror to mirrorless and from big size to a small size. So paradoxically for me Canikon is closer to 4/3 than m4/3.

Hello, I understand and agree with what you say, I used Olympus until 1975, I had all the OM system, I have come to have more than 30 lenses, I then had the E, I had two E-5 and E-30 a with many HG and SHG lenses, then a year ago, but a series of circumstances (an E-5 not working and 7/14, the 12/60 and 50/200 mandates to repair) I sold everything and went to Sony, with an A77, but I'm in love, I sold all the equipment Sony and now when I have to work or I rent the equipment I borrowed from a friend. I am seriously considering switching to Nikon (D800 14/24 24/70 70/200), but first I want to wait a few months to see what Olympus in 2013, I hear a E7) and then I'll decide, but I say that for me it is was very frustrating to live all these choices of Olympus, many times I felt abandoned and neglected, its objectives are among the best in the market but the strategy of the company is disarming, addiritura read of tests where the 35/100 f2 mounted on a m4 / 3 better results than the fixed lens m4 / 3 (45 f1, 8 and 75 f1, 8), in fact we are in a limbo where it seems to be fools remain at this company, but love is love, I want to have / give it another go, see if it really leaves an E7, if not I will give away and do not look upon Olympus / recommending it ever again in life, it is the last chance for me as a photographer, I'm tired 

most people are pretty sure that the E-7 and the O-MD Pro are coming next year (or sooner) probably in the first half and will support your glass, anyways.....

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If the 16mpx chip was in FT bodies, I think a lot of us would repurchase at all levels and newbies to Oly (or former OM'rs like many of us!)

I would be very pleased and probably buy two bodies instead of compromising to mFT.

But the investment from Sony means a new strategic direction again, and anyway, Oly have always wanted to go mirrorless and smaller.

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I don't understand what it is that photographers "need" (more likely, "want") which an E-5 and the SHG lenses cannot provide. Even 5 years ago, a Leica R9 + DMR + a couple of lenses for a cool $15,000 or so would be seen as the pinnacle of tools for the photographic artist.

Here we are with a camera body and lenses that far outperform such a setup, is ultra-reliable, weather sealed, fast auto focus, in-body image stabilisation, and ultra-high resolution optics coupled with the sharpest 12MP sensor + image processing ever available.

Why this constant clamouring for "better"? I did me the world of good, ditching digital in 2008 (Canon FF gear), using film only for four years, and then coming into the four thirds system this year. In the meantime, I shot 35mm (Olympus OM-3Ti + 10 amazing lenses), medium format, large format. I continue to shoot film as much, if not more, than digital.

The Olympus Four Thirds system represents the very pinnacle of imaging technology and quality - if the differences between this stuff and a Nikon/Canon bothers you so much as to provide sleepless nights or bitter resentment to the company that produces them, perhaps photography is not the field for you.

I wonder if you will continue to blame the shortcomings of your own vision on your tools? Will you feel the same in, say, 5 years, when Nikon is no longer at their "high" (perhaps Sony will have the superiour system then?)

Many olympus users realise that these are unique and superbly-capable tools that we can use to realise our vision. I am sorry you don't feel the same way. I know that I wouldn't with a plastic Nikon, but our tools are a very personal choice - if the Nikon inspires your creativity, I wish you all the best.

Very biased and somehow rude.

I have used Nikon for longer than you have used your OM's.

Nikon lost me as a customer when they started encrypting White Balance information in the Nikon D2x and hid behing the Millenium Copyright act. They attempted to force everyone to use their own software for Raw processing. Adobe has some agreement with them to use the "proprietary" format in Adobe products, but it is not binding on Nikon's part. So a pair of Nikon D1x's with every Micro-Nikkor made at the time, a $20K buy- last camera bought from Nikon for me. Nikon basically stated that this was to give the customer the "best quality" or some such nonsense. They never backed-down from the policy.

I did this with the E30 sold it all went to Canon, 5dII, 7D and  650D well just sold all of it again and got a E5 now Im happy again expensive exersize but Im loving the E5 not so much the OM-D I dont care about a bit of noise. im now using the camera where I had 3 canons and hardly used them. One month I have made more phoos with the Olys than a year with canons simply because I like 4/3s format.

I hope you dont end up regretting the shift, best of luckand  hope you fall in love wiht the nikon system.

Right now.

It costs a lot of money to swap systems, and generally there is always a bit of regret. The moment your camera company brings out their next body a quick bit of math always shows how much you just lost.

If you want to change systems, wait for the next 43rds body to come out and sell your lenses, you will only get more money for them, mitigating some of the loss, but you will also know the direction Olympus is taking.

There is no camera company that announces their plans... it is odd that so many Olympus users ask for it. They have been honest about their lower tier models, and have voiced support for their lenses and spoken about their intentions in the long run. However due to the exposure m43rds have given them I wouldnt be surprised if they release 2 bodies, one E-XX but a bit smaller with a new design, and an E-X... But for sure an E-X.

So just to finish, if you are a professional photographer, dont let anyone sway your judgement, you have to make the economic and strategic decisions for your business and income... If you are a hobbyist, then consider taking a trip with your gear instead of a hit on the sale and repurchase to change systems... You will be happier with that money spent that way I am sure.

Abraham

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The OP bought a Nikon D5100.  This is clearly not in the same price range as an e-5 and shg lenses.  Then you make the assumption the OP has shortcomings in her vision.

The OP feels ripped off, as indeed she was.

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"Convictions are the enemies of truth..."

I am someone that bought a Nikon Camera and was wowed by how far ahead the sensor AND overall general performance of the Nikon was over anything in the Olympus line. I still hold onto my E5 mostly because it was a gift and I love my 12-60 which is a workhorse landscape lens. If i can find a suitable substitute for that lens, no matter the platform, I will ditch Olympus completely and never look back.

The sensors hold back the system and Oly gear inherently misses more shots, requires more touch up, and overall compensation than cameras with superior sensors. While Oly applies complex IS band-aids that counter hand shaking, patches noise reduction across ever inferior sensor, other makes just have better sensors that freeze ALL motion (not just camera movement) and still maintain amazing detail at high ISO.

I can sum up Olympus by actually describing my thoughts when i first looked at my outing from my first weekend with the D7000. "My God, look at how clean and noise free the blue sky is at ISO 100!" Just that one essential element of a competitors' image quality removed one step I had to do PP on a ton of OLY photos from their flagship pro camera. Even my compact Canon s95 didn't have horrible noise on bright blue skies at ISO 100 to 400. And it doesn't end there. Shadow detail. Color depth. Green choma issues. Continuous autofocus.... all years behind. Why shouls I bracket 3 shots from my e5, and spend time in PS combining them to get the DR of a scene in one frame of the D7000? That's inefficiency of workflow. For a pro... that's everything!

4/3 was a wonderful system... just years behind. And it is never going to catch up, because it's not moving at all.
I'm no slouch of a photographer. I would say the views on my work goes well up into to the tens of millions, and have won several awards, have been featured in Outdoor photographer, Pop photo, and several local publications in NY. All mostly by Oly gear. But I have to do so much more work because of the inadequacies of the system. Fellow photographers don't have to constantly NR their photos with blue skies. They have no problems. My compact Canon s95 shoots better video and has better noise performance than my "flagship" Oly DSLR. Something is not right.

And now... What can I do? If I have to rebuy all my stuff for m4/3, I may as well ditch the company that hasn't been able to get their act together to serve a professional, and go with a company that actually supports their line. Who knows what Oly will abandon it for in several years  if and when Nikon and Canon dominate the mirrorless market with their mass-appeal brands.

IF---- IF there is a e7 dSLR... it solves no problem for the growing 4/3 user... it just delays the inevitable switch another few years. You can buy a E7 now... but that's it... there will never be an E9... if you want to grow... if you want new lenses... you will have to get another system eventually... why continue to invest in a dead end? Yes, it could appeal to those that don't need an open-ended system. But why the hell would any company interested in making money, sell a system that does not lead to further purchases. No upgrade path means no business model. It's NOT going to happen.

A hybrid would help smooth out the transition to m4/3 and Olympus would reap the benefits of people ditching 4/3 yet still sticking with Oly, but Olympus has waited too long and so many serious photographers are just done with them altogether by now. Retailers are too. No store in my area carries Olympus other than one model of tough. No major national chain even carries m4/s in the USA. Oly appeals less to retailers then they do to consumers. Why? because they failed to keep their products competitive.

Fact of the matter is... when I fully ditch Olympus and my beloved 12-60, I will not find zuiko lenses like it on another system now.  And that's the large argument towards sticking with 4/3 or m4/3. But the logic doesn't travel far. YES... Oly has the 12-60 and the 50-200 and 7-14... great lenses. But that's ALL they have and ever will have. Olympus is not and will not make any more lenses for 4/3. They will not make any more accessories. No flashes, no macro setups. NOTHING. They aren't even producing 4/3 lenses anymore (I challenge you to find one manufactured after 2009). Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Samsung.... they and their third parties all are coming out with new lenses every month! There will eventually be lenses for those systems that rival our old Zuikos... if not better. Look at those amazing cheap tamarons that blow Oly kits out of the water with performance. After looking, attach it to a body with a sensor that trumps Oly in performance. No Brainer.

M4/3 seems to be catching up in performance (stop thinking it rivals FF, it only does on this board, nit in the real world), but who can trust Oly to keep it up. And who's waiting around for them to ease the transition for those who invested already in their failed efforts.

My photography season starts up in the spring and I have a budget for travel, and one for gear. When that time comes, Nikon will have plentiful high performance gear. 4/3 will have ... even less than what it has available now.

Which direction makes sense?

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the only thing we have been told, is a camera will be released that can AF 4/3rds lenses as intended, the format of the camera has yet to be announced

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Very well written and insightful.  Thanks for sharing.

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"Convictions are the enemies of truth..."

Agree. As a Nikon owner of two bodies and lenses, I can tell you that the world of Nikon is no panacea either. Interesting to note the OP just bought a Nikon D5100. Just a few days ago they announced a D5200 - and the specs are nothing to rave about. So the OP already has an out of date Nikon body. Moreover, the Nikon D5100 is far from being a robust system. Nikon is also years behind in lens development and updating and seems to have ignored the DX line (the DX line is where the crop factor is 1.5X for sport and action shooters looking for reach). In fact they just ignore what zillions of users want ... just like the other camera manufacturers too.

All of this is interesting to note as I, myself am attempting to move from Nikon to m4/3 and Olympus is the leading candidate to fill that need (and I admit to knowing nothing about Olympus at all). I'll take a hit when I sell my Nikon gear but the weight of it and my advancing age make this move almost a necessity.

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Agree. 4/3 is finished and m43 is leica for a little less rich people. But still ridiculously expensive. 17/ 1.8 for 550€? Dream on oly.

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My problem is: Imagine in the film days, someone comes out with a great new film that would expand what you are capable of doing photographically but for some reason you couldn't use it in your camera and were stuck with the "old film".

Imagine if in the film says thy never moved past iso 32 color film? At the time it seemed fast and excellent quality, 5 years later no one would use it given the higher quality choices that open up new ways of shooting. If film had never advanced, we would still be forced to using a 4X5 to get decent quality. As it was the size of the sensor and camera was about to shrink and have equal if not higher quality.

With olympus this progression isn't possible. I am not on a "newest, latest greatest" as I still use my E1. It's just to me spending $1500 for a camera with  4 year old sensor technology was hard to swallow, especially when the company has dumped every other dSLR from their lineup.

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Stacey

Sorry to see you go Stacey.

The D5100 is a good choice , it is above basic entry level. As to building a system with canon and nikon there are so many choices , either brand lenses and accessories or some very good third party stuff.

Some of us might be forced to make a decision in the future. But while my cameras continue to give excellent results , I will stick around.

However I can't stick around forever so I am looking around over the fence. I think a lot of others are also doing this. If m4/3 and 4/3 does not seamlessly integrate a lot of  the 4/3 users that are left will move to other systems and not m4/3 as any form of trust will be have been broken. Cameras are not like ships when they sink and you down leaving your luggage behind. You swim to the nearest ship and get on board then you are unlikely to ever sail on that line again. Strangely a lot of the users that are standing on the tilting deck purchased first class tickets.

Olympus have fortunately given us a time to chose our lines/ships but one thing is certain it will not be Olympus again.

Interesting to see nikon have released the D5200

Hmmmmm APS-C is dead is it not. All is dead except , FF ,FF FF, FF FF, FF.

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(Aficionado Olympus DSLR )
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Sorry. Grossly overstated. You might think about spending some time in the Nikon DX and Nikon lenses forums. And visit http://www.bythom.com for a more complete perspective. The grass is not greener on the other side of the fence. As a Nikon owner I can tell you that Nikon owners are as frustrated or more with Nikon's lack of attention to customer needs as you might be with Oly.

You folks know more about Oly than I do. But are you really sure that Nikon will fulfill your needs? In a few years I am betting that I'll be more pleased with the development of m4/3 and what's available than you'll be with your NIkon gear since you'll still be waiting for lens updates and missing focal lengths.

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