Olympus working on new body for 'Pro' Four Thirds lenses

The Four Third lenses can be used on PENs and OM-D via the MMF-2/MMF-3 Lens Adapters

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_digital_omd.asp?section=lens

I may have posted this A LONG time ago. Prior to the E-5 being released I sent Olympus an email expressing my concern and anger about dumping the 4/3 system. This was when the rumors were everywhere they were done with 4/3 camera's and working on PEN's to take their place. A rep from Olympus actually called me and we spoke for a very long time. He said then that Olympus has never gone on record that 4/3 was dead and they were done with the line. I had made comments about switching systems in my letter and he said be patient, I can't tell you what's coming but if I can wait my concerns will be put to rest. Then the E-5 came out. I have since sold my E-5 in favor of the E-M5. I'm not sorry I did. For me the E-M5 is near perfect. I don't miss the size and weight of carrying my E-5 with the 50-200SWD on it. Sometimes I miss the girth of the grip. The only thing I miss is a line of weather sealed lenses. If the E-7 out performs the E-M5 I may switch back. But right now I love it.

If this body this Olympus Manager is referring to, is not an m43 camera, with some form of PDAF built in... I'll eat my hat.

Those 4/3 lenses re just great. Maybe the best out there... But how many users still work with 4/3 system? They've scammed us with that E5, that actually was a E3Mk2, nothing more... And now they expect someone to come back? Well, a few would. But very few.

And of something is made for a very few ppl, that something will be VERY expensive I afraid ><

Olympus made an announcement before about a shift from p&s to higher end product as it will increase their profit. Engineers from the low end will likely to reposition to other department within the company, likely SLR and m43 division. It is understandable for Olympus to focus on M43 as company limited resource should focus on M43... with now with extra engineer involve we should see more 43 and M43 than p&S...
Olympus were holding back as there was wasted effort if the sensor can not match what others system. Time has changed and if they just have their extra engineers to put the sensors from EM-5 to the E5 they will have a competitive system. Which they will sell a lot of the pro lenses, and will bring them a lot of profit as the r&d and tooling r paid for long ago... I think they can assure this time it is not wasted effort as we already saw what the sensor can do. This is the SLR that will make a big difference! >10fps, 16MP, AF DR, lSO performance, IBIS and 1080p

I suspect this camera will be very expensive. I don't care so long as it provides value for the dollar.

Good timing for a 4/3. Very curious to see what is being delivered.

I still use my old E-1. It's 8 years old, and I love using it. It just WORKS. I also have a D700 acquired recently, and if I'm honest, I grab the E-1 if I NEED to get the shot just now. That may change, but right now, I KNOW what that E-1 will do...
Oh, and I also know it can handle ANY rain, any time. The Nikon gets tucked away for now!
So, yes, I like this announcement, if it's for a new E?. If it's just an m4/3 adaptor, then I stay away.
And all those claiming Zuikos are big, and heavy, etc. just please go TRY one? You might find it's way better than you thought.

I am guessing olympus will make a micro 4/3rd camera that uses both 4/3rd and mirco 4/3rd lens, it wil mostly likely be the OM-D replacement or the new section for the system only time will tell.

So finally Olympus officially recognized what the fanboys refused to recognize all these years... ALL the current mirrorless cameras are too slow with the Olympus pro lenses.

Too bad it took Olympus so many years to officially admit this. They should hurry up otherwise there will be no more people using their pro ranges. However, what would be most important is to make new lenses. The pro range is extremely old by now, most are non-SWD and slow focusing by today's standards.

If you think that the Oly 12-35 f/2 should weigh and cost the same as a full frame 24-70 f/4 because the depth of field is the same, you don't even deserve to own a camera.

The press release makes no reference to Four-Thirds (FT), it just acknowledges that the E-M5 is not capable of utilizing existing FT lenses.

The solution that they are working on could still be something other than a new pro E-System.

Olympus would do better to develop a smart adapter for m4/3 that utilizes the existing pro-grade lenses. The adapter could actually help Olympus expand their market to sell more of the FT pro-grade lenses. Another pro-level E-System would only be sold to existing lens owners.

I think DPR interpretes the press release incorrectly.

The statement from Olympus says nothing about any continuation of the 43 system (as suggested by DPR), it only says that Oly is working on a better AF solution for using 43 lenses.

Which may very likely be a solution within the m43 system (i.e. via AF measurement directly from sensor - Nikon, Canon and Sony sensors are able to do this already).

The story of the comments sections:

"Example: 14-35 f/2 ($2300, 2lbs) vs Canon 24-105 f/4 ($950, 1.5lbs); 35-100 f/2 ($2500, 3.6 lbs) vs Canon 70-200 f/4 IS ($1200, 1.7 lbs)."

Lets compare an f2 lens to an f4 lens and claim parity of value.

Everyone who uses SHG or HG glass and undersands what it is, raise your hands.

Interesting corporate story

I sold all my Olympus digital cameras a year ago, but kept the Pro lenses in the shelf. The color, sharpness and contrast in total is - in my view - even better than Leica lenses I also own. I do not rate by lab charts, but in the field work.

As soon as Olympus offers something like an E-7 four thirds – I will return and buy. I find the MFT some different class – for holidays=ok, or making snapshots. Serious work with MFT – no way. Just by the tiny dimensions, and a high class optical viewfinder cannot be matched. Direct light passed thru glass in the finder will always be better than converted light by sensors and electronic circuits.

Today’s technology will enable FT to have much improved noise and dynamic range behavior. The gap between FT and APS-C will narrow. Olympus will make a smart move by serving the FT market. Because their treasures are the optics.

The future of Olympus continues to unfold. I wish them best of luck and courage.

Not familiar with Olympus so after seeing this article, I researched these "Top Pro" lenses. Are you kidding me? $11045 USD (best prices on Amazon) for all 4 zooms plus whatever this new body will cost. Sure, I could probably ditch the 90-250 since I am mostly a WA user anyway and that would take the bill to $6546 for the lenses. Price for Canon's L series FF zooms covering a similar range sans the 90-250mm is $5907 (Amazon best price),

Lesson here: top lenses (assuming these Olympus zooms are as amazing) cost $$$$ no matter what format. Since pricing advantage isn't really there for the lenses, and assuming the user does not need a mature line of primes, the decision goes back again to a comaprison of bodies: format, resolutiion and the quality of the sensor including high ISO performance and DR, AF performance and ancillary functions. Sure I am stating the obvious but the allure of 4/3s just got less alluring after seeing the price of those lenses and the lack of choice in primes.

Actually it does look like as

a) almost all posters here are too young to remember or

b) have already forgotten what Olympus claimed as the introduced the 4/3 system long time ago.

I have been there - as Olympus EUROPE introduced, marketed the at that time new and 100% digital 4/3 system with the upcoming E1.

The two sentences that fell and have always been repeated by the presenters have been:

1) "5 Megapixels are enough..."
2) "We will have smaller, lighter and cheaper lenses than our competitors".

Without a doubt - both clamis have failed.

Back in 2009 I got a E-420 and one year later a Canon 600D+few EFS lens. Right after I got a E30+14-54MkII in a very good deal, so I could compare both systems fairly well. Well, a couple months ago I sold all my Canon gear and I got a EM5 and I think it tells everything. When I was in Tokyo a couple weeks ago, I spoke to Oly's sales rep from a famous camera store. Seems more likely the next steps are upgraded PENs with IBIS+EM5's sensor next month - including a nice rangefinder/EVF surprise. The 43s line should continue with 'high-end' bodies arriving in Q3/2013 only. But it should bring a competitive tech package - including a new high-res Sony sensor that should make many FF users very jealous. For me it makes a lot of sense as only those who tested EM5's Sony sensor can really understand the huge potential of the 43s system limited by Panasonic sensors for so many long years... Olympus wants to go beyond as very few will pay for a E7 if it's just another make-up of the EM5...

Whats the point? 4/3 lenses are NOT any smalller or cheaper than full frame lenses. Who in their right mind would get this supposed Pro body and a 12-35 vs a 5d3 and a 35-70? Yeah the 12-35 will give you one more stop in brightness but loses a stop in DOF. With FX sensors F2.8 on a fx sensor will destroy F2 on this new pro body in noise anyways. So what is the point again? Not every product that comes out of japan is gods gift to earth. Look at suzuki and mitsubishi, two brands that are dying in the US.

Meaning they have never made a "Pro" grade camera since the 4/3rd system came out. It will be interesting to see if this camera will be a pro camera or if it will be a consumer camera like they have produce in the past with 4/3rds.

The E5 tooling has been paid for, instead of a "new" body I would be happy if they just put the new sensor in the old chassis and lowered the price.

Olympus camera division seems to be taking advice from the endoscopy division on how to bend over their end users.
How many high end E system users sold off their gear cause Olympus has all but left that system dead in the water and been concentrating on Micro cameras.
Now they must be kicking themselves... or not if they have migrated to other PRO systems that majority of the industry shoots with, and has more support and stability than Olympus.
Also, EM5 users now being told officially by Olympus that their 'expensive' high end camera is not good enough for pro lenses. They must be feeling pretty sore as well. Like constantly being told the best is around the corner, similar to Nikon and what they say about the 1 System.
Olympus is clearly on life support, with this new dose of morphine designed to keep the left over signs of life from kicking and screaming towards it's demise.

Great news
As E-510 owner with a few lenses I still dream of a non-Pro lower cost body

Talk is cheap.

I just looked at the Olympus SHG lens prices. Holy smoke....

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=olympus+super+high+grade&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma

I know they're excellent, but wow... it hurts to look.

A few reasons why Olympus might consider building an E-7

Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm F2.0 SWD
Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm F4.0 lens
Zuiko Digital ED 35-100mm F2.0 lens
Zuiko Digital ED 90-250mm F2.8 lens
Zuiko Digital ED 150mm F2.0 lens
Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F2.8 lens
Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm F2.8-3.5 SWD lens
Zuiko Digital ED 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 SWD lens
Zuiko Digital ED 11-22mm F2.8-3.5 lens
Zuiko Digital ED 50mm F2.0 Macro lens
Zuiko Digital 14-54mm F2.8-3.5 II lens

Be it an "E-7" or "E-M7" or a ZWX-1, the future looks bright again for my awesome Zuiko 4/3 gems!

How many times Olympus will 'pushed the boundaries of performance' with some "new Pro body" ???

I hope this time time they will have more success then before.

Olympus goes against the grain. They know full well that FF is much better suited for professional market, even P&S is moving into bigger sensors, and yet they insist on manufacturing professional equipment with small 4/3 sensor. Are they being nuts?

I was hoping that Olympus would forget the DSLR system, and would concentrate on making lenses for the MFT...
How difficult would it be for Olympus to produce versions of the existing 4/3 lenses making them compatible with the m4/3, that is changing the lens AF motor from phase detection to contrast detection, and leave the optics as they are? Then all that it would take is to use the already existing adaptor, and the MFT system would have all the lenses one could wish...

Is it possible that this solution that Olympus is developing for its legacy top level lenses is a mirrorless one, and not a DSLR? Or a pellicle or some other solution?>

Even though I probably can't afford it (someday!) this is VERY good news ... that SHG glass produces some truly stellar imagery from what I have seen. Olympus has never been lamented for their lenses.

As a happy OM-D owner, this news still excites me.

I embrace with love my collection of OM system from 18mm 3.5 to 600 OM Zuiko legendary products!

Olympus is in position and in need to refresh their competitive momentum by creating new level of imaging device weather it is continuation of m4/3 by innovation, speed and over all boosting the category to higher level OR by bringing in new performer to gather bigger audience and increase interest.
Photography is an emotional at first territory in which buyer places his heart before justifying the cost. Olympus has market the history with great understanding of light and photo industry it is time for the take advantage of its own resources and philosophy to again surprises us with new great product

For entirely emotional reasons (I've used Olympus cameras since my original, then brand new, OM-1n, which I still have and which still works perfectly, through my E-1, which delivers 5 million lovely pixels per shot) - I *REALLY* hope there is an E-7 sometime ...

Brian

I only have the EM-5, my first "digital" camera.

I am so glad for all the four-thirds camera owners that Olympus is keeping that superb line alive...truly great news. I've been considering a 14-54 ll purchase for my little camera...I have the grip, so balance would seem to be a non issue (I could be wrong). Does anyone have experience with this combo for a walk around kit...(auto-focus, maybe something better...) and again, excellent news.

... and still no news about New XZ series. (XZ-1 / XZ-10 / XZ-GK (GodKnows).

It doesn't necessarily have to be a new DSLR. It just has to be something that works quick with the phase-detect lenses. Sony managed to make an adapter with a translucent mirror in it that lets all the old lenses work fine. Nikon built phase detect sensors onto the main sensor in the 1 series. Olympus, who was first in the mirrorless game with Panasonic, and was first to have Live View, ironically has lagged behind on focus speed with the old lenses. I wish they would just allow us to send in the old lenses for a motor upgrade to MSC motors.

But I still want E-7 to be a DSLR because it would be nice to actually see the stars in the viewfinder at night on an f/3.5 lens so I can focus.

It will be interesting to see just how long Olympus will even be able to stay in the interchangeable lens camera market after their near death experience due to their corporate accounting scandals. They absolutely need to generate some serious sales for their 4/3rds lens line just to be able to afford to keep making them. Hopefully, a new flagship 4/3rds camera body will do the trick for them.

I'm not even a 4/3rds system camera fan, but Olympus has always been a fierce competitor, and I hope they can find a way to stay in the game.