I am sure many of you want to see an end to these threads. However, there has been so much negative speculation here lately, that it is becoming easy to start believing it as fact, and get frustrated (myself included). I thought about all this recently and came to some conclusions.
The E-500 is a very significant camera. Not only is it seemingly popular, but it represents something more important. Olympus started selling it in the third quarter last year. Many E-500 users will be happy with what they have for years to come, but as an entry DSLR, it is inevitable that many users will want to grow. Probably about a year after their purchase onward, increasing numbers will want more. Olympus is not going to expect them to move up to an E-1. They will release a newer version to meet the needs of these users.
More significant, are the F2 zooms. Olympus is not selling these lenses to use on the current E-1 or E-500. They are much more capable. Just as Olympus has spared no expense with the F2 zooms, it is rational to assume there will be a body out this year of equal caliber. Olympus is the only DSLR manufacturer producing a lineup that directly competes or even bests the Canon L and Nikkor zoom lineups. Other manufacturers have some great lenses, but IMO lenses like the 35-100 are in direct competition with some of the Canon and Nikkor popular top offerings.
Many suggest that the Jan. 26th announcement will be an EVF E-330. Some suggest that will be all for this year. It seems overly obvious based on the two reasons I suggested that there is more coming. Furthermore, the E-330 will likely be significant in the same manner as the E-500 mentioned above.
Olympus has to be aware of the magnitude of where they stand. Olympus is a solid pro offering away from competing with Canon and Nikon as a system. If they continue to release lenses like the ones they are releasing now, and add in some more high performance primes, they will be a legitimate player.
What I am trying to point out here is that the facts suggest very good things for Olympus in the future. Don't let others bring you down. For that matter, don't let others fill your mind with false hopes. All those who say they have seen X or heard Y, are not really backing anything up with specifics. I think my point is simply to encourage everyone to stop worrying about the future and enjoy what they have now, but be confident good things are very likely to come. Even in its current state, the E-1 is in a league with the Nikon D1X and Canon 1D. That is hardly a bad place to be. It makes sense to perhaps hold off on any major purchases until there is evidence of these good things, and certainty that Olympus is going in a direction helpful to you, but I think that there are major signals that Olympus is serious right now.
Everything I have pointed out here is just rational conclusions based on the facts as they are. It is important to draw our ideas from fact and not the speculation that is floating around. I think that the facts as a whole lead to what I have suggested, which is a pro offering along performance lines consistent with the F2 zooms.
The E-500 is a very significant camera. Not only is it seemingly popular, but it represents something more important. Olympus started selling it in the third quarter last year. Many E-500 users will be happy with what they have for years to come, but as an entry DSLR, it is inevitable that many users will want to grow. Probably about a year after their purchase onward, increasing numbers will want more. Olympus is not going to expect them to move up to an E-1. They will release a newer version to meet the needs of these users.
More significant, are the F2 zooms. Olympus is not selling these lenses to use on the current E-1 or E-500. They are much more capable. Just as Olympus has spared no expense with the F2 zooms, it is rational to assume there will be a body out this year of equal caliber. Olympus is the only DSLR manufacturer producing a lineup that directly competes or even bests the Canon L and Nikkor zoom lineups. Other manufacturers have some great lenses, but IMO lenses like the 35-100 are in direct competition with some of the Canon and Nikkor popular top offerings.
Many suggest that the Jan. 26th announcement will be an EVF E-330. Some suggest that will be all for this year. It seems overly obvious based on the two reasons I suggested that there is more coming. Furthermore, the E-330 will likely be significant in the same manner as the E-500 mentioned above.
Olympus has to be aware of the magnitude of where they stand. Olympus is a solid pro offering away from competing with Canon and Nikon as a system. If they continue to release lenses like the ones they are releasing now, and add in some more high performance primes, they will be a legitimate player.
What I am trying to point out here is that the facts suggest very good things for Olympus in the future. Don't let others bring you down. For that matter, don't let others fill your mind with false hopes. All those who say they have seen X or heard Y, are not really backing anything up with specifics. I think my point is simply to encourage everyone to stop worrying about the future and enjoy what they have now, but be confident good things are very likely to come. Even in its current state, the E-1 is in a league with the Nikon D1X and Canon 1D. That is hardly a bad place to be. It makes sense to perhaps hold off on any major purchases until there is evidence of these good things, and certainty that Olympus is going in a direction helpful to you, but I think that there are major signals that Olympus is serious right now.
Everything I have pointed out here is just rational conclusions based on the facts as they are. It is important to draw our ideas from fact and not the speculation that is floating around. I think that the facts as a whole lead to what I have suggested, which is a pro offering along performance lines consistent with the F2 zooms.
Even if we (Or Olympus) don't like it, E-1 is in that group, but it's 5MP are starting to be awful long in the tooth.
