E3 replacement.

I know it has only been a year since the E3 was released but that is a long time in the DSLR product cycle. Oly reps recently came to town to introduce the E-30 to the local camera store, and according to them it was strongly hinted that the E3 replacement will be coming (probably) this time next year and possibly with video.
--
Shaun
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http://www.goldenbrown.zenfolio.com
E3, E330, E500 50-200, 12-60, ex 1.4

That's only two years for the current flagship to be the king of the Four Thirds hill. That's short for the E-3 compared to the E-1.

But with a changing DSLR market, similar to other consumer electronics, it makes sense. And also the convergence with HD video (hopefully with AF video) sound promising.

Will "the E-3 successor" finally be named E-4 HD?

The new name I am not sure of but they report that it will have an improved auto focus.
--
Shaun
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http://www.goldenbrown.zenfolio.com
E3, E330, E500 50-200, 12-60, ex 1.4

I hope they're not tempted into video possibilities....and instead focus on photographic improvement.

goldenbrown40511 said:

The new name I am not sure of but they report that it will have an
improved auto focus.
--
Shaun

Click to expand...

The E30 has improved autofocus over the E3 as well. This was conformed by an Olympus rep on Sunday. Also said that the Olympus reps are never told anything about new equipment coming in the future before it is announced which has always been the case. I expect what you had was a Olympus rep putting out miss information to the general public which is common practice throughout the industry. Have witnessed reps doing this and even to other rival reps in other companies.

goldenbrown40511 said:

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http://www.goldenbrown.zenfolio.com
E3, E330, E500 50-200, 12-60, ex 1.4

Click to expand...

Your reply also confirms what was stated about the E30 improved auto focus. It also would be logical that the replacement for the E3 would come approx. 1 year after the improved "middle of the road" E30 comes out.

I do not doubt that reps give out bad or misinformation, but it would seem that what has been stated is not out of the relm of logic.
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Shaun
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http://www.goldenbrown.zenfolio.com
E3, E330, E500 50-200, 12-60, ex 1.4

at PDN in NYC they said pretty unequivocally there was nothing coming in the foreseeable future. i took that to mean not next year.

goldenbrown40511 said:

Your reply also confirms what was stated about the E30 improved auto
focus. It also would be logical that the replacement for the E3 would
come approx. 1 year after the improved "middle of the road" E30 comes
out.

I do not doubt that reps give out bad or misinformation, but it would
seem that what has been stated is not out of the relm of logic.
--
Shaun
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http://www.goldenbrown.zenfolio.com
E3, E330, E500 50-200, 12-60, ex 1.4

Click to expand...

Yes he had handled an E30 as well. The other thing is the improved IS over the E3 ie it adds the 3rd mode the E520 has but at the same 5 stops IS of the E3.

In 2009 Oly has to manage the launch of the E-430, the E-530, the E-30 (remember it only ships in January), and the new m4/3rds system. I just don't see how they can fit a new flagship in such a busy year.

I would expect an E-5 at PMA 2010 at the earliest or Photokina 2010 at the latest.

Why add a middle of the road camera that has better auto focus, better IS,= or better noise w/o high iso banding, and more pixels than your flagship camera if you dont plan on replaing it soon? If it were announced that a replacement was on the way people would stop buying either on or both just to wait and see what the next flagship will bring.
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Shaun
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http://www.goldenbrown.zenfolio.com
E3, E330, E500 50-200, 12-60, ex 1.4

Well the M4/3 comes out along with the E30 early next year. The 520 came out 8 months after the E3. and as for the 420 replacement, is it possible that m4/3 is its replacement? To me this fits into an E3 replacement time line.
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Shaun
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http://www.goldenbrown.zenfolio.com
E3, E330, E500 50-200, 12-60, ex 1.4

Heavy rumor's start in Aug 09 - Sept. Leak in 1st part Oct. and an announcement in late Oct. mid Nov. with availability 1st quarter 2010.
--

AKA thread killer, when looking for a response you will usually get the last word. I know my spelling and grammar are poor some times my spell check says 'I got
nothing

for you' and there/ their is no grammar check yet so please forgive me Jesus did.

Just as long as they keep the grip so that the E-3, E-30 and whatever they decide to release can all utilize it. Less costly upgrade paths appeal to buyers!
--
J. Pelayo
E-300 v1.5, HDL-3
Zuiko 14-45 3.5-5.6, Zuiko 40-150 3.5-4.5
Zuiko 14-54 2.8-3.5, Zuiko 50-200 2.8-3.5

... that Olympus will soon be thinking about releasing a flagship model somewhere in the next several years but certainly before the following flagship upgrade that is due after this next one. He said specifically that it will be better than the E-3 and that I would be benefited by it's brave new features that would empower my creative potential and artistic expression even in low lit dusty venues. He hinted very strongly that it will not have less MPs and that the price would cost exactly what it is actually worth after about 6 months on the market. I asked if it would retain the E-1 body shape that so many of us pine after and he said that it would indeed have a grip, viewfinder, and lens mount but that he couldn't give me specifics as to the layout of these three because he pinky swore with the regional head of sales. Oh, and I almost forgot. It will inherit technology from the future flagship cameras produced by Olympus, only the technology won't be quite as refined because the future technology hasn't yet been finalized for forthcoming models. When pressed upon HD movie capability he reiterated that he pinky swore with the regional sales manager but that since everyone else is doing it, that Oly probably would come out with something better that no one has thought of before and that the could possibly call it art clips in the new flagship.

Cheerio,
Seth
--
What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?

--
wallygoots.smugmug.com
wallygoots.blogspot.com

Having been given the rep tour of the E-30 myself I can say the only appreciable AF 'improvement' over the E-3 is the inclusion of contrast. As best as I understand the phase detection system is directly inherited from the E-3. Although, to be honest, I've never had problems with my E-3's focus.

--
Check out the Grimey Studios at http://grimeystudios.net

...well I guess we all have to wait and see....it can be this...or it can be 180 degrees different. No chrystal ball anywhere. My E-3 suites me very well..including the focus. HD video and art clips...in the flagship model??? My God...save us...;-)
We can speculate all we want, that's the nice thing not knowing anything

...It is written in the stars...

But thank you anyway.
--
http://www.olyflyer.blogspot.com/

SirSeth said:

... that Olympus will soon be thinking about releasing a flagship
model somewhere in the next several years but certainly before the
following flagship upgrade that is due after this next one. He said
specifically that it will be better than the E-3 and that I would be
benefited by it's brave new features that would empower my creative
potential and artistic expression even in low lit dusty venues. He
hinted very strongly that it will not have less MPs and that the
price would cost exactly what it is actually worth after about 6
months on the market. I asked if it would retain the E-1 body shape
that so many of us pine after and he said that it would indeed have a
grip, viewfinder, and lens mount but that he couldn't give me
specifics as to the layout of these three because he pinky swore with
the regional head of sales. Oh, and I almost forgot. It will inherit
technology from the future flagship cameras produced by Olympus, only
the technology won't be quite as refined because the future
technology hasn't yet been finalized for forthcoming models. When
pressed upon HD movie capability he reiterated that he pinky swore
with the regional sales manager but that since everyone else is doing
it, that Oly probably would come out with something better that no
one has thought of before and that the could possibly call it art
clips in the new flagship.

Click to expand...

It must all be true then.

--
Cheers,

Jim Pilcher
Colorado, USA

'It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see...' -- Henry David Thoreau

mujana said:

I hope they're not tempted into video possibilities....and instead
focus on photographic improvement.

Click to expand...

I agree, please Olympus NO VIDEO in the E-4 (or E-5, E-6 et al).
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Who is that in the hyperfocal distance?

They batch build.

Probably the last E3 has been made.

To make an E5 you take:

An E3 body.
E30 circuit boards.
The revised G1 sensor with video that Panny have already announced.

Revise the menus for video streaming.

Add a microphone.

Test to make sure it works.

Revise the E3 manuals and prepare marketing materials.

Run the line.

Not too hard.

--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam