New Olympus SLR

Right now I am using a DSC-F707 but I am very interested in the upcoming Olympus digital SLR system to be announced at Photokina.

What I really want is the ability to get quality long glass that is fast, reasonably priced, lightweight, and good image quality. I think the new Olympus SLR has the potential to take the digital camera market by storm by giving all the quality of the Canon/Nikon 35mm systems at 1/3 the price for lenses.

I sure hope they have all the pieces in place to deliver a high-quality system with fast AF, high-quality CCD, excellent lenses, and a reasonable starting assortment of glass. And a price competitive with the prosumers, say $1200 with one lens, and additional lenses in the $250 - $500 range.

The D60, D100 etc. are nice cameras but I can't help the feeling that they are yesterday's news. There are so many advantages to a smaller sensor especially for people who want to shoot long glass. Compare the 2100UZ which you can get for 1/2 the price of a Canon 100-400 IS lens by itself. Using smaller sensors makes so many more things possible.

Sign me up for the new Olympus! And PLEASE let them offer a big fast long lens at the introduction.

--
my favorite work: http://www.pbase.com/sdaconsulting/favorite_work

Sounds great but it will not happen. A good friend of mine works for Olympus and told me in conversation several months ago that their plan was to stay with "all in one" designs. We may see some with long and reatively fast lens but not with interchangeablility.

Matthew Cromer said:

Right now I am using a DSC-F707 but I am very interested in the
upcoming Olympus digital SLR system to be announced at Photokina.

What I really want is the ability to get quality long glass that is
fast, reasonably priced, lightweight, and good image quality. I
think the new Olympus SLR has the potential to take the digital
camera market by storm by giving all the quality of the Canon/Nikon
35mm systems at 1/3 the price for lenses.

I sure hope they have all the pieces in place to deliver a
high-quality system with fast AF, high-quality CCD, excellent
lenses, and a reasonable starting assortment of glass. And a price
competitive with the prosumers, say $1200 with one lens, and
additional lenses in the $250 - $500 range.

The D60, D100 etc. are nice cameras but I can't help the feeling
that they are yesterday's news. There are so many advantages to a
smaller sensor especially for people who want to shoot long glass.
Compare the 2100UZ which you can get for 1/2 the price of a Canon
100-400 IS lens by itself. Using smaller sensors makes so many
more things possible.

Sign me up for the new Olympus! And PLEASE let them offer a big
fast long lens at the introduction.

--
my favorite work: http://www.pbase.com/sdaconsulting/favorite_work

Click to expand...

This has been posted at least 2x before:

http://www.ausstellerliste-koelnmesse.de/besuchsplanung/index.php?CLSID= {3d44055aded67-67-50161}

Look under the Products section. I think I'll wait and see what Olympus has under their belt, and then decide what to go for...

Mark Watkins said:

Matthew Cromer said:

Right now I am using a DSC-F707 but I am very interested in the
upcoming Olympus digital SLR system to be announced at Photokina.

What I really want is the ability to get quality long glass that is
fast, reasonably priced, lightweight, and good image quality. I
think the new Olympus SLR has the potential to take the digital
camera market by storm by giving all the quality of the Canon/Nikon
35mm systems at 1/3 the price for lenses.

I sure hope they have all the pieces in place to deliver a
high-quality system with fast AF, high-quality CCD, excellent
lenses, and a reasonable starting assortment of glass. And a price
competitive with the prosumers, say $1200 with one lens, and
additional lenses in the $250 - $500 range.

The D60, D100 etc. are nice cameras but I can't help the feeling
that they are yesterday's news. There are so many advantages to a
smaller sensor especially for people who want to shoot long glass.
Compare the 2100UZ which you can get for 1/2 the price of a Canon
100-400 IS lens by itself. Using smaller sensors makes so many
more things possible.

Sign me up for the new Olympus! And PLEASE let them offer a big
fast long lens at the introduction.

--
my favorite work: http://www.pbase.com/sdaconsulting/favorite_work

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
http://jonr.beecee.org/gallery/

Matthew Cromer said:

Right now I am using a DSC-F707 but I am very interested in the
upcoming Olympus digital SLR system to be announced at Photokina.

What I really want is the ability to get quality long glass that is
fast, reasonably priced, lightweight, and good image quality. I
think the new Olympus SLR has the potential to take the digital
camera market by storm by giving all the quality of the Canon/Nikon
35mm systems at 1/3 the price for lenses.

I sure hope they have all the pieces in place to deliver a
high-quality system with fast AF, high-quality CCD, excellent
lenses, and a reasonable starting assortment of glass. And a price
competitive with the prosumers, say $1200 with one lens, and
additional lenses in the $250 - $500 range.

The D60, D100 etc. are nice cameras but I can't help the feeling
that they are yesterday's news. There are so many advantages to a
smaller sensor especially for people who want to shoot long glass.
Compare the 2100UZ which you can get for 1/2 the price of a Canon
100-400 IS lens by itself. Using smaller sensors makes so many
more things possible.

Sign me up for the new Olympus! And PLEASE let them offer a big
fast long lens at the introduction.

Click to expand...

KEEP DREAMING!!

olympus will NEVER compete with the big boys. they never have. they will stay at the consumer level where they can keep the bottom line in check.

true the OM system was a good system and the e-xx are also good. BUT, a new body style with interchangab;e lenses costs money to produce and i believe its a relatively small market to go after. plus the fact that the digital world is forever changing, unlike the film generation.

i wonder how many cameras nikon and canon are going to make that surpass their pro models in pixel count? they have already done it in less than 2 years. what does that tell you?

a think its all in price point too. you can't keep a great digital camera selling for 2000.00 very long. you could in film. i don't think olympus can keep up.

Matthew Cromer said:

--
my favorite work: http://www.pbase.com/sdaconsulting/favorite_work

Click to expand...

dash9 said:

KEEP DREAMING!!
olympus will NEVER compete with the big boys. they never have. they
will stay at the consumer level where they can keep the bottom line
in check.
true the OM system was a good system and the e-xx are also good.
BUT, a new body style with interchangab;e lenses costs money to
produce and i believe its a relatively small market to go after.
plus the fact that the digital world is forever changing, unlike
the film generation.
i wonder how many cameras nikon and canon are going to make that
surpass their pro models in pixel count? they have already done it
in less than 2 years. what does that tell you?
a think its all in price point too. you can't keep a great digital
camera selling for 2000.00 very long. you could in film. i don't
think olympus can keep up.

Click to expand...

What are you saying?

You don't believe the Photokina exhibitor's document showing Olympus with interchangable lens digital cameras is correct?

Matthew Cromer said:

What are you saying?

You don't believe the Photokina exhibitor's document showing
Olympus with interchangable lens digital cameras is correct?

Click to expand...

Even if Keppler's article about Olympus' plans for a system DSLR based on a smaller chip is based on reality, you are wrong if you think that would allow Olympus to design and build lenses that cost less.

Lenses aren't priced by weight or volume. In fact, since Olympus would have to design a system from scratch for a new mount that would fit a just one camera (their own), the prices would probably be quite high. The only thing that brings the price of sharp, fast glass down is volume and competition. There won't be any third party lenses for a new Oly DSLR until there are big numbers of cameras out there. There aren't third party lenses made in the OM-mount anymore, and there are still a lot of those cameras in use.

It takes as much or more precision to fabricate smaller lenses as it does larger ones. In fact, Olympus would charge as much as possible while marketing the system as more compact than 35mm-based DSLRs. I doubt Olympus has the R&D budget to offer more than a handful of lenses if such a system materializes so such a camera wouldn't compete very effectively with systems from Nikon and Canon offering around 50 lenses for each system. When the OM-1 hit the market, there were a few lenses and promises of many more to come. Olympus eventually fleshed out a full system but didn't get enough market share to stay in the game at a profit.

I hope Olympus does come up with a new system, but don't underestimate the obstacles they would face...
--
BJN

BJN said:

BJN said:

What are you saying?

You don't believe the Photokina exhibitor's document showing
Olympus with interchangable lens digital cameras is correct?

Click to expand...

Even if Keppler's article about Olympus' plans for a system DSLR
based on a smaller chip is based on reality, you are wrong if you
think that would allow Olympus to design and build lenses that cost
less.

Click to expand...

The smaller CCD will allow for brighter lenses costing less than the bright lenses of Canon, Nikon, etc. Also, there won't be as much glass surface that has to be grounded to perfection, and since the smaller volume, less chance of defects on the glass itself. I don't see why lenses designed for a smaller sensor wouldn't be cheaper to make, however, the real question is will the lenses actually be cheaper for consumers to purchase. Look at a camera such as the F707, it has a bright lens with alot of zoom (although it may suffer from some barrel distortion, but that's not surprising concidering the amount of zoom). How much would an equivalent lens cost for Canon or Nikon SLR's? Do you have any idea how big that thing would be?

--
dgrogers

http://www.pbase.com/drog

BJN said:

Even if Keppler's article about Olympus' plans for a system DSLR
based on a smaller chip is based on reality, you are wrong if you
think that would allow Olympus to design and build lenses that cost
less.

Click to expand...

Silly me. I thought that the E-10 and E-20 were quite reasonable proof of their ability to provide reasonably high quality glass at what must be a reasonable price in order to have sold the cameras at their pricepoints... Check on what it would cost for similar lenses with similar apertures on a Canon or Nikon, esp. with the Tcon adapters, etc. Granted, not exactly apples and apples, but similar.

I'm certainly no expert, but one would think that according to your line of thought the lenses used in very good digicams with smaller sensors would be yet more expensive? Apparently, there is an inverse relationship, partly based on volume and scalability of process, and partly based on raw material costs and finishing time, not to mention over-inflated profit from manufacturer's lens lines... I'll give very long odds that the high prices on 35mm lenses are due in part to the fact that they are more "consumable" than bodies in terms of sales at least and are what keeps companies going between the initial sales surges on newly introduced bodies.

If one changes the paradigm so that body sales are still significant, as it is in the current digital world, one could make less on lenses and still do quite well. In other words, I think some profit will be made from the lenses, but not so much as from the bodies whose sales will be fueled by desire for more features/resolution/etc. while Oly attempts to firmly establish the lines of lenses. They might price the glass reasonably to push the new standard and help guarantee future body sales... remember, if they can keep the price down and shoot for the amateur market or the ever increasing repeat digital buyer market(which does seem to produce people favoring SLR finders) they have a potentially much larger market, especially if they can also attract some professional interest.

The other thought that obviously comes to mind is that the equipment capable of properly polishing and surfacing the much smaller optics used in digicams with smaller sensors should likely be capable of doing the same and at a higher quality than needed to reduce defects in larger optics? I think if the body is good and the lenses perform well, Oly can get it off the ground. At any rate, it will be interesting to see what transpires.

BJN said:

BJN said:

What are you saying?

You don't believe the Photokina exhibitor's document showing
Olympus with interchangable lens digital cameras is correct?

Click to expand...

Even if Keppler's article about Olympus' plans for a system DSLR
based on a smaller chip is based on reality, you are wrong if you
think that would allow Olympus to design and build lenses that cost
less.

Click to expand...

Actually, Olympus has already shown that it can produce the lenses cheaper for the smaller sized chips. Take for example, the E-10/E-20, it has a 35-140 F 2.0 - 2.4 lens. What do you think a similiar 35mm zoom with those specs would cost?

Also, a smaller film/CCD size means that the len elements don't have to be as large in diameter, that should reduce costs as well.

BJN said:

Lenses aren't priced by weight or volume. In fact, since Olympus
would have to design a system from scratch for a new mount that
would fit a just one camera (their own), the prices would probably
be quite high. The only thing that brings the price of sharp, fast
glass down is volume and competition. There won't be any third
party lenses for a new Oly DSLR until there are big numbers of
cameras out there. There aren't third party lenses made in the
OM-mount anymore, and there are still a lot of those cameras in use.

Click to expand...

Designing a new lens mount system and lenses isn't likely that costly. Don't forget that Minolta, Nikon, Canon all recently did this for their APS SLR cameras.

Also, with computer aided design of lenses and such, it's likely not that hard to design them.

BJN said:

It takes as much or more precision to fabricate smaller lenses as
it does larger ones. In fact, Olympus would charge as much as
possible while marketing the system as more compact than 35mm-based
DSLRs. I doubt Olympus has the R&D budget to offer more than a
handful of lenses if such a system materializes so such a camera
wouldn't compete very effectively with systems from Nikon and Canon
offering around 50 lenses for each system. When the OM-1 hit the
market, there were a few lenses and promises of many more to come.
Olympus eventually fleshed out a full system but didn't get enough
market share to stay in the game at a profit.

Click to expand...

Olympus might be able to contract some of their lens manufacturing, if need be.

As to the system... Olympus doesn't have to make 50 lens, or even compete with the full range of Canon and Nikon, to succeed. This isn't their market... Basically, several good zooms and maybe a couple of prime lenses would be all they really needed. It seems that quite a number of people are quite happy with the lens selection that exists for the E-xx systems, a similar range might be great (personally, I would like a bit more on the wide angle side of things).

By the way, the OM series didn't die out due to the lenses, but to the fact that Olympus failed to make the transition to the autofocus SLR. I had an Olympus system, but when they decided to move to AF, they basically abandoned the old mount. Since I had to change lens/lens systems to move to AF, I changed systems as well to Minolta which was the leader at the time.

BJN said:

I hope Olympus does come up with a new system, but don't
underestimate the obstacles they would face...

Click to expand...

They do face obstacles, but so does anyone else bringing out a new system. The one thing going for Olympus is that they will be the first ones to do so. If they can do it right, they likely can become a major player in this new type of camera.

BJN said:

--
BJN

Click to expand...

For the past few days I have been giving much thought to a DSLR, namely the Fuji S1/S2. What holds me back is the size, weight, bulk. I see the pros lugging that stuff around and it just leaves me cold. I mean I'd like to have a great pro type unit but not at the expense of the bulk/cost. The dust on the sensors problem scare me a bit too.

Plus Those monstrous Canon silver sausages got to weigh a ton (is nikon glass smaller?) My UZI will get out just as far as most of the silver sausages will.and i have IS. I know ,I know, only 2 MP's, shutter lag, noisey ISO's etc. Still, I want to enjoy shooting and need to be nimble and want to travel light. I'm stickin to a single non interchangeable lens type of digicam. They are getting better all the time. The gap is closing . After all the Nikon 5700 is already 5 Mp @ 8X zoom .

Just little more than a year ago every self proclaimed expert know it all on the forums said it just wasn't possible to get more focal length out of glass with more resolution. hahahah Sony , Nikon, and Minolta all did it in style.

This fall should (hopefully) showcase some big innovative improvements from Oly, Canon, and Sony. I just can't wait. I'm chomping at the bit with the money in hand but it had better be good. It has to be better than the 5700 or the 707 before I bite.
John

Glenn Anderson said:

BJN said:

Glenn Anderson said:

What are you saying?

You don't believe the Photokina exhibitor's document showing
Olympus with interchangable lens digital cameras is correct?

Click to expand...

Even if Keppler's article about Olympus' plans for a system DSLR
based on a smaller chip is based on reality, you are wrong if you
think that would allow Olympus to design and build lenses that cost
less.

Click to expand...

Actually, Olympus has already shown that it can produce the lenses
cheaper for the smaller sized chips. Take for example, the
E-10/E-20, it has a 35-140 F 2.0 - 2.4 lens. What do you think a
similiar 35mm zoom with those specs would cost?

Also, a smaller film/CCD size means that the len elements don't
have to be as large in diameter, that should reduce costs as well.

Glenn Anderson said:

Lenses aren't priced by weight or volume. In fact, since Olympus
would have to design a system from scratch for a new mount that
would fit a just one camera (their own), the prices would probably
be quite high. The only thing that brings the price of sharp, fast
glass down is volume and competition. There won't be any third
party lenses for a new Oly DSLR until there are big numbers of
cameras out there. There aren't third party lenses made in the
OM-mount anymore, and there are still a lot of those cameras in use.

Click to expand...

Designing a new lens mount system and lenses isn't likely that
costly. Don't forget that Minolta, Nikon, Canon all recently did
this for their APS SLR cameras.

Also, with computer aided design of lenses and such, it's likely
not that hard to design them.

Glenn Anderson said:

It takes as much or more precision to fabricate smaller lenses as
it does larger ones. In fact, Olympus would charge as much as
possible while marketing the system as more compact than 35mm-based
DSLRs. I doubt Olympus has the R&D budget to offer more than a
handful of lenses if such a system materializes so such a camera
wouldn't compete very effectively with systems from Nikon and Canon
offering around 50 lenses for each system. When the OM-1 hit the
market, there were a few lenses and promises of many more to come.
Olympus eventually fleshed out a full system but didn't get enough
market share to stay in the game at a profit.

Click to expand...

Olympus might be able to contract some of their lens manufacturing,
if need be.

As to the system... Olympus doesn't have to make 50 lens, or even
compete with the full range of Canon and Nikon, to succeed. This
isn't their market... Basically, several good zooms and maybe a
couple of prime lenses would be all they really needed. It seems
that quite a number of people are quite happy with the lens
selection that exists for the E-xx systems, a similar range might
be great (personally, I would like a bit more on the wide angle
side of things).

By the way, the OM series didn't die out due to the lenses, but to
the fact that Olympus failed to make the transition to the
autofocus SLR. I had an Olympus system, but when they decided to
move to AF, they basically abandoned the old mount. Since I had to
change lens/lens systems to move to AF, I changed systems as well
to Minolta which was the leader at the time.

Glenn Anderson said:

I hope Olympus does come up with a new system, but don't
underestimate the obstacles they would face...

Click to expand...

They do face obstacles, but so does anyone else bringing out a new
system. The one thing going for Olympus is that they will be the
first ones to do so. If they can do it right, they likely can
become a major player in this new type of camera.

Glenn Anderson said:

--
BJN

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

True but so far the problem with small CCD is the excessive noise they produce. If the CCD manufacturers could solve that problem I would be on board. But no matter how you look at it a larger CCD will always produce a higher quality image with less noise.

What advantages are there to a small CCD, other than a small lens. There are advantages to APS over 35mm also, but it doesn't mean I want an APS camera.

VJS

Matthew Cromer said:

The D60, D100 etc. are nice cameras but I can't help the feeling
that they are yesterday's news. There are so many advantages to a
smaller sensor especially for people who want to shoot long glass.
Compare the 2100UZ which you can get for 1/2 the price of a Canon
100-400 IS lens by itself. Using smaller sensors makes so many
more things possible.

Sign me up for the new Olympus! And PLEASE let them offer a big
fast long lens at the introduction.

--
my favorite work: http://www.pbase.com/sdaconsulting/favorite_work

Click to expand...

http://www.digitalcamera.jp just posted some news about Olympus' plan on the 4/3 inch DSLR. For the fragments I can read, it looks like the announcement will be made in Photokina (as we expected) and the product will be available next spring.
--
Tony

Nobody is talking about a small CCD. We are talking about a CCD almost the size of the CCDs in the D60 and D100.

The difference is designing lens systems to fit that CCD instead of using existing 35mm lens systems that are way too big for the sensor and therefore cost much more in size, weight and materials to gather light that is never used in Nikon/Canon digital SLRs.

A lens system designed for the existing high-quality sensors, or ones very slightly smaller, would provide enormous advantages over the existing lens systems in size, weight, cost, and lens speed.

--
my favorite work: http://www.pbase.com/sdaconsulting/favorite_work

Well, I don't understand why Olympus would even bother with
an interchangeable lens DSLR. It's not likely to be much less
expensive that the equivalent Nikon or Canon cameras and if I'm
going to spend Nikon or Canon dollars, I'm sure as heck not going
to go with Olympus.

The main reason is that if Olympus doesn't get much 3rd party
support today (try finding a flash besides the FL-40 that
does ttl) and if they go with a proprietary lens mount, there will
be little or no 3rd party lens support. So ODSLR owners are
locked into whatever Olympus chooses to offer for lenses.

Going with Canon or Nikon, on the other hand, opens up
the full range of 3rd party products, especially lenses. That
makes things much more flexible for the consumer. Not
to mention the fact that there are 3rd party lenses to
fit any budget, which can save money as well.

Don't get me wrong. I love my e-xx series cameras and
I'm sure the DSLR will be a great product, but I can't see
investing in a proprietary system, if it's gonna cost
anywhere near the price of an open system like
Nikon or Canon. The only way I can see myself investing
in this is if it is significantly cheaper that the equivalent Nikon
or Canon.

-T

Tony T C Lau said:

http://www.digitalcamera.jp just posted some news about Olympus' plan on
the 4/3 inch DSLR. For the fragments I can read, it looks like the
announcement will be made in Photokina (as we expected) and the
product will be available next spring.
--
Tony

Click to expand...

vjsilva said:

True but so far the problem with small CCD is the excessive noise
they produce. If the CCD manufacturers could solve that problem I
would be on board. But no matter how you look at it a larger CCD
will always produce a higher quality image with less noise.

Click to expand...

While it is true in general that a larger CCD, the better the image quality, there is a point at which for most people it wouldn't matter. However it's not always the case, the Contax(?) full frame 35mm digital camera I seem to remember produces lower quality images than the APS sized CCD cameras.

At some point, the industry has to standardize on CCD size, and then work to improve that size of sensor, rather than just increasing the size of the sensor.

The same was true for film... Once 35mm film became the basic standard, development went into improving it, and now we have very fast film with very good grain, etc.

vjsilva said:

What advantages are there to a small CCD, other than a small lens.
There are advantages to APS over 35mm also, but it doesn't mean I
want an APS camera.

Click to expand...

vjsilva said:

VJS

Matthew Cromer said:

The D60, D100 etc. are nice cameras but I can't help the feeling
that they are yesterday's news. There are so many advantages to a
smaller sensor especially for people who want to shoot long glass.
Compare the 2100UZ which you can get for 1/2 the price of a Canon
100-400 IS lens by itself. Using smaller sensors makes so many
more things possible.

Sign me up for the new Olympus! And PLEASE let them offer a big
fast long lens at the introduction.

--
my favorite work: http://www.pbase.com/sdaconsulting/favorite_work

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Tom Gallo said:

Well, I don't understand why Olympus would even bother with
an interchangeable lens DSLR. It's not likely to be much less
expensive that the equivalent Nikon or Canon cameras and if I'm
going to spend Nikon or Canon dollars, I'm sure as heck not going
to go with Olympus.

Click to expand...

I would expect the Olympus camera system to be less expensive than a Nikon or Canon one.

I am expecting that the camera and standard zoom lens (specs similar to the E-xx) would go for about the same price as the current E-20 camera. The price for the camera and lens could even be as high as the cost of a Nikon/Canon body.

The real savings to the system would come from the savings on lenses. Both Canon and Nikon DSLR require their expensive line of lens to produce good digital images, also because of the multiplier effect we are talking about extreme wide-zooms as well. Lenses for the Nikon and Canon cameras thus are quite expensive. Olympus, by designing the lenses for the smaller CCD, would be much cheaper.

Also, there is the savings in size and weight of lenses designed for the smaller sensor.

Ripper103348 said:

The main reason is that if Olympus doesn't get much 3rd party
support today (try finding a flash besides the FL-40 that
does ttl) and if they go with a proprietary lens mount, there will
be little or no 3rd party lens support. So ODSLR owners are
locked into whatever Olympus chooses to offer for lenses.

Click to expand...

This is hard to speculate on... if the cameras do take off, then there will be 3rd party accessories available.

Also, I wonder if 3rd parties could make accessories at a reasonable price, while keeping the high quality level needed for digital lenses. Right now there are a number of third party E-xx addon lenses, but none of them match the quality of the Olympus addon lenses.

Besides, if Olympus keeps their prices reasonable, there may not be much of a need for 3rd party lenses.

Ripper103348 said:

Going with Canon or Nikon, on the other hand, opens up
the full range of 3rd party products, especially lenses. That
makes things much more flexible for the consumer. Not
to mention the fact that there are 3rd party lenses to
fit any budget, which can save money as well.

Click to expand...

One of the real advantages of the Nikon/Canon approach has to do with also being able to use the system with 35mm film.

Also, if Nikon/Canon can get a full frame sensor body out to market, that would also change a lot of things.

Ripper103348 said:

Don't get me wrong. I love my e-xx series cameras and
I'm sure the DSLR will be a great product, but I can't see
investing in a proprietary system, if it's gonna cost
anywhere near the price of an open system like
Nikon or Canon. The only way I can see myself investing
in this is if it is significantly cheaper that the equivalent Nikon
or Canon.

Click to expand...

I have no problem investing in a proprietary system from Olympus. Actually, with my E-20 system, I have already... The T-300 doesn't fit anything else, nor the FL-40. The 28 and 200, macro lenses are largely Olympus based.

Does it really make much of a difference if the lenses screw onto the main lens or replace it?

Ripper103348 said:

-T

Tony T C Lau said:

http://www.digitalcamera.jp just posted some news about Olympus' plan on
the 4/3 inch DSLR. For the fragments I can read, it looks like the
announcement will be made in Photokina (as we expected) and the
product will be available next spring.
--
Tony

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Few comments..

There are no yet any DSLRs (at least in "normal" price range) without so called "focal length multiplier" which makes for example in Canon D60 case a 35mm lens to behave like an 56mm lens. Not good for wide angle. This is very limiting and increases the price of lenses (for example a fast, wide angle lens is going to cost much). Reason for that is that with current lenses (film ones) the light doesn't get to the entire sensor in 90 degrees angle (required by CCD, not with film) so the entire area cannot be used. As far as I know Olympus is trying to build a system where the lense gives light in 90 degrees for entire sensor area, so no need to crop the picture by the sensor. Please correct me if I'm wrong with this. There are already interchangeable Olympus film cameras, so why not also digital.

About flashes. There are 3rd party flashes (from Metz) which work in full TTL with many Olympus digital cameras (C2500, E-10 and E-20 at least). I agree about the lenses. I don't think there will be any 3rd party lenses for olympus SLRs. BUT when you buy a 21mm lens from Olympus it'll work as a 21mm lens in your camera, with D60 you'd need a 13mm lens to get same wide angle.

• Juha

Tom Gallo said:

The main reason is that if Olympus doesn't get much 3rd party
support today (try finding a flash besides the FL-40 that
does ttl) and if they go with a proprietary lens mount, there will
be little or no 3rd party lens support. So ODSLR owners are
locked into whatever Olympus chooses to offer for lenses.

Going with Canon or Nikon, on the other hand, opens up
the full range of 3rd party products, especially lenses. That
makes things much more flexible for the consumer. Not
to mention the fact that there are 3rd party lenses to
fit any budget, which can save money as well.

Don't get me wrong. I love my e-xx series cameras and
I'm sure the DSLR will be a great product, but I can't see
investing in a proprietary system, if it's gonna cost
anywhere near the price of an open system like
Nikon or Canon. The only way I can see myself investing
in this is if it is significantly cheaper that the equivalent Nikon
or Canon.

-T

Tony T C Lau said:

http://www.digitalcamera.jp just posted some news about Olympus' plan on
the 4/3 inch DSLR. For the fragments I can read, it looks like the
announcement will be made in Photokina (as we expected) and the
product will be available next spring.
--
Tony

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Juha Koskela

Glenn Anderson said:

I would expect the Olympus camera system to be less expensive than
a Nikon or Canon one.

Click to expand...

It would HAVE to be, mind you the thought of matched sensor/ccd might be enough, to lure some people to the system regardless of price. I personally would wait until it was a stable system, less it go the way of APS.

Glenn Anderson said:

I am expecting that the camera and standard zoom lens (specs
similar to the E-xx) would go for about the same price as the
current E-20 camera. The price for the camera and lens could even
be as high as the cost of a Nikon/Canon body.

Click to expand...

I don't know, about this, they'd obviously have some costs to recoup for R&D etc, so I'd have to guess the price would be higher then the E20 is now, but really once you start to get into Canon's/Nikon's yard in terms of pricing, it becomes harder to sell, at least to the masses.

Glenn Anderson said:

The real savings to the system would come from the savings on
lenses. Both Canon and Nikon DSLR require their expensive line of
lens to produce good digital images,

Click to expand...

NO! Not at all, I guess if you read the CanonSLR forums, that you'd be led to believe that, but contrary to some more outspoken proponents of "L Glass", you don't need them to make good pictures. The lowly $90 50mm 1.8 Canon "all plastic special" is one of the best regarded lenses in the line up. The same goes for the 28-135, and 24-85 lens, and some sigma glass.

By all means there are more from which to choose, and many that will cost more than your car, but they are by no means "required" for great pictures.

Glenn Anderson said:

also because of the multiplier
effect we are talking about extreme wide-zooms as well. Lenses for
the Nikon and Canon cameras thus are quite expensive. Olympus, by
designing the lenses for the smaller CCD, would be much cheaper.

Click to expand...

It also requires more precise glass, for a smaller/noiser sensor, there are trade offs both ways, although the idea of actually getting 14mm on an SLR is intriguing. However, Oly probably wouldn't create all the lenses that I'd want, right off the bat, again a caveat of going with a new system.

Glenn Anderson said:

Also, there is the savings in size and weight of lenses designed
for the smaller sensor.

Click to expand...

I agree, this would be a HUGE benefit.

Glenn Anderson said:

This is hard to speculate on... if the cameras do take off, then
there will be 3rd party accessories available.

Click to expand...

Again, it's a waiting game, the first ones in might find the water very cold.

Glenn Anderson said:

Besides, if Olympus keeps their prices reasonable, there may not be
much of a need for 3rd party lenses.

Click to expand...

Have you seen the price of the LIPO? 3rd Party acessories/Lenses keeps the mfg somewhat honest in terms of pricing, at least in the consumer arena.

Glenn Anderson said:

Also, if Nikon/Canon can get a full frame sensor body out to
market, that would also change a lot of things.

Click to expand...

Oly had better get a good jump on this project, they've delayed it too much already, if they expect to make significant in roads, or any at all, they have to move quicker then the big dogs. If Canon/Nikon announces an equivilant system, (FF or Matched) you can probably pretty much bury the OlyDak, for everyone except the hardcore Olyites..

--
Theo

Where are we going?!!?....and what am I doing in this handbasket??!!

Tom Gallo said:

Well, I don't understand why Olympus would even bother with
an interchangeable lens DSLR. It's not likely to be much less
expensive that the equivalent Nikon or Canon cameras and if I'm
going to spend Nikon or Canon dollars, I'm sure as heck not going
to go with Olympus.

The main reason is that if Olympus doesn't get much 3rd party
support today (try finding a flash besides the FL-40 that
does ttl)

Click to expand...

There are two third party companies that produce flash units capable of TTL with the Exx cameras. Promaster has flashes that start under $150 and Metz makes a better flash than Oly does. You seem to be forgetting that many TTL flashes don't work with Canon or Nikon DSLR's (even TTL flashes made by Canon and Nikon themselves), so I fail to see your point on third party flashes.

Ripper103348 said:

and if they go with a proprietary lens mount, there will
be little or no 3rd party lens support. So ODSLR owners are
locked into whatever Olympus chooses to offer for lenses.

Click to expand...

Although it's just a rumour, I've read a few times that Olympus is trying to get third party support. This is supposedly why the camera has been delayed so long.

Ripper103348 said:

Going with Canon or Nikon, on the other hand, opens up
the full range of 3rd party products, especially lenses.

Click to expand...

Lenses, yes, but not flashes. If Oly can produce some really wide lenses, that will attract many people by itself.

Ripper103348 said:

Don't get me wrong. I love my e-xx series cameras and
I'm sure the DSLR will be a great product, but I can't see
investing in a proprietary system, if it's gonna cost
anywhere near the price of an open system like
Nikon or Canon.

Click to expand...

How are Nikon and Canon systems open? They both use their own proprietary lens mounts and their own proprietary flashes. Just because third party sup[port exists doesn't make it an open system. If you could put Canon glass on a Nikon camera, that would be a different story, but you can't.

Ripper103348 said:

The only way I can see myself investing
in this is if it is significantly cheaper that the equivalent Nikon
or Canon.

Click to expand...

The only way I see myself investing in a DSLR is if they cecome significantly cheaper period, not significantly cheaper than Canon or Nikon. When that time comes, I'll evaluate each system to see what fits my needs the most. If Olympus offers really wide angle lenses, and produces cameras and lenses that are smaller and lighter than other manufacturers, that may be enough to get my business.

--
dgrogers

http://www.pbase.com/drog

One of the most talked about rumors of the Olydak is that the lense system will be designed for the smaller CCD, and hence make for cheaper teles and wider lenses.

Maybe. But what is stopping Canon and Nikon from building digital only lenses for their D60/D100/D1x ?

I've only heard one person claim they can't because there's not enough room with the mirror to bring the digital lense close enough to the sensor to produce the smaller circle of confusion/image circle.

But if Oly designs are made so that the incoming image is collimated, then why can C/N do the same with their current mounts, and make them fit the 1.5 factor CCDs?

IF they can and if they do, then Oly has no huge advantage anymore.

--
Photos, tips and tests at:
http://www.geocities.com/glowluzid