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What Olympus camera is going to be more important...

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Basically, entry level DSLRs are expected to sell most, even more than m4/3 in the next couple of years. I will not be surprised if the E-450 outsells the fantastic E-620, as more first-time SLR buyers realize the importance of glass in IQ and choose Olympus over competition (thank you Canon for stepping over the line with your new 15MP offerings).

The E-30 is a rather limited upgrade path for existing users, but it fills a necessary position in the lineup.

The flagship slot is important as it defines the direction of the E series and incorporates the best IQ the system has to offer.

All those cameras form a strong system with something for everybody. They support each other in a synergistic way.

The m4/3 belongs to a new line of products. If it turns out to resemble the mockup it will be a fasion item and as such its success will depend very much on PR and pricing. In fact it's impossible to predict what the market will make of it and how it will be positioned eventually. It may end up anywhere between a photographer's second or third camera which will hardly sell and the most popular gadget of 2010, selling in hundreds of thousands. I hope very much Olympus understands the potential and is already working on a huge campaign employing supermodels and pop stars.
 
duckling said:
Basically, entry level DSLRs are expected to sell most, even more
than m4/3 in the next couple of years. I will not be surprised if the
E-450 outsells the fantastic E-620, as more first-time SLR buyers
realize the importance of glass in IQ and choose Olympus over
competition (thank you Canon for stepping over the line with your new
15MP offerings).
Click to expand...
Yes, but if people think well they realize that the E-620 is a better choice.
Glass is really important i'm glad too that people begin to realize that.
duckling said:
The E-30 is a rather limited upgrade path for existing users, but it
fills a necessary position in the lineup.
The flagship slot is important as it defines the direction of the E
series and incorporates the best IQ the system has to offer.
All those cameras form a strong system with something for everybody.
They support each other in a synergistic way.
Click to expand...
The E-30 is a surprise, lot's of people buying it. And the price is going to drop, the E-30 is going to be a very good value.
duckling said:
The m4/3 belongs to a new line of products. If it turns out to
resemble the mockup it will be a fasion item and as such its success
will depend very much on PR and pricing. In fact it's impossible to
predict what the market will make of it and how it will be positioned
eventually. It may end up anywhere between a photographer's second or
third camera which will hardly sell and the most popular gadget of
2010, selling in hundreds of thousands. I hope very much Olympus
understands the potential and is already working on a huge campaign
employing supermodels and pop stars.
Click to expand...
--
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication

http://aleo-photo.pt.vu
 
Aleo Veuliah said:
What Olympus camera is going to be more important for the good future
of Olympus ?

E-4 (or 5, but must be E-4), the E-30, the E-620, the E-450, or the
micro four thirds cameras and lenses.
Click to expand...
The E-620, since it has the potential to let them eat into the entry-level where most of the sales are, and is just as technically capable as the high-end models;
Aleo Veuliah said:
What lenses are really important in the 4/3 line.
Click to expand...
The lenses that are both broadly useful and that fulfill the promise of Four-Thirds: sharper, cheaper, lighter.

That would be:

14-42, 40-150, 70-300, 12-60, 50-200
 
the strength/quality of the kit lenses gets them a vote. the 12-60 is really great---and it bumps out the 14-54. the 50 is an optical standard. the 7-14 a marvel. the 70-300 is also a marvel of value. the 50-200 is an excellent piece of equipment that is within reach of many.

my next vote goes to the 11-22---better, more solid than the 9-18 and similarly priced---and just a great lens, and the 150 f2---the results of which are truly superb.
 
not sure m43 can replace dslr's....we'll see about that. and we don't know what the next flagship model brings----if it really houses some important innovations that then are trickled down to the rest of the models [as several from management have outlined as a general philosophy], then it will be important.
 
tex said:
not sure m43 can replace dslr's....we'll see about that. and we
don't know what the next flagship model brings----if it really houses
some important innovations that then are trickled down to the rest of
the models [as several from management have outlined as a general
philosophy], then it will be important.
Click to expand...
In order for micro to replace dSLRs, I think we are going to have to see micros that are larger in size. Probably close to E30 size. Mongo Micros. ;)

Otherwise, I don;t think they will be very good with larger lenses. And, from the Oly interview, only some lenses will be smaller. I suspect a 70-300mm is still going to be about the same size. Something like a 50-200mm too. Telephoto and fast lenses I just can't see using solely on the mini micro we have seen as a prototype nor even on a G1 size camera.

--
Stu
E510, TZ4
.
 
It makes sense for people like me that do not intend on having multiple systems.

For me to buy into mFT I would need to see a few small light lenses but also be able to choose faster and optically better lenses when weight is not an issue. My ideal mFT kit would be a single body with 2 lightweight zooms covering the 12-150 mm range, an mFT version of the f2 macro and an mFT version of the 50-200. If I buy into mFT I will sell all my non-compatible FT equipment.

If they made a version of the 50-200 that was CDAF capable I would buy one now and use an adaptor if I switch to mFT. An mFT only version of that lens would not be noticeably smaller. I keep thinking about buying one but the price and doubts about whether I am going to switch to mFT keep me from placing an order.
 
Sculptur said:
It proves to be great for manual focussing and it also gives (sadly
for buyers) legacy lens prices a boost on E-bay.
Click to expand...
It's not just great Michiel, it's invaluable!

And even though this gives new life to old glass, those prices are almost one order of magnitude below of what digital has to offer.

I've build up a nice range and quite my shovel of focus frustration on the E-510, now I'm happy the bodies are arriving. I've borrowed a G1 this weekend, and I my keeper rate is going through the roof!

For this, m43 and EVIL is the way to go for me. Even though my E-510 has served me well, I'm the least bit interested on the 620 which is undoubtly the DSLR to get at the moment.

Duarte Bruno
 
I don't see m4/3 alone replacing the SLR -- what I see is the mirror going away. Samsung has already announced an APS format camera, RED is working on a modular system, and no doubt there will be other choices. There will be professional grade mirrorless systems in the near future, but if Olympus doesn't get get moving m4/3 may not even be a serious contender.

--
Gato

Alternative portraits and lifestyle photography
http://www.silvermirage.com
(Possibly NSFW in some offices)
 
--

When you consider everything that has been packed into the 620, perhaps everything that went into it was not ready 1 year ago. I'm thinking of the image stabilization. The 5xx series seemed to be as small as they could go for I.S. In the interview, Olympus said that I.S. would be in the m43. It's possible that they had a goal to develop IS for the smaller body, accomplished that, and then decided to put it into a near 420 sized body, while still working out the kinks in the m43 body.
 
I'd say the E-410/420 and E-510 - these are affordable, still readily available and make great first choices for people wanting to try a DSLR. I chose the E-510, still have it and will continue to use it until I can fit an upgrade into my budget. In these economic times, I believe that Olympus will weather the storm not by putting out a lot of new and expensive models, but by maintaining a few proven older ones that newbies to Oly can actually pay for and learn from. The bigger the market base right now, the better the sales in the future once the world's financial situation improves. Not everyone can find the cash for an E-3/4/5 or an E-30 or even an E-620. But picking up an E-510 on ebay is an attractive enticement to a newcomer.

Just my opinion.

Brenda
 
This could very well be the killer camera.

The price is right.
The features are outstanding.
The ergonomics are beautiful.
And it is targeted at the mass market, so that means volume sales.

The only open question is the review results.

If this camera reviews well, then Olympus will have a major hit on their hands. Just like Panasonic can't seem to make LX3s fast enough, the same thing will happen for Olympus' E620s.

The E620 literally tramples anything from Canon, Nikon, Pentax or Sony at the same price point, and will force everyone else to try harder.

All the other cameras you mentioned are important too... but each one is aimed at a niche audience. The success or failure of the E620 will have the greatest impact on the ongoing success or failure of Olympus.

E3/4/5.... important as flagship, but not much volume. Largely a prestiege item.

E30........ will not sell many, unless deeply discounted. Great camera. Price too high.
E450...... promo item for QVC. Bascially a E420 MkII. No big deal.

µ4/3...... could be a hot seller, if they go the rangefider style route.

But here's the real problem with µ4/3 - it is essentially a brand new system, despite the lens compatiblity via adapters. Lets face it, no one in their right mind will be mounting a 12-60mm or 50-200mm lens to this tiny little camera. So this just means in order to make this system work, you really need to bring out 4 or 5 brand new mini lenses designed expressly for it. And they must be outstanding lenses, an they must be fairly reasonably priced. This is a whole lot easier said than done.

As far as lenses go, Olympus probably has the finest lenses available right now for consumer grade cameras. It might be nice to have a few more primes, but I don't think anyone else comes close in that price range.
--
Marty
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marty4650/sets/72157606210120132/show/
http://marty4650.zenfolio.com/p82379129/slideshow#h275db7e6

Panasonic FZ30, LX2, TZ5
Olympus E-510, Zuiko 12-42mm, 40-150mm, 40mm, 50mm

 
Like me!

Bought my first SLR, a used E-510, a few months ago.

It's a great machine.
 
The micro 4/3 could be the big one for Olympus... if they don't wait too long.

It's the camera that could entice the higher end point and shoot people into DSLR cameras. I had an 8080 and and sp350... loved 'em, but wanted more... and I wanted it small. With each of those cameras, I thought "gee, I wish these had interchangeable lenses".

I'm currently shooting with a Canon G9, but I'm waiting to see the new m4/3 before making another move (although that new Sony point and shoot with the swing pano feature and HD video has me curious). Micro 4/3 has the potential to swing myself and lots of other point and shoot/DSLR fence sitters over. It also has a lot of potential as a second camera for the current DSLR folk, I meet a lot of them that pick up a high end point and shoot for a "backup", because of size, that end up using the point and shoot far more frequently than expected.

If Oly snoozes, they'll lose.... if they jump into it in a big enough way they've got an opportunity to make big inroads in market share by snatching up the high end point and shooters and the competition's DSLR folk looking for something more portable.
 
To me, real question is why no articulated LCD on the 5xx models -- that is really what sets the 620 apart from the competition, IMO. The size, pixel count, even the additional focus points did take some time, but the LCD would have been easy.

Olympus was first in the market with Live View, a feature that is changing the whole SLR experience, but they seem very slow to take full advantage of it.

--
Gato

Alternative portraits and lifestyle photography
http://www.silvermirage.com
(Possibly NSFW in some offices)
 
Aleo Veuliah said:
What Olympus camera is going to be more important for the good future
of Olympus ?

E-4 (or 5, but must be E-4), the E-30, the E-620, the E-450, or the
micro four thirds cameras and lenses.
Click to expand...
Sorry, I just can't accept what will likely be an $800 camera missing a feature a $400 P&S should probably have. Having to tack on a $200 accessory hot shoe optical viewfinder like Sigma and Ricoh isn't a terrific option. A finder that can only frame for one focal length.

However, there is so little real information about the u4/3rds line from Olympus we really can't know how it's all going to shape up. So, at least for now, I'm stuck with going G1 to get an EVF. I hope u4/3rds is a smashing success and Olympus is good at bringing revolutionary ideas to the table so I think it will be.

Now watch, the 2nd camera released will be like the G1 only better! :)
 
1) The E620
The Camera for the Masses. It will sell like Hot Chocolate.

2) Olympuy "E4"

The next Pro hast to be the big Leap forward for Olympus - not only as Camera for future Models and Developments, but also to get-in the Pro, Advance Amateurs and Outdoor Photographers as well as to prove that there is a reason for the Super High Grade Lenses.

3) m4/3 Rangefinder Like

Yes, the m4/3 has to be a traditional Rangefinder-Like-Design with good standard zooms and great primes.

Timi

--
iThink, therefore iMac
 
When can we expect the E620 report from that weekend event you held recently? Thanks. Regards

Bob Carstens
 
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