Interesting new compact cameras from Olympus

Dpreview reports that Olympus has seven new compact cameras slated for release.

And there are some very interesting things here:

• SD cards rather than XD on most new models
• 1GB internal memory on Tough 3000, µ5010 and µ7030
• 2GB internal memory on µ9010 and µ7040
• HD video on many models
• Several new models starting at 26mm
• 4X, 5X, 7X and 10X zooms
• Art filters!

And one big disappointment:

• 14.5 MP crammed onto a very small sensor

I think these are mostly very good ideas. The switch to SD cards was long overdue, and the internal memory being bumped up is a huge plus. This means some users may never need to buy a memory card, since their cameras will store several hundred photos at highest resolution.

Personally, I felt that other than the SP series, Olympus hasn't made a decent compact camera since the Camedia series, but maybe things are changing....
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Marty
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marty4650/sets/72157606210120132/show/
http://www.fluidr.com/photos/marty4650/sets/72157606210120132
Olympus E-30
Zuiko 9-18mm
Zuiko 14-54mm II
Zuiko 40-150mm I
Zuiko 70-300mm
Zuiko 50mm f/2.0 macro

Thanks for the information...hoping that things improve for the Olympus P&S cameras. I heard that the Kodak Z981 is getting a 14mp sensor too with 26x zoom, starting at 26mm EFL wide. It seems so many of them are increasing the megapixels on the sensors. I wonder if that's just a marketing thing to generate sales. If one does it, they all have to, I suppose.

Some say it is only the sensor size that is important for noise.
if the pixels do not block photon's.
For example the new generation sensors.
Berl.

I personally believe that if the consumer doesn’t read the reviews he can pick up almost any P&S camera that fits his experience and get good pictures from it and he wll be happy with his choise. The current digital cameras are remarkable and most P&S buyers are not looking for 11x14 or larger prints. The only caveat is that the manufacturer provides good quality in the workmanship and good service and so far I think Oly does quite well in these areas. There are couple of manufactures whose commitment to quality and service have been questioned on their forum on this site and I have hesitates to consider them in purchases. That said it would be nice to find reviewers and users debating the quality of images from an Olympus in the same sentence as the G11 or the LX3.

Small sensors are performing somewhat better today thanks to improvements in sensor technology and processor engine design.

But if it was possible to get "great image quality" from a 1/2.5" sensor packed with 14 MP, then it should theoretically be possible to get "great image quality" from a 4/3" sensor packed with 140 MP, since we know the 4/3" sensor has ten times the surface area of a 1/2.5" sensor.

And then an APS-C sensor could have 208 MP.... since it's 14 times largeer than a 1/2.5" sensor.

And we know this isn't possible, which means someone is lying about "great image quality." Well, I suppose they really aren't lying, they are just assuming you will never go above base ISO, or shoot in anything less than ideal conditions.

--
Marty
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marty4650/sets/72157606210120132/show/
http://www.fluidr.com/photos/marty4650/sets/72157606210120132
Olympus E-30
Zuiko 9-18mm
Zuiko 14-54mm II
Zuiko 40-150mm I
Zuiko 70-300mm
Zuiko 50mm f/2.0 macro

There's nuttin' new with these new releases - all catering to the pop-culture mindset - which includes fancy colors, modernistic designs, etc. Yet where it really counts - superb IQ, inclusion of RAW capabilities, and better glass - all are gone. These Stylus releases will continue to be plagued with very poor corner sharpness and overall lack of suitable IQ. Yet Olympus continues with these. It is obvious that the once mighty R&D teams involved with the likes of the superb Camedia series of years ago have been let go, or re-diverted to the 4/3 side of the home.

As I said in another posting, why doesn't Olympus just stop making digicams completely and focus solely on the 4/3 end of things? It may suit them well because what they are continuously releasing on the digicam side of the house is embarrassing.

Want a good advanced digicam - you have choices: Canon G11 and S90, the Panny LX-3 (Leica D-Lux 4), and some of the Fuji offerings with their new EXR sensor.

I am totally disgusted with Olympus on the digicam side of the house. Why bother...

Okay, I'm done with the rant!
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in that Olympus has given up on trying to produce an advanced digicam.

I sort of see micro 4/3 as the successor to the the likes of the camedia line - Small camera with advanced features, and from my perspective Olympus is (lately) putting most of their effort into that rather than 4/3.
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Marc

To the Advanced Digicams list, you can add the Sony's with the Exmor R sensor, and now Casio has a model with a back lighted sensor and interesting features. Might also consider some of the Ricoh models in that class.

I fully agree with your take on Olympus. The move to the SD card was long overdue. I saw the Xd card as a barrier to crossover sales to owners of other brands. I'm one of those owners, and now that Olympus has gone to SD, I will start to look at their products next time I'm in the market. With the Xd card, I didn't even bother. Same with Sony.

However, now that Oly has my attention, they need to have some products that hold my attention. A really good flagship model would be a big help. I didn't buy it, but Panasonic's LX3 really got my attention, and it held it long enough for me to explore other Lumix models - so I eventually bought an FZ28 and now the FZ35.
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Jerry

The new Art filter, Sketch seems interesting (maybe a firmware update for it later for we who have the the E-620 for example?), but I will wait and see what others experience with them. I've pledged not to drop more $$ in p&s models until the image quality picks up.
--
The Last of the Yashicans.

Some developments for example the ep1 / 2 has been found in the digicams. Apparently as a testing ground. Such as the better Caf of the EP2. Perhaps this is something? Be optimistic!

Hi Ben,

Sad part is, that people obviously must still buy these things. As long as people will fork out the money, I suspect that Oly will continue to pump this stuff out.

Ben Herrmann said:

As I said in another posting, why doesn't Olympus just stop making digicams completely and focus solely on the 4/3 end of things? It may suit them well because what they are continuously releasing on the digicam side of the house is embarrassing.

Click to expand...

--
Duane
(Life is what happens while you're making other plans!)

GeraldW said:

I fully agree with your take on Olympus. The move to the SD card was long overdue. I saw the Xd card as a barrier to crossover sales to owners of other brands. I'm one of those owners, and now that Olympus has gone to SD, I will start to look at their products next time I'm in the market. With the Xd card, I didn't even bother. Same with Sony.

Click to expand...

Yep, the switch to SD was definitely too little too late.

Whatever, lead Olympus had built up in the late 90's an early 00's was completely erased by the mid 00's with their bad decisions to go with no OIS and stick with xD cards. That pushed me to Panasonic and I've not looked back. So even if I do get a 4/3rds camera it would be the Pansonic, not the pen.

I hope Olympus can recover from their bad decisions in the 2000's, but nothing in their non 4/3rds line up separate it from the competitors, so it's not looking good.

Marty,

I also read your post about the C-8080 on Olyboy's No Repair thread. Now that's a great camera. It's that incredible, fast 28-140 mm f/2.4-3.5 lens and large 2/3" sensor that make it unique, among other things. I think you suggested they up the ISO capacity, make larger LCD screen and upgrade USB from 1.0. A higher ISO would require a new sensor. The larger LCD screenw would help with image review. I don't care much about USB since I download all my images from a card reader.

Even with the E-3 as my primary camera now I still use the C-8080 a lot. It's got good long DOF compared to the 4/3 format. I think with the EP-1 now there's less need for a bridge camera like the C-8080 and the cost to produce one with the qualities you noted would be too expensive.

The best thing going for most of the latest P&S with miniscule sensors is they have great DOF.
Here's something else about DOF:
We Need More Votes

Challenge 81, long DOF needs more votes. Winning is an honor that should come with recognition from your peers. The more people who vote, the clearer the winning outcome is.

I'm trying to encourage more participation. For this Challenge we need more voters. So I'm asking everyone to vote.
We Need More Votes
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--
Dave

Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
http://whaleshark.smugmug.com

Marty4650 said:

Dpreview reports that Olympus has seven new compact cameras slated for release.

And there are some very interesting things here:

Click to expand...

Since I already have the Stylus 7020 with a 8GB microSDHC card in it, the following are the features that interest me.

Marty4650 said:

• SD cards rather than XD on most new models
• 2GB internal memory on µ9010 and µ7040
• HD video on many models
• 10X zoom on the µ9010

Click to expand...

Unfortunately the release date is a bit close to Easter when I go to the Canberra National Folk Festival. So there will not be enough time to find out how many batteries I need per day. HD video inevitably will chew through the batteries faster than VGA at 30fps does for me now.

My caveat is - the lens on the µ9010 is the same as that on the µ9000. It did not compare well in the pocket zoom roundup earlier this year.

Marty4650 said:

And one big disappointment:

• 14.5 MP crammed onto a very small sensor

Click to expand...

If there is more noise and less saturation than on my Stylus 7020, yes, it will be a worry.

Henry

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Henry Falkner - SP-570UZ, Stylus 7020, Stylus 800, D-490Z
http://www.pbase.com/hfalkner

I don't usually vote on challenges, but I will vote on this one...
--
Marty
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marty4650/sets/72157606210120132/show/
http://www.fluidr.com/photos/marty4650/sets/72157606210120132
Olympus E-30
Zuiko 9-18mm
Zuiko 14-54mm II
Zuiko 40-150mm I
Zuiko 70-300mm
Zuiko 50mm f/2.0 macro

Thanks Marty,

We need the input to make these Challenges interesting. The Challenges serve a good puspose here on OTF.--
Dave

Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
http://whaleshark.smugmug.com