Reading mode: Light Dark

Olympus Alive Petition

Go to last post
Guys, I am not always keen on change but , considering how good the image quality is from mFT already and given a couple of years development, I think that mFT will deliver the goods the main weaknesses of the system at present are more to do with the current emphasis being on small. This has resulted in a lot of small slow zooms and the cameras more geared at small size than overall functionality.

Olympus is easily capable of producing a high end mFT body, and I think the major issues to overcome are a lot better EVF if it is to replace the high end OVF, s like the one in the E-5,{ a good EVF would be far better than the small optical finders lower down the range}. Introduction of a few higher end lenses and something that allows fast AF with FT lenses. All the early reports about the Panasonic GH2 seem to suggest that the AF is pretty nippy. So things are moving forward.

I don’t think it is the death of a system quite the contrary I think it is the evolution of the system and potentially very lucrative if Olympus decides to really go for it.
Jim
 
cheesburger said:
Please, read and subscribe if you care about the future of 4/3 System

It's a public petition, promoted by the biggest italian forum regarding FourThirds and MicroFourThirds systems ( http://www.photocommunity.qtp.it )

Don't let the 4/3 System to be abandoned by Olympus
Thanks!

http://www.photocommunity.qtp.it/petition/index.php
Click to expand...
The 4/3 platform can deliver both DSLR & mirrorless innovations that add value to the evolution of imaging, but don't fit the µ4/3 architecture. Using the space currently tasked to the mirrorbox for new mirrorless technologies, Oly can deliver blackout-less shooting (the pellicle approach, or liquid crystal prism), or ultra-high DR (multi-sensor architecture), or hybrid PDAF/CDAF autofocus systems that deliver superior precision & predictivity to focusing. There are so many improvements that can obviate the DSLR as we know it today & bring in fantastic new capabilities. DO IT!

--
'I have no responsibilities here whatsoever'
 
And I add, they can eventually even, on top of these possible innovations, shrink the package and deliver E-1/3/5 quality in a E-6xx size (or even E-4xx - remember that a very good prism will not be a must!)
--
Antonio

http://ferrer.smugmug.com/
 
I will gladly accept all of the Oly bodies and lenses that you do not want to be seen with any more. : )
 
blah blah blah..............nothing more then just blahhhhhhhhh!!!!! inconsequential materially minded blah
--

 
I agree,however problem is that it might make more sense to issue new HG lenses for Micro instead of revamping for a dead system.

In the end Oly has probably decided that Micro is the more flexible format and I agree. Once it starts issuing HG glass for it, possibly in 2011 as Garcia, head of Europe marketing hinted at, who will buy revamped classic 4/3 glass?

Frankly my advice is to supplement one's dSLR with Micro as soon as possible. That way old glass and one's dSLR will last a very long time, considering also leftover stocks.

Meanwhile Micro will reach semipro or pro status, people will realise the advantages of fast CDAF and fast EVF, and this 'tragedy' or farce will be over.

In a way the GH2 has solved many problems which seemed unsolvable, including ultrafast CDAF.

Although not weathersealed or built as a tank, is a very reasonable main camera, which doesn't cost like the E-5, and probably has many more features.

I have both a 620 and a Micro and I am perfectly satisfied by both.

Am.
--
Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/amalric
 
Travel_G said:
I completely agree with you if we assume that the only purpose of mirorless is going smaller.

Now mirorless has the potential of having other advantages, providing the EVF technology evolves as to match (or be close to match) a good FF OVF.

Amongst these advantages:

-No mirror flip induced vibration
-Easier implementation of fast fps (cf the new sony's)

-Less moving mechanical parts, less wear and tear (although from a manufacturer point of view this is might not be seen as an advantage)
-Better liveview perf.
...

-Giving a good EVF, histogram, DOF preview, easier to implement 100% coverage etc...

Personally I can see the interest in large mirorless camera with big lenses.
Click to expand...
I know there are some advantages, but when people talk about mirrorless they often think of small systems. While they can be made slightly smaller than mirrored ones, the differences are minimal in size, if at all. Just look at the PEN with the EVF on it. It is taller than the E-4xx and maybe even the E-5. It is not as thick, but the differences are minimal compared with the E-4xx/6xx.

If you want to make the current lenses compatible without the need of adapters than the light box must be of the same size as it is today. If you make the camera with an EVF than the EVF will take as much space as today's OVF, so there is no way anyone can make significantly smaller mirrorless DSLRs than today's mirrored systems.
Travel_G said:
BTW: Played quite a bit with a D300s this week end, sweet camera indeed.
Click to expand...
I play with it every day. ;)

Yes, it's a nice camera, I am still happy with it and I am sure it will keep me going until the D400 is out, or even after that. Of course, if Nikon is not going bust on Monday... or stops making APS-C... or whatever else happens. If that happens I can always buy an E-5 or a Canon, but most probably it will be a Pentax in that case. ;)
--
Never forget that only dead fish swim with the stream.
(Malcolm Muggeridge)
 
Tbolt47 said:
olyflyer said:
Tbolt47 said:
rapick said:
Tbolt47 said:
rapick said:
Put your Oly FT gear on e-bay as early as you can (what I did 3 years ago).

Or guard it until it raises to an unpredictable high "collectible" value (it could be the case with a few SHG glasses).
Click to expand...
Why has it all suddenly stopped working?
Click to expand...
It is about minimizing the risk of heavy money losses.
Click to expand...
Olympus are just one of the first to go mirrorless, do you not think all the major DSLR will go mirrorless eventually? At the moment I'm invested in 4/3 and I will keep that going for a while, I'm not going to switch and spend alot of money on someone like Nikon or Canon only then have to switch to a mirrorless system. Maybe Nikon and Canon might come up with a good mirrorless system that allows the use of DSLR lenses, but then again Olympus might also.
Click to expand...
The problem is that if you want to use your DSLR lenses on a mirrorless system the system must be as large as a DSLR, so the advantages will be practically zero.
Click to expand...
Oly was talking about 20 fps;
Click to expand...
Yes... dream on...

20fps 12MP (much more by that time) images takes a lot of processing power, memory space and so on. It won't happen for quite a while and definitely not in the consumer bodies.

Also to get 20fps you need not only a mirrorless system but also one with electronic shutter.

The possibility is there, but it will take time and cost money.
Tbolt47 said:
less moving parts = less to go wrong
Click to expand...
I say the opposite. If something goes wrong it is most probably the electronics. How many people have had their mirror mechanism failed? I don't think as many as those who had electronic problems. If something fails it will most probably be the shutter, so for reliability electronic shutters would give a huge plus, mirror less, not that much, if at all.
Tbolt47 said:
and less power required;
Click to expand...
I am not sure. Remember, live view 100% of the time consumes power. EVF consumes power, OVF does not consume anything. Both electronic shutters and mechanical ones consume, maybe the electronic a little bit more, but in total, I don't think a mirror less system would consume less than a mirrored.
Tbolt47 said:
no complicated change of focusing screen - just change you focus dispaly at the touch of a button.
Click to expand...
The focusing screen of the E-3 is not changable, unlike the OM system was. I don't know if the E-5 is different, but no consumer models had changable focus screens. I also don’t know what you mean. Microprism based focusing screen is no longer used normally and to have different guide lines is perfectly possible even today. Just look at the Nikon cameras with OVF. No need of EVF to get that kind of function.
Tbolt47 said:
As electronics get better there will not be a reason to have a mirror.
Click to expand...
Must get a lot better than it is today, but yes, one day it will come.
Tbolt47 said:
Give it 10 years and you will not see a mirror in a camera, even larger cameras.
Click to expand...
I would not hold my breath... What will happen is that the consumer bodies will all be mirrorless and have EVF or display only. I think that the top bodies will still be OVF, or at least some models. EVFs will become cheaper than OVFs and when they bear even they will replace all OVFs eventually. Not necessarily because they are better but because it will be cheaper for the manufacturer and better than pentamirrors. In time every camera will have EVF, but I think 10 years is not enough.
--
Never forget that only dead fish swim with the stream.
(Malcolm Muggeridge)
 
amalric said:
I agree,however problem is that it might make more sense to issue new HG lenses for Micro instead of revamping for a dead system.
Click to expand...
4/3 is not dead, but it may become a variant of m4/3, just like a different body color.

At the longer lenses with focal length starting at the 4/3 mount distance (40mm-xxxmm), the lens design of 4/3 and m4/3 lenses can also be exactly the same. Or it may even be possible that the lenses have a screwable 4/3 and m4/3 end delivered it the box, which does cost not much.

The Problem may be that m4/3 has 2 more contact pins, so Oly should add these 2 new contact pins to new versions of 4/3 products also
amalric said:
In the end Oly has probably decided that Micro is the more flexible format and I agree. Once it starts issuing HG glass for it, possibly in 2011 as Garcia, head of Europe marketing hinted at, who will buy revamped classic 4/3 glass?
Click to expand...
The users of 4/3 bodies like I. Even if future 4/3 bodies become EVF-Cameras, we have the freedon to also use an OVF with older/2010er 4/3 cameras.

the E-5 will not so fast be obsolete, because I assume the sensor ( and analog signal processing ) is closer to the theoreticall limits
amalric said:
Frankly my advice is to supplement one's dSLR with Micro as soon as possible. That way old glass and one's dSLR will last a very long time, considering also leftover stocks.

Meanwhile Micro will reach semipro or pro status, people will realise the advantages of fast CDAF and fast EVF, and this 'tragedy' or farce will be over.
Click to expand...
I want to have glass which can be used on 4/3 and m4/3
amalric said:
In a way the GH2 has solved many problems which seemed unsolvable, including ultrafast CDAF.
Click to expand...
yes but it may look strange but for some kinds of photography its an advantage to have a big camera body ( psychological reasons and those reasons are important, many aspects of photography are psychological )
 
Mr.NoFlash said:
amalric said:
In the end Oly has probably decided that Micro is the more flexible format and I agree. Once it starts issuing HG glass for it, possibly in 2011 as Garcia, head of Europe marketing hinted at, who will buy revamped classic 4/3 glass?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Mr.NoFlash said:
The users of 4/3 bodies like I. Even if future 4/3 bodies become EVF-Cameras, we have the freedon to also use an OVF with older/2010er 4/3 cameras.
Click to expand...
You are probably already buying from dwindling lens stocks, since Oly took the decision to change the main mount.
Mr.NoFlash said:
the E-5 will not so fast be obsolete, because I assume the sensor ( and analog signal processing ) is closer to the theoreticall limits.
Click to expand...
Meanwhile the GH2 is reaching 16 Mpx...
Mr.NoFlash said:
Mr.NoFlash said:
Frankly my advice is to supplement one's dSLR with Micro as soon as possible. That way old glass and one's dSLR will last a very long time, considering also leftover stocks.

Meanwhile Micro will reach semipro or pro status, people will realise the advantages of fast CDAF and fast EVF, and this 'tragedy' or farce will be over.
Click to expand...
I want to have glass which can be used on 4/3 and m4/3
Mr.NoFlash said:
In a way the GH2 has solved many problems which seemed unsolvable, including ultrafast CDAF.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Mr.NoFlash said:
yes but it may look strange but for some kinds of photography its an advantage to have a big camera body ( psychological reasons and those reasons are important, many aspects of photography are psychological )
Click to expand...
Yes, denial is a psychological problem.

Am.

--
Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/amalric
 
amalric said:
amalric said:
the E-5 will not so fast be obsolete, because I assume the sensor ( and analog signal processing ) is closer to the theoreticall limits.
Click to expand...
Meanwhile the GH2 is reaching 16 Mpx...
Click to expand...
The High Iso comparison GH2 / E-5 still has to be made, so it may be that the E-5 is slightly better at High-Iso. I know the GH2 is also good.

Regarding MP, the situation will probably be that for those few moments when you need many MP, you have to grap a EVF m/43 or EVF 4/3 body, but 12MP are enough for 90% of the cases. serious 4/3 System owners will then have OVF bodys and EVF bodys.

I know two advantages why a pro photograoher prefers a 12MP sensor instead of a 16 MP sensor:
1. High Iso ( but ok, the future technologies may negate this argument )

2. He promises the clients ( wedding ... ) Photos in "original resolution". Then its more easy to postprocess 300 12MP images than 300 20MP images, time is money

cheers

Mr.NoFlash
 
amalric said:
amalric said:
amalric said:
In a way the GH2 has solved many problems which seemed unsolvable, including ultrafast CDAF.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
amalric said:
yes but it may look strange but for some kinds of photography its an advantage to have a big camera body ( psychological reasons and those reasons are important, many aspects of photography are psychological )
Click to expand...
Yes, denial is a psychological problem.
Click to expand...
Only as long as the photographer photographs only for fun.

If he has custumers, and the customers have a mind set like "a serious photographer has a reasonable big camera", then you cannot change that easy. It may be possible to change that client mind set with much talking effort, but that effort should be better spent to do something productive.

cheers

Mr.NoFlash
 
Mr.NoFlash said:
Jan3x5 said:
Oly will release in 2011/2012 the "mixed" m4/3 and 4/3 body to accept both lens types
Click to expand...
sounds possible, but what is your source of information ?

Also possible would be that Oly makes " 4/3 with longer mount versions " of bigger m4/3 cameras, no reasearch is necessary for that, thats like different body colors.

Also ( and I hope for that ) possible is that Oly fills the empty space in the mount with something useful, some but not much research is necessary for that.
Mr.NoFlash said:
lenses (some will be discontinued, as supertelephoto SHG lenses).
Click to expand...
sounds possible, but what is your source of information ?

thanks
Mr.NoFlash
Click to expand...
Just an assumption, of course. I am expecting that based on information from interviews or other sources as all bodies except E-5 are discontinued, m4/3 and 4/3 will make one system, etc. and expecting no followers of some SHG lenses because of size, weight and price (but others to come for m4/3).

Shame on Oly they haven't released that body before discontinued most of 4/3 range.

--
http://www.intopicture.com
 
rapick said:
Tbolt47 said:
rapick said:
Put your Oly FT gear on e-bay as early as you can (what I did 3 years ago).

Or guard it until it raises to an unpredictable high "collectible" value (it could be the case with a few SHG glasses).
Click to expand...
Why has it all suddenly stopped working?
Click to expand...
It is about minimizing the risk of heavy money losses.
--
Rapick
Jalbum supporter
http://www.pbase.com/rapick
http://rapick.jalbum.net/
Click to expand...
I have too many expensive Olympus lenses. I was thinking about selling some of them and maybe experementing with a second system.

The problem is you take a 30-50% loss on the resale value of Olympus lenses and replace them with expensive new lenses from another company (that also depreciate rapidly) and you have the same loss as if the Olympus lenses had dropped to 1/3 of their original value.

This is a transition period for cameras. It is difficult to figure out if the lenses we have will be leading the change or obsolete.

--
Jon
 
Mr.NoFlash said:
Mr.NoFlash said:
Mr.NoFlash said:
Mr.NoFlash said:
In a way the GH2 has solved many problems which seemed unsolvable, including ultrafast CDAF.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Mr.NoFlash said:
yes but it may look strange but for some kinds of photography its an advantage to have a big camera body ( psychological reasons and those reasons are important, many aspects of photography are psychological )
Click to expand...
Yes, denial is a psychological problem.
Click to expand...
Only as long as the photographer photographs only for fun.

If he has custumers, and the customers have a mind set like "a serious photographer has a reasonable big camera", then you cannot change that easy. It may be possible to change that client mind set with much talking effort, but that effort should be better spent to do something productive.
Click to expand...
This is very true. Indeed the E-5 is only a shell of an E-3, hiding a smaller camera inside, the E-PL1 .

How clever.

Am.
--
Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/amalric
 
That reply pretty much sums up my own thoughts and personal feelings on this subject. I love the gear I have and unless my needs change I'm not selling current gear or switching "just in case".

Thanks for a great reply.

Jeff
 
Consumer campaign organisations have been know to work if they represent the views of enough consumers
rapick said:
"That's the market , baby. The market ! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!" -- (inspired by Humphrey Bogart as crusading editor Ed Hutcheson in "Deadline -- U.S.A." (1952))

Decisions were taken.

A few dozens signatures won't change that.

Put your Oly FT gear on e-bay as early as you can (what I did 3 years ago).

Or guard it until it raises to an unpredictable high "collectible" value (it could be the case with a few SHG glasses).

Good day and good luck!
--
Rapick
Jalbum supporter
http://www.pbase.com/rapick
http://rapick.jalbum.net/
Click to expand...
 
DickyUK said:
Consumer campaign organisations have been know to work if they represent the views of enough consumers
rapick said:
"That's the market , baby. The market ! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!" -- (inspired by Humphrey Bogart as crusading editor Ed Hutcheson in "Deadline -- U.S.A." (1952))
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
You mean campaign can convince a manufacturer to continue a product on which he, manufacturer, is losing (or not making enough to justify the effort) money. Right.
 
pris said:
DickyUK said:
Consumer campaign organisations have been know to work if they represent the views of enough consumers
rapick said:
"That's the market , baby. The market ! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!" -- (inspired by Humphrey Bogart as crusading editor Ed Hutcheson in "Deadline -- U.S.A." (1952))
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
You mean campaign can convince a manufacturer to continue a product on which he, manufacturer, is losing (or not making enough to justify the effort) money. Right.
Click to expand...
One major British campaign ( CAMRA)

not only did that but changed the whole way a major part of an industry produced things

some times the way to do this is to make the customers aware of the advantges of the system they stand to lose that way the manufacturer might be in a position to grow the product to the beneffit of all ...company profits and consumer satisfaction

somtimes if a company closes a product range down just because it isnt making as much profit as they want (at the moment) can do long term damage to the companys reputation which could have such a downturn in consumer confidence as to do more harm than good
Im not saying a campaign WILL work but it might so it is worth a try

I personaly think that the Hybrid camera with a 4/3rd mount will possibly be the answer once they get the focus issues sorted
 
DickyUK said:
pris said:
DickyUK said:
Consumer campaign organisations have been know to work if they represent the views of enough consumers
rapick said:
"That's the market , baby. The market ! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!" -- (inspired by Humphrey Bogart as crusading editor Ed Hutcheson in "Deadline -- U.S.A." (1952))
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
You mean campaign can convince a manufacturer to continue a product on which he, manufacturer, is losing (or not making enough to justify the effort) money. Right.
Click to expand...
[...]

I personaly think that the Hybrid camera with a 4/3rd mount will possibly be the answer once they get the focus issues sorted
Click to expand...
Advertising products too long before they were available (remember the E-3 and PEN mockups, as well as the 14-35 f/2 odyssey) has been a repeates capital error of Olympus marketing.

At present, nobody has a clear idea of what the Hybrid camera will (or could ) be. Most probably, at present it doesn't even exist as a sketch on a drawiong board...

Wishful thinking never helped.

--
Rapick
Jalbum supporter
http://www.pbase.com/rapick
http://rapick.jalbum.net/
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top