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Why articulating LCD on E-PL3, not also E-P3 ?

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Angular Mo

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I understand why the articulating LCD is not on the E-PM1 (the mini).... it adds bulk.

But why did they not place it on the E-P3 ?
Why is it not a side-flip style such as the E-5, rather than a vertical flip ?

1. Is it because the OLED technolgoy has such good angle of view?

2 Is it because there is no room for the manual controls (buttons and dial) ?
Seems, to me, they could have made the LCD smaller for the E-P3.

3. Was it to keep the cost down on the E-P3, since they would have ineeded to design a different type of articulation ?

4. Is it so they can sell an E-P5 with the articulating LCD screen as an upgrade ?

5. as a throw-in-the-bag camera, did they expect it to get knocked around more, and the vertical flip is more durable ?

I don't have a satisfying hypothesis.....

--
'Photos are what remain when the memories are forgotten' - Angular Mo.
 
I agree, it would have been nice. I think that the E-P3 is marketed more for strictly photogs vs the E-PL3 which is more marketed as a video/photog camera. This might explain its lack of grip, too, since many people will want to hold the camera at thier waist instead of out in front.
 
We have come to assume that the highest priced "flagship" would have all the bells and whistles and as you move down the line you would get fewer of them. So it would seem to make sense that the $900 EP3 should have this feature.

This is just another Olympus mystery. Like the reason they can't seem to build a M4/3 camera with a built in EVF, even though Panasonic has already built seven of them.

I stopped trying to understand Olympus two years ago. Now, I just enjoy using their cameras and lenses.

My EP1 will do fine for the time being.

--
Marty
http://www.fluidr.com/photos/marty4650/sets/72157606210120132
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marty4650/sets/72157606210120132/show/
my blog: http://marty4650.blogspot.com/
Olympus E-30
Olympus E-P1

 
Could it be that to ADD a feature to a lower-level camera, and makes the buying decision more difficult...... to be intentionally planned product design ?

If Olympus makes their E-P3 dominant in every feature, then it eases comparisons. So, by mixing features, maybe they sell 2 cameras ?

Is the E-PM1 really that much smaller than the E-PL3 ?

Would E-PM1 target customers find the articulating screen intimidating ?

Would the E-P3 be "too thick" with the articulating screen ? I think not.

--
'Photos are what remain when the memories are forgotten' - Angular Mo.
 
I totally agree that it should have had an articulating LCD screen.

IMHO, that is the only feature missing (other than a EVF).

I'll still be buying one however.

--
Canon T70, AE1, Rebel2000 G1, G2, G5, Pro1, SD500
 
Angular Mo said:
I understand why the articulating LCD is not on the E-PM1 (the mini).... it adds bulk.

But why did they not place it on the E-P3 ?
Click to expand...
E-P3 are for pros and enthusiasts. Most of them have acquired the shooting habits of the film days when there is no articulating lcd yet and only the few artistic type among them would roll down the floor to take pictures in worm's view. To them only amateurs love articulating lcd.
Angular Mo said:
Why is it not a side-flip style such as the E-5, rather than a vertical flip ?
Click to expand...
A side flip style will add more length to E-PL3 which is already long with its 16:9 widescreen lcd. Vertical flip is a better option to keep small even if it is obviously silly but not to a P&S upgrader to which it is intended.
Angular Mo said:
1. Is it because the OLED technolgoy has such good angle of view?
Click to expand...
Its too far (OLED) from articulating lcd and artists should be happy there is such thing as fully articulated lcd.
Angular Mo said:
2 Is it because there is no room for the manual controls (buttons and dial) ?
Click to expand...
There is room but pros don't want to look amatuers.
Angular Mo said:
Seems, to me, they could have made the LCD smaller for the E-P3.
Click to expand...
No. Panny G3 almost did it even with a EVF inside. Habits of pro don't change overnight but rapid change is looming due to global exchange of info through the net which makes everyone use their common sense but only few marketers have realized.
Angular Mo said:
3. Was it to keep the cost down on the E-P3, since they would have ineeded to design a different type of articulation ?
Click to expand...
E-P3 is 900 and G3 is 700 usd if you do the math. Panny is just way too advance in the business and needs to establish a wider base of buyers by being more honest and caring.
Angular Mo said:
4. Is it so they can sell an E-P5 with the articulating LCD screen as an upgrade ?
Click to expand...
If E-P5 is the successor of P3, no. Pros will go for articulating on the time they realized there are many pj pics have change since the articulaing lcd was introduced.
Angular Mo said:
5. as a throw-in-the-bag camera, did they expect it to get knocked around more, and the vertical flip is more durable ?
Click to expand...
The side hinge is bigger and single component (contacts contact better) but bottom hinge are double and slimmer (contacts contcts less). Therefore this is not true.
Angular Mo said:
I don't have a satisfying hypothesis.....
Click to expand...
I am just an amatuer but amateur thinks which oly denies.
Angular Mo said:
--
'Photos are what remain when the memories are forgotten' - Angular Mo.
Click to expand...
 
'Cause then it would have listed for just under $1k
 
Another hundred dollars or so to make it a 1k price..... Not too unreasonable for an enthusiasts camera IMO.

-------
'Photos are what remain when the memories are forgotten' - Angular Mo.
 
Sounds like there is still maybe a pro version coming, and they need to leave room on top for that.
 
I read the thread about a rumoured GF Pro.... I thought the one about the Pen Pro was someone's fantasy ..... A nice looking one with the built-in EVF :)
--
'Photos are what remain when the memories are forgotten' - Angular Mo.
 
Danilo F Ingan-eng said:
E-P3 are for pros and enthusiasts. Most of them have acquired the shooting habits of the film days when there is no articulating lcd yet and only the few artistic type among them would roll down the floor to take pictures in worm's view.
Click to expand...
I completely disagree with this. The articulating LCD gives you a lot more flexibility in terms of shooting positions. Pros and enthusiasts are all about flexibility - they pay more for a camera that can do more things. Unless you specialize in a particular type of photography (portraiture, for example) for which such a screen would be redundant, then you're really missing the boat by not having one, IMHO.
 
Sean Nelson said:
Danilo F Ingan-eng said:
E-P3 are for pros and enthusiasts. Most of them have acquired the shooting habits of the film days when there is no articulating lcd yet and only the few artistic type among them would roll down the floor to take pictures in worm's view.
Click to expand...
I completely disagree with this. The articulating LCD gives you a lot more flexibility in terms of shooting positions. Pros and enthusiasts are all about flexibility - they pay more for a camera that can do more things. Unless you specialize in a particular type of photography (portraiture, for example) for which such a screen would be redundant, then you're really missing the boat by not having one, IMHO.
Click to expand...
+1. I am 50year old enthusiast, grew up on film....... Having a swivel screen is so important, especially when I don't want to get on the ground, take an overhead shot, or when I need to stretch my arm out due to a seating placement. I don't need it for self-portraits (many years on ski chair lifts, and I am fine with that technique :)

I really would have expected the EP3 to go for a 1k, and give us the articulating screen....I would have expected this before a built-in EVF, especially since it is on the EPL3 !!!!!!!
.maybe they really did not want a camera that dominates in all aspects.

None of my hypotheses are really satisfying to me.
--
'Photos are what remain when the memories are forgotten' - Angular Mo.
 
I don't get it either - specifically, why they'd include this feature on the ostensibly-down-market E-PL3 and NOT on the flagship E-P3? I have an EVF2 now, so I never shoot with the LCD anyway, but it's almost like the two lines are designed independent of each other...
 
RMillward said:
I don't get it either - specifically, why they'd include this feature on the ostensibly-down-market E-PL3 and NOT on the flagship E-P3? I have an EVF2 now, so I never shoot with the LCD anyway, but it's almost like the two lines are designed independent of each other...
Click to expand...
maybe they had to differentiate the E-PL3 from the E-PM1, and the screen was the big deal... and they had the money to develop only one type of swivel screen, and the one on the E-PL3 is too wide for the E-P3

maybe they intentionally held back this feature to allow for an upgrade to an E-P5 (assuming they skip the "4" number.)

none of these hypotheses make any sense to me, though.

--
'Photos are what remain when the memories are forgotten' - Angular Mo.
 
as someone in another thread suggested: it may have to do with the touchscreen on the E-P3. This seems to offer some nice control options (e.g. quickly adjusting focus point) that the cheaper E-PL3 will be missing. And maybe it is difficult to combine OLED touchscreen with a swivel construction. Sounds like a potential explanation to me ...

I still wonder why the E-PL3 swivel screen is not an OLED (with 4:3 aspect like the sensor), but that could be simply a cost issue on this cheaper model.

I prefer a swivel LCD even if that means no touch and no (higher res) OLED. So E-PL3 seems more attractive to me even without looking at price. Assuming the visibility in sunlight is not very different, because a swivel screen that you cannot view in the sun would be less useful.
 
technic said:
as someone in another thread suggested: it may have to do with the touchscreen on the E-P3. This seems to offer some nice control options (e.g. quickly adjusting focus point) that the cheaper E-PL3 will be missing. And maybe it is difficult to combine OLED touchscreen with a swivel construction. Sounds like a potential explanation to me ...

I still wonder why the E-PL3 swivel screen is not an OLED (with 4:3 aspect like the sensor), but that could be simply a cost issue on this cheaper model.

I prefer a swivel LCD even if that means no touch and no (higher res) OLED. So E-PL3 seems more attractive to me even without looking at price. Assuming the visibility in sunlight is not very different, because a swivel screen that you cannot view in the sun would be less useful.
Click to expand...
Not sure if you are refering to what I posted in a different thread, but yes, I agree.

Choices/options are nice.
 
Angular Mo said:
I understand why the articulating LCD is not on the E-PM1 (the mini).... it adds bulk.

But why did they not place it on the E-P3 ?
Why is it not a side-flip style such as the E-5, rather than a vertical flip ?

1. Is it because the OLED technolgoy has such good angle of view?
Click to expand...
oled does not replace swivel screen
Angular Mo said:
2 Is it because there is no room for the manual controls (buttons and dial) ?
Seems, to me, they could have made the LCD smaller for the E-P3.
Click to expand...
maybe
Angular Mo said:
3. Was it to keep the cost down on the E-P3, since they would have ineeded to design a different type of articulation ?
Click to expand...
yes
Angular Mo said:
4. Is it so they can sell an E-P5 with the articulating LCD screen as an upgrade ?
Click to expand...
maybe
Angular Mo said:
5. as a throw-in-the-bag camera, did they expect it to get knocked around more, and the vertical flip is more durable ?
Click to expand...
they have a swivel on their $1700 E5, so no
Angular Mo said:
I don't have a satisfying hypothesis.....

--
'Photos are what remain when the memories are forgotten' - Angular Mo.
Click to expand...
 
Original G1 with its flip out screen as like a revelation when I first got it.

I was shooting a waterfall, with the camera at a pretty low tripod height and just flipped out the screen and I could comfortably just look down and compose my shot.

No more laying or kneeling on the ground to see a rear LCD or VF!

Just works so well being able to flip it out and look downward and comfortably compose a shot, just like working with an old TLR camera.

Real shame they don't have that feature on the EP3
--
http://www.millsartphotography.com
 
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