DigitalCameraInfo: "GX7, the camera Olympus should have made instead of the E-P5"

sderdiarian wrote:

Do you agree?

http://www.digitalcamerainfo.com/content/panasonic-lumix-gx7-digital-camera-review

My opinion, it has exposed an issue that's been the subject of posts of late: if mFT is over-priced compared to APS-C mirrorless and DSLR cameras, then the E-P5 is the poster child at $1000 body-only and without so basic a premium camera feature as a built-in EVF.

To their credit, Olympus does offer photographers on a tighter budget identical image quality in the E-PM2, often on sale for $429 with kit lens, or the better featured E-PL5 kit for $550 when on frequent sales.

Now we have the upcoming E-M1 announcement with a heavily rumored price of $1500 for body-only and $2200 with the kit 12-40mm f2.8 lens. Is this a fair price for what in many respects is an updated E-M5? A price some $300 higher than either the D7100 or 70D?

We need to wait for the actual announcement before judging, but if Olympus has taken this large of a price leap I think they'll not move many E-M1's, and mFT will remain a backwater of interchangeable lens cameras for Europeans and Americans.

Exclusivity is kind of fun (I can count the number of times I've seen another mFT camera on one hand), but not so good for the future of the format.

E-M5 and E-PM1 user (along with Olympus DSLR's).

Even though the EP5 has no built in EVF, it does have an add on EVF which may be the best in the business. The IQ is high, the shutter goes to 1/8000 etc. which gives it quite an upgrade for those who do have 12mp Pens and their accessories. The GX7 does seem like quite a camera, and yes you can get the same IQ from an EPM2 or EPL5 as an EP5 (except when greater IS is needed or shutter speed)...I'm some dismayed at the price of the new top of the line Oly's, like the EP5. And the EM1 with a good lens is getting into FF territory price wise.