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EPL9 - They Must Be Kidding

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jwilliams

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They finally put the built in flash back. Then it goes downhill from there.

5+ year old sensor.

No EVF Port! Seriously?

Handgrip actually looks uncomfortable.

I had the original EPL1&2. Wasn't interested in next several models due to them dropping the built in flash and lack of any sort of grip on the cameras.

Last year bought an EPL7 real cheap. Good camera for what I paid ($250 w lens new). Hated the lack of a built in flash for this type of camera, but again it was real cheap. It could take my VF-2 so that made it a bit more flexible.

Now the EPL9 arrives. There are so many better cameras on the market for less money.

Both canon and Fuji have better cameras than this for $499 with better lenses.

Oly really needs to get their act together. They keep adding this, removing that and charging what are insane prices given what else is available on the market. How about improving ALL aspects of a new model. What a novel idea!

--
Jonathan
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I think you need to talk to your muse about this anger issue.
 
Giiba said:
I think you need to talk to your muse about this anger issue.
Click to expand...
Anger? Maybe. Disappointment? Yes. Very much.

When I saw the first pic of the camera and realized they had finally (7 iterations later) added the flash back, I though about getting one. The original models were decent cameras that unfortunately had a lackluster sensor inside. Then, when they put a better sensor inside, they ruined the bodies.

Give me one good reason for removing the port for the EVF and then my anger/disappointment will abate.
 
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jwilliams said:
They finally put the built in flash back. Then it goes downhill from there.

5+ year old sensor.
Click to expand...
As someone mentioned in a comment in the announcement article, there's no indication that the sensor itself is a 5-year old design. Sony has released other 16MP sensors since the E-M5. For this type of camera and the intended customer, I don't think it's an issue.
jwilliams said:
No EVF Port! Seriously?
Click to expand...
Yes. I'm sure Oly has sales data on the number of PEN, PEN Lite and PEN mini cameras they've sold with EVF ports, and the number of external electronic viewfinders they've sold. Even accounting for people using one EVF on multiple bodies, I'm going to guess the delta is pretty significant. I have the E-VF2 and E-VF4 and sometimes use them on my EPM and EPL bodies, but most of the time I don't. Since nearly everyone is shooting photos with a phone today, I don't think the intended customer is going to miss an evf.
jwilliams said:
Handgrip actually looks uncomfortable.
Click to expand...
Well, looks can be deceiving. I thought it looked like an upgrade from the one on the E-PL7. We should wait and see what people say who've handled it.
jwilliams said:
I had the original EPL1&2. Wasn't interested in next several models due to them dropping the built in flash and lack of any sort of grip on the cameras.
Click to expand...
The E-PL3 offered a tilting LCD display, and a removable/replaceable grip. The E-PM1 lacked a grip. I have two minis, have shot with them a great deal, never missed a grip. I don't put the Zuiko 14-54 Mk2 on it either.
jwilliams said:
Last year bought an EPL7 real cheap. Good camera for what I paid ($250 w lens new). Hated the lack of a built in flash for this type of camera, but again it was real cheap. It could take my VF-2 so that made it a bit more flexible.
Click to expand...
It's got a tilting LCD display that's vastly better than the E-PL1 and E-PL2, improved image stabilization, a 16-MP sensor, and wifi remote control. I'd say it's at least an order of magnitude more flexible than an E-PL1 or E-PL2.
jwilliams said:
Now the EPL9 arrives. There are so many better cameras on the market for less money.
Click to expand...
Again, I suppose it depends on Oly's intended customer. Watching the promotional video, I don't think it's a "serious" hobbyist photographer. It's more like someone who wants to take better pictures than they can with a cell phone, and who might wish to explore interchangeable lenses. There may be better cameras than this one, Oly thinks they'll like it. We shall see. Olympus has never been a huge seller, most people I know only seem to prefer Canon and Nikon simply because they're Canon and Nikon.
jwilliams said:
Both canon and Fuji have better cameras than this for $499 with better lenses.
Click to expand...
Opinions may vary.
jwilliams said:
Oly really needs to get their act together. They keep adding this, removing that and charging what are insane prices given what else is available on the market. How about improving ALL aspects of a new model. What a novel idea!
Click to expand...
I've been shooting Olympus since 2008, starting with the E-520. This is an oft-repeated refrain from people who believe they know better how to run Oly's business than Oly does.

And, maybe they do. Nevertheless, Olympus is still making cameras, and I'm glad they are. That will someday come to an end, but I hope not soon. In the mean time, I've enjoyed shooting with their cameras and I've never gotten terribly agitated about their particular design decisions.

It's understandable that these types of things inspire passion, but I'm not sure it's always warranted.
I will likely wait for a refurb sale and pick one of these up. But I'm waiting for a PEN-f first.
 
jwilliams said:
They finally put the built in flash back. Then it goes downhill from there.

5+ year old sensor.

No EVF Port! Seriously?

Handgrip actually looks uncomfortable.

I had the original EPL1&2. Wasn't interested in next several models due to them dropping the built in flash and lack of any sort of grip on the cameras.

Last year bought an EPL7 real cheap. Good camera for what I paid ($250 w lens new). Hated the lack of a built in flash for this type of camera, but again it was real cheap. It could take my VF-2 so that made it a bit more flexible.

Now the EPL9 arrives. There are so many better cameras on the market for less money.

Both canon and Fuji have better cameras than this for $499 with better lenses.

Oly really needs to get their act together. They keep adding this, removing that and charging what are insane prices given what else is available on the market. How about improving ALL aspects of a new model. What a novel idea!
Click to expand...
Do you feel better now, after this rant? Because if you don't, it was all in vain.
 
Okapi001 said:
Do you feel better now, after this rant? Because if you don't, it was all in vain.
Click to expand...
just a little. A better camera would have made me feel a whole lot better though.

Maybe everyone else is in love with it. Just trying to gauge how m43 user base feels.

Maybe if people complain Oly might make better cameras. Probably not, but it would be nice.

--
Jonathan
 
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Is that it's mere existence will lower the prices of the E-PL7 and E-PL8 in the used market. And these cameras have 95% of the features and abilities of the E-PL9, plus they can take an EVF.

Once the E-PL9 rumors came out, bought a used E-PL7 for well under $200. And when used along with my VF-2 that I already owned from older bodies, it's a VERY functional and portable camera, with good sensor, no shutter shock, and serves me nicely as a backup to E-M1 and as a small travel body when used with small native lenses.
 
...this will (has) now change. I'm betting they have turned off quite a few folks considering this line now. Now, I realize it's still early - however, so far, this is what I see is lacking here, and I'm sure there are other options that have been dropped from this model line:

1. The ability to use an optional VF external flash (notice that the notch is missing from the hot shoe, thus signaling that this will be nothing more than an Olympus badged Panasonic GFX competitor).

2. The specs show it only has one color profile - sRGB (the Adobe profile is missing). Now will have to wait to see if this is actually true - but the specs published by Olympus here on DPReview show this to be the case).

3. OK - so this is the camera that is supposed to be the E-PL version of the EM10 Mk III - yet they've dumbed it down to having only a 3-axis IBIS - why?

4. Granted, they've added 4K video (great for video shooters), but those of us who are predominantly still shooters, that spec means nothing.

Nope - I'm happy with the E-P5 and the E-PL7. I'm using VF external viewfinders on both of them.
 
Expensive as used? Absolutely. But so much more useable, especially the GM5. I was never much into the EP line at any level, but when I got my GM5, it ended my lust for a smaller camera, pretty much forever.
 
Not when Panasonic has a far better equivalent, with a built in EVF and better lens, available for somewhat less (if you look around). Olympus just launched the world’s most boring camera at a time when the competition are all raising their respective games. There isn’t a single value argument for the E-PL9 for which the retort doesn’t include one of Panasonic, Fuji or Canon (Pentax and Nikon too, if you accept DSLRs).
 
jwilliams said:
Okapi001 said:
Do you feel better now, after this rant? Because if you don't, it was all in vain.
Click to expand...
just a little. A better camera would have made me feel a whole lot better though.

Maybe everyone else is in love with it. Just trying to gauge how m43 user base feels.

Maybe if people complain Oly might make better cameras. Probably not, but it would be nice.
Click to expand...
 
Ben Herrmann said:
... but those of us who are predominantly still shooters, that spec means nothing.
Click to expand...
Are you an inexperienced photographer, looking for an easy to use entry level camera?

I really don't understand why do you think this is a camera for a photographer like you, and are now dissapointed? Most - if not all - readers of this forum are well above the level of photographic expertise and needs the E-PL9 is designed for.

It's really fascinanting. Here comes an entry level camera and enthusiasts are ranting "it's not for me". Well, of course it is not. And than the flagship camera comes and again, "it's not for me, I don't need 60 frames/sec, hi-res ..." from the same crowd. Duh - no, it's not for you. It's for somebody else.
 
Okapi001 said:
Ben Herrmann said:
... but those of us who are predominantly still shooters, that spec means nothing.
Click to expand...
Are you an inexperienced photographer, looking for an easy to use entry level camera?

I really don't understand why do you think this is a camera for a photographer like you, and are now dissapointed? Most - if not all - readers of this forum are well above the level of photographic expertise and needs the E-PL9 is designed for.

It's really fascinanting. Here comes an entry level camera and enthusiasts are ranting "it's not for me". Well, of course it is not. And than the flagship camera comes and again, "it's not for me, I don't need 60 frames/sec, hi-res ..." from the same crowd. Duh - no, it's not for you. It's for somebody else.
Click to expand...
'Experienced' photogs can use any type of camera. The EPL series are more compact than other types. That is a serious advantage sometimes. Are experienced photogs only supposed to lug around EM1 MKIIs and G9s?

I have done photography for over 40 years and still love having a small but highly capable camera with me. Too bad Oly can't make such a camera.

Isn't that what m43 is supposed to be about?
 
Last edited:
jwilliams said:
Okapi001 said:
Ben Herrmann said:
... but those of us who are predominantly still shooters, that spec means nothing.
Click to expand...
Are you an inexperienced photographer, looking for an easy to use entry level camera?

I really don't understand why do you think this is a camera for a photographer like you, and are now dissapointed? Most - if not all - readers of this forum are well above the level of photographic expertise and needs the E-PL9 is designed for.

It's really fascinanting. Here comes an entry level camera and enthusiasts are ranting "it's not for me". Well, of course it is not. And than the flagship camera comes and again, "it's not for me, I don't need 60 frames/sec, hi-res ..." from the same crowd. Duh - no, it's not for you. It's for somebody else.
Click to expand...
'Experienced' photogs can use any type of camera. The EPL series are more compact than other types. That is a serious advantage sometimes. Are experienced photogs only supposed to lug around EM1 MKIIs and G9s?

I have done photography for over 40 years and still love having a small but highly capable camera with me. Too bad Oly can't make such a camera.

Isn't that what m43 is supposed to be about?
Click to expand...
 
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