The WOW camera

Sports/action/BIFs is the best niche market OM has going for it.
Is it possible you could be wrong?

What if the new OM camera is unable to match the performance of the Sony, Canon and now Nikon cameras? Will sports/action/bifs be the best niche market OM has going for it?
Why does olympus need to match? If they could meet say 70% of what the top ff cameras can do at a fraction of the price that is what would make it attarctive. The current olympus and panasonic mft cameras are already quite good.
Will OM System get enough recognition now they've been forced to drop the Olympus branding?
Olympus outside of Japan was never that popular to begin with, and most who are a current users are well aware.

Look at Pentax, how did keeping the name work out for them? Once a dominant name in photography, and they still make very good cameras, but keeping name didn't really help with recognition as years have gone by.
Innovation kept Olympus going, that's why we have mirrorless cameras today. Maybe the best niche market for OM hasn't been created yet!
They could try and go for a totally new market, but that could totally backfire as well if they are not successful.
 
I think Nikon just announced the WOW camera (z9)...

Now OM Systems has something to shoot for. The target is there, just hit it or beat it.
The main WOW on the Z9 is the price.
the lack of mechanical shutter, 14 bit raw only, battery life, it has a lot of things done right if you read news, but it's one of those cameras unless i won the lottery i and the vast majority of people would never buy, that new Z mount 100-400mm however looks very interesting
 
The Z9 looks like a fantastic camera -- BUT too big, too heavy and too expensive for this old guy who walks long distances in the forest. Probably nothing short of great for sports and those who shoot wildlife in parks and refuges where the critters are close to roads, but I'll stick to my Olympus (oops, OM Solutions now) for their small size, light weight and low cost.
 
omd should concenrate on their strong points, not compete with cameras like Z9
And that is exactly what OM intends to do, they stated that in their intro video. We run our own race.

Plus, for me a personal explanation, I always decried the rumoured "wow" camera as mis-translation of various Japanese interviews, but right there in that OM intro video the man with the blue coat said that a wow camera is coming, at 10:50 into the video.

So we can "officially" now use the wow name. :-)
 
Excuses.

Nobody but forum fans CARE if the format is "good enough". Most customers in the real world, especially today's world, no longer settle for "good enough". They want the best that their money can buy in the market & price segment that they are shopping in.
You mock us m4/3s users yet in one statement you sum up why we love it. I have a G9 that is the best camera that my money can buy in the market & price segment that I shop in (your criteria). It has no competition as far as I am aware other than the EM1-II. EM-III attracts me more but is definitely not in the same price league at the moment. If I were to renew my kit today I would buy a G9 and a PL100-400. Perhaps you can advise me on what I should do differently.
 
Sports/action/BIFs is the best niche market OM has going for it.
Is it possible you could be wrong?

What if the new OM camera is unable to match the performance of the Sony, Canon and now Nikon cameras? Will sports/action/bifs be the best niche market OM has going for it?
Why does olympus need to match?
Not saying they do, which is why I said maybe OM could WOW people with a camera that's not designed for sports/action. But how will consumers that are into sports/action/bifs view the new OM System brand if they don't match the performance?
If they could meet say 70% of what the top ff cameras can do at a fraction of the price that is what would make it attarctive.
What happens if they meet only 70% but are unable to offer their camera at a fraction of the price because the cost is high and the volume is low?
The current olympus and panasonic mft cameras are already quite good.
Will OM System get enough recognition now they've been forced to drop the Olympus branding?
Olympus outside of Japan was never that popular to begin with, and most who are a current users are well aware.
I'm a current user and I'm not convinced that's true. Olympus compact cameras were very popular in the UK. The sheer number of them on the used market is evidence of that.
Look at Pentax, how did keeping the name work out for them? Once a dominant name in photography, and they still make very good cameras, but keeping name didn't really help with recognition as years have gone by.
Lack of innovation perhaps?
Innovation kept Olympus going, that's why we have mirrorless cameras today. Maybe the best niche market for OM hasn't been created yet!
They could try and go for a totally new market, but that could totally backfire as well if they are not successful.
Is it possible that going for an existing market could also not work out well?
 
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Sports/action/BIFs is the best niche market OM has going for it.
Is it possible you could be wrong?

What if the new OM camera is unable to match the performance of the Sony, Canon and now Nikon cameras? Will sports/action/bifs be the best niche market OM has going for it?
Why does olympus need to match?
Not saying they do. But how will consumers view the new OM System brand if they don't?
If they could meet say 70% of what the top ff cameras can do at a fraction of the price that is what would make it attarctive.
What happens if they meet only 70% but are unable to offer their camera at a fraction of the price because the cost is high and the volume is low?
The current olympus and panasonic mft cameras are already quite good.
Will OM System get enough recognition now they've been forced to drop the Olympus branding?
Olympus outside of Japan was never that popular to begin with, and most who are a current users are well aware.
I'm a current user and I'm not convinced that's true. Olympus compact cameras were very popular in the UK. The sheer number of them on the used market is evidence of that.
And how many more canon EF/nikon f mount bodies and lenses are there, not to mention the canon eos m mount? I forgot that olympus did well in Europe, but I don't think they did as well as other brands.

The name change will definitely hurt, but that's the whole point of the rebranding event they did. To start getting the name out.
Look at Pentax, how did keeping the name work out for them? Once a dominant name in photography, and they still make very good cameras, but keeping name didn't really help with recognition as years have gone by.
Lack of innovation perhaps?
You mean not switching to mirroless cameras? They weren't doing that well before mirroless either.
Innovation kept Olympus going, that's why we have mirrorless cameras today. Maybe the best niche market for OM hasn't been created yet!
They could try and go for a totally new market, but that could totally backfire as well if they are not successful.
Is it possible that going for an existing market could also not work out well?
Yes, but you will have a better idea of what to expect. OMDS doesn't have the luxury anymore to just write off losses.

What is this unknown lucrative market you are thinking of?
 
I think Nikon just announced the WOW camera (z9)...

Now OM Systems has something to shoot for. The target is there, just hit it or beat it.
Maybe OM System could WOW people with a camera that's not designed for sports/action!
What kinds of features would create WOW factor in that scenario?

WOW cameras are (almost) always sports/action cameras because what tends to WOW people are sports/action oriented features like frame rates and buffer sizes.
 
There are always unknowns. But I went with what I've seen as credible users in the real world...on this forum and public non-photographic fora...and I see a lot of long tele shots (animals/birds) and the other extreme, macro, that highlight OM's strengths. My personal view, and ONLY my personal view, is that is the market that OM has the best chance of penetrating.

Long lenses and resilient solid bodies for those lenses is where I think they will go. And I really hope they are successful, despite the fact that's not MY style of photography. My hope is OM's success trickles down to an M5MKIII size body in a few years. My M5MkI ran 8 years and was still ticking when I traded it on, so I have lots of time.
 
The just announced Nikon Z9 is an evolutionary camera with the Stacked BSI sensor and the fast sensor readout it provides. It allowed the camera to do away with the mechanical shutter and improved the AF ability.

The rumor is that the OMDS "wow" camera will have a Stacked BSI sensor. Being a smaller sensor it will hopefully have an even faster sensor readout. It might also do away with the mechanical shutter. It should also have improved AF because of the faster sensor readout. I can see improved handheld Hi Res along with a few other computational photography tricks. Hopefully it will have an EVF equal to if not better than what is in the Z9. I can see it marketed against the the FF flagship cameras like the Z9, R3 and A1 for half the price and smaller size.

I also can see a Pen F Pro camera that uses the guts from the "wow" camera but emphasize compact size that not having a mechanical shutter should provide.

I can always hope.
Hold out all hopes of a Pen-F Pro..... better keep praying to Gods that might not exist.

The z9 is a giant, dual grip model, pretty similar to the E-M1X. If the WOW is to be the E-M1XmkII then the size difference is pretty much negligible...

I still go back to a camera body that has TWO back LCD options, and you can buy the one you want, a flip/flop/twist full articulating one, and then one that can do the up down, left right like Fuji has and z9 will have. First camera body to have an option for the screen. Plug in the one YOU want to use. Could be cool...?

Some rumors around on the new Sony BSI m43 sensor with crazy fast readout had it pegged at doing 120fps, which is crazy fast... and the same as the z9 is capable of, even with 45mp. So does OM Systems need to have more? Or is the same good enough? Obviously not "good enough" for everyone, but...
 
Sports/action/BIFs is the best niche market OM has going for it.
Is it possible you could be wrong?

What if the new OM camera is unable to match the performance of the Sony, Canon and now Nikon cameras? Will sports/action/bifs be the best niche market OM has going for it?
Why does olympus need to match?
Not saying they do. But how will consumers view the new OM System brand if they don't?
If they could meet say 70% of what the top ff cameras can do at a fraction of the price that is what would make it attarctive.
What happens if they meet only 70% but are unable to offer their camera at a fraction of the price because the cost is high and the volume is low?
The current olympus and panasonic mft cameras are already quite good.
Will OM System get enough recognition now they've been forced to drop the Olympus branding?
Olympus outside of Japan was never that popular to begin with, and most who are a current users are well aware.
I'm a current user and I'm not convinced that's true. Olympus compact cameras were very popular in the UK. The sheer number of them on the used market is evidence of that.
And how many more canon EF/nikon f mount bodies and lenses are there, not to mention the canon eos m mount? I forgot that olympus did well in Europe, but I don't think they did as well as other brands.
Do you think many consumers may react to a new OM camera by making a comparison to Canon and Nikon? That could sway a purchase decision that doesn't favour OM.
The name change will definitely hurt, but that's the whole point of the rebranding event they did. To start getting the name out.
Look at Pentax, how did keeping the name work out for them? Once a dominant name in photography, and they still make very good cameras, but keeping name didn't really help with recognition as years have gone by.
Lack of innovation perhaps?
You mean not switching to mirroless cameras?
No.
They weren't doing that well before mirroless either.
Innovation kept Olympus going, that's why we have mirrorless cameras today. Maybe the best niche market for OM hasn't been created yet!
They could try and go for a totally new market, but that could totally backfire as well if they are not successful.
Is it possible that going for an existing market could also not work out well?
Yes, but you will have a better idea of what to expect.
I wonder what Pentax expected?
OMDS doesn't have the luxury anymore to just write off losses.
What is this unknown lucrative market you are thinking of?
Do you think there's only one type of camera that can peak peoples interest?
 
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Sports/action/BIFs is the best niche market OM has going for it.
Is it possible you could be wrong?

What if the new OM camera is unable to match the performance of the Sony, Canon and now Nikon cameras? Will sports/action/bifs be the best niche market OM has going for it?
Why does olympus need to match?
Not saying they do. But how will consumers view the new OM System brand if they don't?
If they could meet say 70% of what the top ff cameras can do at a fraction of the price that is what would make it attarctive.
What happens if they meet only 70% but are unable to offer their camera at a fraction of the price because the cost is high and the volume is low?
The current olympus and panasonic mft cameras are already quite good.
Will OM System get enough recognition now they've been forced to drop the Olympus branding?
Olympus outside of Japan was never that popular to begin with, and most who are a current users are well aware.
I'm a current user and I'm not convinced that's true. Olympus compact cameras were very popular in the UK. The sheer number of them on the used market is evidence of that.
And how many more canon EF/nikon f mount bodies and lenses are there, not to mention the canon eos m mount? I forgot that olympus did well in Europe, but I don't think they did as well as other brands.
Do you think many consumers may react to a new OM camera by making a comparison to Canon and Nikon? That could sway a purchase decision that doesn't favour OM.
Sure, but what makes you think that a non sports and wildlife camera would not invoke the same comparison to canon nikon etc?
The name change will definitely hurt, but that's the whole point of the rebranding event they did. To start getting the name out.
Look at Pentax, how did keeping the name work out for them? Once a dominant name in photography, and they still make very good cameras, but keeping name didn't really help with recognition as years have gone by.
Lack of innovation perhaps?
You mean not switching to mirroless cameras?
No.
They weren't doing that well before mirroless either.
Innovation kept Olympus going, that's why we have mirrorless cameras today. Maybe the best niche market for OM hasn't been created yet!
They could try and go for a totally new market, but that could totally backfire as well if they are not successful.
Is it possible that going for an existing market could also not work out well?
Yes, but you will have a better idea of what to expect.
I wonder what Pentax expected?
That's a good point lol. However Pentax has survived with a small loyal customer base.
OMDS doesn't have the luxury anymore to just write off losses.

What is this unknown lucrative market you are thinking of?
Do you think there's only one type of camera that can peak peoples interest?
No, and that's a good point. However, I would say that a good sports and wildlife camera can do everything just as well if not better then a camera that wasn't designed for that role.
 
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There are always unknowns. But I went with what I've seen as credible users in the real world...on this forum and public non-photographic fora...and I see a lot of long tele shots (animals/birds) and the other extreme, macro, that highlight OM's strengths. My personal view, and ONLY my personal view, is that is the market that OM has the best chance of penetrating.
I understand your reasoning.
Long lenses and resilient solid bodies for those lenses is where I think they will go. And I really hope they are successful, despite the fact that's not MY style of photography.
It's good that you can think objectively outside of your own photographic genre. That's not always easy for people to do.

I'm from London and I've never met anyone that shoots sports/action or bifs. Most photographers and enthusiasts I've come into contact with or know personally are either Paps, or shoot documentary/reportage, fashion, street and portraits. I met one photographer that shot Yachts. So based on my personal experience I could be forgiven if I thought other genres were less relevant. Fortunately, that's not what I think - I'm aware that the world is bigger than my back yard!
My hope is OM's success trickles down to an M5MKIII size body in a few years. My M5MkI ran 8 years and was still ticking when I traded it on, so I have lots of time.
I've owned 6 Olympus m4/3rds cameras and still have my old E-P1 and E-P5.
 
Sports/action/BIFs is the best niche market OM has going for it.
Is it possible you could be wrong?

What if the new OM camera is unable to match the performance of the Sony, Canon and now Nikon cameras? Will sports/action/bifs be the best niche market OM has going for it?
Why does olympus need to match?
Not saying they do. But how will consumers view the new OM System brand if they don't?
If they could meet say 70% of what the top ff cameras can do at a fraction of the price that is what would make it attarctive.
What happens if they meet only 70% but are unable to offer their camera at a fraction of the price because the cost is high and the volume is low?
The current olympus and panasonic mft cameras are already quite good.
Will OM System get enough recognition now they've been forced to drop the Olympus branding?
Olympus outside of Japan was never that popular to begin with, and most who are a current users are well aware.
I'm a current user and I'm not convinced that's true. Olympus compact cameras were very popular in the UK. The sheer number of them on the used market is evidence of that.
And how many more canon EF/nikon f mount bodies and lenses are there, not to mention the canon eos m mount? I forgot that olympus did well in Europe, but I don't think they did as well as other brands.
Do you think many consumers may react to a new OM camera by making a comparison to Canon and Nikon? That could sway a purchase decision that doesn't favour OM.
Sure, but what makes you think that a non sports and wildlife camera would not invoke the same comparison to canon nikon etc?
I think most cameras will invoke a comparison, which is why it's important for OM to make a competitive product.
The name change will definitely hurt, but that's the whole point of the rebranding event they did. To start getting the name out.
Look at Pentax, how did keeping the name work out for them? Once a dominant name in photography, and they still make very good cameras, but keeping name didn't really help with recognition as years have gone by.
Lack of innovation perhaps?
You mean not switching to mirroless cameras?
No.
They weren't doing that well before mirroless either.
Innovation kept Olympus going, that's why we have mirrorless cameras today. Maybe the best niche market for OM hasn't been created yet!
They could try and go for a totally new market, but that could totally backfire as well if they are not successful.
Is it possible that going for an existing market could also not work out well?
Yes, but you will have a better idea of what to expect.
I wonder what Pentax expected?
That's a good point lol. However Pentax has survived with a small loyal customer base.
Perhaps OM System can do the same.
OMDS doesn't have the luxury anymore to just write off losses.

What is this unknown lucrative market you are thinking of?
Do you think there's only one type of camera that can peak peoples interest?
No, and that's a good point. However, I would say that a good sports and wildlife camera can do everything just as well if not better then a camera that wasn't designed for that role.
That's likely true, but the design and size won't suit everyone.
 
I think Nikon just announced the WOW camera (z9)...

Now OM Systems has something to shoot for. The target is there, just hit it or beat it.
The main WOW on the Z9 is the price.

Tony Northrop has an interesting take on the camera.

Bit it might have Animal AF. THAT would be nice to get.
Tony is a scam youtuber, he does not have a Z9 and tries just to get clicks

as a dual system user the wow-olympus should be small and light to act as my second system. Otherwise i just change to apsc z-cameras.

omd should concenrate on their strong points, not compete with cameras like Z9
Precisely, compact and fully featured.
 
Sports/action/BIFs is the best niche market OM has going for it.
Is it possible you could be wrong?

What if the new OM camera is unable to match the performance of the Sony, Canon and now Nikon cameras? Will sports/action/bifs be the best niche market OM has going for it?
Why does olympus need to match?
Not saying they do. But how will consumers view the new OM System brand if they don't?
If they could meet say 70% of what the top ff cameras can do at a fraction of the price that is what would make it attarctive.
What happens if they meet only 70% but are unable to offer their camera at a fraction of the price because the cost is high and the volume is low?
The current olympus and panasonic mft cameras are already quite good.
Will OM System get enough recognition now they've been forced to drop the Olympus branding?
Olympus outside of Japan was never that popular to begin with, and most who are a current users are well aware.
I'm a current user and I'm not convinced that's true. Olympus compact cameras were very popular in the UK. The sheer number of them on the used market is evidence of that.
And how many more canon EF/nikon f mount bodies and lenses are there, not to mention the canon eos m mount? I forgot that olympus did well in Europe, but I don't think they did as well as other brands.
Do you think many consumers may react to a new OM camera by making a comparison to Canon and Nikon? That could sway a purchase decision that doesn't favour OM.
Sure, but what makes you think that a non sports and wildlife camera would not invoke the same comparison to canon nikon etc?
I think most cameras will invoke a comparison, which is why it's important for OM to make a competitive product.
The name change will definitely hurt, but that's the whole point of the rebranding event they did. To start getting the name out.
Look at Pentax, how did keeping the name work out for them? Once a dominant name in photography, and they still make very good cameras, but keeping name didn't really help with recognition as years have gone by.
Lack of innovation perhaps?
You mean not switching to mirroless cameras?
No.
They weren't doing that well before mirroless either.
Innovation kept Olympus going, that's why we have mirrorless cameras today. Maybe the best niche market for OM hasn't been created yet!
They could try and go for a totally new market, but that could totally backfire as well if they are not successful.
Is it possible that going for an existing market could also not work out well?
Yes, but you will have a better idea of what to expect.
I wonder what Pentax expected?
That's a good point lol. However Pentax has survived with a small loyal customer base.
Perhaps OM System can do the same.
OMDS doesn't have the luxury anymore to just write off losses.

What is this unknown lucrative market you are thinking of?
Do you think there's only one type of camera that can peak peoples interest?
No, and that's a good point. However, I would say that a good sports and wildlife camera can do everything just as well if not better then a camera that wasn't designed for that role.
That's likely true, but the design and size won't suit everyone.
My ideal size for mft (for me personally) is the em5 mkiii. It's not much smaller then some fuji cameras, so there is no reason why a more powerful camera can't be made at that size.

However it seems the em1 series camera sells quite well, and probably has a higher margin then cameras like the em10. So while size may not suit all, it will may be the most profitable.

Me personally I don't want anything fancy, just em5 mkiii guts in the mkii body.
 
Look at Pentax, how did keeping the name work out for them? Once a dominant name in photography, and they still make very good cameras, but keeping name didn't really help with recognition as years have gone by.
Lack of innovation perhaps?
You must be kidding.

acb06c5f3a7d43c294f0120ca783eff4.jpg

🤣

--
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wild_photons/
 
I think Nikon just announced the WOW camera (z9)...

Now OM Systems has something to shoot for. The target is there, just hit it or beat it.
Maybe OM System could WOW people with a camera that's not designed for sports/action!
What kinds of features would create WOW factor in that scenario?
Maybe the design and build could create the WOW factor rather than features alone.
WOW cameras are (almost) always sports/action cameras because what tends to WOW people are sports/action oriented features like frame rates and buffer sizes.
I'll introduce you to some Leica owners! 😀
 
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