EM/OM 10 series …. the forgotten ones.

With all the hype/hate about the OM-3 and the ongoing success of the OM -1 series, it seems to me that the lowly 10 series has been left in the dust bin. I have had every EM10 series camera since the first one and always kept one in the mix for a simple but capable grab and go camera for casual shooting.



Although my TG7 is now used more often than my E-M10 IV I would hope OMDS has not abandoned this lower end of the market, small as it may be, altogether.

gary0319 said:

With all the hype/hate about the OM-3 and the ongoing success of the OM -1 series, it seems to me that the lowly 10 series has been left in the dust bin. I have had every EM10 series camera since the first one and always kept one in the mix for a simple but capable grab and go camera for casual shooting.

Although my TG7 is now used more often than my E-M10 IV I would hope OMDS has not abandoned this lower end of the market, small as it may be, altogether.

Click to expand...

I agree.

When OM brings out a new OM5 for $1,500 with a stacked sensor the present OM5 should go to the $750 OM10.

And the present OM10V should go to a $500 OM Pen Lite One with no viewfinder.

--
Humansville is a town in the Missouri Ozarks

Humansvillian said:

gary0319 said:

With all the hype/hate about the OM-3 and the ongoing success of the OM -1 series, it seems to me that the lowly 10 series has been left in the dust bin. I have had every EM10 series camera since the first one and always kept one in the mix for a simple but capable grab and go camera for casual shooting.

Although my TG7 is now used more often than my E-M10 IV I would hope OMDS has not abandoned this lower end of the market, small as it may be, altogether.

Click to expand...

I agree.

When OM brings out a new OM5 for $1,500 with a stacked sensor the present OM5 should go to the $750 OM10.

And the present OM10V should go to a $500 OM Pen Lite One with no viewfinder.

Click to expand...

Something like that….

I have both the E-M10 IV and the OM-5 and the OM-5 being so physically close in size and weight, makes the EM-10 IV a non-starter most times.

They probably don't want to invest in the price point. I would be interested in an OM!0 update of the current EM10 but it has to have the new menus and ND an GN filters and HHHR mode. We may never see it because it might cannibalize the more expensive bodies, or the parts may be too expensive for the current MSRP.

For this camera I don't need ProCap or subject detect. HHHR mode is going to need lots of expensive tech and memory so maybe it will never be offered but if it doesn't have these features and functions there is no reason to trade my EM5.3. If it does, an OM10 and an OM1.2 might offer everything I need. - A sports/wildlife camera with a grip for big lenses and a casual shooting camera with some computation capability.

The OM5 isn't the camera I need regardless of the price. I need the GN filters and the new menus. I'd like some of the OM3 things too. Like the CP button.

gary0319 said:

With all the hype/hate about the OM-3 and the ongoing success of the OM -1 series, it seems to me that the lowly 10 series has been left in the dust bin. I have had every EM10 series camera since the first one and always kept one in the mix for a simple but capable grab and go camera for casual shooting.

Although my TG7 is now used more often than my E-M10 IV I would hope OMDS has not abandoned this lower end of the market, small as it may be, altogether.

Click to expand...

Considering it's their top-seller in at least the Japanese market, I can't imagine they'll abandon it altogether. The OM-5 is still about $300 more expensive, which I think is enough for people to look elsewhere if they're budget constrained.

That said, I do wonder if they'll go all-in with their clear commitment to the "Outdoor Adventure" market by releasing a weather-sealed OM-10 - I would suspect that would make it much harder to keep that $300 gap between them.

gary0319 said:

Humansvillian said:

gary0319 said:

With all the hype/hate about the OM-3 and the ongoing success of the OM -1 series, it seems to me that the lowly 10 series has been left in the dust bin. I have had every EM10 series camera since the first one and always kept one in the mix for a simple but capable grab and go camera for casual shooting.

Although my TG7 is now used more often than my E-M10 IV I would hope OMDS has not abandoned this lower end of the market, small as it may be, altogether.

Click to expand...

I agree.

When OM brings out a new OM5 for $1,500 with a stacked sensor the present OM5 should go to the $750 OM10.

And the present OM10V should go to a $500 OM Pen Lite One with no viewfinder.

Click to expand...

Something like that….

I have both the E-M10 IV and the OM-5 and the OM-5 being so physically close in size and weight, makes the EM-10 IV a non-starter most times.

Click to expand...

Or will they just not make another OM-5 and move the range to the OM10, 3, 1? Because you're going to get a lot of crossover between the 3 and a new 5. But a cheaper 10 could create some bigger distinctions between the models.

Though I also wouldn't be surprised if the future is just the OM3/1.

Maybe an OM-PEN1 (Ep-8) would make sense? If the Fuji X-M5 does well adding a flip out screen to the EP-7 and the current OM5 sensor would give them a direct competitor that also fits in line with the OM-3's style

nunsuch said:

They probably don't want to invest in the price point. I would be interested in an OM!0 update of the current EM10 but it has to have the new menus and ND an GN filters and HHHR mode. We may never see it because it might cannibalize the more expensive bodies, or the parts may be too expensive for the current MSRP.

Click to expand...

If a camera has all of that, I suspect, it surly won't be at the price point of the current 10 series. That seems to be more of an OM5 II and will be in the $12-1500 range

Tough Gritz said:

For this camera I don't need ProCap or subject detect. HHHR mode is going to need lots of expensive tech and memory so maybe it will never be offered but if it doesn't have these features and functions there is no reason to trade my EM5.3. If it does, an OM10 and an OM1.2 might offer everything I need. - A sports/wildlife camera with a grip for big lenses and a casual shooting camera with some computation capability.

Click to expand...

OM10 doesn't make sense without a much lower price point like it has now. WIth a higher price its redundant. It doesn't make sense to make 3 products for the same number of customers they can have with 2 products. If they lose customers by raising the price of an EM10 that makes even less sense.

Until OMDS changes its stated intent to focus on the high end of the market, I'm afraid that the E-M10 series is a no go for the foreseeable future.

I find it easier to recommend other entry level cameras primarily because they have an auto focus system that "just works".

Besides the Sony ZV1-F abomination which purposely was hit with the hammer way too many times (a shame, could have been a sleeper hit for street photographers), it's just Olympus and Panasonic left with a body using CDAF.

It's a shame cause the principles and designs behind the E-M10 series for the most part have been solid.

That said, i've enjoyed my E-M10 III for the short time I had it.

Ainisru said:

I find it easier to recommend other entry level cameras primarily because they have an auto focus system that "just works".

Besides the Sony ZV1-F abomination which purposely was hit with the hammer way too many times (a shame, could have been a sleeper hit for street photographers), it's just Olympus and Panasonic left with a body using CDAF.

It's a shame cause the principles and designs behind the E-M10 series for the most part have been solid.

That said, i've enjoyed my E-M10 III for the short time I had it.

Click to expand...

That's the encouraging thing about the OM-3 since it has the same AF as their flagship camera. I hope that makes it down to the entry-level cameras since the Big Three have wised up and not treated that as a big differentiator between bodies. People's expectations about how good AF is has fundamentally changed, and OMDS needs to recognize that putting sub-par AF in a low-cost body isn't going to fly anymore.

One camera at a time

I’m sure they’ll get to the OM-10 eventually…

Ainisru said:

I find it easier to recommend other entry level cameras primarily because they have an auto focus system that "just works".

Besides the Sony ZV1-F abomination which purposely was hit with the hammer way too many times (a shame, could have been a sleeper hit for street photographers), it's just Olympus and Panasonic left with a body using CDAF.

It's a shame cause the principles and designs behind the E-M10 series for the most part have been solid.

That said, i've enjoyed my E-M10 III for the short time I had it.

Click to expand...

Having had all the 10 series cameras since the first iteration, a must note that the latest E-M10 IV has a much better auto focus algorithm than any of the preceding models. Not up to PDAF but a definite step up for CDAF.

PDAF is better but CDAF worked for me. PDAF is so good it seems unfair and sometimes no fun because the camera is doing it all and doesn't need me to do anything but take it there.

It was a little challenging, but I made CDAF work even for sports photography. That was satisfying in a way that PDAF is not.

gary0319 said:

Ainisru said:

I find it easier to recommend other entry level cameras primarily because they have an auto focus system that "just works".

Besides the Sony ZV1-F abomination which purposely was hit with the hammer way too many times (a shame, could have been a sleeper hit for street photographers), it's just Olympus and Panasonic left with a body using CDAF.

It's a shame cause the principles and designs behind the E-M10 series for the most part have been solid.

That said, i've enjoyed my E-M10 III for the short time I had it.

Click to expand...

Having had all the 10 series cameras since the first iteration, a must note that the latest E-M10 IV has a much better auto focus algorithm than any of the preceding models. Not up to PDAF but a definite step up for CDAF.

Click to expand...

Ah that's good to hear. I wasn't a fan of the way iAuto autofocused...



Although this is a edited RAW, it was from iAuto mode. There were times where I thought looking at the back LCD that it focused properly, but sometimes it would focus on some object at the fore or background... on in some ways, like this photo- I can't even tell where.

Thankfully for social media purposes it's fine and you don't really notice it.

--
I like cameras, they're fun.

I can't use an LCD for focus, only for composition. One exception is manual focus assist - the one where you zoom up to 14X digitally to check focus and adjust manually. I may have the wrong name for it. I can use the LCD for that. I use it with MF lenses and program buttons for it. It's very helpful.

Ainisru said:

I find it easier to recommend other entry level cameras primarily because they have an auto focus system that "just works".

Besides the Sony ZV1-F abomination which purposely was hit with the hammer way too many times (a shame, could have been a sleeper hit for street photographers), it's just Olympus and Panasonic left with a body using CDAF.

It's a shame cause the principles and designs behind the E-M10 series for the most part have been solid.

That said, i've enjoyed my E-M10 III for the short time I had it.

Click to expand...

When gear was less important than today: He used Olympus M4/3 for a long time.

MyReality said:

Ainisru said:

I find it easier to recommend other entry level cameras primarily because they have an auto focus system that "just works".

Besides the Sony ZV1-F abomination which purposely was hit with the hammer way too many times (a shame, could have been a sleeper hit for street photographers), it's just Olympus and Panasonic left with a body using CDAF.

It's a shame cause the principles and designs behind the E-M10 series for the most part have been solid.

That said, i've enjoyed my E-M10 III for the short time I had it.

Click to expand...

When gear was less important than today: He used Olympus M4/3 for a long time.

https://independent-photo.com/news/fan-ho-master-of-photography/

Click to expand...

I wasn't born in the time when manual focus was the norm and autofocus was in film point and shoots and later high end 35mm film cameras. My first camera was a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S650, and it wasn't really mine, but my parents. I wasn't busy with taking photos, but attending school. Looking at what food will be served that week during lunch, what's happening in art class, or being competitive with my friends on seeing who could finish their maths assignment first or who could answer the most questions during science class.

With that out of the way, i've shot with cameras where autofocus isn't the main thing. My all time favourite photos i've shot include the Panasonic GF3. 12mm, flash on, pre-focused, danger close right next to the skateboarders doing tricks, with some going above me, and the worse case scenario for the 12MP sensor, night time. I loved it- it's a different sensation then being out in the rain, freezing Canadian winter, or the unrelenting hot summers. I've shot in lower end Nikon DSLRs that don't have the aperture tab, so you're truly in manual mode on a digital camera and guessing as you go when going for walk and shooting.

So when people reply to me or others on how times were back then for photography- it really means nothing to me. Do I have huge respect? Yes. Photography is a craft, I think you have to appreciate the trailblazers and for photography, the technology strides made. Seeing those Nat Geo magazines with the vivid colours on film, or amazing wildlife shots i've yet to reach on my digital cameras from a bygone era is something can't fully appreciate. My first time shooting film was in 2019. I don't care about the process of the dark room and what happens- like all my peers, I just want to shoot and send it off to developed. For this common scenario, it doesn't make sense to shoot film often because it gets pricey fast.

With that said- almost everyone has better cameras than Olympus and Panasonic on the entry level. Do you really want to tell the person to stop down their aperture or manually focus, when their friends who buys a Sony, Fujifilm, Canon, or Nikon can just hit record and the camera knows that's a persons face and it should focus and track it steady? Nevermind you can shoot action shots with excellent accuracy.

--
I like cameras, they're fun.

gary0319 said:

With all the hype/hate about the OM-3 and the ongoing success of the OM -1 series, it seems to me that the lowly 10 series has been left in the dust bin. I have had every EM10 series camera since the first one and always kept one in the mix for a simple but capable grab and go camera for casual shooting.

Although my TG7 is now used more often than my E-M10 IV I would hope OMDS has not abandoned this lower end of the market, small as it may be, altogether.

Click to expand...

I have the feeling that the OM-5 (like the Pana G97) is now the entry-level camera for the masses.

For 500+ USD, most would just opt for smartphones like the Samsung or the Iphone.