E-50 - pipe dream or possibility?

[Kenneth Sloan]

My OM-D E-M5 is on its way to me, but the idea of an E-50 keeps popping up in the back of my mind. What's the current "received truth"? Will an E-50 happen?
If so, when?

Or, will we next see an E-7? (at which point I'll start wishing for an E-70!)

--
-Kenneth Sloan

 

[Doctor Lecter]

I vote for "possibility"

I'm 99% sure of the E-7... and about 60% on the E-50. I don't think Oly is bailing out of 4/3rds just yet.
--
Dr. Lecter

 

[nyfalls]

I don't understand why the success of the new platform and the EM5 would indicate to anyone with any business sense the resurrection of a discontinued line. If M4/3 is so successful, why would Olympus pump money into any development and tie up manufacturing bandwidth on any products other than m4/3?

To sell all those 4/3 lenses and accessories they aren't manufacturing? Come on. Common sense.

 

[blohum]

I don't understand why the success of the new platform and the EM5 would indicate to anyone with any business sense the resurrection of a discontinued line. If M4/3 is so successful, why would Olympus pump money into any development and tie up manufacturing bandwidth on any products other than m4/3?

To sell all those 4/3 lenses and accessories they aren't manufacturing? Come on. Common sense.

because companies that shaft their consumers get a bad reputation... and as far as I know 43 has never been discontinued.

 

[Mr.NoFlash]

I don't understand why the success of the new platform and the EM5 would indicate to anyone with any business sense the resurrection of a discontinued line.

You are here posting as fact that 4/3 would have been discontinued.

This is clearly trolling with the purpose to discourage all 4/3 owners.

Fact is that Oly does not discontinue cameras for 4/3 lenses, and fact is that Oly did not discontinue the 4/3 line.

Its not sure if the future is mirrorless or mirrored, but its likely that 1-2 more rounds of mirrored cameras appear.

stop any further trolling or some 4/3 users may stop you.

 

[carizi]

Would be nice if the E-7 arrives......

 

[Skeeterbytes]

E-40/50 dreams rattled in my head for a year or more before I relented and bought an E-5. At this late date I'd be shocked if Oly released anything beyond an E-5 replacement. With that said, now that they've weathered the worst of their financial and legal storms, I take them at their word that we'll be seeing one; I further think it will be announced before year's end.

I prefer the E-30 size and layout to the E-5, FWIW.

Cheers,

Rick

 

[Kenneth Sloan]

My thoughts exactly. However, the E-P3 and the OM-D have chipped away at both the "new product announcement slots" and on the "lighter" edge of the niche occupied by the E-X and E-XX bodies. If the OM-D works out (I already love the E-P3), then I might be happy to upgrade from E-30 all the way to E-7.

At this point, I'm afraid the OM-D is too close to the niche that an E-50 might fit into (and, we've already slipped almost a year beyond the time when we might have expected the E-50 to be announced.

No matter how well the OM-D works out, I'm not yet ready to completely abandon the FT format. Too much really nice glass to give up (and, no, convertors sort of miss the point of the differences between FT and mFT). But, again, I might be motivated to switch from the E-XX line to E-X. (although, like you, I have tended to PREFER the E-XX to the E-X - to me they always feel like "release 1.0 beta" vs "release 2.3").

--
-Kenneth Sloan

 

[Doctor Lecter]

I don't understand why anyone here would actively say that 4/3 is dead until Olympus actually shovels dirt on the grave. My own feeling is that, since Oly weathered the storm, and have a good thing going with m4/3, why not keep a 4/3 body available... a lot of people want lenses like the 14-54II to use on their m4/3 bodies too...
--
Dr. Lecter

 

[CharlesB58]

I don't understand why the success of the new platform and the EM5 would indicate to anyone with any business sense the resurrection of a discontinued line.

You are here posting as fact that 4/3 would have been discontinued.

This is clearly trolling with the purpose to discourage all 4/3 owners.

Fact is that Oly does not discontinue cameras for 4/3 lenses, and fact is that Oly did not discontinue the 4/3 line.

Its not sure if the future is mirrorless or mirrored, but its likely that 1-2 more rounds of mirrored cameras appear.

stop any further trolling or some 4/3 users may stop you.

Point of fact: the EXX line has been discontinued. The OP referred to a successor to the E30. No trolling here, simply a statement of fact (the EXX line is dicsontinued)combined with an assumption that he was referring to the entire 4/3 line and subsequent knee jerk response.

--

Some people operate cameras. Others use them to create images. There is a difference.

http://ikkens.zenfolio.com/

http://sarob-w.deviantart.com/

 

[kermitG9]

I don't understand why the success of the new platform and the EM5 would indicate to anyone with any business sense the resurrection of a discontinued line.

You are here posting as fact that 4/3 would have been discontinued.

Look, whether the word "discontinued" is right or not .. lets not fight about that.

Facts are that there's 1 4/3 body left (the E-5.. released 2 years ago .. with just incremental improvements vs the E-3 .. no recent E-XXX or E-XX .. do you really consider that to be a promising production line ??) which is to be found nowhere in a high street shop here in Europe (Germany and Switzerland). Facts are also that no Olympus 4/3 lenses have recently come out.

This is clearly trolling with the purpose to discourage all 4/3 owners.

If Olympus sales are now threatened by a dpreview thread, then they're in bigger trouble than I even experected.. So don't worry about that..

Fact is that Oly does not discontinue cameras for 4/3 lenses, and fact is that Oly did not discontinue the 4/3 line.

Wishfull thinking are not facts.. The 4/3 line doesn't even appear in any of their financial reports related to their imaging section.

Its not sure if the future is mirrorless or mirrored, but its likely that 1-2 more rounds of mirrored cameras appear.

stop any further trolling or some 4/3 users may stop you.

Don't need to react so aggressively.. The OP's thinking (again, whether he used the right words or not) is not wrong. Lets think a bit more rationally :

Why would a company whose imaging section has almost collapsed, actively pursue a product line:

• which contributed to their downfall
• whose main advantage at that time was compactness vs other DSLRs (not true anymore.. and now offset by mirrorless products)
• has never been able to compete with its high-end product line (E-X) against Nikon/Canon highend line
• while they got an alternative product line (mFT) which allows them to re-conquer new markets ?

 

[Keith Hatfull]

Why would a company whose imaging section has almost collapsed, actively pursue a product line:

• which contributed to their downfall
• whose main advantage at that time was compactness vs other DSLRs (not true anymore.. and now offset by mirrorless products)
• has never been able to compete with its high-end product line (E-X) against Nikon/Canon highend line
• while they got an alternative product line (mFT) which allows them to re-conquer new markets ?

Because Oly is just quirky enough a company to keep it going. They sold the OM-4 through 2002 right?

The last canon manual film camera was the T60 in 1990.
Nikon was earlier, 1988 or so?

I choose to keep my 4/3 glass and shoot with what I have. I hope I get a newer body. I think I will, maybe I won't. But I'm sure not making assumptions until Olympus tells me to go take a hike.

And after that I'll just pick up everything I want used and still be happy shooting 4/3.

--
Keith Hatfull - Woodbury, MN

 

[Bobby J]

face value. I doubt there will be an E-30 replacement. The question I think, is whether Oly will develop an entirely new camera to replace the E-5, or simply once again update the technology in the existing body. I tend to think the latter. They would be able to add new tech to the old body without any additional development

cost (or at least minimal) and therefore sell it at a reasonabl cost. I think they would sell a lot of those. l certainly will get one whatever they choose to do.

I just wish they'd hurry up and get it out. In fact I think it would breath new life into

4:3 as I think the poor sensors were basically what killed the system. The lenses sure as hell didn't.

--
BJM

 

[greendave]

Why would a company whose imaging section has almost collapsed, actively pursue a product line:

• which contributed to their downfall
• whose main advantage at that time was compactness vs other DSLRs (not true anymore.. and now offset by mirrorless products)
• has never been able to compete with its high-end product line (E-X) against Nikon/Canon highend line
• while they got an alternative product line (mFT) which allows them to re-conquer new markets ?

Because Oly is just quirky enough a company to keep it going. They sold the OM-4 through 2002 right?

The last canon manual film camera was the T60 in 1990.
Nikon was earlier, 1988 or so?

Try 2006.

And they still sell bodies that are fully functional with those manual lenses. How many Olympus bodies today offer auto diaphragm and focus confirmation using those OM lenses and the Olympus adapter?

I choose to keep my 4/3 glass and shoot with what I have. I hope I get a newer body. I think I will, maybe I won't. But I'm sure not making assumptions until Olympus tells me to go take a hike.

I guess you weren't an E-xxx or E-xx user then.

~Dave

 

[Doctor Lecter]

"poor sensor" isn't quite accurate... I still love the 5MP sensor in my E-1, and so do a lot of others.
--
Dr. Lecter

 

[kermitG9]

Why would a company whose imaging section has almost collapsed, actively pursue a product line:

• which contributed to their downfall
• whose main advantage at that time was compactness vs other DSLRs (not true anymore.. and now offset by mirrorless products)
• has never been able to compete with its high-end product line (E-X) against Nikon/Canon highend line
• while they got an alternative product line (mFT) which allows them to re-conquer new markets ?

Because Oly is just quirky enough a company to keep it going. They sold the OM-4 through 2002 right?

You can't draw any comparisons like that : Evolutions on analog SLRs at that time were slow and expectations by the market far lower than todays digital cameras. And yet, if you check history a bit closer, then you'll see that Olympus had to maintain the OM-4 alive because they completely missed the AF evolution.. ., failed to design a successor and would have been kicked out of the SLR market alltogether had they decomissioned it. It only survived because of its little fan base..not because it was a superior product (see similarities with 4/3 ??)

Additionally, Olympus in the 90s and early 2000 is not Olympus of today.. Today, the company is sick and its imaging section is terminally ill.. and mft is, beyond a doubt, their last hope.. ( and yet, despite the very good mft sales, they're still in the dark red.. which is worrying)

 

[Bobby J]

although I liked it at the time, I wasn't nearly the "devotee" that a lot of folks on this

blog are. I actually liked the output and function of my E-500 much better, and if Olympus would have put the technology of the E-500 into an E-1 body, I'd still have it. I don't miss the E-1 a bit.
--
BJM

 

[Rriley]

My OM-D E-M5 is on its way to me, but the idea of an E-50 keeps popping up in the back of my mind. What's the current "received truth"? Will an E-50 happen?
If so, when?

Or, will we next see an E-7? (at which point I'll start wishing for an E-70!)

lets face it, a lot of 'flux' out there around Olympus
I think even at its worst an E7 would be nice
but Oly has a history of jumping puddles
and theres no denying theres a few puddles to jump out there ATM

something special

--
-Kenneth Sloan

--
Riley

any similarity to persons living or dead is coincidental and unintended
support 1022 Sunday Scapes'

 

[herebefore]

My OM-D E-M5 is on its way to me, but the idea of an E-50 keeps popping up in the back of my mind. What's the current "received truth"? Will an E-50 happen?
If so, when?

Or, will we next see an E-7? (at which point I'll start wishing for an E-70!)

--
-Kenneth Sloan

Its a pipe dream for those of us that wont be able to afford it, when it gets here, if it gets here.

Im pretty sure if it comes, it will be a "7" not a "50".

We've not heard anything concrete from Olympus about it in a LONG time..

And the last time we did hear about was, if I recall, before all the hassle about their book keeping..

The price structure of the latest m43 cameras tells me it WONT be an inexpensive camera.. if it comes.

--
Larry Lynch
Mystic, Connecticut

I figured out why I cant lose weight! The only exercise Im good at is CHEWING

Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does

In all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane.
Oscar Wilde

 

[herebefore]

I don't understand why the success of the new platform and the EM5 would indicate to anyone with any business sense the resurrection of a discontinued line.

You are here posting as fact that 4/3 would have been discontinued.

This is clearly trolling with the purpose to discourage all 4/3 owners.

Fact is that Oly does not discontinue cameras for 4/3 lenses, and fact is that Oly did not discontinue the 4/3 line.

Its not sure if the future is mirrorless or mirrored, but its likely that 1-2 more rounds of mirrored cameras appear.

stop any further trolling or some 4/3 users may stop you.

Definition:

To stop a process; especially as regards commercial productions; to stop producing, making, or supplying something.

Olympus has stopped producing (making) and supplying E series cameras..

I dont want to ruffle anyones feathers, or seem to be a troll, but that IS the definition of discontinue.

Oly may well build more 43 cameras, but for now, the line is NOT churning out DSLR cameras.

Maybe they are still building the E-5, but if they are, they have broken with their tradition of "Batch Production".

I would like a new Olympus DSLR with IQ like the EM5, but I dont make a religion of it, and Im certainly not offended if someone refers to the line as DC'd.

--
Larry Lynch
Mystic, Connecticut

I figured out why I cant lose weight! The only exercise Im good at is CHEWING

Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does

In all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane.
Oscar Wilde