How to sell E-PL7 with E-PM2 still out there?

On Getolympus

E-PM2 with 14-42 and 40-150 $399

E-PL7 with 14-42 and 40-150 $849

So the difference between E-PM2 and E-PL7 is $450?

I can see why Olympus is slow to bring out Pens until they get the E-PM2 cleared out.

They seem not to have over-produced the E-PL5 or E-P5 so badly.

Why not after all?

You get the same sensor, but you get

- No shutter shock. The E-PM2 is really terrible in my experience.

- Useful image stabilization.

- Tiltable screen.

- Much better controls with the top dial.

- Wifi.

- Bigger usable screen area/ much nicer resolution

- Better jpegs thanks to new processor (CA removal)

- Better battery life

- Focus peaking

- Better video codecs+ 3 axis IBIS.

I think it's not bad at all. And if you think that's it's pretty expensive, as you're basically getting the same sensor, think about the E-M1, which is twice as expensive again.

I'd rather say:

"How to sell E-PL7 when the E-M10 is around?".

I still have the E-PM2 and it sits on the shelf, I cannot sell it...as the prices went so low.

photofan1986 wrote:

I'd rather say:

"How to sell E-PL7 when the E-M10 is around?".

Good point. For $100 more I would go for a camera with an EVF anytime.

I accept the E-PL7 is better than the E-PM2, but the price difference has to make it hard for Olympus to introduce a new Pen.

The EPL7 has a lot more in common with the EP5, though. The EPM2 is just a step up from a P&S in controls.

It's not just the EM10 threatening the EPL5... The open-box/de-kitted EP5 has come down to a price point even or below what the EPL7 will go for. And it's higher end than just about anything short of the EM-1, with full 5-axis IS, 1/8000 shutter, built-in flash and an excellent control scheme. You have to place a lot of weight on the small size and 'selfie-friendly' screen hinge to favor any other PEN over it.

broody wrote:

The EPL7 has a lot more in common with the EP5, though. The EPM2 is just a step up from a P&S in controls.

It's not just the EM10 threatening the EPL5... The open-box/de-kitted EP5 has come down to a price point even or below what the EPL7 will go for. And it's higher end than just about anything short of the EM-1, with full 5-axis IS, 1/8000 shutter, built-in flash and an excellent control scheme. You have to place a lot of weight on the small size and 'selfie-friendly' screen hinge to favor any other PEN over it.

Good point. I had not realized the E-P5 was available for so little even on ebay.

You really can't compare a brand new camera at full MSRP to a two year old camera that was heavily discounted, and perhaps even refurbished. Wait a while, and that EPL7 will be selling for much less.

And then someone will start a thread in 2016 titled "How can they sell the EPL8 when I can get a refurbished EPL7 for half the price?"

You can extend that concept to anything. "How can they sell a 2014 Toyota, when I can buy a 2012 Toyota for less?" See my point?

Marty4650 wrote:

You really can't compare a brand new camera at full MSRP to a two year old camera that was heavily discounted, and perhaps even refurbished. Wait a while, and that EPL7 will be selling for much less.

And then someone will start a thread in 2016 titled "How can they sell the EPL8 when I can get a refurbished EPL7 for half the price?"

You can extend that concept to anything. "How can they sell a 2014 Toyota, when I can buy a 2012 Toyota for less?" See my point?

It is the deep discount that makes the argument. $399 for a new E-PM2 with kit lens and the 40-150 telephoto at getolympus.

If they were selling new 2012 Camrys on the dealer lot for $12,000 you bet they would have trouble moving 2014 models.

Drastic over-production is hard to recover from.

Olympus is selling a reconditioned EPM2 body only for $320 on the very same site. But you can buy a brand new EPM2 PLUS two lenses for only $400 on their website.

Only $80 more for TWO lenses and a brand new rather than refurbished camera? That's just crazy.

I'd say you were right about overproduction.

Olympus must have misjudged the sales potential for the EPM2, and produced way too many of them. I think they made the same mistake with the EPL1, since they are still available today in brand new condition at deep discounts.

But, once you overproduce something, you really have no choice but to deeply discount them to get them off your shelves. The longer they sit there, the less they can sell for.

It seems like Olympus did a much better job forecasting sales of their EP3 and EPL3 cameras. You hardly ever saw them get deep discounts.

Right now, Olympus will sell you:

• EPL7 plus one lens for $599, or 
• EPL5 plus one lens for $499

And this makes sense, since the new model might be worth $100 more to you just in the extra features you get.

The EPM2 is an entirely different series, and is only bargain priced because they were overproduced, as you said.

Marty4650 wrote:

Olympus is selling a reconditioned EPM2 body only for $320 on the very same site. But you can buy a brand new EPM2 PLUS two lenses for only $400 on their website.

Only $80 more for TWO lenses and a brand new rather than refurbished camera? That's just crazy.

I'd say you were right about overproduction.

Olympus must have misjudged the sales potential for the EPM2, and produced way too many of them. I think they made the same mistake with the EPL1, since they are still available today in brand new condition at deep discounts.

But, once you overproduce something, you really have no choice but to deeply discount them to get them off your shelves. The longer they sit there, the less they can sell for.

It seems like Olympus did a much better job forecasting sales of their EP3 and EPL3 cameras. You hardly ever saw them get deep discounts.

Right now, Olympus will sell you:

• EPL7 plus one lens for $599, or
• EPL5 plus one lens for $499

And this makes sense, since the new model might be worth $100 more to you just in the extra features you get.

The EPM2 is an entirely different series, and is only bargain priced because they were overproduced, as you said.

Actually there were refurbished white PM2s with kit lens for $199 minus 15% a week ago.

photofan1986 wrote:

- No shutter shock. The E-PM2 is really terrible in my experience.

I believe there is quite some marketing drivel around concerning shutter shake, they try to push people to buy a new camera. I don't experience any relevant shutter shake problems with my current E-PM2.

The E-PL7 with additional top dial looks nice though and the price difference in Switzerland is not huge: online stores announce the body-only E-PL7 for about 480 CHF ($520) vs 399 CHF ($430) for the E-PM2 14-42 Kit.

LowlightShadows wrote:

photofan1986 wrote:

- No shutter shock. The E-PM2 is really terrible in my experience.

I believe there is quite some marketing drivel around concerning shutter shake, they try to push people to buy a new camera. I don't experience any relevant shutter shake problems with my current E-PM2.

I believe you mean "I don't notice any shutter shock problem with my current E-PM2".

Many people don't notice it until they can compare their results to something that does not suffer shutter shock. My E-M5 seemed better than my E-PM2 already, but the GM1 is just perfect.
Shutter shock does not make a picture unusable, it just makes it soft. And I'm not surprised that many people don't care. But I do.

And I was complaining about shutter shock well before it became "hype".

E-P5 is cheaper than E-PL7 and makes more sense. It may take years to clear up E-PM2 stock entirely. E-PL7 should have been $499 body only launch price. I think it will be there soon enough. Olympus usually overprices their cameras at launch. One notable exception is E-M10 which was sensibly priced at launch.

Cheers, geoff

Blah blah, Amalric, as always