High Demand for PEN E-PL8!!!! Sold OUT!!!!

...just kidding....

Interesting to see that Oly announces its new iteration of its entry m4/3 model and nobody could be bothered...

Considering that at least since the E-PL6 (not sure about the 5) nothing significant has changed (except the solution for shutter shock), wonder what Oly is thinking...

The pressure from the smartphones, now having real optical zoom, is increasing and they think that just changing the name from 7 to 8 would excite people...

The "First Impression" article from DPR summarizes it quite well, why would you buy the E-PL8, if you could get for little more the E-M10 II with flash and EVF build in at about the same size...

I only got the E-PL7, instead of the E-M10, because Oly for some genius marketing reason does not sell an underwater casing for the E-M10 (II), while it did for all past E-PLs. However, just got confirmation from Oly that there will be no underwater casing for the E-PL8 and the one from the E-PL7 - confirmed - does not fit.  So, last reason for buying the E-PL8 is gone... RIP!!!

Just a few thoughts from a frustrated Oly customer...

Lars

Subject was "A charming  new member of Olympus PEN family emerges today" (or something like that, translated).

And what'd you know, the pictures above ad text conviced me that it's targeted solely to female audience.  Fashion statement or something. Transferred straight to bin.

Oly giving up this (camera) form factor to Pana?

LarsPolarBear wrote:

Considering that at least since the E-PL6 (not sure about the 5) nothing significant has changed (except the solution for shutter shock), wonder what Oly is thinking...

Live composite, 3-axis IBIS, Wifi. It was enough to get me to buy a PL7 to add to my PL5. But the E-PL8 adds nothing (unless it adds E-M10 II "software" features  like stacking? No idea)

Olympus (or Canon or Fuji or whoever) HAVE to produce SOMETHING - ie, new stock to sell - and so they just doll it up with new plastic, and plunk a new number on the front, rather than producing more of the same-ol' camera as last year. Why not, it costs about the same to re-tool the factories for a manufacturing run of a new camera, not much more than a repeat run of last year's camera.....and they'll continue to capture the all-important "fan-boi" market segment (for lack of a better term.... "zealot" maybe?) with a shiny "new" "improved" and "altogether better-er" model. It's a time-tested and very effective marketing strategy.

ecm wrote:

Olympus (or Canon or Fuji or whoever) HAVE to produce SOMETHING - ie, new stock to sell - and so they just doll it up with new plastic, and plunk a new number on the front, rather than producing more of the same-ol' camera as last year. Why not, it costs about the same to re-tool the factories for a manufacturing run of a new camera, not much more than a repeat run of last year's camera.....and they'll continue to capture the all-important "fan-boi" market segment (for lack of a better term.... "zealot" maybe?) with a shiny "new" "improved" and "altogether better-er" model. It's a time-tested and very effective marketing strategy.

This is no different that the auto makers doing some minor changes to the body of a car but internally it is the same as the previous year's model.

They must sell enough of this type of body for the E-PL8 to continue to exist. Perhaps they should have branded it the E-PL 7 Mark ll? 

Was also sorely disappointed. Thought it would be smaller and lighter than epl7. Turns out it did not get one ounce lighter nor any real features. Given how much I lovevd my epm1 I was waiting to need the full specs for months. Have now bought a preloved gm1 instead.

http://www.camerahouse.com.au/products/Compact-Pro-Cameras/page3.aspx

random hunting looking for deal/s on EM1 with lens.. and found that.

$900! with 14-42EZ lens.

...it was too expensive.

E-PL6 was available from a sale at 200€ with kit lens. E-PL7 is still 400-500€ here. For someone new to interchangeable lens cameras 200€ was a lot easier sum to digest to see whether slightly more serious photography is interesting to me.

Now that I own an E-PL6, I would like E-PL7 or E-PL8 for better IBIS and one more setting wheel. Especially that setting wheel. However, at these prices and especially unless my E-PL6 breaks, there's really very little reason to upgrade that little. If I was upgrading or my E-PL6 broke, I'd seriously just consider selling my VF-4 and buying an E-M5 Mk2 for example.

From my point of view, the E-PL series is a series of entry level cameras. Sure, they can be a viable second body as well, but then again how many people are there who want two MFT bodies? A significant amount for sure, but quite certainly a minority. Besides, even then, some of those might want your secondary body to have a built in viewfinder.

Also, this probably isn't a forum that gets too excited about entry level cameras unless they bring something really great to the mix. Chances are that people posting here regularly are at least a bit above the entry level target audience.

Elmokki wrote:

...it was too expensive.

E-PL6 was available from a sale at 200€ with kit lens. E-PL7 is still 400-500€ here.

I got my E-PL7 when a major retailer decided for some reason to sell the white one for £299 (the black was still £499 or so). Both with the 14-42mm EZ. I agree 400-500€ is too much

Paul

Most of the forum members here perhaps have already owned one of more MFT bodies so the EPL8 may not be for them (or you)

However, there's a potentially huge market for:

1) New camera owners who want high IQ results (better than 1" and smart phones)

2) But don't need EVF

3) Don't want large bodies

4) Want a stylish camera

5) Want to be able to switch lenses if need be

6) But would be happy with kit lens

7) Can take advantage of IBIS to help with their shooting

8) MFT (or other brands) owners who want a second carry anywhere body

9) Want an easy to use camera

In summary, it may not be for you but it can still be sold to many others

Cheers,

(I actually like it, it's rather cute , almost feminine in a way; if I don't already own 2 EP5s I 'd have gotten 1 and leave it in my car for those occasions where I forget to bring my main gear)

dv312 wrote:

Most of the forum members here perhaps have already owned one of more MFT bodies so the EPL8 may not be for them (or you)

However, there's a potentially huge market for:

1) New camera owners who want high IQ results (better than 1" and smart phones)

Better than smartphones, yes; it might be hard to argue that image quality of a m4/3 camera with f/3.5-5.6 kit zoom is much better than a 1" f/1.8-2.8 camera, though.

2) But don't need EVF

3) Don't want large bodies

Yep, there's a market for A5100s, so there's a market for this

4) Want a stylish camera

I didn't know this was a thing.

5) Want to be able to switch lenses if need be

6) But would be happy with kit lens

Problem with most of this segment is that they're generally happy with the kit lens and don't want to mess with any kind of lens changes. Sure, you have my friend who just picked up a GM1, 12-32, 35-100, and a PL15, but for every one of her there's another ten that are like my fiancee and another friend who just want big-sensor image quality, 15x zoom, macro capability, and near-pocketability (all at once!), without having the icky business of changing lenses.

7) Can take advantage of IBIS to help with their shooting

8) MFT (or other brands) owners who want a second carry anywhere body

Yes, but how many non-gearheads have more than one camera? The one-camera market's already a niche, now you're talking about the two-camera market?

9) Want an easy to use camera

Easy to use is not an adjective many would ascribe to a) any ILC, or b) Olympus in particular. Anybody who's ever set foot in the m4/3 forum has heard the gripes about Oly's menu system.

In summary, it may not be for you but it can still be sold to many others

Cheers,

(I actually like it, it's rather cute , almost feminine in a way; if I don't already own 2 EP5s I 'd have gotten 1 and leave it in my car for those occasions where I forget to bring my main gear)

Even though I griped a lot up there, I'm not against this camera - I own a PM2 and am often charmed by it - and after carrying around the M1 and heavy lenses, it's always a joy to break out the PM2, 17mm, and 45mm. But pricing such a camera at $650 puts it in strange waters.

Another way to say it: Knowing nothing about cameras, standing in Best Buy: you see the E-PL8 on one table, with 16mp sensor and lens that sticks out. Then on another table, you see an A6000, with 24mp sensor, flat lens, EVF, built in flash. Sure, the E-PL8 has a touch screen, but you really gotta love having a touch screen to give up on everything else at the same price.

How cute.

Was waiting for this one, but really nothing to be excited. Expected at least to be smaller. Looks like my GM1 will stay around.