Seriously, Olympus. Where's my E-P6?

My SWAG is the E-P# series was at its evolutionary end with the -5 because folks have come to expect an EVF in $1k cameras. Still leaves a decent size hole between the Pen F and the rest of the Pen lineup, so maybe Oly drops a surprise there someday.

Rick

007peter wrote:

According to an Olympus rep I spoke it, it actually is the "Spiritual" successor of Olympus e-P6, even if you don't want it to be.

In an Olympus interview (probably saw it at Imaging Resource) the Oly guy admitted that the Pen-F was a marketing experiment.

So, if it sells well it may evolve to Pen-F Mk2 or whatever. If it fails to make money then they may drop back to a simpler E-P6 or abandon it altogether to just concentrate on the selling well in Asia Pen Lite models.

Meanwhile my two E-P5 work fine so I'm in no hurry to upgrade to anything else, even if available.

Regards....... Guy

Guy Parsons wrote:

In an Olympus interview (probably saw it at Imaging Resource) the Oly guy admitted that the Pen-F was a marketing experiment.

My friend Google found it..... http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2016/03/05/olympus-interview-cpplus-2016-recovery-is-techology-pen-f-experiment and scroll down to the Pen-F pic and start reading, the bit under the E-PL7 pic lower down is where the Oly admission is.

Regards........ Guy

Here's my 2017, E-P3 review...

https://bershatsky.com/2017/04/02/budget-camera-review-155-olympus-e-p3-and-17mm-f-1-8/

There hasn't been any sensor improvements since then , unfortunately, so what would be the point really?  I think the target market for the EP series was probably diluted with the PEN-F and OM-D series anyway, so there wouldn't be many takers.

Not a better. The external EVF benefit isn't that it tilts....

• It is aligned with the sensor
• It tilts
• It gives unobstructed view to either eye
• It can be removed to make very slim body or move to other body
• It can be upgraded or downgraded

But

• It takes a hotshoe
• Can be lost
• Need to buy two if two bodies same time in use
• Is more fragile to get broken
• Can get abandoned by a abandoned data port

Like what if Olympus would release VF-5, a 4.4 million dot 1.7x viewfinder? Many would love how they could get new better one to old cameras!

Or a couple VF-1 ones, one for 25mm and one for a 45mm. So you get a optical ones...

Olympus official statement (not a one representative) was that PEN F is a anniversary model, very special for that. And it is not a E-P5 replacement.

They made it very clear back the release of PEN.

And E-M5 was their goal for m4/3 mount, but Olympus was planning to release a 4/3 mount (DSLR) of E-M1 until final phase opted for m4/3 model. Not because E-M5 but what a EVF offered in their tests.

Experiment like a unique anniversary body that was designed just to be a unique one.

If happens that it would start to sell a lot, Olympus would revisit its plans about making a own line of it.

So read it this way: There is enough buyers to want a integrated viewfinder and special art knob in stylish expensive body.

So far if looking at it, there isn't. Even how sexy body it is said to be, how people love to handle it, but it just gets trashed down by many because "it is JPEG shooter camera" and "I can do better in front of computer". And then there are those who think that PEN F is for sports and birding and trash it by its C-AF performance (while it was from the start stated by Olympus it is for street photographers).

So, the problem with the PEN F is that it was designed for street photographers and a like, but gear heads hits back by wanting it to be everything as good as E-M1 or E-M1 Mk2 (PEN F Mk2) only because they want that corner EVF and sexy body.

So what Olympus has is special, some want it to be all, and it is question how well does it really sell for Olympus. Maybe well enough so they delay the E-P6.

Maklike Tier wrote:

No, really. My E-P5 - as much as I love it - was released 5 years ago.

FIVE.

The PEN-F was not intended as a replacement, not to mention it's C-AF is rubbish and it's overpriced.

The E-PL7 doesn't have programmable dials, so it's not a viable option, as far as I'm concerned.

So I ask you - "Where's my E-P6?"

I can tell you where is *my* E-P6: in a drawer at development dept. waiting for availability of global shutter and hand-held hires mode.
Ok, maybe I am waiting for E-P7 and don't need your E-P6... not sure what you are missing in your E-P5. I don't use C-AF and burst mode, and don't use my camera for movies. I assume that having different needs I would have got a different model, but the E-P5 was (and still is) the right camera for me.

Guy Parsons wrote:

007peter wrote:

According to an Olympus rep I spoke it, it actually is the "Spiritual" successor of Olympus e-P6, even if you don't want it to be.

In an Olympus interview (probably saw it at Imaging Resource) the Oly guy admitted that the Pen-F was a marketing experiment.

So, if it sells well it may evolve to Pen-F Mk2 or whatever. If it fails to make money then they may drop back to a simpler E-P6 or abandon it altogether to just concentrate on the selling well in Asia Pen Lite models.

Meanwhile my two E-P5 work fine so I'm in no hurry to upgrade to anything else, even if available.

Then you must be a very lucky guy because my 2 E-P5 cameras are now sold. The only reason I sold them was: FAILING DIALS !!

Anyways E-P5 is the best camera I have used, really. And yes I have used almost any crop mirrorless camera on the market + FF Sony A7. Olympus E-P5 is a very nice looking camera, with excellent ergonomics with a tilting screen. Best camera for street and smaller prime lenses. The only thing I was missing was an electronic shutter.

Pen F is nice as well. But it's overpriced, does not have a tilting screen and has that useless and not programmable front dial.

I think that once Olympus get it right it will be too late and by that time I will be completely migrated to Fujifilm with their upcoming X-E3.

Cheers