Olympus Pen Lite dubious future

I, too, have the EPL5.

Another factor of the EPL7 and so on, is that they are larger. Not much but enough. I also have an EP5 and it seems to me that the EPL7 etc are closer in size to that than the EPL5.

What really made the EPL5 into a very useful camera was the Panasonic 12-32. I bought my Panasonic for the EPL5. Its OIS is far superior to the 5's IBIS.

What I would like is a new EPL5, or smaller, with a 5 axis stabilizer like my EP5 has - an EPL5 II.

Allan

The absence of the EVF is the reason why the Pen-series is out of the question for me. I think the Pen-series would be more popular if the cameras did have an integrated EVF.

BruceB609 wrote:

Just wondering if there are shared feelings on this.

I sense Olympus is going off course with the Pen Lite. It should be the epitome of "Micro Four Thirds." I first had the 16MP E-PL5 and then E-PL6. Sensor res was fine.. still is! Using them today but now I'm stuck. Nothing new to buy! Olympus seems to get hyped on video, new designs and cosmetics. Where is the real next generation E-PL6? Sure, they have a 7, 8 and 9 but I won't touch one regardless of how "pretty" they now look. I'll explain.

Why buy m43? Because it's smaller, lighter and less expensive than full-frame?

Olympus has been all about getting bigger and heavier and more expensive for the last several years.

The only lightweight cameras, the E-M10 III and E-PL9, still aren't that small or lightweight compared to the older m43 models, plus Olympus has dumbed down their interfaces for their small and light camera. The E-PM2 had the SAME SOFTWARE as the E-M5 but in a smaller, lighter and less expensive cameras.

Olympus's new-generation "entry-level" cameras have all of the advanced features removed to punish you for being too cheap to buy an E-M1 mk II (and not strong enough to carry it around all the time).

BruceB609 wrote:

Just wondering if there are shared feelings on this.

I sense Olympus is going off course with the Pen Lite. It should be the epitome of "Micro Four Thirds." I first had the 16MP E-PL5 and then E-PL6. Sensor res was fine.. still is! Using them today but now I'm stuck. Nothing new to buy! Olympus seems to get hyped on video, new designs and cosmetics. Where is the real next generation E-PL6? Sure, they have a 7, 8 and 9 but I won't touch one regardless of how "pretty" they now look. I'll explain.

I know the more current E-PL 7 and 8 models retained the accessory dock but not the 9. The E-PL5 and 6 accessory dock hosted my essential VF4 (which I'd prefer over any built in tilting EVF). Viewfinders play a larger roll in photo opportunity than Olympus may now seem to show. Hell, they even took it off the E-M1 models! Like my E-M1, the E-PL 5 & 6 had a tilting display which was great for more stealth or challenging low / high level shots. Another great feature Olympus decided to discontinue was the small but still deeper MCG-2 rubber grip option that gave my fingers much more leverage. It should have been in the initial design anyway! I want that grip back, not a cute looking bump or line accent. Cosmetics... again.

So, please Olympus, return to a more serious business and I'll be the customer you've left out of your bean counting. Return to these items and add current focus peaking and display infos, I'd really like to use the full control of MF.

If this E-PL 7, 8 & 9 transition has been all about video or birthday parties, that's a trivial option on a PL and way under utilizes it. Cell phones probably suit better. Anyway, I feel more dedicated video belongs on a video oriented body. If the PL endeavors to include OM-D features, that's more than I need. I want a camera that I'll likely have with me when a photo opportunity appears. I want a camera that expands opportunity. I want a camera that is the perfect accommodation for the great choice of small prime lenses that are increasingly available. After all, why the heck do you call it a "Lite?"

I appreciate the Olympus dedication to MFT but really feel they need to keep emphasizing "small."

Get back into the success of an Olympus XA strategy, small, limited to essentials but great. It did the job and was a challenge to any Leica M on film... and it was solid black!

The best EPLs were the 7 & 8. Olympus added a much better IS system starting with the 7.

I agree the 9 blew a great chance. They should have kept the VF port and should have added the 20MP sensor. Olympus does a lot of stuff that makes no sense though.  Par for the course really.

One real danger to the EPL line is that the EM10 is a really good camera and there is not much price difference.  I recently got an EM10 III and despite a few things being dumbed down with the new beginner focus, it is a good camera and to my mind way better than the EPL9 or even the EPl7 that I also have.  Given the current offerings, the EPL9 just doesn't make sense any more to anybody who is even slightly serious about photography.

Current strategy by Oly is if you want features you also have to get them in a BIG camera.  Really sad.  When so many other mirrorless cameras are available with larger sensors, equal features and the cameras are no bigger it is making less and less sense to use m43.  I'm already in with a fairly big investment, but if starting from scratch I'd probably go another route now.

BruceB609 wrote:

I know the more current E-PL 7 and 8 models retained the accessory dock but not the 9.

On the getolympus website, the VF-4 goes for $279.99 , so they probably didn't sell many of them. Not having an accessory dock on the E-PL 9 allows Olympus to quit making the VF-4 in the future.

I think the E-PL 9 should have got a 20MP sensor though. The Canon M100 gets the same 24MP sensor as the more expensive Ms.

justmeMN wrote:

BruceB609 wrote:

I know the more current E-PL 7 and 8 models retained the accessory dock but not the 9.

On the getolympus website, the VF-4 goes for $279.99 , so they probably didn't sell many of them. Not having an accessory dock on the E-PL 9 allows Olympus to quit making the VF-4 in the future.

I think the E-PL 9 should have got a 20MP sensor though. The Canon M100 gets the same 24MP sensor as the more expensive Ms.

As far as I know, all Olympus add-on viewfinders have been discontinued, and they are only selling old stock.

In general the great thing about the M43 system are the small lightweight cameras and lenses.

My EM5 and the two 2.8 Panasonic zooms make it a great hiking camera. It is also great for travel too.

When I am out and about for work I can chuck a couple of bodies and lenses in my briefcase and do some tourism after I have finished my appointment.

I have played with the Nikon Z7. The Z7 and Z6 with the F4 lenses make the bloated larger M43 bodies and lenses not such a good choice, unless you are using very long lenses.

Personally if I see Olympus/Panasonic drifting towards ever more expensive bloatware like the EM1x abortion, I will be going back to Nikon with the Z system.

A really hot EM5 III might keep me in the system.

20 MP sensor

PDAF

a couple more pro options that may be turned off by default. Some of these things can be done *today* on an EPL9 with a firmware upgrade.

I am with you about small.

tedolf wrote:

Raist3d wrote:

20 MP sensor

I have no need for the 20mp sensor. Honestly, 12 mp was fine-I just needed cleaner ISO1600.

The 20 MP sensor is more than just resolution but other slightly better characteristics.  But the resolution gets to a point that textures are just "more there," more presence too.

PDAF

Panny's CDAF DFD works fine.

I am talking about the Pen line which doesn't use DFD, so need PDAF.  Plus DFD while good and better than straight forward AF, does not seem as fast as PDAF.

a couple more pro options that may be turned off by default. Some of these things can be done *today* on an EPL9 with a firmware upgrade.

Don't need any more "pro" option in a Pen Lite camera. If you want pro options buy a OMD EM-1.

Every time I have mentioned that some of us want Panasonic and Olympus to focus on small instead of going bigger- a lot of the people of "everything's fine" mention that m43rds offers smaller bodies... except it doesn't have the options that some of us are looking for.

IT doesn't have to do all the pro options or such. In fact, an EPL9 with the 20 MP sensor, ability to set e-shutter automatically or by hand in PASM, would go a long way.

I am with you about small.

Tedolph

By the way, I understand you may want to pitch in with your thoughts, but if you are replying to what I posted, then keep in mind just because you don't need something it means some of us should get by ok with what your requirements are.

tedolf wrote:

Raist3d wrote:

tedolf wrote:

Raist3d wrote:

20 MP sensor

I have no need for the 20mp sensor. Honestly, 12 mp was fine-I just needed cleaner ISO1600.

The 20 MP sensor is more than just resolution but other slightly better characteristics. But the resolution gets to a point that textures are just "more there," more presence too.

PDAF

Panny's CDAF DFD works fine.

I am talking about the Pen line which doesn't use DFD, so need PDAF. Plus DFD while good and better than straight forward AF, does not seem as fast as PDAF.

a couple more pro options that may be turned off by default. Some of these things can be done *today* on an EPL9 with a firmware upgrade.

Don't need any more "pro" option in a Pen Lite camera. If you want pro options buy a OMD EM-1.

Every time I have mentioned that some of us want Panasonic and Olympus to focus on small instead of going bigger- a lot of the people of "everything's fine" mention that m43rds offers smaller bodies... except it doesn't have the options that some of us are looking for.

IT doesn't have to do all the pro options or such. In fact, an EPL9 with the 20 MP sensor, ability to set e-shutter automatically or by hand in PASM, would go a long way.

I am with you about small.

Tedolph

By the way, I understand you may want to pitch in with your thoughts, but if you are replying to what I posted, then keep in mind just because you don't need something it means some of us should get by ok with what your requirements are.

You stated your needs, I stated mine.

I don't have a problem with that.

Not sure why you do.

It's not a problem, you are basically replying to me, not the OP.

It is called having a discussion.

Sure, but basically what you replied to me should have gone as reply to the OP.  So you say you don't need it- that's fine. I am not sure why exactly bring it up to me though, why should I care.

Now one thing maybe would be more for discussion is to say "hey, I really don't understand why you say you need the 20 MP sensor. I don't see the need for it."

Hope that makes sense.

- Riccardo

Tedolph