E-PL10 sneaks into the European and UK market...

Felice62 wrote:

Helen wrote:

Having just received a Russian-language newsletter from Olympus - weird, since I am in the UK! - which was clearly announcing the launch of the Pen E-PL10 in a Russian-speaking market, I checked the UK Olympus site and it's there too, in a pre-order state. Not really huge news as it's a small update but it was only for the Japanese and possibly other Asian markets initially.

To recap, the E-PL10 is an E-PL9 with an all-black (well, graphite over black leatherette) version as well as the silver over white and silver over light brown versions shared with the E-PL9 (no silver over navy blue for this one) but more importantly, its main claim to fame is that silent shutter is restored as an option for PASM modes, instead of only being available in its own cut-down, program-only mode at the AP position (that still remains too I believe). No return of the Accessory Port for EVF though. I seem to recall that there was some tiny other difference, but it escapes me. Wouldn't it be nice if they graced the E-M10 Mark III with the proper silent shutter in a firmware upgrade (they did give it back wireless flash control when the E-PL9 launched with it, after all)? Whether they do it is another question of course as I suppose it could divert a few sales from the E-M5 Mark III.

I am on the market for a second hand E-PL?

What to whine about a PL7? the M10.2 checks many boxes for me and so does the GX80. I have larger/sturdier bodies when I need them..

Not familiar with the E-PL line but looking for a truly pocket sized camera onto which stick the 12-32...

OK as long as you can live without manual focus with the 12-32 on an Olympus body.

I read one report (think it was on 43Rumors) earlier in the month that the E-PL10 was going to be officially announced for Europe today... nice to see that’s the case!

Felice62 wrote:

Helen wrote:

Having just received a Russian-language newsletter from Olympus - weird, since I am in the UK! - which was clearly announcing the launch of the Pen E-PL10 in a Russian-speaking market, I checked the UK Olympus site and it's there too, in a pre-order state. Not really huge news as it's a small update but it was only for the Japanese and possibly other Asian markets initially.

To recap, the E-PL10 is an E-PL9 with an all-black (well, graphite over black leatherette) version as well as the silver over white and silver over light brown versions shared with the E-PL9 (no silver over navy blue for this one) but more importantly, its main claim to fame is that silent shutter is restored as an option for PASM modes, instead of only being available in its own cut-down, program-only mode at the AP position (that still remains too I believe). No return of the Accessory Port for EVF though. I seem to recall that there was some tiny other difference, but it escapes me. Wouldn't it be nice if they graced the E-M10 Mark III with the proper silent shutter in a firmware upgrade (they did give it back wireless flash control when the E-PL9 launched with it, after all)? Whether they do it is another question of course as I suppose it could divert a few sales from the E-M5 Mark III.

I am on the market for a second hand E-PL?

What to whine about a PL7? the M10.2 checks many boxes for me and so does the GX80. I have larger/sturdier bodies when I need them..

The E-PL7 was nice, no whining here.  Bear in mind that it is effectively an E-M10 (original, not Mark II) in a Pen Lite body.  It was the first E-PL model with 3-axis IBIS (you see, like the original E-M10) as they'd had 2-axis mechanical IBIS not the floating type on previous models.  The body is metal and they upgraded the rear monitor considerably with this model, to a 3:2 format like the OM-D cameras, instead of wasting a lot of space except when shooting video by having a 16:9 screen as the E-PL3, 5 and 6 did.  The E-PL7 also introduced a sturdy metal control dial around the shutter release in place of the previous tricky plastic rotating rim to the 4-way controller (E-PL cameras from the E-PL2 onwards only have one control dial whilst the E-PL1 was buttons only).  The screen can face forwards and is a touchscreen, and it has the Accessory Port so can take the accessory EVFs, including auto switching between the VF-4 and the LCD via eye sensor (that's the only one that has an eye sensor).  The E-PL7 also introduced 0-sec Anti Shock to this range (virtual EFCS) but has no silent shutter. As with the E-PL3, 5, 6, and 8 there is no built-in flash but the cameras were supplied with a simple silver flash that is powered by the camera through the Accessory Port - the FL-LM1.  You raise it manually to turn on, push it down for off.  No bounce or anything, and obviously it's either/or for this and an EVF (there is a hotshoe too but as both the FL-LM1 and EVFs use that for the physical mounting, this either/or with flash and EVF still applies).

Also bear in mind the E-PL8 - though it looks quite different, having had a very total restyle including E-M10 Mark II-style mode dial and an almost 1920s Leica body shape, it is actually 99% the same camera as the E-PL7 in features and operation.  Still all-metal, same things in the package.

The E-PL9 is a pretty camera with styling evolved from the E-PL8, but is a close relative internally of the E-M10 Mark III, so has the AP modes and the removal of many options and configurations to shorten the menus, shared with that model.  Plastic body. It has a built in popup flash but no Accessory Port, so can't take the EVFs.

Not familiar with the E-PL line but looking for a truly pocket sized camera onto which stick the 12-32...

All the E-PL models are somewhat larger and heavier than the recent Panasonic GF/GX low end models that use the shutter from the GM1 and GM5.

UppercanadianAcadian wrote:

It is very strange that Olympus now has 10 versions of the epl line, but no successor to the ep5 or pen f.

Maybe ‘only’ 9 because I don’t think they made an epl4.

people complain about the features the new omd mark iii has, but wow the ‘advancements’ from the epl5 to today’s epl10 are really the true story of stagnation.

i mean seriously, the changes from epl5 to epl10 could have occurred in a single updated model.

Probably time to give up looking for any logic in the scheme of things.

A firmware update on the E-PL9 to get silent shutter out of the auto mode with its  tobacco stained room auto white balance in artificial light would be a nice gesture. Probably the EM10 III is the same. Some labels on the menu tabs would be nice also.

UppercanadianAcadian wrote:

It is very strange that Olympus now has 10 versions of the epl line, but no successor to the ep5 or pen f.

Maybe ‘only’ 9 because I don’t think they made an epl4.

You're correct - they didn't - though it is still 10 as they did the E-PL1s, a tiny upgrade of the E-PL1 for Japan only.

people complain about the features the new omd mark iii has, but wow the ‘advancements’ from the epl5 to today’s epl10 are really the true story of stagnation.

The E-PL7 was a big upgrade at the time, actually (see my verbose reply in this thread).

i mean seriously, the changes from epl5 to epl10 could have occurred in a single updated model.

Possibly.  Certainly the E-PL7 to E-PL8 was just a restyle, albeit a thorough and probably quite expensive one to do, and the E-PL9 to 10 is something you'd think could have been done in a firmware upgrade, but there you go...

Felice62 wrote:

Helen wrote:

All the E-PL models are somewhat larger and heavier than the recent Panasonic GF/GX low end models that use the shutter from the GM1 and GM5.

Thank you.

This to say I better keep the GX80

Here's the GX80 and E-PL7 on camerasize.com, if it helps:

https://camerasize.com/compare/#673,565

Of course cameras such as the GX800/GX880/GF8/GF9 are the smallest and lightest.

Yes. I’m in the UK and received the Russian newsletter too.

Maybe Olympus camera division has been sold to Zenit!

Fond memories there. My Zenit E had so many features.... It had a mode for knocking in nails, a mode for fighting off muggers

Hmm! Come to think of it, at Photokina 2018 Zenit did actually announce they were going to start making cameras again in 2019.

It all makes sense now!

Felice62 wrote:

..... The 12-32 checks its own boxes and for my intended use is a rather good lens

I went sideways with that quest for a smaller useful camera that fits into a small belt pouch. Years of Casio compacts taught me that those size cameras are very useful in good light but suffer in low light but are so small that they can be carried everyday even if simply going to buy some milk. You never know what you might see.

Welcome the 1" sensor when things got better for pocket sized camera world.

So for me, the Sony RX100M6 with its "24-200mm" performance with a really good lens ticked all the boxes plus ticked some more boxes that I never even thought of.

Result being a great second camera to my M4/3 gear, and if feeling lazy, a great camera on its own.

The secondary result is that I am using the tele end a lot more after a previous habit of wide angle lenses and failing to change lenses when I really should.

OK the price of that camera and of the latest RX100M7 incarnation is rather eye-watering, but it's a sign that Sony probably intends to stay in the camera business by racking up prices to keep making a profit. Luckily the end result justifies the high price.

Indeed the Sony has spoiled me and really points to the fact that I should buy the Oly 12-100/4 to get the same zoom capability but in a slightly more satisfying M4/3 way. But I'd still always carry that Sony in its belt pouch.

Repurposed old Canon brand belt pouch, though never ever have owned any Canon camera gear.

Cleaning cloth in bottom, spare battery and spare SDXC card in lid, ready to go anywhere. And yes, I use it mostly in P mode as opposed to A mode with M4/3 gear.

Regards..... Guy

UppercanadianAcadian wrote:

It is very strange that Olympus now has 10 versions of the epl line, but no successor to the ep5 or pen f.

Too expensive at the time, sales and buyer preferences went to the OM-D line in the US/Europe, more slowly in Asia.

Maybe ‘only’ 9 because I don’t think they made an epl4.

No E-PL4 or E-P4 as '4' is an unlucky number for the Japanese at least.

My timeline lists them http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~parsog/olyepl1/80-Oly-timeline.html

people complain about the features the new omd mark iii has, but wow the ‘advancements’ from the epl5 to today’s epl10 are really the true story of stagnation.

i mean seriously, the changes from epl5 to epl10 could have occurred in a single updated model.

The real answer is that the E-PLx line has always sold truckloads in Japan and Asia so that keeps evolving slowly to keep it more or less "fresh" nearly every year. The old BCN monthly ratings always had the E-PLx variants top of the sales for interchangeable lens cameras, taken over by Canon more recently with Olympus now second in Japan.

The western world has not picked up on the E-PLx line anywhere near as much as preferring mock SLR shaped cameras.

So it has been slow but regular jumps in the E-PLx line and big and irregular jumps in other lines. With some lines jumping off the cliff such as E-PMx, E-Px and Pen-F.

Regards.... Guy

Felice62 wrote:

Guy Parsons wrote:

Felice62 wrote:

..... The 12-32 checks its own boxes and for my intended use is a rather good lens

I went sideways with that quest for a smaller useful camera that fits into a small belt pouch. Years of Casio compacts taught me that those size cameras are very useful in good light but suffer in low light but are so small that they can be carried everyday even if simply going to buy some milk. You never know what you might see.

Welcome the 1" sensor when things got better for pocket sized camera world.

So for me, the Sony RX100M6 with its "24-200mm" performance with a really good lens ticked all the boxes plus ticked some more boxes that I never even thought of.

Result being a great second camera to my M4/3 gear, and if feeling lazy, a great camera on its own.

The secondary result is that I am using the tele end a lot more after a previous habit of wide angle lenses and failing to change lenses when I really should.

OK the price of that camera and of the latest RX100M7 incarnation is rather eye-watering, but it's a sign that Sony probably intends to stay in the camera business by racking up prices to keep making a profit. Luckily the end result justifies the high price.

Indeed the Sony has spoiled me and really points to the fact that I should buy the Oly 12-100/4 to get the same zoom capability but in a slightly more satisfying M4/3 way. But I'd still always carry that Sony in its belt pouch.

Repurposed old Canon brand belt pouch, though never ever have owned any Canon camera gear.

Cleaning cloth in bottom, spare battery and spare SDXC card in lid, ready to go anywhere. And yes, I use it mostly in P mode as opposed to A mode with M4/3 gear.

Regards..... Guy

Thanks Guy,

Good points indeed.

Until one year ago I had a 1" Nikon 1 j5. That camera represented the incarnation of speed, small form factor and acceptablebimage quality for my family outings and short traveling needs.

I have one of those lurking around!  It had the nicest sensor they ever put in the 1 Series, I felt, even though it was flimsier than some of its predecessors (I seemed to gather a few of the 1 Series, with their notoriously self-destructing zoom lenses, as local shops kept clearing stock at really huge discounts. This is why I also have a weird J2 with metallic candy-apple red finish and textured crisscross patterns on it, which came with a matching pair of candy-apple red standard zoom and tele zoom!!

Then for various reasons i soldi my n1 set and I now found myself looking for a truly unobtrusive camera to fit my pocket for the same purpose.

I really wish Nikon hadn't discontinued the;1 series.

Yes, it was a bit of a shame, along with never bringing out those interesting compacts with 1 inch sensors that they had announced.

Photo Pete wrote:

Yes. I’m in the UK and received the Russian newsletter too.

Maybe Olympus camera division has been sold to Zenit!

Fond memories there. My Zenit E had so many features.... It had a mode for knocking in nails, a mode for fighting off muggers

Hmm! Come to think of it, at Photokina 2018 Zenit did actually announce they were going to start making cameras again in 2019.

It all makes sense now!

Or, who knows, maybe the sender of this newsletter was a little confused and thought UK stands for Ukraine (what is actually UA)?

Mine came in German language, what looks quite familiar to me.

Liewenberger