E-P3 specs released

[exdeejjjaaaa]

IF rumours are correct, the only thing it shares with the old m43 sensor is pixel count and size. Nothing else.

The rumours seem to be clearly saying tweaked , and I will be very surprised if it is a totally new sensor and even more surprised if it has any real gains in RAW output with regard to DR and so on. But it is only rumours and we will fin out soon enough.
Jim

there are a lot of different things to tweak on top of the silicone made by Panasonic - you have CFA, IR, AA, microlenses... for example you can make CFA dyes to allow more light (wider spectrum) through each of RGGB filters (=worse color separation) and gain in ISO performance... there are electronic components outside of sensor that can also be tweaked...

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[Pikme]

Trust me, Olympus reads these forums.

That's too bad.

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Roberto M.

 

[Barugon]

from 43rumors:

...I have the specs! Two weeks ago a new source sent me the E-P3 details and my trusted sources now confirmed the info he gave to me are correct (Thanks new source!). So here is the E-P3:

• It has the new Olympus “tweaked” 12 Megapixel Sensor
• Truepic VI engine (two processor in one)
• ISO 100 to 12.800
• 1080i 60frs AVCHD or JPEG video
• 35 point autofocus
• OLED touch Display (610k resolution). Sounds like it is almost the same screen used for the Olympus XZ-1.
• pop up live guide
• dual dials
• fastest AF to date for any mirrorless cam (and I have been told that it is considerably faster that the Panasonic GH2!).
• updated art filters
• effects to combine with art filters (like starlight)
• 3D still images
• Interchangeable grip. I have been told there are two different grips you can buy (and more will come after).
• Design changes: The top dial is now placed instead of the ON/OFF button of the E-P2. To make room for the built-in flash. There is a video recording button over the AEL button.

Sounds good. If they can squeeze out more dynamic range and less noise (Canon and Nikon sure seem to be able to) then I'm in. I wish they would get more serious about the lenses though.

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http://www.pbase.com/dot_borg

 

[jim stirling]

IF rumours are correct, the only thing it shares with the old m43 sensor is pixel count and size. Nothing else.

The rumours seem to be clearly saying tweaked , and I will be very surprised if it is a totally new sensor and even more surprised if it has any real gains in RAW output with regard to DR and so on. But it is only rumours and we will fin out soon enough.
Jim

there are a lot of different things to tweak on top of the silicone made by Panasonic - you have CFA, IR, AA, microlenses... for example you can make CFA dyes to allow more light (wider spectrum) through each of RGGB filters (=worse color separation) and gain in ISO performance... there are electronic components outside of sensor that can also be tweaked...

I agree that there are a number of areas where improvements can be made and the lighter AA filter in the E-5 has given sharper output. And in-camera processing of JPEGs can be tweaked to deliver different output the fact is however at the RAW level the gains made so far by Olympus with regard to DR Etc. are pretty minor. I am not sure that Olympus would be prepared to go to the expense of designing a brand new sensor {to be fabricated by Panasonic}. And you are right that more expensive higher grade surrounding circuitry can improve the end results, again I am not sure that Olympus would justify the added expense of these upgrade components on anything other than their top end model.
Jim

 

[jim stirling]

if image quality improves why should one care whether it's due to a new sensor or an optimized version of an old sensor?

The issue is by how much image quality improves , if the gains are less than a stop of DR for example does this justify the cost of a new camera. And looking at the tweaks Olympus has made to the 12mp sensor over the years other than the sharper results from the E-5 which is down to a lighter AA flter , the real gains in DR are pretty insignificant.
Jim

 

[amalric]

According to 43rumors it's not an old sensor, and it's not made by Panny. And it has a double core processor to speed up all operations

So why the schadenfreude? You can't let go a beloved but obsolescent dSLR?

General perception there is that its a major step. So no going back for Oly.

Am.
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Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/amalric

 

[jim stirling]

According to 43rumors it's not an old sensor, and it's not made by Panny. And it has a double core processor to speed up all operations

Didnt they say that about the E-5 sensor , and the extra processor will indeed help with a number of factors but not DR etc

So why the schadenfreude? You can't let go a beloved but obsolescent dSLR?

I am a happy user of a GH2 and a GF1 and when the mirrorless cameras outperform my D3s and D3x i will happily get rid of these obsolescent lumps

General perception there is that its a major step. So no going back for Oly.

If the rumours are correct it sounds as if it will indeed be a step forward for Olympus with regard to functionality, AF speed etc . I will however be surprised if there is any significant sensor gain at a RAW level with regard to DR etc. I agree totally that mFT is the way forward for Olympus and it is time for them to step up and deliver the goods.

Jim

 

[viztyger]

Honestly, the GH2 is so fast that the lens movement is probably the limiting factor at this point. I am skeptical that C-AF is better than Panasonic given the limitations of contract detection in general. Improvement is good, of course, but I'm doubtful it will be a distinguishing feature of this camera.

I would tend to agree with that. The GH2 focuses lenses like my 14/2.5 and 7-14/4.0 noticeably faster than the 20/1.7 or 45/2.8.

Also it's not just about how fast the new Olympus system achieves focus in good light. It will be interesting to see how the new system fares in dim light. My former E-PL1 had more difficulty focusing indoors than the GF1 did - and that was with the same lens. So we will have to wait and see how the new AF system fares in the real world.

I would be very pleased if Olympus was able to significantly improve the overall responsiveness of their MFT bodies. Not just in AF acquisition, but also how long it takes for post capture review which was also noticeably slower than on Lumix bodies. If they can do that, then IBIS will more likely sway me to choose Olympus cameras instead.

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Björn

http://www.bmupix.com

 

[µJoe]

Agreed. Everything is sounding good so far.

Anyone have any idea on availability? I haven't heard anything in that regard. Does everyone expect them in stores soon? Or are we looking at 'TBD' and have to wait months? Of course, I'm hoping for sooner than later

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µJoe
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joey_m43/sets

 

[Tim in upstate NY]

Anyone have any idea on availability? I haven't heard anything in that regard. Does everyone expect them in stores soon? Or are we looking at 'TBD' and have to wait months? Of course, I'm hoping for sooner than later

. . . The official launch of these three cameras and five new lenses from Olympus is still five days from now. At that time, there'll likely be an official date given for availability. By past performance with new devices, Olympus has been good about getting the goods to retailers in a brief amount of time. One of the rumors at 43rumors.com said that they've been making the new 12/2 and 45/1.8 lenses for several weeks now at the Olympus factory in China. The two new zooms (14-42mm and 40-150mm) are likely being produced at this time as well I'd think. I'm guessing that DPR already has these cameras and lenses and is preparing hands on previews to be published on the June 30th launch date.

 

[wolfie]

from what I have heard locally
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Shoot the Light fantastic

 

[villagephotog2]

. . . 43rumors: FT4 - "the sensor is Olympus own – its not sharing anything with Panasonic"

. . . You may not like them staying with 12mp but lets be clear about this. It's apparently a brand new sensor and it's not from Panny.

I don't know where 43rumors is getting this, but it's full of interpretations and leaps of logic that don't come from the Olympus Japan execs responsible for these products. Just goes to show how rumors need to be handled with care.

The sensor is almost certainly an evolution of the previous versions, as you would expect. It is a "Live MOS" unit, which is Olympus's brand name for NMOS pixel architecture, and I don't think anybody except Panasonic has ever made a sensor with that architecture. Olympus is not really emphasizing sensor performance in their information about these new products. The sensor is "new" in the perfectly valid sense that it's not exactly the same as the previous iteration, but I don't think it's safe to assume very much more about it. Yes, it does allow one higher ISO setting -- 12,800 -- and the implication is that this is because noise is somewhat lower but even that is not explicitly stated. I would bet a lot of money or scotch that it is manufactured on exactly the same Panasonic production line where all the previous 12MP Live MOS sensors have been made.

That said, the new top-line Pen is a major improvement in several important ways over its predecessors. One of those is immediately obvious -- the AF on stationary objects is much, much faster. I think most people will grant that this product is a very worthwhile step forward for Olympus. But as far as I can tell, sensor miracles are not included.

 

[villagephotog2]

from what I have heard locally

Several of the products under discussion here will not be shipping immediately. On two of the major ones, there is no available shipping estimate, which means they are much more than a few weeks from being on store shelves.

It's always best to wait for official word from the manufacturer on these things -- dealers, rumor sites etc. almost always get these details wrong.

 

[panpen]

(FT5) Source_2:
1. All three PEN cameras do have AF assist lamp

This would be a shock..but very welcome.

Now that would be a shock for real. It's like Hunday selling cars with AC in the year 20111 when the others have had it since 1955. Indeed a shock.

 

[villagephotog2]

Giddy with anticipation...

Even going all out and considering to sell my E5 (or EPL2) to get funds for EP3.

If the AF is truely there, then I really have no need for a heavier digital camera.

Bad, incomplete, heavily interpreted rumors from sources with biases and agendas and no accountability. Wait for Olympus to tell you their story. You'll be happier.

 

[stimmer]

It sounds like you know more than anybody else.

I figured 43rumors was a source of controlled leaks for olympus.

 

[jalywol]

It sounds like you know more than anybody else.

I figured 43rumors was a source of controlled leaks for olympus

I was wondering the same thing, since this poster has only been on DPR for a week, and all four of their posts are pretty much in the same negative vein about the rumors.

To villagephotog2: Where are you getting your information? If you are getting info from Oly, then perhaps you could share more? If you are not, why are you so down on the rumors?

Just curious.....

-J

 

[Dprr]

Panasonic GF3 also uses a 12.1 MP sensor and according to Panasonic it has the same improvements as the latest 16 MP sensor used in G3. I won't be surprised if this 12.1 MP sensor turns out to be the one used by Olympus for the new Pens.

It sounds like you know more than anybody else.

I figured 43rumors was a source of controlled leaks for olympus

I was wondering the same thing, since this poster has only been on DPR for a week, and all four of their posts are pretty much in the same negative vein about the rumors.

To villagephotog2: Where are you getting your information? If you are getting info from Oly, then perhaps you could share more? If you are not, why are you so down on the rumors?

Just curious.....

-J

 

[Mark Chan]

Heh.

That's why rumours exist - and the 'anticipation' for those that read them make the whole thing all the more...exciting?

Read all the stuff with the E5, and whilst I was quite dissapointed with the end product, having it with me and seeing what it does relative to the E30, its a substantial improvement to the OLY line.,

 

[µJoe]

Thanks for the comments guys. Can't wait for the 30th.

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µJoe
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joey_m43/sets