olympus bringing their A game!!!

Simon photo

Simon photo

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seeing as im the only living Olympus fanboy in this place, thought i would bring this to attention. most of you would have seen the hype so far but for those who haven't here is the new camera from Olympus, with some bold bold claims!! apparently its got the fastest autofocus of any interchangeable camera currently on the market, even faster than the Nikon d4!!
om-dlenses.jpg
 
Is it going to be using the same 16mp sensor that's in the GX1? I also thought Olympus would go for a more modern or tuned EVF.
 
The problem with Olympus quoting these fast AF speeds is that they are not representative of actual AF performance, I'm sure it can be quick on simple locks but where the Nikon system excels particularly is in its tracking autofocus which is a weakness of the CDAF system the micro 4/3 cameras are using. It was the same with the E-3 and the 12-60mm which Olympus boasted was the fastest focusing system, it wasn't even in the same league as the D300 and I say that as an E-3 owner who found out the hard way. Just an annoyance of mine...

Good to see Olympus bringing more to the system, are those converter lenses sitting in front of the flashes on the right hand side?

John
 
Apparently the sensor is the same as the gx1 but the new processor gets more from it than the gx1 can.
The strange hump on top of the middle one is a Bluetooth transmitter, allowing you to dump images onto an enabled device, its available now though for the pen series.
And yeah looks like the converters to me.
 
..why design a flash bracket that lowers the head to be inline with the lens axis

seems to me it would increase probability of ''red-eye''......:thinking:
 
Looks like a 'proper' camera at least. :)
 
Anyone know what the knurled knob under the screen is for? Not the one on the battery grip, the other one. Is it for a second accessory between the camera body and the grip? Or is it part of the camera body?

Olympus_OM-D-E-M5_back.jpg
 
paulcamcas said:
Anyone know what the knurled knob under the screen is for? Not the one on the battery grip, the other one. Is it for a second accessory between the camera body and the grip? Or is it part of the camera body?
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Looks like the whole set up has two grips - a smaller one to give you that more traditional dSLR grip (similar to the ones you can get for Leica Ms) and then the battery pack/vertical grip screws into the first grip. That was my first hunch, could be a way to lock the screen?

Edit: having seen a photo from the front I definitely think it's a two part grip.
 
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FruitFlakes said:
Looks like the whole set up has two grips - a smaller one to give you that more traditional dSLR grip (similar to the ones you can get for Leica Ms) and then the battery pack/vertical grip screws into the first grip. That was my first hunch, could be a way to lock the screen?

Edit: having seen a photo from the front I definitely think it's a two part grip.
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Yep, looked again and I think you are bang on. Thanks for that. I think I like it. Hope there's substance to match the style.
 
You can see the camera without either grip in the first post of this thread.. front (silver model) and back (in black - :D)

I certainly think it's a very interesting modular concept and loving the idea of a 1D-style thinner portrait grip instead of a huge bulbous one like Canon and Nikon pitch with the dual standard batteries.

The pentaprism-style pyramid "hump" is not very elegant tbh.. and looks like it's a folding origami thingy, maybe you can pull back with thumb and forefinger from below the hotshoe to make it fold inside or convert into an electronics accessory port or whatnot. There's something inside that lump and I don't think it's just the EVF stuff.

Also the camera seems to be about the size of a G3 but looks much bigger in the pics.

In other news, Darth Vader wants his camera back.
 
Found an image of the top...

olympus-om-d-e-m5-2_0.jpg


Now I'm even more intrigued.. and what is so secret that it's blurred out...
 
vaizki said:
Found an image of the top...

olympus-om-d-e-m5-2_0.jpg


Now I'm even more intrigued.. and what is so secret that it's blurred out...
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Looks like a mic hole on the wider pictures. Can't imagine why they'd be trying to hide that though :thinking: :cuckoo:


vaizki said:
In other news, Darth Vader wants his camera back.
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Thank you for my photography related laugh of the day :lol::clap:
 
I love the look of those bodies!!!!!!

I might have to go back to Olympus.

Nick
 
@vaizki
The blurred-out bit is no doubt the name of the website the image was taken from.
The "something inside that lump" looks like the standard Olympus accessory port which is protected by a rubber cover in the photo you posted (just have a look at the back of an E-P3 and you'll see what I mean). Why a rubber cover? Well, this new camera is supposed to be weather-proofed.
 
Maybe its just me, but I am struggling to make out fro those pictures if the standard body without all the gubbins attached has an actual viewfinder? :shrug:

Its very Fuji X-Pro looking, but I wouldn't be surprised id fuji wins this battle of the modern retro wars... :thinking:
 
@Yv
Yes, it's just you. ;)
It does have an integrated (electronic) viewfinder, but not an integrated flash.
Loads more info on 43rumors.com
 
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I am currently in the middle of retro fitting a broken Om10! stripped it out and hopefully will be putting the gubbins from a compact inside. I an torn between scrapping the compacts lens and using one of my 50mm (which will give a crazy crop ratio!) or gutting a lens that's got fungus and having the compacts lens running inside that. Its a hell of a project i may never finish but Im sure that the olympus R&D department has been snooping on me for the inspiration for this camera lmfao
That's very bolshy of me i know lol
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Final nail in the Olympus coffin.....
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:agree:

Olympus had the chance to rekindle the affection that's always been shown to the OM brand. I'd have designed a full-frame DSLR with two modes - manual and Aperture Priority (and maybe shutter priority). I'd have fitted a Fresnel screen and a standard TTL hotshoe and an original OM Zuiko mount. With the 'retro' styling of the OM series cameras, they'd have sold like crazy (I think). ;)

Failing that, why hasn't someone like Phase One made a full-frame digital back for the OM? That would be outstanding! :D
 
Yv said:
Maybe its just me, but I am struggling to make out fro those pictures if the standard body without all the gubbins attached has an actual viewfinder? :shrug:

Its very Fuji X-Pro looking, but I wouldn't be surprised id fuji wins this battle of the modern retro wars... :thinking:
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I don't think olympus are going all out retro to be honest, true it has styling nods to its peers but it is part of the Om family. And not dissimilar to the 1997 om 2000
CA_SH_HI_om2000L_rdax_225x157.jpg

After all, cameras only look the way they do because of they way they work, well film cameras at least, we expect them to look the way they do now through styling, digital cameras need not look the way they do today, its just our expectations that require that
 
Spiritflier said:
:agree:

Olympus had the chance to rekindle the affection that's always been shown to the OM brand. I'd have designed a full-frame DSLR with two modes - manual and Aperture Priority (and maybe shutter priority). I'd have fitted a Fresnel screen and a standard TTL hotshoe and an original OM Zuiko mount. With the 'retro' styling of the OM series cameras, they'd have sold like crazy (I think). ;)

Failing that, why hasn't someone like Phase One made a full-frame digital back for the OM? That would be outstanding! :D
Click to expand...

If digital backs existed for the "bread and butter" film cameras then manufacturers wouldn't bother creating and evolving new ideas. There was a big thing about digital film a while back. True, digital backs existed for some slr cameras and the evolution of those is basically what we see today, integrated into instead of bolted on
 
Spiritflier said:
:agree:

Olympus had the chance to rekindle the affection that's always been shown to the OM brand. I'd have designed a full-frame DSLR with two modes - manual and Aperture Priority (and maybe shutter priority). I'd have fitted a Fresnel screen and a standard TTL hotshoe and an original OM Zuiko mount. With the 'retro' styling of the OM series cameras, they'd have sold like crazy (I think). ;)
Click to expand...

That's the thing though, they wouldn't have. I mean, honestly, would you pay the £3500-4500 that the camera would likely have to sell for?

The days of Olympus being a main player are long gone, niche products like the OM-D and the m4/3 cameras are their only hope for survival in the market and, unfortunately, I don't think either sector is strong enough to keep the company going for long.
 
Really looking forward to this, can't wait for it to be released. Think it looks good enough. All you fuji fan boys can have the retro styling, I'll take a better camera that I can use my existing m4/3 lenses with!
 
Flash In The Pan said:
That's the thing though, they wouldn't have. I mean, honestly, would you pay the £3500-4500 that the camera would likely have to sell for?

The days of Olympus being a main player are long gone, niche products like the OM-D and the m4/3 cameras are their only hope for survival in the market and, unfortunately, I don't think either sector is strong enough to keep the company going for long.
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Olympus have given the camera world some ground breaking innovations though. First flip lcd screen, 4/3 system, although i curse the little sensor lol.
The list goes on. I don't think olympus are floundering, just look at the pen series! Granted the digital slr range as good as it was just didn't grab the attention like nikon or canon. I don't care though, i love my e3 my epl1 and om10
 
Flash In The Pan said:
That's the thing though, they wouldn't have. I mean, honestly, would you pay the £3500-4500 that the camera would likely have to sell for...
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I was indulging in a bit of wishful thinking Graham... I never thought for a minute that Olympus (or anyone else) would actually do it! :shrug:

My 'wishful thinking' was that maybe someone could come up with a way of making it possible (and inexpensive)! ;)
 
Simon photo said:
Olympus have given the camera world some ground breaking innovations though. First flip lcd screen, 4/3 system, although i curse the little sensor lol.
The list goes on. I don't think olympus are floundering, just look at the pen series! Granted the digital slr range as good as it was just didn't grab the attention like nikon or canon. I don't care though, i love my e3 my epl1 and om10
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that Olympus are losing money hand over fist on the Pen series...

As for the flip screen - my Nikon 8700 had one 8 years ago and I'm pretty sure there were others before that.
 
Simon photo said:
The list goes on. I don't think olympus are floundering, just look at the pen series! Granted the digital slr range as good as it was just didn't grab the attention like nikon or canon. I don't care though, i love my e3 my epl1 and om10
Click to expand...

Simon, I'm glad you love your Olympus, however it's very unlikely that many others are going to join u. :shrug:
 
paulcamcas said:
Anyone know what the knurled knob under the screen is for? Not the one on the battery grip, the other one. Is it for a second accessory between the camera body and the grip? Or is it part of the camera body?

Olympus_OM-D-E-M5_back.jpg
Click to expand...

Geez, this camera looks about 20 years old!
 
Looks better than the generic melted look SLRs adopted from the 90's onwards. :p Seeing this makes me wish for a digital Nikon FM2 even more...
 
Jackwow said:
Geez, this camera looks about 20 years old!
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Looks great to me! I am a full on Pentax user at the moment but I think I will buy one of those plus a couple pancakes to keep it simple light and nice when mountain biking and hiking.

The promise of fast AF, built in EVF, good IQ sensor and a body that with lens weighs less than the body only of my K-5 is really appealing. All I was waiting from Olympus is to provide me with a nice looking camera like the GX1 with a built in EVF and IS and decent sensor and they have delivered!

I love Pentax the glass is brilliant and the K-5 is just a pleasure to hold and use but sometimes you need to get it really light, small and simple. Unfortunately the K-01 delivered that last one but is neither small nor light. The new Olympus is. I am in.

Any clue as to when it might be launched officially?
 
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Flash In The Pan said:
I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that Olympus are losing money hand over fist on the Pen series...

As for the flip screen - my Nikon 8700 had one 8 years ago and I'm pretty sure there were others before that.
Click to expand...

Sorry, the first digital slr to feature a tilt screen. And the first with live view too, it was the e330
 
I like it, though I can't help but wonder if a full frame OM-D will soon rear its head after this or if they'll just stick with the smaller sensor. Only time will tell I guess...
 
There's just one thing wrong with this camera and it shares the same problem with the new Fuji....price. Too expensive. Also the hump is a slightly dissappointing being that big. I mean the camera is small and light for what it delivers, but they could have squared off the hump and just had the hotshoe...couldn't they?
 
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