Oly showing a m4/3...but its still a secret!

[Avotius]

This image on dc watch is interesting http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/parts/image_for_link/170840-10552-2-1.html

looks like they might have a more full sized type body under that cloth, and that compact m4/3...lets just hope something is said sooner rather then later!

 

[Rick Waldroup]

I bet those are lenses under that blue cloth.

I simply love the design of the camera. I shoot the 4/3 system and have been putting off getting into the micro system until Olympus showed us what they have. Hopefully, it will not be too much longer.

 

[Avotius]

Indeed! I didnt think it could be lenses, though its obvious one of the things there is a lens. I will have my Panasonic G1 sold by this monday and I will be looking forward to this Olympus thing. I like the idea of the m4/3 system but dislike the idea of the images being manhandled by the G1's software. Lets hope Olympus takes a more conservative approach.

 

[Trius]

Well, you have to hand it to Olympus -- they are doing a spectacular job of keeping our attention, our tongues hanging out, droplets of drool starting to form.

Aside from some of the other wish list items enumerated on RFF and other forums, you know what I would want?

ISO 64 ... 50 would be even better.

 

[Tom Diaz]

I bet those are lenses under that blue cloth.

I simply love the design of the camera. I shoot the 4/3 system and have been putting off getting into the micro system until Olympus showed us what they have. Hopefully, it will not be too much longer.

I decided not to deny myself, arguing (with myself) that if micro 4/3 turns out well for me I would always want a second body, so I could have an Olympus too. So go ahead!

The G1 is great with my M lenses, my couple of 4/3 lenses, and its own nice kit lens. The G1 kit lens is on the slow side for general shooting, which for me includes a lot of dim light. The 4/3 Summilux (25mm f/1.4) gives great results! The AF makes noise when it's turned on, but it does focus very well. Of course, it is a very large lens, making me appreciate putting on a 28mm f/2 Summicron instead. I don't do telephoto shooting very often, but I will also enjoy the 75mm and 90mm Summicrons at those times! The 75mm is a particularly nice-looking and nice-feeling match.

I'll add my voice to those who love the manual focus assist in the electronic viewfinder. (And it comes up automatically with adapted 4/3 lenses!) It may be possible to focus M lenses more accurately than ever before. Then we'll know we can blame the sensor (and the lack of image stabilization) if we aren't satisfied with the images. Just in little tests in my living room, I can see the jitters in otherwise completely sharp pictures taken with the 28mm Summicron. So let's hope we can crank up the ISO a bit and be happy.

[Thinking...] OK, I was curious and have attached the result. I set the ISO to 1600 and photographed this screen from 4 feet away with a 28mm Summicron using the MF assist feature. (Exposure 1/640 at f/2, ISO 1600.) You can judge for yourself. Also attached is a picture of one of my kitties taken with the 25mm Summilux. That exposure and the focus were automatic. (Exposure was 1/60 at f/1.4, ISO 100.)

I'm happy so far!

 

[principe azul]

been putting off getting into the micro system until Olympus showed us what they have. Hopefully, it will not be too much longer.

Hope so too, although by the time it comes out, it may be that the Samsung NX is in the works. I like the Samsung sensor size (less severe crop factor for wides) but they look to be going the fake-pentaprism route that's put me off the G1.

 

[splitimageview]

When you have nothing to show, it makes sense to create anticipation, if only to keep people on the fence from buying the Panasonic. 🙂

I don't care if the Oly has a fake prism or not, as long as at least one of the models has the full G1 feature set plus image stabilization. Otherwise there is no reason to get an Oly for me...

 

[kuzano]

Latest rumor mill grist....

Latest rumor mill grist....

The "carrot" Oly out in June
A second Oly somewhat like the Panasonic G1 in December
Panasonic out with a compact M4/3rds late this year.

Counting the new GH1, that's five micro 4/3rd options by EOY 2009, plus the new small Samsung interchangable lens APS-C. Watch both P&S and DSLR sales get "hammered", methinks.

 

[Avotius]

Bah....and here I thought a camera announcement was coming and it turned out that all that was coming was a e420 with some firmware changes called the e450. Was it really nessesary to do the minor upgrade on that camera a third time?

 

[gavinlg]

Bah....and here I thought a camera announcement was coming and it turned out that all that was coming was a e420 with some firmware changes called the e450. Was it really nessesary to do the minor upgrade on that camera a third time?

When it went from e-410 to e-420 it had an ergonomic redesign with the grip, dials and buttons, and also had the sensor from the e-3 put in, which has more dynamic range than the e-410 sensor.

Watch in the coming couple of months, there will be another announcement.

The first m4/3rds camera (that silver one with the orange grip) is rumored to be available in June or July

 

[Avotius]

The first m4/3rds camera (that silver one with the orange grip) is rumored to be available in June or July

I bet they will be hard to find for a while too, seems like demand is high for this type of product. As long as Olympus can resist the temptation to put a zoom like the one on the G1 on it then it should do fine. While a tiny zoom would be nice, I dont want the lens to be 3 times the size of the camera!

 

[Diane B]

The 14-45 is not a large zoom at all--very very light--a bit over 6 oz.---and only 2.3 x 2 inches. You might mean the 45-200 which is 4 inches x 2+ inches.

Diane.

 

[Avotius]

The 14-45 is not a large zoom at all--very very light--a bit over 6 oz.---and only 2.3 x 2 inches. You might mean the 45-200 which is 4 inches x 2+ inches.

Diane.

yes I know, I had a G1, just sold it. But imagine that lens sticking off something the size of a Ricoh GRD or Sigma DP1 and you will get what im talking about.

I sure hope Olympus gets off their ass and shows us this compact finally, my GRD is getting sicker every day and a replacement is very much due!

 

[dazedgonebye]

yes I know, I had a G1, just sold it. But imagine that lens sticking off something the size of a Ricoh GRD or Sigma DP1 and you will get what im talking about.

I sure hope Olympus gets off their ass and shows us this compact finally, my GRD is getting sicker every day and a replacement is very much due!

A fast prime would make it a compelling camera. Small as it could be for carrying around and accepting larger lenses for other work.

 

[back alley]

i have a feeling that there are gonna be a lot of disappointed folks out there when oly releases it's camera.

 

[dazedgonebye]

i have a feeling that there are gonna be a lot of disappointed folks out there when oly releases it's camera.

Why's that?

 

[back alley]

Why's that?

i base it just on a gut feeling, no evidence whatsoever.

 

[dazedgonebye]

That Oly body coupled with Panasonic's 20mm f/1.7 pancake could be the most versatile digital compact thus far--and you'll even be able to change lenses!

Yep.
I'm going to be torn between what I assume will be the higher image quality and better (from my pov) crop factor of the Samsung offering and the awsome little form factor of the Oly.

 

[kuzano]

so,,, Im interested to know....

so,,, Im interested to know....

i base it just on a gut feeling, no evidence whatsoever.

How did you do on jury duty?😀

 

[nightfly]

Someone is always disappointed here. Some of it is the finicky nature of camera geeks and some of it is that there are so many compromises in making a mass market product that one of them is going to strike someone as a deal breaker.

For me it's probably that the prime lenses they are talking about with the crop factor aren't going to be wide enough. If the rumored 20mm is the widest prime, that's 40mm equivalent and that's too much for me. Whatever I'm happy with my Leica w a 35 Summicron and a 28 CV and my GR1.

The film cameras most of us love have 40 or 50 years of development ahead of them so they are pretty close to perfect while the digital stuff has only been around for 10 or 15 years and the sensor technology keep changing. Besides the light sensitivity, film was/is relatively stable allowing manufacturers to focus on the camera and lenses.

Still that orange Oly looks more interesting than anything else I've seen in the digital realm, so perhaps I'll buy one and not sell it after a few months like I've done with every other digital I've bought.