New u4/3 sensor! (G3) Will Oly go there?

[MaxElmar]

To me, the most important part of the G3 announcement is the sensor, of course. How long before Olympus brings out a new camera based on this sensor? Or should we believe the rumors that Oly is going to develop their own sensor ? Do they even have the resources to do that? Or will it simply be a development of the Panasonic sensor?

 

[kevinparis]

to me the most important part of the G3 is getting rid of extraneous buttons and the start of using the touchscreen to access those endless options that digital camera designers think we need

the sensor race will die down eventually - more processing power in the camera and improved user interface is the next challenge

K

 

[kuzano]

Welll

Welll

To me, the most important part of the G3 announcement is the sensor, of course. How long before Olympus brings out a new camera based on this sensor? Or should we believe the rumors that Oly is going to develop their own sensor ? Do they even have the resources to do that? Or will it simply be a development of the Panasonic sensor?

Last word on 43rumors...

Oly design, Panasonic to build. The Olympus Pen Pro is rumored to be announced in June 2011.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Last word on 43rumors...

Oly design, Panasonic to build. The Olympus Pen Pro is rumored to be announced in June 2011.

eager to see what they come up with!

 

[ruby.monkey]

eager to see what they come up with!

Based on their previous attempts - probably almost exactly what they came up with last time, but with a dedicated self-timer button.

 

[MaxElmar]

Based on their previous attempts - probably almost exactly what they came up with last time, but with a dedicated self-timer button.

I disagree somewhat - Olympus has moved fairly quickly to evolve their m43 products. The current E-PL2 focuses considerably faster, has a much better screen, and decent control layout. And they may have squeezed just a bit more out of the old sensor. They've got a ways to go but they're moving ahead a bit with every new model. They're a small company - were not going to see new sensors every year.

But man - they sure could use some work on that menu system! 😀

 

[shadowfox]

I'd be disappointed if the new Pen pro model does not use a ring around the lens mount as a modal dial (you can choose what to control, shutter speed or aperture or anything else that make sense).

Sensor-wise, whatever, what I want is an Olympus full-frame camera, but that's not going to happen.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

to me the most important part of the G3 is getting rid of extraneous buttons and the start of using the touchscreen to access those endless options that digital camera designers think we need

I think that removing buttons is A Bad Idea. If you own an iPhone or an Android phone, you'll see that if it's cold out there and you're wearing gloves, you're out of luck.

But I guess nobody wears gloves when shooting a camera. Or with dirty hands. Or in the rain. Ever.

I'm sure this would be a cool feature, but they should really think this through. Then again, judging by the chaotic menu arrangement, I don't think they think some essential things through.

 

[kevinparis]

agreed there are issues with touch screen. However the advent of digital photography has taken us away from the simplicity of control of a film camera, and no digital camera has really addressed how best to access the myriad of options, many of which as so obscure or badly explained as to be ignored.

I would love to see camera with a minimum of buttons, good clicking dials. Maybe have a setup program that would be a sort of camera emulator, that would walk you through setting up your camera by showing you from the comfort of your desk just what all the various features do, and then allow you to save your custom settings to the camera

 

[Pickett Wilson]

I actually like the touch screen on my Panasonic G2. I would favor the extensive use of the touch screen on these small cameras (and removing the buttons) so I don't keep hitting buttons I don't intend to with my big hands!

 

[Paddy C]

I'm holding out on a purchase until June. I have to believe that Olympus is going to get it right (or mostly right) with a Pen Pro. And that's the camera I want.

Of course I could be wrong. Panasonic seems content with dumbing their cameras down and releasing iterations rather than revolutions.

 

[Benjamin Marks]

I agree with Gabriel regarding the removal of buttons. I recently swapped an old flip-style LG phone for a Motorola Droid. On the old phone, you could dial-by-feel. On the smart phone, you must be looking at the screen where the "buttons" are located and it is very easy to hit the wrong one with a thumb. One of the triumphs of the M system was the simplicity and consistency of the physical layout of the command controls over 70 years of product development. And one of the weaknesses of product development in the camera world over the last 10 years has been designer-obliviousness to this fact. Personally, I'm holding out for voice activated cameras that can be controlled by sub-glottal grunts and belches.