Oly E-M1 got leaked

[NazgulKing]

Tell it to Panasonic.

Throw in Canon into the mix then.

 

[NazgulKing]

Yes, 4/3 lenses are but a stop gap for better things to come. Hopefully.

We'll soon see how the new constant 2.8 zoom fares, but I have no doubt that it will leave those legacy lenses far behind.

Olympus is a company that must answer to banks, camera division is still in the red, so investments can be made only if they later maximize cash flow.

Say, if Oly began to issue a new lineup of fast m4/3 zooms at a rate of five per year, it would probably go bust in only one year 🙂

So having those 4/3 zooms helps one being patient.

OTH I am pretty sure that the new hybrid AF will propel the company to absolute excellence, together with 5-axis IBIS and the top EVF.

It's not even a matter of the pricey E-M1, because the PDAF-on sensor will probably propagate to much cheaper cameras in 2014.

Actually, debatable. If they released their zooms faster, it means people will have more confidence in investing in the system. While they are not released, they represent an opportunity cost not for buyers but for the company since people might be more easily swayed by the siren call of DSLRs.

Olympus has more than enough resources to do the zooms if they so wished. But obviously, the medical division is more important, and thus gets more attention. And now, the optical dept has to service Sony needs as well.

 

[gustavoAvila]

Building high performance mirrorless cameras and lenses is much more challenging than most people realize.

First, a high refresh sensor is necessary, these have only been available for little over two years.

Second, low mass, "high frequency" focusing groups are necessary, requiring a complete rethink in lens design (and not practical for "heavy glass").

Third, extremely sophisticated focusing algorithms are necessary (executed by fast, low power processors).

Indeed, the confluence of the enabling technologies to build high performance mirrorless cameras/lenses is a very recent development, literally on the bleeding edge of imaging technology.

And in spite of the indisputable progress to date in contrast detection auto focusing (CDAF), this technology is only suitable for light-weight lenses. "Heavy glass" requires sensor phase detection (PD), a technology not yet available on store shelves.

As such, seeing that the enabling technologies are very recent (or not even available), it is hardly surprising that there is a dearth of m43's large aperture zoom (and long focal length) lenses.

 

[amalric]

The implementation of phase detection focusing in the E-M1 is a strategic necessity for Olympus, not just for legacy 4/3's lens support, but to enable the delivery of future "big" glass.

Contrast detection focusing only works acceptably well when the (lens) focusing group can be "jiggled" back-and-forth with sufficient frequency to achieve fast focus. This is why m43's lenses, in general, tend to be short focal length primes (and slow zoom lenses) as these can be built with low mass focusing mechanisms.

However, designing low mass focusing groups for fast zoom and long focal length lenses is much more difficult; these (lenses) require phase focusing systems to be practical. (By practical, I mean focus sufficiently fast to satisfy demanding users.)

And then there is continuous focus tracking, something which has remained elusive using contrast focusing alone.

As such, in order to move m43's forward, Olympus/Panasonic have no choice (as long they want to remain competitive) with regard to incorporating phase detection focusing in their higher spec'd camera bodies.

I agree absolutely. Personally I am not going to budge from my recent E-M5, but I am all for the advancement of the format.

BTW I am not sure that Panny has PDAF-on-sensor at all, that was part of the trade agreement between Sony and Olympus.

The beauty of it is that benefits to CAF should trickle down to the less expensive cameras for those who love sports and fast action.

When matched to 5 axis IBIS, one can only dream of what a stabilised target with fast tracking becomes achievable.

That should in turn promote the sales of new fast zooms with linear motors.

So it's not only about saving 4/3 lenses.

 

[gustavoAvila]

BTW I am not sure that Panny has PDAF-on-sensor at all, that was part of the trade agreement between Sony and Olympus.

Sony sells sensors to anyone who plunks down cold, hard cash. (The GH3 contains a Sony sensor.) There is nothing preventing Panasonic from buying the same sensor used by the E-M1.

So it's not only about saving 4/3 lenses.

Definitely not!

 

[Godfrey]

i'm still bummed that the e-1 died after a single generation. if i was the prez, i'd update it with the new 16mp sensor, 5-axis image stabilization, VF-4 (like how sony is about to go non-SLT in A-mount), and a big swiveling LCD. so many good 4/3 lenses are going to die ignominious deaths!

Well, what you describe there (minus the VF-4 and with the 12Mpixel sensor) sounds an awful lot like the E-5. (I would be perfectly happy with an E-1 that had up to date sensor and data transfer to card, frankly. All the rest will be in the E-M1. 🙂

And if the E-M1 meets the promise on AF focusing speed with FourThirds lenses, none of those lenses need die at all. I've hung onto my two favorites ... the 11-22 and the 35 Macro ... waiting for a higher performance fusion body. Between the E-M1 and the Panasonic GX7, it might be here. Of course, my E-1 is still going strong too, not dead yet. Only 10 years old and 18,000 exposures.

G

 

[semilog]

What on earth does the aspect ratio has to do with the grip?

Absolutely nothing. It's a low-grade troll.

 

[NazgulKing]

Building high performance mirrorless cameras and lenses is much more challenging than most people realize.

First, a high refresh sensor is necessary, these have only been available for little over two years.

Second, low mass, "high frequency" focusing groups are necessary, requiring a complete rethink in lens design (and not practical for "heavy glass").

Third, extremely sophisticated focusing algorithms are necessary (executed by fast, low power processors).

Indeed, the confluence of the enabling technologies to build high performance mirrorless cameras/lenses is a very recent development, literally on the bleeding edge of imaging technology.

And in spite of the indisputable progress to date in contrast detection auto focusing (CDAF), this technology is only suitable for light-weight lenses. "Heavy glass" requires sensor phase detection (PD), a technology not yet available on store shelves.

As such, seeing that the enabling technologies are very recent (or not even available), it is hardly surprising that there is a dearth of m43's large aperture zoom (and long focal length) lenses.

Correction. CDAF has been around for a long time and could be used for large lenses. It's just that most sensors had rarely the fast readouts required to make it work. The technologies to enable these "ideas" have been around long enough, just that no one found a need to put them together.

 

[gustavoAvila]

Correction. CDAF has been around for a long time and could be used for large lenses. It's just that most sensors had rarely the fast readouts required to make it work. The technologies to enable these "ideas" have been around long enough, just that no one found a need to put them together.

It is true that CDAF has been around since the introduction of digital cameras. However, the availability of large, fast readout sensors is a very recent development.

Indeed, the concepts behind high performance, mirrorless cameras have been known for sometime. The physical hardware that allows them to challenge DSLR's is very recent.

 

[GaryLH]

Better shot of em1 w/ new zoom lens

Better shot of em1 w/ new zoom lens

http://www.getdpi.com/forum/4-3rds-cameras/47998-e-m1-12-40mm-f-2-8-a.html

So over at getdpi... A good shot of new zoom on the em1. I think it looks like a great combination myself. Unlike others I like the new grip. I had to put an rrs grip on my em5 for more mass and better handling characteristics since I like to shoot mainly long tele w/ mine.

Gary

 

[shadowfox]

Looks good.
The grip addresses a lot of complaint about the small form.
And I agree with Gary above, it doesn't detract from the looks at all.

And the 12-40mm pro-grade lens with f/2.8.
I can see myself being happy with this combo.