Olympus Air A01 announced for North America

I think u missed what might be some important aspect differences between the Sony and Olympus announcements.
- yes Sony has an e-mount version, but there maybe those that never like the e-mount and are dedicated m43 users
- open source API, something that Sony has never done, only Samsung has ever done this that I am aware of
- m43 lenses tend to be lighter then their apsc counter part given the 2x crop factor.

Gary
 
More info and video at Olympus site

More info and video at Olympus site

http://www.getolympus.com/digitalcameras/olympus-air/air-a01.html?ref=CJ

At 299, tempting price for the body only since I still have m43 stuff..The only down side I can c is no ibis. Panasonic IS lenses are supported though.

I think their target audience is the generation that grew up using smartphone cameras..keeping them in their familiar smart phone environment and offering them a better quality. Which is the same approach Sony pioneered.

Gary
 
Cheap enough, why not! Although Im not interested, it seems like a fresh idea for Olympus. Even if they piggy backed off Sony ;)
 
B-9 said:
Cheap enough, why not! Although Im not interested, it seems like a fresh idea for Olympus. Even if they piggy backed off Sony ;)
Click to expand...

One might think that, but it is not true. I have mine since a few month now and really like it. The possibility to download the SDK (iOS and Android) and extent the camera capabilities to your wishes, makes this to totally different game.

I'm a software guy, but in Japan the community also made some pretty cool hardware gadgets for it.

Also the Qx looks really clunky against the Air.

What I noticed though, was that when I tested it first on a trip to Japan (I had it before, but then took it to back to Japan for testing...), is that I tend to shot differently. More stealthy hip-shots where I normally prefer open eye-level shooting on the streets. But then this gives some new perspectives... For macros for example, I think the camera is great, when you hold you camera on gras-level in front of insects and have the display in your other hand.

Also, I first was a little bit disappointed because of the missing IBIS, but then I realized, that this camera is really great in high ISO, much better than even my E-M1. Although I'm not sure, if it really has a newer sensor.

If you like, there is a link to my few first test shots. Look at the high ISO shots with ISO6400, this is incredible for mFt:

http://www.mempool.net/Air01Samples/index.html

I also wrote a preliminary first impression text in another forum, but that text is German only, sorry. If someone is interested...
 
It does not appear to work with iOS, but for some strange reason has to upload to Amazon of all places. Bizarre.

Maybe the ads are wrong and it will save large files to iCloud?
 
There is an iOS app already in the Apple Store. Haven't really looked into iCloud storage in general..but if this app saves those image to your camera roll and if u got iCloud sync for camera roll active, it should be ok. Just can't control which photos go up :(

Since they have published the sdk API hooks, I am sure we will get some interesting apps as well as functionality that Olympus either had no time for or did not think about it.

Gary
 
GaryLH said:
Just can't control which photos go up :(
Click to expand...

Well no. But many of us use 16Gb iPhones so it is really a moot point. Photos can be removed from iCloud and stored on a conventional HD easily. Frankly storing what are basically thumbnails on my iPhone has been a real game changer.

So far I have not been too pleased with iPhone camera controls written by Japanese companies, I have tried to use them in the past on Panasonic with little success. But they all used wifi, which of course was awful.
 
It's an interesting camera gizmo. At $300, it's cheap too. And I have all the lenses, adapters, etc, to figure out what to do with it, if anything.

Fitting it with an MFT/LEM mount adapter and an appropriate lens on the BEOON could well be what drives me over the edge... :)

G
 
This is what I have now.
19145810620_8d9f0b9716_c.jpg


I use it with USB powered LED light box (actually more like a thin tablet).

Imagine using Air as the taking body, using phone/tablet with retina display for grain check and potentially a quick invert/post processing. You'll have a compact, fairly portable ana-digi "darkroom" setup. ;)
 
The BEOON is designed for use with a 50mm lens on 24x36 format and does 1:1, 1:1.5, and 1:3 magnifications that way.

For the Olympus Air, to capture 6x6cm negatives, I need to achieve about 1:4.3 magnification on 13x17.3 format. This means likely using a 12-15mm lens, I think. I've got a Cosmicar 12.5mm f/1.4 TV lens that might work, with some manipulation of the lens mount. It might prove easier to use it purely as a mounting stand rather than with the Leica lens mounts, etc.

Whatever. It will be fun.

G
 
Yep, for MF scanning, you'd need lower magnification than BEOON was designed for using less than full-frame sensor. (tried with X-E1 which is 1.52 crop factor)

For the heck of it I have the Air pre-ordered at B&H so we'll see what we can do with it.
 
coelacanth said:
Yep, for MF scanning, you'd need lower magnification than BEOON was designed for using less than full-frame sensor. (tried with X-E1 which is 1.52 crop factor)

For the heck of it I have the Air pre-ordered at B&H so we'll see what we can do with it.
Click to expand...

I ordered one from Olympus direct. It will be fun to figure out what to do with it. Of course, I could just put one of my macro lenses on it, build a rigid stand, set it for square format, and shoot away...

It may be how I sell off the huge and cumbersome medium format film scanner...

G
 
I have a copy stand that could work for this as well. Haven't used it in years..stored in the basement. I agree having an iPad as the viewing device for this type of setup is very handy.. But then again w/ any of the wifi enabled remote app mirrorless camera combo, one could do this as well..just a much more compact package versus something like an xt1..

The air would be essentially cheap enough to just leave it setup this way though, so long as u have the m43 lenses already.

Gary
 
Some interesting stuff people have done in Japan... (though I haven't found anything more involving programing and such, which I want to try at some point)

000.jpg

Probably I'll get in trouble with the authority in the US.

004.jpg

1,200mm FL (35mm equiv.)

08.jpg

This was actually shown at Olympus booth at some point.

17712560549_4f2f11bace_c.jpg
 
coelacanth said:
Some interesting stuff people have done in Japan... (though I haven't found anything more involving programing and such, which I want to try at some point)

000.jpg

Probably I'll get in trouble with the authority in the US.

004.jpg

1,200mm FL (35mm equiv.)

08.jpg

This was actually shown at Olympus booth at some point.

17712560549_4f2f11bace_c.jpg
Click to expand...

Some bored photographer/hackers out there.

None of this looks like an improvement on 100+ year old camera/ user interface designs. :p
 
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