Olympus EP-5

[dasuess]

Looking at photos of the new Olympus EP-5 and seeing the technical specs, I am impressed. But would I buy one? No... Am I the only one that thinks a viewfinder like the one on the Fuji XE-1 would be way better than a built-in flash?
For now I will stick with my OM-D/EM-5. And if they start being closed out cheap, I just might buy another one.

 

[mh2000]

There are many many people like you that insist on a built-in VF, but I'm not one of them. I think the EP-5 looks stunning, but I don't have digital body GAS, so will definitely not be buying the E-P5 now. Current plan is to wait for another round of upgrades and buy an OM-D or E-P5 on close out or refurb when they hit $500 or less. STill happy enough shooting my anchient E-P1 for now.

 

[Godfrey]

The E-P5 looks darn nice.

Regards the viewfinder, I am of two minds on this. I like the fact that on these slim, modest-sized cameras, an LCD and a clip-on optical or electronic viewfinder work so well together. However, I also like the convenience and trimness of having a viewfinder built-in.

That said, I wouldn't base my decision to purchase an E-P5 on whether the eye-level viewfinder was built-in as Olympus' excellent clip-on VF-2 is the equal or better of the built-in viewfinders on the market, including the Fujis.

If I wanted a Micro-FourThirds camera *with* a built-in EVF, the E-M5 is the right model for that, with the best EVF in the business.

As I said at top, the E-P5 looks darn nice. I'd be tempted, but my primary interest in another digital body is for use with my existing M-mount lenses, and at the moment the two best bodies (other than the Leica M digitals) for that are the Ricoh GXR+A12 Camera Mount and the Sony NEX 6. I plan to get a NEX 6 body a little later this year: it has some features that I think might be advantageous for my uses. I do wish it had Olympus in-body image stabilization system.

G

 

[dasuess]

I also think the E-P5 is stunning, so that's why I am disappointed that it does not have a built-in EVF. And I detest buil-in flash. Maybe I am unconsciously lusting after the Fuji XE-1, but I have a lot invested in my Oly m43 system - and I like it a lot. Still have my E-P2 with Oly 17/f2.8 and VF-1 optical finder permanently mounted, but it's not seeing a lot of use since I got the E-M5 which I use with the Oly 12/f2.0, 17/f1.8 and 45/f1.8 lenses.

And the Nikon F outfit just sits in a drawer since I no longer use film, but whenever I look at it I am reminded of all the places I lugged it since buying it new back in 1972.

 

[mh2000]

For the record, I also think the OM-D is a stunning camera! 🙂

 

[Godfrey]

I also think the E-P5 is stunning, so that's why I am disappointed that it does not have a built-in EVF. And I detest buil-in flash. Maybe I am unconsciously lusting after the Fuji XE-1, but I have a lot invested in my Oly m43 system - and I like it a lot. Still have my E-P2 with Oly 17/f2.8 and VF-1 optical finder permanently mounted, but it's not seeing a lot of use since I got the E-M5 which I use with the Oly 12/f2.0, 17/f1.8 and 45/f1.8 lenses.

Sounds to me like the E-M5 is doing exactly what you want, don't know why the E-P5 would be a disappointment. Is it just the style that you'd prefer?

And the Nikon F outfit just sits in a drawer since I no longer use film, but whenever I look at it I am reminded of all the places I lugged it since buying it new back in 1972.

My Nikon F is also sitting waiting to be used. Too many cameras, not enough time. Oh well.

G

 

[Matus]

I think that olympus targets different market with the E-Px series than it does with the OMD. Once they would include EVF on the E-Px it would collide way too much with the OMD (which thanks to the EVF is bigger). The lack of EVF also makes it easier to put a lower price on the E-Px and keeps it very compact.

I would not expect built-in EVF in the E-Px series anytime soon.

 

[dasuess]

Sounds to me like the E-M5 is doing exactly what you want, don't know why the E-P5 would be a disappointment. Is it just the style that you'd prefer?

Yes, the E-M5 is working very well for me - wish I had another one !!!

The E-P5 is probably just a GAS thing... I can certainly live without it. And I have already spent a bundle on my photography habit in the past few months. 🙂

 

[igi]

I think that olympus targets different market with the E-Px series than it does with the OMD. Once they would include EVF on the E-Px it would collide way too much with the OMD (which thanks to the EVF is bigger). The lack of EVF also makes it easier to put a lower price on the E-Px and keeps it very compact.

I would not expect built-in EVF in the E-Px series anytime soon.

Besides that, Olympus seems to be invested in these detachable EVFs. I don't think it's a bad idea though... it's like having the convenience of a flipping LCD and an EVF at the same time.

 

[kaiwasoyokaze]

well a good thing is you can keep your olympus evf when you decide to upgrade your olympus ep series to the leica m240.

 

[pvdhaar]

..Once they would include EVF on the E-Px it would collide way too much with the OMD (which thanks to the EVF is bigger) ..

The NEX-6/7 show that an EVF can be included without adding much size to a camera body. The market collision seems like the most plausible explanation. Plausible, but probably unwise; better to cannibalize your product line yourself, than have your competitors nibble at your customer base.

That said, this EP5 looks so much like an original PEN, that it had me fooled.. in a good way. If I weren't into the NEX system, this one could have make me go with m4/3 based on looks alone..

 

[dasuess]

I think that olympus targets different market with the E-Px series than it does with the OMD. Once they would include EVF on the E-Px it would collide way too much with the OMD (which thanks to the EVF is bigger). The lack of EVF also makes it easier to put a lower price on the E-Px and keeps it very compact.

I would not expect built-in EVF in the E-Px series anytime soon.

If they had decided not to have the built-in flash, maybe an EVF could have been put in without too much increase in size. I detest built-in flash. And although I have an Vivitar flash in my camera bag, I never use it.

 

[Godfrey]

well a good thing is you can keep your olympus evf when you decide to upgrade your olympus ep series to the leica m240.

Works beautifully on the X2 as well. 🙂

G

 

[xvvvz]

Are there any price rumors for the EP-5?

Doug

 

[traveler_101]

Are there any price rumors for the EP-5?

Doug

E-P5 is "stunning" -- until you see it with the new and (technically) improved EVF attached. Big, bulky and ugly: it turns a beautiful camera into something else. If you stay away form the attachable EVF, you are left with ocular clip on viewfinders that have no electronic connectivity. I have that system with my E-P1 . . . why bother with the new camera. Perhaps, perhaps . . . the new 35 point AF system on the E-P5 is so good that you rely on it for accurate focusing. That would make the ocular clip on finder more usable so you get some improvement over the E-P1.

The price is rumoured at $999.90, but not including the EVF. The camera is likely to be bundled with the 14-42 standard zoom, with the new 17/1.8 an option for additional $250 = $1249.90

 

[Godfrey]

Well, five-six years of functional development into the E-P5 beyond the E-P1 does count for something, and the fact that it can use an EVF is a big plus for some purposes, even if it isn't so pretty.

I do like a good looking camera, but in the end I'll vote for more functional as a rule. I tend to be looking through my cameras a lot more than at them... 🙂

G

 

[dreilly]

It looks like it has a control wheel around the shutter button. That's a huge, though quite obvious, advance over previous models. Why they didn't do that before...

 

[Dogman]

I will not be buying the E-P5 either. I like the E-Pens I now own (I use them with accessory OVFs) but I want a built-in OVF in any new camera I buy. Not electronic--optical. I've tried to like EVFs and failed miserably at it.

This requirement has meant that the last four cameras I've bought have all been SLRs.

 

[gilpen123]

I had the EPL2, EP2 an EP3 and an EVF that now sits in my X2. I love how the pen handles and now they have the black version of 17 1.8, 45 1.8 and 75 1.8, looks so nice with the Black EP5 or OMD. If you do not yet have the OMD, EP5 may be a good buy to an M4/3 system. I also like the now tiiltable LCD screen. Waiting for some real world test specially lowlight where the EP3 is lacking somewhat on 1600 and above.

 

[Addy101]

I don't get this. The E-P5 is just a tweaked E-M5 with better AF and a 1/8000s shutter. The E-M5 has sealing and an EVF. If you want an EVF, just get the E-M5....