ruby.monkey
Veteran
I prefer the flip-up VF-2; the EP-5 is the obvious upgrade path from my E-PM1, now that Olympus have added the front control dial.
Tom Diaz
Well-known
I am disappointed also. I think the E-P5 is beautiful. The EVF makes it look dorky.
However, the focus peaking and in-body IS make it very attractive, getting closer to the camera I want that would like me use my outstanding m4/3 lenses and also use my Leica M lenses to good effect. So, add:
1. A built-in viewfinder. Electronic only would be OK, although I would pay lots more for an awesome hybrid optical-electronic one like Fuji has.
2. Maybe some more sensor tweakage to improve performance with the M lenses.
I am somewhat tempted to buy it even with the dorkiness, but I would pay another $1000 for it if it had the two above features.
TD
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I want the EVF, but I also want to use optical viewfinders. The E-P5 is better for that. Weather sealing has almost never bought me any tangible advantages. Controls on the E-P5 look better than the E-M5 to me: less fiddly.
I sure as heck don't need another camera. But the siren song goes on. ;-)
G
Tom Diaz
Well-known
Tweaked (faster) AF is always nice. So's a 1/8000 speed, so you can shoot wide open in sunlight with a really fast lens, for maximum isolation of the subject--more of a struggle with the smallish m4/3 sensor.
I agree with your general drift. I recently updated my m4/3 bodies by adding a G3, instead of a GX1. I figured, the GX1 would always have the EVF clipped on, so why not just get the G3, which is also very compact? Plus the G3 was cheaper.
However, I would be the first to acknowledge that part of the reason I'd prefer something like the E-P5 is that it is so good-looking. (I like some of the Fujis for the same reason.)
Tom
Addy101
Well-known
Good looking is always a good reason to buy a camera ;-)
traveler_101
American abroad
Yeah, I agree about the looks, but you know the E-P5 although the same size roughly as the E-P1/2/3 weighs 20% more than the E-P1 . . .
I agree with Godfrey that the Pen cameras can be pretty nice with an optical finder in the hotshoe combined with shooting from the screen. This flexibility is how Olympus sees the camera, while it defines the E-M5 more as a new mirrorless DSLR centered on the built-in electronic viewfinder.
What is left out is the hope for a new version of a M-style rangefinder camera with a built in optical finder, really an electronc-optical hybrid--suggested by Dogman and Tom Diaz. This was my dream too, but it appears as if Olympus has decided that the market is not broad enough for this approach.
Dave Jenkins
Loose Canon
Good grief! Olympus is going to charge the same price as an OM-D for an E-P5 and then charge more money for an EVF? Not a chance I would buy one, no matter how cute they are.
traveler_101
American abroad
Dave, I am not going for it either. Some of the cost--and much of the marketing effort--is built around the WiFi capacity of the camera. Take a look at this promo. Design is all about marketing today and they have realised that their competition is the mobile phone and they have identified their market niche as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIhOhfXudnI&feature=player_embedded
maitani
Well-known
6 months from now at half price, i might be an ok camera, nice to see the 1/8000 back a olympus too
Bingley
Veteran
I'm delighted to see the arrival of the E-P5, b/c it means that prices on the E-P3 will drop.
While I'd love to have the E-P5's sensor, I will happily make do w/ an E-P3 for a fraction of the price of the new model.
While I'd love to have the E-P5's sensor, I will happily make do w/ an E-P3 for a fraction of the price of the new model.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
As an Olympus nut, I cry on the inside looking at EP-5.
Pop up flash??????
Pop up OVF is much more useful. Probably cheaper to make too.
Oh my my....
Pop up flash??????
Pop up OVF is much more useful. Probably cheaper to make too.
Oh my my....
Al Patterson
Ferroequinologist
Exactly what I have been thinking. I am looking for a digital I can put my M mount lenses on, and used EP-x cameras are much cheaper than the digital Ms.
mh2000
Well-known
I'm still shooting an E-P1 too, but recognize that the new sensor is a big upgrade... on top of everything else.
Of course you can get a cheaper Pen with the new sensor in it, but if you like "flagship" cameras (like me), then you have to get the E-P5.
Think of it this way... the E-P1 wasn't a cheap camera either, many said not worth it at all compared to DSLRs, but it was a super nice camera that both of us have been happy shooting for a very long time. The E-P5 will be the same thing.
I'm a cheap b*stard, so I'm going to wait until its successor is introduced and I can get it for ~$350... but if I was a GASey camera buyer I'd have one already... 'course, I would have already bought the OM-D too!
Of course you can get a cheaper Pen with the new sensor in it, but if you like "flagship" cameras (like me), then you have to get the E-P5.
Think of it this way... the E-P1 wasn't a cheap camera either, many said not worth it at all compared to DSLRs, but it was a super nice camera that both of us have been happy shooting for a very long time. The E-P5 will be the same thing.
I'm a cheap b*stard, so I'm going to wait until its successor is introduced and I can get it for ~$350... but if I was a GASey camera buyer I'd have one already... 'course, I would have already bought the OM-D too!
kaiwasoyokaze
Half Frame Goodness
slava
Established
The autofocus is really nice and the specks (had an opportunity to try one out) The lack of build in viewfinder bothers me and the iso performance wasn't that good at 3200...
The camera looks and feels really nice tho.. the focus peeks is good upgrade to for manual lenses.
-Slava
The camera looks and feels really nice tho.. the focus peeks is good upgrade to for manual lenses.
-Slava
Rodchenko
Olympian
The EP-5 is a very good looking camera. Even as a bit of a Zuikoholic, my head hadn't bene turned by the new Pens. This one really hits the spot in terms of functionality and style.
OK, so I would prefer an OVF, so an X-Pro 1 is still top of my wishlist. Actually, I'd love a rangefinder most of all, but the M9 doesn't really grab me. If I have to compromise off that, I'm not sure having an eyepiece makes much sense at all. I do have an OVF on my G11, but it's a bit teeny (and is uninformative), even compared to my Trip, so it doesn't get as much use as I'd imagined. So why not have a camera that can use my OM lenses (albeit as telephotos)? With the 17mm, that'd be a very pocketable machine, so long as the touch screen is about a zillionty-one times tougher and more reliable than that on my smartphone.
The focus peeking may even be something I could learn to live with, since first reports seem to be very favourably disposed towards it.
If you wanted an EVF, then there's no point at all going for an EP-5. The OM-D is much neater for that purpose. It's nice to have the choice. Personally, I think I could own an EP-5 without springing a fortune for a pricy and ugly accessory. Pop-up flash is a bit crappy, though. Almost as if they couldn't think of anything better to put in that space.
I shall have to start saving up the money I don't have and see what gets me first. In the meantime, I should make better use of the G11 I already have.
OK, so I would prefer an OVF, so an X-Pro 1 is still top of my wishlist. Actually, I'd love a rangefinder most of all, but the M9 doesn't really grab me. If I have to compromise off that, I'm not sure having an eyepiece makes much sense at all. I do have an OVF on my G11, but it's a bit teeny (and is uninformative), even compared to my Trip, so it doesn't get as much use as I'd imagined. So why not have a camera that can use my OM lenses (albeit as telephotos)? With the 17mm, that'd be a very pocketable machine, so long as the touch screen is about a zillionty-one times tougher and more reliable than that on my smartphone.
The focus peeking may even be something I could learn to live with, since first reports seem to be very favourably disposed towards it.
If you wanted an EVF, then there's no point at all going for an EP-5. The OM-D is much neater for that purpose. It's nice to have the choice. Personally, I think I could own an EP-5 without springing a fortune for a pricy and ugly accessory. Pop-up flash is a bit crappy, though. Almost as if they couldn't think of anything better to put in that space.
I shall have to start saving up the money I don't have and see what gets me first. In the meantime, I should make better use of the G11 I already have.
Vobluda
Well-known
They are trying to sell E-P5 + 17mm 1.8 + VF4 for aprox 1900 USD here. Go figure how many of them they will sell for that asking price :bang::bang::bang:
:bang::bang::bang:Exdsc
Well-known
This camera has to be the most elegant looking digital camera out there.
