Olympus Releases new micro 4/3 E-P1

[ce4jesus 1]

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/...09_06&li=bt

 

If they offer a housing it might be a great camera for those looking for live view. Since it doesn't have a mirror it will more than likely have no lag on live view.

[ardy01 0]

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/...09_06&li=bt

 

If they offer a housing it might be a great camera for those looking for live view. Since it doesn't have a mirror it will more than likely have no lag on live view.

 

Gary this could be the great alternative for mid range UW photographers who want a very small and compact unit better than a P&S but at $800 a unit dont think they will take the world by storm even with a housing at a reasonable cost. This is more money than I spent on my E520.

 

If Olympus wants to dominate the mid range UW market they need something like this with a 28-300mm lens equivalent and a housing+Port for $1500 and then it may become the default system for most divers and a good system above water.

 

Would love to see this happen but I dont think so. It may become another quirky camera from Olympus similar to the Pen original.

[rtrski 20]

I'm not convinced yet (and I am an Oly original LV fan). I think I'm reading that the loss in focus speed might essentially counteract the liveview and size benefits, at least somewhat. The lack of a built-in flash as an optical strobe trigger also requires either the housing to be big enough for the add-on, or a hotshoe adaptor which would turn off quite a few people.

 

Time will tell, but I'll sit on my present equipment a bit. Especially since at this point I've acquired a reasonable set of 4:3 lenses that won't work on u4:3 without an adaptor, and slower at that. If I were to upgrade today it'd be to the E-620...I'd sacrifice my current LVA mode on the E-330 for the improved ISO and focus performance. The guts (sensor, image processor processor) of that are probably about the same as is going in the E-P1, aside of course from the non-SLR architecture.

[johnspierce 25]

Not that the 4/3 Oly stuff is not interesting, but their new release is not an SLR, right? Should this be in Consumer/Digicams?

Edited June 27, 2009 by johnspierce

[JackConnick 76]

Oly told me no housing is planned by them.

 

Jack

[davelew 4]

Not that the 4/3 Oly stuff is not interesting, but their new release is not an SLR, right? Should this be in Consumer/Digicams?

 

Since discussions on the u4/3 Oly stuff are likely to involve interchangeable lenses, I would argue that it belongs with SLRs.

[ce4jesus 1]

Not that the 4/3 Oly stuff is not interesting, but their new release is not an SLR, right? Should this be in Consumer/Digicams?

 

Interesting thought. It might be time for a new catagory for hybrids like this. Since it does share some of the same features of both a Digicam and a DSLR.

[johnspierce 25]

Since discussions on the u4/3 Oly stuff are likely to involve interchangeable lenses, I would argue that it belongs with SLRs.

 

Having interchangeable lenses does not define it as an SLR. Single Lens Reflex means it has a mirror and a viewfinder; the EP-1 has neither. If discussions on anything with interchangeable lenses all go here then doesn't that also mean any housing with a screw-in adaptor like the INON FE?

 

As I said, it's an interesting camera and undoubtedly will be a hot item of discussion in the next few weeks, but it's really a high-end prosumer P&S, not an SLR. The Wetpixel Consumer/compact digicam forum already has a few threads about this camera. I come to the DSLR forum for specifically DSLR camera info and I'd prefer to not see those threads get pushed off the front page by discussion of what is a P&S.

 

JMHO,

JP

[rtrski 20]

Wow, really? I mean, whether its a 'reflex' or not, I still think it and the Pany equivalents quite well belong here. I don't see any need or benefit to add a separate category for u4:3, to specify between superzoom P&S, or supercompact P&S, etc. etc. Maybe a new topic for DSLRs with video capability, too, since they don't fit in the "video" category, and shouldn't talk about shooting other than stills here???

 

One or two topics aren't going to push everything else off an entire page of threads. Either here or on the P&S forum. Basically people thinking of it as just a snazzy large sensor P&S will post there and people thinking of it as a DSLR without a mirror will post here, and the subject of the threads will be quite appropriate to each forum. e.g. posts about housings for a camera that takes interchangable lenses, thus the housing needs interchangable ports, which will certainly have much more in common with threads here than in the P&S camera/housing category.

 

Do we really need more segregation to prevent us from (gasp) scrolling?

[loftus 42]

I've been waiting for this camera, because I really wanted a nice affordable compact digital rangefinder, I still think an LCD screen is a poor substitute for a viewfinder for serious still photography. I was hoping it would have an electronic viewfinder. I don't see too many advantages over my D-Lux4 or a Pan LX-3 or Canon G-10.

Still does not appear to be an outstanding low-light camera either

Edited June 28, 2009 by loftus

[TheRealDrew 0]

I've been waiting for this camera, because I really wanted a nice affordable compact digital rangefinder

 

Still does not appear to be an outstanding low-light camera either

 

It is a good looking little camera, and just seeing the form factor with lenses was generally appealing to me. Nice old school. But the reports have some issues. Review and some shots here

 

Should be interesting to see what other small lenses come out and more users report in. And what happens the next generation Not quite ready to jump from my G9 as my pocket portable...

[ardy01 0]

I've been waiting for this camera, because I really wanted a nice affordable compact digital rangefinder, I still think an LCD screen is a poor substitute for a viewfinder for serious still photography. I was hoping it would have an electronic viewfinder. I don't see too many advantages over my D-Lux4 or a Pan LX-3 or Canon G-10.

Still does not appear to be an outstanding low-light camera either

 

Just read the report 'realdrew' linked above. It appears to be very good at low light, the performance at 1600 is better than the e30 and significantly so.

 

Your concerns about the lack of a viewfinder and no BI flash are big isssues for uw work. Still it is the first camera where I thought this could be it! ie a cross category killer. And that category would win a large proportion of high end PS & low end DSLR UW users.

 

All they need is a small eye of a flash to make an optical connection to an external flash rather than have the old slide on mount and that would be good for us and above water users.

 

Still as a first it will interesting to see what the others do. Nothing I am guessing.

[Deep6 7]

Lots of good info. here. For me, it would be more convenient to have the MFTs (Oly PEN, Pan G1 & GH1) in one category instead of tracking SLR & Digis. Also, I think it would be better not to refer to this type as an SLR. I am disappointed to hear that Olympus will not offer a u/w housing. The Panasonic G1 & GH1 do have a pop-up flash and an EVF.

Bob

[kaarlin 8]

I've played yesterday with the Olympus Pen.

 

Its not a SLR, its not a compactcamera, its a PEN!

 

what a amazing camera. It is a retrocamera what looks like the old Pen. It is very small and the quality is amazing. Unfortunatly there will be no underwaterhousing from Olympus. There is no underwatersetting in the programm, so that made me believe there won't be one.

 

Maybe Ikelite will work on it, but the thing is that there shouldn't only be a housing for this camera, but also new ports... I think it is a challenge for the housingmanufactures! I think there is a big group of underwaterphotographers who would love to work with a camera with the quality of an SLR but with the size of an compactcamera.

[johnspierce 25]

Wow, really? I mean, whether its a 'reflex' or not, I still think it and the Pany equivalents quite well belong here. I don't see any need or benefit to add a separate category for u4:3, to specify between superzoom P&S, or supercompact P&S, etc. etc. Maybe a new topic for DSLRs with video capability, too, since they don't fit in the "video" category, and shouldn't talk about shooting other than stills here???

 

One or two topics aren't going to push everything else off an entire page of threads. Either here or on the P&S forum. Basically people thinking of it as just a snazzy large sensor P&S will post there and people thinking of it as a DSLR without a mirror will post here, and the subject of the threads will be quite appropriate to each forum. e.g. posts about housings for a camera that takes interchangable lenses, thus the housing needs interchangable ports, which will certainly have much more in common with threads here than in the P&S camera/housing category.

 

Do we really need more segregation to prevent us from (gasp) scrolling?

 

 

Why don't we just put everything in one forum so you can exercise those scrolling muscles? Heehee. Just pokin' at ya...

 

It's a P&S. Sorry, but it is. Not my call whether the post remains here, just stating my opinion. I DID say it was an interesting camera.... I think it's worth noting most of the discussion in this thread is comparing it to the LX-3, G9 and G10. <shrugs>

Edited June 29, 2009 by johnspierce

[james 0]

It looks like an interesting camera to me too. If it doesn't have a popup flash it better have damn good low-light performance. It doesn't make sense to make the camera as small as possible and then have to put a big external flash on it now does it?

 

As for a small additional flash to be used to trigger strobes optically, we (the royal we) have been asking for something like that since the 5D was released. I think due to some patent conflicts there isn't anything like this available in the states.

 

Cheers

James

[rtrski 20]

Why don't we just put everything in one forum so you can exercise those scrolling muscles? Heehee. Just pokin' at ya...

...Not my call whether the post remains here, just stating my opinion.

 

Nor my call. Just registering a counteropinion. No offense meant, sorry if it sounded that way (and none taken to your post either!)

[ardy01 0]

Why don't we just put everything in one forum so you can exercise those scrolling muscles? Heehee. Just pokin' at ya...

 

It's a P&S. Sorry, but it is. Not my call whether the post remains here, just stating my opinion. I DID say it was an interesting camera.... I think it's worth noting most of the discussion in this thread is comparing it to the LX-3, G9 and G10. <shrugs>

 

Maybe it's time for Wetpixel to follow Scubaboard and split up the major suppliers. Certainly every time there is an Olympus thread on the DSLR forum the Nikon and Canon o philes go a bit crazy.

 

I dont care if a camera is a P&S or a DSLR it is what it does and how it does it that I am interested in and this camera, although it appears to have some weaknesses, has some real plus' for UW interchangable lens camera's.

Edited July 1, 2009 by ardy01

[johnspierce 25]

Maybe it's time for Wetpixel to follow Scubaboard and split up the major suppliers. Certainly every time there is an Olympus thread on the DSLR forum the Nikon and Canon o philes go a bit crazy.

 

I dont care if a camera is a P&S or a DSLR it is what it does and how it does it that I am interested in and this camera, although it appears to have some weaknesses, has some real plus' for UW interchangable lens camera's.

 

 

Since you are quoting me and apparently think I "went a little crazy" simply because I own a Nikon, please make note I merely mentioned this post is about a P&S. Olympus makes very nice DSLRs. My first U/W camera was an Olympus. I am not a camera snob, I'm just saying this camera belongs in a different forum. Want to have a discussion about the new E-620? This is the right place. The way Wetpixel has things divided up is very logical and I don't think it needs to be changed.

 

Sorry if anyone has been offended.

Edited July 1, 2009 by johnspierce

[Phil Rudin 485]

The Olympus E-P1 Pen is not a point & shoot digital camera or an SLR digital camera, it is a rangefinder digital camera like the Leica M-8 and as such does not exactly fit either Wetpixel category.

 

This is the first of several M43 camera bodies Olympus plans to release and probably not the one Olympus feels is most suited to underwater photography. This body is clearly aimed at the retro rangefinder street photography crowd and not the U/W crowd.

 

What makes is camera and the Pan camera unique is that they have the auto focus speed of DSLR's of the same price range, great image quality and unlike other brands they have continues auto focus in the video mode.

 

For underwater use the Pan 7 to 14 zoom lens (14 to 24 35 equv.) seems quite useful and I am sure a new macro will be coming.

 

As a user of the Olympus 7 to 14 I find that for best results a dome port in the 220 mm (over 8 inches) range renders the best results. I don't expect this to change with the smaller pan 7 to 14 so although the housing size may be smaller I don't see how the dome can be smaller unless you go to fisheye lenses like the 8 mm. Regarding other m43 lenses, new ports will need to be designed and an extension ring will be needed for existing 4/3 lenses used with the M43 adapter.

 

I would look for a housing from Olympus when they introduce a body style with an EVF display.

 

Phil Rudin

 

http://www.sfups.org/Galleries/PhilRudin/index.html

[loftus 42]

I would look for a housing from Olympus when they introduce a body style with an EVF display.

 

Phil Rudin

 

http://www.sfups.org/Galleries/PhilRudin/index.html

 

That's the topside RF camera I will buy.

[ardy01 0]

Since you are quoting me and apparently think I "went a little crazy" simply because I own a Nikon, please make note I merely mentioned this post is about a P&S. Olympus makes very nice DSLRs. My first U/W camera was an Olympus. I am not a camera snob, I'm just saying this camera belongs in a different forum. Want to have a discussion about the new E-620? This is the right place. The way Wetpixel has things divided up is very logical and I don't think it needs to be changed.

 

Sorry if anyone has been offended.

 

johnspierce I was not talking about you per say, I was refering more to the thread about the E620 (before that the E520) and the attacks made on that camera and housing by people who most probably have never used an Olympus. I too started out with an OM1 and local Sea Tite housing and then moved to Nikon/Aquatica and I have recently moved back and I am happy with that.

 

My ideal would be a camera as small as this with a quality housing and a sharp single lens from 20mm or wider to 100mm 1:1 macro. I know I am dreaming but I think it may happen in my lifetime.

 

 

No offence taken by me anyway.

[bvanant 195]

The Olympus E-P1 Pen is not a point & shoot digital camera or an SLR digital camera, it is a rangefinder digital camera like the Leica M-8 and as such does not exactly fit either Wetpixel category.

 

This is the first of several M43 camera bodies Olympus plans to release and probably not the one Olympus feels is most suited to underwater photography. This body is clearly aimed at the retro rangefinder street photography crowd and not the U/W crowd.

 

What makes is camera and the Pan camera unique is that they have the auto focus speed of DSLR's of the same price range, great image quality and unlike other brands they have continues auto focus in the video mode.

 

For underwater use the Pan 7 to 14 zoom lens (14 to 24 35 equv.) seems quite useful and I am sure a new macro will be coming.

 

As a user of the Olympus 7 to 14 I find that for best results a dome port in the 220 mm (over 8 inches) range renders the best results. I don't expect this to change with the smaller pan 7 to 14 so although the housing size may be smaller I don't see how the dome can be smaller unless you go to fisheye lenses like the 8 mm. Regarding other m43 lenses, new ports will need to be designed and an extension ring will be needed for existing 4/3 lenses used with the M43 adapter.

 

I would look for a housing from Olympus when they introduce a body style with an EVF display.

 

Phil Rudin

 

Not to be too argumentative, but looking at a digital display and looking through a real rangefinder finder is very very different. Suggesting that this is like the M8 (not too wonderful a camera in my view but still a "real rangefinder" is a pretty big stretch. More like a G10 with interchangeable lenses than a rangefinder in my view. Maybe small enough to make a good backup UW system but when you add the strobes and such it won't be much smaller than a G10 system or a small SLR system if there ever is a housing.

Bill

 

 

http://www.sfups.org/Galleries/PhilRudin/index.html

[mshohman 0]

Whether or not you like the PEN, this is a

about it...

[rtrski 20]

DPreview has their full detailed review up. Bottom line, they liked it but perhaps as much out of nostalgia as real performance, with some caveats that probably make it unacceptable for underwater shooting - slow AF, jerky "live view". Still, it'll be interesting to see how the u4/3rds line develops further.

 

One feature I wasn't aware of that I really like as an idea, at least for above-ground shooting is the vertically oriented cylindrical 'thumbwheel'...but I can't help wonder how the heck you'd actuate that through a housing - with a meshing geartooth cap on an axial rotating shaft coming in through the back face of the housing?