Some very cool looking new stuff from Olympus.

<p>Lenses.<br /><br />https://www.dpreview.com/news/5877052166/olympus-announces-25mm-f1-2-pro-12-100mm-f4-is-pro-30mm-f3-5-macro-lenses<br>

EM-1 Mk II</p>

<p>https://www.dpreview.com/news/9740173952/olympus-announces-e-m1-mark-ii-development</p>

<p>And EPL-8 (I know... more of the same... who cares...?)</p>

<p>https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympus-pen-e-pl8-first-impressions-review</p>

Thanks Peter. I have to wonder out loud. Could it be so hard for PN to adjust to the world out there by allowing hyperlinks to include https. Small improvements help us all, Otherwise, I add only that we got to chop of the "s." to make the link work. Cut and paste is so gauchey ( coined a word). No reply needed. Stasis rules.

<p>Does this work?<br>

www.dpreview.com/news/5877052166/olympus-announces-25mm-f1-2-pro-12-100mm-f4-is-pro-30mm-f3-5-macro-lenses<br>

www.dpreview.com/news/9740173952/olympus-announces-e-m1-mark-ii-development<br>

www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympus-pen-e-pl8-first-impressions-review</p>

<p>Well, people can copy and paste links I guess. I'll try one more time.<br>

<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dpreview.com/news/5877052166/olympus-announces-25mm-f1-2-pro-12-100mm-f4-is-pro-30mm-f3-5-macro-lenses">Lenses</a><br>

<a href="http://www.dpreview.com/news/9740173952/olympus-announces-e-m1-mark-ii-development">EM1 Mk II</a><br>

<a href="http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympus-pen-e-pl8-first-impressions-review">EPL8</a></p>

At 20 oz, the new E-M1 seems to have gained some weight over its predecessor. Seems to offer a lot of

performance, like 18 FPS, but frankly if I wanted a camera this large/heavy I would have stayed with a DSLR.

<p>Thanks for posting Peter. - Sitting on the fence pondering a sports capable camera purchase I'll certainly read reviews of the EM1 Mk II once they are out. - @ Kenneth: I looked the weight up. - its 9g <em>below </em>my non-SLR of choice in use, so it shouldn't be an issue.</p>

 

<p>Kenneth: Exactly! m4/3 bloat ruins the whole game.</p>

<p>boring stuff imo</p>

 

I am excited by the improvements on offer for a camera model I already like. I am not jumping up and down on my sofa however. Not until the camera is shipped and after the first bunch of panting folk have sated themselves. I like the idea of the Mark II articulated screen, it has video value and folds flat and I just like that. I expect any little niggling flaws in the older model have been addressed. The 4K video is nice and may eventually be fun. Fast focus and processing is nice. Better battery design is always helpful. It has the features a well spec'd pro model should have. Still compatible with all the older 4/3 lenses. And the weight is tolerable for a beefy water repelling camera. Whether it is as juicy as it looks or the Cologne you tube guy proclaims will soon be left to the nigglers all around. Another step for micro four thirds and the value of the small mobile camera array. Good show. But I will rest my bones now and save my money for a while, as we in this forum are wont to do....Nighty night...zzz<div></div>

<p>No one's making anyone go for the new E-M1 II. It's designed for professional or higher-end enthusiasts, who will love it, and it's still smaller than bodies it's designed to compete against, which does not include lightweight DSLR's like Digital Rebels, etc. So Olympus is trying to compete more with an even higher, upper-end body. No one not interested in buying one should be disappointed. There's still plenty of "small stuff" to pick from.</p>

<p>The new 12-100mm f4 on a body like the E-M5II would be fantastic. Heck, I'd love it on my current E-M1. I pre-ordered through Olympus earlier this week.</p>

My concern with the new announcements is the consistent weight gain of each iteration of updated equipment.

The EM-1 gained about 2 1/2 ounces over the EM-5 and now an additional 2 1/2 ounces for the Mk II, which

brings it just a few ounces shy of a 42 mp FF Sony A7RII with a sensor 4x larger. While increases in weight

measured in ounces seems trivial, eventually it adds up. An E-M5II plus 12-100 f4 kit, described by Greg

above, will weigh in in excess of 2 pounds. While I hope that 8x zoom's optical performance is pro level and

the duel IS system performs as expected, I don't think it will find a home in my camera bag. I also have a

concern that Olympus will relegate the PDAF AF system to EM-1. While I don't need all the throughput and

bullet proof construction of an EM-1, I do certainly need reliable continuous focus and subject tracking

capability in a smaller OMD package.

<p>I would imagine what would also grow is the weight difference between an E-M1 II and Sony A7RII when you start adding similar lens systems to the two bodies.</p>

<p>Looking just at the one superzoom level, Sony's 24-240mm, which does cover 40mm more at the long end, and is a variable aperture f3.5-6.3 lens, weighs a half pound more than the 12-100mm f4 M. Zuiko. I haven't looked at the numbers, but I would imagine an A series Sony with the 24-70 and 70-200 f2.8 lenses will handily top a weight comparison with any Olympus or Panasonic comparable body/lens combination.</p>

<p>Edit....I just looked at the specs for the two above f2.8 lenses for Sony compared to the two for Olympus. Oh yeah, heavyweights for sure. It's not even close.</p>

<p>Reviews of the E-M5II show a pretty good, improved performance over the original E-M5's tracking ability, but like you said I'm pretty certain Olympus will leave the dual Contrast/Phase Detection AF system within the highest-end body.</p>

Other mirrorless manufactures manage to include PDAF systems in their mid range offerings (Sony 6000

series, Fuji XT-10), and the Canon M5 (initial price under $1K) has about 24 million PDAF sensors. I think

Olympus will be making a big mistake if they don't incorporate their latest AF system into the EM-5 line. At

some point I might rebuild my FF system, but it certainly won't have f2.8 zooms when f4 zooms are just fine

with me and much lighter.

<p>Canon introduced the M5 for one thing. It'll be dumbed down JUST enough, users will get frustrated and eventually buy a Rebel to use all the EF lenses you bought to use with the M5 because their selection of mirrorless lenses isn't good enough.</p>

I may be misguided, but are there not a buffet of very small and very light micro four thirds cameras? I have heard that of the Pen series and the GM 7... To Kenneth's point. The current OMD E-M1 and with its HDL 7 battery is beautifully balanced and has enough real estate for the knobs and buttons and the large LCD screen and a place to slide a flash. I want a mobile package but not so small it does not work for me...same applies to cell phones that are nano miracles like Dick Tracy talk watch.. I often choose my GX 7 I love the small package which has a flash thrown in. Flaws if course- the battery and the SD card take a little fiddling to handle in their snug pocket on bottom. A dual card slot in such a small camera, unlikely for the pro gang. 12-100 upcoming lens is a relative big mother but some will choose it for convenience and quality not thought possible ten years ago. (I suffice with the matched pair of 12-35 and 35-100.) But true, it does get into bigger plus size expanding territory. I have a feeling designers worked hard to control that)

<p>Just a word about the "weight paranoia" in this thread: yes, the "pro" bodies have gained weight. However, take that Sony E-mount, thrown some long lenses on it, and let me know how the weight compares for the body plus lens. I'd love to see a FF lens that offers the same angle of view as the Panny 100-400. It'd be huuuuuuggge.</p>