Is Olympus finished?

[amarkin]

It has been 4 years since Olpympus released its Pro grade DSLR. Since then -

there's nothing. Only entry level cameras with bells-and-wistles such as live

preview, dust buster.

 

Will we see the end of the era for another manufacturer?

[evan_goulet]

I doubt it. Maybe Olympus has realized that the pro market is not where the dollars are. I would be willing to bet that (despite all the forum hype) entry level DSLRs far outsell any pro-level equipment.

[rroberto]

I would reserve all judgement until Olympus unveils their new E-3, scheduled release is

October 17th.

[richsimmons]

I think Olympus is third behind Canon and Nikon in terms of straight sales with Sony picking up the fourth spot. and like Roberto says, come Oct 17th, the new pro level E-3 is going to hit the market.

[ambient]

Olympus has an extensive line of digital cameras for the mass market. It's their bread and butter.

Their market share of the pro market is limited by the outrageous amount of sales/marketing effort put out by Canon and Nikon...why keep up with the Joneses just to match hardware by hardware?

We should not expect Olympus to march to the Canon/Nikon drummer.

Personaly, I like the Olympus line of products and because the state of the art is high, I know I'm getting very good hardware.

Can it be improved? Sure! but in the meantime, I'll concentrate on improving my personal photographic skill and not worry that Canon/Nikon are always on the cover of the magazine.

[john_robison3]

I've owned and used Olympus equipment since 1972, both Pen F and OM system. I am not a professional and derive no income from photography. Even when the OM system was introduced and current, Olympus did not cut significantly into the Nikon/Canon monopoly for photographers making a living taking pictures. I would guess that they never captured more than 5% of the professional market in the period from 1972 to 2003 when the OM was discontinued. However, except for bragging rights, sales to the professional market is not enough to keep any camera company going, the hobby and other non pro camera market is much larger. Before The rise of digital, in the 1990's I'll bet that Olympus camera division profits all came from their point & shoot cameras. The same could be true for the digital market, with sales to family and hobby photographers paying the way for a company to remain in the camera biz. With the introduction of the 410 and 510 I think Olympus is steering the right course in this regard.

[akajohndoe]

If only they would go SDHC rather than xD ...

[andrew robertson]

Maybe they will come out of nowhere with a magic 18-24MP sensor that is stabilized and

has amazing low light abilities. That would be cool.

 

But more likely we'll see a 10-12 MP sensor with similar performance characteristics as the

current generation of 4/3rds cameras. Hopefully it will be stabilized. I don't doubt that the

body will be quite excellently weather / dust sealed etc. Handling will probably be very

good. I hope they can keep the price below $1500.

[GerrySiegel]

I agree with George B. Don't count O out. The pro model delay has been frustrating to pros who need the best,but O is not ignoring this market. Look to the quality of lenses as some hint of the company commitment to good cameras. (And corporate wise their endoscopes are good sellers too I reckon.)

[shadowfox]

Pentax has no answer for Nikon/Canon top of the line pro model also, so does it mean that Pentax is finished also?

 

I lament the demise of Konica-Minolta. I doubt Sony could take up the mantle and do those brands justice. But who knows...?

 

Y'know, it'd be cool if Olympus released a digital Pen F, powered by the already small 4/3rd sensor, it should shook up the photography world like the original did.

 

I know, fat chance! :)

[GerrySiegel]

I believe all manufacturers should cover the spectrum of bodies and lenses to help so called entry level users (who make some great photos once in a while,when not deciphering the menu options:-)).

 

When I used Canon FD system I usually bought top of the line bodies. Was not a retiree then and wanted the best. Now I can't justify top of the line every year. However, since Olympus has managed to produce some popular and usable models of both camera and lenses, and have gotten out a small camera (the E410) I don't think the company is sitting on its nickers at all.

 

The rumor of a big collapse is like the juicy headlines of the tabloids. And the rumors of fall of the Olympus camera line have no justification. Pentax is alive,and so is Minolta in form of Sony,they are commited to DSLR marketplace.

 

Death of even the OM system is not likely either,as long as there are parts and partisans. (And quality half frame miniaturization is in sight, such as,for instance, the Nikon Coolpix 5100. I have no doubt Olympus can do same with small but well packed SLRs if they find a market. Maybe not quite that small,the lens mount is a big one)

[GerrySiegel]

When a giant electronics and media company like Matsushita chooses to make cameras and lenses in the 4/3 format, quality ones,does it perchance know something we don't? (Yes the L 1 was not a firecracker,but they are in the game to stay and have assets aplenty to invest in 4/3.)

[nick_wilson2]

Yes, they may hang on. It is likely to be financial management as much as anything though. And they do make other stuff too.

 

I agree with the perspectives on Olympus being cognisant of a pro market, and sort of servicing it, but not being reliant on it. Probably to the frustration of Zuikoholics at times.

 

I was too young at the time, but my sense of history on the OM1 was that Olympus came out with a 'splash' camera (small, functional etc - no, not waterproof!), but did not make it or a follow up rugged enough that pros could bash like the brick of a Nikon F.

 

Perhaps they could have taken over if they had? I know that the OM series is not that fragile, but that was the perception. And probably the reality compared to a Nikon of the day. Maybe it was impossible or maybe it was deliberate (why tilt at windmills?).

 

Anyway, they DID survive selling lots of OMs to amateurs, particularly advanced ones, and some pros. Specialist niches like macro and scientific photographers too, which was my entry.

 

That was tied in with their microscopes which were standard in labs (must have sold a LOT of them, along with the photo attachments). A LOT in an inevitably small market, but that seems to be Oly's way and may continue to be.

 

Although it does seem a long time between drinks for the 'pro' camera line. I with my Olympus-coloured glasses on take this to mean that they are innovating so hard that it takes time. There are rumours...

 

Naturally, any innovation will be down played on photo.net until Canon catches up with similar. Such was always the way with Olympus!

[GerrySiegel]

Right on target,Nick Wilson. When the next pro E3 body specs are finally displayed October 17th, there will be plenty to pick it apart,with some pundits in the lead, and it will be "overpriced" naturally,probably just under 2K. (Critics are never in short supply and are often half right.)

 

I appreciate the way a user like Dr Wrotniak puts it on his web site,something like the following: "All systems are compromises and I like the way Olympus takes its compromises." He has written a good article showing why 4/3 is not all that much smaller than APS-C. And APS-C was a compromise that allowed use of legacy (read old design and old stock) lenses.

[Brian]

I think the market share of Olympus P&S cameras is greater in Europe than in the US, so our US cousins may get the idea that Olympus is less of a player than it really is. I think the dSLR range is a small niche in their product line, so naturally they don't seem very big against Canikon in that area, but in terms of turnover in the camera market, they are healthy and in no danger any more than anybody is. But of course they can take their time launching new dSLR models because their business doesn't depend on it.

[j_dc]

As a long time OM film system user, I switched to Nikon when I decided to jump lock, stock and barrel into the digital arena. Upwards lens capability was not an issue due to radical changes in camera design (auto focus etc) so were free to pick and choose a new line.

 

It wasn't the lack of a 'professional' grade body that made me jump, it was the fact I got left holding the bag of a dropped system a decade before digital took over.

[ShunCheung]

Olympus can probably survive in the consumer DSLR market, where the profit is anyway although the competition is getting tough. In the pro market, the E-1 is four years old. Technology has surpassed it a long long time ago and most pros in competitive markets cannot wait that long.

 

Additionally, the 4/3 format is a severe limitation on the high end. At 18x13.5mm, it is only 65% of the area of Nikon's DX/APS-C format 23.6x15.8mm, but the real issue is that most Canon and Nikon pro-grade DSLRs are now 36x24mm, the full 35mm film frame. The 4/3 sensor area is only 28% of that, which Nikon now calls FX. That difference is much larger than the difference between 35mm film vs. 6x4.5cm medium format. Nowadays, you can get very acceptable ISO 6400 images from the Canon 1D Mark III and Nikon D3 because they can use much larger photosites and have a lot of new technologies to reduce noise.

[Brian]

<P>If these numbers matter very much to you, then there's no doubt you will prefer a full frame DSLR to a 4/3 model. But it reminds me of the audiophiles who buy loudspeakers according to published frequency response numbers, rather than by listening to them.</P><P>The analogy is a loose one maybe, but I'm talking about applicability to actual use, rather than ideal performance.</P>

[rendy_setiadjie]

Shun Cheung, <br>

Disadvantage of Olympus 4/3 system comparing to bigger sensor size such Canon/Nikon : <br>

1. Less shallow DOF effect <br>

2. Terrible long exposure shooting (very very slow to write to the card) <br>

3. Smaller sensor also impact to the smaller viewfinder (less comfortable) <br>

<br>

But the natural tone color from Olympus ? The best I've seen so far in digital (almost like film). Even the newest D3 and 1Ds Mark 3, I'm daring to compare with the four years old E-1 !! :)

[glenbarrington]

But the appeal of small, lightweight bodies and lenses is undeniable. I don't want to lug around the weight of a small child all day. Heck, after just a couple of hours, just an extra 2 or 3 ounces can sometimes feel like a ton.

 

When the FF cameras can address that issue, I'll be much more interested in them.