What do we hope for in Olympus's first micro thirds?- (a trick question.)

[GerrySiegel]

<blockquote>

<p>Well, I think that about wraps up the essentials.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>That about includes everything. It is fine to dream. The L1 Panasonic with aperture on lens was an interesting kind of retro beauty. I rather think it did not sell well, albeit it was well conceived to appeal to the discriminating serious user who loves a quality and sleek design. People seem to want joysticks now, and more dial rings, I suppose. I Joysticks for little pinky fingers...I prefer levers where they make sense. And a little LED to tell me the power lever is on.</p>

<p>I bought a wired remote for the E-1 but I couldn't really take to it, and used to have trouble attaching it. I still use the Camedia 5050 that came packaged..The remote should not be an option, so I feel. Costs chump change to manufacture. I give it to Canon and Nikon for the wide and upgraded accessories department Always something nice and new for the public. Must have an Accessories Czar at big C and N.</p>

<p>I would love to see a little dial on top for exposure compensation, such as the clever and easily marked dial on the Canon G 10 top left. I don't want to be compelled to check a top teeny LCD to remind me I have locked in two stops over in a backlit situation. I can use the left hand for that. Well, it <em>would</em> be nice for discriminating folk, who know where to point the AE target, lock on and then do the zone/ chromazone thing based on desired result, contrast, subject, blah blah--controls that put one,well, <em>in cotrol</em> . ( Look how Canon worked it in on a 500 dollar G10 model. Those" buggahs."..)</p>

<p>I also was impressed with the Pan. G-1 eyeball detection feature switch to get the back LCD on and off.. Those smart Panasonic "buggahs" too.</p>

<p>Panasonic can have the lead on movies. Noone mentioned that I notice. They know DV and HD video high end too for production crews. Olympus needs to do what Olympus does best, which is............. Take a little different road. But not off the cliff! No Thelma and Louise Please . Thanks for all these interesting wantasees. It will be late in the day on the 15 th here in Pacific time when I get to read the first press release.I got chicken skin in anticipation.</p>

[patrick j dempsey]

<p>About 15 different models in the first two years so by the time I'm ready to buy my first digital camera, it'll be cheap enough for me to afford.</p>

[warren_lafever]

<p>awesome ideas.</p>

[philip_wilson]

<p>Godfrey I will contact him - I wondered how he would make AF work - now I understand. My wife is really the Contax G shooter - we have two bodies and all the lenses except the 16mm. She used to have a G1 which I never liked but now has a pair of G2s. The G2 is a much better camera - the AF is very good - it,s main issues are the metering which is rather selective and takes experience and the fact that the drive dial is easily knocked resulting in the shutter not operating is it is between settings.</p>

[warren_lafever]

<p>@Gerry - my reason for wanting fast primes is this; as far as i know the fastest zoom is the olympus f2 zooms. yet primes regularly go to f1.4 and faster in some cases (canon and nikon have f1.2 and leica has the noctolux f1) how incredible would it be for oly to make an f1 25mm lens for the m4/3's format?</p>

[GerrySiegel]

<p>The proliferation of standard 50mm 1.4's over the years does make me wonder why Olympus won't produce one in this equivalency for micro4/3 without going to retrofocus gyrations, from an optical engineering standpoint. I don't think $500 or less dollars would be unacceptable for an aspheric, well corrected, close focus hunk of glass.</p>

[godfrey]

<p>Gerry,<br>

Since they haven't released anything at all yet for micro-FourThirds, what makes you think they won't produce a lens like this? Olympus engineers are not stupid, and the prototype mockup included a very compact lens quite similar in size to what Panasonic's team has showed in prototype for their Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 lens .</p>

[patrick j dempsey]

<p>The rumor sites are specing a 17mm f/2.8.... not fast but certainly compact... and with an equivalence of 34mm, a very popular wide-normal focal length... I don't wonder if they aren't referencing the XA with that choice! </p>

[patrick j dempsey]

<p>As far as speed goes... I don't see any reason why Oly wouldn't lay down a fast normal prime. Considering that small sensors suffer in low light situations, a fast normal lens would make shooting indoors a more welcome experience. A digital viewfinder can make up for dim optics, but it can't make up for noise at high ISOs.... only one thing can do that... more light.</p>

[yoshio]

<p>Patrick</p>

<p>not that the micro 4/3rds is specificaly a small sensor, but when you speak of noise and low light, I think its best to keep in mind that the exposure system (the shutter and aperture) is designed to keep the amount of light falling on the sensor quite similar no matter if the amount of available light is small or large.</p>

<p>Unless you're talking about long long exposures (like you do astronomy) the amount of light that the sensor sees will be the same assuming an output file of the same appearance. It is ISO which regulates the sensitivity of the sensor to light, thus when turning up the gain the sensor must do more with less. Accordingly I don't expect that using a f0.95 lens or a f5.6 lens in the same conditions will make any difference to the noise levels created.</p>

<p>:-)</p>

[GerrySiegel]

<p>Godfrey,--- Yep, on reflectiion, I think you may, indeed, be correct in that prediction, and observation of the concept mockup. (which seems a prologue to design thought from the company,right?). I would like to see one that meets the size speed standard and wish lists above. I would agree that Olympus will -in due time of course- maybe soon, release a full classy line -up to satisfy even Pen and OM devotees the company bult its reputation upon. And can make some money in the process. Yoshio, I think I understand your point, but I am not sure I do. Or whether I can relate the physics in my mind. Will think on it though.</p>

[john_reynolds10]

<p>Pocket sized, 28-300mm zoom, under $500.00.</p>

[robert lee]

<p>Pocket sized, introduced with a selection of fast primes, body under $1k. I want a re-interpretation of the compact 70's RF gestalt with current technology, a digital Leica CL please.</p>

[godfrey]

<p>Someone posted these sneaks on another forum. <br /> <br /> <img src="http://www.fotoweb.cn/forum/attachments/month_0906/090606100960a75e237c3cdd32.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><br /> <br /> <img src="http://43rumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/e-p1.png" border="0" alt="" /><br /> <br /> Whether they are the real thing or not, it's a tidy, attractive camera. No optical or EVF viewfinder, but I'd stick a Voigtländer viewfinder on it and use it just as it is. <br /> <br /> <em>John Reynolds:<br /> Pocket sized, 28-300mm zoom, under $500.00.</em><br /> <br /> For that, just buy yourself a Panasonic TZ7 and be done with it.</p>

[godfrey]

<p>Regards all the hoo-hah about noise, I'm pretty happy with these Panasonic G1 ISO 1000 exposure ... <br /> <br /> <a title="Curve Ahead by Godfrey DiGiorgi, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3628/3598189923_100ffe7970_o.jpg" alt="Curve Ahead" width="621" height="838" /></a><br /> ISO 1000 @ f/1.8 @ 1/3 sec<br /> <br /> <a title="Lights Within by Godfrey DiGiorgi, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3333/3598180425_d75c9c763b_o.jpg" alt="Lights Within" width="818" height="640" /></a><br /> ISO 1000 @ f/1.4 @ 1/20 sec<br /> <br /> Both made with the Panasonic G1 fitted with Panasonic/Leica Summilux-D 25mm f/1.4 ASPH lens. It's a big, heavy lens on this camera, but it sure works nicely.</p>

[alex_p._schorsch]

<p>The 17mm f/2.8 is the perfect range lens for this camera. I only wish for two things: 1) That this 17mm lens is of good optical quality and 2) That they sell the body only so I don't have to pay for a crummy zoom that I don't want when I'm obliged to buy a kit.</p>

[john_reynolds10]

<p>Godfrey, the Panasonic TZ7 has a teeny tiny sensor. I'm looking for a large sensor in a compact camera. Also you might want to pay attention to focus when you're taking pictures. No point in copyrighting those.</p>

[godfrey]

<p>John,</p>

<p>You won't get a super-zoom lens for FourThirds sized sensors of any quality for $500, never mind a whole camera. And it won't be pocket-sized. That's why I suggested you consider an itty-bitty sensor camera if what you said is what you want. </p>

<p>Thanks for your advice on the photographs. I've sold several prints of the above photographs, the people who bought them seem to be very happy with them. And they are copyrighted. You might enjoy a photograph for what it depicts someday, rather than acting like a typical equipment geek.</p>

[john_reynolds10]

<p>Dear Godfrey,<br>

Sometimes when we're just starting out, criticism is a bit hard to take. But that's how we learn! And I repeat: what I'm looking for in the new Olympus 4/3's camera is a large sensor in a compact size with a big zoom and a good price. Release yourself into the world of possibilities!</p>

 

[godfrey]

<p>Oh yes, kind sir, it is so difficult for us just starting out to take criticism from the wise and experienced whose wizened eyes cannot seem to tell the difference between motion blur and focus, even when the softness portrayed is essential to the aesthetic in the photograph. Give freely of thy eminent wisdom and we will be grateful. </p>

<p>And we will also accept thy challenge to release ourselves into the world of possibilities and hope earnestly that camera manufacturers can defy the laws of physics and produce ultra zoom marvels that can fit in our pockets for peanuts. </p>

<p>It is so kind to offer your wisdom freely to those beneath you, I am beside myself.</p>

[john_reynolds10]

<p>np</p>

[john_reynolds10]

<p>btw - camera shake at 1/3sec is very difficult to avoid - even with image stabilazation! Next time you might want to use a tripod. There are some very good portable ones out there that you can clamp on to just about anything; the Gorilla Pod is one that comes to mind.<br>

<a href="http://joby.com/">http://joby.com/</a></p>

[godfrey]

<p>I will carry my tripod and your gorllla with me everywhere from this moment on. </p>

[GerrySiegel]

<p>When one thinks of lenses, I have to admire what Panasonic has done with its standard lens for the GH-1 zoom. I know that some folk think F 4.0 is no big deal, but consider. A lens that goes from 28 mm field of view ( the smallest rectilinear lens I own in a prime) and the long telephoto field of view of 280 mm ( what was once the domain of Canon's fastest and largest white knight lenses). Then add in image stabilization, fast autofocus motor, and (per reviewers) quiet fastish motorization.</p>

<p>I am just boggled at how far the technology has come at this point for around one thousand dollars.( and this is just the first bid on the table ). I was an am still happy with the 14-54 mm original zoom, with only one stop loss from wide to moderate tele. Thus I am thinking that Olympus will sell a lot of zooms that will be seen as the standard lens for a lot of people. I am thinking of any of us whose cash flow requires some restraint and who shoot for fun and history.</p>

<p>Others on the island go to Las Vegas to exercise their plastic cards. I OTOH ordered just this morning the VA-1 right angle finder from B and H for 175.00. Recognize that I expect the kind of quality that Olympus puts into its low end lab microscopes! (I convinced myself to no longer stand on a little stool as I copy slides w my E-1. ( I see that JinFinance on eBay makes a clone model r/< finder for half that price. I considered that too, looks good in the picture. Decide to go with Olympus and give the pound of flesh... Will report on my impression of the VA-1 here later on and try to photograph my copy set up one day if anyone is interested)...Cheers and aloha, gs</p>

[dan_b.4]

<p>Um, compact size but with an optical viewfinder, manual as well as automatic exposure, great lens ... oh yeah, that camera is already out: It's called the Canon PowerShot G1.</p>