Dear Olympus

[gary-ramey]

C'mon Larry...the dark side awaits you!!!!! haha. But I do agree with all the sentiment on here. I think you'll find manufacturers less willing to canabalize their entry level DSLR's by making better and better P&S. The SP350 was a great little camera and despite its plastic feel, it was fairly tough as well.

 

[RTRski]

I think you'll find manufacturers less willing to canabalize their entry level DSLR's by making better and better P&S.

And yet Olympus just announced the micro-4/3 format, which would seem to be a vehicle to do exactly that, as well as potentially answer Larry's desires for good optics etc. with a 'point-n-shoot' class and size body. Granted he didn't ask for separate lens/body combinations, but assuming they maintain small size and affordability that's kind of a bonus, isn't it?

Olympus / Panasonic announce Micro Four Thirds: Digital Photography Review

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

While it would be great if the new Oly cameras could do what Larry asks, I doubt it will happen. The beauty of the 5050 is that it was/is affordable AND took/takes great pictures, plus the housings were/are affordable AND offer the flexibility of affordable wet close and wide lenses with good glass.

With the release of the micro mount dslr's, no manufacturer is going to endanger that investment by offering something affordable / affordable / affordable / flexible that takes great pictures.

I do hope it is a mid price upgrade, compared to current dslr's, so more 5050's flood eBay, bringing prices down on my stockpile of back-up camers and housings!

 

[DesertEagle]

Let's all keep an eye out for the Panasonic LX3. 24-60mm f2.0 lens, RAW, hot shoe and it even does 1280X720 24fps video. The sensor is 10 MP, but it's 1/1.6 or so. Maybe Ikelite or Patima will make a housing.

September is around the corner. Canon is due to announce some new Powershots. Odds are that Olympus will have something too. Unfortunately the average consumer is looking for something real small that is weatherproofed and has lots of pixels.

Micro 4/3 sounds very interesting. Smaller lenses would mean that something like a 67mm wide angle or stackable macro lenses could work.

 

[herman]

Amen Larry, drag out the 5050 molds, install a new CCD, leave the rest alone and sell it. I'll take 2.

 

[gary-ramey]

And yet Olympus just announced the micro-4/3 format, which would seem to be a vehicle to do exactly that, as well as potentially answer Larry's desires for good optics etc. with a 'point-n-shoot' class and size body. Granted he didn't ask for separate lens/body combinations, but assuming they maintain small size and affordability that's kind of a bonus, isn't it?

That's actually a thought provoking question. You can't really call the new micro a DSLR because it has no mirror, thus not completey a single lens reflex technology. So, indeed it breaks new ground. However, I would expect Oly to promote this new technology as semi-professional which means the price will be at least what you see today for their entry level DSLR's and housings. I think they're making a mistake by thinking a smaller package is better if that's their target audience. I would keep the camera the same size and fill it full of cool options like bluetooth, mpeg, maybe even built in 16G of memory, built in wireless control, etc

 

[Nemrod]

The new micro 4/3 are not P&S and they are not as you point out a dSLR. BUT, they are very similar to high end range finder cameras of yore like Leica which were NOT SLRs and yet DID have interchangelable lenses.

Everyone wants ISO 6400 it seems. Well, if we went from a f2.8 prime lens to a f1.8 we could get close to it with the same sensor in terms of equivelent. The f1.8 is more than twice the light exposure of f2.8 which is the same as going from ISO 1600 to ISO 3200 or ISO 3200 to ISO 6400.

AV -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
f/# 0.5 0.7 1.0 1.4 2 2.8 4 5.6 8 11 16 22 32 45 64 90 128

Canon once made a range finder with a f0.95 prime lens.


And then there is the new and very real Nikon P6000. Not a fast lens but a step back in the right direction.

N