End of the line for the 7070...already??

[ABQdiver]

That is kind of amazing!! State of the art is only state for weeks, then it's out with the old, and in with the new!!

I just got my C-7070 a couple of months ago. Love it! Might have to get another when the prices fall. Although, I got mine from B&H for $389 and noticed the other day the the had the price at $409. What does THAT, with this discontinued info mean ???

 

[RonFrank]

OK, I don't know how 100% this info is, but I went to my LPS today and was getting ready to get my new 7070. He said they were sold out and that he will most likely just get one more delivery before the 7070's are discontinued (!!!). I don't want to get a camera again where I have to scramble to get spare housings or a 2nd back up camera...anybody else hear of this???

http://www.cameracanada.com/eNet-cart/product.asp?pid=225575&type=1

The gossip is that now that the prices of DLSR's are in the $600 range, the high end PnS camera's (like the 7070/8080) are toast. There is no planned replacement for the 8080 or 7070 from OLY, and they just announced a lot of new PnS bodies.

The reality is that these high end PnS Digital wonders cost too much to manufacture to price them under $500, and that's exactly where they must get priced to move.

The only reason the Market supported the pricing of high end PnS's for as long as it did is because for more serious hobbyists there was no alternative in the DSLR world that cost less than $1000. Now there is, and it's firmly priced right at where camera's like the 8080/7070 just can not compete.

Let's face it, most people who purchase camera's for more than $700 are generally into photography, and most people that are into photography want an SLR system for obviously reasons.

Unfortunately this leaves UW shooters at a disadvantage only because housings on the DSLR are so much more expensive vs. PnS housings. I'm not clear why they can make a housing for the 8080 at under $400, but the D70 housing which is not all that much bigger runs $1000. I guess I can answer my own question, demand. There is just not a big enough market for DSLR housings to mass produce them in quanity that would lower the price a lot.

Any Way, IMO if you want a camera like the 8080/7070 IMO get it NOW because soon there will be none to get other than used.

 

[fpoole]

OK, I don't know how 100% this info is, but I went to my LPS today and was getting ready to get my new 7070. .....??

Oh man, I was hoping for the same thing... was gearing up for the 7070 too...
Wasn't able to gear up for a DSLR and liked the 7070 as being high end, smaller than the DSLR "Beasts" and with the display instead of an eye peice..

The frustrating part is the housings don't come down, the L&M ones at least..

Sigh, what to do, what to do.... D200?? heheh... and a whole nother world...

I guess the 350 replaces that (7070-8080) market group??

 

[RonFrank]

That is kind of amazing!! State of the art is only state for weeks, then it's out with the old, and in with the new!!

I just got my C-7070 a couple of months ago. Love it! Might have to get another when the prices fall. Although, I got mine from B&H for $389 and noticed the other day the the had the price at $409. What does THAT, with this discontinued info mean ???

What it means is that there is no replacement for the 7070, OLY has stopped producing them, and demand will dictate price. If there was a NEW model on the way, the 7070 would get discounted as people would be wanting the newest camera. However with nothing new to replace the 7070, people who want that model are going to create a demand that could drive the price back up, even if I doubt it will go up much.

Unfortunately in this case the NEW is lower priced DSLR's.

Don't wait for steep discounts because IMO you will not see them, and dealers are going to run out of both the 8080 and 7070.

 

[RonFrank]

I guess the 350 replaces that (7070-8080) market group??

Not really. The 350 is a compact camera, with a lens 38mm-114mm EQ lens. I don't think it has focus tracking, it does not support CF cards, and it retails for 1/2 the price that the 7070 did. I'm not going to dig into the detail of the 350 as I'm not interested, however at the pricepoint, Oly has cut a LOT of corners, and the build quality is likely much lower vs. the 50X0-7070 series cameras that had a retail list of 2X that of the new models, and some nice glass and WA coverage as well.

The 7070 is still available new. I noticed that Adorama however no longer has it on their site. IMO for what they want for the 7070 don't sit around and think you need to wait for something else. You will not find a better camera at a better price even if it is a bit... big.

 

[Dee]

http://www.cameracanada.com/eNet-cart/product.asp?pid=225575&type=1

The only reason the Market supported the pricing of high end PnS's for as long as it did is because for more serious hobbyists there was no alternative in the DSLR world that cost less than $1000. Now there is, and it's firmly priced right at where camera's like the 8080/7070 just can not compete.

Let's face it, most people who purchase camera's for more than $700 are generally into photography, and most people that are into photography want an SLR system for obviously reasons.

Ron, all that makes sense but what about those of us who want a high end PnS for the quality of the photos they produce but can't or won't afford the very expensive lenses a DSLR requires, even if the camera price is within our price range? Yes, I would love to have an DSLR. But with limited access to clear water diving, I can't justify several hundred dollars just for a lens. I think Oly, and the others who will follow their lead, has just lost all the thousands of photographers they targeted in the first place with their C-series cameras and housings.

 

[f3nikon]

Good points on all comments...

Even though I have been brought up on SLRs, I can see the day that even DSLRs will be obsolete.

The single lens reflex system is based on seeing what the lens sees before taking the picture, in film cameras. This is accomplished by placing a mirror between the lens and film plane. Which was fine, but made the lens much more complicated (more glass elements to make up for the distance, the mirror takes up.) and expensive than that of the PS or really a Rangefinder type camera.

The drawback of Rangefinders is the focusing capabilities; although the pictures from a Rangefinder will be sharper than a SLR (Due to less glass elements) accurate focusing is almost hit or miss, esp. in macro shooting.

Fast forward to the age of digital, we do not really need that mirror in the DSLRs when the technology of extremely high res. large TFT/LCD screens, are installed in the digital cameras. Making it possible for more accurate focusing (when I mean accurate I mean you can “rock” that camera back and forth and watch a sea slug’s head to tail, go in and out of focus, in manual focus mode!).

Down the road I see a “hybrid” digital camera that will replace the DSLR, with the simple hi res. fast focusing lens of a Rangefinder, with the option of the removable lens feature of the SLRs.

This approach only makes sense because you cut down on manufacturing expenses, no more mirror systems to install and lower lens cost lenses due to less glass. Plus the prices of LCDs are dropping.

The Rangefinder will still be around due to the low price appeal.

Oh and the shutter lag? By the time they make this hybrid, that too will be the thing of the past.

IMHO for UW photography? Stick with the PS or the Rangefinder cameras for now. Look all around us, unless for some ultra wide angle shots. Even I can not tell which pictures are from a DSLR or PS/Rangefinder!

Dive Safe

 

[RonFrank]

I think Oly, and the others who will follow their lead, has just lost all the thousands of photographers they targeted in the first place with their C-series cameras and housings.

If you purchase a Nikon or Canon, you can get some VERY cheap, but usable optics used made by Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina. But the cost of housing still leaves you high and dry :11:

My advice would be to purchase a 7070 or TWO now! I've seen them with full USA warrantys for $330, and if I was not into the SLR thing, I'd likely snag one myself!! And that unfortunately is kinda the point. The market they targeted was largely those who were SLR users, but could not afford a DSLR.

Sony has NOT entered the DSLR market, and just announced a very high end hybrid with an APS-C sized sensor to boot, and Zeiss optics. Unfortunately I'm betting IF someone (Ikelite) makes a housing, it will cost close to the DLSR housing.

The Evolt is about $800 WITH a very usable lens. Not sure what the housing costs on that.

We shall see what the future brings!! Unfortunaely the majority of the consumers want small, inexpensive, reasonable shooting camera's, and that is what is driving the market.

 

[justleesa]

I've seen them with full USA warrantys for $330...

WHERE??

 

[ABQdiver]

WHERE??

I'll second that!! Spill your guts Ron!!