No more entry level DSLRs from Olympus

[slowhands]

Olympus has stated it will not produce new "entry level" DSLRs beyond the E-620. They claim the micro 4/3 cameras completely replace it (huh?). See:
Olympus: “No More Entry-Level DSLRs” Photography Bay | Digital Camera Reviews, News and Resources

“We do not have concrete plans to replace the E-620 and other recent SLRs. The entry level SLR class can be completely replaced by the Pen system in terms of performance.” -Toshiyuki Terada, Product manager of SLR Olympus Planning Department
​

For me, this is not good news. Contrary to the statement above, the micro 4/3 cameras do not replace the E-series in performance, they are much slower. Anyone who has used both knows that. What are they thinking?

Reading between the lines, I believe the micro 4/3 products are more profitable, so they are dropping out of the consumer DSLR race to drive harder in the more profitable micro 4/3 market. Business wise this makes sense short term. Concentrate on the winner. But this will kill sales of the current E series. I for one was planning to get some new lenses soon - not any more. I think times are hard and they are forced to make some difficult choices -- to focus on what is highly profitable and abandon some other lines. But there will be unintended consequences.

I think this will be the death of the pro level line too, since there will be minimal demand for new lenses without the demand from the entry level DSLR family. That's my bet, not Olympus' plan, but they lose a lot of customers and credibility when they abandon this proprietary 4/3 format which they worked so hard to popularize.

Doing this is fatal to credibility with loyal customers, though. For me, this feels like a kick in the stomach, or lower. Thanks Olympus!

 

[jlyle]

I feel your pain.

Now, if Olympus would put a new "brain" into a c5050, it would blow the point/shoot competition out of the water. Imagine having a 5050 with fast AF and minimal shutter lag; I'd buy one. Unfortunately, cost and profit margins prevent what is an excellent idea.

 

[Doubler]

This is one of the reasons I moved on to Canon.

 

[friscuba]

Here's the deal... the 4/3rds system and micro 4/3rds system share the same sensor, and a few other things, but the lens system and bodies are brand new on the micro 4/3rds system. It's gonna take a generation or two to catch up. The EP1 is slower than the low end EPl-1 from what I understand, but has been sped up to close through firmware updates.

Olympus did not introduce or even announce any new micro 4/3rds products at Photokina this year, supposedly they're working on DSLR type performance on the next generation of micro systems. There should be no reason they can't achieve it. Anouncement that there will be no more entry level DSLRs in the 4/3rds format doesn't necessarily say they think they've got it whipped on the next generation of micros, but it sure makes it sound that way.

Another rumor I heard on another forum elsewhere, was there are rumors Oly is looking at cramming a full size sensor into a 4/3rds body by eliminating the mirror box as they have in the micro sytems and loading it with pro features. If they do that it'll be an awfully small full sized system that can use existing 4/3rds glass.

If Olympus says "The entry level SLR class can be completely replaced by the Pen system in terms of performance" , it sounds like they've got the speed issue pretty much licked. It sounds as though Oly is committed to trying to come up with small systems that can compete with the full sized systems. It'll be interesting to see what they come out with over the next couple of years.

The 5050 was a great camera and Oly's been a little lacking lately since the sp350 went out. The announced they're coming out with a compact with high end glass soon, maybe this will be the compact camera people are waiting for.

 

[jd950]

I was disappointed in the announcement. At least at first. But on the bright side, I think this may allow more rapid improvement of the micro 4/3 bodies. Most of my photography is either underwater or travel.

There is definitely some joy on the size and weight reductions in micro 4/3, and I suppose I may not have not bought another 4/3 body in the future anyway.

Now I guess I need to decide whether to get an E620 to use with my 4/3 lenses or keep the lenses and bodies I already have, or sell the 4/3 lenses and bodies and stick with the micro?

 

[PHIL RUDIN]

Perhaps some of you should read this entire interview with Mr. Terada-San rather than just the one quote to get a better idea of the direction Olympus is planning to take over the next few years.

Future of Four-Thirds and the E-system.

You may also fine this statement from an interview with Panasonic Boss Michiharu-San interesting as well.

"Focus Numerique interviewed the big boss from Panasonic Uematsu Michiharu. I exctracted some interesting notes for you (google english translated text!):"

Mr. Michiharu-San - “I still think that 12 MP are quite sufficient for our photographic use. In the case of GH2, it is primarily a marketing decision, not a technical choice. We must follow the market trends that impose even now augment the definition of our sensors.”

Many have complained that the new E-5 only moves to 12 MP from 10 and ask why the latest Pany 16/18 sensor was not used. I find it interesting that the CEO (Mr. Michiharu) of the company that developed the sensor is basically saying that we are going to give the buying public what they want even though he feels that the 12 MP 4/3 sensor is "quite sufficient". I take this to mean their is technically more upside to 12 MP v. craming more MPs onto the small 4/3 sensor. Nikon has done the same 12 MP thing with their $2500.00, D-700 and $5500.00 D3S camera bodies with outstanding results. These Nikon cameras are the benchmark for many Nikon professional photographers.

So I believe the question here is, given todays technology would you rather have a camera with the best possible image quality or one with the most mega-pixels.

I am not happy that Olympus has dropped the development of the 100 macro from the 4/3 lens roadmap but I understand why they are putting all of their resources into m4/3. With m4/3 having 40% market share in many asian countries while Canon and Nikon arn't even in the game and with Sony is over a year behind this is a no-brainer.

Phil Rudin

 

[jd950]

In my case I am not so concerned about having more megapixels, as opposed to other improvements such as focusing speed, video capabilities, etc. My disappointment in the discontinuance of entry-mid level 4/3 cameras is simply due to my ownership of several lenses for this system, which I am not interested in using on any of the current crop of micro 4/3 bodies. I have no "need" for an E5.

On the other hand, I have "invested" in a number of the micro 4/3 lenses and use these for underwater photography. I will undoubtedly add another Panasonic or Olympus body in the not too distant future, and l am happy to see the ongoing emphasis in this area by Olympus and Panasonic. Again, not because of megapixels but other improvements.

I think there is much to be said for the idea that micro 4/3 is a better implementation of the 4/3 sensor than were the 4/3 bodies and lenses. There is a clear size-weight benefit in the micro 4/3 compared to the DSLRs of Canon, Nikon and that benefit was not so clear cut with the 4/3 bodies and lenses.