The end of the E-System as we know it!

[chris-p]

Olympus USA's DSLR product manager, Richard S Pelkowski has, in an interview with Amateur Photographer at PMA, said that he envisages the entire Olympus E-System being mirrorless within 2 years.

He goes on to say that the 4/3 range of lenses will continue to exist but they'll be mounted on smaller and lighter camera bodies.

Full article here

[BillyG]

Not really surprising, I think the days of clacking mirrors flapping up and down are numbered for all makes, although the professionals and enthusiats will have to be dragged kicking and screaming, I have just replaced my E-410 wi an E-600 and love the quality from both. However, technology moves on and so will camera design. If a camera and lens system is designed that has the quality of sensor and optics to match a DSLR, the only reason for getting a DSLR is the amount of control you have over the settings. So all thats required is a quick and easy method of manual or semi automatic control.
Without the prism, mirror amd mechanism, the camera could be smaller, lighter and less liable to breakdown.
I am an ardent fan of Olympus DSLR but I feel things will move on, as they did with film when photographers hung on to the end.

[chris-p]

Actually, the fellow from Olympus has been over-ruled. The 4/3 system will continue to exist as we know it...!

[Gstitt]

Good stuff – let's hope Olympus stick to their guns and carry on producing proper cameras – Although I have a Pen is this the future for cameras? I don't think so because I still like a proper viewfinder. You can only make a camera so small and light before it becomes too small to use – the fourthirds system is small enough already and great at what it does.

[bdgraham]

I've been an Olympus fan since I had my OM-1 (anyone remember them?). Just recently I have started to wonder whether I can continue to be loyal to the brand. There are so many innovations from Canon and Nikon and so much choice that I am sorely tempted.

I would really like someone to give me a good reason to stick with Olympus and the 4/3 system as I can't help but think it is a bit like the old Betamax VCRs - destined to fail ultimately despite the quality.

[donoreo]

It would fail, if it was from Sony Then again, they did win the HD dvd format. I'll just shut up now.

[Oly Paul]

Originally Posted by bdgraham

There are so many innovations from Canon and Nikon and so much choice that I am sorely tempted.

I would really like someone to give me a good reason to stick with Olympus and the 4/3 system as I can't help but think it is a bit like the old Betamax VCRs - destined to fail ultimately despite the quality.

Your joking aren't you.

Lets recap, in camera dust removal, Canon and Nikons responce, we do not see any use for this feature for our customers.

Live veiw. Canons responce we do not see a use for this and our customers do not want it, Nikon just remained silent.

Fully swivable articulated liveview, screen, Canon still have not adapted, Nikon have followed Olympus but still not as good as the fully articulated that we Oly users have.

Micro four thirds, swiftly followed by Samasung and later by Sony, Nikon are now making noises of entering this market.

So you will forgive me about being incredulous about the innovations comment as without Oly leading the way Canon and nikon owners would still not have these features on a DSLR.

Watch this space for further Olympus Innovations .

[bdgraham]

So video on a DSLR that Olympus has released?

A camera that is capable of producing a shallow depth of field with anything other than a telephoto lens?

Don't get me wrong - as i said on my original post I have been an Olympus fan for more than 20 years - just getting a bit worried about their insistance on the 4/3 system. Sure it has some advantages - mainly keeping camera sizes down - but at the expense of depth of field and pretty noisy images at high ISO.

If it wasn't so darned expensive I think I would have changed by now.

[Oly Paul]

Well unless you comparing full frame cameras (very expensive) then Canon's 1.6 crop compare to 2x does not get you much more dof for a given focal lengh, about half a stop and most of the med Oly lenses barring the kit lenses are a stop faster.

The grass is always greener on the other side, I changed from Canon to Olympus and have never regreted it, some people think changing cameras is going to get them better pics then end up dissapointed.

[bdgraham]

I agree that some people believe spending a fortune on kit makes them a better photographer - that's total tosh as I'm sure you agree.

I actuall believe I took better pics with my OM1 than I do with my current Oly DSLR.

BTW love your pics - very good

Barry