Olympus replacements for E-1 and E-300

[ditto1958]

are not here yet. I just wanted to get everyone's attention, though! This forum (Olympus) started out like gangbusters, but now is asleep. Where is everyone? August is over. Everyone should be back from vacation/holiday.

[BigB]

Not really interested in new bodies (I'm fine with my E-300, though I'm sure E-1 owners need something more) as much as I'm interested in new lenses. I tried out a 20D w/ 70-200 L f/4 on Saturday and boy was that a treat. If Oly could produce something like that for a decent price and size I'd be all over it. But they won't (save for the 35-100 f/2, which will probably be über expensive).

[ditto1958]

I like my E-300, too. Was just trying an ill-disguised trick to get some action in this forum!

[Paul Shields]

It is a bit quiet at the moment. Maybe everyone's saving up for the 5D

I would rather Oly would do something soon, but all indications look like it will be Spring next year. I'm not in the market anyway until I can get the replacement for the same price I got my E-1 (i.e. way below original list). I think the E-1/E-300 are still great cameras, and I have no urge to upgrade due to any failings (the camera surpasses my technique in most areas). But - I'm hesitant to invest heavily in the new lenses until I'm sure that there will be an upgrade path that will exploit the capabilities of these expensive pieces of glass...

I'm pretty sure they will come up with something well worth upgrading to - the Panasonic tie-in should also be great for them both in technology, and more importantly in marketing. As you know, Panasonic/Matsullamaa are a manufacturing giant compared to any camera manufacturer - and Oly need some more clout. But, I'm not investing any large amounts of dosh until I know for sure where they're heading.

Besides, I pretty much only shoot with my old OM lenses at the moment and am loving it

[BigB]

I'm just saying I'd like something more affordable. I love my 40-150, it just seemed so slow to AF after I used the 20D and 70-200 for some action shots. The 50-200 would probably suit me better, I just can't plop down $879 right now.

Maybe I'm just being selfish and should realize photography wasn't made for the not rich. :P

[fotobram]

New E-500 - New lenses! Check them out:

http://www2.olympus.dk/consumer/6739_E-500.htm
http://www2.olympus.dk/consumer/6739_6756.htm



http://highsee3.smugmug.com/gallery/801604

[Paul Shields]

Originally Posted by fotobram

http://highsee3.smugmug.com/gallery/801604

Looks a bit Photoshoppy to me - but after the 5D 'hoax' I've decided I'll now believe in everything I see on the Internet .

Great specs !

Also - some stuff on the e-500 here.

http://www2.olympus.dk/consumer/6739...ifications.htm

[Paul Shields]

Hey - there's loads to discuss here. All thanks to ditto1958 - I think you've shaken Oly into bringing forward their new models

[Kansas Ron]

It is pretty well accepted now that someone had stumbled across these (or possible intentional leak). They have been pulled and the pages autoforward to the standard pages now. Best prediction is that the release for the E-500 is October. No firm date or price and no announcement date given. Obviously, no one who really knows can tell be cause of the non-disclosure agreement.

[ditto1958]

I have mixed feelings about the leaked new E-500:

Positive:

Happy that "my company" is at last releasing some new products. In this market place if you don't bring out new things you disappear.

Happy that from a marketing and sales standpoint this new model looks like one that will sell.

Negative:

It's not the new "pro" model yet.

It's not an improved E-300.

They appear to feel the lack of a pentaprism hump on the E-300 was a mistake.

If the E-500 is a cheap mass-market dslr and if when the E-1 replacement comes out, it is more expensive than the E-1, what will they put in the middle-priced prosumer market?

I worry that it's intended to replace the E-300 when it is a more cheaply made plastic chassis camera.

[hartcons]

Originally Posted by ditto1958

They appear to feel the lack of a pentaprism hump on the E-300 was a mistake.

I heard this from an Olympus rep. I like my e-300 just the way it is but I gather a lot of folks feel otherwise.

[Paul Shields]

Well so long as it encourages more people to buy into the 4/3rds system then it's good news for all of us I think.

[ditto1958]

Originally Posted by hartcons

I heard this from an Olympus rep. I like my e-300 just the way it is but I gather a lot of folks feel otherwise.

I love mine, too, Hartcons. I just don't want them to abandon the "line." Maybe an "E-300n" or even an "E-400" would be a good idea.

If, God forbid, something should happen to my E-300, I would hate the thought that my "replacement" would need to be a plastic E-500.

[Paul Shields]

Originally Posted by ditto1958

I love mine, too, Hartcons. I just don't want them to abandon the "line." Maybe an "E-300n" or even an "E-400" would be a good idea.

If, God forbid, something should happen to my E-300, I would hate the thought that my "replacement" would need to be a plastic E-500.

I don't think this sounds any alarm bells about abandoning the line. Quite the opposite I think. Digital cameras don't have much of a shelf life these days. There are rumours of the new 'cheap' Canon DSLR coming out soon, so a DSLR at an even cheaper price point to the E-300 seems to make sense, and making it look more like a traditional SLR would help attract the target audience who want to 'move up' to that level of photography. They need to be competitive at all levels. Just so long as there is an E-3 in the works as well, then I'm fairly confident that they're on the right track.