Problem is Ian this brings back a dejavu moment when Olympus ditched the OM DSLR system in favour of 35mm compacts and abandoned its user base.
I'll hope my fears are wrong and will wait and see how it goes with the E-System .
I will continue on with my E-30 and E-620 as they have not suddenly stopped taking images I'm pleased with and there is still a lot of milege left in them (they may even outlast me at my age), but I will not be buying any more lenses in a system I cannot have faith in.
As to investing in MFT I think not , as in this case once (twice) bitten twice shy.
This is different, Paul. Olympus know that they need to continue supporting E-System users and their lenses. So I for one will be looking forward to mirrorless bodies from Olympus that will complement both Micro and original Four Thirds lenses in the future.
I still think there is mileage in an updated E-620 too, but whether Olympus feels it's an economically justifiable option remains to be seen.
It has all I'd want from a DSLR as long as the image quality lives up to it. It seems to be an improved version of the PENs as far as processor and sensor go, combine that with the larger high resolution screen and the ability to fine tune the focussing it pretty much cevers what for me was lacking in the E3. I like the fact it uses the same (well compatible) battery (BLM-5 instead of BLM-1) as the E3 as I'd keep the E3 as a 2nd camera.
Overall it's a bit underwhelming to be sure but with my investment in the SHG glass and my overall satisfaction with the quality of images with the E3 I can see me getting an E5 sooner rather than later, I want a second body anyway, who knows the image quality may be far better than we anticipate.
There maybe more subtle improvements too, i.e. with low light focussing, in fact overall focussing may have been improved, especially the C-AF so it may hold a few surprises, a wolf in sheep's clothing maybe.
Paul
I undestand that the BLM-5 has an extra contact for safety reasons. But I used BLM-1s in the E-5 I tried without any issues.
Olympus has promised me some E-5s to add to the e-group.uk.net hire stock
Ian
That'd be nice!
BTW, I'm hoping to be spending more time back on the forums now my divorce is getting sorted out...
A few questions on the performance of the E-5 vs E-3:
- How does the AF performance seem with the SWD lenses (particularly the 14-35) - has the tendency to hunt been eliminated/improved?
- Is the burst rate now really 5 fps in C-AF mode (rather than about 3!)
- Any views on the relative performance of C-AF mode
- Is the low-light AF performance any better?
- How does live-view work on the E-5 - can you, for example, take an exposure without flipping the mirror down (Like the D300 and 40D/50D/7D have been able to do for ages!)
- Is the embedded JPG preview for the RAW files better - i.e. can you check critical focussing on it?
- I take it the battery grip is the same as the E-3/E-30...
BTW, I'm hoping to be spending more time back on the forums now my divorce is getting sorted out...
A few questions on the performance of the E-5 vs E-3:
- How does the AF performance seem with the SWD lenses (particularly the 14-35) - has the tendency to hunt been eliminated/improved?
- Is the burst rate now really 5 fps in C-AF mode (rather than about 3!)
- Any views on the relative performance of C-AF mode
- Is the low-light AF performance any better?
- How does live-view work on the E-5 - can you, for example, take an exposure without flipping the mirror down (Like the D300 and 40D/50D/7D have been able to do for ages!)
- Is the embedded JPG preview for the RAW files better - i.e. can you check critical focussing on it?
- I take it the battery grip is the same as the E-3/E-30...
Cheers
Andy
Sorry to hear that.
But nice to see you back!
As I said earlier, my example was an early engineering sample, so I didn't do any testing. I mainly explored the controls, specs, and the menu/display.
It does take the same HLD-4 grip.
But certainly your suggestions for testing have been noted
Many thanks for the poised and apparent objective comments.
Five questions:
1.Where is the microphone situated ( is it the two tiny holes on the left side or is that the loudspeaker?)? I am curious to know since I can not see it anywhere and it would be relevant to figure out whether you really need a plug in stereo microphone to perform any usable sound recording except "canned tin" type audio to the videos.
2. (adjacent) Did you have chance to test the audio quality - is it (stereo aside) on par with the Pen's (which I think is terrific)?
3. On another site I have read, that it should be possible to link audio recording with LS1 Olympus audio recording type devices. Have you heard anything about this?
4. When do you expect to be able to do some image testing and report to the forum?
5. With respect to sensor you mentioned your dissapointment about Olympus not using the "GH1" sensor. Would you have a chance to interview Olympus about this (and other) pertinent questions soon, perhaps at Photokina ( if you are going)?
Many thanks for the poised and apparent objective comments.
Five questions:
1.Where is the microphone situated ( is it the two tiny holes on the left side or is that the loudspeaker?)? I am curious to know since I can not see it anywhere and it would be relevant to figure out whether you really need a plug in stereo microphone to perform any usable sound recording except "canned tin" type audio to the videos.
2. (adjacent) Did you have chance to test the audio quality - is it (stereo aside) on par with the Pen's (which I think is terrific)?
3. On another site I have read, that it should be possible to link audio recording with LS1 Olympus audio recording type devices. Have you heard anything about this?
4. When do you expect to be able to do some image testing and report to the forum?
5. With respect to sensor you mentioned your dissapointment about Olympus not using the "GH1" sensor. Would you have a chance to interview Olympus about this (and other) pertinent questions soon, perhaps at Photokina ( if you are going)?
Unfortunately, I was on holiday abroad last month when Toshi Terada san visited the UK to brief magazines on the E-5, which was quite a nuisance!
I don't know for sure where the microphone is located, but there is a small slotted 'vent' in the card bay door, so it could be there. I will try to get this verified.
I will be at Photokina next week and intend to get some time with an authoritative person from Olympus.
There is an outside chance I will get an E-5 to test next week, but I'd say the chances are only 20%. So I would guess it's more likely to be the first or second week of October.
I can't answer your other questions at the moment, but I can hopefully get answers for most of your questions over the next few days.
Thank you. Oh yes I see the small slotted vent on the card bay door. So it's either there or on the left side ( aboove the external connection ports) where there are also small (circular) vents.
Thanks also for your other comments and looking forward to reading any interview etc. once you can get round to it.
I have planned myself to go to Photokina - maybe I could have chance to say hello to you (in person).
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