Olympus EA-1 sneak preview

[srinivasanj]

Not sure if this has been posted before. Here is a preview of what to expect of Olympus' new 4/3 camera, to be launched next year.

Looks real good.

http://dslruser.co.uk/dslrtv/

Should be the second link in the list..

[flowerpot99]

Any idea how big is the LCD? Looks like 2.7" to me... Hope it will be 3"

[srinivasanj]

Should be 2.7" like the 420/520. No real improvements being introduced. Ideas from the 5xx and the E3 are being cross bred to produce something in between. Btw, there are some videos on youtube as well.

[drakon09]

The EA-1 is essentially an E-3 in a plastic body.

[srinivasanj]

Would that mean its considerably cheaper than the E3?!

[egnaro]

hey not sure if they have improve their ISO for this body. E4/5xx still having only highest 1600 with 1 full stop unlike E3 with 1/3 stop.

to be honest, if olympus want to improve their product quality, this NEW body must be better the E3 in term of spec. of cuz it ok if body is not as good.

hope to see some surprise form olympus.

[Evilmerlin]

The new body would never be better than the E-3 simply because that is still their flagship model and making the EA-1 better would just kill its sales. Chances are, the EA-1 will be a cut down E-3 using some of its features like maybe the metering and autofocus but not all.

[holidaydom]

Any word of a new sensor with a cleaner high-ISO output?

[mactigasuku]

Originally Posted by drakon09 The EA-1 is essentially an E-3 in a plastic body.

I doubt it. The E3 is definitely larger and the buttons are in different places compare to the "EA1".

Check video here at 0.54 sec when it shows the back and then here for the E3's back.

Directly below the E3 selection/menu buttons is the IS button follow by the On/Off button. On the EA1, the ?IS button is to the bottom/side of the navigation buttons and then its the base.

Pics of the E3 also comes with the 12-60 ....and it makes the 12-60 looks "fitting" whereas the EA1 was with a 14-54 and it looked "appropriate" so I do think that the EA1 is definitely smaller and a different body from the E3.

[mactigasuku]

Originally Posted by holidaydom Any word of a new sensor with a cleaner high-ISO output?

All things being equal ... esp price, this is what I would wish for as an upgrade to the E520. A 10-12 MP sensor that renders beautifully up to ISO 800.

Give me also a better viewfinder and I'll willingly pay a bit more (?10-20%)

Give me those mentioned and a water proof body and I'll pay much more (?50%) ....

[mactigasuku]

Originally Posted by Evilmerlin The new body would never be better than the E-3 simply because that is still their flagship model and making the EA-1 better would just kill its sales. Chances are, the EA-1 will be a cut down E-3 using some of its features like maybe the metering and autofocus but not all.

That is kinda like living in the past .... e.g. the E500/510 will never be better than the E1. Now lets see how many megapixel was the E500 .... and the E1

And of course this was before the arrival of the E3 ....

As a further thought .... why would someone in 2009 buy something like the EA-1 with 10 MP when the rest of the world has move on .....

A cut down E3 ... I think not .... more like a step towards the E?5

[dorts]

They can't possibly make the E-A1 much better than the E-3. The E-3 is the flagship model after all. This is evident, just like the removal of weather-proofing from the E-A1, which most Pro models should have. VF would probably not be better than the E-3, probably not 100% coverage?

Megapixel doesn't mean everything. But I expect the high ISO performance to be marginally better in the E-A1 maybe?

[Evilmerlin]

Exactly, plus there hasn't been any news about an E-3 replacement (not that I expect one anytime soon) unlike when the E-510 was annouced.

And one other thing is that Olympus has explicitly stated that this would situated between the E-520 and E-3, so how can it be better than the E-3?

[olymac]

Originally Posted by dorts They can't possibly make the E-A1 much better than the E-3. The E-3 is the flagship model after all. This is evident, just like the removal of weather-proofing from the E-A1, which most Pro models should have. VF would probably not be better than the E-3, probably not 100% coverage? Megapixel doesn't mean everything. But I expect the high ISO performance to be marginally better in the E-A1 maybe?

By 2009, when the EA1 launches, the rest of the world have moved on ... D90, D700, A900, A350, 50D etc since the E3 ...... if Oly will to come out with a "crippled" or "lesser" model of the E3 ...... may as well just close shop and wait until the next E-X comes out. Why bother? Just sell the E3 at a lower price if the EA1 is not going to make a difference.

Megapixel may not mean anything ..... so what is the latest 10MP from ANYONE else? A higher model than the E520 but still 10 .... come on ...... marginally better ... the margins better be MUCH better than the present E4/520.... just IMHO

Originally Posted by Evilmerlin Exactly, plus there hasn't been any news about an E-3 replacement (not that I expect one anytime soon) unlike when the E-510 was annouced. And one other thing is that Olympus has explicitly stated that this would situated between the E-520 and E-3, so how can it be better than the E-3?

Between the E520 and E3 prob means another form factor and also suitably equipped model - not literal. Something like an AUDI A4 is between the A3 and A6. Or the Merc E class is between the S and C class. BTW there is a new A4 but the new A6 is not here yet. Is the new A4 better than the old A6. Maybe ... in some aspects, yes of course!

Depends what you guys mean by better. I take it that the EA-X series is another form factor with better options than the E-4/5XX series but different and less options than the E-X series.

The new EA-X would prob sit somewhere in between the D90/D300 kinda class .... and for it to be a success, it better be BETTER than the D300. And not use the E3 as the ceiling mark.

Personally I can't see myself buying the E3 coz of the form factor .... and I do wish for something better than the E5XX ....

[olymac]

Originally Posted by drakon09 The EA-1 is essentially an E-3 in a plastic body.

Originally Posted by mactigasuku I doubt it. The E3 is definitely larger and the buttons are in different places compare to the "EA1". Check video here at 0.54 sec when it shows the back and then here for the E3's back. Directly below the E3 selection/menu buttons is the IS button follow by the On/Off button. On the EA1, the ?IS button is to the bottom/side of the navigation buttons and then its the base. Pics of the E3 also comes with the 12-60 ....and it makes the 12-60 looks "fitting" whereas the EA1 was with a 14-54 and it looked "appropriate" so I do think that the EA1 is definitely smaller and a different body from the E3.

The E-3 is now ..... what ..... $1700? The E520 is ..... $1400 full kit?

E-3 in a plastic body ..... how much would you buy that for? It just doesn't make sense for Olympus to launch a "dumbed down" E-3. I have greater faith in Olympus as an innovative company than to make those 'crippled' product lines .... just see the difference in the E-3 and the E4/520 ..... I am sure Olympus will come out with something distinctive for the EA-X line

[olymac]

Originally Posted by Evilmerlin The new body would never be better than the E-3 simply because that is still their flagship model and making the EA-1 better would just kill its sales. Chances are, the EA-1 will be a cut down E-3 using some of its features like maybe the metering and autofocus but not all.

Better ..... always in the eyes of the beholder.

When the E500 came out, maybe the E-1 was still sold fairly widely .... but when the E510 came out in March 2007, was the E-1 still sold in any meaningful way? BTW the E-3 only came out in Oct 2007.

Lets say the EA-1 comes out in March 2009. It better be much better than the E510 - there is already a difference of TWO years. And it'll be competing with the D90, A350, 50D, K20D etc. Certainly not something that came out in October 2007.

[dorts]

Come to think about it. The E-A1 will be a generation behind, like always. They need something innovative man!

[holidaydom]

Originally Posted by dorts Come to think about it. The E-A1 will be a generation behind, like always. They need something innovative man!

True in some ways but I beg to differ...

I see no issue with beiing the norm - in fact, I'd be delighted with 8 or 10 MP but with great high ISO performance, the new 11-point focusing sensor, and the 100% VF.

I look at the offerings from N/C and yea - all that in body image correction for distorsion and CA is cool but that isn't necessary if you got great lenses in the first place

The thorn in OLY (in my view) is still the IQ at high ISO... everything else is par with the best offerings from N/C.

[olymac]

I do agree - 10 MP may be enough ..... BUT Oly does need a better sensor.

- A sensor with better DR and better high ISO IQ. All in I'll venture to guess a 12-14 MP sensor with good ISO to 800 and wider DR than the E-3's.

- At least 11 pt AF or much better AF performance even with 3 pts as in the E5XX (which s*cks in low light and is OK in OK light only).

- Better Contrast AF and Better Live view performance to match the A350.

- Better view finder.

All those on top of a different body configuration then either the E-X or the E4/5XX form factor.

Maybe some form of weather sealing but not as good as the E-X. Maybe some gadgety stuff like GPS, wireless LAN/Bluetooth etc. That "creative" thingy may be complete wireless remote control via bluetooth or what .....

[drakon09]

Originally Posted by mactigasuku I doubt it. The E3 is definitely larger and the buttons are in different places compare to the "EA1". Check video here at 0.54 sec when it shows the back and then here for the E3's back. Directly below the E3 selection/menu buttons is the IS button follow by the On/Off button. On the EA1, the ?IS button is to the bottom/side of the navigation buttons and then its the base. Pics of the E3 also comes with the 12-60 ....and it makes the 12-60 looks "fitting" whereas the EA1 was with a 14-54 and it looked "appropriate" so I do think that the EA1 is definitely smaller and a different body from the E3.

Heh, what I meant by "the EA-1 is an E-3 in a plastic body" is that it'll be the guts of an E-3 in a non-weatherproofed body, and not literally a "plastic E-3 body".