Ken,
When will the bidding start?
Will we on the list have first dibs or will you put it out on eBay? Do what
is best for you! Probably eBay. You are 100% right about reliability. It is
like owning a exotic car. It breaks down and you can't get parts. But I
have heard some sad tails with N & C too, unless you can buy your way out
of trouble. If you are ever serious about renting a 600mm Zuiko, correspond
privately to me. Very very nice lens. When photoing creatures that can use
you for a meal it is the mms and not the fs that bring comfort. 1000m or
1200m or 2000m would be nice but atmospherics really get in the way and the
critters have to pose for you.
Andre
San Carlos, CA
>Lest anybody think that I'm trying to start a Nikon/Canon war on the
>Olympus list, please let me explain my reasoning behind bringing this to
>the list:
>
>The Olympus system was argueably the finest professional SLR system of the
>'70's and early '80's. Nikon was way too "industrial" to be elegant.
>Canon was rather hit-and-miss during that time too. Minolta was actually a
>serious contender along with Pentax. It was an exciting time to be a
>photographer as each system had clear advantages and target users. But for
>the serious photo-journalist, Leica was still the "standard" but was losing
>ground fast.
>
>In the mid-80's Olympus introduced the OM-3 which was to directly compete
>with the Nikon F3 (which lost a lot of weight/size in comparison to the
>F2). The OM-4 was to directly compete with Minolta and Canon's offerings.
>Unfortunately, superior technology will lose to giving the consumer what
>they want. Canon created a format with the EOS line that brought better
>ergonomics and new features to a rather stale product category.
>
>Olympus lost interest in the professional SLR market and pretty much
>abandoned the professional (non-medical and other specialty) scene back in
>the mid-80's. Further developments to the line, which include the OM-3Ti
>and OM-4Ti, could be considered an insult to those of us who wished for a
>new AF body with even some modern amenities. For crying out loud, the
>OM-4Ti doesn't even have indoor plumbing. <g>
>
>My situation is a bit different than many of you who primarily use the
>Olympus system for pleasure. As a professional user my demands are a bit
>more severe. #1 requirement of a professional system is AVAILABILITY. If
>my camera body dies, can I run down to the camera shop (that has
>professional equipment) and rent a replacement? How about when I need a
>600mm lens for an assignment--could I get a rental? How about when I need
>servicing of my equipment, what type of turnaround time are we looking at?
>#2 requirement is flexability. My Olympus equipment isn't up to today's
>standards for sports/wildlife work. Sure the OM's would work, but so would
>a Kodak Brownie.
>
>I bring up the Canon/Nikon subject because, like it or not, I MUST convert
>to either system. I must have autofocus. I must have a speedy motor drive,
>I must have advanced flash features. However, I also must have excellent
>quality lenses and the capabilities of the OM-2S and OM-4.
>
>I will most likely get either an EOS-3 or F5. Yes, these wonderbricks are
>big and heavy, but I've resigned myself to that. I will be looking for the
>system that works the way I think and "see". I will rent both systems and
>spend a little time with each to determine which one gets in my way the
>least. The one that "feels" like the Olympus will probably win, but it is
>frustrating to look at these wonderbricks and scratch my head trying to
>figure out why the metering fluctuates with light entering the viewfinder.
>Even my OM-2S doesn't do that!
>
>Most of you, who've been on the list for a while, know that I absolutely
>love the OM system. Switching to a different system is going to be one of
>the toughest things and is not being done without serious reservations. I
>will keep you all informed of the progress as it develops and my reasoning
>behind the decisions I make. I know that there are others on the list that
>must be facing the same situation and just maybe this excercise won't be in
>vain.
>
>I'll be finding out this week if the bank will want me to sell the
>equipment or just keep it in reserve for the mortgage. I've got $1500-2000
>worth of stuff and even though it ain't much it would be just enough to
>cover the closing costs and some of the downpayment.
>
>Ken
>
>Kenneth E. Norton
>Image66 Photography
>
>image66@xxxxxxx
>(217) 224-5004
>
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