That's what they've started doing with the various sponsorships....part
of the timing on the release of the E-1 was geared to getting a real
pro-service up and running. I'm not going to get into an argument about
whether they did or didn't have a pro-service in the past, and can or
can't do it now, but from everything I've heard and seen, they are VERY
serious about making this work this time around...
Also...A bit of a reality check here...Historically, when the OM-1 first
came out allot of pros were excited...BUT...one of the wire services, I
believe it was UPI, adopted the system, and it simply could not hold up
to the kind of beating and abuse those folks give their gear - while the
Nikon f and f2 - at that time - could. The damn cameras fell apart. I've
heard something very similar today from one of the world's outstanding
documentary photographers, who uses an OM3 and 20 f2 - and Canon F-1
with longer lenses. He LOVES the 20 f2, but complains that he beats the
bodies to death.
If one is just doing general shooting with the Oms, or is in a position
to be reasonably careful with the gear, it's terrific - but if one is
constantly bouncing the bodies and lenses around, giving them hard
treatment day in and day out...that's another story.
The E-1, on the other hand, seems to be built to take serious abuse as
much as any competitive DSLR is built to take it. BTW, yesterday my new
C5060 slipped off my shoulder, hit the kitchen floor, bounced down three
wooden steps, and had it's card door pop open. I closed the door, turned
it off and back on, and it functioned absolutely perfectly - without a
single mark on it.
B. D.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Pschings@xxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2003 11:39 AM
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [OM] E-1 first impressions
In a message dated 11/5/2003 11:26:15 AM Eastern Standard Time,
bdcolen@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
> I don't think so...The "real pros" use Canon over Oly for three
> reasons
> - first, Canon came out first by a long time; two, most "real pros"
were
> already using Canon or Nikon equipment and were heavily invested in
it;
> and, third, the high-end Canon and Nikon bodies can shoot fast
> sequences, which some sports shooters need, and many more THINK they
> need...as though some of the all-time iconic sports images weren't
shot
> in the pre-motor drive era.
I think you missed a fourth, and maybe the most important, reason so
many
pros use Canon: direct sponsorship and an extensive support network.
Something
Oly never had, at least not to the extent of Nikon and Canon, even in
the OM
system's heyday.
If Oly wants to win over the pros they will need to convince them that
Olympus will be there for them providing gear and exceptional service,
worldwide.
What's the likelyhood of Olympus making a major presence at, say, the
2004
Olympics (now there's a marketer's dream!) providing dozens or hundreds
of pros
with E-1's and 300/2.8's? Then they have to repeat that at major events
worldwide.
John or Clint would probably have a feel for how likely that would be,
at
least from an Olympus America perspective, but I think we all can guess.
Paul keeps-on-guessing-and-comes-to-the-same-conclusion Schings
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