I get the impression that the majority of members of this list are long-time
OM users (measured in decades rather than merely years). I think that we
remained OM users because the OM cameras and lenses did what we wanted, and
subsequent advances such as autofocus, matrix metering, body-integral
autowind, and auto fill flash did NOT worsen the performance of our OM
equipment. We invested in a SYSTEM that we wanted to use for a long time.
It seems to me that many of us will take that attitude with us when we
consider purchasing a digital SLR -- that is, we want a SYSTEM that will
last a long time. (Bodies will come and go, but it is the system that is
important.) This raises the question of which digital SLR systems will
still be here in 5 years time. I am 100% sure that both Can*n and Nik*n
will be. And the chances for Min*lta (digital SLR available later this
year) and Pent*x are pretty good too -- greater than 50% I would estimate.
But will the Olympus E system still be here in 5 years time? Sad to say I
put the chances of this at no better than 50%, possibly less. What the
other systems have that the E system lacks is a lens mount that is common
with their film SLRs. Although the MA-1 adapter allows OM lenses to be used
on the E1, the need to use stop-down metering reduces its appeal
dramatically, with the result that vast numbers of existing OM users will
not consider the E system to be the natural migration path for their
photographic equipment.
I am not privy to digital-SLR sales figures, or to the talk amongst camera
dealers, so I am amply qualified to judge these matters, and you can rely on
my survivability estimates for the different digital SLR systems as being
completely accurate.
-- from Cyber "Hal 9000" Simian in the UK
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