I think Olympus is perhaps trying too hard to compete on lens speed
rather than weight. Take the 35-100 f/2.0, for example. It's direct
competition for the 70-200 range for full frame Canons. Canon makes two
pro quality lenses there, the 70-200 f/2.8 and the 70-200 f/4.0. I used
to think the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 was heavy at 1470g (no tripod mount) but
the Oly 35-100 f/2.0 weighs 1650g (no tripod mount). Granted, you've
got an extra stop there if speed is your thing but you don't have the
option of buying the equivalent in a one or two stop slower and lighter
lens. Slower and lighter is available but also at the cost of lesser
lens quality. A high quality 35-100 constant aperture f/2.8 or even
f/3.5 would be a nice addition. And what gives with that oddball 11-22?
That doesn't seem to fit in any kind of consistent system scheme.
Chuck Norcutt
Jim Couch wrote:
> The weight of the E-3 is an issue for me, as is the weight of many (not
> all) the 4/3 lenses. In general it seems to me that Olympus has not
> really fulfilled one of the main the goals/promises of the 4/3 system,
> that being smaller/lighter. The E-3 with the new 12-60 weighs as much as
> my current D200 with Tokina 16-50. Yes there may be some advantages with
> the Olympus (IS & longer longer reach on the zoom) but you are trading a
> larger sensor and a constant f2.8 lens to get it.
>
> And weight does matter to some folks. When I am climbing, backpacking,
> or cycle touring it matters a lot - in fact I still carry film cameras
> (OM or XA) in many cases because of the weight savings.
>
> While I am not ready financially to purchase a new rig the E-510 looks
> much more attractive to me. Combined with the 14-40 f3.5~5.6 it actually
> beats my 'gold standard' climbing camera (OM-4ti + 35-70 f3.5~4.5 Zuiko)
> for weight.
>
> Of course, the Nikon D40x + 18-55 Nikkor will do the same thing and
> allow me to stay with a system I already have.
>
> I am not saying that there are not some impressive things about the E-3
> and the Olympus digitals in general, but for me one of the things that
> excited me when the system was announced was that promise that by
> designing the system from the ground up and around a 4/3 sensor there
> would be a lighter and more compact system available - I just have not
> really seen that, at least for the type of system I would be using.
>
>
> Jim Couch
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