I think DPReview's comments state it quite fairly
----------------------------------------------------------
Taking what could most politely be described as a 'considered' approach
to product upgrades, <snip>
It is perhaps indicative of where Olympus's priorities lie - or the way
the market is headed - that whereas the E-3 took the E-1 back to the
drawing board and introduced several new features, the E-5 is probably
best described as a warm over of its predecessor. <snip>
The long delay has caused some wild speculation about the E-5, borne not
out of dissatisfaction with the existing model (in fact most E-1 and E-3
users are still happily taking pictures with their 'old' cameras), but,
I suspect, out of a need to see Olympus competing with the 'big boys' at
this level, and the need for a clear sign that it hasn't abandoned Four
Thirds in all the excitement surrounding the mirrorless system. <snip>
At first glance the E-5 (and the lack of any other E-system camera
announcements) is unlikely to calm those fears; if anything it confirms
that precious little R&D resource is going into the reflex system. Dig a
little deeper, however, and you realize that the E-5 is a perfectly
sensible upgrade that takes an excellent camera and addresses nearly all
the complaints and offers, according to the marketing blurb, the best
image quality ever seen in an Olympus DSLR. It also throws in a nice
sprinkling of 2010 must-have features (such as movie mode).
It is, without a doubt, a camera aimed at the Olympus faithful, designed
(as described to us) to 'finally offer image quality to match that of
Zuiko lenses'. Olympus knows that the E-system lenses are the jewel in
its crown and ain't going to abandon that - or its users. The future for
Zuiko Digital lens owners might not be a reflex camera (we've had strong
hints that a common live view only FT / MFT platform lies ahead), but
Four Thirds isn't going away.
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A bit late perhaps but I'm not sure what else they could have done.
Chuck Norcutt
On 9/14/2010 2:43 AM, Ken Norton wrote:
> Olympus officially introduces the new E-5. Essentially a warmed-over
> E-30. Move along, people--nothing to see here.
>
> On a personal note, I'm extremely disappointed with Olympus for two reasons:
> 1. After three years this is the best they could do?
> 2. Why didn't they do something like this with the E-1 in those four
> years before the E-3 came out?
>
> Olympus, you are a creative company that has proven through the years
> to be the maverick in every industry you compete in. The E-5 is the
> opposite of what the very fabric of this company is all about.
>
> But not all is bad. At least Olympus finally put a decent LCD on it.
> Way to step out!
>
> (If I was in the market for a new Olympus DSLR, I'd automatically get
> the E-5. It's the BEST E-3 we've seen so far).
>
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