Fast Primes said:
"
While I wish them luck, I don't really feel the Kodak/Olympus "new format"
will succeed!
"
You forgot Fuji.
"
Regretfully, Kodak has had a habit of spewing out "new"
formats that simply die on the vine. Recall the 126 film cartridge and then
APS.
"
Just about every camera and film maker supported the APS format.
"
Then note how blindingly fast, digital photography is evolving. Pentax
is about to release what it calls the lightest digital SLR todate "*ist" or
some such.
"
The *ist has been on the market for months. It's just another compromise
design.
"
Within 2 years, we can expect to see the major players offering
compact, full frame DSLRs for 2K or less.
"
Hmmm ... 2 years,huh? Olympus has exactly this product now. Have you heard?
It's called the E-1. If by full-frame you mean that the lens is designed for
optimum performance across the entire Imaging sensor and doesn't waste 200r so
to distortion and vignetting? Or that it's a full 'frame-transfer' CCD device
which makes for faster data movement, more continuous shots in a row (12 at ANY
resolution as compared to 9 at lower resolutions only for the NikCan
competition), much better signal-to-noise ratio, ...?
Oh, did u mean full 35-mm frame? Why? To use the existing lenses? But what if
you could get better perfomance with a smaller system? If I were a young
photographer starting out these days, I'd be looking real hard at this E-1
system. It's got everything but the larger size/weight needed to do 35mm.
Did u see the comparison between the E-1, 10D and D100 for size and weight with
comparable zoom lenses? (Well sorta comparable as the Zuiko Digital (ZD?) was
2/3 stop faster than the other 2.) The Olympus was smaller and appx 1 pound
lighter than either of the NikCans. In fact it was between 20 and 30 0ghter and
the lens was faster. And the performance will be *at least* as good as either,
probably better than both. Don't you think these are pretty fair advantages
this system has?
The only disadvantage is - you gotta buy new lenses. No gettin around it.
Newbies won't care. Long-time 35mm guys like me, will care. But I've been
looking for the best way to get into digital considering
price/performance/capability and this looks like it to me at this point. I'll
wait a bit for the price to come down and I'll sell some of my existing 35 and
maybe 645 gear to move into the E-system.
And you mentioned Cosina will be making cheap digital bodies? Would you want
one of those? Like the OM-2000 vs the OM-2 or 4? Absolutely no comaprison in
terms of quality. The E-1 has fantstic build quality according to the 3 or 4
reviewers who've used them.
And wait til u see the lenses Tamron, Tokina et al will design for the 4/3
systems.
I believe this system is a winner. It looks that way now for sure. Competition
won't stand still though. Course, they're invited to the party too and if
Olympus starts selling this stuff, watch how fast NikCan will join the fray.
Then u could pick and choose beteen Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Fuji lenses, bodies
and maybe other components. And they would all work with each other. Tell me
that ain't the best of all worlds?
I for one hope it does succeed. It's a win-win for everybody if the other guys
jump in. It's a win for Oly, Kodak and Fuji alone if they don't.
George
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