Photography Thailand Forum

[ThailandJohn]

This fall, Olympus is coming out with their newest Professional model.

Currently the Olympus Pro model is the E-1

The new model will be 10 megapixel and is rumored it will also have image stabilization in the camera body and a few other new features.

Their biggest selling point is the new 4/3 system and the automatic dust removal on the CCD chip
 
Here is a short video on the current E-1 model.

http://olympusdigitalschool.com/e-system_cameras/e-1/e-1_movie/avi/index.html

What are your opinions?

[AmazingThailand]

I currently own a full frame (35mm x 24mm) Kodak SLR/n and a Sony R1 that uses an APS-C (25.1mm x 16.7mm) sensor.  Both are (I believe) CMOS.
The 4/3 system uses a sensor (18mm x 13.5mm) that is smaller than even APS-C.

My vote goes to the larger sensors.  At any given megapixel count, the 4/3 sensor will produce more noise and have less dynamic range than the larger sensors.  As sensor design improves this gap will probably close up somewhat, but the larger individual pixels of the larger sensors will always outperfom the smaller pixel.

As an example, the level of noise from my SLR/n is significantly less than from the R1, and the R1 is VERY good.  That's at ISO 160 on both cameras.

[ThailandJohn]

Thanks for the imput.
I have read that other manufactures are considering the 4/3 system
This will be a wait and see.
Some of film only people I know are now changing over to digital and I just read that Canon may stop production of film cameras
Thanks again

[AmazingThailand]

Nikon and Canon have something like 85-90% of the market share for dSLR sales, with Olympus coming in third with about 5%.  I have read predictions that Sony will rapidly acquire the #3 position, mostly by stealing sales from Canon and Nikon.  But who knows.  Clearly the 4/3 system has a huge uphill battle ahead.

I ran some numbers, just out of curisoty:

Sensor sizes:

4/3 @ 18mm x 13.5mm = 243 mm2
APS-c @ 25.1mm x 16.7mm = 419.2 mm2
35mm FF @ 36mm x 24mm = 864 mm2

Size differences:

                 4/3                  APS                             35FF

4/3             x            +176.2 mm2 (72.5%)      +621 mm2 (256%)         

APS            x                     x                          +445 mm2 (106%)

35FF           x                     x                                 x

[ThailandJohn]

Thanks again.
I hope to be going to one of the larger all  camera store here in America on Friday. They are going to have the reps from the major camera manufactures, including Olympus, answering questions about their products.
This should be interesting.
If I go, I will post the info I receive.
Thanks again for taking the time to be so detailed.

[PPCP]

Oly will have to release something this fall at photokina or else... they'll be in for a rough ride - with panasonic having their own line already!