Camera - Olympus E-P2

A few months after Olympus first Micro Four Thirds camera (E-P1) the new E-P2 is released. The new camera is much the same as the camera it replaces with slight modifications. The AF system which was criticized for its slow response was added a new continues mode and an electronic view finder (in addition to the optical one) is avaiable.

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The new camera hopefully will keep Olympus in the Micro Four Thirds camera business, along with Panasonic. It seems Olympus needs it badly to fight back the better implemented Panasonic's GF1. Panasonic GF1 is still a better alternative when considering the built in flash (No built in flash on the new Olympus as with its predeseccor) and the probably faster AF.

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The fast release of the E-P2 shows that something is not working in Olympus marketing and R&D departments. Olympus has already a long reputation of new concepts but bad implementation of them. In many cases, the new (badly implemented) concepts were adopted by its competitors that delivered the "correct" products. I will put here a few examples.

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Olympus pioneered the "bridge" camera concept back in the film days. A relatively long zoom was attached to a compact (Non SLR) camera that form a binocular shape. Others followed, but Olympus was not recognized with this concept. Later, due to their success in the compact cameras, the pro SLR business was abounded. Their dedicated users switch to others. It took Olympus a great effort trying to get back to this segment. Unsuccessful yet.

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When trying to enter the digital SLR market, Olympus made, again, a few mistakes. They used (and still using) Kodak's Four Thirds sensor which is slightly smaller then the industry standard APS-C size (Used by all the other DSLR manufactures). This smaller size was planned to use a smaller optics but actually the size difference is marginal and the cost of this decision is meaningful - All Olympus DSLR's are suffering from higher noise figures compared with their competitor's cameras. In addition, the first Olympus DSLR's designed with a futuristic concept - The prism was special, horizontal laid, so, the camera was of a lower profile. It looks more like a compact camera. Very good idea, but, the customers wanted a DSLR that is looking more like their film SLR's. Olympus corrected this later and today their camera has the "regular" shape. The price was huge, the customers were going with Canon and Nikon. I may say that the Micro Four Thirds is the last chance of this (Four Thirds) format and Olympus DSLR camera business. This is why the E-P1 and now the E-P2 is so important to Olympus.

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With "partners" as Panasonic, sharing (or fighting) on this segment (Panasonic's GF1) Olympus should do much more and as fast as possible. Olympus should actually have today the E-P3. This camera should have the internal flash Panaonic's GF1 has and an AF system that has the same performance as Panasonic. It will be a good idea to have HD video of the highest spec: 1080p and AVCHD compression. It seems that in the lens department Olympus already have (or declaring of plans to have) the basic most important lenses: Pancake compact fixed focal length, collapsible standard zoom and the new super zoom (14-150).

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Olympus (and Panasonic) have now the formula to potentially successful new products and new market segments. Let's hope that Olympus will do the right decisions now.