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#1
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why isn't olympus as highly regarded as it should be?
I'm slowly finding that i'm becoming, without intending to, an olympus
collector. They seem to have made some wonderful cameras over the years. When I research the best compacts the Olympus XA and Olympus Stylus (mju) were insane hits. When i think of rangefinders I totally love my Olympus RC and the RD/SP seem highly regarded too. When researching SLRs (though i have no intentions of buying one, but if i bought then) the OM range (OM-1 to OM-4ti) seems very cool. The Zuiko lenses are quite nice too. It seems this brand has made more classic cameras with timeless designs than most others. Yet it doesn't seem to be as highly regarded as its cameras are. why? |
#2
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why isn't olympus as highly regarded as it should be?
"Mike Henley" wrote in message om... I'm slowly finding that i'm becoming, without intending to, an olympus collector. They seem to have made some wonderful cameras over the years. When I research the best compacts the Olympus XA and Olympus Stylus (mju) were insane hits. When i think of rangefinders I totally love my Olympus RC and the RD/SP seem highly regarded too. When researching SLRs (though i have no intentions of buying one, but if i bought then) the OM range (OM-1 to OM-4ti) seems very cool. The Zuiko lenses are quite nice too. It seems this brand has made more classic cameras with timeless designs than most others. Yet it doesn't seem to be as highly regarded as its cameras are. why? I dunno why either - go back maybe 20 years and Olympus and Pentax were the two big names amongst pros and serious amateurs. As you say, the Zuiko lenses were very highly regarded. Likewise Pentax glass was always excellent - I don't think lenses come much better than the Pentax 50mm F1.4. The last few years though have seen Canon and Nikon virtually duopolise the serious camera market, and I'm not sure why. Certainly the fact that Olympus no longer offer a consumer SLR with interchangeable lenses would have something to do with their demise in this field. Doesn't explain why the companies have yielded to Canon and Nikon though. I hope the tables might turn a little back toward Olympus with their new E1 dSLR - it's features tend to set itself apart from the rest of the dSLR market. I also think the Olympus compact digitals are amongst the best compacts in the market. |
#4
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why isn't olympus as highly regarded as it should be?
In article ,
Photodad2 wrote: I started working in photography in 1975 as a clerk at a large camera store. I began shooting professionally in 1977. I can assure you that Nikon and Canon were already established as the "Professional" lines way back then (along with Leica). In fact, Nikon virtually ignored the consumer market at that time. It is true that in that time, Nikon did not make any consumer F mount lenses, but they did make consumer bodies (Nikkormat, FM, FE, and before that the Nikkorex series). Of course, with the introduction of the EM, Nikon also introduced consumer glass (E series). I think that good glass on a cheap body is much better than the other way around. -- The Electronic Monk was a labor-saving device, like a dishwasher or a video recorder. [...] Video recorders watched tedious television for you, thus saving you the bother of looking at it yourself; Electronic Monks believed things for you, [...] -- Douglas Adams in Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency |
#5
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why isn't olympus as highly regarded as it should be?
"Photodad2" schreef in bericht ... in article , Justin Thyme at wrote on 6/30/04 7:05 AM: Olympus certainly offered excellent cameras and good glass, but they never offered a camera with full professional features, such as a true motor drive (not just a motor winder), or interchangeable focusing screens. Their selection of lenses, though of high quality, was limited. And their bodies just could not withstand the punishment a working pro gave them. Walt Hanks The Olympus OM1,2,3,4 and their successors all have interchangeble focussing screens and up to 5 fps motordrive connection. greetings , Gijs |
#6
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why isn't olympus as highly regarded as it should be?
Olympus failed to keep up with the market and ended up selling P&S
cameras - which are quite highly regarded but not by serious photographers. THe E1 comes under the too little too late heading. Olympus is trying to break into the market with a smaller sensor than any of the other SLR manufacturers are using and terribly high prices for what you get (a 300 mm lens for 8 grand is not going to cut it, even if it has the effect of a 600 mm lens because the sensor is so small) Unless Olympus cuts prices drastically I would say they are as good as off the board. -- http://www.chapelhillnoir.com home of The Camera-ist's Manifesto The Improved Links Pages are at http://www.chapelhillnoir.com/links/mlinks00.html A sample chapter from my novel "Haight-Ashbury" is at http://www.chapelhillnoir.com/writ/hait/hatitl.html "Justin Thyme" wrote in message ... "Mike Henley" wrote in message om... I'm slowly finding that i'm becoming, without intending to, an olympus collector. They seem to have made some wonderful cameras over the years. When I research the best compacts the Olympus XA and Olympus Stylus (mju) were insane hits. When i think of rangefinders I totally love my Olympus RC and the RD/SP seem highly regarded too. When researching SLRs (though i have no intentions of buying one, but if i bought then) the OM range (OM-1 to OM-4ti) seems very cool. The Zuiko lenses are quite nice too. It seems this brand has made more classic cameras with timeless designs than most others. Yet it doesn't seem to be as highly regarded as its cameras are. why? I dunno why either - go back maybe 20 years and Olympus and Pentax were the two big names amongst pros and serious amateurs. As you say, the Zuiko lenses were very highly regarded. Likewise Pentax glass was always excellent - I don't think lenses come much better than the Pentax 50mm F1.4. The last few years though have seen Canon and Nikon virtually duopolise the serious camera market, and I'm not sure why. Certainly the fact that Olympus no longer offer a consumer SLR with interchangeable lenses would have something to do with their demise in this field. Doesn't explain why the companies have yielded to Canon and Nikon though. I hope the tables might turn a little back toward Olympus with their new E1 dSLR - it's features tend to set itself apart from the rest of the dSLR market. I also think the Olympus compact digitals are amongst the best compacts in the market. |
#7
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why isn't olympus as highly regarded as it should be?
Actually the F5 is a lot more reliable than the F2 -- if it wasn't Nikon
would be out of business. As to Nikon being more reliable than Canon, I still see Ae-1 Canons in use. The only 2 Nikkormats I've even seen are on friends shelves - unrepairable. -- http://www.chapelhillnoir.com home of The Camera-ist's Manifesto The Improved Links Pages are at http://www.chapelhillnoir.com/links/mlinks00.html A sample chapter from my novel "Haight-Ashbury" is at http://www.chapelhillnoir.com/writ/hait/hatitl.html "Photodad2" wrote in message ... in article , Justin Thyme at wrote on 6/30/04 7:05 AM: I dunno why either - go back maybe 20 years and Olympus and Pentax were the two big names amongst pros and serious amateurs. As you say, the Zuiko lenses were very highly regarded. Likewise Pentax glass was always excellent - I don't think lenses come much better than the Pentax 50mm F1.4. The last few years though have seen Canon and Nikon virtually duopolise the serious camera market, and I'm not sure why. Justin, how old are you? I ask because you seem to have an interesting view of the past. I started working in photography in 1975 as a clerk at a large camera store. I began shooting professionally in 1977. I can assure you that Nikon and Canon were already established as the "Professional" lines way back then (along with Leica). In fact, Nikon virtually ignored the consumer market at that time. For a line of equipment to be considered "professional grade" it has to offer bodies that can withstand the punishment pros give them, including shooting hundred of rolls a week without breaking down. Nikon excelled at this, as did Leica. Canon always lagged behind in this respect. I started out a Canon user, but quickly switched to Nikon for this reason. Olympus certainly offered excellent cameras and good glass, but they never offered a camera with full professional features, such as a true motor drive (not just a motor winder), or interchangeable focusing screens. Their selection of lenses, though of high quality, was limited. And their bodies just could not withstand the punishment a working pro gave them. Pentax offered good glass, and for a time excellent bodies, but the quality of their cameras deteriorated very quickly in the 80's. And they also never offered a full professional line of lenses or accessories. Today, the situation is even more polarized. Pros aren't looking for the latest gimmicks. They're looking for reliability and versatility, along with high image quality. While the current F5 certainly can't compare to the F or F2 in reliability, it is still the best on the market (IMHO). And Leica and Canon have not kept up in terms of the versatility of their entire line. That's why Nikon dominates the professional 35mm market, and will continue to dominate the digital market with help from Kodak and Fuji. Walt Hanks |
#8
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why isn't olympus as highly regarded as it should be?
"Tony Spadaro" wrote in message . com... Actually the F5 is a lot more reliable than the F2 -- if it wasn't Nikon would be out of business. As to Nikon being more reliable than Canon, I still see Ae-1 Canons in use. The only 2 Nikkormats I've even seen are on friends shelves - unrepairable. I still have a Nikon F that works fine. -- Regards, Matt Clara www.mattclara.com |
#9
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why isn't olympus as highly regarded as it should be?
"Matt Clara" writes:
"Tony Spadaro" wrote in message . com... Actually the F5 is a lot more reliable than the F2 -- if it wasn't Nikon would be out of business. As to Nikon being more reliable than Canon, I still see Ae-1 Canons in use. The only 2 Nikkormats I've even seen are on friends shelves - unrepairable. Hmm. Wouldn't the FT-b be the contemporary to the Nikkormat? As I recall, Nikon grabbed the pro SLR market in the '60s. In the '70s, Pentax, Canon, and Olympus decided to take them on with the Pentax LX, Canon F-1, and Olympus OM-1. Canon eventually made it in the market; the others didn't. I think it was basically a matter of market timing and luck that this happened. -- -Stephen H. Westin Any information or opinions in this message are mine: they do not represent the position of Cornell University or any of its sponsors. |
#10
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why isn't olympus as highly regarded as it should be?
Sorry - That's what I meant. Slip of the brain pan.
-- http://www.chapelhillnoir.com home of The Camera-ist's Manifesto The Improved Links Pages are at http://www.chapelhillnoir.com/links/mlinks00.html A sample chapter from my novel "Haight-Ashbury" is at http://www.chapelhillnoir.com/writ/hait/hatitl.html "Stephen H. Westin" wrote in message ... "Matt Clara" writes: "Tony Spadaro" wrote in message . com... Actually the F5 is a lot more reliable than the F2 -- if it wasn't Nikon would be out of business. As to Nikon being more reliable than Canon, I still see Ae-1 Canons in use. The only 2 Nikkormats I've even seen are on friends shelves - unrepairable. Hmm. Wouldn't the FT-b be the contemporary to the Nikkormat? As I recall, Nikon grabbed the pro SLR market in the '60s. In the '70s, Pentax, Canon, and Olympus decided to take them on with the Pentax LX, Canon F-1, and Olympus OM-1. Canon eventually made it in the market; the others didn't. I think it was basically a matter of market timing and luck that this happened. -- -Stephen H. Westin Any information or opinions in this message are mine: they do not represent the position of Cornell University or any of its sponsors. |
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