No more Contax...

....according to dPreview:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0503/05030301kyocera.asp
--
http://www.pbase.com/bcbaird/

"Brian C. Baird" wrote in message
.. .
...according to dPreview:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0503/05030301kyocera.asp
--
http://www.pbase.com/bcbaird/

A sad moment. Though too pricey for my budget. I've always admired Contax
optics.

Walt

"Brian C. Baird" wrote in message
.. .
...according to dPreview:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0503/05030301kyocera.asp
--
http://www.pbase.com/bcbaird/


Any bets on Olympus folding within the next 12 months?

"Courtesy Assured" wrote in news:38pehiF5pvqk4U1
@individual.net:


"Brian C. Baird" wrote in message
.. .
...according to dPreview:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0503/05030301kyocera.asp
--
http://www.pbase.com/bcbaird/


Any bets on Olympus folding within the next 12 months?




Olympus will never fold. They are a highly diversified company with some of
the most amazing medical imaging systems on the market for example. They
may have shot themselves in the foot with their high end digital cameras,
but thats hardly enough reason to think even their digicam division will be
"next".

"Nunnya Bizniss" wrote in message
.131...
"Courtesy Assured" wrote in news:38pehiF5pvqk4U1
@individual.net:


"Brian C. Baird" wrote in message
.. .
...according to dPreview:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0503/05030301kyocera.asp
--
http://www.pbase.com/bcbaird/


Any bets on Olympus folding within the next 12 months?




Olympus will never fold. They are a highly diversified company with some
of
the most amazing medical imaging systems on the market for example. They
may have shot themselves in the foot with their high end digital cameras,
but thats hardly enough reason to think even their digicam division will
be
"next".



Well, it would be pointless to re-hash the well documented deficiencies of
the 4/3 system - just about everyone is already aware that it produces noisy
and relatively poor quality images(or, if they don't know, they've only to
read some reviews)

What has become noticeable is the collapse in prices for Olympus DSLR's -
the 300, for instance, is now selling in the UK for less than £540 - and I
fully expect it to fall below the £500 barrier in a couple of weeks.

The E1 is also poised for massive reductions as an increasingly desperate
Olympus try to shift stock of its aged overpriced flagship camera.

So, why are prices dropping? - yep, because no-one wants them.

There is talk of Olympus releasing a low priced kit version of the 300 with
the 24-45 & 50-140 lenses AND offering a rebate. This might temporarily
help sales - but, as usual, Olympus offer too little, too late.

Already approaching a financial crisis, Olympus look set to pull out of the
DSLR market fairly soon - their losses are simply unsustainable.

They might well soldier on for a bit longer with their point & shoot
models - but even those are being seriously undercut by their rivals.

Face it - Olympus have screwed their customers for years - their lenses are
way overpriced, their DSLR cameras are noisy and/or plagued with JPEG
compression problems, and their ridiculous insistence of sticking to the
discredited 4/3 system ensures that no 'professional' users will be buying
the E-1 replacement, even if Olympus can afford to develop it - which is
increasingly doubtful.

So, all in all, I don't think that 2005 is going to be a very good year for
Oly.

"Courtesy Assured" wrote in
:

There is talk of Olympus releasing a low priced kit version of the 300
with the 24-45 & 50-140 lenses AND offering a rebate. This might
temporarily help sales - but, as usual, Olympus offer too little, too
late.

The strangest part of this is thet Oly told us that
the new fantastic 4/3 system had some extra ordinary
properties that made it superior - that the real advantage
was that it was the choice of professionals that wanted
a tool that produced outstanding results. It was lots
of talk of tele centric lenses etc, etc, ... The site was
full of fashion photography made by very good photographers.

And now? Cheap cameras and lenses to try to save the system.
Back to the roots - amateurs.


/Roland

In article ,
Roland Karlsson wrote:


The strangest part of this is thet Oly told us that
the new fantastic 4/3 system had some extra ordinary
properties that made it superior - that the real advantage
was that it was the choice of professionals that wanted
a tool that produced outstanding results. It was lots
of talk of tele centric lenses etc, etc, ... The site was
full of fashion photography made by very good photographers.

And now? Cheap cameras and lenses to try to save the system.
Back to the roots - amateurs.

Ah... someone who hasn't seen the latest stuff yet.

14-35mm f2.0
http://www.digitalcamera.jp/html/Hot...E14-35mmF2.JPG

35-100mm f2.0
http://www.digitalcamera.jp/html/Hot...35-100mmF2.JPG


90-250mm f2.8
http://www.digitalcamera.jp/html/Hot.../E90-250mm.JPG

Lourens

On 3 Mar 2005 22:59:38 GMT, Roland Karlsson
wrote:

"Courtesy Assured" wrote in
:

There is talk of Olympus releasing a low priced kit version of the 300
with the 24-45 & 50-140 lenses AND offering a rebate. This might
temporarily help sales - but, as usual, Olympus offer too little, too
late.

The strangest part of this is thet Oly told us that
the new fantastic 4/3 system had some extra ordinary
properties that made it superior - that the real advantage
was that it was the choice of professionals that wanted
a tool that produced outstanding results. It was lots
of talk of tele centric lenses etc, etc, ... The site was
full of fashion photography made by very good photographers.

And now? Cheap cameras and lenses to try to save the system.
Back to the roots - amateurs.


/Roland

Olympus really lost their way. Originally, the OM-1, OM-2 and OM-4
were terrific cameras, offering a number of advantages over the
competition. Everyone liked them. Then, they get into digital,
there was word they were going to dispense with the lower end
completely. That never took off. Now, they get into DSLRs,
with an expensive model with too few pixels, an a cheap model with
too many flaws. They should cut their CEO off a the knees.
-Rich

In article ,
"Courtesy Assured" wrote:

Well, it would be pointless to re-hash the well documented deficiencies of
the 4/3 system - just about everyone is already aware that it produces noisy
and relatively poor quality images(or, if they don't know, they've only to
read some reviews)

Instead of reading reviews, I actually use the E-system, (among other
camera's) and I can only say it has surpassed all my expectations by a
wide margin. The E1 is a high-quality pro-level tool. (unlike Canon's
offerings on the same price-level) It beats the Nikon D1x hands down,
and this was the top level Nikon up to a week ago. E1 production has
already stopped by the way, expect some interesting news in a few
weeks/months, while stock is being cleared. You are so hoplessly
misinformed it isn't even funny. Admit it, peanut-brain, you are just
repeating nonsense you heard on the web, like a parrot. Does your mother
know you are using her computer?

Have fun looking through your plastic f/5.6 20D kit-lens. Now THAT is an
example of an overpriced lens... $100 optics and Canon sells it for
$500. They must laugh their asses off.

Lourens

"Lourens Smak" wrote in message
...
Admit it, peanut-brain, you are just
repeating nonsense you heard on the web, like a parrot. Does your mother
know you are using her computer?

Feeling a little touchy about our purchase decision?... =)

Al...