Olympus large sensor compact?

Yeah, this looks interesting the way the Canon G1X Mark II is interesting.

Except the rumor says it's a fast prime, not a zoom lens. Tough market with a fixed focal length lens, but maybe Oly will come in on the value side. I'd love to see the equivalent of an E-P5 with a fixed zoom lens. 24-100 equiv at 2.8, he dreams.
 
I wanted Olympus to make that camera around the time the E-P2 came out. I'd love a digital Trip, but they're too late to get my camera buying dollars, the Fuji X100 filled that niche for me already. If it's cheap enough, I'm sure they'll sell a few.
 
I personally don't get the current trend of fixed prime lens cameras. I can see some people wanting them but not to the extent they are being produced. I give extra kudos to Sigma for at least making their's with several focal lengths to choose from.

An XZ with a larger sensor{1" or m4/3} and/or a range-finder VF makes more sense to me.
 
I personally don't get the current trend of fixed prime lens cameras. I can see some people wanting them but not to the extent they are being produced. I give extra kudos to Sigma for at least making their's with several focal lengths to choose from.

An XZ with a larger sensor{1" or m4/3} and/or a range-finder VF makes more sense to me.
Why not? Because you'd prefer to shoot with zooms? Those are available too... For some of us, walking around with a fixed lens prime (or maybe two of them sometimes) is the best imaginable day of shooting. In terms of numbers, they wouldn't make them if they didn't sell. So they tend to make what people want. You just don't get why people want them?

-Ray
 
If a prime, 40-50mm should be just the ticket given that 28-35mm is already well represented. While I admit that it probably makes sense for them to use a Micro 4/3 sensor, there is nothing saying that a standalone fixed-lens compact camera has to follow their ILC format. Olympus are just a customer when it comes to sensors and could pick and choose if they wished.
 
What I'd really like to see, especially in a camera of that type, would be a significant reduction in actual size compared to what is available on today's market - not weight, heft or build, just size, and an actual focus on IQ. Specifically, I'd love to have something to finally and fully replace my Minox GT-E (and Olympus XA, but in spite of all the merits of the latter, I prefer the former for actual shooting). If this means a 35mm or 40mm equivalent focal length, I don't care much - actually, I'd just wish it was not too wide since the GR covers 28mm marvellously in a very convincing package. But frankly, I'd put up with just about everything if it wasn't too big again. None of the high-IQ models on offer is truely trouser pocketable - not even the GR that I love to bits otherwise. A smaller GR work-alike with a lens that retracts flush into an all metal body, possibly one that's also dust- and splashproof - YUM!

Intriguingly, putting all this together, it actually appears that the MFT sensor would make this feasible - so it'd get my vote, hands down. IQ is there for almost all uses, plus the M1 proves what is possible in terms of AF (not that I find anything wrong with my M10 in that respect - but then, I don't track ...). And I generally loves the way Olympus goes about making cameras. They have all the ingredients - they could make it work.

Alas, as far as I can see, it won't happen - the Trip is a compact, but not a small camera. I think we'll see something along the lines of a X100s - and given the success of that model, I can see why ... and having either a rangefinder or a good EVF - they know how to build these, right enough - is worth a lot.

So, again, I'll wait and use the S95 in the meantime - not a match for the bigger and better spec'd fixed focal length cameras in any way, but a 28mm f/2.0 in a pleasingly small package (and an easily accessible 35mm f/2.5 through zoom stepping - and the rest of the zoom should I really need it). JPEG IQ is pretty good at least if there's enough light (RAW makes for considerably more work due to distortion, but is quite usable, too). The only real competition out there doesn't have a decisive edge over the S95 - as much as I'd love to like the RX100, I really don't when it's in my hands, and the S120 and XQ1, good as they are, are only upgrades, not solutions.

That said, Sony could do it, too - a RX camera with a 1'' sensor and a bright fixed focal Zeiss lens would be as easy as pie for them to do. Will they ever do it? Knowing Sony, I think they won't ... Besides, they'd challenge the position of the RX1 with that ...

M.
 
That said, Sony could do it, too - a RX camera with a 1'' sensor and a bright fixed focal Zeiss lens would be as easy as pie for them to do. Will they ever do it? Knowing Sony, I think they won't ... Besides, they'd challenge the position of the RX1 with that ...
Nothing Sony could do with a 1" sensor would challenge the position of the RX1. It might be a nice smaller alternative for those who want that, but the RX1 is a unique beast and those who'd be willing to spend the money for what it offers would never be swayed by an otherwise similar but smaller camera with a 1" sensor. I've owned an RX100 (still in the family) and shot extensively with an RX10 and owned an RX1 for a year or so. And neither of the smaller sensor cameras were even remotely close to being in the same league as the RX1.

I'm not saying they wouldn't sell a lot of them if they did it or that they shouldn't do it, but I don't think those sales would come at the expense of the RX1...

-Ray
 
The more I think about it... a modern take on the Oly Trip 35 with a fixed, 40mm (equivalent) lens, an APS-C or four-thirds sensor, with built-in EVF and flash would be perfect. Is it too much to ask for on-sensor PDAF? I'm not going to bother wishing for traditional external controls like Fuji's X line - but if the camera had them, I'd be among the first to "pre-order."
 
Why not? Because you'd prefer to shoot with zooms? Those are available too... For some of us, walking around with a fixed lens prime (or maybe two of them sometimes) is the best imaginable day of shooting. In terms of numbers, they wouldn't make them if they didn't sell. So they tend to make what people want. You just don't get why people want them?

-Ray
I love primes but hate spending $500+ for a camera that is stuck to one. I shoot Nikon and Olympus m4/3 as well and I often take just a prime or two. I understand why some people like this and there are several on the market already. But with the ever shrinking camera market I don't quite understand these cameras. They are only a tiny bit cheaper than simply buying a body and lens combo and are rarely smaller/lighter. If they were a lot cheaper and/or much smaller/lighter then they would make more sense in my mind.

I really like my XZ1 but I do wish it had a little bit larger sensor{for better low light ability and shallower DOF}. I have a VF2 for it but a built in VF would be smaller and easier to handle. So that is why I answered the way I did.
 
I love shooting with primes/fixed lenses. They make me hunt for the best relationship between myself and the subject. I really enjoy that process. It's a bit like releasing an arrow, when you just know it will go where you want it to.
 
They are only a tiny bit cheaper than simply buying a body and lens combo and are rarely smaller/lighter. If they were a lot cheaper and/or much smaller/lighter then they would make more sense in my mind.

Not necessarily the case. For example...a brand new Ricoh GR or Nikon A...both housing outstanding APSC sized sensors with even better 28mm lenses attached and super functionality are both smaller and cheaper than a used Olympus EM5/EP5 or Panasonic GX7 with Pana 14mm lens attached. Also...the Sony RX1 housing a full frame sensor that is on par with the D800 sensor and a stunning 35mm/f2 Zeiss lens is also smaller than most 'high end' m43 bodies with the Oly 17/1.8 attached....and if you shop around hard enough you can find a used RX1 with EVF for less than $2000....which is not too far from the price of an EM1/EM5/GX7/GH3 and Oly 17/1.8 combo !!

These cameras all offer something....large sensors, stunning lenses that are customised or camera specific, functionality features, compact size, OVF, snap focus etc etc.

I for example enjoy going out for a days shoot with a wide and a standard lens, I shoot other lenses too but a 28mm and 50mm is my go to 2 lens combo for a days walk...and at this point that means my bag usually has the GR and the EM5+PL25mm in it....but I tell ya, nothing would make me happier than if I could pair the GR with a fixed 45mm-50mm version GR, Nikon A, Fuji X100 or RX1.

Different strokes for different folks right !
 
Why not? Because you'd prefer to shoot with zooms? Those are available too... For some of us, walking around with a fixed lens prime (or maybe two of them sometimes) is the best imaginable day of shooting. In terms of numbers, they wouldn't make them if they didn't sell. So they tend to make what people want. You just don't get why people want them?

-Ray

Which fixed lens large sensor compacts are flying off the shelves? Sigmas, Sony, Fuji, Nikon?

To me this camera gets interesting in the $300 range. Above that the value just dies. Most consumers want zooms and the enthusiast market is already crowded with more expensive alternatives that are being heavily discounted.
 
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