Olympus hasn't thrown in the DSLR towel yet it would seem

"Bruce" wrote in message
...
RichA wrote:
http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk... _311230.html


There's a reason why Olympus needs to do this - people buying new 4/3
SLR bodies represent a promising market for Olympus's vast stocks of
unsold 4/3 lenses. There are thousands of them, and existing owners
of 4/3 DSLRs are not buying them at a significant rate.

An E-6 with the latest Panasonic 16 MP sensor should sell in
reasonable numbers.

But Olympus shouldn't make too many; there are still large unsold
stocks of E-1 DSLRs. ;-)

... and if Olympus are no more, at least you can use the lenses elsewhere.
Are any of these unsold lenses ones with in-lens image stabilisation?

David

"Bruce" wrote in message
...
"David J Taylor" wrote:
"Bruce" wrote in message
. ..
RichA wrote:
http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk... _311230.html


There's a reason why Olympus needs to do this - people buying new 4/3
SLR bodies represent a promising market for Olympus's vast stocks of
unsold 4/3 lenses. There are thousands of them, and existing owners
of 4/3 DSLRs are not buying them at a significant rate.

An E-6 with the latest Panasonic 16 MP sensor should sell in
reasonable numbers.

But Olympus shouldn't make too many; there are still large unsold
stocks of E-1 DSLRs. ;-)

.. and if Olympus are no more, at least you can use the lenses
elsewhere.


Except the only other 4/3 DSLRs are long discontinued - the Panasonic
L1 and L10 and the Leica Digilux 3. You can use 4/3 lenses on m4/3
with an adapter, but these are not cheap and the AF performance with
adapters is very slow - it typically takes a second or two for them to
focus. I think that's because the lenses were designed for phase
detect AF and they perform less well on the m4/3 bodies which use
contrast detect AF.


Are any of these unsold lenses ones with in-lens image stabilisation?


No. The Olympus 4/3 system uses sensor shift stabilisation, as does
the PEN m4/3 system.

Ah, not micro-4/3 lenses, but DSLR 4/3 lenses. And no image
stabilisation. I'll pass - slow AF and bulky lens+adapter combinations I
can do without (were I to purchase u4/3).

Thanks,
David

People using m4/3 have mixed reports of their experience using 4/3
lenses. Many of those who value the excellent Zuiko Digital optics
are prepared to tolerate slow AF, however those who want fast and
decisive AF are not swayed by the excellence of the glass.

Plus, as you say, the assemblage of lens + adapter is bulky.

Something like "you can't please all the people all the time" comes to
mind! But I take your points and thank you for the information.

David