I know everyone on 'tinternet, is clamoring for a new sensor for Micro four thirds that has 24-30mp, 1 stop better ISO and better DR, but re-using the same sensor in my mind isn't even the real problem with this launch. To be fair, Olympus were already, in my view, punching above their weight in image quality with this sized sensor, and realistically any improvements in that area were always going to be very subtle rather than revolutionary until either a brand new technology appears for sensor manufacture, Olympus takes a look at smartphone technology with computational image taking and blending for better high ISO results, or they just plain re-write the rules of physics.
No, for me re-using the same "old" sensor isn't the biggest problem. This camera is supposed to be the "new" latest and greatest development of the 4 year old MK II. In that intervening 4 years we have seen across the industry camera with much better EVF's (5mp OLED) higher resolution rear screens, 5gz wireless, 4k at 60p and higher with 10 bit internal recording, AF and particularly AF tracking going off the scale (e.g. Sony) etc. etc. In that 4 years what has Olympus actually done ? Added an AF joystick (that arguably as a pro model at launch the MK II should have always had), added USB charging (that nearly all cameras have now), moved a few buttons and........well that's it for hardware ! In 4 years no new EVF, no better rear screen, no 4k 60, no vastly improved AF (certainly over the MK II FW 3).
Everything else they have added (HHHR, Live ND, Starry Sky, My menu etc.) is all software. I'm not usually a cynic but I'd be prepared to guess that the "new" Truepic 9 processor is actually just an overclocked development of the Truepic 8 from the MK II, and if they would have really wanted to, Olympus could have added most of these features into the MK II via firmware. OK, maybe some of them wouldn't be as fluid or quick as the EM1X, but I would bet it would still have been possible. Point is, Olympus seem to be forgetting that the actual hardware that goes into a camera is what people are looking for too, and with the market for new camera sales globally shrinking so rapidly, Olympus really needed to hit this one out of the park to stay relevant.
Look at it this way. The MK III with it's 90% 2016 hardware has a retail of £1599 (sure it will drop but I suspect not for many months). For that price (as of today on Camera price buster), a Nikon Z6 is £1,549, Sony A7 III £1,699 and a Canon EOS RP for £1,295.00 - and these are full frame with pretty much all the latest tech. Looking at APS-C, you have the Nikon Z50 at £801 and a Fuji X-T3 £1,195.00. Sure the lenses on most of these are sometimes larger (but Nikon has it's collapsible zooms and some of the Fuji's are no bigger than M4/3), but pricewise, the Pro level Olympus or Leica branded Panasonic lenses aren't cheap (or that small). Even the rival Panasonic G9 which is "almost" everything the MK III should have been is £930 brand new UK stock !
So where does that leave Olympus ? Short of selling the MK3 for a loss to compete (which will kill them), honestly I don't know. Olympus are and were a fantastically innovative company and the first company to introduce new tech such as anti dust wave filters, in built IBIS, HHHR, Live ND, Live View (yes they were first), Live bulb, Live time, EVF's etc. A fantastic pedigree but where has that gone ? For me I can only see the following scenarios:
- Rest on their laurels and "hope" that their user base stays loyal (and to be fair they do have quite a loyal base), and further hope these people continue to "upgrade"
- Keep losing market share with continuing lack lustre releases at top end prices and basically go out of business (as a camera company at least)
- Get bought by another larger manufacturer (like Sony did to Minolta), and at least have that Olympus tech and innovation reinvigorated in a new brand even if it doesn't carry the Olympus name (which would be a real shame).
I am an unashamed Olympus fan boy, and love the products I have, but I know for instance that my EM1 MKII
is a 4 year old camera and am OK with that. Trouble is there really isn't a viable upgrade path for my MK II as in that 4 years as I said above, things having really dramatically moved on for Olympus.I will of course continue to use and enjoy my Olympus equipment, but honestly if I was asked
today to recommend a system, hand on heart, It most likely wouldn't be Olympus. Hopefully Panasonic can keep the M4/3 light alive with perhaps an upgrade to the fantastic G9 which has nearly everything the EM1 MK III is missing, but perhaps making it a little smaller (just a touch) a little lighter and equip it with Phase detect AF (rather than the DFD). For me that would keep me in the M4/3 world as Olympus lenses whilst not cheap are stunning (as are the Leica branded Panasonic ones). However as it stands at the moment, I would have to recommend Sony, Nikon, Fuji etc. over Olympus, something I never thought I'd say - and it really saddens me to say that.