Author Topic: Weather sealed Micro Four Thirds camera next? (Read 3187 times)

voyager · « **on:** December 14, 2011, 02:54:00 AM »

It wouldn't make much sense to have a weather sealed lens without a weather sealed camera to put it on.

Now would it?

asterinex · « **Reply #1 on:** December 14, 2011, 02:59:47 AM »

I think you are right.

I hope it will get a better sensor and a good price !

Gillymaru · « **Reply #2 on:** December 14, 2011, 03:05:56 AM »

After the misfire of the 12-50 mm I now have very low expectations. Olympus may feel a ziplock bag will suffice.

asterinex · « **Reply #3 on:** December 14, 2011, 04:19:47 AM »

Quote from: Gillymaru on December 14, 2011, 03:05:56 AM

After the misfire of the 12-50 mm I now have very low expectations. Olympus may feel a ziplock bag will suffice.

Why is it a misfire ?

cosinaphile · « **Reply #4 on:** December 14, 2011, 07:41:20 AM »

i agree a misfire , the lens this was supposed to be was the m43 version of the 12-60mm 2.8 -4 original 4\3 lens , loyal olympus user have waited 3 years for this lens ..... this announcement has dashed the hopes of countless olympus system owners like myself i own 4 micro 43 bodies bought 2, 17mm olys panny 14-42 panny 14-45 oly 14-42 panny 70-200 panny 7-14 ,oly 12mm f2 countless adapters for legacy lenses and a fl14 flash countless batteries ...

..i believe in micro 43 but the execs at olympus are too busy committing crimes and other corporate fraud to be bothered filling in the gaps in their lens lineup or caring about helping micro 4\3 become and remain a respectful standard and complete camera system...........beyond foolish

Handheld · « **Reply #5 on:** December 14, 2011, 01:21:49 PM »

The weather sealing is an interesting feature which makes me think it is a kit lens for an unannounced weather-sealed camera. Why they chose to announce the lens and not the camera is curious. We may learn more by mid-January when the lens will be available and the future of the company may be a little clearer. At this point in the corporate mess we are lucky to get any new products.

As a kit lens priorities are versatility, low cost and moderate size. They chose to sacrifice speed which does not make me happy but who knows what else is planned. A bigger, faster version may be in the works. All we know is that Olympus is not talking.

voyager · « **Reply #6 on:** December 14, 2011, 07:27:54 PM »

The 14-42mm R lens was released a month before the E-PL2.

Agent00soul · « **Reply #7 on:** December 19, 2011, 07:46:38 AM »

Quote from: Handheld on December 14, 2011, 01:21:49 PM

Why they chose to announce the lens and not the camera is curious. We may learn more by mid-January when the lens will be available and the future of the company may be a little clearer. At this point in the corporate mess we are lucky to get any new products.

Maybe the camera is delayed because they wait for a new sensor?

lisandra · « **Reply #8 on:** December 19, 2011, 11:03:54 AM »

weather sealing is over rated...

Handheld · « **Reply #9 on:** December 19, 2011, 02:49:11 PM »

Quote from: lisandra on December 19, 2011, 11:03:54 AM

weather sealing is over rated...

How so? If I'm not in dust then it's snow. I can feel the grit in many of my non-sealed lenses and bodies. I can't prove that weather-sealed gear lasts longer--afterall, it's usually the premium line anyway--although it seems to require less repairs and it makes me feel better. Given a choice, I prefer weather sealing.

lisandra · « **Reply #10 on:** December 19, 2011, 03:45:10 PM »

dust sealing I get, but dedicated weather sealing is something else. When you buy a weather sealed camera, you buy it with the full on intent of getting it wet, not the 'just in case it rains at the event" wet, but truly wet. How many occasions can you think of that that happens? not even for the wedding/event working pro does that stand true. How many weddings does it start raining and the people actually stay outside? If theres a brief moment under the rain and you wanna take it then your camera can handle it, no weatherproofing needed. Ive only met 2 pros who actually need their weather sealed equipment, and one of them not that often. One is a pro football photographer, they play come what may, and theres no dugout. The other one works at high sea. no explanation needed. These are very specific situations where they not only need a weathersealed body, they also have 2000$ centrifugal spining add ons for filters and anti fog stuff. For the average joe, the enthusiast and heck, most working pros weather sealing is one of those things we think we need but really never ever use.
Most cameras handle the cold and snow well, and even take extreme cold so unless youre shooting under -14 degrees (again, a very specific kind of pro) you dont really need a weathersealed camera. And even makers who do make below 0 cameras dont make lenses that can take it (pentax comes to mind). There are plenty of videos of nikon d90s and canon rebels surviving 10 degree all nighters.

So the question is: are you (any of you) really willing to pay twice as much for a feature (what weather sealing costs) that you will probably never use before you sell it and buy another one? It seems to me like the E5 was announced not so long ago (like a year and two months ago) and there are already talks of a replacement. That camera goes for 1600$ BTW. People say they want a weather sealed pen but when push comes to shove no one is gonna pay the 1300$ olympus will charge for it.

voyager · « **Reply #11 on:** December 19, 2011, 03:50:06 PM »

I could definitely use a weather sealed camera. I've almost lost my E-P1 to the ocean far too many times.

lisandra · « **Reply #12 on:** December 19, 2011, 03:55:09 PM »

Quote from: voyager on December 19, 2011, 03:50:06 PM

I could definitely use a weather sealed camera. I've almost lost my E-P1 to the ocean far too many times.

Thats my point ecxactly! you haven't lost it, youve either wiped it clean or nothing happened! would you really pay 1300$ for a pen when you can be as careful as youve been up until now?

voyager · « **Reply #13 on:** December 19, 2011, 04:21:34 PM »

Honestly I don't get a lot of the photos that I want because I don't stick my tripod in the water.

Handheld · « **Reply #14 on:** December 19, 2011, 06:15:43 PM »

Quote from: lisandra on December 19, 2011, 03:45:10 PM

dust sealing I get, but dedicated weather sealing is something else. When you buy a weather sealed camera, you buy it with the full on intent of getting it wet, not the 'just in case it rains at the event" wet, but truly wet. How many occasions can you think of that that happens? ... That camera goes for 1600$ BTW. People say they want a weather sealed pen but when push comes to shove no one is gonna pay the 1300$ olympus will charge for it.

First, I don't understand your distinction between dust and water; if the camera is sealed for one is it not sealed for the other? Second, I'm not concerned about the cold but rather the wet snow we often have in the northwest; the camera can get very wet when snow is falling. Third, there is rain and fog but the real hazard is during river and coastal trips, especially salt spray. Am I willing to pay more? I love the outdoors so, yes, I am likely to be out in weather on occasion--sometimes all day--and I like to be prepared. I can't say how much weather sealing adds to cost but I note that there are many submersible electronics including cameras that are not unreasonable.

jap · « **Reply #15 on:** December 21, 2011, 04:43:54 AM »

Any Olympus camera or lens designated as "pro" would have sealing against dust and weather. The Pro Pen, which has been referred to briefly by Olympus this summer, should have those features. As someone who shoots a lot of outdoor/nature/flower photography, those features are virtually mandatory. However, situations come up at unexpected times where those features are invaluable.

I remember years ago being caught in a sudden downpour at a beauty pageant in Saint Kitts in the West Indies at night. With virtually no where to find adequate protection, I was drenched. Even though I tried my best to protect the camera and lens in my hands, I could not avoid having them get soaked either. That experience, more than any other, proved the value of weather/dust sealing and tends to cause me to avoid buying camera bodies without that sealing. I prefer not to ever be concerned about the elements affecting my gear.

cosinaphile · « **Reply #16 on:** December 21, 2011, 10:42:58 AM »

i too think a camera thats trying to market to pros and enthusiasts should be sealed against water and dust , it can reasonablly add 100 dollars to the cost of the camera and thats fine.... weather seaed poinrt and shoots , in fact most are watertight to 10 feet deep are common and relatively cheap even with the waterproof feature , i dont expect a m43 body to be sealed against water pressure , but the effects of rain and snow and particulates are a no brainer, its just some silicone seals for goodness sake ...in fact id go sop far as to say it should be in most cameras without cost penalty imho

unfortunately the option of weather sealing and metal bodies and other advanced tpouches are a green light to the makers to sell it at a super premium price
instead of the cost of the differences plus profit margin

lisandra · « **Reply #17 on:** December 22, 2011, 12:01:35 AM »

Dust protection and water sealing are two different things. There's a lot of lenses you'll never see dust in them, but you can't get em wet. I still think people have the illusion of need of weather sealing, unless you're in a blizzard snow isn't a reason to get a weather sealed camera. If your river rafting and taking photos you're a dangerous man and should get said camera, but chances are thats not what you were refering to. In that case, a waterproof camera bag serves you better, for far less money. I have absolutely no problem if its something you want, but I'm gonna have trouble if you tell me you need it.

Quote

As someone who shoots a lot of outdoor/nature/flower photography, those features are virtually mandatory.

why? Are you gonna keep at it if a torrential downpour starts? Is the scene gonna move? Is the flower gonna go away? Wait till it stops raining.

Quote

I remember years ago being caught in a sudden downpour at a beauty pageant in Saint Kitts in the West Indies at night. With virtually no where to find adequate protection, I was drenched. Even though I tried my best to protect the camera and lens in my hands, I could not avoid having them get soaked either.

come on now... A sudden downpour? You didn't have a camera bag? There was NOWHERE go ? No building? No car? Did the pageant go on after the fact that it started pouring suddenly ? It probably didn't. A weathersealed camera bag would have done the job fine. And that's the whole point of what I'm saying, when you buy a weather sealed camera its because what you're doing requires you to continue shooting after the fact that it starts downpouring/blizzarding/whatever.

If Tue ep3 would have been water sealed, and cost 1300$, nobody would have gotten it despite of the "demand" for it. Heck, there's still lots and lots of people right here not willing to pay the 700$ they currently ask for it. All I'm saying is that it might be something included on pro cams, and be even something you want and find ways to put use to it, but need it? No.

asterinex · « **Reply #18 on:** December 22, 2011, 06:57:28 AM »

I think few people need it.

Well I don't need it and don't see any reason to pay more for a weather sealed cam.

voyager · « **Reply #19 on:** December 22, 2011, 05:11:50 PM »

Would people buy a weather sealed Micro Four Thirds E-5?

lisandra · « **Reply #20 on:** December 22, 2011, 05:17:47 PM »

Quote from: voyager on December 22, 2011, 05:11:50 PM

Would people buy a weather sealed Micro Four Thirds E-5?

lots will say they will, very few would...

count_zero · « **Reply #21 on:** December 22, 2011, 08:59:20 PM »

I've run into the situation of being caught in a torrential downpour with my camera and no bag. I was on horse back in Hawaii and the tour guide wouldn't allow bags. My Nikon was weather sealed so I didn't worry much, but it did start raining hard towards the end of the tour. Water still managed a way to find its way into the camera, but I let it dry out over night and it worked again next morning. I've been caught out in dust/sand storms as well out in Black Rock desert Nevada, Pismo dunes and Death Valley California, but in all of those situations the E-P1 had no problems. I've also taken my E-P1 snow boarding numerous occasions with no problems.

Next year I might risk bringing my E-P3 out to paintball scenarios where players live action roll play while playing paintball at the same time for an entire weekend. Usually photogs wear bright orange safety vests not to get shot at, but I think it would be fun to roll play as a field photo journalist sort of like that reporter in Generation X manual focusing with his leica while dodging bullets. Weather sealing will give me some added peace of mind, but I don't plan on upgrading for another 2-3 years. I might consider selling my E-P3 if the weather sealed version is substantially better.

voyager · « **Reply #22 on:** December 22, 2011, 10:30:14 PM »

Making your PEN cameras live life on the edge.

Handheld · « **Reply #23 on:** December 26, 2011, 08:25:51 AM »

Here's what I'm talking about this time of year. In the summer it is dust clouds. Weather sealing? Sign me up!

RT_Panther · « **Reply #24 on:** December 26, 2011, 05:38:49 PM »

Given the price of the E-P3.....
I wonder what a weather sealed one would cost......

Author Topic: Weather sealed Micro Four Thirds camera next? (Read 3187 times)

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