DPNow Photokina live show reports here

Ian · #1 21-09-06

Quote:

Forum registration , though urged, is not required to be able to post responses to threads on this Headline news board.

From next Monday, which is press day at Photokina, I'll be posting news from the big biennial industry event in Cologne, Germany. I'll be adding stories to the Headline news board until Friday 29th, which is the day I head home again.

If you have any specific requests to ask any of the exhibitors questions or to check out any of the exhibits, post your query here! I'll do my best to oblige

Ian

Bob Ross · #2 21-09-06

First off Ian, have a good and safe trip over to Wonderland

If you can get near the Leica area, you can ask them when my M8 will be ready for shipping....

Besides all the equipment distractions, I think a show like this and your privleges as a journalist, would give an oportunity to corner some of those who know and ask for their visions of where digital photography technology is actually going. They always say if we knew what was being developed, we would get excited....well dang, we might sell all our stuff, too! So, there are OLED, SED, high speed scan backs, Fovy & Fuji sensor architecture, new ink chemistries and so forth and there are also reasons why we might not see some of these. What do some of the "in-the-know" people expect two Photokinas down the pixel trail?
Mostly I was thinking about DSLRs when I write that, but what about the smaller cameras? Will someone make a premium level pocket cameras that will satisfy the pros, have a decent optical viewfinder and good build?
Anyway have fun and you know I wish I was going, too.
Bob

Ian · #3 25-09-06

There is an update to this post here if you are interested!

Here are my first shots from Photokina 2006 and what a way to start with the first public views of the proposed successor to the Olympus E-1 E-Series DSLR flagship, code-named the E-P1, widely tipped to be called the E-3 when it arrives in final shipping form next year. These shots were produced in a bit of a rush and not under studio conditions, so apologies if they aren't up to our usual standards!

Ian

DTD · #4 25-09-06

Looks like it's at a very early stage.

Stephen · #5 25-09-06

My first thought was that it looks more pro like than many of the Olympus offerings have in the past. Seems to have good ergonomics which I'll bet make it feel god in the hand. Is the battery grip detachable or have they made it an integral part of the body

jonr · #6 25-09-06

If I may repeat my self: Deja vu?
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0102/pm...ntaxdslr02.jpg

Stephen · #7 25-09-06

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonr

If I may repeat my self: Deja vu?
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0102/pm...ntaxdslr02.jpg

Err not sure what your point is?

jonr · #8 25-09-06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen

Err not sure what your point is?

Well, I thought they looked similar.

DTD · #9 25-09-06

Yep I'd say they do too.

Pol · #10 25-09-06

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Originally Posted by jonr

Well, I thought they looked similar.

So are you saying you feel the Pentax design was so aesthetically pleasing with a good layout that others followed and based their designs accordingly?

<<<<BWG>>>>>

Pol (aka Pentax Polly)

Stephen · #11 25-09-06

Well I'm sorry, I can't see it, unless you mean the pop up flash, integral battery grip, the dials on the top plate, the lack of a window on the top plate, the on/off switch on the shutter release collar, and a multitude of other things

Bob Ross · #12 25-09-06

Thanks Ian,
My first blink on it is "YUK" where are all the controls, that we are used to on the E-1?
Where have all the control dials gone?
Long time passing,
Where have all the control dials gone?
Long time ago,
Gone to buttons and menus, everyone,
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

I hope that is an optional vertical grip.
Bob

DTD · #13 25-09-06

I think it's got the full compliment of dials (3?). I agree that they need to be careful as in my opinion the ergonomics of the E-1 are exceptional.

#14 25-09-06

Quote:

Originally Posted by DTD

I think it's got the full compliment of dials (3?). I agree that they need to be careful as in my opinion the ergonomics of the E-1 are exceptional.

If you look at the E-1 pics from 2002 Photokina mock-up, it has the full complement of dials. In this latest image, there are no dials on the portrait grip. While that may seem odd, there are no doors for the media cards either so I wold think that this is definitely an early prototype and they're still working things out.

George

Bob Ross · #15 25-09-06

Quote:

Originally Posted by DTD

I think it's got the full compliment of dials (3?). I agree that they need to be careful as in my opinion the ergonomics of the E-1 are exceptional.

By control dials I meant The actual dials where you can change modes, rather than the wheels

1. When I first saw the E-1 mock up from Photokina 2002, I said what a clunker

2. My E-1 will be three years old on 10-10-06

3. On thinking about it the mode dial is the only control dial missing and it only does one thing and it is big on the E-1. Change it to a button + wheel and I might not even notice

External controls can be vunerable to damage, so this part of the design may be a good thing.
Bob