[camera club] back to the future?

[image courtesy of DPReview.com]

Is the new Olympus EP-1 the future of digital rangefinder photography, or of photography in general? Does its release signal the beginning of the end for the SLR, the dominant camera design since the 70's? I guess time will tell, but I think there is definitely something about this camera which has greater implications for future camera design.

The EP-1 has unashamedly taken its RF-styling from its Pen camera heritage, Olympus using this rich history during its pre-release hype. The Micro-FourThirds sensor technology is finally yielding the sorts of cameras that it was originally developed for: small, stylish and functional. I think this camera could redefine what consumers look for when buying a camera, with particularly implications for the lower end of the DSLR market.

Why? The EP-1 is the first 'compact' sized camera to offer inter-changeable lenses. Coupled with its retro-styling and Olympus quality, the overall package should be very popular with photographers. Especially those who want something more than a low-spec compact and are toying between the idea of a entry-level DSLR or high-end compact. For advanced photographers, who usually always carry a compact in some form, suddenly there is viable alternative to the Panasonic LX3 and the Canon G9 for portability and looks.

The success of the EP-1 in the low-end DSLR market depends on how well consumers receive the advantages of a rangefinder over the single-reflex design. Anyone buying a DSLR is buying into a camera system. Customers can be split down the line by those who know this and those who don't. The savvy DSLR customer would have their eye on evolving to a more advanced DSLR body (and lenses) down the track and would probably still go with the SLR form.

Consumers toying with the idea of an advanced compact or low-end DSLR because they take 'better pictures', now have another option to consider. The increased portability of the EP-1 over a DSLR, even though not fully 'pocketable', would definitely appeal. As would the increased sensor size (i.e. better quality images). The inter-changeable lens mount levels the playing field with DSLRs, and opens the camera up to lenses from any FourThirds manufacturer (and beyond).

The EP-1's main drawbacks are not a significant to this consumer. The lack of a viewfinder is common amongst most compacts in the market. In fact the movement in the DSLR segment towards live view raises the possibility of people seeing it as almost standard. This will become increasingly so as the technology moves on. Traditional TTL (through-the-lens) viewing of scene would be left to professionals who require this for their specific photography needs, mainly sport, weddings, fashion, etc.

The lack of a flash, given that most in-built flashes are the poor cousin of an external flash, is not an game changer. On balance, this consumer has some tough decisions to make and increasingly so with a Panasonic/Leica version out sooner rather than later.

So what about the rangefinder purists? I am pretty they would have loved to see a built-in rangefinder, but that would be a different camera. Here we must remember the Pen camera history. This is a consumer compact conceived in the 60's. Don't get me wrong, I believe a full RF-equipped version is coming from either Panasonic/Leica or Olympus. However, it is a different 'beast' for a different market and will be priced as such (mainly due to the complexities of the rangefinder mechanism). The popularity and mystique of the Epson RD-1 and the Leica M8 means there is a niche market here waiting to be served, quietly holding onto their M-mount lenses for a more cost-effective option.

My guess is most true rangefinder fans would already own some FourThirds camera because of its ability to marry with manual focus M-mount lenses (further discussed here). The EP-1, despite its inability to meter with these older lenses, serves this market because it does allow many M-mount lens owners the ability to own a stylish, traditional and inexpensive digi-RF home for these.

If people flock to the RF-style of the Olympus EP-1, could it spell the beginning of the end of DSLR design? Will it force a re-thinking of both RF and SLR design? It will be interesting to wtach the reaction of the consumer, the reaction of the bigger players like Nikon and Canon, and what the traditional rangefinder companies (Leica and Voigtlander) do to their products lines over the coming month/year in response.

Keep trucking'