Featured Forum Post: 'Dear Panasonic, what are you going to do?'

[Armanius]

I think most of us can agree that the OMD/EM5 is the biggest splash ever made in the m4/3 world since the launch of the EP1. The demand, hype, hysteria, and clamor for the EM5 has been a dream come true for Olympus.

For whatever reason, in MY opinion, Olympus' interpretation of m4/3 has been more captivating to me than its Panasonic counterparts. Olympus' cameras have more personality. Yet, until more recently, Panasonic cameras have always had the edge from a technical innovation standpoint -- faster AF, swivel LCD on the G series, touch screen, and the 16 mp sensor [vs. the IBIS in Oly cameras].

When m4/3 enthusiasts clamored for a "true" successor for the much loved GF1 (and groaned in pain with the launches of the GF2/3), I thought that Panasonic would surely have a winner in its hands with the launch of the GX1. Yet, even though the GX1 is a worthy successor of the GF1, there really hasn't been a lot of "love" for it.

So it makes me wonder what Panasonic can or should do to make m4/3 users excited about Panasonic, much like most of us are excited about the OMD? Will the GH3 be something that makes us go "wow"? And if so, what should the GH3 have that will make us go "wow"? What about a GX2 with a built in EVF? Is it too soon even to be having a GX2?

Whatever Panasonic does in the near future, I do hope that they will make a big splash. With cameras like the OMD, XPro1 and NEX7 occupying the headlines in the mirrorless world, I would love to see Panasonic come up with something that is equally newsworthy. 2012 might turn out to be the best year yet for m4/3 users.

[Jonathan F/2]

Pro body GH3 with weather sealing, battery grip, hi res EVF, 20mp, revamped jpeg engine, DSLR-like continuous AF and release it simultaneously with the 12-35 & 35-100. They also need to tout their Leica partnership to give that aura of prestige.

[nickthetasmaniac]

in my mind this is the greatest strength of Micro Four Thirds - enforced competition from manufacturers within exactly the same market segment. None of the old 'users won't jump ship because they're too heavily invested...'

If Panasonic doesn't come up with something fantastic, their users will just get an EM-5/6/7 instead - all the lenses they've invested in will still work Likewise for future Olympus models.

I think this is absolutely fantastic for us, the photographers

[Livnius]

I have no idea what on earth Panasonic is going to do, but, your post highlights just why the OMD is great for the mu43 system...and for us, it's disciples.

I have no doubt that Panasonic is acutely aware of the sucess Olympus is having right now. Panasonic need to learn from this. Style sells. IBIS sells. In built EVF sells. There are still many people waiting to see what the GH3 will bring, some perhaps even waiting for an L1 styled GX2 or GX-pro ....either way, Panasonic will need to kick some major goals otherwise they will be left behind, just as waves of Panasonic users are leaving their G's behind and buying OMDs.

Is it about time for Panasonic to bite the bullet and develop an IBIS system ? I believe so.

Is it about time Panasonic got with the fashionable kids and got it's retro funk on ? Yep.....retro coolness with a top machine under the bonnet sells.



As for what I would like to see personally, perhaps all the above......and would it be too much to ask for an inbuilt ND filter like the X100 ?

[Amin Sabet]

I can honestly say I am a fan of both brands. I loved the GH2, the GH1, and the G1, and I thought there was a lot to get excited about with the G3. I also enjoy my GF3 a great deal, just as much as I did the E-PM1.

However, I think you're right that Olympus has been able to capture far more interest from the media (both with the E-P3 and especially the E-M5), and I wonder whether that is the brand, design, marketing, or all three. I don't think it is largely a matter of product capability, despite the fact that Olympus has introduced some interesting and useful capability.

On the lens front, I'm equally excited about both companies. The new Oly 12 and 45 are both terrific, but so are the Pana 14, 20, and 25, not to mention the excellent 7-14 and 45 macro. The Pana 100-300 gets a lot more attention than the Oly equivalent. The Pana 14-42X had remarkable potential.

At any rate, I share your hope that Panasonic can get the kind of attention Oly is getting with the E-M5 with one of their upcoming cameras. More than anything, I think it will take inspired design for that to happen.

[nickthetasmaniac]

Mmmmm weather-sealed and mag-alloy LC1-styled body with a better-than-EM5 sensor and built-in ND filters.

Yeah.

[Livnius]

Built in ND filters don't get mentioned much but boy would they be super useful, and less to carry in the kit bag too. I think the X100 has a 3 stop built in which would be fantastic with the 7-14.

[RT_Panther]

Short Answer:
Panasonic is an electronics company that also makes cameras.

Olympus is an optical company with decades of specific camera experience.

[Lawrence A.]

Originally Posted by Livnius

Built in ND filters don't get mentioned much but boy would they be super useful, and less to carry in the kit bag too. I think the X100 has a 3 stop built in which would be fantastic with the 7-14.

Yes, especially if you are going to start with iso 200-- really quite fast in the bright southwestern sun if you want to use a wide aperture for creative reasons. I could leave the ND filters and step up rings home, which would please me immensely.

[dtchan]

GF1 was a great camera to me, and is still is but yah I was pretty disappointed with GF2, GF3 (completely different market). Then comes the Panasonic GX1 which I was hoping to be a true successor of the GF1, but to me was another disappointment too. I wanted something like the L1. I liked the GH2 - it is a great dslr style like camera. In addition to that I wanted a fun camera. Now that I got the Olympus OM-D, it is kind of late for Panasonic even if they release something like the L1. I might still consider getting a GH3 though if it has all the upgrades I want.