Normally yes. Not THIS time.

The following is an answer I gave in another thread and I thought the topic worth its own thread:

I have an EP3. I am completely satisfied with the IQ and can get along with the ergos. Except with the dial around the 4 way which I find unusable. I am 99% convinced that the IQ with this new camera will be at least as good as my present camera and it has two well placed dials which I greatly prefer. It has more direct control which I prefer. If half of the touted improvements pan out this camera is a significant improvement over my EP3. I'm trusting Oly to not screw the pooch and produce a camera that is a step backward. I have faith in Olympus.

As to why take the illogical ( on the surface ) step of preordering a complete unknown I have what I think is a good reason. This camera is very possibly going to take the m4/3 world by storm. It will be back-ordered for months. Literally. I like it so much from what I have seen that I don't want to wait months. I want it in April and waiting that long will be a pain. And there is the distinct possibility that not only will it storm the m4/3 world but it will draw in a few thousand fence sitters who have been waiting for such a camera to come over to the m4/3 playground. I'm not taking any chances ... other than the minute chance that the camera is a fake and all the info out there is BS. Small chance indeed I think.

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EP-3, EM-5, 12/50, 12mm, 17mm, 14/42mm, 40/150, 75/300, Nikon 400mm f/3.5 AIS IF ED, HLD6, FL 600R

99% of the time I would never do a pre-order.

If I have the extra cash in hand I think I would on this one. With the exception of not knowing how well it handles video I am totally impressed enough to spend the money{if I had it}.

The only time I ordered as soon as I could was with my iPad , I was the first guy in my town with one , shipped direct from the factory. I do not regret that purchase and I am currently waiting to see what the iPad 3 is going to be.

I will be getting a new m43 camera before June and if I have enough money and they are readily available I will get an OM-D E-M5{unless of coarse testing shows it to be a total flop or there are serious technical problems with it}.

You bring up the other point why I ain't skeered of this preorder. I don't video. One less concern.

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EP-3, EM-5, 12/50, 12mm, 17mm, 14/42mm, 40/150, 75/300, Nikon 400mm f/3.5 AIS IF ED, HLD6, FL 600R

Actually Olympus occassionally does come out with a new camera that turns out to deliver slightly worse image quality compared to previous versions. Example: The SP800UZ was a downgrade compared to the SP590UZ it replaced. And as Ned has pointed out, the E-520 to E-620 E-series cameras had stronger AA filters, hence less sharp images than the E-510 and earlier E-series. And a lens review site recently found the bulky kit lens that comes with the OM-D is only fairly sharp.

So I personally am going to wait until a couple review sites (e.g. dpreview and cnet) show us an abundance of sample images before I order my OM-D. Meanwhile I am very excited about this camera as it appears to offer everything I have ever wanted in an Olympus camera. So if it delivers the anticipated excellent still and video IQ, I shall definately order mine in April or May.

I do a lot of video at work but not so much as a hobby. I work at a church and I film a Bible study every week plus other smaller projects. We are currently looking to get 2 Pany AF100s {m43 pro video camera}. Anyway it would be nice to have an extra m43 body that can handle video really well{"B" cam if you will}. It is possible that this new Oly will be a great video cam , just too early to tell.

Isn't it likely that dpreview and similar sites get and review the camera before the stores ship them,thus giving us time to cancel our orders if it turns out to be a bomb?which I doubt.

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OM-D
FUJI X100s

If you're a long time Olympus user like me, you already know the pros and cons of various Olympus designs and features, and what works for you and what doesn't. The control layout I'm familiar with in the E-3 and E-5. The weather sealing system metal frame I'm familiar with the E-3 and E-5. The viewfinder quality I'm familiar with in the VF-2. The image quality I'm familiar with in the E-PM1 is already very good, and this one is said to be even more detailed - just the way I like it. The new Fn buttons I'm familiar with in the E-P3. The 5-axis Image Stabilizer and 3D FAST AF can only be better than what's already in the PEN series. I see other performance specs which are more in line with what I'm used to in the E-3 and E-5 (ie, 1/250s X-Sync, high shutter count, etc.).

There's very little left to question that I can't tell from experience. This camera puts all the best parts of all my other Olympus cameras together into one, just the way I was hoping for. Even if nothing changes but that, this camera will be perfect for me!

Of course, I didn't pre-order a camera but not because I have any uncertainties about the camera. I'm just in that kind of financial spot right now that I can't. I have enough PEN bodies to tide me over anyways, until I can afford it. xD

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Olympus E-3 | Olympus E-PL2 PEN | Olympus E-PM1 PEN | Zuiko ED 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 SWD | Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 | Vivitar 100mm f/2.8 Macro | Carl Zeiss Sonnar 135mm f/2.8 | Konica Hexanon 50mm f/1.4 | Konica Hexanon 85mm f/1.8 | G.Zuiko 50mm f/1.4 | Zuiko 35mm f/3.5 Macro | Zuiko 25mm f/2.8 | KMZ Jupiter-3 50mm f/1.5 | E.Zuiko 200mm f/4 | Zuiko 75-150mm f/4 | Olympus EC-14 teleconverter | VF-2 and VF-3 Viewfinders | EMA-1 Mic Adapter | Olympus FL-36R and FL-50R speedlights

cyclopsphoto.ca

Ned, Do you know about Bill Me Later? 6 months - no interest. I use em all the time. Gives you plenty of time to sell stuff or raise cash some other way. B & H accepts Bill me Later.

You deserve this camera Ned.

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EP-3, EM-5, 12/50, 12mm, 17mm, 14/42mm, 40/150, 75/300, Nikon 400mm f/3.5 AIS IF ED, HLD6, FL 600R

But buying a used Panasonic GF1 (and hacking it) would be much cheaper. (although no external mic jack which is a pain unless you are happy to record sound on another device and sync it).

You just stated why some people pre-order - and it's precisely because they have the extra cash on hand.