Olympus' new Ultra Wide Angle and Fisheye lenses look good: fisheye on order

I'm a long time user of Olympus equipment, though I mostly claim the E-System as helping my serious photographic work.  Starting with the E-1, 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5, and 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5, I did quite well as digital photography was growing out of its infancy.

I have contemplated the Four-Thirds 7-14mm f/4.0 and 8mm f/3.5 lenses for a very long time.

The trouble with both was the relatively small aperture of each.  I don't really photograph landscapes, so using the 7-14mm indoors might be a problem without substantial lighting.

Equally, the 8mm f/3.5 fisheye lens was not enough for interior or lower light work at skate parks.

Today, they announced two micro Four-Thirds lenses that change all that: 7-14mm f/2.8 and 8mm f/1.8 fisheye.

At US$1299.99 and US$999.99, they are not cheap lenses, but they are not exactly expensive lenses, either, given the capabilities.  Both will be available around the end of June 2015.

At US$1799.99 and US$799.99, the Four-Thirds versions were somewhat similar in price and capability but a bit too big and slow for micro Four-Thirds.  The 7-14mm f/4.0 is a Super High Grade lens while the 8mm f/3.5 fisheye is a High Grade lens.

They're all weather-sealed.  I doubt seriously I'll be doing work at skate parks in the rain, but I suspect that these lenses will be great for many more situations.

The micro Four-Thirds lenses look absolutely small, especially compared to the Four-Thirds versions.

According to DPReview, the 8mm f/1.8 fisheye is not really f/1.8.  While they are referring to the effective depth of field, they insinuate more.  I suspect that the shutter speeds used to make use of the maximum aperture will reflect f/1.8, regardless of DPReview.  Their bias against Olympus has been so strong that Olympus refused to send them an E-3 dSLR review unit.

In any case, I'm likely to pre-order the fisheye and I may pre-order the UWA lens as well.

Update 2015.06.29: I went to the camera store to see about the lens.  They have no idea when it will arrive.  Apparently, the only information is that two of us have ordered it.  I'm wondering, as much as they ignore the California stores, if the Colorado stores are getting them first, regardless of when we ordered.  I should have gone with Adorama.

Update 2015.06.30: I returned today and talked to the manager in a firm, but pleasant tone of voice.  I told him that I didn't think that being told "whenever" as a delivery date was acceptable, and that my money didn't seem to be important to the sales person.  He agreed and swore to impress upon that person (through torture, if necessary :-D ) that sales requires a bit more finesse.  The money has been pushed back to my account, but of course, that doesn't happen immediately, does it?

A few minutes later, across the street before entering a store, I called Adorama, checked to see if they had the lens in stock, and they had just received 10 of them.  I should have it Thursday or Friday and I'm using 2nd Day Air.  It could arrive the same time regardless, but UPS will artificially hold packages, even when they don't have enough deliveries, unlike FedEx.

DPReview's most-clicked

For years, I've seen a list of DPReview's most clicked cameras.  They have always included some mix of Canon and Nikon equipment, as though each faction will not let the other win.

On occasion, you will see Pentax or Olympus or Fuji or Sony sneak into the top list, and then, promptly be forced to the bottom and then, off the list entirely for a while.  Sometime, they return, as when a preview turns into a review.

Amusingly, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 ended up their camera of the year in 2012, as to say to the Canikon crowd, "We've had enough of you!"  Still, the most-clicked list has continued to have both Canon and Nikon equipment, until November 6th, when I saw this:

I'm not saying that it means a lot, but it is a surprising departure, and the list has not had a single Canon camera on it for several days.  You have to wonder if the whole lot of them are at some Canon-sponsored event and can't be bothered to visit DPReview now.

Update: the whole situation is slowly going back to normal with a few Canon products on the list.  I wonder if they somehow stopped counting the Canon products or banned them from the list due to "stuffing the ballot box" type of behaviour.

Happy 2013!

So, we're still here, and the U.S.A. is more-or-less over the fiscal cliff because the Congress was too busy the last two years.

I noticed that gasoline prices were increased about $0.20 per gallon in just a few days.  I expect refinery executives needed extra party money for New Year's Eve.  Perhaps, they'll drop a bit but given the cold here, I expect that the prices will continue.  Thankfully, I use natural gas to heat.

Since the world didn't come to an end, I hope people have a plan to pay for Christmas gifts.  I would imagine that credit cards have been increasing their rates, so it's infeasible to carry a balance.  In many states, credit is barely regulated.  I wonder how many lost their cars to title loans, while trying to afford Christmas gifts.  I'm so cynical but it always seems that there are people to take advantage of other people.  I suspect 300 years from now, there will still be a few people taking advantage.  Congress will have reformed by then, I hope.

Technology is continuing to advance.  I noticed recently that Samsung et al. were fined for price fixing of some components.  I'm not sure how they can continue to do this and not be banned from the market for a period of time, but it probably has something to do with consumer demand needing to continue.  For all the demand, has anyone's economy improved since 2008?

I noticed DPReview's Camera of 2012 poll has finished:

1. Olympus OM-D E-M5
2. Nikon D800
3. Canon 5D MkIII

The results were rather surprising, considering that DPReview has been rather anti-Olympus past the E-1.  I'm not exactly as thrilled with Olympus as I was in 2004, but everything changes.  Nikon and Canon have definitely become better than they were in 2004 and Olympus is, for the most part, worse.  The E-M5 (E-PM2 and E-PL5) has certainly changed opinions with its image quality.  I'd say that people who voted recognized this, as it takes a 135 format frame sensor to produce clearly noticeable differences.

The rumor is that Olympus will produce a replacement for the E-5 by the end of 2013.  That seems reasonable--it's been three years.  The body is apparently not a Four-Thirds body but micro Four-Thirds with a smarter adapter to enable Four-Thirds lenses to operate at full capability.  My only concern is that they'll provide an OM-D series body that is far too small and slippery.  If the adapter works on the Panasonic GH3, I'd be much more happy, especially if the adapter is ready (and available) ahead of the new body.  Of course, if Olympus produce a body like the E-1, I'd be at home.

I saw that Volkswagen have given in and are selling hybrid vehicles now.  The Jetta and Touareg (I saw a news report that the Tuareg people were fighting.  Does that sell vehicles?)  have hybrid versions.  It's amusing that a vehicle with 380 horsepower (what is that in reindeer power?) should be focused on economy or that 24 mpg highway would be an accomplishment.  Don't people with US$50,000 have unlimited fuel supplies?  I was hoping for diesel hybrids but I suppose that would take much more time since no one else is doing it.  Many people comment that hybrids produce a herky-jerky mobility that's an unhappy compromise.  I can't imagine that so many bought such a vehicle.  Of course, I didn't realize at the dealership that my 1999 Golf would be a constant source of trouble.

I'm so glad I bought snow tires, but I haven't been through the fallen snow so much, as the scraped road that still has snow and ice.  The tires perform well, but what works really well on ice, a tank?  I'm really loath to go into the cold anyway, but I can't hibernate forever.

I had considered driving to Los Angeles, California for Christmas to enjoy something different, and my buddy the singer-songwriter replied to me that he was possibly going to be out on tour with someone until the 22nd.  I guess Christmas Day is not on the 25th in Los Angeles.  I would have missed all the lovely weather here anyway.  Prior to the 31st of December, we'd had nearly half of 2012's snowfall in one week's time.  The 31st's snowfall was lovely indeed, but I'm sure we're going to have a covering every week until April.  It's a great thing, despite my dislike for winter--we need the moisture in the ground.  Having brown lawns as early as July just isn't good.

I hope that 2013 will be an incredibly wonderful year for all.  I don't need surprises but a steady decrease in problems would be appreciated.  Being able to go where I want would be a wonderful advantage.