Hello all!
I only receive the digest these days because I seldom post to the list.
But I thought this is important enough to share with everyone. Over the
past couple of days I have called around and received feedback from the
local pro-level photo retailers in the Tampa Bay area regarding the Olympus
E-1. These are stores that are currently authorized Olympus dealers and
currently stock Olympus digital cameras. All were candid with me about
this and willing to talk about it..
Not one of the stores will be stocking the E-1 body or any new Zuiko
digital lenses. No cameras will be displayed in any store. They will only
accept special orders for the system components. The reasons for this were
consistent from the three stores I contacted.
None is confident that the Olympus 4/3 system will be popular with serious
amateur/professional photographers. Olympus requires a significant minimum
investment in E-1 stock merchandise and marketing items, separate from
Olympus' other digital photo equipment. None is comfortable with the
minimum amount of investment. They all feel that the pricing of the lenses
is too high. They stated the demand for pro digital equipment is for Canon
and Nikon. Both those systems meet the demands of the vast majority of the
market for pro digital equipment and they see no reason that will change.
None of them wants to make the major investment in acquiring inventory of a
new Olympus system they have serious reservations about. One of the stores
is taking a wait and see approach. The other two don't think the 4/3
system will be a widespread success.
I was informed that the Olympus sales representative for this area has said
only one photo retailer in central Florida has committed to stocking the
E-1system and that single shop is in Orlando. That doesn't sound too good
to me. I guess I won't be seeing an E-1 in person unless I drive to
Orlando, which I'm not going to do.
Mark Jennings
Seminole, FL
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