I like the idea of updating our wish lists, but how about we also rate reality against last year's wishes.
This was my list:
1. Olympus/Panasonic: more good "mid-speed" zoom lenses, f/2.8-3.5 or f/2.8-4, for the Micro Four Thirds system. That sort of f-stop range allows designs with wider zoom ranges than constant f/2.8 with little or no more bulk than constant f/4 zooms, and so keeps down the weight of a kit covering my desired wide range of focal lengths while making manual focusing easier than slower lenses.
2. Olympus: on-sensor PDAF in every MFT body, not just the flag-ships.
3. Panasonic: good IBIS in every MFT body, so I can use all my Olympus lenses on them.
4. Everyone: greatly improved WiFi and BlueTooth capabilities and user interfaces. Camera makers could learn a lot from mobile phone makers! Things like wireless auto-upload to a computer (at least of preview JPEGs) and using a phone as a remote control and as a field uploading tool.
5. Every mirrorless system: EVFs with lag clearly less than any SLR's mirror-lifting lag. That would leave only the handing of very high contrast scenes as the last barrier to EVF cameras completely surpassing OVF cameras for all practical purposes.
6. Nikon: get serious about EVF cameras—this time in "DX" format—now that Canon has raised its game with the EOS M5 and M6 bodies.
. . . and this is how reality responded:
1. Panasonic came through with an improved version of its 12-60/2.8-4 and an 8-18/2.8-40; nothing from Olympus. New wish: a MFT telephoto zoom of f/2.8-4 or there-about.
2. There is no on-sensor PDAF in the only 2017 OMD body—the EM-10 Mk III—so I roll this wish over as part of my hopes for an EM-5 Mk III in 2018.
3. Panasonic did put IBIS in its two new EVF models (G9, GH5).
4. WiFi came to the EM-10 Mk III, with companion iOS/Android apps, though the app reviews are very poor. Updated wish: that camera makers learn from or team up with the best smart phone software designers.
5. EVFs continued to improve in 2017, and in this forum they earned more converts (or at least resignation from some OVF fans)—but I do not know specs on lag in particular. New wish: adaptive EVF display contrast, to handle preview of high-contrast scenes.
6. The rumors and a few hints from Nikon itself say yes, but still no announcement of a Nikon mirrorless in DX- or FX-format, so I will roll this one over too.
