Image on top: The 1 inch compact camera from Sony.

It’s always nice to see how the high end compact cameras (with fixed lens) are evolving. They sometimes offer a great alternative to our Micro Four Thirds cameras because of the ulterior size advantage. My sources told me that Olympus/Panasonic will release the new LX5 and [shoplink 19904]XZ-1[/shoplink] successor within the next 2-3 months (probably July). One rumor I heard many times is that they will both use a larger sensors. This is not a big secret. A couple of months ago Techradar (Click here) interviewed Yoshiyuki Inoue (Panasonic Senior Engineering Planner) who said “one aspect that is being given serious consideration for the camera that replaces the LX5 is increasing the size of the sensor, Panasonic’s Mr Uematsu even joked that it could have a 1in sensor like the new Nikon V1.”. Today Sony unveiled exactly an one inch RX100 camera -> Price and specs at Amazon US (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here). So it’s possible that this is the kind of high end camera we will see soon coming from Olympus and Panasonic too! I think it would be a great solution for all of you looking for an extremely compact camera with zoom lens. Don’t you think?

P.S.:
LX5 at [shopcountry 21136].
XZ-2 at [shopcountry 19904].

Its Schneider Kreuznach that will announce new m43 lenses next week!!!!!

On February 4th Schneider joined the m43 group. On that day Dr. Josef Staub, CEO of the Schneider Group said that: “This standard has great potential. It simplifies and improves the options for compact digital cameras and offers an excellent opportunity for the industry as a whole, as well as for us as a lens manufacturer. We are working intensively on a corresponding series of lenses” And when asked about manual focus lenses Josef said: “to put a manual focus lenses on a digital body is not the way to exploit the full potential of a digital system camera“.

So we can look forward to see some great lens (or lenses)! I don’t have any specs yet but as you may know Schneider also made many C-mount, FD, SL and M42 mount lenses in the past. Here are some of them:
[shoplink 27395 ebay]Xenon 16mm f/1.2 (Click here to see on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 27387 ebay]Xenon 25mm f/0.95 (Click here to see on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 27389 ebay]Curtagon 35mm f/2.8 (Click here to see on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 27391 ebay]Componon 50mm f/1.4 (Click here to see on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 27390 ebay]Xenon 50mm f/1.9 (Click here to see on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 27394 ebay]Xenar 50mm f/2.8 (Click here to see on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 27388 ebay]Xenar 75mm f/3.5 (Click here to see on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 27392 ebay]Xenotar 80mm f/2.8 (Click here to see on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 27393 ebay]Xenar 180mm f/2.8 (Click here to see on eBay)[/shoplink].

Nice list!

Anyway, the rumor is FT4 for now. I still need to get some proof that the news is real. Let me know if you find something!!!

Reminder -> Rumors classification explained (FT= FourThirds):
FT1=1-20% chance the rumor is correct
FT2=21-40% chance the rumor is correct
FT3=41-60% chance the rumor is correct
FT4=61-80% chance the rumor is correct
FT5=81-99% chance the rumor is correct

The (Micro-) Four Thirds group listed at www.four-thirds.org.

According to one of my sources next week a Micro Four Thirds company will announce new Micro Four Thirds lenses. As I told you last week it’s not from Olympus or Panasonic. So stay tuned for more news in the coming days! There are also coming Panasonic/Olympus announcements in June/July. Hope we will soon see that new G5 ;)

One more thing: I want to thank the sources for the latest rumors they sent me in these days. I am working on to double check the info and will soon post them on 43rumors. All I can share with 43urmors readers is that Photokina will bring some great news:)

New Oly/Pana Lens Preorders in Europe, USA and Asia:
The Olympus 75mm lens can be preordered at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), Amazon Germany (Click here) and Amazon UK (Click here). And Adorama has also the accessories: Olympus LH-61F, Metal Lens Hood (Click here) and the Olympus LC-61, Metal Front Lens Cap (Click here).
The Panasonic 12-35mm X lens can be preordered at Amazon (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Amazon Germany (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here) and Digitalrev (Click here).

43rumors exists for three years now and during that time we only had two single Four Thirds related announcements. The [shoplink 17163]Olympus E-5[/shoplink] and the great [shoplink 29677]Samyang 24mm f/1.4 lens (here on eBay)[/shoplink].

I have heard of many other camera prototypes but a part of the E-5 they remained in the hidden labs of Olympus. Of course I have heard about another E-XX(X) model and Olympus already said that they are working on an [shoplink 17163]Olympus E-5[/shoplink] successor too. But it remains a mystery for me if Olympus really will announce the stuff I keep hearing about. As you know the 100mm macro had been deleted from the roadmap and to me it almost looks like Olympus is only waiting for the right moment to merge the two systems in one. That said rumors are still being posted on external websites:
1) A Canadian guy at dpreview forum wrote that “I went to a photo show over the weekend… and spoke to the Olympus rep there… he confirmed a E-7 is definitely coming (which is known), but also suggested that there is much pressure from Japan for Olympus to build a E-720 type camera given that many people still want something between the EM5 and E-5…”
2) And the well (oly) connected Damian McGilliCuddy keeps posting mysterious E-X or E-XXX messages -> He started to post this kind of messages back in February 2012.

As I already told you, I think Olympus goal is to release a “professional” E-M Micro Four Thirds camera that provides full AF support for the great Four Thirds lens system. Once they have done that the only remaining argument for classic DSLR development remains the Optical Viewfinder. But I don’t think this will be a reason enough to keep the DSRL segment alive…

We just had that Panasonic 12-35mm zoom and the Olympus 75mm 1.8 portrait lens announcements but it’s not going to end here. According to our sources there will be new Olympus/Panasonic announcements in June/July. But it could also be that those will have to do with the new compact camera introductions only (like the [shoplink 19904 ebay]XZ-1[/shoplink] successor). The Panasonic 35-100mm X lens and the GH3 are going to be announced in late August/early September so maybe Panasonic will announce the LX6 (or LX7) and the G5 in July?

Regarding Olympus, don’t know when the 60mm macro is coming and I don’t know if Olympus will launch a Four Thirds camera too. As you know Damian McGillyCuddy wrote “The new stuff I am playing with is even better than the E-5” but I really haven’t heard anything about a new FT camera! I hope to get some info about it soon. If you have some rumor to share contact me at 43rumors@gmail.com or send me an anonymous message by sing the contact form on the right sidebar. Thanks!

Preorders:
The Olympus 75mm lens can be preordered at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here). And Adorama has also the accessories: Olympus LH-61F, Metal Lens Hood (Click here) and the Olympus LC-61, Metal Front Lens Cap (Click here).
The Panasonic 12-35mm X lens can be preordered at Amazon (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Panasonic store (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here) and Digitalrev (Click here).

The (Micro-) Four Thirds group listed at www.four-thirds.org.

I am three weeks in the Alps and plan to climb many mountains. But I really have to keep an eye on my iPhone because one of my trusted sources just told me that there will be a new Micro Four Thirds lens announcement from an associated Micro Four Thirds group company. It’s not Panasonic and not Olympus. As you see from the list on top there are so many candidates (and Samyang is not listed) that I leave it up to you to guess what’s coming :)

Just a guess (no rumor!): I hope it’s a Samyang prime lens. A Micro Four Thirds version of the superb [shoplink 31320 ebay]35mm f/1.4 Four Thirds lens (here on eBay)[/shoplink] would be a nice addition! For my needs this would be a better portrait lens than the just announced Olympus 75mm f/1.8 lens!

P.S.: The Olympus 75mm lens can be preordered at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here). In Europe at Amazon UK (Click here), and in Asia at Amazon JP (Click here). And Adorama has also the accessories: Olympus LH-61F, Metal Lens Hood (Click here) and the Olympus LC-61, Metal Front Lens Cap (Click here).

Dpreview forum user Moonlight Knight (Click here) reports: “Based on an accidental leak by a staff of a certain company closely associated with Panasonic, the price of the upcoming Panasonic X 35-100mm f/2.8 should be more expensive than the X 12-35mm f/2.8 by no less than $200 (probably like $300).”

The just announced 12-35mm X lens is priced at $1,300 at Amazon, BHphoto and Adorama. If Math doesn’t lie than the 35-100mm f/2.8 lens will cost around $1,600 :)

In Full Frame terms this lens will have a classic 70-200mm field of view with f/2.8 light gathering and a Depth of field of f/5.6. Bye the way, a nice depth of field calculator is available here at Cambridgeincolor.

That lens costs more than a Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 for example ($899 at Amazon) and less than the Canon 70-200mm ($2,990 at Amazon). But if the 35-100mm matches or even exceeds the 12-35mm lens quality I am fine with that price. But that’s me, you may have another opinion :)