(FT5) One new MFT camera from Olympus to come soon (likely end of January).
The E-P3 marked as “discontinued” at Bhphoto.
Finally trusted sources could confirm that one single new Micro Four Thirds cameras will be announced “soon”. They didn’t unveil me any specs or other detail but It’s easy to guess that the camera will be announced in late January for the CP+ show in Japan. The only I received from unknown (also non trusted) sources was that there will be a “completely new PEN”.
Sources that may want to share what they know about the camera can send me an anonymous message using the contact form on the very right of their website or by sending me an email at 43rumors@gmail.com. Thanks!
And you readers stay tuned! Christmas Holiday time is officially over…at least for me 
Marck
5 months ago |The only “completely new PEN” I’d like to have is one with a good PDAF support. I don’t see any other needed “completely new feature”.
GrauUhu
5 months ago |Happy New Year admin.
Farrukh
5 months ago |A new MFT
Better or lesser than the OMD? And when will it be in the shops I wonder?
Yun
5 months ago |This likely to be EP3 successor & to compete against Pana’s GX series . Could be with build in view finder as well if Oly state it a new Pen .
Hard time again for Mr Utmattsu’s team .
Hard2Xplain
5 months ago |Meanwhile, Panny is slacking off…
When was the last time we see something groundbreaking from Utmattsu’s camp? GH2 perhaps? Don’t get me wrong – I’m Panny fanboy here, but, really, I just don’t know how long I could resist…
ibraar
5 months ago |Panny is not slacking off. They are tryng hard to drive their customers back to Cannikon by making dslr wnnabes and large ass cameras like the gh3 and large ass lenses.
sneye
5 months ago |@admin, how long before an Olympus announcement do you usually get confirmation from your best sources? That would give you a good estimation of the timing of the announcement.
I believe it is logical to expect a PEN-type camera with built-in EVF (in the left corner). A design similar to the 1963 Pen-F would be very appealing to me. This camera should feature the “usual” 2-axis IBIS and be devoid of sealing and other fancy OM-D bells and whistles. Price should be circa $850. Nevertheless, Olympus has a record of deviating from expectations so it could well be something else.
Ross
5 months ago |I suspect it will be as you have suggested, but Olympus just may deviate from the expected (again
).
amalric
5 months ago |My take is that if Admin really gets an independent leak it might extend to one month before the introduction.
If the leak is Oly controlled, if it is a strip tease, then he might get some unimportant detail 10 days before
One good guess is tho check maintenance centres. They should get some spare parts and/or information in advance.
BTW I would love to know if the fabled 25/1.8 is the next lens, perhaps in kit with the new model
admin
5 months ago |It happens sometimes I get info months earlier. But it’s difficult to post that stuff because a) it’s almost impossible to doublecheck b) things can change in the meantime.
Anyway, I am 100% sure a nice camera is coming yet…
P.S.: And a nice baby too
Ross
5 months ago |Of course a nice baby & I hope all goes well for that. At the moment we are enjoying a visit from our first grandhild (now 4 months old), so are getting a reminder of baby’s cries & dirty nappies again.
And also the lovely happy moments of him.
amalric
5 months ago |I was joking. I know that the checking and double checking might take a long time. And that now additionally you have to introduce a new model in your family
Anonymous
5 months ago |Rather new EP3 (maybe with EVF) then pro-OMD…
Olympus : un nouvel hybride pour fin janvier | LeakedStories - APN
5 months ago |[...] Via [...]
Pete
5 months ago |Merci bien
Luda
5 months ago |And what about that EM-5 FW upgrade? Was that FT3 or FT4 or FT5?! It appears to be FT-2.
Your sources are just manipulating you, just look at the 40-150 debacle.
Olympus is very well in control of everything you publish, but I guess you knew that already..
Flo
5 months ago |I really hope it will feature an EVF that’s the one thing really lacking in the E-PL5 and E-PM2 models.
Miroslav
5 months ago |Everything is as expected so far. 16Mpx sensor is certain as well, as is the touchscreen and at least 3 stop IBIS. I suppose the screen will at least have the E-M5 tilt mechanism and that body size will be a bit smaller than E-P3 and E-M5.
The unknowns:
-EVF and its position
-grip size
I’m expecting the mode dial leak very soon
.
Le frog
5 months ago |On the other hand (and frankly, that’s what I have been asking Santa to put into my stockings), there is more money to be made out of a weather-sealed pen body with full manual controls and a 5-axis ibis but without evf (which you will have to buy as an accessory) than out of a body with an evf but without the other features. It would allow oly to argue that now you have a choice between two pro bodies, one compact without evf and one, slightly bigger, without. Ideally, the new body would be coupled with a compact retractable high grade normal zoom.
plonken
5 months ago |I recall that Olympus made some promises around rationalising their camera line-up…wtf happened to that?
Out of their current lineup these are the cams that are essential:
OM-D
EPL5
Pen Mini
XZ-2
Tough
They need to cut the cruft and focus on moving higher volumes of a leaner line-up.
Miroslav
5 months ago |The gap between EM-5 and E-PL5 is too big. If PL5 had an integrated EVF and was a bit bigger, then there would be no need for a model between the two. That’s where E-P5 will fit in.
plonken
5 months ago |IMHO the epl5 should have had a viewfinder anyway.
Perhaps something nex7 style could fit it there, really I would like to see such a camera replace the epl5 rather than exist in addition to it.
Kornflejk
5 months ago |“I would like to see such a camera replace the epl5 rather than exist in addition to it.”
It will not happen. The future E-PL(ight) maybe inherits an extra dial/roller but no EVF. Such body asks for $800. The E-PL line should sit somewhere around $550 in long term.
Ross
5 months ago |“IMHO the epl5 should have had a viewfinder anyway”
Then it wouldn’t have been an E-PL then as that is a PEN light model & would have been more expensive (& bigger). It may well be the new model will have the model name of PEN E-PX# (where X would be a letter to signify the type of PEN model it is & # the number) & we shall see if it has a built in EVF or not. I think Olympus management has already given a hint that an included EVF could be a possibility in a new model.
Le frog
5 months ago |… mind you, I am not trying to say that an efv is redundant, I am just arguing that a 5-axis ibis, weather-sealing and better manual controls are more important than an integrated evf, which, let us not forget, is less flexible that a 90°adjustable external evf.
Anonymous
5 months ago |The main competitor is Sony NEX-6. If Sony didn’t have such a crappy lens lineup and I was looking to buy into a system, I’d definitely buy a NEX right now.
I’m not interested in paying $600 for an E-PL5 and then another $250 for a viewfinder. I’m also not interested in paying $1300 for a camera+kit lens combo like with the OM-D. The closest m4/3 comes is the Panasonic G5.
peevee
5 months ago |“The main competitor is Sony NEX-6. If Sony didn’t have such a crappy lens lineup and I was looking to buy into a system, I’d definitely buy a NEX right now.
I’m not interested in paying $600 for an E-PL5 and then another $250 for a viewfinder.”
Well, it would still be cheaper than NEX-6. And VF3 is $160 new, VF-2 is $220 new on ebay. And many people can reuse them from earlier PENs, making the cost for them ZERO. On the other hand, you cannot buy extra buttons and dials, or a touchscreen for NEX-6, and weather-sealing you CAN buy is pretty pathetic.
Anonymous
5 months ago |Admin,
Is there a chance that can be a new OMD with a better sensor?
Or you would think the new OMD will come at the end of the year and be compatible with 4/3 lenses?
Regards,
Onur
5 months ago |Thats a good question as I am thinking to get the OMD. If the new camera will be something similar, I’d rather wait and get the new version provided that price is within my budget.
I guess OMD was released in february 2012, right?
sneye
5 months ago |I’m afraid a “pro” OM-D won’t be announced before September 2013 and will feature major enhancements only to 4/3 glass owners. It will surely cost at least $1500.
Replacing the E-M5 now, at the peak of its success, would be a big mistake.
plonken
5 months ago |better sensor?
I can think of other things to improve than the sensor on the OM-D, the sensor is amazing already.
ibraar
5 months ago |Don’t ask admin that question….ask Sony. LOL
peevee
5 months ago |“Is there a chance that can be a new OMD with a better sensor?”
Better how? It should be understood that the current sensors are pretty close to theoretically possible for sensors with color array for that sensor size. Sure some small improvements will be made, higher resolutions (which don’t make much sense as lenses cannot resolve what is already there), faster read-out times, maybe oversized/multi-aspect-ratio which can improve things for 3:2 and 16:9 shooters. But to significantly progress in sensitivity, the color array has to be dropped, with multilayer sensor like Foveon. But this technology is still years away from competing even with regular sensor, as evidenced by Sigma’s cameras.
bart
5 months ago |3 key concepts:
- quantum efficiency
- fill ratio
- light blockage by whatever is in front of the sensor
You address the 3rd one, and only partially (backlit sensor technology comes to mind). The other 2 however are very significant, and there are still gains to be had there, so sensitivity can still be increased.
Additionally, sensors that use multiple layers instead of a color array will by definition have blockage of light for any layer other then the top layer. There are certainly gains to be had here, but its not as simple as you make it sound.
Matthias
5 months ago |For what a new cam without better zoom lenses?
Anonymous
5 months ago |Continous improvment is expected… sensor (Fuji has better results), movies (Panasonic is better), EVF (Sony is better, Fuji has hybrid technology), AF-C (Nikon is better), remote flash control (Canon is better), Wi-Fi (Samsung is better now).
peevee
5 months ago |“EVF (Sony is better,”
Sony’s are higher-res, but lower refresh rate. Not better for action.
” Fuji has hybrid technology)”
Useless weight.
Wt21
5 months ago |Where is this fujpansonnikcansamsung camera that you are referencing. It sounds like a wonder machine that I should purchase!
Rc
5 months ago |I love my omd, the ibis is outstanding, video and stills. But i am praying the next high end oly camera has an xternal mic jack. Anyone ever tried shooting video with he sema-1 and stills with radio controlled flash with an omd? Talk about a headache. Come on oly get it together.
Per K
5 months ago |Why noy a Fuji EX1-like camera and also a HQ kit zoom like Fuji made? Oly has fst and reliable AF and great EVF to trumph Fuji. – and a better price.
ggweci
5 months ago |+1
An “X-E1″ type camera is exactly what is needed, and what I would buy. Basically an E-P3 w/ EVF to the left and the new Sony sensor. A tilt screen would be nice too, but not absolutely necessary. Although, it would make sense since the model above (E-M5) and below (E-PL5) both have this feature.
Also, I like the idea of a faster zoom (f2.8 – 4) like Fuji has, but I’d be happy if they paired the “E-P5″ with the new 17mm 1.8. That’d be the kit I’d opt for.
Anentropic
5 months ago |You want a new model that is an OMD with the EVF moved a bit to the left?
I doubt it will happen…
ggweci
5 months ago |No, it wouldn’t be the same. No weather sealing or 5-axis IS, and it would be in a smaller form factor. Definitely needed to compete in the “brick look, no EVF hump” market. If Sony (Nex-6) and Fuji (X-E1) can do it with their larger sensors, them Oly shouldn’t have an issue. Price it between the E-M5 and PL5 and they’d have a winner.
Timccr
5 months ago |Fingers crossed here for a weather sealed PEN and a few more sealed primes to go with it.
7hau
5 months ago |All I want is 25p in video recording, is that so hard? I know Olympus main focus is on photo not video, but can’t u just do this for once….
ibrar
5 months ago |Wishful thinkers. It’s gonna be another useless pen with no viewfinder. Hold it like a dirty diaper. The Olympus dirty Diaper 5.
Ulli
5 months ago |I find shooting via LCD a quite usefull option rather then to discard it as useless.
Ulli
5 months ago |I find shooting via LCD a rather usefull option, rather then to discard it, and ignoring the EVF at the same time. With the OMD i am still using both ways.
Anonymous
5 months ago |I suppose it will be in black to match all the black lenses they make. Perhaps a grey so we need to have yet another lens color that will carry a $300 premium. I will not buy another Olympus product because of their silver color marketing scam.
Dave
5 months ago |So you consider a camera like you consider your purse? I use a camera to take photos regardless if it’s silver or black. Perhaps you have the wrong occupation or interest and need to give up on cameras.
jimbo
5 months ago |I really want to upgrade my e-p1. First of all, please make this a 4:3 screen ratio. Secondly, a built in electronic viewfinder will be nice to have! To keep the price down, no need for weather sealing. I’ll be ok with the body being larger, as long as all the controls are kept and a built-in flash is there.
Kornflejk
5 months ago |I would be grateful for a bigger grip, longer battery life, extra dial/roller and hi-res (921 000 px) 4:3 aspect ratio LCD with good colour rendention. EVF is welcome too
Ash
5 months ago |I do not think this new camera will have a built-in viewfinder as the E-M5 already has that.
It will rely on external viewfinder, just like the PEN cameras always have.
Ulli
5 months ago |its seems most people want a rangefinder style evf,maybe their dreams come true with the new PEN,but if it really happens then prob its not as good as the OMD evf.
Ash
5 months ago |What it will probably have are -
Another dial, magnesium body, maybe weather-sealing?
fishtank
5 months ago |My wish list for this new pen:
- has the E-PL2 form factor
- has built-in EVF
- has focus assist lamp
- has built-in flash
- has a control ring around the lens mount like XZ-1 and a control dial at the back
- has “focus peaking”
- at least E-M5′s sensor performance
- has flip-up LCD like E-PL5
fishtank
5 months ago |one more thing:
- a 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 m.zuiko kit lens at a size similar to Fuji’s 18-55mm!
Fants
5 months ago |Good luck, olympus never gives its users what they want. They want you to fork out 1200-1400 for a dslr wannbe styled mirrorless with a Sony sensor. Overpriced cameras and lenses, it’s no good if no one buys their lenses.Olympus has a long track record of abandning systems…google it. It wont be any different sooner or later. from om to pen f to 43, a long line of discontinued crap.
bart
5 months ago |If you insist on posting crap, at least get your crap right.
PEN F came before OM, not after it. While OM couldn’t use PEN F lenses, the PEN F can easily use OM lenses, and Olympus actually provided the adapter for this. (note, I am a PEN FT owner and actually have this adapter).
Nice? no, but why? Oh, because selling ‘half-frame’ in the USA simply didn’t work at all. Continuing with the PEN F line wasn’t an option.
OM?
When they didn’t manage to follow up on the 707, and simply missed the AF boat alltogether, the OM system was doomed. Bad? sure, but, lack of support? Lets see, this happened in 1985.. in 2002 I did send back some OM lenses for repair, and lo and behold, I got them repaired. Its also worth considering that if a system in a technology driven market didn’t get any development for 15 years, its time to look for something else.
So… 15 years later it was still supported.
OM to 4/3? Mishandled, simply because it would have been technically very well possible to provide full support for OM lenses, including automatic aperture. A patent to use OM lenses on 4/3 while retaining their original field of view was patented but never ever introduced. For that matter, Canon did introduce an adapter for using OM lenses WITH automatic aperture (and obviously with retaining their field of view due to a 135 format sensor).
So.. from 4/3 to m4/3 they actually provide an upgrade path of sorts. Should it also include full AF support? sure, but ever listened to the more vocal m4/3 users? To many of them this is a waste of time and money, Olympus should just do what they also did in the past, discontinue the old system and forget about full backward compatibility.
In all cases, there were technical or market reasons for moving to a new system. Are they alone in that? actually, not at all. Minolta did a similar thing, as did Canon. Nikon did it as well, but managed to hide it much better. Using a lens from more then 2 generations ago on a modern Nikon body will in almost all cases cause limited functionality, and there are quite a few combinations that do not work, and may even damage the camera and/or lens.
The bottomline however is that you’ll have to pick one of the following 2:
- start anew every so often and have a relatively clean system
- provide backward compatibility and have a system cluttered with legacy crap
You can’t have the advantages of either without also having the disadvantages.
كاميرا مايكرو 4/3 جديدة من أوليمبوس قادمة أواخر يناير 2013 – بديلة E-P3؟ | حكاية صورة ،
5 months ago |[...] 1، [...]
Mr. Reeee
5 months ago |Amazing.
An article is posted about the GH3 and the comments devolve into a fantasy checklist & stroke fest for Oly fans.
Sheesh.
Back on topic… there are times (like this) when being an early adopter has little advantage beyond bragging rites. Hopefully Panasonic pulls the Gh3 out of the crosshairs… and QUICKLY!
Bob B.
5 months ago |I guess a soft viewfinder with a green cast is A OK for a $1500 video camera?
Ulli
5 months ago |lol you are right…the first comment already starts about a PEN…..did admin edited the article and removed something about Olympus? I also thought there was something mentioned about a new PEN….
admin
5 months ago |Hi! I fixed the issue. DOn’t know exactly why it happened but two posts had the same ID and they merged. Weird, first time this happens!
FTT
5 months ago |Amazing.
The title clearly says “(FT5) One new MFT camera from Olympus to come soon (likely end of January).” and this peculiar comment says this “article is posted about the GH3″.
Sheesh.
BdV
5 months ago |What’s happening? How can today’s post have two days old comments?
IcelandicBunny
5 months ago |Well, there’s no green cast in my GH3′s viewfinder or screen. I’m happy with the camera so far – it’s a set-up on my old GH2.
MikeH
5 months ago |No EVF or LCDs issues are all for me. I’ve tried to reproduce the smearing and greenish cast and the like but I have nothing but a viewfinder and LCD that show me what I expect to see, clearly and accurately.
The closest I have come to a greenish cast on the LCD was to have the camera in a purposely innaccurate white balance mode and it was reflecting the adjustments to white balance properly.
soundimageplus
5 months ago |My GH3 is fine too. In fact I’m impressed at how sharp the EVF is. Usually with manual focus lenses I’d use the magnification function, but with my GH3 I’m able to focus very accurately without doing that. Snaps into focus a treat.
I have no colour cast either. Seems like its not a universal problem.
Tron
5 months ago |Same here, color is fine on the screens and they’re a huge step up from the GH2. I do get a little smearing on the outside edges of the VF if my eye moves off center, but not a significant hindrance while framing.
Esa Tuunanen
5 months ago |Yep, no live view colour issues… unless there’s WB problem which can happen easily in inside’s mishmash lightning.
Or maybe it’s simply feature of Never Twice the Same Color aka NTSC version.
Though viewfinder’s eye relief is little too small just like in NEX-7.
Mahler
5 months ago |I can confirm most of the EVF issues. Looking through it causes a lot of eye strain, colors aren’t so well, corners aren’t sharp. The E-M5 EVF is so much better, the GH3 EVF totally disappoints.
Anonymous
5 months ago |Well, it’s a good thing for Oly fans, that the OMD is flawless. Oh wait, there were about ten things wrong with it too. So much for the perfect camera. Now everyone shut up, get off your lazy asses and go take some pictures, with your flawed cameras and quit slowing down my internet!
Newbie Here
5 months ago |Too many Olympus-related comments here…
Newbie Here
5 months ago |I got the GH3 as a Christmas gift. I believe it was bought on the second week of December (in Canada). I have zero experience with the GH2 as I am (or was) a Canon user. My flip out screen doesn’t have the blue/green tint problem, and I’m glad about it. Yes I noticed that the VF is a bit noisy during night, but I don’t experience any blurring of the edges. I guess it’s the way you look through it. More updates soon. I’ll try to upload a real-world test video I shot yesterday.
Renze
5 months ago |Well, at least I’m curious about any new MFT camera.
Olympus
5 months ago |We are not interested in what you want. We are here to provide you with cameras with missing features, scaled down features and sensors and overpriced equipment. Why pay more for more when you can get less? We will not have an evf in any upcoming pen camera because it is already there in out dslr wannbe OM-D, which by the way has a Sony sensor. We ( pansonic ) are not able to make quality sensors.Enjoy your Sony OM-D and keep wishing for a Full Frame camera from us. Since when have we ever given you anything but less?
Doug
5 months ago |Hurray! Just what the world needs: another Pen camera. Wake me when the party is over. Better yet, wake me when the new “pro” camera” gets here.