Image courtesy: Megapixel

Olympus gave an Interview at Megapixel (Click here). There is one big surprise statement:
“We see the mirrorless system as the future of digital photography. In 5-10 years reflex cameras will be a niche or will not be there at all. So we believe that PEN in the long run will also be in the professional market – but that will take maybe 2-3 years. In 2011 you will see more PEN products and more lenses (beyond what was discussed in the presentation).”

According to Olympus DSLR will become a niche market within 5-10 years. Interesting that Olympus says “PEN-type” cameras instead of “mirrorless” cameras :)

There are a also a few more info about 3D (they don’t plan to support the [shoplink 16264]Panasonic 12.5mm 3D lens[/shoplink]) and the new [shoplink 19904]Olympus XZ-1[/shoplink] (it will not create a new line of cameras). Editor’s note: The “good weapons” Olympus is talking about are the new [shoplink 18844]Olympus E-PL2[/shoplink] and accessories.

So dear readers….what do you think about that news? Are you surprised? The good news is that Olympus plans to enter the PRO market. The issue here is to define what is a “PRO” camera. We have been told that an advanced Olympus m43 model will be announced within 2011. It will not replace the [shoplink 17163]Olympus E-5[/shoplink] but as long as it has built-in EVF, a solid body, a new sensor and fast AF this will be PRO enough for me ;)

What is your opinion on that? What defines a PRO camera? What should Olympus do to satisfy your professional needs?

Image source: Photorumors

Samyang announced the development of a new 7.5mm f/3.5 Fisheye lens for m43 during the Focus on Imaging Show (via ePhotozine): “The Micro Four Thirds System has been developing extremely dynamically lately, which was proved by the growing interest in lenses constructed based on this system. To embrace true needs of photographers, Samyang Optics company, using a wealth of it’s experience in production of the high quality concept version of the fish-eye lens with 7.5mm focus is one of the most impressive outcomes of the works carried out. This ultra-wide-angle lens may become the most compact and optically perfect Micro Four Thirds System lens providing 180 degrees field of vision.”

Hmmm, I am not a fisheye fan but at least we will have a much cheaper alternative of the currently (overpriced?) [shoplink 14820]Panasonic 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye[/shoplink] lens. Click here to check the price of that lens: [shopcountry 14820]

Message to Samyang. Make some decent compact and fast primes and I bet you will sell tons of them!

P.S.: Samyang just released the 35mm f/1.4 for Four Thirds. All Samyang lenses for Olympus can be found on eBay only and under seven different brand names (Click on it to see all Four Thirds lenses from the specific brand!):
[shoplink 20647 ebay]Samyang [/shoplink] [shoplink 20684 ebay]Walimex [/shoplink] [shoplink 20649 ebay]Rokinon [/shoplink] [shoplink 20650 ebay]Opteka [/shoplink] [shoplink 20651 ebay]Falcon [/shoplink] [shoplink 20653 ebay]Vivitar [/shoplink] [shoplink 20652 ebay]Bower [/shoplink]