Google translated text from DC.watch:

OM Digital Solutions Co., Ltd. announced on February 16 that it held an opening ceremony on February 1 prior to the full-scale operation of the “OM Digital Solutions Production Technology Center.”

A facility that offers one-stop verification of processes from the planning and development stages of optical lenses to polishing, molding, coating, joining, and exterior painting of lenses with a high degree of difficulty assuming mass production. It is located in Hachioji, Tokyo, near the company’s research and development base.

By utilizing this production technology center, the company aims to “promote innovation in optical lenses more quickly, and quickly provide customers with cameras and interchangeable lenses that capture the best moments in various scenes. We will strive to realize a richer life for people and further improve our corporate value.”

Might be a good sign showing their commitment!

DC.watch shared some images from their CP+ booths. OM Digital:

Panasonic:

The obvious focus at Panasonic was on the new autofocus of the S5II. And they promoted mainly two cameras: S5II and GH6. While OM Digital highlighted the new 90mm macro lens.

Photorend talked to Sigma manager Yamaki and he made a clear statement about MFT:

We still have several references that we will maintain in our catalog. However, we are not planning to design new Micro 4/3 optics at this time. Perhaps because of this, the demand for this format is decreasing very sharply, and therefore it is quite difficult for us to develop completely new optics for this ecosystem.

But I think the Micro 4/3 has many advantages, especially its compactness. Personally, I really like this system. But currently, the trend is clearly in favor of full frame, alongside APS-C (which is also in decline, by the way).

I hope that with the arrival of the new OM System cameras demand will stabilize, but it is clearly tending to decrease for Sigma Micro 4/3 lenses. But it looks like OM-System is getting good results with their new cameras and lenses. So I’m hopeful that the demand for the Micro 4/3 will continue to exist.

What are your thoughts on this?

Asobinet got his new 90mm macro lens and showed it mounted on the GM1. You can barely see the camera :)

Preorders: 90mm at BHphoto, Amazon US&EU, Adorama, FotoErhardt, Fotokoch, WexUK.

Full specs can be read at BHphoto. It’s a new MFT camera, although I guess not something 99% of our readers need.

Preorders: 90mm at BHphoto, Amazon US&EU, Adorama, FotoErhardt, Fotokoch, WexUK.

A couple of store owners told me they got the first batch of the new 90mm lens. But they cannot deliver them to their clients until the official shipment start date mentioned by OM Digital.

The image below shows a batch of lenses at the Japanese ChampCamera store:

You can now get the new Lensbaby composer II and the new Lensbaby Double Glass II at BHphoto. You can see some image samples at Explora.