Back in summer Olympus surprisingly showed their Google Glass version (more on that on CNET). Now I spotted a new patent that combines that futuristic technology with the use of an Olympus camera. The glass works as a sort of a viewfinder positioned directly over your eye. The electronic image appears as soon as the camera will be hold close to it. The Olympus patent describes how this also helps to miniaturize cameras because you will not need any built-in viewfinder nor LCD screen.

You can read the details fo the patent at freepatentsonline.

The Polaroid iM1836 is the first non-Panasonic and non- Olympus camera that will also be compatible with MFT lenses. And here are some more facts about the camera:

1) The US company Sakar actually makes the camera. It borrowed the Polaroid name and (although not official) it also seems to have borrowed the Nikon J1 design.
2) The camera is modular. It means it has no sensor built into the camera itself. It’s built into the lens in case of the original Polaroid lenses (with 1 inch sensor). And while they didn’t say much about it I suspect there will be a MFT adapter with built-in sensor. You should be able to use all MFT lenses attached on that adapter.
3) Just to avoid any mistake. There is also a second model called “iM1030” that doesn’t run Android OS (while the iM1836 is based on Android).
4) There is no production version of the camera yet and price will be close to $400.

All in all this is an attempt to build an “universal camera” a la Ricoh GXR. A camera with support for all possible system lenses and based on an open source platform. Will it work out? My answer is …no :)

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What happens when you realize how cool the Micro Four Thirds world is?

What I am going to feature is almost a Christmas tale (because it happened on Christmas) :-)

J Shin wrote a long and interesting post at Leicarumors about how it came to the abandoning of the Leica world, and to the entry into the MFT world. Definitely worth to be read.

Have fun!

Let’s keep talking about past Olympus cameras and today I will shortly introduce you to the [shoplink 35694 ebay]PEN-EED (auctions here on eBay)[/shoplink]. As you see it had a built in optical viewfinder. Produced from 1967 to 1972, it is a more expensive automated-exposure model, with a CdS meter, a 32mm f/1.7 lens and a hot shoe. Why did Oly created the EED? The Pen E had no fast lenses and  only slow shutter speeds, The Pen D’ had no automatic exposure. The EED combined the best from both cameras. And how did Olympus advertise this camera? Just look at the image here:

LOL!

A list of all PEN-EED auctions can be found on [shoplink 35694 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] or via Slidoo (Click here).

Source: Olypedia, pdf manual at Butkus, Image samples can be seen at Rangefinderforum.

Update: hands-on video at engadget.

It's common in our Micro Four Thirds world to use third party lenses on MFT camera via the use of adapters. But what about using MFT lenses on other cameras? Polaroid just did that, a new mirrorless camera that is compatible with MFT lenses with the use of an adapter. I am wondering why they didn't make it with native MFT mount. There is little info about the camera now:

18 megapixel, 1080p video, Android OS, 3.5 inch display, pop-up flashand $399 price with a 10-30mm lens included.

via Engadget, Mashable.

2012-13 Cinematography Show Reel from Chris Forshaw (shot with GH2 and GH3)

Olympus 17mm f/2.8 test at SLRgear.
Olympus 15mm pancake test at Lepidi and at Quesabesde.
Lumix X 12-35mm f/2.8 review (Soundimagesplus).
Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 ASPH test at Fotopolis (translation here).
Olympus 60mm macro first impressions at ThePhoBlographer.
Geometric distortion correction (M43photo).
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 Review (Photographyblog).
Marocchio: “Not a rumor, but here’s the full collection of capsule toy pens that are currently available here in Japan. They’re 200 yen each, and have removable lenses. Pretty cool!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marccocchio/sets/72157629108158375/“

Image: Dpreview

The worldwide largest forum community at Dpreview picked up the Olympus E-m5 as the camera of the year 2012. I think back 1-2 years when many blogger and experts forecast a decline of the Olympus camera system. Nevertheless Olympus was able with their limited resources but very creative engineers to develop and launch an extraordinary camera. I hope both Panasonic and Olympus will continue to create useful and well made cameras like this. 2013 should be the year of the new advanced PEN, OMD and GX models. This is going to be (again) and intriguing year!

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Two unusued E-M5 for $879 on eBay US (via Slidoo). 829 for the refurbished E-M5 at Cametaauctions (via Slidoo). 899 Euro is what you pay for the OMD in Europe (via Slidoo). E-M5 at Amazon, Adorama, B&H, Jessops, Amazon UK, Amazon Germany, Amazon France, Amazon Japan and Digitalrev.

E-M5 Case:
There is the official [shoplink 31898 ebay]CS-36FBC Olympus case[/shoplink]. A [shoplink 31899 ebay]leather half case from Hong Kong[/shoplink]. A full [shoplink 31900 ebay]leather case with strap from Cina[/shoplink]. Than we have half cases from two well known producers, [shoplink 31901 ebay]Zelenpol[/shoplink], [shoplink 31906 ebay]Kaza[/shoplink] and [shoplink 31902 ebay]Gariz[/shoplink].

E-M5 Batteries, and other things:
The [shoplink 31905 ebay]Olympus GS-4 strap[/shoplink] and the [shoplink 31903 ebay]DSTE E-M5 batteries[/shoplink] you have to use with an extra charger. There is an [shoplink 31903 ebay]E-M5 car charger[/shoplink] a [shoplink 31908 ebay]new E-M5 LCD screen[/shoplink] and a [shoplink 31909 ebay]Front Cover+ Top Panel[/shoplink].