I got few additional small info about the E-M1II:

1. The reason for the increased price compared to the E-M1 are the following:
   – Yen got a 23% appreciation over the Euro in 3 years
   – Salary increase for workers
   – Higher costs of the parts
2. Sensor is designed also by part of the Medical sensor engineering team and produced by Sony
3. Production of the camera is already running in Vietnam
4. There is a press event in Spain on November 2. Where journalists will test and try the E-MII

Join the Olympus E-M1II facebook group to get all news about this camera in time!

Our rumors about the E-M1II lauch event on November 2 were spot on. And these will be the official prices in Japan:

• OM-D E-M1 Mark II body
• Reservations start date: November 2, 2016
• Release Date: 2016 late December
• Retailers Price: 235,440 yen (tax included)   Rough conversion in Dollar: $2250 (but keep in mind price in US will be much lower as usual)
  

• Power Battery Holder HLD-9
• Release Date: 2016 late December
• Suggested retail price: 32,500 yen (excluding tax)

• Waterproof protector PT-EP14
• Release Date: 2016 late December
• Suggested retail price: Open price

• Macro flash STF-8
• Release Date: 2016 late December
• Suggested retail price: 65,000 yen (excluding tax)

For reference. When the E-M1 was launched in 2013 the body only price in Japan was ￥145,000. This means the price got increased by a 62%!

via Nokishita

As I reported earlier Olympus has a major event on November 2. I can now confirm with 99,999% reliability that E-M1II preorders will start the this week! But as reported the price will be quite high! A tiny bit above the Fuji X-T2 price in most countries :(

Join the Olympus E-M1II facebook group to get all news about this camera in time!

Olympus has organized an official Olympus E-M1II presentation day on November 2. Many journalists and blogger will be able to test the final E-M1II production version.I also guess that from that day on we will be also able to preorder the new camera. If you preorder fast the camera will ship to you before Christmas. Therefore stay tuned on 43rumors where I will link to all possible US and Eu preorder links.

Our reader Wolfie sent us this:

Been advised by email from photowarehouse.co.nz that Olympus E-M1 mk2 body will sell for $NZ 2,500 (current exchange =1,750 US). Available mid November.

A source told me why Olympus hasn’t added handheld high resolution mode on the E-MII:

At the moment the Olympus E-M1II can’t shoot in handheld high resolution mode faster than 1/60. And this is yet too slow for achieving a high quality.

So it has to be seen if Olympus can get over that hurdle somehow…

I had a discussion with multiple sources and they all confirmed the new Olympus E-M1II will start shipping out the first week of December. Here are some additional info:

1) Olympus original plan was to ship the E-M1II by November 18. But Sony Kumamoto sensor production is still not running at 100% capacity
2) Olympus will have a major E-M1II try out event with journalist during the first week of November. I guess that’s when preorders will be opened.
3) A small quantity only will ship in December. Larger Stock will be available in January.
4) Price still hasn’t been confirmed yet. There is only a general Olympus comment about the price being in the Fuji X-T2 territory.

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Olympus preorders:
E-PL8 at BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon, GetOlympus. Amazon.de. ParkCameras.
25mm f/1.2 PRO at BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon, GetOlympus. Amazon.de.
12-100mm f/4.0 PRO at BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon, GetOlympus. Amazon.de.
30mm macro at BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon, GetOlympus. Amazon.de.
FL-900r flash at BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon.de. ParkCameras.

Panasonic preorders:
G85: BHphoto. Adorama. Amazon. ParkCameras. WexUK.
FZ2500: BHphoto. Adorama. Amazon. ParkCameras. WexUK.
Lx10: BHphoto. Adorama. Amazon. ParkCameras. WexUK.