Hi!

More trusted sources confirmed that Olympus will have an announcement on early January but there will be new compact cameras only. Major new MFT announcements will be made in late January. And I am still not 100% sure but also Panasonic should announce compact cameras only yet.

Coming back to Olympus, one new Camera and one new lens could be announced in late January. The cameras is “completely new” while the lens specs are unknown yet.

Personal note: I am very busy in these days because of family reasons. Sorry if I don’t answer your mails yet. Will do it as soon as I have time. Thanks for your understanding!

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Rumors classification explained (FT= FourThirds):
FT1=1-20% chance the rumor is correct
FT2=21-40% chance the rumor is correct
FT3=41-60% chance the rumor is correct
FT4=61-80% chance the rumor is correct
FT5=81-99% chance the rumor is correct

A patent fulfilled back in September 2011 describes a couple of new zooms (Source: freepatentsonline). Sadly all are relatively slow and no one will make you jump off the chair. Here they are:
12-60mm f/4.0-5.7
12-70mm f/4.0-5.7
12-82mm f/4.0-5.7
12-94mm f/4.0-5.8
14-70mm f/4.0-5.7

If at least they would be compact. Time to come up with something really different than the current [shoplink 35867 ebay]12-50mm f/3.5-6.4 lens[/shoplink] lens. One day I will find some f/2.8 or even f/2.0 zoom patent. One day… :)

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Olympus 2.0 zooms on Slidoo Europe.

Panasonic CEO Tsuga will have a Keynote on January 8th at the CES show in Las Vegas. On the camera front we can expect many new compact cameras. No MFT camera should be announced at the event. The main talk will be about new camcorders, TV’s and other electronic stuff. But we will likely not have to wait a long time to see new MFT products. The CP+ show in Japan starts on January 31st and there is a BIG chance to see the new GF camera by than.
And…let’s dream….what about a new GX camera too?

[shoplink 28222 ebay][/shoplink]
Image on top. The “Full Frame” [shoplink 28222 ebay]OM-1 film camera[/shoplink].

In one year from now Sony will launch their Full Frame mirrorless system. I have absolutely no info yet if Olympus will get involved in that project. Sony and Olympus said that they will share their tech for future camera developments but there were never any talk about a joint adventure on the FF system. So it is highly unlikely it will happen but nevertheless there is a small chance. Sony desperately needs lenses for the system and the FF mirrorless system wouldn’t be a competitor of the MFT system because of the much higher price of the cameras.

And now, try to imagine a new joint FF system from Sony and Olympus. And Olympus making a $2500 Full Frame OMD camera….

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I am curious to here your opinion on that!

By the way, all OM film cameras were Full Frame! Here is the chronological ordered list of all OM film cameras ever made by Olympus. Click on the names to see them on eBay (ordered by first announced camera): [shoplink 28221 ebay]M-1[/shoplink], [shoplink 28222 ebay]OM-1[/shoplink], [shoplink 28223 ebay]OM-1 MD[/shoplink], [shoplink 28224 ebay]OM-1N[/shoplink], [shoplink 28225 ebay]OM-2[/shoplink], [shoplink 28226 ebay]OM-2N[/shoplink], [shoplink 28227 ebay]OM-2S/SP[/shoplink], [shoplink 28228 ebay]OM-3[/shoplink], [shoplink 28229 ebay]OM-3Ti[/shoplink], [shoplink 28230 ebay]OM-4[/shoplink], [shoplink 28231 ebay]OM-4T/Ti black and chrome[/shoplink], [shoplink 28232 ebay]OM-10[/shoplink], [shoplink 28233 ebay]OM-20 (OM-G)[/shoplink], [shoplink 28234 ebay]OM-30(OM-F)[/shoplink], [shoplink 28235 ebay]OM-40 (OM-PC)[/shoplink], [shoplink 28236 ebay]OM-77AF (OM-707)[/shoplink], [shoplink 28237 ebay]OM-88 (OM-101)[/shoplink], [shoplink 28238 ebay]OM-2000[/shoplink].

Quesabesde (translation here) modified some of their info. Instead of saying that the High End camera is compatible with MFT and FT lenses they now say “a camera that can take advantage of the full FT lens potential“.

But at the same time DSLRmagazine claims to know more about the camera. These are the main aspects of the new High End camera that is likely going to be a new kind of OMD cameras:
– The camera will have some very advanced new features
– The EVF will be “spectacular”
– It is NOT a modular camera
– It has a native MFT mount and uses a special adapter for the FT lenses
– It will be more expensive than the current [shoplink 29074]Olympus E-M5[/shoplink] – The camera size will be in between the E-M5 and the E-5.

I will let you guess what these new advanced features and viewfinder system are…

Miquel Àngel Garcia, manager of Olympus Spain (Image courtesy Quesabesde).

I am really surprised to read a clear statement like that! Miquel Àngel Garcia just said in an interview at Quesabesde (translation here) that the E-5 successor will be a hybrid FT and MFT model capable of using both lens ranges with their full potential! So there will be no “Normal” Four Thirds E-7 but rather a native Micro Four Thirds cameras with a 100% compatible  FT solution. He didn’t specify if there will be a sort of integrated or external adapter or a modular approach. The camera is definitely coming in late 2013 (he said!). Miguel didn’t unveil the name and the specs. He says that this is a camera for “those who want the feel of an SLR and at the same time take advantage of a small system“.

In summary:
1) no “classic” Four Thirds E-7 coming! You should expect a hybrid high end MFT camera with full FT support.
2) That camera is coming in late 2013
3) Development started back in 2009 and the camera cannot be compared to anything Olympus released before that.

UPDATE: Also DSLRmagazine (translation here) got a confirmation from Olympus(!) that the info about a hybrid MFT and FT camera is correct!!! They also added that the project name started back in 2009 is “Kasei”. And a selcted and secret group of 13 members worked on the project!

Sounds amazing!

Now let me enlarge the discussion to some key features I think that camera should have:
1) Full compatible AF for any MFT and FT lens. This means have phase detection AF…likely on sensor like the latest Sony NEX-5r and Sony NEX-6 cameras
2) I am still one of these guys in that like to use optical viewfinders. E camera aimed for both FT and MFT users should in my dreamworld have a hybrid EVF and OVF solution like (and if possible better) the Fuji X PRO 1.
3) A pro camera has to feel like a pro camera. So it shouldn’t be too small.
4) The FT component of the cameras should be detachable. A modern version of the [shoplink 31778 ebay]Leica Visoflex (here on eBay)[/shoplink].

What are yout thoughts? Comment your posts with your suggestions and I may start a poll on this soon…

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Olympus E-5 at [shopcountry 17163].
Leica Visoflex auctions on Slidoo.

ImrpessJapan interviewed Mr.Ogawa from Olympus. He confirmed that partnership between Sony and Olympus will focus on compact cameras, on the medical area and lens technology. There is definitely no plan to merge Olympus and Sony systems in one.

The magazine also made a prediction for the year to come:
– E-5 successor is coming
– A premium compact MFT
– large sensor camera from Olympus

I am pretty sure the first two points are correct. But really don’t think Olympus will make a larger sensor camera. It would mean go APS-C (Nex?) or even Full Frame. What may be possible is that Olympus makes some lenses for the NEX system (which is highly needed  more than cameras).

What are your thought about a “larger sensor camera”?