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”?

Image courtesy: Quesabesde.

Panasonic manager Michiharu Uematsu had a press conference in Barcelona and there is an interesting report at Quesabesde (translation here). The main topic was the present and future of high end compact cameras with fixed lens.

Umeatsu compared the Panasonic LX7 versus the Sony RX100. He claims that the larger size advantage of the RX100 sensor is overridden by the lower brightness of the RX100 zoom. At the wide end the image quality of the LX7 and RX100 are equal while the LX7 tops the RX100 on the tele end. That said Uematsu also talked about a possible future fixed lens camera with larger Four Thirds sensor. He said that it would have to be smaller than the [shoplink 26836]GX1[/shoplink], feature a fixed and bright f/1.7 or f/2.0 lens and price could be around 700 Euro. But Uematsu does n0t know if there would be a high demand for a model like that.

So guess what…let us help Panasonic! Here is the poll:

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Let’s see if you like that camera or not!

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LX7 price check at: [shopcountry 34271].
Gariz LX7 case on [shoplink 34270 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

I am still not 100% sure but from what I got from some of my sources Olympus and Panasonic will introduce new compact cameras at the CES show in Las Vegas (Starting January 8th). But at the same time I have been told that new MFT stuff will be announced a couple of weeks later. Easy to guess that Panasonic and Olympus will release that new “MFT stuff” at the CP+ show in Japan that starts on January 31.

From Olympus we know from trusted sources that one new lens and at least one new camera should be released soon. (new PEN likely and maybe a new OMD). While Panasonic plans to release a new GF and G model.

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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

Watch the video from minute 2.35. The Tamron manager says that they will soon announce lenses for the MFT system.
As you know Tamron already released on lens for the E-mount mirrorless system, the [shoplink 35611 ebay]18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 (here on eBay)[/shoplink]. Let’s see if they will release such a huge zoom lens for the MFT system too!

Thanks Noflux for the link!

Reuters reports that “Panasonic may sell its Sanyo digital camera business to Japanese private equity fund Advantage Partners by the end of March”
What I didn’t know til today is that “Advantage Partners” already makes cameras for other companies including Olympus. This should not have any influence on the Micro Four Thirds strategy. What Panasonic is selling is the unprofitable compact camera and video camera business acquired two years ago from Sanyo. As Reuters writes: “Sales of compact digital cameras are under pressure from increasingly powerful smartphones.“

If the rumors is correct than Olympus will make my new job as father very difficult :)

I just heard from one source that Olympus will announce “something” in early January. Exactly the time when I am supposed to become father for the first time. That will be a head to head run between my private life and Olympus :)

I may ask some other sources if they got hints about a possible Olympus announcement? It may helps me to organize the work on 43rumors too. My colleagues from the other rumor websites will help me out in the days I will be off. Just send me an anonymous message by using the sharing contact form you see on the very right of your browser or contact me directly at 43rumors@gmail.com.

So what could Olympus announce? I got hints about one new lens. Than there is a rumor about a new OMD model. And we have that completely new PEN. Actually I heard the new PEN is scheduled for a release in February-March. Will try to give you some reliable info as soon as I can. One thing is 99% sure. At CES we always had new compact cameras which we usually don’t care a lot about :)

P.S.: Panasonic G5 and GF5 successor are scheduled for a later release AFTER Ces.

For UK readers: New Lightning deal on the E-m5 at Amazon UK (Click here).

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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

[/shoplink]
The Gariz new Olympus cap (on [shoplink 35526 ebay]eBay[/shoplink] or via Slidoo).

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I got a short message from an anonymous sources saying “December 14th“. This should be the date Olympus may release the new [shoplink 29074]OMD E-M5[/shoplink] firmware update. May some other source can confirm this?
We have been told that the firmware should add several more options to the menu regarding EVF info and “one exciting feature that is sure to please users. ;)“. My guess as you know is that Olympus will add peaking mode. Let’s see if I am right!

Bye the way, the Gariz lens cap you see on top is availale on [shoplink 35526 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. And so their different colored Italian leather case for the [shoplink 35527 ebay]E-M5 (Click here)[/shoplink]. Full overview on Slidoo.

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EUROPE E-M5 price drops:
E-M5 body for 877 at Amazon France and 12-50mm kit for 1.058 (Click here).

USA E-M5 price drops:
-$50 on the body only at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto (Click on store names to open the page).
-$50 on the body with 14-42mm lens at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
-$100 on the body with 12-50mm lens at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
Same price drops on different auctions on eBay (to check here via Slidoo).

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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