Olympus book writer says: “2013 will be an exciting year”

UPDATED: On advice of the author Reinhard Wagner I corrected some statements:

Olympus camera book writer Reinhard Wagner (book list at Amazon Germany) wrote at OlyForum.de that “2013 will be an exciting year” and later in the post he writes: “Aber die FTs sind so dermaßen gut, dass ich lieber noch mit der E-5 und der E-M5 arbeite, bis dann die E-7 kommt. Denn die kommt.” Which in short (according to my knowledge of the language) means “The E-7 will arrive” (without to specify the data). Of course, this is not a surprise as Olympus itself admitted that they are working on such a camera. Reinhard is just repeating what we all already know.

I have no doubt FT lenses will be have new cameras to work with (with 100% compatible AF speed and functions). But I am also sure that Olympus is seeking for a way to have full FT lens support on a professional MFT camera. The E-7 may be the first hybrid FT and MFT camera? :)

Check out (and have fun with the sliding) the list of  SWD lenses on Slidoo US, Slidoo EU and Slidoo Worldwide. P.S.: It’s a little website we made to keep track of ebay auctions. You may register to save your searches and set your country!

Reminder: FT refurbsihed deals:
Save $2250 on the Olympus Zuiko 90-250mm f/2.8 ED at [shoplink 34573 ebay]Camteacutions[/shoplink] or Cametastore. Original price (new condition) here at BHphoto.
Save $650 on the Olympus Zuiko 14-35mm f/2.0 SWD ED at [shoplink 34575 ebay]Camteacutions[/shoplink] or Cametastore. Original price (new condition) here at BHphoto.
Save $700 on the Olympus 35-100mm f/2.0 ED at [shoplink 34576 ebay]Camteacutions[/shoplink] or Cametastore. Original price (new condition) here at BHphoto.
Save $900 on the Olympus 150mm f/2.o at [shoplink 34577 ebay]Camteacutions[/shoplink] or Cametastore. Original price (new condition) here at BHphoto.
Save $300 on the Olympus Zuiko 12-60mm f/2.8 F2.8 ED at [shoplink 34578 ebay]Camteacutions[/shoplink] or Cametastore. Original price (new condition) here at BHphoto.

 

 

Panasonic reports six months financial results.

If you can read the complex language of financial reports than download that Panasonic pdf file. It contains the results of the last size months and a forecast for 2013 (see screenshot on top). In very short, the situation ins’t good. TV business is going worse than ever, restructuring expenses are 11 times(!) more expensive than predicted and when it comes to digital cameras that’s what Panasonic writes:

“AVC Networks
Sales decreased by 24% to 690.0 billion yen from 913.6 billion yen a year ago. This result was due mainly to significant sales decline in flat-panel TVs, BD recorders and digital cameras. Segment profit significantly improved to 19.9 billion yen, compared with a loss of 15.7 billion yen a year ago due mainly to fixed cost reductions and restructuring effects.”

Of course Panasonic already announced a long list of actions and some of them are described in the document. I am less worried about the relative small Digital Camera business. That’s not their main core business.  Panasonic has to fix the TV business first. On the good side of their report you can notice that Panasonic is doing profit on very future oriented business like green terminology and house electronic stuff.

More info at Bloomberg.

(FT3) No plan to make m43 mount Zeiss lenses…

Yesterday Patrick from FujiRumors wrote that Zeiss will release the new Fuji X and Sony E mount lenses in April. He also sent me an email to say that Zeiss representatives that were displaying the lenses in NYC told him that there will be definitely no MFT version of these lenses in 2013. And it hasn’t yet been decided if they will ever be released in 2014.

I hope Zeiss will change their mind soon. Can you leave out the biggest Mirrorless System? They are missing a big chance to make money don’t they? So here is a poll to show Zeiss managers if the little MFT community on 43rumors would buy some of their three lenses. Important to know. These are High Quality Lenses with full AF and Aperture control and priced at 1000 Euro.

What lens would you buy for MFT?

View Results

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Comon Zeiss! We need you on board :)

(FT4) Major Olympus Camera and Lens announcement in January?

Maitani: The inventor and deisgner of the OM line.

I am still collecting pieces about the next Panasonic and Olympus announcements. As I told you last week I got rumors about two Olympus semi professional cameras. Now I got an indication about the possibly next Olympus announcement. It could be in early January! And this would fit perfectly with the next big show which is the CES event in Las Vegas. There are only two info I can share with some reliability (FT4) for now:
1) There will be semi pro stuff.
2) There will be new Cameras And Lenses!

Message to sources:
As usual I ask sources and readers to have some patience. For sources: Don’t be afraid if I don’t post a rumor you sent. I usually try to double check rumors. As you can imagine I also get wrong or fake rumors too. Would be fine if you can use some kind of fake name so that I can recognize you whenever you send me new messages. You may create a fake gmail account to send me anonymous info at 43rumors@gmail.com. Or use contact form you see on the right sidebar. Thanks!

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P.S.: We had many OM Film Cameras designed by Maitani. 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].

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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

Akira Watanabe interview: “New system cameras coming in the short term!” -> High End model!

Two days ago I told you that I am getting new rumors about two possible Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras. It may be a good time to remind you some statements made by Akira Watanabe at Amateur Photographer. Here are some of the key info he unveiled:

– The Canon EOS-M is “not a big challenge”
– About the Olympus fee scandal: “It is, at the moment, a management issue and there is no negative or positive impact on development or planning – no impact.”
– About future products: “new system camera technology, to be rolled out in the ‘short term’, would be ‘trickled’ down to future ‘high-end compact cameras”
– And “Basic technology development-wise, we will focus on high-end models and mainly compact system cameras”
– “very big jump’ in the performance of electronic viewfinders” and “At a certain point most people will be satisfied with replacing their optical finder with an EVF”
– “Olympus will ‘accelerate development of high-grade lenses for MFT systems’.”

The key words here are “short term” – “High End models” and “Electronic Viewfinders”. That sums it up what we will see soon (early 2013). What I didn’t hear yet is if Olympus will make some High Grade zooms like the Olympus [shoplink 25320 ebay]14-35mm f/2.0 (Click here to see them on eBay)[/shoplink] and the [shoplink 25119 ebay]35-100mm f/2.0 (Click here to see them on eBay)[/shoplink] Zuiko lenses. From what I heard prime lenses are priority.

 

 

(FT4) Three new MFT cameras within the next 4-5 months!

The GX2 design patent?

I am working on the next bunch of rumors and all I can say for now is that it is very likely that we will see up to three new Micro Four Thirds cameras within the next 4-5 months. As you know one of them should be the new Panasonic GX2 that is rumored to arrive before the end of the year. Not a surprise seeing that the GX1 ($469 with lens at A.) costs less than the GF5 with the same lens. The new GX2 should have the same GH3 sensor, and a new design (built-in EVF?).

The real challenge right now are the two other new MFT cameras that are supposed to arrive from Olympus! These are scheduled for a release in early 2013. And both are rumored to be different from the cameras we have seen until now and both are made for the enthusiast amateur or semi pro photographer. I am working to get some double-triple feedback from other sources and I will give you some reliable news as soon as I can! Stay tuned!

P.S.: Successor coming or not…the GX1 sells well at that low price according to Amazon ranking (Click here).

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For sources: Sources can send me anonymous info at 43rumors@gmail.com (create a fake gmail account) or via contact form you see on the right sidebar. Thanks!

For readers: Don’t miss any news. Join our group on facebook and follow our tweets.

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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

 

 

(FT2) More about the E-5 successor. With new sensor size?

[shoplink 17163][/shoplink] Image on top: The current [shoplink 17163]Olympus E-5[/shoplink].

Just got that short info from a 43urmors reader that had a private talk with an Olympus manager. The manager told him the E-5 successor will be announced in about one year. It will feature a new generation sensor (also not the same of the current [shoplink 29074]Olympus E-M5[/shoplink]). He also added that they are working on a prototype with larger sensor size. he didn’t specify the exact size.

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For sources: Sources can send me anonymous info at 43rumors@gmail.com (create a fake gmail account) or via contact form you see on the right sidebar. Thanks!

For readers: Don’t miss any news. Join our group on facebook and follow our tweets.

—

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

 

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