And here is the one camera Olympus advertised as “Big announcement”. As anticipated on 43rumors it is the XZ-10 compact camera :(

The camera will be announced next week along other compact cameras and an updated version of the 75-300mm Micro Four Thirds lens. The XZ-10 has a f/1,8-2,7 lens and will be cheaper than the current [shoplink 36288 ebay]XZ-2 model (here on eBay)[/shoplink]…it costs 399 Euro. The 75.300mm lens costs 599 Euro.

via Digicaminfo

Sources confirmed that there will be an Olympus products announcement next week. But they also confirm that the “Big teaser” from GetOlympus is for the XZ-10 and not for a new MFT camera. The XZ-10 will certainly be a nice compact camera but we were expecting a bit more from what GetOlympus defined as a “Big Announcement”.

Anyway, along the XZ-10 we will have other new compact camera models and the new updated and cheaper 75-300mm II MFT lens.

That’s just my speculation but I guess Olympus new MFT camera with integrated EVF had to be delayed a bit because Epsons new 2,36 Million dot EVF mass production just started this week.

Last week I told you how two sources unveieled to me that Olympus would use the new generation Epson sensor on his next MFT camera. And today Epson issued a Press Release to confirm the start of the mass production. Here is the press release with specs:

TOKYO, Japan, January 22, 2013

Seiko Epson Corporation. (“Epson,” TSE: 6724) today announced that it has begun volume production of its latest Ultimicron panel These high-temperature polysilicon (HTPS) TFT color panels bring to life the electronic viewfinders used in mid-to high- end digital interchangeable lens system cameras. The new panel will be exhibited at Epson’s booth at CP + 2013 in Yokohama, Japan, from January 31 to February 3.

Measuring just 0.48 of an inch diagonally, the latest in the Ultimicron series offers XGA (1024 x 768) resolution in red, green and blue for a total of 2.36 megapixels. The new panel is equal in size to a 0.47-inch SVGA panel, but offers higher resolution. In addition, Epson has increased the surface luminance to 520 cd/m2, allowing photographers sufficient visibility in any environment, from the brightest sunlight to the darkness of evening.

The Ultimicron series is positioned to meet growing demand among camera enthusiasts of all levels and abilities for superb quality electronic viewfinders.

Advantages and features

• Compact
  Small 0.48-inch diagonal screen contributes to compact, thin cameras
• High resolution
  High pixel density with XGA resolution (1024 x RGB x 768, 2.36 megapixels)
• No color breakup
  Use of a color filter ensures that it is not affected by the color breakup that can occur with fast-moving subjects and panning shots when using a field-sequential color system.
• Bright
  Achieves brightness of 520 cd / m 2

The new Olympus camera is rumored to be on market on Spring!

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P.S.: Olympus has a long history of making compact cameras with built-in rangefinders. Just check the super long list of [shoplink 36035 ebay]eBay auction on these cameras (Click here)[/shoplink]. Got some inspiration for the new digital PEN with EVF? :)

I keep receiving info about the new Olympus stuff. That comes from Europe:

1) The Olympus XZ-10 will be priced at 399 Euro.

2) The 75-300mm f/4.8-6.7 II will come in black and lower price (599 Euro). 35 Euro less than the current lowest price at Amazon DE.

Don’t know you guys but I fail to see why GetOlympus on Facebook calls this a “Big announcement“. I really hope they may introduce something else too. Once again, I know one semi pro MFT camera and f/2.8 zoom are due for Spring but I don’t expect an official announcement yet. So again, I hope I am wrong here otherwise they will have to read a lot of unhappy comments on their FB page :)

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The message you see here on top has been posted by GetOlympus on Facebook. As I told you yesterday we should expect at least a new 75-300mm II MFT lens and a new XZ-10 compact camera. This doesn’t sounds really…”big”.  I also know that a new MFT camera and a new f/2.8 fast zoom are scheduled to be in store in Spring but I am expecting it to be announced in 1-2 months.

Question now is: that “Big announcements” are just marketing blabla or are they going to surprise us with the MFT camera announcement? I wouldn’t hope too much for now but I would be happy to be proved wrong :)

P.S.: And if you visits GetOlympus Facebook site you may find the time to join our facebook 43rumors group too! :)

Thanks Leo for finding this!

I finally got some bits about the next Olympus announcement that will be made right before the CP+ show start in Yokohama (January 31th). The discontinued Olympus 75-300mm MFT lens (at BHphoto) will be replaced by the new 75-300mm II F4.8-6.7 ED lens.

And there will be a a new Olympus XZ-10 that is smaller and lighter than the current XZ-2. It has a f/1,8-2,7 lens and will be cheaper than the current [shoplink 36288 ebay]XZ-2 model (here on eBay)[/shoplink].

Major new MFT stuff from both Olympus and Panasonic will come in March-April. It’s when also Canon, Sony and Samsung will announce their new mirrorless cameras…

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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

Egami (translation here) spotted a new Sigma patent that describes a new 25mm f/1.4 lens made for the Micro Four Thirds system. My guess is that Sigma may want to release a much cheaper alternative of the excellent [shoplink 23110]Panasonic Leica 25mm f/1.4 lens[/shoplink]. But as usual with patents, this may not become a real finished mass product…

P.S.: Price of the Leica 25mm at [shopcountry 23110].