[shoplink 27042 ebay][/shoplink] Image on top shows an “old” [shoplink 27042 ebay]Olympus OM photocamera[/shoplink].

Surprise! What Olympus is going to announce the second week of February is a new OM styled Micro Four Thirds camera! Unlike the upcoming Fuji X PRO 1 camera that is going to be announced soon (follow MirrorlessRumors for that) the new Olympus camera will have a new type of viewfinder placed in the middle of the camera. The camera has a super high body quality and while I don’t have 100% reliable specs now I have been assured that it has super new kind of viewfinder. I think Olympus decision to revive the OM camera history is good news. I always liked these cameras. There are many versions of it you can still find on [shoplink 27042 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

Olympus will catch up with the Fuji PRO 1 regarding the body quality and viewfinder technology. Let’s see what they can do with the sensor…

P.S.: List of Olympus OM lenses on [shoplink 28153 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

To rumor sources: If you want to send me some rumors use the anonymous contact form on the right sidebar. Please use a sort of “fake name” so that I can recognize you in future. Thanks!

Img src PhotoRumors.

UPDATE: You can right now start to preorder the Fuji X PRO 1 body at Amazon (Click here to see and believe and preorder). UPDATE_2: Page has now ben removed.

Let me make some advertising to my sister blog :)
You will follow the Fuji announcement tomorrow at 9pm London time (21:00) at MirrorlessRumors.com. I guess it’s interesting for many m43 user to see how Fuji new mirrorless system will be. And there is a last minute super leak too:

P.S.: I am again flying over Europe. Will be offline for a couple of hours. Amazon may will remove those links in the meanwhile…

A couple of days ago I reported how Amazon itself is no more selling the Olympus E-P3 (Click here to check). And in other stores like Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here). I have been told by top sources that this is NOT happening because of the upcoming new Olympus cameras. The E-P3 will not be replaced any time soon. The real reason is the supply problem of camera parts from the flood affected region in Thailand. Don’t know yet when those problems will be solved.

I am collecting and doublechecking the info I am getting about the new cameras. Feel free to help me by sending me anonymous messages on the right sidebox. As usual keep in mind that I try to verify rumors and it will take some time before you see it on 43rumors. If I would publish everything I get the readers would kill me after a couple of wrong posted rumors :)

Wellsfargoadvisors leaked the list of what’s going to be announced at the CES show next week. It includes the Olympus and Panasonic compact cameras:

Olympus is introducing five new digicams at the show, and while none have built-in Wi-Fi, a pair is Eye-Fi compatible. The SP-620UZ ($199 suggested retail) has a 21 x wide-angle zoom, 7 fps shooting and HD video. The SZ-12 (also $199) has a 24x zoom, 7 fps burst shooting, high-def video and 3D capture. They are adding to their Tough lineup with the TG-320 ($179.99) which is shock-, water-, freeze- and dust-proof.
Panasonic will introduce five new models – all less than $199. In keeping with the long-zoom push, the slim Lumix SZ-7 and SZ1 have 10x optical zooms. Both feature Leica lenses and start at 25mm. The 14.1-megapixel MOS DMC-SZ7 can record FullHD AVCHD video while the 16.1-megapixel CCD DMC-SZ1 records 720p HD video.

My guess is that the list isn’t really complete as the Sigma products are missing. Sigma scheduled a press release event for January the 10th. There could be new m43 lenses! Sigma already displayed a 30mm macro lens for m43 and NEX. But I hope there is something more than just that lens only.

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Just a reminder. Sigma is part of the Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds coalition and already offers a nice amount of Four Thirds lenses:
[shoplink 18947 ebay]Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6[/shoplink] [shoplink 18948 ebay]Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8[/shoplink] [shoplink 18948 ebay]Sigma 18-50mm f/3.5-5.6[/shoplink] [shoplink 18949 ebay]Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6[/shoplink] [shoplink 18950 ebay]Sigma 24mm f/1.8[/shoplink] [shoplink 18951 ebay]Sigma 30mm f/1.4[/shoplink] [shoplink 18952 ebay]Sigma 50mm f/1.4[/shoplink] [shoplink 18953 ebay]Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3[/shoplink] [shoplink 18955 ebay]Sigma 55-500mm f/4-5.6[/shoplink] [shoplink 18956 ebay]Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8[/shoplink] [shoplink 18957 ebay]Sigma 105mm f/2.8[/shoplink] [shoplink 18958 ebay]Sigma 135-400mm f/4-5.6[/shoplink] [shoplink 18959 ebay]Sigma 150mm f/2.8[/shoplink] [shoplink 18960 ebay]Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6[/shoplink]

Guys, you can’t miss that. I just posted the first real full size images of the Fuji X PRo 1 at MirrorlessRumors.com (Click here!!!).  I am glad that Panasonic and Olympus will finally get some serious pressure. This will push them to improve and renovate much faster than they did until now.

There are new technical solution that on paper do sound very intriguing:
1) The hybrid viewfinder actually changes the optical view depending on the lens. There Is one “problem” with that solution. It sounds like it doesn’t work with zooms but with primes only
2) The autofocus mechanism is “standalone”. It doesn’t rely on the sensor. it’s a sort of “rangefinder” af system. Is it reliable? That’s the question.

I think the new Olympus camera will go in a similar direction as the Fuji. Built-in new viewfinder tehcnology, top body quality. The real question is what kind of sensor the new Oly will use.

Despite all current XZ-1 rebates there will be no new XZ-1 successor yet! A couple of sources told us that the replacement of the XZ-1 will arrive in mid-2012 only. That’s no really a bad news. The XZ-1 is still an amazing camera and there is not a lot you can do better. So grab one if you can. The white XZ-1 sells for $349 at Amazon US (Click here). And there is a 40 pound cashback action inn Great Britain (Click here).

An if you want to know the real Fuji X PRO 1 specs jump over to MirrorlessRumors.com!

Like Olympus also Panasonic will announce the new Micro Four Thirds stuff right before the CP+ show in Yokohama. The event starts on February 9 so we really don’t have to wait a lot to see the new products for real. This means:

1) For the upcoming CES show in Las Vegas (start on January 10) Olympus and Panasonic will now announce compact cameras only.

2) Panasonic will display the new 12-35mm and 35-100mm X lenses at the CES show in Las Vegas but unveil final complete specs and price before the Tokyo show in early February. I have been told that it’s highly unlikely that those lenses will be as fast as the super Zuiko [shoplink 25320 ebay]14-35mm f/2.0 (here on ebay)[/shoplink] and the [shoplink 25119 ebay]35-100mm f/2.0 (here on ebay)[/shoplink] lenses.

3) There is no GH3 coming now. I am still not sure if it will be announced for the Tokyo show.

4) The Olympus m43 camera with integrated viewfinder is not an FT5 rumor….but FT6 or FT7 or whatever :)  I am getting first rumors about the camera form trusted sources. Will post them soon!

Maybe the reason why Olympus and Panasonic will focus their announcements on the CP+ show is because of Nikon and Fuji. Both will announce two super cameras within the next days. The Nikon D4 and D800 and Fuji will announce their Fuji LX10 (or Fuji X PRo 1) with super organic sensor. You can follow the Fuji news on MirrorlessRumors.