Some reader is complaining why I don’t post Four Thirds rumors. The truth is that in three years on 43rumors there was only one Four Thirds product announcement (the [shoplink 17163]Olympus E-5[/shoplink]). So there wasn’t really a lot to work on that front. Of course I talk with my sources about the future of Four Thirds and I want to give you my modest view on the future of the Four Thirds system. Like it or not, ALL sources I have are telling me the same things:

1) The future is Micro Four Thirds, not Four Thirds. Olympus itself is promoting their m43 system when getting in touch with big stores and retailers. There is almost no effort to promote and sell the Four Thirds stuff.

2) Olympus new Four Thirds lens release keeps getting postponed without to set a precise time table. An example is the long announced and never released 100mm Zuiko lens. P.S.: The last three years only [shoplink 28695 ebay]Samyang (Click here)[/shoplink] released some nice lenses for the Four Thirds system.

3) Olympus goal is to merge the Four Thirds system within the Micro Four Thirds system. That means Olympus is trying to bring full support of Four Thirds lenses on Micro Four Thirds cameras. In concrete they are working to have super fast AF when using 43 lenses on m43 cameras. A solution could come by the use of a special adapter with built-in mirror and prism system (with phase detection AF). P.S.: Something similar (with the translucent mirror) has been done by Sony with the [shoplink 29290]LAEA2 adapter[/shoplink].

In Summary, you shouldn’t be worried for your Four Thirds lenses. I know from top sources Olympus is working on making them fully compatible with the m43 system. But the release of a new E-7 camera now depends from how fast Olympus engineers can realize a professional m43 camera. If all works fine, we can may expect a sort of E-M7 professional camera at Photokina. But that’s just a speculation for now…

There have been quite many news i these days and it’s time to highlight the most important aspects of all those Panasonic and Olympus statements. They clearly gave us some “signal” about what to expect in 2012:

1) The PRO market
Olympus: Olympus said that the [shoplink 29074]Olympus E-M5[/shoplink] is NOT a professional camera while the [shoplink 17163]Olympus E-5[/shoplink] is a professional camera. Don’t let’s discuss about when a camera can be defined as professional or not. What matters from a “rumor” point of view is that Olympus many times stated that they want to launch a professional Micro Four Thirds camera. And if they say the E.M5 is not THAT camera than we might can expect a launch of an even more advanced m43 camera by Photokina 2012.
Panasonic: Panasonic used big words and said a very high end model camera is going to be launched soon. Easy to guess that this will be the GH3. I don’t expect any revolution but rather a well thought evolution of the [shoplink 16254]Panasonic GH2[/shoplink]. The GH3 will certainly be weather sealed and probably sue a new global shutter sensor. In the past Panasonic said they want to focus on the electronic viewfinder development and here is on of the areas where we should see a major improvement.

2) The sensors future
Olympus: Olympus marketing is copying Nikon’s strategy. Also Nikon continually states that their new 36 megapixel sensor used for the Nikon D800 (Click here) is made by them although we can be 99% certain it has been factored and also largely developed by Sony. So I am pretty sure the E-M5 uses the same [shoplink 26836]Panasonic GX1[/shoplink] sensor with some Olympus engineered “tweaks”. While I heard that Samsung and Sony offered to make m43 sensors I don’t expect anything really revolutionary coming within 2012.
Panasonic: Panasonic has been very honest in their latest interview. They want to deliver better image quality through offering new high quality lenses rather than promising new miracles on sensor technology.

3) The lenses
Olympus: Olympus said they want to focus on new prime and new affordable lenses.
Panasonic: Panasonic wants to deliver more high quality lenses.

4) More TidBits
Both companies are committed to the Micro Four Thirds standard and have no plan to offer a new system based on larger sensors. And Both companies will keep developing and improving the contrast autofocus technology which they say is more reliable and faster than phase detection.

That’s it! Let me know if you think there is something more I didn’t mention here!

In an interview with Amateur Photographer Ichiro Kitao (director of Panasonic’s digital stills camera business) said “I want Panasonic to be known for very high-quality cameras, and we are currently restructuring the range of products that we offer to include a very high end model“. Easy to guess that he is talking about the GH3. He confirms that they will NOT change the sensor size as m43 offers enough space for good resolution and is only less than one stop behing the APS-C competition (…so he says).

Back in late 2011 we reported how Panasonic had no plans to enter the “professional market” with a larger sensor system: “to use a larger sensor means we’d have to compromise on the size of our lenses, and thus the size of our system. MFT cameras need to be smaller“. Editor’s note: Make no mistake, you are not more or less professional by using smaller or larger sensors :)

He said that “some” of the APS-C competition (I guess he means Sony) do offer very small bodies that have optical problems in the corners of the images. Panasonic is now focusing on improving the optical quality. the best prime lenses will continue to be branded with the Leica name and the best zooms will be branded with the new “X” mark. Panasonic will not extend the range of m43 cameras but “We will define more clearly what GH and GX means this year, so consumers have a better idea of what their characteristics are“. Panasonic also believes contrast AF and not phase autofocus is the future.

That’s it….some thoughts?

(The two fake GH3 images)

I just found these two small pieces of images showing the possible future Panasonic GH3 camera. I am 99% sure these images are fake! If you compare it with the images of the [shoplink 16254 ebay]Panasonic GH2 (see below)[/shoplink] you see many (faked) differences. I posted this because I am sure soon these images will be all over the web and you will send me hundreds of emails asking me if these images are real. So here is my answer…no! :)

Panasonic Spain wrote on Twitter (Click here) that a new G camera is coming soon. According to our sources the GH3 is veyr likely coming at Photokina only so this will be a new GF or G model. My bet is on the GF5 :)

P.S.: The GH2 with 14-140mm kit sells now for $1.099 only at Amazon (Click here).

The new E-M5 camera will be announcd within one hour and there are new “last minute” leaks :)

First you can find the full new lens press release on Olympus Australia website (Click here to downlaod the pdf).

Cnet pusblished their E-M5 video review fo a couple of minutes on youtube (it has now been removed).

Than we have the full press release at E-P1.net.

Image samples (Click on it to enlarge):
http://blog.bergencountycamera.com/wp-content/gallery/olympus-e-m5/b1112958.jpg
http://blog.bergencountycamera.com/wp-content/gallery/olympus-e-m5/p1020152.jpg
http://blog.bergencountycamera.com/wp-content/gallery/olympus-e-m5/p1130148-sm.jpg
http://blog.bergencountycamera.com/wp-content/gallery/olympus-e-m5/s2221124-sm.jpg

And Clubsnap (Click here) posted a full interview with MR. Terada! Here is the text:
“CS (Clubsnap): Top of mind concern is actually how Olympus is intending to build back trust with consumers after the recent accounting scandal?
TT (Terada): I would like to apologize to our clients and want to confirm that our Imaging business is separate from the department that was in the news. Business at Olympus Imaging Corporation is going on as usual. We continue in building client loyalty and trust by continuing to develop and introduce new products and by making sure that our service to clients is good.
CS: The PEN series has been a huge success since it was first launched appealing to a younger generation , which segment of the market is the OM-D targeted at ? What’s Olympus rational in the OM-D E-M5 design and when was it concieved?
TT: We began to consider the M4/3 system 3 to 4 years ago. We identified 2 target groups of users of the 4/3 system : Customers who wanted an easy to use camera and customers who were serious photographers looking for a compact system that was easy to carry in any situation. The 1st product, the PEN E-P1 was developed and introduced to distinguish it from a DSLR. 1 year ago, we considered the concept of a FULL System that benefited from using a viewfinder where composing from a large LCD screen was difficult (eg with longer lenses)
CS: Please share with us more on the new 16mp live MOS sensor and 3D autofocus found on the OM-D?
TT: The new 16mp Live MOS image sensor produces lower noise at High ISO and boasts Dynamic Range that is a 1/3 improvement over current sensors. Combined with an advanced TruePic VI image processor, the results ensure superb color fidelity , at high resolution, sensitivity and colour accuracy.
TT: Autofocus is faster (fastest in the world) because of the new 3D tracking autofocus technology. Apart from being faster, it is also more accurate.
TT: 3D autofocussing sequentially tracks subjects (even subjects that are moving directly towards/away ) and works best at 4fps
CS: How is 5 Axis Image Stabilizing in the OM-D different from normal image stabilizing?
TT: Current image stabilizing technology relies on 2 axis. The problem was that rotating/rolling actions could not be compensated. 5 Axis Image Stabilizing takes care of this problem with 2 magnets front and back with the sensor ‘floating’ in between. It takes care of pitching, yawing, horizontal/vertical AND ROTATIONAL movements. An entire new mechanism had to be designed to make this possible.
CS: I noticed that the OM-D body and the new lenses are splash proof, will it need much maintenance on the part of the owner ?
TT: Owner will need to just wipe a wet OM-D with a towel to dry it off . It can withstand heavy rains and is built to the standards of our E-series of cameras and lenses. Our E cameras has not received a ‘Wet Claim’ warranty yet till today. The OM-D line weather sealing are of the same standard in sealing.
CS: Will peak focus be coming soon?
TT: Maybe in future. I feel that magnified focusing is still better
CS: Any plans to make a lens adaptor to allow the use of older OM lenses onto M4/3 bodies like the OM-D ?
TT: I cant remember the model , I think its MF2, but we have one already
CS: ha ha Oops…
CS: Many photographers who adopt the Micro 4/3 system have been using these cameras for street photography and photojournalism type images but lens choices are still limited. How difficult would it be to design and manufacture an ultra wideangle prime lens eg a 10mm f2.8 ?
TT: Technically it is possible…. it might be a little big if you want fast f-stop . We already have the ultra-wide 9-18mm zoom and the recently released 12mm f2. Yes, we can consider the possibility of faster and wider prime lenses.
CS: When will the OM-D be available to the public ? Which countries will get it first ?
TT: Soonest on sale will be around mid to late March. Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan should be the first countries in Asia to receive them
CS: What will the OM package be like? Body only? Body with Kit Lens ?
Jimmy Loh (Olympus Imaging Singapore GM): It will be in 3 combinations … Body Only … Body + the new 12-50 zoom … and Body + 14-42 zoom + 40-150 telezoom
CS: The current OM-D max shutter speed of 1/4000s is limiting especially with minimum ISO of 200…. Any plans to increase max shutter speed?
TT: Yes this will be a problem in shooting in bright sunlight, we will consider this in future
CS: What about lenses for birding? eg. a 300mm.
TT: We would like to cover the photography field so yes that is a serious consideration we have to think about in the future
CS: With the EP3 and now EM5, the fastest Contrast Detection AF in class, do you think that CDAF can now rival PhaseDetection AF in speed and AF tracking?
TT: This is reliant on shooting speed and it is difficult to test side-by-side
CS: Any plans on introducing pancake lenses in future ?
TT: No comment ha ha. Its under consideration
CS: The XZ-1 compact has been a huge success since its launch in 2011. Can we expect an upgrade sometime soon?
TT: Yes there will be a successor to the XZ-1….. ha ha ha but cannot reveal anything yet.
CS: And with so much attention on M4/3 Olympus seems to have been a little quiet on the E-series
TT: We continue to be firmly supporting the E-system”

Cool!