Olympus Hong Kong is sending out invitation for a big event which will take place on Feb 8th! Olympus itself said that they will announce a new “PRO level camera” and a “line of new products“.

As I told you yesterday you should expect a super high quality body (weather sealed!), with built-in viewfinder. But unlike the X PRO 1 and NEX-7 this is not going to have a rangefinder look. It’s a “revival” of the glorious [shoplink 27042 ebay]OM camera[/shoplink] series. What I don’t know yet is what Olympus means with “new line of products”. Hope to get more rumors about that soon!

P.S.: OM camera and lens auctions on [shoplink 27042 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

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

And here we are! I just “found” the two images of the new Micro Four Thirds lenses from Sigma! The bad new is that…I don’t like them. I would have preferred to see a [shoplink 18950 ebay]Sigma 24mm f/1.8 (it already exists for FT)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 18951 ebay]Sigma 30mm f/1.4 (also available for Four Thrids)[/shoplink].

Here is the press release text:

Sigma 19mm f/2.8 EX DN: When used on a Micro Four Thirds format mirrorless camera, Sigma’s new 19mm f/2.8 EX DN has the effective FOV of a 38mm lens on a full-frame DSLR, which should appeal to street photographers and photojournalists.  Regardless of your choice of camera, the Sigma 19mm f/2.8 EX DN features eight elements in six groups that include three aspheric lens surfaces to correct optical distortions, color aberration and unwanted field curvature. The new lens also sports an internal focusing system and Super Multi-layer coating to reduce flare and ghosting while maintaining high contrast levels even when set at wider apertures. Other features include a new linear AF motor that eliminates mechanical gears or drives for quicker, near-silent focusing, seven rounded diaphragm blades for an attractive blur in out-of-focus areas, a 46mm filter thread, and a minimum focusing distance of 7.9″ (20cm).

Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN: Extending a mere 1.5″ (38.6mm) from the front of the camera is Sigma’s new 30mm f/2.8 EX DN. This lens has a full-frame equivalent FOV of a 60mm lens when used on a Micro Four Thirds format mirrorless camera. The new Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN features seven elements in five groups including dual aspheric lenses and a double-sided aspheric lens that help control edge sharpness and chromatic aberration. As with Sigma’s new 19mm f/2.8 EX DN lens, the new 30mm f/2.8 EX DN lens includes Sigma’s newly developed linear AF system for smoother and quieter operation, Super Multi-Layer coating for optimized contrast levels and reduced flare, a 46mm filter thread, internal focusing and a minimum focusing distance of 11.8″ (30cm).

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Stay tuned!!!

[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.