The japanese Blog Egami (Click here) found a new Panasonic patent disclosing a new organic sensor technology. It’s the same idea from Fuji and as you know Fuji claims that their APS-C organic sensor can beats the image quality of any current fullframe sensor. Of course a patent is just that….a paper! It might take a long time before it gets used for real or it might will never happen at all.

Micro Four Thirds needs a new generation of sensor with a boost in image quality. Fuji is going to do that with the organic sensor, and Sigma said they will announce a surprise in early January (maybe a new foveon sensor that doesn’t cost as much as the one used for that crazy priced [shoplink 27986 ebay]Sigma SD1 (See price on eBay)[/shoplink]). Would be nice to see some surprises from Panasonic and Olympus too!

If Fuji is ever going to acquire or “invest” in Olympus than it’s certainly because of the very profitable endoscope division and NOT because of the camera business. Reuters reports that when asked about a possible investment in Olympus Kouichi Tamai (head of Fujifilm’s medical systems unit) said that “Until we know what will happen to Olympus as a company, it would all be theoretical, so we don’t know“. The news here is that indeed Fuji is clearly interested in what’s happening around Olympus. The only thing I can add via my source channels is that indeed Fuji’s name is floating around the Olympus headquarters more than any other big names.

One more thing: You already know that in February Fuji will announce their new LX mirrorless system with the first camera having an organic sensor. Actually it’s an APS-C sensor that beats the image quality of ff sensors. There is a rumor saying that to cut the production costs Fuji is willing to sell sensors to third parties. As Olympus is having a good relationship with Fuji I guess there is a small chance Olympus could be one if not the only one using those sensors. It would suddenly let make a quantum leap forward. Couple that with the new Olympus viewfinder technology and …..keep dreaming ;)

For almost a year now we are waiting for Sigma to announce the first m43 lenses. The image on top shows the first prototype lens that has been displayed on many shows. It’s a 30mm f/2.8 macro lens. But I really do hope there is more than that coming on January 10th when Sigma has scheduled a new press release (see Sigmaphoto.com / via Photorumors). Sigma managers revealed at Imrpessjpana that they want to launch m43 lenses soon. So this may be the right time to finally see those new lenses! In general we expect a new Olympus and Panasonic announcement in January too, this means for me that it will be a very busy month! Stay tuned!

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]

A Samsung source just sent me some info about their semitransparent electronic viewfinder. Samsung is one of the companies working on that technology that Olympus could use in future cameras.
The source gave me bits of very intriguing info. Thanks!!!

Here is the text:
“Samsung has two small prototypes of semitransparent OLED, that officially are known as ST-AMOLED, they are truly AMOLED devices (Active Matrix OLED). Samsung can not make a higher resolution EVF, the limit right now is just 750×560 on 0.55″ 4:3 display with 52% of transparency. The new device for late of 2012 will reach 1080×815 on 0.75″ 4:3 display, offering 1080×720 on 3:2 mode and 73% of transparency. The final device will have a RGB-W pattern, including a White photodiode to improve the high contrast scenes.
I have not information about commercialization to 3rd companies, but it will offer an advanced technology on the market for competition.”

Samsung is not the only electronic viewfinder maker. Also Epson, Fuji and Sony could sell them to Olympus.

The latest Olympus patent found by Egami (Click here) describes a new Vari-angle LCD screen. But what’s really intriguing is the medium Format design of the camera body. In some way it reminds me the leaked Samsung medium format camera. And seeing that there are rumors that Olympus may will work closer with Samsung this starts to look more than just a casual pattern. Below you can see the leaked Samsung image I posted months ago on MirrorlessRumors (Click here):

That’s just my speculation for now, but if Olympus is working on such a camera than the Samsung square sensor could be definitely the way to go!

Back to reality, camera companies do register plenty of patents that will never be applied on real camera. So don’t get too much exited about that one!

Year 2011 is almost over and it’s time for you to let Panasonic Olympus know what’s the best Micro Four Thirds product they have launched in 2011.

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