[shoplink 14816 ebay][/shoplink] Image on top shows the [shoplink 14816 ebay]Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6[/shoplink] which is going to be replaced soon with the “IIR” version.

Olympus will not only announce two new lenses (the 12mm f/2.0 and 45mm f/1.8) but also one (or maybe two) reworked kit lenses! There will be certainly a new 14-42mm IIR lens. It has the same size and optical design of the current [shoplink 14816]Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6[/shoplink] kit lens. But the new “IIR” version boost the autofocus speed to much higher (I repeat “much”!!!) speed than the [shoplink 16254]Panasonic GH2[/shoplink] + [shoplink 14802]14-140mm[/shoplink] combo! It is so faster that you “feel” it. It’s not just a marketing “blabla”!

One of our sources also told us that there will be also a new 40-150mm IIR coming too. But that has to be confirmed by other sources. Your older lenses will also focus faster on the new PEN but not as fast as you can do on the new lenses.

In summary, Olympus will announce three cameras (E-PM1, E-PL3, E-P3), a new Flash, two new prime lenses (12mm and 45mm) and two reworked zooms (14-42mm and 40-150mm). Is there somehting else Oly? :)

A couple of months ago the Fujiguys promised that there will be some exciting news in September 2011. Now Photorumors got a rumor from an unknown source saying that there will be probably “some kind of a mirrorless solution with a sensor probably smaller than APS-C, something in the m4/3 range.” I don’t know how reliable the source is, what I know for certain is that Fuji wants to make a mirrorless camera that takes interchangeable system. One of my sources also told me months ago that there was a meeting between Olympus and Fuji. I hope that source will know come back to me and tell me if that rumor is true or not ;)

Meanwhile Fuji released the new firmware for the X100 you can download here: http://www.fujifilm.com/support. And click those links if you want to check price and availability of the X100: [shopcountry 19929].

Our sources do of course read your comments and they send me their answers. Some of my sources are new, some are well known, that’s why you see a different FT ranking (See the ranking explanation on the bottom of the article to learn more).

(FT4) Source_1:
1. the grip is just that – a grip. but it will come in different sizes to support the longer lens.
2. the sensor is Olympus own – its not sharing anything with Panasonic.
3. there is a dedicated, zoom button for zooming in when you are in the green box mode? button location below the record button.
4. flash is remote trigger capable, but no free bounce like [shoplink 14832]Olympus E-PL1[/shoplink].
5. the other two cameras will have bundled external flash that uses the hotshoe+accessory port.
6. the front of the new EPL looks EXACTLY like the Olympus XZ-1 ([shoplink 19904 ebay]Click here to see that camera[/shoplink])
7. the 45mm is about as big as the new [shoplink 23110]Panasonic-Leica 25mm f/1.4[/shoplink], maybe a bit more smaller in width.

(FT5) Source_2:
1. All three PEN cameras do have AF assist lamp

(FT5) Source_3:
1. All three cameras do have touchscreen (but only the E-P3 is using the OLED 640k screen. The other two do use a 460k LCD)
2. AF is terrific. Very fast and accurate.

(FT4) Source_4:
1. Old lenses will focus faster on the new Pen cameras (although not as fast as when using new lenses).
2. AF really faster than the [shoplink 16254]Panasonic GH2[/shoplink] (tested in daylight)

(FT5) Source_5:
1. There is no final firmware yet (it’s still 0.9), but I can say images do look better than the GH2.
2. E-PM1 is smaller than [shoplink 17361]Panasonic GF2[/shoplink], but bigger than [shoplink 23109]Panasonic GF3[/shoplink].

(FT5) Source_6:
1. Damn fast AF!
2. E-P3 has same design as E-P2. The E-PM1 and the E-PL2 do have a completely new design.

Feel free to make questions, they will might send me the answers to post on 43rumors!

Reminder -> 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

– It has the new Olympus “tweaked” 12 Megapixel Sensor
– Truepic VI engine (two processor in one)
– ISO 100 to 12.800
– 1080i 60frs AVCHD or JPEG video
– 35 point autofocus
– OLED touch Display (610k resolution). Sounds like it is almost the same screen used for the [shoplink 19904 ebay]Olympus XZ-1[/shoplink].
– pop up live guide
– dual dials
– fastest AF to date for any mirrorless cam (and I have been told that it is considerably faster that the [shoplink 16254 ebay]Panasonic GH2[/shoplink]!).
– updated art filters
– effects to combine with art filters (like starlight)
– 3D still images
– Interchangeable grip. I have been told there are two different grips you can buy (and more will come after).
– Design changes: The top dial is now placed instead of the ON/OFF button of the E-P2. To make room for the built-in flash. There is a video recording button over the AEL button.

Reminder: Announcement on June 30th. As usual on that date we will continually update 43rumors with all news, reviews and image samples we can find on the web! And don’t forget to join us on Facebook and Twitter! Subscribe our RSS feed!

Links cameras/accessories mentioned in that article:
Olympus XZ-1 at [shopcountry 19904].
Olympus E-P2 at [shopcountry 14830].
Panasonic GH2 at [shopcountry 16254].

Reminder -> 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

A reader just sent us that size comparison between the upcoming new mini PEN (E-PM1) and the [shoplink 14832]Olympus E-PL1[/shoplink]. The new E-PM1 is just a bit less thick and a bit less wide than the E-PL1. The real difference is made by the absence of the grip.

By the way, there are eleven of refurbished E-PL1 on [shoplink 22691 ebay]Olympusmarket[/shoplink]. Click on the numbers to see the E-PL1 auction (ordered form first to last ending auction): [shoplink 23350 ebay]one[/shoplink], [shoplink 23351 ebay]two[/shoplink], [shoplink 23352 ebay]three[/shoplink], [shoplink 23353 ebay]four[/shoplink], [shoplink 23354 ebay]five[/shoplink], [shoplink 23355 ebay]six[/shoplink], [shoplink 23356 ebay]seven[/shoplink], [shoplink 23357 ebay]eight[/shoplink], [shoplink 23358 ebay]nine[/shoplink], [shoplink 23359 ebay]ten[/shoplink], [shoplink 23360 ebay]eleven[/shoplink].

[shoplink 23321 ebay][/shoplink] Image on top shows the current [shoplink 23321 ebay]VF-2 viewfinder (around $279.95)[/shoplink].

Olympus will not only announce three new cameras and two new lenses, there will be also two new accessories:

1) A new Flash that will be positioned a bit lower than the current [shoplink 23320 ebay]FL-36 flash[/shoplink]. UPDATE: The flash will be called FL-300R.

2) A new Olympus external electronic viewfinder which is cheaper than the current [shoplink 23321 ebay]VF-2 viewfinder (around $279.95)[/shoplink].

I have no specs about both products. That’s why I don’t knwo if the new viewfinder will have the same VF-2 quality or not. But a cheaper alternative is very welcome!

P.S.: Check the current Olympus VF-2 price at [shopcountry 23321].

Before to go on with more new Olympus rumors I want to remindert you what’s going on with the competition:

1) Tomorrow Pentax will announce the new NC-1 mirrorless system with small 1:2.33 inch sensor. You can follow the announcement live on MirrorlessRumors (Click here) at 13:00 Tokyo time! The camera is very tiny almost like the old film [shoplink 21191 ebay]Auto 110 system (Click here ot see that on ebay)[/shoplink]. It’s very important for you to know that Pentax will launch a second “k-system” in autumn (with APS-C) sensor. It’s very likely that they will use the current Sony NEX sensors.

2) Leica will announce a mirrorless system at Photokina 2012. It will use a built-in EVF instead of a rangefinder sytem a là [shoplink 22857 ebay]Leica M9 (Click here to see that camera)[/shoplink]. There are no specs now, but I guess it will be a very expensive system ;)

3) Sony delayed the new NEX Pro and lens announcement form July to late August. Pity that Sony doesn’t offer any decent lens for their NEX users!

4) Samsung will announce the NX-200 and NX-20 with 18 Megapixel sensor in July. And there will be also a nice 85mm f/1.4 lens (Source: MirrorlessRumors.com)

As you cansee, there is nothing to come from Canon and Nikon. They don’t want to cannibalize their entry level DSLR market. But how long can they play that game?