On MirrorlessRumors.com you can see and read the specs of the new Pentax NC-1 system. The NC-1 features a 1:2.33 small sensor. If you wonder about the design of the camera it is based on the popular [shoplink 110]Pentax Auto 110 system (Click here to see camera and lenses on eBay)[/shoplink]. Not a big deal in my opinion but I have been told that Pentax will also launch a second mirrorless system with APS-C sensor. If that rumor is true than we can exclude Pentax joining the Micro Four Thirds group. Bad news :(

Who remains that could now join the m43 world as a camera maker? Come on Fuji! The [shoplink 19929]X100[/shoplink] is selling like hotcakes and we want a m43 version of it! By the way, Fuji resumed the X100 production (preorders on [shopcountry 19929])

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

According to PhotoRadar “Olympus plans to release a high-performance PEN camera with touchscreen technology – possibly the PEN Pro reported earlier this month – as well as a mid-range PEN camera with a tilt screen and a PEN camera with flash in the original [shoplink 16885]PEN EP-1 design[/shoplink].” and they “were told we can expect an announcement of the mid-range PEN camera possibly as soon as April.”

You already know that our sources told us there will be no(!) new PEN camera in April. We expect an Olympus announcement by end of May/early June. We are sure there will be new m43 lenses and there is also a fair chance to see he new [shoplink 14830]E-P2 successor[/shoplink]. That’s why I post the rumor with a low FT2 value. Be warned!

I got some rumors about the future cameras and lenses and I am working on it. What I can say now is that there will be many new interesting Olympus products. More about that soon 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

[shoplink 21158 ebay][/shoplink] Image on top: The first Panasonic Lumix camera, the [shoplink 21158 ebay]LC5[/shoplink].

According to our very reliable sources Panasonic wants to celebrate the 10 years of Lumix by introducing a new “special” Lumix model in Q3. We were told that is certainly NOT a GH camera and the sources didn’t tell me what’s so “special” with that camera. There will be also two new lenses announced along that camera. Announcement is expected in Q3 (August). As you know I am a big fan of the [shoplink 20740 ebay]Panasonic L1[/shoplink] and would love to see a m43 version of it. But that’s just my personal wish. What do you expect?

A short note about the 10 years of Lumix:
The first Lumix product has been announced in 2001 and it was the Panasonic LC5 [shoplink 21158 ebay](Click here to see that camera on eBay)[/shoplink]. It was codeveloped with Leica and had a f/2.0 lens! In 2006 Panasonic unveiled the first Lumix-DSLR with Four Thirds sensor, the [shoplink 20740 ebay]Panasonic L1 (Click here to see that camera on eBay)[/shoplink]. The first Micro Four Thirds camera has been announced in 2008, the [shoplink 20741 ebay]Panasonic G1 (Click here)[/shoplink].

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

With the Micro Four Thirds [shoplink 16841]AG-AF100[/shoplink] Panasonic delivered a potential almost perfect video camera for low-budget productions. Today Sony announced the “NEX version“! It has the same price ($4.500) and very similar features. Read the specs at SonyAlphaRumors.com. The main advantage of the AG-AF100 is the wider range of m43 lenses and the availability of the dedicated 14-140mm video lens. But the battle started and I hope this will shake up Panasonic. We want the 12-50mm f/2.5-3.3 lens now and not in a year! Some of my source can tell me WHY the lens release has been postponed? Thanks!

P.S.: Direct AG-AF100 links to [shopcountry 16841].

A few days ago we told you that Panasonic will announce their new m43 products on late April and Olympus on late May. But before that we will see new mirrorless products from Sony and Nikon. Both should announce their new cameras on April 4th. The Sony NEX-C3 should be pretty unspectacular (a warmed up [shoplink 21021]NEX-3[/shoplink]) and Nikon will announce their Nikon Coolpix PRO system (a 2.5 crop system?).

Competition is becoming bigger and bigger (Pentax will announce their system in May). We will have mirrorless system with smaller than m43 sensors and larger than m43 sensors. This brings me to a simple question. How can m43 compete with other systems? They won’t have the smallest camera-lens system (Nikon, Pentax) and neither the best Image quality (Sony). So what features will be crucial to strengthen the m43 system?

A few ideas:
– More lenses, lenses and lenses!
– Less redundant camera range
– Bring real improvements for every new product (Don’t cheat us!).
– Connectivity with social networks for low end models
– APP store for m43 software.
– Make an ultra-small camera and an ultra resistant high-end camera
– Hybrid Viewfinder based on the Fuji X100 and Contax G2 technology (that system was able to adapt the OVF depending on the used prime lens!). See the camera on [shoplink 21069]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. Archieve that and you will see even more crazy eBay auctions than the one ongoing for the X100 on [shoplink 19929 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]…They are all priced over $2000!!!

Do you have some more?

P.S.: Follow MirrorlessRumors.com if you want to know more about other mirrorless systems!

A short update from our sources about the future Panasonic lenses. Panasonic should release three new and two reworked lenses within 2011. One of the new lenses is the 25mm f/1.4 that will be released soon. Another two new lenses should be announced in August (one wide angle lens and a tele lens). Two current lenses will be updated. The 7-14mm lens (with OIS) and a second lens (the source didn’t tell me what lens).
Reminder: Panasonic will have an announcement in April and we hope to receive more info about that soon! Olympus will announce new lenses in late May/early June.

Links:
The current Panasonic 7-14mm f/4.0 at [shopcountry 14822].
The current 25mm f/1.4 Four Thirds lens at [shopcountry 16340]

A few other sources confirmed us that Panasonic will announce the new Panasonic G3 camera and very likely also the new 25mm f/1.4 lens in late April. Before the Earthquake-Tsunami-Nuclear disaster Panasonic had the plan to ship the G3 within May. But I guess there could be now a few weeks of delay. The 25mm f/1.4 should hit the market in summer (July). A next Panasonic camera and lens announcement is scheduled for late August.

Olympus has the plan to release new PRO prime lenses in late May/early July. But there could be a delay with the worldwide lens shipment. We are also not 100% sure yet if they will announce a new PEN in late May/early July. We heard there will be a [shoplink 14830]E-P2[/shoplink] replacement but we didn’t get exact info about the final release. A new product announcement from Olympus will be made in early September (We are almost certain they will announce the high-level PEN).

Anyway, what I really hope now is that Japan can soon take under control the Fukushima nuclear power plant. That’s all what matters now.