Olympus Japan just issued an official statement. It says that the demand of the lens has been higher than expected and therefore not all that preordered the lens will get it in time (late November-early December). The lens has still an ETA of December 7 at Amazon US (Click here). But a couple of 43rumors readers luckily told me that their US preorders already shipped! And there is even a first lens auction on [shoplink 42953 ebay]eBay US (Click here)[/shoplink]. So I guess the supply shortage will only affect those of you that will preorder the lens now.

Preorders: Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO Lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, AmazonDE (viaDL), Amazon ES (via DL).

JP (Click here) published an interview with Olympus president Sasa. If google translation didn’t fool me this is what he says:
– Olympus and Sony are working together on the camera and lens front. This means “one-step” integration in the distribution network and camera parts purchases to reduce the costs.
– He confirms the low-end compact camera market is of no more interest for Olympus
– There is room for growth in the Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens market. Olympus expects annual sales number to increase from 75000-80000 to 90000-140000 units.

article found via Digicameinfo.

This is an image of the new Micro Four Thirds OWL drop in filter adapter devleoped by MXcamera.

The advantages you get with that drop in filter are:
1. for ultra wide angle or fish eye lens, no way to install the filter. Rear drop filter is the only way to solve the problem.
2. For Cine lens, like Canon CP / Zeiss CT lens, the filter is thread is 95mm, very expensive filter, a rear drop in filter can reduce the cost
3. easy to change drop in filter and will not affect the setting, front lens filter may change your setting when un-installing, especially the lens is not internal focus….
4. The setting of rear drop in filter will not change while you change the lens, more efficient
5. For telephone lens, the lens body is too long, when you attached the lens on tripod, this is difficult change the filter.
using rear drop in filter, you can change the filter and keep an eye in the viewfinder.
6. MX is now developing the tele-converter lens for this adapter, so you can upgrade this adapter to tele-converter easily.

The filter will go on sale early 2014. And they will sell it on their eBay Store.