The great E-M1 hands-on by TheCameraStoreTV team!

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For a short moment Ming Thein created some buzz by writing: “I’ve been assured this isn’t dead, and an E-7 is in the works“. But after checking with journalists and Olympus insiders I can now confirm with a 100% certainty that today’s launch of the new Olympus E-M1 marks the end of the Four Thirds line. DC.watch unveiled that Olympus did indeed create an E-7 prototype but then decided that the E-m1 was good enough and the E-7 no more needed. They also write that Olympus officially said that Micro Four Thirds and Four Thirds now merged into one system. This means:

1) There will be no new Four Thirds camera or lens anymore. The [shoplink 17163]Olympus E-5[/shoplink] was the last FT product ever launched by Olympus

2) FT Lenses and the [shoplink 17163]Olympus E-5[/shoplink] will remain into production until demand drops.

It’s a somewhat sad day knowing that Four Thirds died. But this is it. The E-M1 sets a new future for Olympus. Only Time will tell if that is the right path for Olympus!

Preorders in US and Europe (Click on the store name to read price and specs):
Dedicated page at Amazon.
Olympus E-M1 body at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto, Amazon DE (via DL), WexUK, Topshot Finland, Namencolor Spain, CameraWorldUK.
Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO Lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, AmazonDE (viaDL).
Olympus E-M1 with 12-40mm Lens kit at Amazon DE (via DL), WexUK and CameraWorldUK.
Olympus E-M1 with 12-50mm Lens kit at Amazon DE (via DL), WexUK, CameraWorldUK.
Olympus EP-13 Eyecup for E-M1 at Adorama and BHphoto.
Olympus HLD-7 Battery Grip for E-M1 at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
Olympus LC-62D Metal Front Lens Cap for 12-40mm at Adorama and BHphoto.
Olympus LH-66 Lens Hood for 12-40mm at Adorama and BHphoto.

Some more bits before the news gets official at 5am London time:

– The E-M1 has adaptive sharpening optimization (works for every Olympus MFT and FT lens)
– Continuous AF is better than in any other MFT camera and matches the best DSLR performance
– EVF automatically adjusts the brightness
– The E-M1 is more weathersealed than the [shoplink 17163 ebay]Olympus E-5[/shoplink] – 12-40mm PRO lens has better performance than the 12-60mm FT lens.
– Olympus will offer a PRO Service package for  E-M1 owners (for example access to a hotline number)
First image samples by Ming Thein on Flicr (part one and part two).

In very Steve Jobs style I can now tell you that there is one more thing….a new Olympus high end compact with fixed lens! I don’t think it will be announced today along the E-m1. I hope to get more info about it after the announcement…

UPDATE: This camera will not go on preorder tomorrow. I don’t know yet if Olympus will “hint” something tomorrow or if this camera will be announced just a couple of weeks later. All I know is that there is definitely a high end compact on the way.

Stay tuned for the E-m1 announcement at 5am London time!

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For sources: Sources can send me anonymous info at 43rumors@gmail.com (create a fake Gmail account) or via contact form you see on the right sidebar. Thanks!
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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

I just learned that in some regions the E-M1 announcement will happen at 5am London time and in some other regions at 6am. This means that at 5am London time first official E-M1 info and review will be published here on 43rumors. Converted in other timezones this means:

9pm in Los Angeles
12am in New York
5am in London
6am in Berlin
13:00 (1pm) in Tokyo

As usual stay tuned on 43rumors by that hour. I will keep you updated with links to reviews, image samples and preorders.

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Dealsrunner.com (Click here) spotted the Amazon Germany price of the Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO lens. It will cost 999 Euro but if you try to preorder the page goes blank. The preorder links will work tomorrow at 5am London time (Stay tuned on 43rumors to follow the announcement).

Digicameinfo updated the E-M1 spec list (specs via google translation):

• Olympus OM-D E-M1
  – 16.28 million pixel LiveMOS sensor with 37 phase detection pixels
  – “DUAL FAST AF” hybrid autofocus (hybrid means contrast and phase detection AF).
  – Greatly improve the tracking performance of the C-AF
  – 6.5 frames / 10 frames  with fixed exposure.
  – 200-25600, LOW ISO range (ISO100 equivalent)
  – The shutter speed -1/8000 seconds up to 60 seconds
  – New TruePicVII Image processing engine
  – Adopt image processing technology “Fine detail II”, magnification chromatic aberration correction, Moire Reduction
  – EVF is 0.029 seconds time lag, High magnification 2.36 million dots of 0.74 times 35mm conversion,
  – touch panel LCD monitor 1.04 million dot 3.0-inch, movable,
  – 5-axis camera shake correction
  – Video Full HD (1920×1080 30p, 24Mbps)
  – -10 ℃ Low-temperature performance dustproof drip-proof,
  – Wi-Fi Built-in
  – Dimensions: 130.4 x 93.5 x 63.1mm
  – Weight: 497g (including battery media), 443g (body only)
  – Kit with 12-50mm will ship in early October and 12-40mm kit in late Ocotber

• M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO
  – Linear motor, MSC mechanism, AF inner focus
  – Manual focus clutch mechanism
  – 20cm minimum focusing distance (maximum magnification of 0.3 times, 35mm equivalent 0.6 times) throughout the entire zoom range
  – Dust-proof drip
  – I squeeze seven feathers (circular aperture)
  – Filter size: 62mm
  – Total length: 84mm, maximum diameter 69.9mm
  – Weight: 382g
  –  late November release

Reminder: Announcement tomorrow at 6am London time!

—

For sources: Sources can send me anonymous info at 43rumors@gmail.com (create a fake Gmail account) or via contact form you see on the right sidebar. Thanks!
For readers: Don’t miss any news. Join our group on facebook and follow our tweets.

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

The full E-M1 accessory price have been leaked on Amazon.de (via DealsRunner). Thanks Paul for finding this! And a source sent me the camera and kit version price in Euro:

Price info from source:
E-M1 body 1500€ body
E-M1 with 12-50mm lens 1700€
E-M1 with 12-40mm lens 2200€

Accessory price on Amazon.de (via DealsRunner).
Olympus EP-12 Augenmuschel für OM-D E-M1 for EUR 14,90
Olympus EP-13 Augenmuschel (groß) für OM-D E-M1 EUR 24,90
Olympus GS-5 Griffschlaufe für HLD-7 (OM-D E-M1) EUR 39,90
Olympus HLD-7 Batteriegriff für OM-D E-M1 bzw. BLN-1 Akku EUR 229,00
Olympus LC-62D Objektivdeckel für M.Zuiko 12-40mm EUR 19,90
Olympus LH-66 Objektivdeckel für M.Zuiko 12-40mm EUR 44,90
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Bereitschaftstasche (CS-42 ) EUR 69,90
Olympus Schutzfilter für MFT 12-40mm (62mm Durchmesser) EUR 39,90
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40 mm 1:2.8 Top Pro Objektiv für Micro Four Thirds Objektivbajonett (150mm KB) schwarz…EUR 999,00

Our friends over at Digicameinfo confirmed the specs of the E-M1 cameras that we already posted many weeks ago. And also said the camera would start shipping in early October while the 12-40mm lens will ship in November. Stay tuned on 43rumors tomorrow morning at 5am London time everything will be officially announced!

Olympus OM-D E-M1
– 16.28 million pixel sensor LiveMOS
– “DUAL FAST AF” (Phase detection and contrast detection AF).
– New TruePicVII Image processing engine
– EVF  (with new high magnification)
– 5-axis camera shake correction
– Announcement – September 10
– Kit with 12-40mm lens will ship in early October. Kit with 12-50mm lens in late October.

M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO
– Linear motor, AF, MSC
– Minimum focusing distance (0.6 times maximum magnification) 20cm throughout the entire zoom range
– Weather proof.
– Late November release

The 40-150mm f/2.8 pricing will be announced later and the lens ship in early 2014!

IN case you missed it. These are the prices in US Dollar and YEN:

Price in USA
OM-D E-M1 Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera Body $1,399.00
OM-D E-M1 Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 12-40mm Lens $2,199.00
12-40mm M. Zuiko Digital ED f/2.8 PRO Lens $999.00
HLD-7 Battery Grip for OM-D E-M1 Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera  $199.00
LH-66 LENS HOOD $44.99
LC-62D BLACK METAL CAP $12.99
EP13 BLACK EYECUP $19.98

Price in Japan
OM-D E-M1 Body 144,800Yen
OM-D E-M1 12-50mm 169,800Yen
OM-D E-M1 12-40mm F2.8 219,800Yen
HLD-7 19,740Yen
GS-5 2,980Yen
EP-12 525Yen
EP-13 1,848Yen
PFUD-EP11 2,520Yen
PT-EP11 99,960Yen
CBG-10 24,800Yen
CSS-P118 3,480Yen
CS-43 2,480Yen
CS-42SF 6,980Yen
LH-55C 3,990Yen
M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO 89,880Yen
LH-66 4,620Yen
LC-62D 1,050Yen
PRF-D62PRO 3,780Yen
PPZR-EP04 7,140Yen

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For sources: Sources can send me anonymous info at 43rumors@gmail.com (create a fake Gmail account) or via contact form you see on the right sidebar. Thanks!
For readers: Don’t miss any news. Join our group on facebook and follow our tweets.