[shoplink 23568][/shoplink]

According to two sources Olympus will announce two new PEN cameras at Photokina in September. And I am still not sure but it sounds like the E-Px line will be discontinued. The E-Px series started with the glorious [shoplink 28308 ebay]E-P1 (which I still use daily)[/shoplink] and now is represented by the [shoplink 23568]E-P3[/shoplink].

Basically the [shoplink 23567]E-PL3[/shoplink] and [shoplink 23568]E-P3[/shoplink] will merge into one camera. The [shoplink 23565]E-Pm[/shoplink] series will continue to be the cheapest of all Olympus Micro Four Thirds camera series.

Anyway, I don’t think that is all what’s coming from Olympus at Photokina. There may be some other camera suprise…

UPDATE: The author of the.me contacted me to say that actually he thinks the E-PX will get an overhaul next year. My info is that the E-Px system as you know will completely disappear.

Links to all PEN models:
E-P3 at [shopcountry 23568].
E-P2 at [shopcountry 14830].
E-P1 at [shopcountry 28308].
E-PL3 at [shopcountry 23567].
E-PL2 at [shopcountry 18844].
E-PL1 at [shopcountry 14832].
E-PM1 at [shopcountry 23565].

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

Damian MCGilliCuddy just “confessed” that he is testing the new Olympus cameras. He writes: “I know its an age since my last update… simple fact is we have been VERY busy working on a few “secret” projects for Olympus and Ephotozine… August will see these start to come to light ;0) ”

I can tell you that he is for sure testing the new PEN cameras and the info he got us is that very likely the announcement will be made in late August, a few weeks before the Photokina event. I am right now working on the PEN camera rumors and hope to share some reliable FT4-FT5 rumors as soon as I can.

P.S: I am working in unusual conditions with slow connections form the Pyrenees. Please excuse me if I am not answering all your emails :=)

Over one year ago a top source sent me the info about two Four Thirds camera prototypes. It may be useful to repost it to discuss what of the mentioned features could be implemented in the future E-7. I doubt both prototypes cameras will ever get on market:

“1) The E-P3 prototype (fake name) has a new 15 Megapixel sensor produced by Panasonic. It has a new focus-system with 19 points in continuous mode and 11 points in single mode. The eight new points are just assisting and cannot be selected manually. The new autofocus is very good, but not as good as the professional Nikon or Canon cameras. It has 8fps (frames per second). The viewfinder is the same us the [shoplink 15032]E-3[/shoplink] but it has a kind of “translucent overlay”. That makes it possible to see the histogramm, gridlines and the digital level. The Design of the camera is an evolution of the E-30 design. There is also a new HDvideo mode.

2) But there is also a second FourThirds prototype that he is testing. The name is E-P330 (again a FAKE name). It is be very similar to the current E-330. It has a similar technology to the Sony A33/55, but it does not have a translucent mirror, it has some kind of liquid chrystal mirror. The advantage is that you have no light loss when you take the real picture. The mirror can electronically change between 50% translucent and 100%. When you don’t take pictures it uses 50% of the light for the AF-system and 50% for the sensor. When you take the picture it uses the full 100% alight source. The disadvantage is that it is not as fast as the Sony technology and you do not have any AF if the mirror is at 100%. The prototype iuses the same E-620 AF-system. The viewfinder is integrated in the body and has the same specs as the VF2 for MicroFourThirds. The LCD can be tilted and it uses the same [shoplinkshoplink] sensor. It takes movies with 720p. You can use an external microphone. [shoplink 14826]Panasonic GH1[/shoplink]”

That second model sounds particularly intriguing. Early this year Olympus chiefs unveiled that one of the key technologies they are working on is the Viewfinder.

Weeks ago you suggested plenty of possible lenses Schneider could realize for the Micro Four Thirds system. I summed and simplified your suggested list and it’s time for you to pickup the favorite options. Please keep in mind that the lenses will be expensive (around 1.500 Dollar/Euro/Pounds) they will have AF but no in body stabilization. When voting the lens please think if you would REALLY spends that money for the lens you chose!

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P.S: Some of the current Schneider lenses makes for other mounts: