Last Sunday we all got this message from Olympus (Click here) and there is now but there are two small details to report:
1) Olympus UK just posted on Facebook “We would like to clarify some of the recent news. Olympus has not issued a press release but have made a statement at a recent meeting saying”
2) Olympus UK posted a new correct simple statement: “A new camera is under study in order to optimize the Four Thirds lenses“. Also DSLRmagazine (Translation here) that was present on the meeting reported the words from Mr. Michael Guthmann from Olympus: “we will continue to support the Four Thirds system with a camera“… and he added with emphasis: “however the camera looks like“.

In short, there was no official press release and the text spread by some journalists contained a misunderstanding. Watenabe was talking about a Four Thirds lens solution and not necessarily about a new E-7 camera. There could be also a new OMD model with some kind of new technology capable of taking full advantage of the Four Thirds lenses. Just one quick example that comes to my mind. Imaging full phase detection support (through on sensor AF pixels or special adapter like Sony with the LAEA2).

Reminder: Back in January Toshiyuki Terada (Product Planning, Olympus Imaging Corporation, Japan) said at Onfoto (Click here) that the Four Thirds adapter: “is one of the essential areas that we explore and study“.

UDPATE: Pekka Potka wrote: “One thing I´m allowed to say though. Mr Watanabe told me that Olympus is working on a body that will support the Four Thirds lens line-up”

All I know from trusted sources (also FT5) is that two new PEN cameras are coming. I have no info from super trusted sources about a new E-7.

An anonymous source juts sent me a message. He says he had the chance to test the new PEN cameras. He also says that there are “no spectacular changes, although the ergonomics have improved on the smaller models.”

I may ask the source if he can explain me the following sentence I got from another anonymous source saying: “updates to the EPL range should include some sort of viewfinder.“. Does it mean there is some kind of new external viewfinder or what?

Thanks for your help :)

—

P.S.: Finally a great deal for my European colleagues: E-PM1 body for 199 Euro by [shoplink 33003 ebay]Fotoexperte on eBay Deutschland (Ships to all Europe)[/shoplink].

On Sunday Olympus released an official statement saying that a “Pro camera” is in the works. A 43rumors sent me this small info that may confirm that:

“This evening I took part in a survey about my last purchase of a DSLR/Mirrorless camera. I mentioned that it was from Olympus and in the next screen a list with all the actual system cameras made by Olympus came up. In this list where also mentioned E-6, E-650, E-PL4 and E-PM2. May be the author of that survey seams to know more about soon coming FT- and MFT cameras.”

The new PEN cameras are certainly coming so it sounds plausible that Olympus is thinking on an E-6 and E-650 release too. But for now trusted sources only confirmed the two PEN release now (and another OMD model months after Photokina).

Shape of the current [shoplink 16254]Panasonic GH2[/shoplink].

An anonymous sources sent me a short text about the GH3 handling. He had a short time “experience” with the camera. He asked me to rewrite the text he has written so enjoy my usual childish English rewritten report :)

“The camera feels more solid in your hands than it was with the GH2. It gives you a more “pro” feeling…think at the 12-35mm X “feeling” as an example. The shape changed a bit, more rounded and camera feels a bit heavier. The real first change you notice when switching on the camera is the quality of the viewfinder. Hugely improved over the GH2. Makes feel like GH2 was crap. Can’t talk about specs and image quality yet (firmware is not not finalized). But I have been told image quality is very close to the best APS-C DSLR while image quality surpass what current DSLR can offer. As I said, can’t talk about image quality yet but the first impression is that this is the most “Pro” m43 camera ever made“.

This sounds nice but I hope to get some real more detailed specs soon too! Sources can send me anonymous info through the contact form on the right sidebar or at 43rumors@gmail.com. Thanks!

Meantime here are the specs we have got until now:

FT5: similar GH2 design, weather sealed, no global shutter, major improvements in AF speed and EVF quality, GH3X kit with 12-35mm X lens.
FT3: 15.5 mega-pixel sensor, Iso 160-12800 (extends to 80-51200), 6.7fps, 3.2″ inch LCD with 1050k-dots, EVF with 2.06 mega-dots, double SDXC slots, in-camera GPS, external battery grip.