Several days ago I received the following E-P3 rumor. I didn’t post it because I wanted to check it with my other sources. But I just saw that photorumors posted the same rumor. Please keep in mind that this is not a rumor from one of my reliable sources. Message for the anonymous sender. Can you contact me using a fake email account? Thanks! :) Message to all our anonymous sources. Don’t expect me to post your rumor right after I received it. I always try to double check rumors as you can imagine not all rumors I do receive are correct.

Here the original mail I received days ago:

“Olympus EP3 major upgrade with emphasis on classic 4/3 compatibility:

• 16MP sensor, supports 1080 video and up to ISO 6400, 12800 extension (same [shoplink 16254]Panasonic GH2[/shoplink] sensor)

• Articulated LCD, 3″ and 920K.

• No built-in flash or EVF, but there are connectors for optional ones.

• The design “lines” are closer to [shoplink 14832]E-PL1[/shoplink] than [shoplink 14830]E-P2[/shoplink]. The form factor, being slim with an articulated screen, is unique! The closest thing would be a scaled-up Samsung EX1.

• Considerable improvements in AF. A headline feature is a new dual AF (CDAF+ PDAF). The PDAF aids CDAF to decide the right focus distance reducing the typical CDAF trial-and-error, particularly helpful for AF of heavy classic 4/3 lenses, (it works MUCH BETTER than any m4/3 body with legacy 4/3 lenses, excellent w m4/3 lenses).

• A special accessory unit comprising a hand grip + 4/3 lens adapter. The unit covers the whole front panel and almost transforms the EP3 to a classic 4/3 camera when attached.

• Expected next November/December for the Christmas season, price TBA.”

Please contact me if you know more! Thanks!

UPDATE: A user on Dpreview forum got an answer from Olympus regarding the E-P3 rumor and said that “the rumour is pure fiction but there are many things happening next year.”

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

Our best source told us few weeks ago that Panasonic will come with a surprise. And finally here it is! Panasonic has put up a teaser site for its first Lumix-branded phone! The website is available here: http://panasonic.jp/mobile/lumixphone/.

(Source Panasonic Japan).

Panasonic will unveil all details on October the 5th!

UPDATE_1: via Engadget: “It’s also noteworthy that Panasonic’s press release indicates a folding mechanism for this handset, which, given current trends in Japan, makes it most likely to be a clamshell device. It’s also got some DLNA voodoo inside and is coming out by the end of this fiscal year (April 2011) ”

UPDATE_2: Although this is a non-related (m)43thirds news I think this could have signifcant influence on future (m)43 camera development. Can you imagine a GF3/GH3 running on a new OS with API to create dedicated application for the specific camera? Am I the only one dreaming here? :)

UPDATE_3: It features a new high-intensity flash. Touch-operation is available during shooting and playback. Wi-Fi, microSDHC/SD and easy touch-share operations.