UPDATE_3: I now got 100% sure info about that rumor:

The administrator of Lense.fr (Thanks!) said that this is an image of the Olympus invitation for the OM-D announcement on February 8th! The invitation text has been removed to protect the source. While the teaser is 100% real (believe me!) this piece of image is from the [shoplink 28231 ebay]OM-4T/Ti black and chrome (Click here to see that cam on ebay)[/shoplink] and not from the new OM-D! I saw the tetx and it says that a new product will be announced on Feb 8th. In summary: Olympus is sending invitation with an old OM image on it :)  At Olympus Global (Click here) you can see the source of that image.

P.S.: Thanks anonymous source for your help on this ;)

P.P.S.: Sorry for the multiple updates but I am currently in a meeting with lawyers and updating the post via iPhone (yep not so funny!).

[shoplink 16254][/shoplink] The current best m43 camera for video, the [shoplink 16254]Panasonic GH2[/shoplink]. Will soon lose the primacy?

A couple of days ago a source told me that the new OM-D camera will have a better video quality than the current best of the m43 class, the [shoplink 16254]Panasonic GH2[/shoplink]. I worked with other sources to check if that statement is true or rather exaggerated or completely false. But they all confirm the same, the new Olympus camera beats hands-down the GH2. One of the aspects Olympus worked hard id the reducing of the “jello effect”. Keep in mind that this is a rumors site and I rely on info received by others and that I have no way to check it out if it’s true. But those sources have been proved to be correct in the past so that let’s me (and you) hope for the best when the D-day comes on February 8th!

Sensor troubles: If the sources are telling me all the time that the image quality has been improved, that it has a greater dynamic range, that it has better video quality than the GH2…than I am really having BIG troubles that the 16 megapixel sensor is the same of the [shoplink 26836]Panasonic GX1[/shoplink].

Stay tuned on 43rumors!

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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

Now it’s getting serious guys! The very reliable Japanese website Nikkei (Click here) reports that Sony plans to buy a 20-30% stake of Olympus. Techradar says that “The capital and business alliance would be mainly aimed at bringing together Sony’s strength in imaging sensor technology with Olympus’ expertise in endoscopes and other medical equipment.” Only one week ago Olympus Japan announced new digital microscopes with Sony’s HDR sensor.

Right now I cannot guess how this will influence the camera business. Don’t think that Sony will “force” Olympus to join the NEX system or to use Sony sensors on m43 camera. After All Sony already supplies many competitors with their sensors (Canon for compact cameras, Nikon and Pentax with APS-C sensors and so on). I have the exact opposite question, will Panasonic work together with a partner that is now in business with a direct competitor?

The current MMF-2 adapter

I am now pretty sure that Olympus will also launch a new weather sealed MMF 43 to m43 adapter. This will allow us to use the amazing weather sealed Four Thirds lenses like the [shoplink 25320 ebay]14-35mm f/2.0[/shoplink] the [shoplink 25119 ebay]35-100mm f/2.0[/shoplink] and the almost $6.000 300mm f/2.8 Zuiko lens.

There should be other accessories too. Sounds like we are going to see a nice bunch of OM-D related accessories too!

The super nice anonymous source that already sent me the first image of the OM-D camera controls now also sent me that small piece of the camera. On the right angle on top you see the built-in viewfinder and on the bottom the lens mount. Then we have that [shoplink 23568]Olympus E-P3[/shoplink] grip (don’t know if you can remove it like you can do on the E-P3). Would like to see the other control panel on the right of the camera and of course the back. If the source can send me some details about that we would all be happy :)  Another source told us “The mode dial is on the other side. imagine the [shoplink 28231 ebay]OM4-TI (here on eBay)[/shoplink] – almost there in looks.”

There are still two MAIN questions where I don’t have a final answer:
1) What’s the definitive name of the camera?
2) Who made the sensor?

Again thanks to all sources for your help!

Reminder: The camera will be announced on February 8th and as usual you should be here on 43rumors to follow all the announcement!