[shoplink 14830][/shoplink] Is the new PEN light almost as small as the [shoplink 19904]Olympus XZ-1[/shoplink]?

It’s very hard for me to get a clear picture about the upcoming Olympus products. But after a long work with many sources (Thanks!) I can share some pieces of reliables rumors with you.

(FT4) It’s almost certain that there will be two new PEN cameras in June. A couple of new sources even said there are three new PEN’s coming. But according to two of our known sources that doesn’t sound to be right (or only two of them will be announced in June, and the other model some time after?).

(FT4) One camera will be a very LIGHT Pen. And it sounds like it will be placed BELOW the actual E-PL2!!! It has a completely new design. I don’t know how it will look but I wouldn’t be surprised if it would take the shape and form of the current [shoplink 19904 ebay]Olympus XZ-1[/shoplink]. But that’s my speculation only for now. Hope to learn more about the design soon. I got no specs about that camera from my known sources (new sources said that there will be a new 12 Megapixel sensor).

(FT5) I am almost 98% sure the [shoplink 14830]Olympus E-P2[/shoplink] is going to be replaced by the newer E-P3. It will be announced in late June. My trusted anonymous sources said that this is a “PRO” model. But that’s all I got from them. I hope the word “PRO” defines a camera that it is a step above the actual E-P2. To me the new E-P3 has to be very different from the current E-PL1/2 line otherwise it doesn’t make sense at all! Let’s hope Olympus will not repeat the product reiteration they had the last two years. The big question is: Does it have an integrated viewfinder or not? Will the E-P3 resurrect the old [shoplink 22259 ebay]Olympus SP rangefinder[/shoplink] design? I didn’t get a definitive answer on that until now. If some of my sources knows something than please send me a message using the contact form on the right sidebar. Thanks! :)

I really do hope Olympus will make it right with both new models. An ultrasmall PEN makes sense to me and it will compete against the upcoming GF3. Let’s see if Olympus manages it to keep the in body IS or not. And than let’s also hope the new Olympus E-P3 will be one of those cameras that can hurt the current [shoplink 19929]Fuji X100[/shoplink] hype. that would be something amazing!

P.S.: I got some rumors about the second portrait lens from Olympus. Hope to get some confirmation form other sources too!

Links to cameras discussed in that article:
Olympus E-P2 at [shopcountry 14830].
Olympus E-PL2 at [shopcountry 18844].
Fuji X100 at [shopcountry 19929].
Olympus SP on [shoplink 22259 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

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

A GF3 fac simile. Not the real camera!

In mid June Panasonic will announce the new GF3 which will be an ultra small camera that will replace the current [shoplink 17361]Panasonic GF2[/shoplink]. That’s a huge surprise if you do consider the GF2 is only eight months old! But it’s also not a surprise if you see the success of Sony’s NEX cameras which are as small as the current GF2 but do use a larger APS-C sensor. And the upcoming Sony NEX-C3 will be even smaller (Click here to see the NEX-C3 versus GF2 size comparison). So after the Megapixel and the High-ISO war Sony and Panasonic started a new kind of competition….the miniaturization battle!

To compete against the upcoming NEX-C3 the new Panasonic GF3 will be around 10-15% less high, less wide, less thick than the current GF2. I have been told it has about the same size of the current Panasonic TZ cameras ([shoplink 22338 ebay]Click here to see them on eBay[/shoplink]). De facto the mount ring is higher than the camera itself! And to make it that small Panasonic removed some of the GF2 buttons and also the hot shoe is no more present! Some of my sources told us that this is the first camera that easily fits in any pocket when the [shoplink 16258]14mm pancake[/shoplink] is attached. It feels like a real compact camera! A new source told us the GF3 has the same G3 sensor and specs (and that’s good news!). That means it has the new 16 Megapixel sensor FullHD recording.

And here is what Steve Jobs would call the …one more thing surprise:

The fact that the GF is going to be smaller and smaller doesn’t mean that we don’t want to see a GF model with more advanced manual controls. Three sources confirmed that we should expect a second GF model to be announced within the second half of the year. It’s aimed for semi-pro photographers. That’s all I know for now, but it’s enough to make me dream the Micro Four Thirds L1 might be coming for real ([shoplink 22740 ebay]Click here to see that amazing camera on eBay[/shoplink])!

I am constantly working to provide you with FT5 rumors about Olympus and Panasonic. Lots of stuff is coming! Stay tuned! Don’t miss any rumors: Join us on Facebook and Twitter! Subscribe our RSS feed!

Links to the cameras discussed in that article:
The current GF2 camera at [shopcountry 17361]. P.S.: You can get the Panasonic GF2 with 14-42mm lens for $499 only at Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
The current Sony NEX cameras at [shopcountry 20638].
The Panasonic L1 Four Thirds camera at [shopcountry 20740].
The Panasonic TZ compact cameras at [shopcountry 22338].

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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

UPDATE: The translation from google was not correct and the webmaster from Digicam info was so kind to contact me. He also said the info is from a new source (not a trusted known source!). That’s why I downgraded the rumor form FT3 to FT2 (see the rumor classification on the bottom of the post if you don’t know what this means).

The japanese blog Digicam Info (Click here) says the new Olympus E-P3 and E-PL3 will be announced in June the 3rd. And there will be a new Olympus mini too! All three cameras will feature the same 12 Megapixel sensor and will not have any built-in viewfinder. Digicam Info was the website that posted the (correct) rumor about the E-PL1s. Anyway I would be very careful with that information. Some of my new sources are giving me “different” rumors. I am  still waiting for my trusted sources to disclose the “real” details. That Olympus will replace the [shoplink 18844]E-PL2[/shoplink] after only 6 months(!!!) sounds a bit nonsense. And why replace it with an E-PL3 having the same sensor? Hmmm…

Digicam info also says the new Olympus mini camera will be a a mini model ideal for women! Should we expect a sort of Minox camera? ([shoplink 22328 ebay]Click here to see the Minox[/shoplink]).

As I said take all with a grain of salt!

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