Yosuke Yamane has been interviewed by Dpreview. This is the part were he talks about MFT:

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He emphasized that the size and portability of Micro Four Thirds lets it deliver things that full-frame systems can’t. ‘Micro Four Thirds is a compact and lightweight system that enables hand-held photography in combination with a telephoto lens, which is not possible with full-frame,’ he said. ‘And we believe it is an indispensable system for achieving a compact body that can be easily carried.’

‘I think the need for small, lightweight cameras that can be carried around all the time like smartphones will increase, especially among the younger generation.’

That combination not only underpins its appeal to groups such as wildlife photographers, but could also give it a role as a gateway for younger users more used to smartphones, he suggested. ‘One of our goals is to tell the story of the benefits of a dedicated camera to teens and people in their 20s. We need to tell them that there is a world that can’t be achieved with a smartphone.’ But to achieve this, ‘you need the portability the smartphone has,’ he said. ‘I think the need for small, lightweight cameras that can be carried around all the time like smartphones will increase, especially among the younger generation.’

He wouldn’t be drawn on whether this might result in a return of the GM series, but said we weren’t the only people expressing an interest in a small, capable camera. ‘The press in Japan ask the same thing,’ he said, ‘but for full-frame.’

Yongnuo finally released the 12-35mm f/2.8-4.0 lens that was teased back in January.

Introduction
YONGNUO 12-35mm F2.8-4M Lens is a versatile zoom covering wide-angle to portrait-length perspectives, which designed for Micro Four Thirds cameras, where it provides a convenient 24-70mm equivalent focal length range. The sophisticated optical design employs a series of aspherical, low dispersion, and high refractive index glass elements to control a variety of aberrations and distortions for sharp, clean image quality and a Nano Surface Coating has also been applied to reduce ghosting and flare.

• Type: zoom lens
• Focus: Auto Focus,Manual Focus
• Minimum focusing distance: 13mm (wide angle)
• Lens design: 14 elements in 11 groups
• Number of aperture blades: 7
• Autofocusing: stepping motor
• Filter size: 67mm
• Lens dimsnisons: 72×94mm
• Weight: 318g
• Special feature: macro shooting

via Asobinet

Olympus Zuiko 45mm f1.8 Long Term Review (Micro Four Thirds Compact Portrait Lens)

Today deals at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, Amazon IT, FotoErhardt DE, FotoKoch DE.
Lumix GX8 as a Holiday Camera. Does it “Cut the Mustard” (ThatMFTguy).
RARE $30,000 lens for under $1,000? (TheArtOfPhotography).
Sennheiser Announces Profile USB Mic for Streaming and Podcasting (Explora).
A Guide to Underwater Photography (42West).

Plenty of news on the facebook OMD group, Panasonic FF and the GH5 group.

Benor now collected over 1,5 million dollars on Kickstarter (Click here).

Two more hot Kickstarter projects:

1. If you need a flexible, portable high quality 4k Laser projector to show your images and videos than check out the new JMGO N1 Ultra on Kickstarter (Click here). It’s the first gimbal and easily portable 4K Laser projector.
2. Duovox successfully funded their new Night Vision and Sony Starvis powered Monocular on Kickstarter.