The lens above is the 30mm f/2.8 mockup for NEX. Where is the m43 mockup? I hope the m43 verison is as fast as the [shoplink 18951]Four Thirds Sigma 30mm f/1.4 [/shoplink].
More about the NEX/Ricoh/Sigma announcements at: Mirrorlessrumors.
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I told you all good things come in three! After Zeiss and Schneider also Sigma officially announced “The launch of new lenses for Micro Four Thirds and E-mount camera systems.”

Press release:
“The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the development of new lenses for Micro Four Thirds and E-mount camera system.
As demand for compact system cameras increase, we intend to meet the requirements of users and develop new lenses for these systems, utilizing our advanced interchangeable lens development technology.
Detailed information including specifications, product names, pricing and launch schedules will be announced in due course.
A mockup will be displayed at Sigma’s booth during CP+, a camera and photo imaging show, held in Pacifico Yokohama Japan from February 9th, 2011.”

Sigma made a lot of Four Thirds lenses and I would love to see some of them redesigned for Micro Four Thirds (Click on lens name to see current auctions on eBay):
[shoplink 18947 ebay]Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6[/shoplink] [shoplink 18948 ebay]Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8[/shoplink] [shoplink 18948 ebay]Sigma 18-50mm f/3.5-5.6[/shoplink] [shoplink 18949 ebay]Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6[/shoplink] [shoplink 18950 ebay]Sigma 24mm f/1.8[/shoplink] [shoplink 18951 ebay]Sigma 30mm f/1.4[/shoplink] [shoplink 18952 ebay]Sigma 50mm f/1.4[/shoplink] [shoplink 18953 ebay]Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3[/shoplink] [shoplink 18955 ebay]Sigma 55-500mm f/4-5.6[/shoplink] [shoplink 18956 ebay]Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8[/shoplink] [shoplink 18957 ebay]Sigma 105mm f/2.8[/shoplink] [shoplink 18958 ebay]Sigma 135-400mm f/4-5.6[/shoplink] [shoplink 18959 ebay]Sigma 150mm f/2.8[/shoplink] [shoplink 18960 ebay]Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6[/shoplink]

If you have some Sigma rumor to share contact me at 43rumors@gmail.com or use the contact form on the right sidebar. Thanks!

Olympus announced they will show the mockup of a “high-end” M.Zuiko Micro Four Thirds prime lens at the CP+ 2011 show (which starts today). That’s the way Oly wants to celebrate the 75 years of Zuiko-branded lenses! There are no details about the lens focal length or aperture but they said it will be available in 2011.

This is part of the press release:

ABOUT THE ZUIKO BRAND
It was in 1936 that the Takachiho Corporation, forerunner of today’s Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., introduced its first camera, the Semi-Olympus I. The camera’s lens was given the name Zuiko, a Japanese word that means “light of the gods.” It was an auspicious name, chosen partially because the lens had been developed at the Mizuho Optical Research Laboratory and partially because the corporate name, Takachiho, is a Japanese word that means “mountain of the gods.” But more than the name, it was the quality of the lens that sparked conversation at the time. Ever since, Zuiko lenses have been featured on succeeding generations of Olympus cameras. The Zuiko lenses are widely acclaimed for their remarkable imaging power, and have become one of the world’s most respected high-performance lens brands.

Semi-Olympus I (1936)
Launched in 1936, the Semi-Olympus I was the first Olympus camera fitted with the newly developed Zuiko lens, which was mounted on a Semi-Proud body supplied by Proud.

The lens looks nice but I want it for now! :)

Fuji announced that the X100 will be available in March in USA and in April in Europe. It will be priced at $1,199.95 (US) or 1.000 Euro. You can preorder the camera at Amazon (Click here). Sorry, I didn’t find any preorder option in Europe.

They also announced a new list of accessories:

Case
To perfectly complement the look and premium quality feel of the X100 camera body, a retro leather “quick shot” case with matching strap has been designed to fit the X100 like a glove. Made out of luxurious leather it has been thought out with uncompromising attention to detail, ensuring the ultimate ease of use and practicality .

Lens Hood and Adapter Ring
Precision milled from metal, the lens hood and adapter ring will be available as a set. The adapter ring is also compatible with commercially sold 49mm filters.

TTL Flash
EF-20 (Guide Number:20) and EF-42 (Guide Number:42) will be newly added to the TTL flash line-up.

Fuji posted a few official image samples at finepix-x100 (Click here). We do all agree the camera looks very nice but I do believe the camera will NOT sell well simply because it doesn’t take interchangeable lenses. You know the features, the price and you have see the image samples…so what are you going to do?

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Via Enagadget and Photoscala.

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I repeat: There are three reasons why we talk about that camera on 43rumors:
1) Fuji is part of the Four Thirds group
2) We were told by an anonymous source that Fuji is getting help from one of the current Micro Four Thirds members (which is making some parts of the cameras).
3) Because many 43rumors readers do like innovative concepts and well made cameras and I hope Panasonic/Olympus will take notice of our interest to make a [shoplink 17020]DMC-LC1[/shoplink] or [shoplink 17129]Olympus 35RC[/shoplink] version of the X100 (of course with interchangeable lenses!) :)

Sony didn’t wait long time to respond the latest Micro Four Thirds group announcements. Sony said that they will share the basic E-mount specifiactions with third party companies. Read more at Mirrorlessrumors (Click here).

Although this is not a Micro Four Thirds related news it is interesting to note that Olympus announced their first 3D compact camera with super zoom. Don’t know if that means that future m43 cameras will be able to do 3D too. Don’t know why I can’t get excited about 3D…and you?

Read more at Engadget!

With all that “excitement” for the Zeiss and Schneider press releases we didn’t discuss two more “hidden” info that have been given to us.

1) The Zeiss-Olympus press release contains the following Olympus statement: “Olympus Imaging Corp. will continue to develop and enhance the product lineup for both standards to meet the diverse needs of our customers.“. So once again Olympus underlines that they will continue to develop both the Micro- and the Four Thirds system!

2) We didn’t talk a lot about it but also Komamura joined m43! Komamura is a “Japanese camera manufacturer / imaging company founded in 1933 as Komamura Brothers & Co. It develops multiple imaging-associated products including battery systems, color management systems and filters as well as professional-oriented cameras and lenses.” I confess that I didn’t know the company. But once you check their website (Click here) you quickly get the impression that they are a very professional company. I didn’t know they make the famous [shoplink 19679]Horseman[/shoplink] cameras! A wonder what kind of M43 products they will make! Can you think on any interesting “thing” they could do? That’s a very intriguing question!

Links:
– The supporting companies at four-thirds.org
– Horseman cameras on [shoplink 19679 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]

[shoplink 15756][/shoplink]The [shoplink 14826]Panasonic GH1[/shoplink] with [shoplink 15756 ebay]Zeiss Cp+ lenses[/shoplink] shown at Photokina 2010 (Thanks Terry!)
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After Schneider Kreuznach also Carl Zeiss AG joins the Micro Four Thirds System Standard Group! This is not a surprise, Zeiss already announced months ago that they would add an exchangeable m43 mount for the compact Prime CP.2 lenses (Click here to read our article). Those lenses are very expensive $3.900 each at [shoplink 15756 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. Two anonymous sources also told us that Zeiss is taking into consideration to make a Micro Four Thirds version of the current 15.5-45mm f/2.6 Zoom lens. The lens could be available by mid 2011 (But keep in mind that those are rumors from unknown sources!).

PRESS RELEASE:
“Announced jointly by Olympus Imaging Corp. (President : Masaharu Okubo) and Panasonic Corporation in 2008, the Micro Four Thirds System standard has rapidly grown in popularity. Now, support for the standard is expanding with the decision of Carl Zeiss AG to join the Micro Four Thirds System standard, and the company is releasing lenses compliant with the standard.
For more than 160 years, the lenses of Carl Zeiss AG have been defining the state-of-the-art in optical technology. Now, as Carl Zeiss AG joins the Micro Four Thirds System group, ZEISS HD Video lenses will be available to users of Micro Four Thirds cameras, contributing to a vastly expanded product line and enhancing the joys of digital imaging with the Micro Four Thirds System.
As the originator of the Four Thirds System and Micro Four Thirds System standards, Olympus Imaging Corp. will continue to develop and enhance the product lineup for both standards to meet the diverse needs of our customers.”

As you see the press release clearly mentions “ZEISS HD Video lenses“. It doesn’t sound like they are going to make “normal” m43 lenses (would love to see some [shoplink 19666]zm-lenses[/shoplink] for m43!).

Links to:
– Press release: http://www.olympus-global.com/en/news/2011a/nr110207zeisse.html
– CP+ lenses at BHphoto
– ZM lenses at [shopcountry 19666 ebay]

P.S: All good things come in three, so after Schneider and Zeiss…who is next?