Olympus CEO Hiroyuki Sasa

The upcoming new Olympus CEO Hiroyuki Sasa has been interviewed by Japantimes (Click here). He confirms the partnership interest from Fuji and Sony but also underlines the possibility that Olympus may can handle the current financial situation alone without any external help. The very interesting part for us is that Sasa wants to “narrow down our (digital camera) portfolio” and “we can make the (digital camera) business fully profitable.”

Some types of inexpensive compact digital cameras will be withdrawn but at the same time the company also intends to strengthen its popular mirrorless interchangeable lens camera (says Sasa).

As I already wrote many times here there is to much product reiteration and too many similar cameras. Ans example is the absurd triple [shoplink 23565]E-PM1[/shoplink], [shoplink 23567]E-PL3[/shoplink] and [shoplink 23568]E-P3[/shoplink] release. Could be that Olympus wanted to test which one sells more but as I think two PEN cameras would be enough. No need to waste time developing and producing three almost similar PEN cameras. A cheap entry level E-PM1 and an advanced E-P3 (with E-PL3 tilting screen) is all what we need.

For the most advanced user they already made a great camera like the [shoplink 29074]Olympus E-M5[/shoplink]. I don’t know if there is room for another m43 camera category. I would now focus on two aspects: 1) Sensor: Something special has to be done here like the Fuji X PRO 1 sensor did. 2) Connectivity and Applications: Just look at that new Polaroid camera. It is the future :)

—-
P.S.: Links to all current Olympus m43 cameras (Click on shopname to open the search page).:
E-M5 [shopcountry 29074].
E-P3 [shopcountry 23568].
E-PL3 [shopcountry 23567].
E-PM1 [shopcountry 23565].

This post will be continually updated! Keep reloading it from time to time  :)

key info and specs

“Newly developed” 12.1 megapixel Live MOS image sensor, Venus Engine VII HD2 processor, ISO 160-12,800, 0.09 second Auto Focus, 1080p Full HD video with stereo sound, available in black, white, red (and in Japan brown and gold too) from June for $749.99 (£579 or 699 Euro) with the 14-42mm X lens and $599 (£449) with the standard 14-42mm lens. The GF5 sensor technolgoy is based on the 16 Megapixel G3 sensor. The new processor can treat highlights and shadows noise differently…it’s called “3DNR” (three-dimensional noise reduction system).

Preorders

GF5 is now available for preorder at Amazon (Click here). In detail:
Black GF5 with 14-42mm or 14-42mmX lens at Amazon (Click here and choose the lens).
White GF5 with 14-42mm or 14-42mmX lens at Amazon (Click here and choose the lens).
Red GF5 with 14-42mm or 14-42mmX lens at Amazon (Click here and choose the lens).
There is no body only option yet :(

Previews

ePhotozine
Openpn (french)
Techradar
Imaging Resource
Which.co.uk (including a video)
Dpreview
Photographyblog

Image samples

ISO test by Openpn (Click and scroll down)
ISO test by Fotopolis
Techradar
ePhotozine (Click and scroll down)
Photographyblog

Videos

Actual Shooting Video on youtube.
Introduction Video on youtube.
preview and hands-on in dutch on youtube.
Test video on youtube.
Miniature Effect in Creative Control on youtube.

Press release

Amateur Photographer
Four Thirds User
Imaging Resource
Systemkameraforum and Photoscala (german)
Bestproduct (dutch)
Focus Numerique (french)
Dpreview
DSLRmagazine and Quesabesde (spanish)
Panasonic Japan and DC.watch (japanese text)
Photographyblog

Poll

Please wait and read carefully the previews and news before you vote and decide!

 Loading ...

Camera images (Click on the them to see the full size image)

Two great cameras side by side. The [shoplink 29074]Olympus E-M5[/shoplink] and the now in Stock Fuji X PRO 1.

Our reader Berend just sent us the link to the well known German magazine Der Spiegel (Click here). The new Olympus president Hiroyuki Sasa officially reported that he has more than three partnerships offers on his table including Sony, Fujifilm and Terumo! After months of rumors and speculations it is official that two giants like Sony and Fujifilm want to work with Olympus. I know from a poll I posted here months ago that you would prefer a Fuji partnership instead of a Sony. And honestly, I also think so!

I know Fuji is more interested in the medical business but I hope there will be a great partnership in the digital camera business too! Fuji could share his sensor technology with Olympus…that would be great! A Fuji X PRO 1 in m43 version :)

By the way, for those of you interested in the X PRO 1. it’s now in Stock at Amazon US (Click here) and in UK at Jessops (Click here). grwta camera, but with many quirks and flaws (see autofocus for example).

UPDATE: This is the final call! Vote now if you haven’t done it yet. I will close the poll tomorrow!

It’s now time to send a message in the bottle for Olympus, Panasonic, Sigma, Samyang and Voigtländer. Here is a wish list of lenses from our readers. Before to vote please read the following text:

1) The poll contains a filtered list of lenses suggested by 43rumors readers (Click here to read all your suggestions). Please be aware that I had to pickup a selection from your suggestion. Every reader wants slightly different versions from the same focal length and I counted over 1.000 different lens options :)

2) This is not a scientific poll. The goal is to get a very general idea about the lenses 43rumors readers would love to see. If you don’t find your suggested or preferred lens please choose the lens that is as close as it gets to what you need.

3) Be sincere and realistic. Some of the lenses will be very expensive. Don’t vote them if you like them but can’t afford to buy them.

4) You can select a maximum of ten lenses. After sending your vote you will see a percentage number close to every lens option. A number like 14% for example means that 14% of all single voters choose that lens. Be aware that the sum of all single percentages is well over 100% because every voter can chose up to ten lenses!

Now let’s start!

 Loading ...

P.S.: Thanks to all readers for your lens suggestions!

It’s weekend and time for relaxing! Click here to have some fun with the Matching Simulation tool that now includes the new E-M5: http://www.four-thirds.org/en/special/matching.html.
Interesting to note that the most voted combination is the E-M5 + the [shoplink 30071]Four Thirds 50-200mm SWD[/shoplink] lens and on second place the E-M5+[shoplink 23576]12mm[/shoplink] combo.
And our reader Zetton Nara just got his E-M5 in Japan and you can see his unboxing pics on Flickr (Click here).

E-M5 Preorders: Amazon, Adorama, B&H, Jessops, Amazon UK, Amazon Germany, Amazon Japan and Digitalrev.

Readers reported us that the E-M5 is shipping in Japan (here at Amazon and Kakaku), Philippines, Hong Kong (Digitalrev), Malaysia ([shoplink 30031 ebay]here on eBay[/shoplink]) and some other Asian countries. Europeans and Americans have to wiat up to 2-3 weeks before to see the first camera shipments. Be patient! :)

Preorders: Amazon, Adorama, B&H, Jessops, Amazon UK, Amazon Germany, Amazon Japan and Digitalrev.

Rankings:
USA: E-M5 on position 8/13/19 (Click here)
UK: E_M5 isn’t doing as well as in USA (Click here).
Germany: The E-M5 is on position 13 and 14 (Click here).
France: not available (Click here to see rankings anyway).
Japan: E-M5 on position 4/11/14 (Click here).

Image courtesy: Photoscala.de

What a great news! Kenko just announced two new 10mm and 16mm extension tube that will transform any current Micro Four Thirds lens in a macro lens! You can also use both extensions tube combined….like you can see on the picture below:

Image courtesy: Photoscala.de

The next good news is that for the first time a third party manufacturer made an accessory that can handle the electronic contacts of a m43 cameras. This means you can still autofocus and control the aperture electronically!

Both tubes will be available in April. They will cost 216 Euro each. I guess you will find that stuff soon on [shoplink 28546 ebay]eBay where you can already find a long list of Kenko products[/shoplink].