Official: New Olympus E-M5 announced (continually updated)

Important: I will continually update this post with new links to news/previews image samples and preorders. But please do not reload the page every 30 second otherwise the server will crash :) Latest additions are always on top of each category:

Check price, specs and Preorders

Black E-M5 body at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Silver E-M5 body at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here)
Black E-M5 body with 14-42mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Black E-M5 body with 12-50mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Silver E-M5 body with 12-50mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
FL-600R wireless flash at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
MMF-3 Four Thirds adapter at Amazon (Click here) and Adorama (Click here)
HLD-6 power battery holder at Amazon (Click here) and Adorama (Click here)

Reviews, previews, interviews…

Click on ISO number to see the image sample: ISO 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800, 25600
ThePhoBlographer
Adminringlights and Gakuranman thoughts on the E-M5
75mm and 60mm lens info at Photographyblog, Quesabesde (spanish) and DC.watch (japanese).
Hands-on at Quesabesde (spanish).
Hands-on at ePhotozine.
Hands-on review at Techradar. And E-P3 versus E-M5 again at Techradar.
Pekka Potka
Hands-on at Engadget (with video)
HOT! The official OM website!
HOT! Preview at Dpreview
Super HOT!Full interview with Mr. Terada from Olympus at Clubsnap.

Interesting info

Olympus Australia says the new 75mmf /1.8 and 60mm f/2.8 lenses will be available by end of the year. What the hell???
Mr. Tarada (Olympus) said “The new 16mp Live MOS image sensor produces lower noise at High ISO and boasts Dynamic Range that is a 1/3 improvement over current sensors” About a possible future peaking feature: “I feel that magnified focusing is still better“. About future lenses: “Yes, we can consider the possibility of faster and wider prime lenses.
In Japan (Click here) yo can order the body or kit and get either a free MMF-3 or 32Gb Class 10 SD card.

Image samples

Super HOT! Official Olympus image samples at Olympus Japan.
Sexy pictures of the camera at Kineda.
Hands-on pictures at Cnet USA.
http://blog.bergencountycamera.com/wp-content/gallery/olympus-e-m5/b1112958.jpg
http://blog.bergencountycamera.com/wp-content/gallery/olympus-e-m5/p1020152.jpg
http://blog.bergencountycamera.com/wp-content/gallery/olympus-e-m5/p1130148-sm.jpg
http://blog.bergencountycamera.com/wp-content/gallery/olympus-e-m5/s2221124-sm.jpg

Videos

Attaching the grip on the E-M5 on youtube.
Hands-on video review by Dpreview.
french E-M5 presentation on youtube
Olympus OM-D E-M5 hands-on video preview at TheVerge
Hands-on by Photographyreview on youtube.
HOT!Hands-on and speed test by ThePhoBlographer on youtube.
First video hands-on on youtube (by RedDotPhoto).

Press release

Imaging Resource
DC.watch (japanese)
Focus Numerique (french)
Photographyblog
Sansmirror
Olympus Japan (japanese)
Letsgodigital
Photoscala (german)
Quesabesde (spanish)
Cnet US
Visual Science Lab
PDN Pulse
Amateur Photographer
Dpreview
Olympus Australia
Olympus Australia E-M5 press release (.pdf).
Olympus lens press release (.pdf)

Poll

Before to vote read carefully all previews and reviews. Don’t jump to a conclusion too early :)

Do you like and will you buy the E-M5?

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Camera images (Click on image to enlarge)

(FT5) Full E-M5 specs leaked (via google cache)

A couple of hours ago I told you that the new sensor-imaging processor produces 40% less noisy images (compared to previous PNE cameras). And Olympus uses a very weak Anti-Aliasing filter following the tendency to reduce Moire via software (the Fuji X PRO 1 and the just announced Nikon D800E  (Click here) don’t use any AA at all).In a few hours (2am London time) we will finally see if the image quality is really that good!

And finally a north american website leaked the full E-M5 specs. I found it through google cache and copied and pasted the text as I found it:

Memory card: SD Memory Card (SDHC, SDXC, UHS-I compatible, Eye-Fi Card compatible)
Sensor: 4/3 Live MOS Sensor 16.1 million pixels (total pixel 16.9 million pixels)
Dust reduction: Supersonic Wave Filter
Recording format: DCF, DPOF compatible / Exif, PRINT Image Matching III, MPO compatible
File format: RAW (12-bit lossless compression), JPEG, RAW+JPEG, MPO(3D still)
IS system: Built-in (Image sensor shift type for movie & still, 5-axis image stabilization) -> yaw/pitch/vertical shift/horizontal shift/rolling. Effective compensation range maximum 5 EV steps
Shutter speed range: 60 – 1/4000 sec. (Not available when Bulb is selected)
Electronic viewfinder: Eye-level electronic viewfinder, approx. 1.44M
Eye point / Diopter adjustment range Approx. 100% / Approx. 0.92x*1 – 1.15x*2 (-1m-1, 50mm lens, Infinity) *1 : at Finder Style 1, 2 (aspect 4:3) *2 : at Finder Style 3 (aspect 4:3)
Approx. 18mm (-1m-1, Distance from rear lens surface) / -4 ~ +2m-1
Available with Live Preview function button [custom function] Level Gauge 2-axis level gauge; horizontal /vertical
Finder Style Selectable from 3 types
Brightness / Colour temperature control ±7 levels / ±7 levels
EyeCup Removable, Optional eyecup EP-11 is available.
LCD screen: Live view 100% field of view, Exposure compensation preview, WB adjustment preview, Gradation auto preview, Face detection preview (up to 8 faces), Grid line, Histogram, Magnification display (x5/x7/x10/x14) OFF Grid/ Monitor Display Types, Normal Mode, Grid Line Mode(4 types), Histogram Mode, Magnified View Mode, Magnification Ratio x5, x7, x10 (Default) x14.
LCD information: Aperture value, Shutter speed, Auto Bracket, AE Lock, AF mode, IS, Shooting Mode, Battery Check, Myset, Internal Temperature Warning, Face / Eye Detection, Histogram, Number of storable still pictures, Record mode, ISO, Sequential shooting, Self-timer, White Balance, Metering Mode, AF confirmation mark, Exposure Compensation Value, Spot metering Area
Flash Mode, Flash Status, Flash intensity Control, Super FP Focusing length, Tone control, Eye-Fi condition Display of Face Detection Max 8 frames of face detection can be displayed.
LCD Specs: 3.0-inch tilting OLED monitor, Approx. 610k dots, Touch control in electrostatic capacitance Type, Touch control Touch shutter release, Touch enlargement, Touch Live Guide, AF area selection, AF area enlargement, Frame advance/backward, Enlargement playback, Touch Super Control Panel, Tilting angle Upward tilting angle : up to 80 degrees / Downward tilting angle : up to 50 degrees, Brightness / Color temperature control ±2 levels / ±3 levels Color tone select Vivid / Natural
AF system: High-speed imager AF
Focus modes Single AF (S-AF) / Continuous AF (C-AF)* / Manual Focus (MF) / S-AF + MF / AF tracking (C-AF + TR) *
Full-time AF Available
Maginified frame AF Selectable from over 800 AF points
Enlarged view check by magnify button
Magnification x5, x7, x10(Default), x14 selectable
Face detection AF / Eye detection AF Available / Available
Eye Detection AF mode : OFF / Nearer-eye priority / Right-eye priority / Left-eye priority
Focusing point / Focusing point selection 35-area multiple AF / All target, Group target area (9-area), Single target
AF illuminator Yes
Manual focus assist Live view image is magnified when the focus ring is rotated. (at S-AF+MF or MF mode)
AF tracking
Metering system: TTL Image sensor metering. Digital ESP metering (324-area multi pattern metering), Center weighted average metering, Spot metering, Spot metering with highlight control, Spot metering with shadow control
Metering range EV 0 – 20 (at normal temperature, 17mm f2.8, ISO 100)
Exposure modes: i Auto, P: Program AE (Program shift can be performed), A: Aperture priority AE, S: Shutter priority AE, M: Manual, Bulb, Time, Scene select AE, Art Filter, Underwater wide / macro* * Selectable from menu as a function on Fn-1/Rec button
Scene Select AE Modes: Portrait, e-Portrait, Landscape, Landscape + Portrait, Sport, Night, Night + Portrait, Children, High Key, Low Key, DIS mode, Macro, Nature Macro, Candle, Sunset, Documents, Panorama, Fireworks, Beach & Snow, Fisheye Conv., Wide Conv., Macro Conv., 3D * * Still image only
ISO sensitivity: AUTO: ISO 200 – 25600 (customizable, Default 200-1600) / Manual ISO 200 – 25600, 1/3 or 1 EV steps selectable. Exposure compensation ±3 EV in 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV steps selectable
AE lock Locked at 1st release of shutter button (can be set to Fn1/Rec button). Metering standard value adjustment 1/6 EV step, +/- 1EV range
Shutter: Computerized focal-plane shutter. Shutter speed 1/4000 – 60 sec. (1/3, 1/2, or 1EV steps selectable.). Bulb: default setting 8min. (1/2/4/8/15/20/25/30 min. selectable.)
Flash: TTL Auto, Auto, Manual, FP-TTL AUTO, FP-MANUAL
Built-in flash: No
Bundled flash (FL-LM2): TTL flash, GN=10 (ISO200・m) / GN=7(ISO100・m). Flash mode Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual(1/1(FULL)~1/64). Synchronization speed 1/250sec. or less* (using the bundled flash) * It depends on flash models or flash mode
FL-50R: 1/180 sec., Exept FL-50R: 1/200 sec., Super FP: 1/125-1/4000 sec.
Flash intensity control Up to ±3 EV in 0.3, 0.5, 1 EV steps selectable
Compatible external flash FL-50/FL-50R, FL-36/FL-36R, FL-30, FL-20, FL-14, FL-300R, FL-600R
Colour Temperature 5500±400°K
Compatible external flash FL-50R, FL-36R, FL-300R, FL600R
Control method: Triggered and controlled by bundled flash (FL-LM2) ** Available on FL-LM1/ FL-600R. (Olympus Wireless RC Flash system compatible). 4 channels. Group Number 4 groups (External flash 3 groups + a bundled flash)
Drive mode:  Single-frame shooting, Sequential shooting, Self-timer. Sequential shooting  maximum speed [Sequential shooting H mode] 9.0 fps. [Sequential shooting L mode] 3.5 fps / 4.2fps  in case of “I.S. OFF”.
Max. recordable pictures:  on sequential shooting [RAW] Max. 17 frames (in seq. shooting L), Max. 11 frames (in seq. shooting H)
[JPEG] Up to full extent of data strage capacity (in seq. shooting L),
Max. 17 frames ( in seq. shooting H)
(with TOSHIBA SDHC UHS-I card R95-W80 8GB model, under Olympus test standard)
Self-timer Operation time: 12 sec., 2 sec. (cancel available)
Wireless remote control Not Available
Bracketing: Exposure bracketing 2, 3 or 5 frames in 0.3/0.7/1.0EV steps selectable, 7 frames in 0.3/0.7EV steps selectable. White balance bracketing 3 frames in 2, 4, 6 steps selectable in each A-B/G-M axis. Flash bracketing 3 frames in 0.3/0.7/1.0EV step selectable Art Filter bracketing i-Enhance, Vivid, Natural, Muted, Portrait, Monotone, Custom, Art Filters selectable
Art Filter:  Mode (Variation / Effect) Pop Art (I, II / a.b.c.d.e.). Soft Focus ( – / c.e.) Pale & Light Color (I, II / a.b.c.d.) Light Tone ( – / d.) Grainy Film (I, II / b.c.d.) Pin Hole (I, II, III / d.) Diorama ( – / d.) Cross Proscess (I, II / b.c.d.) Gentle Sepia ( – / a.b.c.d.) Dramatic Tone (I, II / b.c.d.e.) Key Line (I, II / a.b.c.d.e.) Art Effect a. Soft Focus Effect b. Pin-Hole Effect c. White Edge Effect d. Frame Effect e. Star Light Effect
Movie: Recording format MOV(MPEG-4AVC/H.264) , AVI(Motion JPEG) Movie Mode MOV(MPEG-4AVC/H.264 ),AVI(Motion JPEG)
[MOV] Full HD: 1920(H)x1080(V), 59.94i Recording *3 20Mbps(Fine) *4 / 17Mbps(Normal) *4 : Aspect 16:9 HD: 1280(H)x720(V), 59.94i Recording *3, 13Mbps(Fine) *4 / 10Mbps(Normal) *4 : Aspect 16:9 *3 : Sensor output 30fps *4 : bitrate [AVI Motion JPEG] HD: 1280(H)x720(V), 30fps *4, Aspect 16:9 SD: 640(H)x480(V), 30fps *4, Aspect 4:3 *4 : Except for some of the Art Filters
Maximum Recording Times Full HD : Approx. 29min(Fine) / Approx. 22min(Normal)
HD : Approx. 29min(Fine) / Approx. 29min(Normal)
Movie Effect : One shot echo / Multi echo
Art Filter Movie, Aperture priority Movie, Shutter Priority Movie, Manual Shooting Movie
IS for Movie Built in (Image sensor shift type image stabilization)
IS1. mode only
AE Lock Avarable
Exposure control (Movie)
P: Program AE, A: Aperture priority AE, S: Shutter speed priority AE, M: Manual, Art Filter
* S mode and M mode : Shutter speed is limited in less than 1/30 sec.
Compression ratio Motion-JPEG Format : 1/12(HD), 1/8(SD)
File size:
MOV Format : Max 4GB
Motion-JPEG Format : Max 2GB
Recording format Wave Format (Stereo linear PCM/16-bit, Sampling frequency 48kHz)
Micophone/Speaker:
Stereo/Mono
Microphone function Wind Noise Reduction, Recording Volume
Audio dubbing possible for still pictures (up to 30 sec.)
Picture with Sound: 30sec.
Noise reduction:
At High ISO setting Off, Low, Standard, High
At Slow shutter speed Off, On, Auto
On : effective when shutter speed is slower than 1 sec.
Auto : effective when shutter speed is slower than 4 sec. (at ISO 200 or higher) or 8 sec. (at lower than ISO200)
Multiple exposures:
Number of picture / Function 2 frames / Auto gain, Exposing on Recorded picture(RAW)
INPUT/OUTPUT:
USB/AV/Remote controller connector Dedicated multi-connector [USB: USB2.0 High Speed, Video: NTSC/PAL selectable, Optional Remote cable RM-UC1 can be used.] HDMI connector Micro HDMI (Type-D)
Flash attachment Hot shoe
Accessory Port 2 Dedicated multi-connector [Available for VF-2/VF-3, SEMA-1, MAL-1 and PP-1.] PC interface USB 2.0 High Speed
TV interface HDMI (HD/Stereo Sound), VIDEO-OUT(SD/Mono Sound)
DC-in – [Optional Power Battery Holder HLD-6 has DC-IN jack for AC-3.] Power requirements:
Battery BLN-1 Li-ion battery (included)
Power battery holder (Option) Power Battery Holder HLD-6
AC adaptor (Option) AC adapter AC-3 *Optional HLD-6 has DC-IN jack for AC-3.
Sleep mode Available (1/3/5 min. off selectable)
Number of recordable pictures Approx. TBD shots [IS ON, CIPA test standard] (with BLN-1 and TOSHIBA super high-speed Class 6 SDHC 4GB card)
Weights/Dimensions:
Dimensions 4.8 inch (W) x 3.5 inch (H) x 1.7 inch (D)
[CIPA guideline compliant, excluding protrusions] Weight Approx. 15 ounces [CIPA guideline compliant, with BLN-1 battery and Memory card] Approx. 13 ounces [body only] Temperature 32 ~ +104 (operation) / -4 ~ +140 (storage) Farhenheit
Humidity 30 – 90% (operation) / 10 – 90% (storage)
Box contents Body, Flash FL-LM2, Li-ion battery BLN-1, Li-ion battery charger BCN-1, USB cable, AV cable, Shoulder strap, OLYMPUS Viewer 2 (CD-ROM), Instruction manual, Warranty card

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This is the first digital OM camera that will be added to the long list of OM film cameras. Click on the names to see them on eBay (ordered by first announced camera): [shoplink 28221 ebay]M-1[/shoplink], [shoplink 28222 ebay]OM-1[/shoplink], [shoplink 28223 ebay]OM-1 MD[/shoplink], [shoplink 28224 ebay]OM-1N[/shoplink], [shoplink 28225 ebay]OM-2[/shoplink], [shoplink 28226 ebay]OM-2N[/shoplink], [shoplink 28227 ebay]OM-2S/SP[/shoplink], [shoplink 28228 ebay]OM-3[/shoplink], [shoplink 28229 ebay]OM-3Ti[/shoplink], [shoplink 28230 ebay]OM-4[/shoplink], [shoplink 28231 ebay]OM-4T/Ti black and chrome[/shoplink], [shoplink 28232 ebay]OM-10[/shoplink], [shoplink 28233 ebay]OM-20 (OM-G)[/shoplink], [shoplink 28234 ebay]OM-30(OM-F)[/shoplink], [shoplink 28235 ebay]OM-40 (OM-PC)[/shoplink], [shoplink 28236 ebay]OM-77AF (OM-707)[/shoplink], [shoplink 28237 ebay]OM-88 (OM-101)[/shoplink], [shoplink 28238 ebay]OM-2000[/shoplink].

—-

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

HOT! Voigtländer announces the new (amazing!) 17.5mm f/0.95 lens!

Hot! After the superb [shoplink 15659 ebay]Voigtländer Nokton 25mm f/0.95[/shoplink] Cosina just (officially!) announced the new Voigtländer Nokton 17.5mm f/0.95! The German press release is online at Photoscala (click here to read the horrible google translation). The main difference with the 25mm version is that the aperture ring can be switched from “Click stops” to “Clickless stops” using the ring in the front of the aperture ring. That’s perfect for video use! And the lens should have a superb bokeh too! That beauty is priced at 1299 Euro and will be ship in March. And here are the specs:

Specifications Nokton 0.95 / 17.5 mm aspherical MFT
Focal length 17.5 mm (35 mm corresponding to small picture)
Connection MFT (Micro Four Thirds)
Maximum aperture 0.95
Minimum aperture 16
Lens construction 13 elements in 9 groups
Angle 64.6 °
Diaphragm Blades 10
Shortest Distance setting 0.15 m
Macro area 1:4,0
Max diameter 63.4 mm
Length 80 mm
Weight 540g (without hood)
Filter Size 58 mm
Color black
Other Snap off hood, sun visor with a second cover
Price € 1,299 (MSRP)

Will you buy that lens?

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And here is one more picture:

New Kenko-Tokina 300mm for Micro Four Thirds. Also Kowa will show five new lenses!


Kenko-Tokina (Click here) announced a new 300mm lens for Micro Four Thirds. And that lens looks good on a PEN camera! Here are the specs:
300mm: focal length (equivalent to version 35mm: equivalent to 600mm)
F/6.3: brightness
66mm: length lens
66mm: the maximum diameter
55mm: diameter filter
Less than 300g: Weight
Manual focus

And also Kowa (Click here) will show some new m43 lens at the CP+ show in Yokohama. These are the lenses:
12mm f2.0 4/3 “LM12XC (110,000 yen 4,450)
16mm f2.0 4/3 “LM16XC (100,000 yen 8,150)
25mm f2.0 4/3 “LM25XC (90,000 yen 5,550)
35mm f2.0 4/3 “LM35XC (90,000 yen 2,400)
50mm f2.0 4/3 “LM50XC (90,000 yen 300)

Don’t know if this are newly designed lenses or lenses based on current [shoplink 28721 ebay]Kowa C-mount lenses (here on eBay)[/shoplink].

Samyang 24mm shipping. Kenko 400mm full specs.

A short break from rumors. There are two REAL news to report :)

Samyang 24mm f/1.4 for Four Thirds:
Olympus hasn’t unveiled any new Four Thirds lens for a very long time now. But Samyang is making their homework and released an amazing 24mm f/1.4 prime lens. And it is now shipping! That’s the official press release from sent to me by Samyang:
Optics of the lens has been constructed based on the system of 13 lenses arranged in 12 groups. It should be noted that four lenses has been made of the low-dispersion glass (ED), while two another are aspherical lenses. We have also employed multi-layered and anti-reflective coatings of UMC type adding to the perfect light transmission. Samyang 24 mm F1.4 ED AS IF UMC has been designed to work with most popular reflex cameras produced by renown manufacturers and equipped with small-image sensors
or smaller. The lens will be available with a mount for the following systems: Canon, Four Thirds, Nikon AE, Pentax, Samsung NX and Sony Alpha.
Warranty
36-months guarantee is provided for Samyang 24mm 1:1.4 ED AS IF UMC.
Price
599 EUR gross – mount: Canon, Four-thirds, Pentax, Samsung NX and Sony

I don’t know yet where you can preorder the lens. You can find Samyang lenses for Olympus on [shoplink 28695 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and branded as Rokinon at BHphoto (Click here).

Kenko 400mm f/8.0 for Micro Four Thirds:
You can now read the full specs of the new 400mm Kenko lens at Kenko Japan (Click here).

Fuji X PRO 1 gets price and preorder option. A serious OM-D contender?

There is now a final price and preorder option for the Fuji X PRO 1:
$1699 at Amazon US (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Lenses are available too at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).

Along the Sony NEX-7 ($1200) this will become the main competitor of the Olympus OM-D which rumored price is around $1100. I have no clue if the X PRO 1 will sell well with that price. And I guess there will be a tuff battle between the OM-D and that camera. Based on rumors and early X PRO 1 test (See Fujirumors) I guess that this is the advantages-disadvantages list:

Olympus OM-D advantages:
– Cheaper
– Weather sealed
– Better video quality
– Super fast autofocus
– Smaller body (if you care about size)
– Lens line up (and powerzoom lens availability)
– built-in stabilization
– tilting LCD

Fuji X PRO 1 advantages:
– Superb image quality
– Hybrid viewfinder

But this is just a list based on rumors and not yet tested cameras. But I want to hear your thoughts on this!

Panasonic announces a bunch of new compact cameras. X lens announcement within the next 10 days?


I don’t know why, but after 20 days only after the last compact camera announcement Panasonic today announced more new not so spectacular compact cameras! For those of you wondering when the LX5 successor is coming I haven’t received any info yet. I only know the Olympus XZ-1 successor is coming this summer (not yet).

Anyway, I am sure the next announcement is for m43 related stuff only and I expect this to be right before the CP+ show in Yokohama (mid February). The only thing I am (almost) sure of is that the new X lenses will be released.

For my European readers: There are now around fourty refurbished PEN cameras on auction at [shoplink 22691 ebay]Olympusmarket (Click here)[/shoplink]. I am going to put my efforts on one of the [shoplink 11330 ebay]E-P2 bodies (here)[/shoplink]. Please don’t bet on it :)