The great E-M1 hands-on by TheCameraStoreTV team!

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For a short moment Ming Thein created some buzz by writing: “I’ve been assured this isn’t dead, and an E-7 is in the works“. But after checking with journalists and Olympus insiders I can now confirm with a 100% certainty that today’s launch of the new Olympus E-M1 marks the end of the Four Thirds line. DC.watch unveiled that Olympus did indeed create an E-7 prototype but then decided that the E-m1 was good enough and the E-7 no more needed. They also write that Olympus officially said that Micro Four Thirds and Four Thirds now merged into one system. This means:

1) There will be no new Four Thirds camera or lens anymore. The [shoplink 17163]Olympus E-5[/shoplink] was the last FT product ever launched by Olympus

2) FT Lenses and the [shoplink 17163]Olympus E-5[/shoplink] will remain into production until demand drops.

It’s a somewhat sad day knowing that Four Thirds died. But this is it. The E-M1 sets a new future for Olympus. Only Time will tell if that is the right path for Olympus!

Preorders in US and Europe (Click on the store name to read price and specs):
Dedicated page at Amazon.
Olympus E-M1 body at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto, Amazon DE (via DL), WexUK, Topshot Finland, Namencolor Spain, CameraWorldUK.
Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO Lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, AmazonDE (viaDL).
Olympus E-M1 with 12-40mm Lens kit at Amazon DE (via DL), WexUK and CameraWorldUK.
Olympus E-M1 with 12-50mm Lens kit at Amazon DE (via DL), WexUK, CameraWorldUK.
Olympus EP-13 Eyecup for E-M1 at Adorama and BHphoto.
Olympus HLD-7 Battery Grip for E-M1 at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
Olympus LC-62D Metal Front Lens Cap for 12-40mm at Adorama and BHphoto.
Olympus LH-66 Lens Hood for 12-40mm at Adorama and BHphoto.

Some more bits before the news gets official at 5am London time:

– The E-M1 has adaptive sharpening optimization (works for every Olympus MFT and FT lens)
– Continuous AF is better than in any other MFT camera and matches the best DSLR performance
– EVF automatically adjusts the brightness
– The E-M1 is more weathersealed than the [shoplink 17163 ebay]Olympus E-5[/shoplink] – 12-40mm PRO lens has better performance than the 12-60mm FT lens.
– Olympus will offer a PRO Service package for  E-M1 owners (for example access to a hotline number)
First image samples by Ming Thein on Flicr (part one and part two).

In very Steve Jobs style I can now tell you that there is one more thing….a new Olympus high end compact with fixed lens! I don’t think it will be announced today along the E-m1. I hope to get more info about it after the announcement…

UPDATE: This camera will not go on preorder tomorrow. I don’t know yet if Olympus will “hint” something tomorrow or if this camera will be announced just a couple of weeks later. All I know is that there is definitely a high end compact on the way.

Stay tuned for the E-m1 announcement at 5am London time!

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For sources: Sources can send me anonymous info at 43rumors@gmail.com (create a fake Gmail account) or via contact form you see on the right sidebar. Thanks!
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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

I just learned that in some regions the E-M1 announcement will happen at 5am London time and in some other regions at 6am. This means that at 5am London time first official E-M1 info and review will be published here on 43rumors. Converted in other timezones this means:

9pm in Los Angeles
12am in New York
5am in London
6am in Berlin
13:00 (1pm) in Tokyo

As usual stay tuned on 43rumors by that hour. I will keep you updated with links to reviews, image samples and preorders.

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Dealsrunner.com (Click here) spotted the Amazon Germany price of the Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO lens. It will cost 999 Euro but if you try to preorder the page goes blank. The preorder links will work tomorrow at 5am London time (Stay tuned on 43rumors to follow the announcement).

Digicameinfo updated the E-M1 spec list (specs via google translation):

• Olympus OM-D E-M1
  – 16.28 million pixel LiveMOS sensor with 37 phase detection pixels
  – “DUAL FAST AF” hybrid autofocus (hybrid means contrast and phase detection AF).
  – Greatly improve the tracking performance of the C-AF
  – 6.5 frames / 10 frames  with fixed exposure.
  – 200-25600, LOW ISO range (ISO100 equivalent)
  – The shutter speed -1/8000 seconds up to 60 seconds
  – New TruePicVII Image processing engine
  – Adopt image processing technology “Fine detail II”, magnification chromatic aberration correction, Moire Reduction
  – EVF is 0.029 seconds time lag, High magnification 2.36 million dots of 0.74 times 35mm conversion,
  – touch panel LCD monitor 1.04 million dot 3.0-inch, movable,
  – 5-axis camera shake correction
  – Video Full HD (1920×1080 30p, 24Mbps)
  – -10 ℃ Low-temperature performance dustproof drip-proof,
  – Wi-Fi Built-in
  – Dimensions: 130.4 x 93.5 x 63.1mm
  – Weight: 497g (including battery media), 443g (body only)
  – Kit with 12-50mm will ship in early October and 12-40mm kit in late Ocotber

• M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO
  – Linear motor, MSC mechanism, AF inner focus
  – Manual focus clutch mechanism
  – 20cm minimum focusing distance (maximum magnification of 0.3 times, 35mm equivalent 0.6 times) throughout the entire zoom range
  – Dust-proof drip
  – I squeeze seven feathers (circular aperture)
  – Filter size: 62mm
  – Total length: 84mm, maximum diameter 69.9mm
  – Weight: 382g
  –  late November release

Reminder: Announcement tomorrow at 6am London time!

—

For sources: Sources can send me anonymous info at 43rumors@gmail.com (create a fake Gmail account) or via contact form you see on the right sidebar. Thanks!
For readers: Don’t miss any news. Join our group on facebook and follow our tweets.

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