Olympus Shows Prototypes At Photokina

By Staff On Sep 29 2008 - 6:00am

Olympus offered its own version of an interchangeable lens camera based on the new Micro Four Third standard, as well as a new d-SLR geared to prosumers, the company said at the Photokina trade show, held here last week.

Olympus' yet-to-be-named interchangeable lens camera follows Panasonic's G1, which was first to market under the new standard. No details were released with the camera other than a sample photo to demonstrate the product's diminutive dimensions.

The forthcoming digital SLR will be based on the original Four Third standard and will ship in the first quarter of 2009. Pricing and model name were not announced.

Olympus intends to position the camera between the $699 (body/lens) E-520 and the $1,699 (body only) E-3.

It will borrow the E-3's autofocus system, CCD-shifting image stabilization and a “new and updated feature to replace the current splash and dustproof function of the E-3” the company claimed.