At Olympus, the pressure is on micro 4/3 in this second half of 2010. Here come two tele-zooms and some photo cameras.

There was a dire need of a respectable tele-zoom in the Olympus lens range. This is now corrected with nothing less than a 75-300 mm f/4,8-6,7 (equivalent to a 150-600mm). If this was a bit too much for your taste, they also brought a nice 40-150 mm open at f/4,0-5,6 (much more reasonable).

The 75-300mm comes in cloth of black and silver according to your taste, at the price of €899.00/$899.99. Available in December 2010.

The 40-150mm will sell for €329.00/$299.99 as early as October 2010.

Furthermore, you will be able to shoot pictures with an Olympus E-P2 Special Black EVF Edition for €1079.00, and an Olympus E-P2 Special Black Flash Edition at €1049.00/$999.99, from October.

photo credit: davidgsteadman

When buying a photo camera, we often research in order to decide if this is the best camera, if its features will be goo enough, but will it be robust enough? Will it be useful or necessary to purchase a warranty contract extension? Will it fail very soon?

When somebody asks me these questions (and it happens quite often since I consider myself some kind of photography expert), I am usually without good answers; Nobody really speaks about this dirty little secret: Reliability of photo cameras is a taboo issue. In most cases, talking only happens for very extreme situations (I will not mention any pro camera events in the past few years). But on a daily basis, will my camera follow me everywhere? will it survive the bad treatment I will apply? Or will it fail at the sight of the first cloud (of dust or rain)? Preferably just a couple of days after the end of the warranty period?

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The PMA in Las Vegas is now arriving fast. After a long time of little rumors, here comes the moment for big rumors, but not the actual revelations yet.

• Nikon has been telling the world that they intended to have a great year 2010. It seems that they will bring a new DSLR (it could be the Nikon D700x, Nikon D700s, or Nikon D800 according to the rumor mill). It would be confirmed according to the banner visible on LetsGoDigital. But this is apparently a fake built from press material from the older Nikon D3 (via NR).
• Yesterday’s press conference did not bring a single SLR though (Coolpix S8000, Coolpix S6000, Coolpix S4000, Coolpix S3000, Coolpix P100, Coolpix L110, Coolpix L22, Coolpix L21, nothing less!)
• Plenty of people expect to see the Canon EOS 60D arriving now, but it’s still uncertain. NL/DPR predicts a set of features: CMOS 18MPs, 6.3fps, HD 24 and 36fps, Digic IV.
• According to CR, Canon is preparing a new Rebel/EOS camera whose name should be Rebel T2i (the European name could be 550D or EOS 600D), with video, fixed LCD of improved resolution.
• At last, Canon would present the very pro Canon EOS 1Ds Mk IV
• Samsung should extend its new NX line, possibly with some lenses (waiting a little more for a new NX camera body).
• Olympus and Fuji should bring only P&S cameras.
• The Sony rumour line is totally silent, which could be indicator that either they are efficient at keeping a lid on the new Alpha 750 or there is nothing in preparation.

So, let’s wait a little more.

Thanks to Swarovski and Olympus, you can now offer a stupendous photo camera: An Olympus EP-1 studded with Swarovski crystals.

Olympus EP-1 by Swarowski

If you have to ask for the price, you can’t afford it. But, it’s £1999.99 in the UK.

Olympus announced the launch of its new SLR camera: The Olympus E-600. This photo camera uses the recipe you must prepare when in recession times: Build a new cheaper one from the old expensive product. Sony did the same with the launch of the Alpha 850 (an Alpha 900 simplified in order to break prices down). So, if you were looking at the Olympus E-620, it’s time to go and check the specs and reviews of the Olympus E-600.

This is Photoscala which published the sales numbers for digital SLR cameras. The most amazingly interesting is -for me- which major brands progressed (or not) between 2006 and 2008:

SLR market between 2006 and 2008

You cannot miss the obvious progress of Sony who clearly became a major actor of this market, and a significant competitor for Canon and Nikon. Furthermore, as could be expected, the leader Canon is suffering most.

But in the end, in a market terribly difficult for all manufacturers, who will come fourth? I can’t avoid believing that Panasonic is doing it right and applying all the needed efforts to topple Pentax, even if nothing is done yet.

It may well be the photo camera that many serious photographers were wanting to complement their SLR equipment. Light, with interchangeable lenses, an SLR-like 3/4 photo sensor, a wealth of nice add-ons.

• Olympus sample video
• Amateurphotographer: First look and update
• CNet preview of Olympus E-P1
• DPReview: Olympus E-P1 movie samples

Olympus E-P1 and friends

Tamron rewrote its web site. This was the occasion to move the Lens Comparison Tool but it is still useful to compare a 400mm with a 500mm (or a 35mm with a 50mm).

Tamron - Lens Comparison Tool (based on focal length)

But you can also find a similar tool at Olympus (and it takes into account the specificities of 4/3 sensor format, of course): Perfect Lens finder.

Olympus Perfect Lens Finder