Olympus to intro 5.1 mp SLR next year?

Some time back we reported that Olympus and Kodak would be working on joint ventures in the future and that Olympus would be using Kodak sensors. Today Kodak gave a seminar and revealed some details, it appears that Olympus will announce a new digital SLR at PMA next year (Feb 2002) which will be fitted out with a Kodak 4/3" 5.1 mp CCD (KAF-C5100E). More interestingly it appears that this camera (or cameras) will have a lens mount and a selection of up to 5 lenses (though the standard "kit" will include a body and lens). Kodak also make mention that this camera may also support Bluetooth (or via a kit) wireless transfer techology. Thanks to my good friend Yamada Kumio (webmaster of digitalcamera.gr.jp) for handing me this piece of news.

A translation of Yamada's bullet points:

• "Dream digital SLR for the Photographer is made".
   
• Real world price is 200,000 YEN (US$1620) or less for "lens and body kit".
   
• The sensor size will be 4/3" and should be fitted out with Kodak KAF-5100CE sensor (5.1 megapixel).
   
• At the sensor size 4/3" then 16 megapixel should be possible in the future
   
• As the sensor area is 4 times larger than that found in the E-10 so four times the sensitivity and dynamic range.
   
• Define a new lens mount based on the 4/3" sensor size.
   
• Announced at PMA 2002, introduced to market (for sale) at Photokina the same year.
   
• Extra grip, mass storage (MO), macro and bluetooth accessories are also to be developed for the "system".

Reproduced with permission.