First Olympus E-M5II photos leaked on the web

The first photos of the Olympus E-M5II Micro Four Thirds camera and the 14-150mm f/4-5.6 lens have been leaked on the web, suggesting that their announcement date is nearing.

Olympus has confirmed that the replacement for the OM-D E-M5 mirrorless camera is ready and that it is coming “soon” during the Photokina 2014 event.

The Micro Four Thirds shooter has not been revealed, yet, but it has been registered at the National Communications Commission in Taiwan under the name of E-M5II.

The rumor mill has said that the device will become official sometime in February, prior to the start of the CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging Show 2015, with a similar 16-megapixel sensor that can capture photos at a resolution of 40 megapixels using a special sensor shift technology.

The availability details have just been confirmed by the first Olympus E-M5II photos, which have showed up online, courtesy of a trusted source. This is the camera’s true name and the leaks suggest that its launch event is very near.

Olympus E-M5II will come with an improved design inspired by the high-end OM-D E-M1 mirrorless camera.

Olympus E-M5II photos show up online, announcement date cannot be far away

When looking at the Olympus E-M5II photos, there are some visible design changes. Its shape is more streamlined and the high-end OM-D E-M1 has definitely served as an inspiration source.

The E-M5 replacement looks bolder and tougher than its predecessor. Its texture seems to have been improved, too, while the button arrangement has been altered significantly.

More buttons have been added on top of the Olympus E-M5II camera, forcing the company to change the position of existing buttons and dials on the E-M5.

The dials appear to have an improved quality and their positions have been slightly changed as well. On top, you can find three Fn buttons, while a fourth one sits right above the articulated display.

Additionally, the E-M5II has gained a button in front of the camera, which will probably allow users to input some exposure settings.

Overall, the leaked Olympus E-M5II photos reveal a Micro Four Thirds camera designed with professional photographers in mind, despite the fact that the E-M1 will remain the flagship OM-D model.

The tilting display on the back of the Olympus E-M5II will have a different tilting mechanism than the one currently found in the E-M5.

New Olympus 14-150mm f/4-5.6 lens has also been leaked and is coming soon

The OM-D E-M5II mirrorless camera will not come alone. A photo of the already-rumored 14-150mm f/4-5.6 lens has been leaked, too.

The current model, sharing the same focal length and maximum aperture, is a bit old and in desperate need of being replaced.

This is the first leaked photo of the Olympus 14-150mm f/4-5.6 lens, which will be announced alongside the E-M5II.

A while ago, the patent of a 12-150mm f/4-6.3 IS lens has been leaked, suggesting that it could take the place of the existing 14-150mm f/4-5.6 lens.

It appears that this is no longer the case and a similar lens with an improved design will be announced soon. When it becomes available, it will offer a 35mm focal length equivalent of 28-300mm.

For the time being, Amazon is selling the E-M5 for a price around $600, while the 14-150mm f/4-5.6 lens can be purchased for a similar price tag.