Olympus 25mm f/1.8 lens announcement coming in early 2014

The new entry-level Olympus Micro Four Thirds camera will be announced alongside a 25mm f/1.8 lens to compete against the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 and Leica 25mm f/1.4 optics.

There are signs which are pointing to the fact that the Olympus E-M1 sales are going pretty well. This means that the company has reasons for joy and that it can plan its next moves patiently .

The rumor mill thinks that it has managed to get a hold of the manufacturer’s future plans, which are sure to include an entry-level OM-D camera.

Olympus is said to take some specifications and features from the higher-end OM-D E-M5. However, it will remain an entry-level shooter with the E-M1 being the flagship device.

Nevertheless, this alleged Micro Four Thirds camera is not the single product that will become available on the market in 2014.

Olympus to launch 25mm f/1.8 lens for Micro Four Thirds photographers

Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 lens is about to get some more competition from the new Olympus 25mm f/1.8 optic, which is said to be released in early next year.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the Olympus 25mm f/1.8 lens will also be released for MFT-mount adopters.

This will be a prime lens with a very bright aperture. Although its focal length is not very big, it could prove to be a decent portrait or street photography lens, as it will provide a 35mm equivalent of 50mm.

Entry-level OM-D camera and Olympus 25mm f/1.8 lens to be announced in January or February 2014

The pair – camera and lens – will most likely be announced together and they might even be sold as a kit. Still, it is too early to speak about these possibilities as there are too few things known about both the new shooter and lens.

We might hear more during the Consumer Electronics Show 2014 taking place in January. If so, then they will be released in February. However, if they become official in February, then they will hit the market sometime during the spring.

Bigger than the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7, cheaper than the Leica 25mm f/1.4

The Olympus 25mm f/1.8 lens will have to face some serious competition. The list includes the 20mm f/1.7 from Panasonic and the 25mm f/1.4 from Leica.

The upcoming model will be thicker than the Panasonic unit, which is also a pancake. Furthermore, it is said to be cheaper than the Leica optic.

For the time being, the 20mm f/1.7 II ASPH lens is available for $398 at Amazon, while the 25mm f/1.4 DG Summilux Aspherical costs $529 at the same retailer.