We’ll file this into ironic. We were day-dreaming during the weekend over the old Asahi Pentax, and today we received the above invitation for a new product launch event by Pentax in London on February 2nd. The new camera has been designed in collaboration with Sydney-born industrial designer Marc Newson, famous for combining smooth organic lines and bright vivid colors into his products.

The timing matches previous rumors for a new K-mount camera announcement from Pentax, just in time for the CP+ camera show in Yokohama. All rumors point to a new mirrorless interchangeable lens camera (MILC) to be named Pentax K-01. Again quoting previous rumors, the K-01 will have the same 16-megapixel sensor as the K-5, it will support K-mount lenses but will come with its own new DA 40mm f2.8 lens that is less than 1cm thick.
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Olympus is rumored to skip any new major product announcements at CES this January and instead announce its new mirrorless interchangeable lens camera (MILC) camera in early February. 43rumors is claiming that a trusted source has indicated that Olympus will announce a new MILC in the week of 6-11th of February. The new camera will be weather-sealed and have an integrated viewfinder, both of which will be a first for Olympus digital mirrorless cameras.

The new camera could also sport a new sensor, which would make the complete package even more appealing. Things have been heating up to a melting point in the MILC space, with Panasonic finally releasing a worthy GF1 successor, the GX1, Sony has come out with the 24-megapixel NEX-7 with OLED viewfinder and Fujifilm has promised us an X-series interchangeable lens camera for CES following in the bloodline of the very successful X100. We’ve also speculated that we might see the Panasonic GH3 at CES next week as well.
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