As you know the big news on the end of the last week was the official Sony and Olympus partnership announcement. Today there was a press meeting in Tokyo and you can read more about it at  DC.watch (translation here). It is the medical business from Olympus that Sony wants most but of course there will be implication in the camera division too. The press conference confirmed that both companies will seek collaboration. Sony will supply sensors to Olympus while Olympus will supply lens and mirrorless technology and knowledge.If google translation didn’t fool me than it’s also clear that many components for future mirrorless cameras will be developed together. It is Sony’s interest to sell Micro Four Thirds sensor and not to make Olympus quit from the system.

I think Olympus can add an immense value to the NEX system by may making High Quality Zuiko lenses for it. Don’t think Olympus will make NEX cameras for now. Or do you really want an E-moun PEN? :)

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Lesnumeriques (translation here) interviewed Mr. Takashi Yasuda from Sony. The main talk was about the [shoplink 14165]new Sony A99[/shoplink] and when asked about the competition and their price he said that “we believe that the Alpha 99 is well positioned and have no intention of facing competitors in the field of 24×36 reflex at discounted prices.“. But he also adds to the end that it is the market that will decide if the price is correct.

As you know Nikon/Canon recently announced their first low price FF cameras, the [shoplink 14524 ebay]Nikon D600 (here on eBay)[/shoplink] and the Canon 6D. While the A99 has manu unique features there may be a need to make a cheaper A95 version to compete against the mentioned FF cameras.

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Sony preorder list:
A99 body Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Jessops, Wex UK, Wex Germany, Sonystore DE–UK–FR–IT–ES–NL–SE–FI–CH and more links at Alphacameradeals.
A99 with kit lens links Alphacameradeals.
RX1 Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Wex UK ,Wex Germany and more links at Alphacameradeals.
NEX-6 body Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Wex UK, Wex Germany Sonystore DE–UK–FR–IT–ES–NL–SE–FI–CH and more links at Alphacameradeals.
NEX-6 with kit lens Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Jessops, Wex Uk ,Wex Germany and more links at Alphacameradeals.
NEX-VG900 Amazon, BHphoto, Sonystore DE–UK–FR–IT–ES–NL–SE–FI–CH, Wex Uk and more links at Alphacameradeals.
NEX-VG30 Adorama, Amazon, BHphoto, Wex UK, Sonystore DE–UK–FR–IT–ES–NL–SE–FI–CH, and more links at Alphacameradeals.
Sony E-mount 16-50mm Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Wex UK, Sonystore DE–UK–FR–IT–ES–NL–SE–FI–CH, and more links at Alphacameradeals .
Sony E-mount 35mm Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Wex UK, Sonystore DE–UK–FR–IT–ES–NL–SE–FI–CH, and more links at Alphacameradeals.
Sony E-mount 10-18mm Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Wex UK, Sonystore DE–UK–FR–IT–ES–NL–SE–FI–CH, and more links at Alphacameradeals.
Sony A-mount 300mm f/2.8 Amazon, BHphoto, Sonystore DE–UK–FR–IT–ES–NL–SE–FI–CH.

Wall Street Journal (via 43rumors) reports: “Olympus said Friday it will raise ¥49 billion ($631.6 million) by issuing new shares to Sony Corp. With the capital tie-up, Sony will effectively become Olympus’s biggest shareholder, with a stake of 11.5% in terms of voting rights. The two companies also plan by the end of December to set up a joint venture to develop medical devices and to study collaboration in compact digital cameras.”

Olympus and Sony didn’t disclose any detail about the collaboration and I don’t know what to expect from this. Olympus has a great experience when it comes to high quality lens design. They are for example the only one doing f/2.0 fast zooms, the [shoplink 14498 ebay]14-35mm (here on eBay)[/shoplink] and the [shoplink 14492 ebay]35-100mm (again here on eBay)[/shoplink].  This is certainly something the NEX system needs urgently.

UPDATE: In a PDF released by Olympus/Sony they say: “The two companies also aim to enhance their competitiveness, primarily in the area of compact digital cameras, by exploring opportunities for mutually beneficial transactions and collaboration between their respective camera businesses, including the supply of Olympus technologies such as camera lenses and mirror cells to Sony, and the provision of Sony image sensors to Olympus.”

On Monday Sony and Olympus will have a press conference and we may will learn more about their future camera strategy!