Olympus has taken the Photokina photography trade show as an opportunity to show off a prototype of its first camera based on the Micro Four Thirds format, a standard it developed with Panasonic that aims to bring DSLR quality to smaller-bodied shooters. Although the company was apparently apprehensive to reveal any specs, it's clear that the two-tone, retro-looking model was designed as an homage to the classic rangefinder camera, though it will have the same advantage of lens interchangeability as single-lens reflex units. Panansonic is currently the only company to have announced a commercial Micro 4/3rds product, in the form of its LUMIX DMC-G1. Originally published on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 9:02AM.

Update 9.25.08: Olympus plans to bring a camera to market next year which takes a lot of styling cues from this prototype, according to Pocket-lint, which spoke to one of the company's marketing directors on the show floor.

[Via DigitalCameraReview], image courtesy of DPreview]