Olympus is reportedly set to launch a new series of mirrorless system cameras featuring a built-in, high-quality, viewfinder and working on a new DSLR.

The new CSC line-up will run alongside the existing Pen micro four thirds camera range (see picture), an official for the firm reportedly told Japan?s Digital Camera Magazine.

In the interview, Olympus marketing manager Haruo Ogawa hinted that the new technology ?should help mirrorless cameras become mainstream, instead of remaining confined to the domain of hobbyists?.

Ogawa remained tight-lipped on details of the viewfinder, however.

It seems Olympus will continue to support the Four Thirds format for DSLRs, and that the firm is working on a new E-system model.

An Olympus UK spokesman declined to comment when contacted by AP this morning.

Olympus?s head office in Tokyo had yet to respond to a request for comment at the time of writing.

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The news comes as Olympus reports a 32% increase in volume sales of interchangeable lens cameras (E-system plus Pen-series) in the six months to 30 September 2011.

Olympus sold around 330,000 units during the half-year, according to company accounts published on the firm?s website.

Total digital camera sales rose 15% year-on-year, to 4.2 million units.

However, the firm predicts that its imaging division will struggle to make a profit for the 12 months to 31 March 2012.

In a recording posted on its website – taken from a press conference given last week – Olympus Tokyo states: ?Going forward, partly due to the flooding in Thailand, we are now projecting that figures might be lower than we initially anticipated.

?Should that happen, that would mean that the operating loss would be recorded for the second consecutive year??