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Compact m43 camera from France packs OLED viewfinder into retro metal body

The Esquisse Camera packs a Micro Four Thirds sensor into a compact body.
ⓘ Esquisse Camera
The Esquisse Camera packs a Micro Four Thirds sensor into a compact body.
A particularly compact Micro Four Thirds camera with an OLED viewfinder, two programmable control dials and a premium metal body – the Esquisse Camera aims to breathe new life into the camera market. A year after the announcement, the French startup is finally revealing new details.

The Esquisse Camera was originally announced in September 2025, and was set to launch in the fourth quarter of 2026 at a price of under $2,000. The fourth quarter has begun, but there is still no sign of the camera. The manufacturer has now shared an update on the project's progress on Instagram.

According to the update, the electronics, image processing and software have been redesigned, and the startup is still working on developing the camera. Some decisions about its features have yet to be made. While Esquisse Camera has not provided a new timeline, this vague announcement suggests that the launch is still some way off. At least the company has released some new images of the camera since the announcement, showing the retro-inspired design in detail.
 


The camera is particularly intriguing because its aluminum unibody housing is expected to be exceptionally compact. Despite an OLED viewfinder and a 3-inch touchscreen, the camera measures just 10.5 x 7 x 3.5 centimeters and weighs 300 grams, making it smaller in every dimension than the new OM Pen ($1,099 on Amazon). These compact dimensions are made possible in part by using 256 GB of internal storage instead of an SD card slot.

The camera combines a Four Thirds CMOS sensor with a Micro Four Thirds mount and is said to support all existing m43 lenses. The sensor offers a sensitivity range of ISO 200 – 25,600 and a dynamic range of 13 stops. In addition to a USB-C port, the camera also offers Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for a potential smartphone connection. The camera is operated using no fewer than three control dials. Further details about the Esquisse Camera can be found on the official product page.
 

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> Expert reviews and news on laptops, smartphones and tech innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2026 10 > Compact m43 camera from France packs OLED viewfinder into retro metal body
Hannes Brecher, 2026-10-19 (Update: 2026-10-19)