As part of a $640 million buy-in last year, Olympus will soon be manufacturing lens and lens components for use with Sony's camera systems. According to a statement from an Olympus representative (first reported in Amateur Photographer):
In the imaging business, the mutual parts supply has been partially started between Sony and Olympus...The imaging sensor has already started to source from Sony to Olympus. And the lens [parts] and lens units will start to source from Olympus to Sony.
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Sony's buy-in to Olympus was deemed a 'partnership'[/caption]
Apparently, then, there will be a two-way supply between the two companies. When pressed for more details, however, Olympus remained conveniently tight-lipped, saying that the company will "not disclose such matters". Since Sony already supplies Olympus with image sensors, it'll be interesting to see just how much each company shares with one another, considering they're still competitors. Even though Sony invested quite a lot of dough after Olympus was hit with a crippling fraud charge last year, I hope that the exchange remains mutual and balanced, as both companies could make a brilliant camera/lens combo in the future.