Free Handgrip promotion in UK (More info at Promotions.panasonic.co.uk)

Digitalversus (Click here) writes:

The Panasonic Lumix GM1 is small, light, stylish, pleasant to use and takes top-quality pictures. What’s not to like? This interchangeable lens camera packs a good range of features and quality tech specs into a cute little camera that’s perfectly portable. A few concessions have been made here and there, but that doesn’t stop the GM1 being one of the nicest little cameras to pass out of our test lab in the run up to Christmas 2013.

The Russian site 1001tema (translation here). Athaugh the google translation tool is making quite a mess it’s worth to check the site for the great pics they posted!

Test images have been posted at Optyczne.

GM1 preorder list:
In US at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
In Europe at Amazon Germany, Wex Germany, Amazon UK, Fotohanskeuzekamp, Cyberphoto Sweden and Wex UK.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 Video Test Review | Bnf Paris from Pier-Yves Menkhoff on Vimeo.

This is a guets post by our friend Pier-Yves. He tested the new Panasonic GM1:
—
It has been a long time since I looked for a “video photo pen”. A device which knows how to get to the point without sacrificing to the quality of the image. Just a “presses button”. A device where the effects would be just as a “cherry on a cake”. For one year, most of our professional realizations are filmed with the Panasonic DMC-GH3. Whether it is for commercial, legal, marriage, fiction, etc.. The Panasonic is a marvel. It is just damage which Panasonic France does not assure as regards the collaboration with the professionals. Panasonic France does not like the small independent directors.
How to bring the DMC-GH3 on holidays ? In week-end ? I want something compact and performing. A device with fix focal one . There is the RX1 of Sony, but it is very expensive. For me.
In September, Panasonic announces the DMC-GM1. I tear. It is magnificent. Simple. Basic. Compact. Only the lens bothers me. I do not like zooms for a private use. It is without mattering, I shall replace the lens by the Panasonic 14 mm f2.5 or the Olympus 17 mm f/1.7 f/1.7.
On Friday, November 22nd, 2013, my friends of Images Photo Paris announce me that the DMC-GM1 arrived. About 2 weeks beforehand. I exult.
Today, the DMC-GM1 is in my hands. It is almost too small. Nevertheless, I have no big hands. The menu is similar to that of the other Panasonic. Clear and immediately available. We are far from the “labyrinthine system” of Olympus and Fuji.
An element begins to bother me. It is impossible to place a quick release plate for photo or video tripod with another lens than the Panasonic 12-32 mm or 14 mm. With the Olympus 17 mm, it is limit. With the Panasonic 20 mm or 12-35 f / 2.8, you should not dream. It is impossible. Direction La Grand Bibliothèque de Paris behind my home.
It is cold. Paris is grey. The recording is going to change that of these dear Americans where their images are always full of sun and blue sky. Panasonic DMC-GM1 holds perfectly well in the pocket of my coat. It is even feels at ease.
Right out, it becomes different. To hold a metallic object is not very pleasant. I would have to buy these famous gloves for photographer. I am surprised by the reactivity of the DMC-GM1. It is immediate. Faster than the DMC-GH3. The touch-sensitive screen is reactive too. Even too much. Take care where you put fingers. Too low on the screen, you modify the white balance without being careful. It happened to me. The screen glorifies the images but without betraying them really. What you see is what you will get …
Return at home. The editing is also simple as for the DMC-GH3. The audio dubbing is essential. The audio recording is mediocre. Including with the wind filter. To use only indoor.
Now it just needs a nice case to carry the DMC-GM1. Enjoy your Panasonic.
Cheers.
—
Feel free to send your articles for posting on 43rumors at 43rumors@gmail.com. Thanks!

Reminder: 104 Euro off (yes already!) on the GM1 at Amazon Germany (all colors, via DL).

GM1 preorder list:
In US at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
In Europe at Amazon Germany, Wex Germany, Amazon UK, Fotohanskeuzekamp, Cyberphoto Sweden and Wex UK.

Metabones Speed booster Review & tested on BMPCC by Blunty.

E-M1 review at Amateur Photographer.
A fix for the Apple 10.9 Mavericks and App Nap performance Issues (Phaseone).
Is the Leica 25mm a portrait lens? (M43photo).
Olympus Stylus 1 First Shots posted: How do images taken with this high-end, long-zoom camera stack up? (Imaging Resource).
Olympus 45mm review at Fotooase (German).
Olympus Stylus 1 Review at ePhotozine.
GX7 review at Bestmirrorlesscamerareviews.
Olympus OM-D E-M1, Panasonic GX7, Fuji X100s: Refinement (TheOnlinePhotographer).
E-M1 test at Itmedia.
Stylus 1 – der Taschendrache mit voller Brennweite….(Pen And Tell).
12-40mm lens test at Yodobashi.
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera with a voigtlander 42.5mm lens at Footlessfish.

Image courtesy: Seldomscenephotography

Seldomscenephotography (Click here) posted that long exposure E-m1 vs E-m5 comparison. And also Photolisticlife (Click here) tested the E-M1 long exposure “issue” that was mentioned on other sites. He says it’s basically a non issue:

“I guess I’m trying to say that 99.9% of people taking 60 second or longer photographs will most likely leave the Noise Reduction on auto therefore making this a non issue.  For the rest of you, shoot a dark frame and you can subtract most of the noise out in post processing in no time at all so worry not.”

Admiringlight (Click here) posted a full E-M1 review:

“It’s a lot of money for a mirrorless camera, but given all the features, the extremely tough body with pro-grade weathersealing, the supreme responsiveness, outstanding viewfinder, super deep buffer and excellent autofocus, it’s worth the price.”

And Cameras.reviewed.com (Click here) selected the Olympus E-M1 as camera of the year:

With oodles of manual, customizable control, fantastic image quality, a superb new EVF, and full weather sealing, the E-M1 is a true, professional-caliber mirrorless camera. Paired with Olympus’ new 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO lens, the E-M1 was our favorite camera of all that we tested in 2013.

E-M1 Store Links:
Olympus E-M1 body at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto, Amazon DE (via DL), Amazon UK (via DL), Amazon ES (via DL), WexUK, Topshot FI, CameraWorldUK.
Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO Lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, AmazonDE (viaDL), Amazon ES (via DL).
Olympus E-M1 with 12-40mm Lens kit at Amazon DE (via DL), WexUK and CameraWorldUK, Amazon UK (via DL), Amazon ES (via DL).
Olympus E-M1 with 12-50mm Lens kit at Amazon DE (via DL), WexUK, CameraWorldUK, Amazon UK (via DL), Amazon ES (via DL).
Olympus EP-13 Eyecup for E-M1 at Adorama and BHphoto.
Olympus HLD-7 Battery Grip for E-M1 at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
Olympus LC-62D Metal Front Lens Cap for 12-40mm at Adorama and BHphoto.
Olympus LH-66 Lens Hood for 12-40mm at Adorama and BHphoto.

The E-M1 is right now in Stock via Amazon itself (Click here). The 12-40mm lens is also in Stock via third party resellers (Click here). But the sellers charges you with extra $200 :(

As usual, take it with a bit of fun :)

We know well how much expensive stuff you usually have to buy to do serious Wedding photo work. But how would it look like if you would take these pictures with a Toy lens and a cheap MFT camera? Elisabeth Busani (Flickr) shared his experience shooting a wedding with that stuff:
[shoplink 42873 ebay]$290 for the E-P2 at BigValue[/shoplink] [shoplink 42872 ebay]$100 for the 26mm f/1.4 Toy Lens on eBay[/shoplink]

—–
“A special guest”

September, a wedding, an Olympus EP-2 and a f1.4, 26mm Toy Lens from SLR Magic. This is what brings me to this blog, telling you about pictures I’ve shot during a friend’s wedding.
The Toy Lens, as you certainly know, is a very peculiar lens. It’s called “Toy” for a reason, but after having used it extensively for over a year, it’s become much more than that, so I decided to use it as my primary lens for the wedding.
Please note that I was not the official photographer (actually there was no such thing as an official photographer) since my friends preferred to collect the pictures, made by friends and family.
The Toy Lens has a very strong character of its own, the focus is concentrated in the center and moving towards the borders the picture gets gradually blurred. On one hand this “vignette” effect is perfect for portraits and details, since it enables you to focus on one element by blurring the rest, but usually at a wedding you might want to use something more flexible. On the other hand though, you can always use so called technical limitations to your advantage.

The Toy Lens can yield some surprising results also for long and medium shots and if you’re lucky you’ll also be able to capture a spontaneous outburst of joy.

Another one of this lens’ technical defects, which I find very fascinating, is the way direct light get’s diffracted in certain situations. If you use it well it can create interesting effects that underline the sense of airiness and peace of the moment.

I found the lens to be very fitting for situations like these:

and these:

And finally, the lens has a pretty good aperture, so it works quite well in low-light situations (I didn’t use a flash for this shooting).

I am very satisfied with this lens: it saturates the colours and its low-fi character gives my photos a certain peculiar personality. I find it very fitting with my style of photography, which has its root in visual arts (I’m mainly an illustrator by trade).
When you shoot photos at a wedding you need to be quick, always ready to capture that one moment. Using a Toy Lens with a fixed focal length and manual focus makes things more complicated, but I can only recommend you to try that at least once, it’s an interesting challenge, and it’s also a lot of fun!

………Elisabeth Busani………
portfolio: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elisabethbusani/