What’s (Black-) Magic on the new Pocket Cinema Camera!

NAB 2013: Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera unveiled from Dan Chung on Vimeo.

Right now the new Pocket Cinema Camera can be preordered at Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here). But what’s so Magic with the new Blackmagic?

First of all, if you are a pure photographer stop here. The Pocket Cinema Camera is a video camera! But if your priority is shooting film than this little (and non expensive) camera may be for you! You can read all specs of the camera at Blackmagicdesign. What I like about the camera is that it has been (well) designed and developed with one specific goal in mind: Deliver the best video quality in the most pocketable package. It shoots 12 bit CinemaRAW DNG and has 2 Megapixels…exactly what you need for HD shooting and not a pixel more that gets “wasted” like on current hybrid photo/video cameras. The result is an amazing sharpness and 13 stop dynamic range:

The new Pocket Cinema Camera has the same sesnor tech as the bigger Blackmagic Cinema Camera. And the video below nicely shows you how much better the Blackmagic is when compared with the Canon 5DmarkIII:

Comparing the Cinema Camera & 5D Mk III from OneRiver Media on Vimeo.

Now you get that kind of quality for $995 and in a cool small sized camera. I think Blackmagic did an incredible good job and also added more value to the full Micro Four Thirds system that is more and more becoming the mainstream mirrorless system! Yes, that camera “wowed” me yesterday! Well done Blackmagic!

P.S.: You may also read the Pocket Cinem Camera review written by John Brawley and the hands-on at Leavethatcouch. Again, preorders at Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).

 

14-42mm lens gets tested at DxOmark and ePhotozine (GF6 comes with new updated zoom).

DxOmark (Click here) and also ePhotozine (Click here) tested the 14-42mm II (non X!) lens. And the DxO result shows that the 14-42mm II lens beats the X power zoom (and compact) version. ePhotozine “Highly Recommends” the lens and writes: “The Panasonic Lumix G VARIO 14-42mm II Lens has excellent sharpness throughout the zoom range.

DxO also underlines one problem, none of the existing cheap MFT zoom kit lenses is really a high quality performer. It’s my opinion that Panasonic and Olympus should try to produce a lens with the characteristics of the Fuji 18-55mm f/2.8-4.0 lens.

Reminder: The new GF6 will come with an updated new 14-42mm lens that is a little bit shorter. Stay tuned on 43rumors on Tuesday 6 am London time! We will follow live the Panasonic announcement.

Philip Bloom’s Micro Four Thirds Blackmagic camera review.

Review of the Blackmagic Cinema Camera Micro Four Thirds from Philip Bloom Reviews & Tutorials on Vimeo.

The Blackmagic MFT camera has been announced six months ago but still isn’t shipping at BHphoto (Click here). There is only one in [shoplink 37583 ebay]Stock in Australia (via eBay)[/shoplink].While you are waiting the postman to deliver your preorder you may check out the latest review written by Philip Bloom (Click here). The video review can be sen here on top.
Philip recommends the MFT version over the EF version because: “the flange distance makes way more sense for that sensor size and the image of the Blackmagic MFT with my Voigtlander glass is just damn gorgeous as it’s using more of less the whole lens.

P.S.: Save this Slidoo eBay search to get notified when new Blackmagic auction will be online.

The Camera quality ranking from Stiftung Warentest (Germany). In Stock at Amazon on Sunday.

That is the ranking of the sever testers form the German “Stiftung Warentest“. As you see the Panasonic Gh3 ranked as current best DSLR+Mirrorless System Camera. Also the compact cameras from Panasonic and Olympus are on top of the list. Quite an astonishing result! That said there is no such thing as a perfect ranking and testing. It all depends from what you need :)

P.S.: In Germany a lower score = better quality.

And finally we have some clue when the GH3 will ship at Amazon US (Click here). On Sunday March 31!

Amarcord: Olympus XA

[shoplink 37225 ebay][/shoplink]

Smartphones are eating up the low end compact camera market. And the High End compact camera with fixed lens market is one the last niche left where companies cans till make some money. Olympus will soon announce their High End compact and let’s hope it can be as successful as they were with the [shoplink 37225 ebay]Olympus XA 35mm film compact camera (here on eBay)[/shoplink]. Cameraquest writes that this was a “groundbreaker“. it is the smallest full frame 35 with a built in Rangefinder!!! It had an Albada finder with parallax correction marks, automatic exposure, super smooth electromagnetic shutter release, self timer, a battery check, and tripod mount. yep all that stuff in a super small camera (see it on youtube here).

Guru Blogger Ken Rockwell writes about the XA: “Not only are the images wonderful, but the design and styling of these cameras are a joy to behold.

It may doens’t look particularly great but it does all what we need and all in the smallest package possible. Let’s see what the new digital Premium compact Olympus will copy from it. I would like to see the clamshell! :)

Olympus XA auctions on [shoplink 37225 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

Olympus 17mm f/1.8 Review by Kai (Digitalrev) and SLRgear.

Is the Olympus 17mm f/1.8 lens good or not? Watch the video to hear Kai’s answer :)

A more “technical” review has been also posted by SLRgear. They write: “Olympus has produced a very nice lens here – it feels very solid, and produces some nice images. In comparison to its fellows, it isn’t quite as sharp or resistant to chromatic aberration, especially at the larger focal lengths, but its unique focusing technology might make up for that, and make it easier to use in the field.

Yep, some like and some do not like the lens. May Olympus come out with a high quality 17mm f/1.4 lens too? That would be nice for all MFT owners asking for an extra super high quality 17mm lens!

Olympus 17mm lens price check at [shopcountry 34914].

Mirex T/S adapter for MFT.

The world of Micro Four Thirds adapters is growing and sometimes it surprises you with new products from companies you never heard of it before. The German company Mirex launched a new Micro Four Thirds Tilt Shift Adapter. The adapter is not yet listed on their webpage, but it is available and 43rumors reader Florian owns it. You can read his report and see more pics at Floriansphotos.com.

Current T/S adpaters or lenses for MFT are:
[shoplink 37413 ebay]Arsat Arax Photex 35mm f/2.8 (here on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 37414 ebay]MC 2.8/20mm TILT/SHIFT lens (here on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 37415 ebay]Minolta Tilt adapter (here on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 37416 ebay]Kipon Nikon F mount Lens to Micro 4/3 Tilt & Shift Adapter (here on eBay)[/shoplink].