The French website Focus Numerique (translation here) tested the Panasonic GH3 ISO performance. You can compare the ISO results with those of the Olympus E-M5 and Sony NEX-7. As expected the JPEG engine of the Olympus manages to get slightly better results at High ISO. But if you shot in RAW than there is really little difference between the two (you can download the RAW files at Focus Numerique).
Mirrorless reviews posted that EM-5 Third Party Grip vs. Olympus HLD-6 Grip Review video
Time to catch up with a list of news I got from 43rumors readers!
Deals:
First off Stefano found that amazing deal on [shoplink 35238 ebay]eBay Italy (Click here)[/shoplink]. It’s the first E-M5 with 15mm lens kit and sold for 829 Euro (sadly it ships to Italy only). Weird to see that in Italy and France the price for the E-m5 is much lower! Just check them on Slidoo eBay (it’s our little new website so feel free to login and use it).
If you want to try to get the E-m5 for cheaper than the normal price you may check the refurbished auctions on [shoplink 22691 ebay]Olympusmarket (Click here)[/shoplink]. They ahve eight of them on auction!
Reviews:
A Weekend of Extended Use With the Fujifilm X Pro 1 and Olympus OMD EM5 (ThePhoBlographer).
Shooting the SF Auto Show with the Olympus OM-D (TheDigitalStory). Zelko: “I thought you might want to know, that the OM-D has become “an important EVIL camera for underwater use.” as said in this (http://wetpixel.com/i.php/full/using-the-olympus-om-d-e-m5-underwater/) article. Wetpixel is a serious website dedicated to u/w photography by professional photographers. Actually the writer Alex Mustard is a very well known one.”
Issues: Anonymous: “this is not a rumor but a kind request to evaulate the opportunity to highlight a recent discovered E-M5 manufacturing/design weakness: there are a lot of confirmations that the LCD bezel develops crack near the bottom fixing screws. This should not to be considered a trivial cosmetic-only issue, the crack, growing up, could easily compromise the weather sealing and will lower the price of an used body when sold. Please, for further details see here: http://www.mu-43.com/f42/omd-em5-crack-bottom-bezel-screen-normal-36685/index2.html and here: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/post/50330633. Your support could greatly help to put some pressure to Olympus in order to officially acknowlegde the issue.”
Some more readers mails: Robert: “I just wanted to let you know that one of the biggest Swiss electronics dealers (www.digitec.ch) currently offers a 10% discount on all Olympus products. The offer is valid until 3rd December 2012. Unfortunately, they only ship to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, but still the discount is nice. Have just ordered an OM-D Kit with the 12-50mm zoom.” Pierre: “Like other sites, you missel the BEST deal available for Olympus OMD: 1049.99$ WITH 12-50 mm. A 249.99$ rebate! Link: http://www.henrys.com/68950-OLYMPUS-OM-D-E-M5-BLACK-W-12-50-LENS.aspx”
E-M5 Case:
There is the official [shoplink 31898 ebay]CS-36FBC Olympus case[/shoplink]. A [shoplink 31899 ebay]leather half case from Hong Kong[/shoplink]. A full [shoplink 31900 ebay]leather case with strap from Cina[/shoplink]. Than we have half cases from two well known producers, [shoplink 31901 ebay]Zelenpol[/shoplink], [shoplink 31906 ebay]Kaza[/shoplink] and [shoplink 31902 ebay]Gariz[/shoplink].
E-M5 Batteries, and other things:
The [shoplink 31905 ebay]Olympus GS-4 strap[/shoplink] and the [shoplink 31903 ebay]DSTE E-M5 batteries[/shoplink] you have to use with an extra charger. There is an [shoplink 31903 ebay]E-M5 car charger[/shoplink] a [shoplink 31908 ebay]new E-M5 LCD screen[/shoplink] and a [shoplink 31909 ebay]Front Cover+ Top Panel[/shoplink].
Our french friends at Hybridcams (translation here) posted the full GH3 review and included a comaprison with the “older” GH2: “Meticulously designed, well thought out ergonomics and obviously excellent performance not only at the video where it was expected, but also in photo.”
And CameraLabs posted the full E-Pl5 review: “This-all round versatility is something that’s not easy to achieve but Olympus has pulled it of with great style and panache, a feat which earns the E-PL5 our Highly Recommended award.“. E-PL5 at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto. In EU at Amazon Germany, Amazon UK, Amazon France and eBay (via Slidoo). And gariz case in [shoplink 34731 ebay]Black (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 34730 ebay]Brown (Click here)[/shoplink].
And here is the next bunch of GH3 videos to watch! On top you can see Filippo’s video shot with Canon’s new CN-E prime lenses. If you never heard about these lenses before just know that these are high quality lenses that can cost up to $44,000 (they are here at BHphoto). Filippo…you spend that money for CN-E lenses just to take a video of your cat? …Joking :)
Andrew from EosHD posted a new video and writes: “The Panasonic GH3 is much of an improvement on the GH2. After shooting with it properly now I can confidently say YES. The codec contains far more information than on the GH2 (hacked or not), more colour, more dynamic range, much better shadows and smoother gradation.” Andrew also dreams about a possible Panasonic Full Frame camera. But that is not going to happen…for now.
Two more videos: Nick Driftwood explains the Panasonic GH3 Basic Profiles on vimeo. Adam Mada posted that short ISO test on vimeo.
One more news: Michael Britt sent me this text: “I’m hosting the first event featuring the GH3 in the United States at Samy’s Camera Los Angeles. Panasonic is bringing in NatGeo shooter Ira Block to show his recent video work and Samy’s will be showing and selling the first batch of GH3 cameras hitting our shores. It’s a free event: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4804527471/eorg”
A couple of 43rumors readers sent me some link to their own GH3 test. And it’s my pleasure to link to you guys! On top you see the video shot by Mike. Toby is the first guy posting some GH3 HDR shots on Flickr. And Tommy posted a ‘Quick Play’ hands-on. EosHD posted that shootout with many cameras including the GH3.
Hugo Goudswaard tested the new SLRmagi 35mm T/1.4 lens. It looks good! And the even better news is that all current [shoplink 14881 ebay]SLR Magic 35mm f/1.7[/shoplink] owners can trade in their lens and pay $259 instead of $349!
SLR Magic 35mm f/1.7 trade-in program details (offer ends by Feb 28th 2013)
1) Need [shoplink 14881 ebay]SLR Magic 35mm f/1.7 lens[/shoplink].
2) Copy of receipt from authorised resellers dated before Dec 1st 2012.
3) Items 1 and 2 shipped to us in Hong Kong by registered post with tracking number.
4) SLR Magic 35mm T1.4 will cost $259 instead of $349 after trade-in price.
People interested in the upgrade program can contact SLRmagic at support@slrmagic.com
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Current SLRmagic lenses for Micro Four Thirds:
SLR Magic 12-36×50 ED Straight Spotting Scope lens (w/ hand grip) is now available on [shoplink 26994 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
SLR magic 11mm f/1.4 lens you can preorder on [shoplink 22154 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Toy Lens 26mm f/1.4 lens on [shoplink 18603 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
SLR Magic 35mm f/1.7 MC lens on [shoplink 14881 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Noktor SLRmagic 50mm on [shoplink 25691 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]
