Image courtesy: Quesabesde.

Quesabesde (translation here) tested the Olympus 75mm f/1.8 lens. Like any other review we have seen before Quesabesde likes the lens a lot. The optical quality is impressive. But when looking at the camera and lens pictures posted by Quesabesde I simply can’t get it why Olympus didn’t make a Black version of the lens. And if they plan to do it please don’t make it “Limited edition” like the expensive 12mm Black lens! No need to extra charge $300 for this :(
Olympus 75mm price check at [shopcountry 31284].

Ming Thein also posted a short Olympus 15/8 Body Cap Lens review: “At just US$60, it’s a no-brainer recommendation for anybody who owns a M4/3 camera, especially if you’ve got a older or spare one lying around.“. Also Digitfotopro tested the tiny lens.
Body Cap Lens preorders at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here) and in Europe at Amazon DE (Click here) and Amazon UK (Click here).

Image courtesy: m43.eu.

Our polish friends at M43.eu (Translation here) are the first to compare the image quality of the new E-PL5 with the current high end Olympus E-M5 camera. Both use the same sensor but according to m43.eu test the E-PL5 is slightly less noisier than the E-M5. I guess the image processing workflow has been improved over the E-M5. And it doesn’t end here because here comes the “WOW” surprise: They even tested the E-PL5 dynamic range (Click here) and the said that the E-Pl5 is: “shockingly better” (at Low ISO) than the DR measured for the E-M5 (here it is). The E-M5 still has the edge on High ISO but there is 1 EV difference in favour of the E-PL5 at ISO 200 and ISO 400.

If these tests will get confirmation by other websites too than we have really a major surprise. I really can’t figure out how the E-PL5 dynamic range can be that much better!

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New PEN camera preorders:
E-PL5 at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto. In EU at Amazon Germany, Amazon UK, Amazon France,
E-PM2 at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto. In EU at Amazon Germany, Amazon UK, Amazon France.

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Refurbished E-M5 is also back via Cameta:
Silver Olympus E-M5 for $849 at Cameta (Click here).
Black Olympus E-M5 with 12-42mm lens for $949 at [shoplink 34210 ebay]Cametaacutions (Click here)[/shoplink] and Cameta (Click here).
Silver Olympus E-M5 with 12-50mm lens for $1149 at [shoplink 34211 ebay]Cametaacutions (Click here)[/shoplink] and Cameta (Click here).
Black Olympus E-M5 with 12-50mm lens for $1149 at [shoplink 34211 ebay]Cametaacutions (Click here)[/shoplink] and Cameta (Click here).

Image courtsey: Ming Thein | mingthein.com

Ming Thein (Click here) reviewed that what he calls the “mini OMD” camera, the new Olympus E-PL5. He likes the camera a lot and ends the conclusions with a wish: “now if only they’d make one with a built-in EVF like the NEX-6…“. Don’t worry Ming, I think Olympus will do that soon! :)

Speaking of the E-M5. There is “travel review” at Eidolonfilms and writes: “I’d highly recommend the Olympus OM-D E-M5 to any travel or street photographer that craves a low profile camera that works quickly and produces great image quality.  I know my back is grateful that I no longer lug around a larger DSLR”

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E-PL5 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here). In EU at Amazon Germany, Amazon UK, Amazon France,
E-PM2 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here). In EU at Amazon Germany, Amazon UK, Amazon France,

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And the refurbished E-M5 is also back via Cameta:
Silver Olympus E-M5 for $849 at Cameta (Click here).
Black Olympus E-M5 with 12-42mm lens for $949 at [shoplink 34210 ebay]Cametaacutions (Click here)[/shoplink] and Cameta (Click here).
Silver Olympus E-M5 with 12-50mm lens for $1149 at [shoplink 34211 ebay]Cametaacutions (Click here)[/shoplink] and Cameta (Click here).
Black Olympus E-M5 with 12-50mm lens for $1149 at [shoplink 34211 ebay]Cametaacutions (Click here)[/shoplink] and Cameta (Click here).

Zacuto’s First Look at the Panasonic Lumix GH3 from Steve Weiss on Vimeo.

Zacuto posted this first GH3 hands-on video. And Luminous Landscape are now testing the GH3 too. Review will be up soon but in the meantime they wrote that: “so far I am extremely impressed with the build, handling, and especially image quality, both stills and video. This may be the best hybrid camera yet.”

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GH3 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), Panasonic US and in Europe at Wexphotographic UK, Photogalerie FR and Technikdirekt.

European blogs had the chance to play with the GH3 with firmware version 0.5:
EosHD (Click here) reports “First change, I felt that the buttons were more tactile and grippy“.
The German Slashcam (translation here) reports that the Audio Level can be changed while recording.

by reading this reports you get the feeling that there are still many changes to come. Let’s hope there won’t be any delay and the camera ships on November 30th as “promised” by Panasonic US.

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GH3 Preorders at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), Panasonic US and in Europe at Wexphotographic UK and Technikdirekt.

Photoreview Australia posted the Olympus E-PL5 review including a detailed Imatest report: “The review camera’s low-light performance was impressive, with image noise only becoming visible in long exposures at ISO6400 and shots taken at ISO 12800 being printable up to A4 size.” The E-PL5 shipment now started in Asia at Amazon Japan and on [shoplink 33622 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. In US and Europe shipment will start in 1-2 weeks.
E-PL5 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here). In EU at Amazon Germany, Amazon UK, Amazon France,
E-PM2 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here). In EU at Amazon Germany, Amazon UK, Amazon France,

New Lens tests:
Tokina 300mm f6.3 Mirror Lens at ThePhoBlographer: “The focal length is extremely long and not everyone may like the doughnut effect or the slow manual focusing. To really get the most out of the lens, you’ll need to slow down, think, and wait for the right moment.”
Olympus 75mm test at Focus Numerique.
25mm f/0.95 HyperPrime test at ThePhoBlographer: “Even though this being only a prototype, I found it to be very sharp wide open for a lens this fast”
17.5mm Nokton review at ePhotozine: “Sharpness in the centre is impressive for a lens with such a fast maximum aperture and it just gets better as the lens is stopped down. The quailty feel delivered by the materials and workmanship is of a level normally reserved for Leica and Zeiss lenses, which generally cost a fair bit more.”
Kurt Munger tested the Olympus 45mm f/1.8 lens. Also Camerahoarders posted one.
60mm macro review at Seldomscenephotography.

a short GH3 low light test

GH3 test after test is being posted on many websites. Now it’s time to see a short and not scientific GH3 versus E-M5 comparison at ePhotozine (Click here). There is also a short video test too. It’s really not possible yet to say what’s the difference between the two cameras. We will have to wait for Dpreview or DxOmark to learn more about it.