The Taiwanese Panasonic manager (Mr.Yuasa) told at ePrice (Click here to read the translation) that the upcoming new 12-35mm and 35-100mm X lenses will not have powerzoom! If that is true than I am very surprised! These lenses are supposed to be ideal companions for filmmakers too or not? I hope this is not a mistake by the manager. He also said that it is very unlikely that the new lenses will have a f/2.0 constant aperture as this would make the lenses too big.

Hmmm, take that with a grain of salt ok? All I know from my sources is that the lenses will have a constant aperture and be weather sealed. Let’s see if I can get some feedback from my sources soon…

Rumors classification explained (FT= FourThirds):
FT1=1-20% chance the rumor is correct
FT2=21-40% chance the rumor is correct
FT3=41-60% chance the rumor is correct
FT4=61-80% chance the rumor is correct
FT5=81-99% chance the rumor is correct

Here are the links to the two amazing Olympus Four Thirds zooms:
Zuiko 14-35mm f/2.0 at [shopcountry 25320] Zuiko 35-100mm f/2.0 at [shopcountry 25119]

Just got this from another new source: “The new 12-50 is the first weather sealed lens. The powerzoom can detect if the lens ring is rotated slow or fast for either quick, fast zooming or slow precise zooming.”

So weather sealedlens without a weather sealed camera? Com on Olympus, shows us the PEN pro too :)

Thanks V.!

Olympus is launching a new deals action on cameras, lenses and the external VF-3 viewfinder.

Micro Four Thirds lens deals:
-$50 on the M.Zuiko ED 14-150mm at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
– Silver Olympus M.zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 R Superkit deal for $169 only on the Adorama (Click here). Black version for $186 via third party resellers at Amazon (Click here).

Four Thirds lens deals:
-$50 on the 12-60mm lens at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
-$50 on the 50-200mm at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
-$50 on the 50mm macro at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).

PEN camera deals:
Olympus E-PL3 with 14-42 for 599 & the 2 lens kit $150 more $648 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Olympus E-PM1 with 14-42mm lens $24 savings to $425 at Adorama (Click here). Not valid on the kits. Valid on stock on hand only.
Black E-Pm1 with 14-42 use coupon code S1442111
Brown E-Pm1 with  14-42 use coupon code S1442112
Pink E-Pm1 with 14-42 use coupon code S1442113
Purple  E-Pm1 with 14-42 use coupon code S1442114
Silver E-Pm1 with 14-42 use coupon code S1442115
White E-Pm1 with 14-42 use coupon code S1442116

I just got a price indication about the new upcoming Olympus 12-50mm lens. It came from an asian source so I have to convert the price it in dollars :)  That’s why you can’t expect this to be the exact price. Using the current conversion the new lens will cost around $400. But it will also be sold as kit lens along the E-PL3 and E-P3 and should be even cheaper in that case.

And here are the (FT5!) full specs of the 12-50mm EZ ED lens:
Focal length: 12-50mm
Aperture: f/3.5-6.3
Close focusing: 0.35 meter (0.98 ft)
Macro: 0.2 to 0.5 meter (0.66-1.6 ft)
Filter size: 52
Ring: Focus and Aperture ring
Zoom: Powerzoom button on the left side of the lens
AF: Super fast AF and silent focusing

Announcement tomorrow (December 14) at 6-7 am. Stay tuned on 43rumors!

Reminder -> Rumors classification explained (FT= FourThirds):
FT1=1-20% chance the rumor is correct
FT2=21-40% chance the rumor is correct
FT3=41-60% chance the rumor is correct
FT4=61-80% chance the rumor is correct
FT5=81-99% chance the rumor is correct

Finally I got the specs about the upcoming new Olympus Micro Four Thirds lens. It is a 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 macro lens! So it’s slower and has 10mm less at the end than the [shoplink 23681 ebay]Olympus Four Thirds 12-60mm f/2.8-4[/shoplink] zoom. But the new 12-50mm gains a macro feature, has super fast AF and has powerzoom. I have been told the optical quality is on very high level. The lens is quite big (two times the current 14-42mm collapsible kit lens).

The new lens is a nice walk-around camera for photographer and filmmakers. I wish it would have been a bit faster but as long as image quality is really high I can deal with that.

The lens will be announced tomorrow (Wednesday December 14) at around 6-7am London time. I don’t know if Olympus will also announce new accessories or a new lens roadmap tomorrow. As usual I will be here live to cover the announcement news and reviews. See you tomorrow morning!

P.S.: Don’t forget to join the Facebook 43rumors fanpage (Click here)!

Reminder -> Rumors classification explained (FT= FourThirds):
FT1=1-20% chance the rumor is correct
FT2=21-40% chance the rumor is correct
FT3=41-60% chance the rumor is correct
FT4=61-80% chance the rumor is correct
FT5=81-99% chance the rumor is correct

Image courtesy: Photozone

Our friends from Photozone (Click here) tested the Olympus 45mm f/1.8 lens. And that lens gets highly recommended: “The Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm f/1.8 is a highly desirable lens. The important center resolution is already on a very good level straight from wide open aperture and only the corners are somewhat softer here. The quality is very high across the image field when stopping down to f/4. Vignetting, lateral CAs as well as distortions are all well controlled and not relevant in field conditions.”
Yes, the lens is really a must have. Check price and availability at [shopcountry 23577].

Thom Hogan (Click here) reviewed the Olympus E-P3: “The sad thing is that we’re now in year three of the Pen, and the E-P3 hasn’t really budged the image quality bar. It’s a solid 2009-era 12mp camera. Unfortunately, it’s 2011. I’d expect more than a small nudge on noise reduction in terms of image quality change at this point.”

Panasonic Lumix G Vario PZ 45-175mm f/4-5.6 M43 review at ePhotozine (Click here): “Overall this lens is a very good, if a little pricey, general purpose telephoto, with good build quality and design. It may take those who are used to using more traditional lenses a little while to get used to the motorised zooming mechanism, but any issues will soon diminish with time given to familiarise yourself with its quirks“.
Price check at [shopcountry 25103].

Non english tests:
Olympus 12mm f/2.0 lens test at OpenPn (click here for the translation).
Price check at [shopcountry 23576].

Panasonic GX1 review at DC.fever (Click here to read the bad google translation). P.S.: I found a GX1 dedicated page at Panasonic Hong Kong. Nice!

Olympus 45mm f/1.8 review at Ganref (again with bad google translation).

Our reader Jesper translated the most important parts:
1. GX1 and GF3 was developed at the same time. GX1 was named GF7
2. They are currently no plans for new colors, but it could change if the market demands it.
3. Shutter lag is an issue Panasonic will improve for future G serie
4. Silky-pix sucks, they will definitely improve that, but i will take time
5. Build quality of Panasonic lenses will improve, see Olympus new quality lenses.
6. Reason why they kept 460k screen is the concern of risk of decreased brightness for high density screen.
7. Tilt and swivel screen were not included due to the size.

I would like to hear from you if you also think that the low resolution screen and absence of tilting capabilities is a drawback on the GX1.

Reminder: Imaging Resource (Click here) is hosting a live Q&A on the GX1 (There will be IR editors only, no Panasonic representant).

Reminder_2: The GX1 is already in Stock in Asia at Digitalrev (PAL version). It should arrive in Europe and USA by end of December: [shopcountry 26836].