[shoplink 23692 ebay][/shoplink] The picture on top shows the back of the [shoplink 23692 ebay]Panasonic L1 Four Thirds camera[/shoplink]

Now let’s face the big question. Who of you believes a GX model with built-in viewfinder would have been a better product than the newly announced [shoplink 26836]Panasonic GX1[/shoplink]? As you know the chiefs of Pana said that a GX model with built-in viewfinder “may price it out of the range of the people we’re trying to reach. And not everybody wants a viewfinder, so at least this gives the consumer the option of having it or not. Personally I do not use them…“. (Source: Photographyblog).

Let’s make some calculations about the possible price of the GX model with built-in viewfinder:
1) The GX1 body costs $700 at Amazon. The external viewfinder has been priced at around $250. Total price: $950
2) The [shoplink 25396]NEX-7[/shoplink] costs $1200 (but price will go up because of the flood)
3) The [shoplink 19929]Fuji X100[/shoplink] (which comes with fixed lens) also costs $1200.
4) The current Panasonic L1 Four Thirds camera with built-in viewfinder sells for $1900 at Amazon and for $1000 used on [shoplink 23692 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

So let’s assume the price of the GX model with built-in viewfinder would be $1000-$1100. The question is:

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And an even more complicated question is:

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According to very latest info the new Panasonic GX1 should be announced tomorrow morning (7 November) at 6am London time and not on November 8! Don’t know why the date has now be changed  but I ask all sources reading this to recheck the announcement date and send me a confirmation. Thanks!!! UPDATE: Other sources confirmed the announcement date. Now there is a confusion about the exact hour. 5am or 6 am? Since the clocks have gone back one hour we have that trouble right now :)

UPDATE: Also be sure to be online on November 7th at 6am London time. I am flying tonight from one end of the world to another end of the world. I should have Internet connection via a new Panasonic-Lufthansa service Hotspot. let’s hope it works :) Otherwise excuse me if I will miss last minute leaks or the early 5-6am announcement news. I will arrive on airport at 8.30 am (Berlin time) and will certainly have Internet connection at that time.

The upcoming new Panasonic-GX1 has been leaked at Panasonics website (Click here). You will see the introduction video plus some videos shot with the GX1. Hurry! They will probably remove it soon.
UPDATE: The video is now on youtube (you can watch it on top of this post).

As you know our sources told us the camera will be announced in Japan on November 8. The video shows some of the camera specs. Here is what we know so far:
– 16 megapixel sensor (should be the same of the [shoplink 22077 ebay]Panasonic G3[/shoplink]).
– New Venus engine
– camera has a grip and our sources told us it is a bit tinier than the [shoplink 14828 ebay]Panasonic GF1[/shoplink] – ultra fast 0,09 second AF with X lenses.
– built-in flash
– new 1.44 milion dot external viewfinder.
– Silver and Black body
– 460k and 3 inch LCD screen

The GX1 will be announced on Monday 7 November at 5-6am London time. Be sure to be online at 43rumors! I will update you with all news and reviews. And I want to remind you that we now have a new Facebook fanpage (Click here) you should join!!!

As you know the Panasonic will not record motion jpeg anymore. But the new info I got says that it can do AVCHD / MP4 movie recording, including MP4 1080@30p (20Mbps), which seems better than AVCHD 1080@60i (17Mbps).

But the bets news I got from two sources says that they tested the image quality of the GX1 and the jpeg high ISO quality is visible better than what you get from any other m43 camera. And one source said it’s actually surprisingly close to the [shoplink 26379]Sony NEX-5n[/shoplink] jpeg quality. Let’s hope this is true because the Sony really shines in that aspect!

Of course every rumor is questionable, and so are mine. But there are some websites saying the GX1 will have a 12 Megapixel sensor. And many readers contacted me to ask me if that is true. I am writing this post to answer you all and to confirm you again that my sources are telling me that it has a 16 Megapixel sensor. And I am 99,999% sure I am right :)

Anyway, it doesn’t matter that much now. The GX1 will be announced on Tuesday 8 November at 6-7am London time. Be sure to be online at 43rumors! I will update you with all news and reviews. And I want to remind you that we now have a new Facebook fanpage (Click here) you should join!

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For Europeans only: New refurbished Olympus cameras are available at [shoplink 22691 ebay]Olympusmarket[/shoplink] like:
[shoplink 26715 ebay]Olympus E-PL1 double lens kit[/shoplink] [shoplink 26712 ebay]Olympus E-PL2 double lens kit[/shoplink] [shoplink 26713 ebay]Olympus E-PL2 with 14-42mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 26714 ebay]Another (black) Olympus E-PL2 double lens kit[/shoplink]

Before you read this. The rumor is based on non proved facts. I received that anonymous tip and have no way to double check it. So take it easy! It’s quite “strange” but I post it anyway. Here is the text of the rumor:
“Well, the OlympusDrama is taking a new dimension in Wall Street, here is a strong rumors about a requirement for Samsung Medical Device Development (a Samsung Electronic Division) to an evaluation company about the Olympus Medical Devices unit. Samsung could be looking for the opportunity to buy a good bunch of stocks.”
Just my tow cent on this: Although the rumor is talking about the interest from Samsung about the medical part of Olympus also the camera division could interest them. Samsung is heavily investing in their mirrorless system and an Olympus acquisition would help them to gain lot of technical skills and historical experience.

Back to real news:

Mr. Noda (prime minister of Japan) said that the allegations surrounding Olympus may be taken as indicative of how the whole country operates. And: “What worries me is that it will be a problem if people take the events at this one Japanese company and generalise from that to say Japan is a country that does not follow the rules of capitalism” Source: Techradar.

And the next news is that Olympus president Shuichi Takayama said: “We wish to make a profound apology for all the distress and trouble caused due to the recent series of media reports and fall in stock prices triggered by our recent change in President. The past acquisitions mentioned in the media were handled with the appropriate evaluations and procedures. These transactions were in no way improper and we are setting up an external panel of experts to examine and report on this acquisitions activity…We sincerely hope to conclude this situation as quickly as possible to restore society’s trust in us and to bring reassurance to our customers, business partners, shareholders and employees. Thank you for your continued understanding and support.” (Source: AP).

And MR. Woodford said “Olympus will survive the controversy and is a good business. There’s nothing wrong with the company. So the company will go on“. (Source: AP).

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A reminder: Months ago a rumor from one of my trusted sources said that Samsung offered Four Thirds sensor for Olympus. I still don’t know yet if Olympus will consider that option.

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

P.S.: The new viewfinder has 1.44k dots and is til-table. I don’t know the price yet. The current Panasonic DMW-LVF2 costs around 150 Euro/Dollars at [shopcountry 26560].