Yesterday we found a new Panasonic patent (from December 10) which shows a new FourThirds camera (not MicroFourThirds!).

It is very difficoult to read patents that’s why we made a small summary of the most interesting parts:

Live-View, Optical Viewfinder, mirror and prism, of course interchangeable FourThirds lens mount, CMOS sensor, supersonic vibration generator, No Video recording, No in body stabilzation.

And Photographybay just published their CES 2010 predictions and they say Panasonic will drop another FourThirds DSLR!!!

“Panasonic
I’m holding my breath for Panasonic to drop another Four Thirds DSLR that has their cool live view system that’s found on the G1, GH1 and GF1. That’s DSLR – with a mirror. Just a hunch based on some info that I’ve recently seen. Otherwise, point and shoots may rule the roost for Panasonic as well.”

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More patent details:

– “The present invention relates to a digital camera. In particular, the present invention relates to a digital camera having a movable mirror, which enables a subject image to be observed through an electronic viewfinder.”

– “A digital single-lens reflex camera has an electronic viewfinder and an optical viewfinder, so that a subject image formed by an image pickup optical system is switched with a movable mirror, and can be observed through the optical viewfinder.”

– “The OVF is configured in an optimum shape for displaying an image having a composition with an aspect ratio of 4:3. It should be noted that the optical viewfinder may be configured in an optimum shape for displaying an image having a composition with another aspect ratio. For example, the optical viewfinder may have an optimum shape for displaying an image having a composition with an aspect ratio of 16:9, or an optimum shape for displaying an image having a composition with an aspect ratio of 3:2.”

“FIG. 3 is a back view of the camera body 100. As shown in FIG. 3, the back surface of the camera body 100 includes a menu button 140a, a cross key 140b, a set button 140c, a rotation dial 140d, a viewfinder switch 140e, a focus mode switch 140f, a strobe activation button 140h, an LV preview button 140j, a stop-down button 140k, an AV button 140m, and a power supply switch 142. On the upper surface of the camera body 100, a hand shaking correction mode switch button 140g and the release button 141 are placed….The menu button 140 allows the liquid crystal monitor 15010, thereby enabling the user to change the setting. The cross key 140b selects various settings, items, images, or the like displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 150, and for example, can move a cursor or the like. The set button 140c determines the selected various settings, items, images, or the like displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 150. The rotation dial 140d is an operation member that selects various settings, items, images, or the like displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 150 in the same way as in the cross key 140b, and can move a cursor or the like, for example, by rotating. The viewfinder switch 140e selects either guiding an optical image to the eyepiece 136 or displaying a captured electric image on the liquid crystal monitor 150. The focus mode switch 140f selects either setting a focus mode in a manual focus mode or setting the focus mode in an autofocus mode. The hand shaking correction mode switch 140g is capable of selecting whether hand shaking correction should be performed. Furthermore, the hand shaking correction mode switch 140g can select a control mode of hand shaking correction. The stop-down button 140k adjusts the diaphragm in the live view mode. The LV preview button 140j adjusts the diaphragm and displays a part of an image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 150 in an enlarged state, in the live view mode. The AV button 140m adjusts the diaphragm in the OVF mode. to display setting information on the camera body”

Please read for yourself the patent, may I missed something…

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source: nolimitpictures.com.au
“Just thought you guys might want to see what else the is capable of…
We shot a music video recently with three GH1s using various canon lenses even a tilt shift.”

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G11 vs GRD3 vs GF1 comparison at Adorama
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Pentax K-x, Canon XSi y Olympus E520, Frente a Frente (Fotoactualidad / google english translation)
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All the Kevin Spacey videos are now available at Olympus UK!
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Japanese DSLR weekly sales ranking at bcnranking.jp. The Panasonic is loosing some terrain.
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In case you missed it: an old 50 mm om prime lens tested with the ep-1 (slrgear)
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Today Deals:
Amazon US: Olympus E-P1 Camera with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens (Silver Body/Black Lens) for $673.04
Amazon US: Panasonic G1 Camera with 14-45mm Lens (Blue) for $636.69 (cheapest amazon price ever seen)
Amazon US: Olympus E620 Camera with 14-42mm Lens for $565.00
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Pixmania España: España “PROMO10ES12” Bono de ahorro de 10€ válido para compras superiores a 250€. Y “PROMO20ES12” Bono ahorro de 20€ de descuento válido para compras superiores a 500€.
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Neue Pixmania Deutschland Gutscheincodes: “DE451109” 45 Euro Gutschein für Pixmania (Mindestbestellwert: 1000 Euro) / “DE201109” 20 Euro Gutschein für Pixmania (Der Mindestbestellwert beträgt 400 Euro). Gültig bis 31 Dezember!

Some rumors we received do say that Panasonic developed a sensor which has a better High-ISO quality (around +1stop quality gain) and better Dynamic Range. It is very likely that there will not be a Megapixel-number increase. In February and March both companies (Panasonic and Olympus) are going to unveil new cameras which will use the new sensor. Olympus should unveil one (or more?) FourThirds cameras and Panasonic a new MicroFourThirds model.

(FT2) One of our very new sources also told us that Panasonic has applied the backlight-tecnology to the FourThirds sensor.
Editos’s note: I always thought that backlight tecnology would only make sense on very small sensor so I can’t judge if the rumor is fake or if it referrs to a completely new type of backlight sensor which also works for bigger sensor.

UPDATE: Panasonic recently announced the new Panasonic 2.2/3-inch CMOS Image Sensor Based on Dual Resolution and Exposure Technique.

Panasonic GH1 720 / 24P
14-140mm F4.0-5.8
Canon FD 24mm F2.0
Canon FD 50mm F1.4
Canon FD 85mm F1.8
indiRAILSpro MP
indiSLIDERmini
Wondlan Pegasus II DV Stabilizer

The filmmaker sent me following text:

“I recently completed a documentary style music video for New York based artist Taiyo Na for his song Lovely to Me (Immigrant Mother). It’s a music video dedicated to not only immigrant mothers but all our moms. It was completed just this past Thanksgiving weekend and done in time to commemorate and give thanks to our moms. And I wanted to share it here because it was all shot with the GH1 with many people who I just handed the camera to and said, “Here go and film your mom!”

The process of this film was a community based one so much of the main footage was shot by youth and adults who had very little experience using a camera. So in many respects this piece is a different kind of music video not that aesthetics are thrown out the window but that it is a much more process driven creation. The “mom” footage piece was shot with two GH1s with much of the stock lens footage on auto focus. Although I hate working with autofocus, we just didn’t have the time to teach people how to use the camera, the goal was more here’s a camera point and shoot with it. So in a way this is an experimental process, so yes from a technical stand point some footage shows some of the GH1’s issues and problems but over all it shows the power of the GH1 and m43 camera in general.

But I wanted to post this MV to show that sometimes we focus too much on the pixel peeping and the things that suck or are lacking about a camera and not enough time on the content or heart of a piece. Ultimately, we are telling stories be it in pictures or in a moving image. If that story is powerful enough I think then sometimes we can look beyond the negatives and see the real possibility of doing a lot with so little.

And that’s sort of what we did with this music video. Looked at using what we got now and to push it as far as we could to tell a compelling story.

I hope this little piece can inspire others to go out and shoot with the little you. And with the little GH1 we were able to get amazing results.

I hope you enjoy. I also run a blog called componentgeek too with some info. that may be useful for those who are using c-mount cine lenses.

Much respect,

Gary”

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There has been an incredible reaction against James Nachtwey because of his unpaid Internship offer! (via: TheOnlinePhotographer)
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“Triangles” from Gianni Galassi (taken with the Panasonic G1)
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Lensbaby on GF1 (source: dpreview forum)
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Are top compact cameras catching up with DSLRs? (source: DxO mark, via noisycamera)
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Zeiss Lens Portraits with Beautiful Model and the Olympus E-P2 (source: TheDigitalStory)
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A First Look at the Sigma DP1s (source: neutralday.com)
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Today Deals:
Amazon US: OlympusE-P1 Camera with 14-42mm Lens (Silver Body/Black Lens) for $666.93.
Amazon US: Olympus E-P2 Camera with 14-42mm Lens and Electronic View Finder in Stock
Amazon US: Panasonic GF1 in Stock on December 16!
Pixmania Deutschland: Hier klicken um die Schnäppchen Liste zu lesen.
Pixmania España: Lista de las ofertas mejores

Panasonic GH 1 Low light test with Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 from Pavel Menyailo on Vimeo.

olympus e-p1 review diary: day 1 (benprestney.toniaprestney.com)
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Olympus E-P1 with NIKKOR 10.5mm FISHEYE image samples at theoldschoolhouse.com
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GF1 vs. D700 (dpreview forum)
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Olympus E-P1 Comments, Part III: Lost Pictures (TheOnlinePhotographer)
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A man sold the Leica M8 for the GF1 and he is happy! (dpreview forum)
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Today Deals:

– Panasonic LX3 (Black) for $406.96

Remeber there are deals for Germany and Spain in Pixmania!

Sony XR520V (a classic Handycam) vs GH-1. from ikechi on Vimeo.

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Olympus Equipment for Hire! (photographyblog)
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A short blog why I think the Olympus E-P2 is great (by Kirk Tuck)
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Have you ever heard about Fingerstraps? (dc.watch.impress.jp)
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Panasonic Acquires Sanyo: “The acquisition will create one of the world’s largest electronics manufacturers with an edge in green technologies.“ (Photoreview Australia)
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Toshiba makes the first SD card with exFAT format! (dc.watch.impress.jp)

Latest rumors do say that the Samsung NX-10 could be announced a little later than expected (final announcement on January 10?). The camera was expected to be announced in December. Let’s see what happens!

UPDATE:

Source: redcrow (dpreview forum)

“I got more updates of NX10.

1. Samsung will start teaser ad. in next week in Korea.
2. Samsung will announce AND launch NX10 in next several weeks.
NX10 will be launched into the world market at the same time.

3. Some NX10s have been delivered / will be delivered to camera review websites/magazines.
They are asked to zip their lips until the official announcement.
4. Samsung keep working on stabilizing the firmware.

NX10 has an interesting feature.

It has burst mode. (Up to 30 shots with 7 fps). It seems to be similar feature with K20D’s, I guess. But I didn’t hear how it works.“