(UPDATED) GH3 kits info for US. Wireless flash shipping in mid Dicember.
A source sent me that info that may answer why there is no GH3 camera+lens kit in USA:
“Panasonic will be passing on kits for the GH3. However they will be running lens rebates when purchasing the camera, so it will offset the price to match what a kit would end up being priced at. As far as flashes go. There will be some new revamps to the line over the next year. The GH3 offers wireless flash control, so their line will be updated to include this feature more effectively.”
UPDATE: The flash he is talking about is the new DMW-FL360L that will start to be shipped form mid-December in Japan (Source: DC.watch).
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EU, US and Canada links to the GH3:
12-35mm GH3 kit:
Wex UK, Wex DE, Photoexpress UK, FotoHansKeuzekamp (NL),
14-140mm GH3 kit:
Wex UK, Amazon UK, Photoexpress UK, Wex DE, Amazon FR,
Body only:
Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Panasonic store, Samys, Henry, Vistek, Wex UK, FotoHansKeuzekamp (NL), Amazon FR, Webdistirbution FR,
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All current GH3 auction on eBay (via Slidoo).
Rasmus
6 months ago |Also interesting, is the Panasonic wireless flash control compatible with Olympus, so Olympus and Panasonic flashes and cameras can be mixed?
emde
6 months ago |everything else would be surprising. The pana flashes were Panasonic labelled FL-36, FL-50 (and FL20?). They have not yet offered the “R” variants. I would expect a FL600R equivalent from Panasonic.
quentin
6 months ago |would really like to see compatibility with olympus bodies – but why shouldn’t we expect this?
tomas
6 months ago |What you guys recomend presently as a flash for OLY EPL3 ?
whiskybravo (bean5y)
6 months ago |The Olympus FL-600R is great. I use it with my OM-D.
It might be overkill for the PENS, depends what you’ll use it for. I haven’t handled an E-PL3 so I’m not sure of it’s size, but I’m sure it would be OK. There is a smaller flash available which is cheaper.
tomas
6 months ago |thanks for advise
Rasmus
6 months ago |I have an FL50R. Great flash, but using it on-camera on the EP3 was very unbalanced, it’s probably the same on PL3. Using the flash off-camera is great on the other hand, so if you plan to use it on-camera a lot, go for a lighter flash, otherwise get the FL50 if you can afford it.
Now I have an E-M5 with grip so now I can use it on camera without problems.
tim
6 months ago |I really like the tiny Olympus FL-300R-because you can fold it down, and leave it on the camera in the bag. here is a picture of it foldet on a e-pl3 (scroll down)
http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/06/olympus-e-pl3/
I always wondered why Olympus didnt promoted this feature more, i only discoverd it after i purchased the flash…
and as an extra-you can even use it as a remote flash.
ronnbot
6 months ago |Also check out Metz. I have the AF-50; it’s relatively cheap and is fully compatible – wireless TTL, high speed sync. etc. Might be big for a PEN but I use it (mounted or wireless) with an E-PL2.
Anyway, it’s about time Panasonic supports wireless flash as I prefer the flash gun off the camera when I do use it.
tomas
6 months ago |thanks for this post…looks to be good value for money
Anonymous
6 months ago |What is the final cost of the kit with the 12-35 mm?? f2.8?
whiskybravo (bean5y)
6 months ago |If you have to ask…
Anonymous
6 months ago |it´s 700… IF… you promise to only use f2.8 and make a subtle MEOW! right before triggering
pongdaw
6 months ago |When are these rebate deals?
Anonymous
6 months ago |Is the Panasonic wireless flash going to be WiFi or line of sight wireless? I hope WiFi or radio of some sort. I don’t understand the benefit of the stupid line of sight wireless technology that I have in my Olympus flashes. WirFi or radio just makes so much more sense. I mean, I went and bought a cheap flash trigger from Cowboy Studio that works great, but why not just build it into the camera and flashes?
Matt
6 months ago |So do we have anyway of knowing what it will end up costing to get a gh3 and the 12-35mm? How much of a rebate are we talking about?
Jon NYC
6 months ago |I use 3 Metz 58 AF1 flashes. Aside from being a bargain, they were more feature rich than the top of the line Panny flashes available when I got my GH3 in 2011. They also had more light output than the flagship Canons and Nikons back then although I think this years models are more powerful. It is the same exact top of the line flash that Leica slaps a label onto and charges a few hundred more for (the Panny/Oly versions are also Leica compatible)
I do a lot of off camera strobist stuff with these using Impact, B&H’s in house brand, wireless radio triggers. Why spend money on Pocket Wizards if they aren’t Panny TTL compatible?
As Metz flashes allow for USB firmware updates I hope Panasonic quickly works with Metz to create a TTL firmware update. A dream would be Oly TTL interchangability as it is hard enough finding good 3rd party accessories for my beloved GH2 and pre-ordered GH3.
Another dream would be a firmware update to provide a wireless TTL firmware update for the GH2.
When I need off camera TTL I currently use a Canon compatible 20′ TTL hotshoe cord. Turns out both Canon and Olympus/Panasonic have the exact array of pins on their TTL hotshoes with the exception of Canon using one additional pin.
Guest
4 months ago |I just got my GH3 in the States and no lens rebate, what the heck?