43 Rumors

does this mean there’s no new pen also?

Would welcome the price drop. Only thing is, the current GF1 sold cannot be hacked anymore. I thought this was done in anticipation of the new GF2. I would like to have GF1, but with possibility to hack.

I’ve been holding off as well. So now, I cannot buy a GF2 until January. And the current GF1 is being intentionally crippled by Panasonic. I cannot help but think they’re shooting themselves in the foot.

That sux they’re disabling the hack for new gf cams. In any case I’d rather see more lenses plus the new gh2 anyway….

A pity, they should renew their products every 12 months. On the other hand, a hacked GF1 lacks very few things, so the update would not be substantial ( enough ). Hopefully, people will find a way to hack newer GF1s and GH1s.

This also means that GF2 will have the new sensor that will be presented with GH2.

Let’s hope they release some quality lenses in the meantime.

The problem is that Panasonic doesn’t have much competition at the moment. They could add in body stabilisation, but they’ll never do that as it doesn’t work that well with video (easily gets too hot).

As for the rest, only the NEX-3/5 is smaller, but without flash and with a userinterface made for P&S use it’s really not suited for the advanced users the GF1 is designed for.

So, what’s left? They could make it slightly smaller, they could add a viewfinder, but not a good one without increasing size. They don’t have a significantly better sensor yet – the image quality of the G2 is only slightly better. They probably want to introduce new features in a new high end model anyway so keeping the GF1 a while make sense, it’s not quite a year old yet.

gf1 as has been said is a niche product but the niche is not the smallest interchangeable camera it is as a poor man’s digital leica . They need to make the gf2 more like the m series. Add a decent rangefinder styled(to one side instead of the center) viewfinder( it can be evf)and make the shutter very quiet and leave the size alone. Add some fast glass and you are playing to the real strengths of the gf series.

The GF1 indeed is a very good camera especially when equipped with 20/1.7 lens.
What I am disappointed in is Pany was strongly rumored to be coming out with a couple complimentary small models in addition to the GF1. One a more affordable version of GF1 and another GL1 in rangefinder body style with inbody EVF.

Admin – Whatever happened to the “Fake photo of GF2 which was posted on 43rumors about 3 weeks ago and then mysteriously vanished from site. This looked just like a mini LC1 slightly smaller than the EPL1 but with a real swivel screen but no inbody EVF? My reasoning Pany took steps to remove this “leak” of their potential product?

I believe Panys decisions are based on what has happend with the arrival of the Olympus EPL1 and the Sony NEXs. First the EPL1 while very popular killed the sales of the better build EP1 and forced Oly to reduce their price on EP2 because of competition with the EPL1. Pany maybe reasoned producing a more affordable model of GF1 would steal sales from both GF1 and new G10 so elected to reduce GF1 prices instead.

However the very rapid success of the Sony APSC NEX series has proved that small compact size, quality build, special features like good high ISO performance and more importantly economical affordable pricing is more important to consumers than necessarily a larger in body EVF model so Pany decided to defer producing that model which may have been already for production.

I expected that Pany would maybe produce a slightly modified model of GF1 with 14/F2.5 kit lens, touch screen, and added GH1 sensor with higher video capacity. Pany apparently not able to use a high resolution hotshoe mounted EVF because of limited space would cause interference with flash use. Presumedly the new model GF2 will have a modified flash design and provision for higher res EVF.

I was anxiously waiting to see a comparison between the new NX100 and GF2 but will have to wait impatiently as hope they will both have swivel rear screens which greatly reduces the need for EVFs to avoid strong sunlight conditions. Because of potential use of small legacy lens sizes at least up thru 200mm I want to go with m4/3.

Just my best guesses at best.

Nothing wrong with the GF1 form factor, it would be a mistake if the GF2 gets ‘too’ small ala’ Sony NEX. Why don’t they hear the calls for a RF type form factor?

As long as the GH2/3 comes out and comes out strong, I’m OK with that. The GF2 should take some additional time in order to gauge the market and see where the competition is headed. It’s a wise move on Panasonic’s side to wait.

I would also love to see an M-like digital from Panasonic. Simple controls, improved sensor, combination optical/electronic built-in VF. It would sell fast.

Funny how people had/have expectations on Panasonic (and other company). People are getting upset and angry over options and must haves that these companies didn’t promise. People get soooooo worked up over these rumors, kinda sad.

Camera companies upgrade their cameras………… too many people don’t upgrade their skills the exception being their whining and complaining skills

DO we really need a GF2 (basicly the same just another color) or a GFL1 (the same technology, but without any comfort)? Like Olympus did?

NO! Thanks god Panasonic is not making the same sh*t like olympus. I believe the next GF will be in size of the LX5 with the same interface/buttons like GF1 (no restrictions).

I also believe that there will be a new Viewfinder. Panasonic showed that the like the idea of a evf (see LX-5) it could be a nice accessory for every compact camera.

I would just love a pricedrop to 550-600€ for the GF1C-Kit. It would see like candy.

II like that Sony started a downsizing war, but they cut all functions for manual control – that is NEVER aceptable.

I know users being users would love to have new toys as soon as possible but the reality is that there is a marketing factor built into the eco cycle of a product. For Japanese companies, the product cycle is always 12 months. So it should be time for a GF-2.

Actually, I would like to see an improvement withe the sensor but trusted that Panasonic’s main market are video cameras instead of still ones, sensor technology is not expected to improve much should it be a budget version. Anyway, Sony is challenging the dominance of the M43 and their strategy has always been to carpet bomb the market with a slew of low end products to squeeze out the competition. They have done this with low end DSLRs so Panasonic better beware.