(FT5) Panasonic G3 and lenses announcements delayed (coming in May now)
Image on top: The Panasonic G2 which should be replaced by the new G3.
I just received info from a few of my sources. Due the recent energy supply problems in Japan Panasonic had to delay the announcement of some of their upcoming products. The new Panasonic Micro Four Thirds camera and lenses will be announced in May (and not in April as I told you before).
UPDATE: Other companies have been hit very hard by the earthquake desaster. According to Bloomberg “Canon earnings this year will probably be 27 percent lower than previously estimated after last month’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan“. And Sony had to delete the lates product announcements!
Than Panasonic should announce a new Micro Four Thirds camera, the G3. The Panasonic G10 has already been discontinued, the G2 price lowered to make room for the new G3. There will be also a new Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 lens. It is not Leica branded, has no image stabilization and unlike the famous Four Thirds brother it is not Leica branded. It should cost around $700. That’s more than just a rumor because Panasonic UK product manager John Mitchell confirmed that the 25mm lens is coming this summer: “We are sure it’s going to be a great hit because it’s 50mm [35mm viewing angle] equivalent – really fast, really bright” (Source: Amateur Photographer). Oh forgot to mention: It has double the size of the current 20mm f/1.7 pancake.
Is there room for some surprise? Let’s hope yes! 
Links:
The Panasonic G2 price dropped during the recent months at Amazon, Adorama, B&H, J&R, eBay.
The Panasonic G10 already disappeared from most stores (See Amazon, Adorama, B&H, J&R, eBay)
The current 25mm f/1.4 Four Thirds lens at Amazon, Adorama, B&H, J&R, eBay.
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
Share
Recent comments
Comment from Hecti: Why is development of the m4/3 so flippi...
Comment from Miroslav: Not a big deal, but I can't see the text...- Comment from Miroslav: "wasn’t a fast 25mm the most requested...
Comment from Tropical Yeti: > I feel that $700 is too much for a ...
Thierry
2 years ago |In the mean time I’ll check out Nikon’s new D5100…
Eric
2 years ago |Make sure you check out that view finder on the D5100. A pentamirror with only .51x magnification and 95% accuracy is near worthless to me.
bonzoo
2 years ago |Any rumors about new/improved sensors? The sensor found in the GH2 seems to be quiet good but I’m still hoping for a sensor optimized for low noise/high iso and better DR. I don’t care if it has only 12 MP.
admin
2 years ago |Ops! Forgot to mention the G3 has a new sensor. But I have no 99% certain details yet…
Boris
2 years ago |Now you are talking!
Looking forward to know more about the sensor.
GEEEFF1
2 years ago |i dont like the new 43rumors.com layout
admin
2 years ago |New??? It’s the same since last August (2010!).
Larry
2 years ago |You have had rendering problems the last few days, but this morning the style is back.
Eric
2 years ago |I noticed the issue in Google Chrome as well. The site looked fine in IE8 and Firefox 4 when I checked, but in Chrome the entire right column was missing (among many other bugs). The odd thing is after I posted a comment this morning it went back to normal.
admin
2 years ago |I asked my designer. He is working on some fixes! That’s the reaosn why you see weird things…
omox
2 years ago |Talking about layout…
- Could you add “Login” button to mobile theme?
I can’t login from my phone because of it (I don’t have “enter” key on my phone soft-keyboard…
- Please add option of switching off the pagination of comments, it drives me crazy!!@#@#!
Thanks in advance!
mr.gelo
2 years ago |The link to comment disappears when using IE9
admin
2 years ago |I am currently fixing the problems with IE9. Thanks for reporting the issue!
Miroslav
2 years ago |Not a big deal, but I can’t see the text above the article title ( date, number of comments etc. ) when I open the article page itself. There’s just a blue line, I have to go to home page to see that. Browsers: Seamonkey 2.0.13, Firefox 3.6.13, Windows XP.
Also, the “Reply” link disappears after fifth reply to a comment – that one’s very old
.
YeahYeah
2 years ago |Yep, the layout sometimes bug but it’s ok now. Admin could you give us some info about this new sensor? It doesn’t have to be 99% certain!
admin
2 years ago |99% certain: Not the same GH2 and not the same G2 sensor. I guess (and that’s 50%) it will be a 14 megapixel sensor.
Mr. Reeee
2 years ago |Will the G3 have a similar full-res multi-aspect ratio as the GH2 sensor?
As for the 25mm f1.4, this is good news: if it’s real, if it ships within some reasonable timeframe and if it’s actually available in stores in my lifetime.
I fear with the overlapping disasters in Japan, Panasonic’s famous ability to deliver new product in a timely fashion may take a hit.
I hope it has real manual focus instead of the nasty focus by wire. Lack of OIS isn’t such a big deal and would only make the thing bigger and more expensive. Obviously, some will wail about it’s absence and inability to take photos without it.
frosti7
2 years ago |It will prob be the GH2 sensor but NOT multi-aspect, and it would have same video specs as GH1
Boris
2 years ago |Let me ask you in other way
, any chance it can be the sensor from GH1?
YeahYeah
2 years ago |Thanks admin! can’t wait to see that!
Eric
2 years ago |Comment removed. Meant to reply to someone else.
peroni
2 years ago |Is the 25mm Leica branded?
Quote:
There will be also a new Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 lens. It is not Leica branded, has no image stabilization and unlike the famous Four Thirds brother it is not Leica branded.
Martin
2 years ago |Either it is not Leica branded or it isn’t Leica branded. In my opinion it’s not Leica branded, but I can be wrong.
gnosisdog
2 years ago |All the buzz around a lens thats bound to be inferior to and only slightly cheaper than the Nokton. If it had OIS I could see the point. But to give up a full stop and build/image quality for AF? No thanks. So I’ll ask one more time: how about a 2-2.8 12-50 zoom?
Martin
2 years ago |> how about a 2-2.8 12-50 zoom?
No chance. It would be HUGE and too expensive.
bonzoo
2 years ago |If you dont mind… could you please share your crystalball with me?
There are no sample pics so how can you compare image quality? I think that many people are willing to give up one stop for AF
“So I’ll ask one more time: how about a 2-2.8 12-50 zoom?”
So I´ll answer one more time: any idea how big/expensive such a zoom would be?
Jules
2 years ago |Bound to be inferior based on what?
And would you care to explain the point of having OIS on a fast wide angle?
Per
2 years ago |The increments between Panasonic primes are too short. I have a 20/1,7, the 25/1,4 would be too close. I hope for a G3 to have the GH2 sensor and processing engine, but lack some vidoe features and a bit cheaper than GH2. More rangefinder style but with EVF would be a bonus.
Michael Meissner
2 years ago |Yes, I must admit to be confused as to what is the market for the 25mm?
It is 1/3 f/stop faster than the 20mm, but in the grand scheme of things that would not change your fast lens minimal depth of field shot all that much.
It isn’t Leica branded, so you don’t have the allure of the red dot to drive up prices.
It is fairly close in terms of focal length to the 20mm, that in general I would imagine would be easy to go from one to the other.
Maybe it will be silent or have some reason to spend the extra $300 on this lens, rather than getting the 20mm.
Obviously we will have to see if the bokeh is creamier.
Is it to identify those people with really too much money to spend? Maybe as a companion to their Fuji X100?
RW
2 years ago |I’m with you on this one. I feel that $700 is too much for a lens that doesn’t add too much reach or speed to what you can get with the 20 F1.7 for half the price..
DonTom
2 years ago |I don’t think too many folk will spring for the 25mm F1.4 if they already have the Panny 20mm.
But the many new buyers of these cameras will definitely buy a “fast 50″(equiv) with AF once it’s available.
And if it’s optimised for video, it will sell really well. It is really good news that the lens many have been begging for is finally on the way!
at
2 years ago |Panasonic is missing the golden chance for launching the 25mm f/1.4 lens after the release of the 25mm f/0.95 manual lens by Voigtlander only by paying a little more. I think Panasonic is already too slow to release new lenses regardless of the natural disaster. Let’s wait and see when the 12-50mm f/2.5-3.3 lens can actually be released to market.
Tropical Yeti
2 years ago |> I feel that $700 is too much for a lens that…
I feel $700 is just about right price for a lens, we now nothing about – no specs, no build quality, no pic quality…
bonzoo
2 years ago |Hey at least we get a fast prime and not another 14-45 kit zoom
If Oly comes up with a wide prime and portrait (50mm Macro) lens we`ll have a nice set of primes 
Good thing!
NativeFloridian
2 years ago |If I recall, wasn’t a fast 25mm the most requested lens on a 43rumors poll (I didn’t vote for it)? At least they can be praised for giving us what WE asked for… even though I won’t be buying one since I already have the 20mm lens.
Miroslav
2 years ago |“wasn’t a fast 25mm the most requested lens on a 43rumors poll”
Read my mind
. It topped that poll two years in a row, if I’m not mistaken, I don’t see where all this whining comes from now. I didn’t vote for it either and with these rumors of both Panasonic and Olympus making fast wider lenses, it seems I’m not going to buy it.
At least Panasonic strategy is becoming clear now: after 20mm F1.7 in 2009 and 25m F1.4 in 2011, there’ll be a 30mm F1.1 in 2013 followed by 35mm F0.8 in 2015
.
safaridon
2 years ago |Due to the extraordinary events in Japan the delays are understandable but just let us know what the G3 really is and looks like as soon as you can?
I hope the other lens is the 12-50/f2.5-3.3? Seems strange these would be released with the G3 unless this G3 model is something special also as to form factor, capabilities, and not only new sensor?
John
2 years ago |I am hoping they put a 14MP multi-aspect sensor in this with an improved EVF over the G2. That an a 12-XX lens and I’d be sold.
Hecti
2 years ago |Why is development of the m4/3 so flippin’ slow!!!
I cant take it anymore! Panasonic is one of the worlds largest consumer electronic companies, they should be on top of m4/3. Its unbelievable that they always have set backs and delays and have taken over 3* (might even be more depending on how long they make us wait) years to produce a lens faster than the 20mm… its pathetic. If this was my company I would have fired so many incompetent people by now….
I am just amazed by the slow growth of the m4/3 system. Development shouldn’t take this long. Stop making slow super zooms and use that money to make fast pro quality glass. Also, i hate the complete lack of “radio silence” between the companies and its consumers. Just rumors to go off of mainly, and then a press release every once in a while… Please Panasonic and Olympus, keep us in the loop of what you are doing. If a fast zoom is on its way I would love to know about it so i dont jump ship to another camera system (not that this is my situation, i love my gh1).