Yasuhara plans to make a crazy Vest Pocket Kodak lens for m43!

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[shoplink 29359 ebay][/shoplink]

Yasuhara will make a m43 vintage lens like the one you see here from the [shoplink 29359 ebay]Vest Pocket Kodak[/shoplink]!

Yasuhara announced that the new Madoka 180 degrees fisheye lens will ship in late March. And there is also one more crazy surprise: They also plans to make a modern version of the [shoplink 29359 ebay]Vest Pocket Kodak camera lens for m43 (Click here to see that cam on eBay)[/shoplink]. If you think that’s a joke read the press release at http://www.yasuhara.co.jp/m/index.html (Click here for the google englih translation). We will get a nice foldable lens…I really love that!

Here is the Madoka 180 fisheye press release:
Yasuhara announced a new fisheye lens for Mirrorless cameras Sony, Olympus and Panasonic with Sony NEX (E-mount) and micro 4/3 mount. It will be called “Madoka 180” (180 degrees). Links below direct to two image samples you can find on Yasuhara.eu page in full size version.
Madoka 180 image sample No. 1
Madoka 180 image sample No. 2

Here are the basic specs of the Sony E-mount version:

  • The lens will have f/4 aperture
  • Compact  size
  • Length: about 40mm
  • Diameter: about 60mm
  • Weight: about 200g

The first Yasuhara Madoka will be released for Sony E mount this spring. Madoka will be available for sale on Yasuhara.eu page at the end of March – begining of April 2012. The company is planning to release also a special software for the images taken with Madoka lenses.

P.S.: Really nice fisheye lenses have been made by Samyang/Rokinon:
The Black Samyang 7.5mm lens is available on [shoplink 25325 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
The Silver Samyang 7.5mm lens is available on [shoplink 25326 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

 

 

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First Olympus E-M5 short review, new images and new preorders in UK

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Olympus OM-D E-M5 Hands-On Review at ePhotozine (Click here): “Thankfully the camera lived up to our high expectations, and in some ways surpassed them with better than expected noise performance even at high ISO settings! The sensor in the camera has more resolution, with 16 megapixel compared to the PEN cameras 12 megapixels, yet also offers lower noise results!

New official images from Olympus Japan (Click here). Some more E-M5 news and tests at pf.nl, digifoto.nl, hi-tech.ru, lydogbilde.no and swiatobrazu.pl. The E-M5 instructions manual is available in French (English, Spanish, German, etc. as well) via Openpn.

And there are new E-M5 preorders at Amazon UK. I updated the full preorder list (Just click on the shop name to see the direct E-M5 link):

Full Preorder list:
1) Black E-M5 body at
Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Warehouse UK, Redcoon Germany and Amazon Japan.
2) Silver E-M5 body at
Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Warehouse UK, Redcoon Germany, and Amazon Japan.
3) Black E-M5 body with 14-42mm lens at
Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and Amazon Japan.
4) Black E-M5 body with 12-50mm lens at
Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Jessops, Redcoon Deutschland, Amazon UK, Amazon Deutschland and Amazon Japan.
5) Silver E-M5 body with 12-50mm lens at
Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Jessops, Amazon UK, Amazon Deutschland and Amazon Japan.
6) FL-600R wireless flash at
Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
7) MMF-3 Four Thirds adapter at
Amazon and Adorama.
8.) HLD-6 power battery holder at
Amazon, Adorama and Amazon Japan.

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Panasonic GX1/G3 and old fashion E-P1 and E-10 reviews.

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Street shooter comparison between the Sony Nex 7 and Panasonic GX1 by Mike Kobal (Click here).
Cameralabs (Click here) posted their full Panasonic GX1 review: “I really enjoyed shooting stills and video with it over an extended test period and remained impressed by its handling and output throughout. So despite a few missed opportunities, it will be warmly welcomed by enthusiasts and further strengthens the Micro Four Thirds standard. Recommended.” Also the spanish website Quesabese (Click here) tested the GX1.
You can buy the GX1 at [shopcountry 26836]. But if you live in US you should take a special look at BHphoto (Click here)… you can get $100 up o $200 on all Panasonic lenses!
Panasonic G3 review at Macworld (Click here): “Add a well-rounded feature set and pleasing image quality, and the G3 certainly maintains its place as a player in the mirrorless interchangeable lens category.
G3 links at [shopcountry 22077].

And now to the old fashion reviews:
Carl Garrard (Click here) posted his E-P1 review. As you know this is also the camera I use everyday. It’s not an old camera in terms of years (three) but in the digital area of continually new launched camera generation the E-P1 isn’t perceived as new anymore (sadly). You absolutely have to read his review: “Simply put the E-P1 is a well designed and handling camera that offers a ton of control wrapped up in a stylish unassuming exterior that produces beautiful images. And for the price you can get one for nowadays, even brand new, this camera is simply a steal. This is one of the primary motivations for reviewing the E-P1 years after its introduction, but certainly not the only one.  I’m glad I gave the E-P1 a second shot.
Form time to time you can find refurbished E-P1 cameras at [shoplink 22691 ebay]Olympusmarket (Click here)[/shoplink]. And they sell for 150-170 Euro with kit lens. A real bargain. And believe me, you will not need any other camera for the next years.
Kirk Tuck (Click here) tested the: “I started this whole article off intending to talk about an Olympus camera that I consider to be their Sputnik of digital cameras.  Their moon launch.  The incredibly nice piece of alloy and glass that put them on the digital map in 1999.  Yes.  I’m talking about the supernaturally incredible e-10.“. The only palce where you can find the E-10 right now is on [shoplink 29330 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

For US readers: the Olympus PEN rebate action is still ongoing until tomorrow at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and Bhphoto (Click here). And the E-PL1 is still the most sold mirrorless camera at Amazon (Click here to see the ranking).

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Mr. Terada (Olympus) answers your 43rumors questions!

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Ten days ago we collected your questions to Olympus. And Emanuele from nexthardware brought your list to Amsterdam and interviewed MR. Terada from Olympus with…your questions! The video on top shows the full interview (the audi quality isn’t that good). Enjoy! And Thanks Emanuele!

UPDATE: I really noticed how “hungry” you are to get in contact with Olympus with your questions. If you want I can try to ask Olympus if they are interested to make a special session Q&A with you readers. Don’t know if they will do it, but I can ask :)

P.S.: One more article about the E-M5 at Tv.Smith (Click here). And “cameraporn” pictures at DC.watch (Click here).

Full Preorder list:
1) Black E-M5 body at
Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), Warehouse UK (Click here), Redcoon Germany (Click here) and Amazon Japan (Click here).
2) Silver E-M5 body at
Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), Warehouse UK (Click here), Redcoon Germany (Click here), and Amazon Japan (Click here).
3) Black E-M5 body with 14-42mm lens at
Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and Amazon Japan (Click here).
4) Black E-M5 body with 12-50mm lens at
Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), Jessops (Click here), Redcoon Deutschland (Click here), Amazon Deutschland (Click here) and Amazon Japan (Click here).
5) Silver E-M5 body with 12-50mm lens at
Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), Jessops (Click here), Amazon Deutschland (Click here) and Amazon Japan (Click here).
6) FL-600R wireless flash at
Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
7) MMF-3 Four Thirds adapter at
Amazon (Click here) and Adorama (Click here).
8.) HLD-6 power battery holder at
Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and Amazon Japan (Click here).

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First Sigma 30mm f/2.8 review!

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Our reader Tobias Giesen posted the very first short Sigma f/2.8 for m43 lens review (Click here to read it). In short, he found the Sigma lens focuses fater than the [shoplink 14796]20mm f/1.7 lens[/shoplink]. And that’s certainly a bit of a surprise. The lens is decently sharp wide open but there is one major issue…CA (Chromatic Aberration). But read his full test and see the many image smaples to get an idea of the image quality. You can (pre-)order the lens at Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here) and Fotomundus (Click here).

Speaking of Sigma, DSLRmagazine (Click here) interviewed Mr Kazuto Yamaki (CEO of Sigma). The interesting bits of info. The 30mm and 19mm lenses are deisnged for their own DP series, NEX system and m43 system (For cost savings reasons). The MTF graph is very good but MR. kazuto said that sadly they cannot rely on the camera software for automatic lens corrections.

 

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Next Olympus camera likely to be a PEN (Techradar)

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[shoplink 23568][/shoplink] Image on top: The [shoplink 23568]Olympus E-P3[/shoplink]

In an interview with Techradar (Click here) Olympus Japan’s Toshiyuki Terada said: “Looking at product lifespan, I think the next issue will be a new PEN.

That isn’t really a surprise as we all expect new PEN cameras before the end of the year. I take the chance to remind Olympus that we don’t need many new cameras and more redundant products. Think easy, a new entry level cheap PEN and a a more advanced PEN are more than enough. In short…a new E-Pm2 and an E-P5 (having the tilting LCD of the [shoplink 23567]E-PL3[/shoplink]). My two cent: A new 12 Megapixel sensor based on the current [shoplink 29074]Olympus E-M5[/shoplink] sensor technology would be amazing!

Links to the current PEN and OM camera list:
Olympus E-M5 [shopcountry 29074].
Olympus E-P3 [shopcountry 23568].
Olympus E-PL3 [shopcountry 23567].
Olympus E-PM1 [shopcountry 23565].

Something else: Tsutomu Omori, managing director of Olympus India has been found death (suicide). My condolences to the family and to Olympus. More info at Indiatimes.

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New Olympus E-M5 videos and test from dpreview.

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Olympus Australia published five new videos on youtube (Click here). Those are very well made videos that do explain in an easy way some of the new [shoplink 29074]Olympus E-M5[/shoplink] features:
Exploring the Electronic View Finder (Click here)
3D Tracking Autofocus (Click here)
FAST Autofocus (Click here)
9 Frame Per Second Shooting (Click here)
5 Axis Image Stabilisation (Click here /also posted on top of this post).

Dpreview (Click here) posted a new E-M5 hands-on. I like that statement from Richard Butler: “indeed its ergonomics are comparable to high-end DSLRs such as the [shoplink 29323]Pentax K-5[/shoplink]”. If you ever hold a K-5 in your hands than you know this is a very good news :)   And he also posted an interesting small bit of info about the focusing speed with the 12-60 Four Thirds lens. Apparently focusing is much faster on the E-M5 than on the E-PL3.

A great camera indeed. Can’t wait to see how the GH3 will do against the E-M5 :)

Full Preorder list:
1) Black E-M5 body at
Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), Warehouse UK (Click here), Redcoon Germany (Click here) and Amazon Japan (Click here).
2) Silver E-M5 body at
Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), Warehouse UK (Click here), Redcoon Germany (Click here), and Amazon Japan (Click here).
3) Black E-M5 body with 14-42mm lens at
Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and Amazon Japan (Click here).
4) Black E-M5 body with 12-50mm lens at
Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), Jessops (Click here), Redcoon Deutschland (Click here), Amazon Deutschland (Click here) and Amazon Japan (Click here).
5) Silver E-M5 body with 12-50mm lens at
Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), Jessops (Click here), Amazon Deutschland (Click here) and Amazon Japan (Click here).
6) FL-600R wireless flash at
Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
7) MMF-3 Four Thirds adapter at
Amazon (Click here) and Adorama (Click here).
8.) HLD-6 power battery holder at
Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and Amazon Japan (Click here).

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