New Olympus refurbished cameras.

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panasonic lumix gh2 firmware 1.1 test (part i) from Roderick Kar on Vimeo.

European readers can check the new set of refurbished Olympus cameras posted by [shoplink 22691 ebay]Olympusmarket[/shoplink]:
[shoplink 27472 ebay]White Olympus XZ-1[/shoplink] [shoplink 27473 ebay]Black Olympus XZ-1[/shoplink] [shoplink 27474 ebay]Black Olympus E-PL1 with 14-150mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 27475 ebay]Four Thirds 40-150mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 27476 ebay]Silver E-P1 with 14-42mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 27477 ebay]E-510 with 14-42mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 27478 ebay]Silver E-P1 with 14-42mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 27479 ebay]Four Thirds 14-54mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 27480 ebay]E-510 with double lens kit[/shoplink] [shoplink 27481 ebay]Four Thirds 40-150mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 27482 ebay]E-420 with 14-42mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 27483 ebay]E-420 with 14-42mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 27484 ebay]E-410 with double lens kit[/shoplink] [shoplink 27485 ebay]E-PL2 with double lens kit[/shoplink] [shoplink 27486 ebay]E-PL1 with double lens kit[/shoplink] [shoplink 27487 ebay]Silver E-P1 with 14-42mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 27488 ebay]E-420 body[/shoplink] [shoplink 27489 ebay]E-330 with 14-42mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 27490 ebay]E-500 with double lens kit[/shoplink] [shoplink 27491 ebay]E-PL1 body[/shoplink] [shoplink 27492 ebay]9-18mm m43 lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 27493 ebay]Four Thirds 40-150mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 27494 ebay]White E-PL1 with 14-42mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 27495 ebay]E-500 with 14-42mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 27496 ebay]E-450 with double lens kit[/shoplink] [shoplink 27497 ebay]14-150m m43 lens[/shoplink]

 

P.S.: The dutch shop Fotohanskeuzekamp.nl sells the GF2 body for 149 Euro.

 

UPDATE with Superdeal: For $539 you can now get the GF3 +14-42mm +14mm super at Adorama (Click here). If you sum the prices for the lenses than you pay $70 only for the GF3 :)

Also Adoramas GH2 superdeal is back: You can get the GH2 with 14-140mm lens for $999 (Click here). During the checkout procss Insert the following code “S2141401“. That’s $100 less than what you pay at Amazon and BHphoto. But keep in mind that this action will end soon. Meanwhile the GH2 +14-42mm kit is in Stock for $699 at Bhphoto (Click here).
And don’t forget the GF3 double kit lens deal for $595 at Bhphoto (Click here).

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(FT5) New Olympus lens is “similar” to the Four Thirds 12-60mm zoom. Coming before Christmas?

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[shoplink 23681 ebay][/shoplink]

I am still not sure WHEN Olympus will announce the new lens but I a sure it will be soon and probably before Christmas!  Two sources told me that the new m43 lens is very “similar” to the  [shoplink 23681 ebay]Olympus Four Thirds 12-60mm f/2.8-4[/shoplink] zoom you see pictured on top of this post. But there will be differences. My guess is that it will have a different aperture. A trusted source told me that it is a High Quality lens with super fast autofocus like the [shoplink 23576]Olympus 12mm f/2.0[/shoplink].

One more thing. There will be NO new camera announcement yet, but I have been told we don’t have to wait too long… :)

Stay tuned!

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

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New Micro Four Thirds reviews…

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Loving Lake Tahoe (SLR Magic 12mm f1.6) from JJ Labritakis on Vimeo.

Photoxels (Click here) tested the Panasonic GF3 with 14-42mm X lens: “The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 [GF3X] is a real winner as an alternative to the traditional entry-level DSLR. You’ll find a camera that is easy to use for a point-and-shoot user with performance and image quality that rival the traditional entry-level DSLRs. Highly Recommended.”
GF3 price check: [shopcountry 23109].

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 review at Digitaljournalofphotography (Click here): “In camera JPEGs and video are very clean, but noise reduction is being applied quite heavily when compared to RAW files. And Panasonic still has a way to go with colour rendition, it’s not up to that of the rival Olympus Pens“.
G3 price check: [shopcountry 22077].

Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 review at Camerastuffreview (Click here): “The  Panasonic 14 mm 2.5 doesn’t show signs of glare or ghosting and chromatic aberration is absent (after in-camera correction). The resolution shown by the Panasonic 14 mm 2.5 is, definitely in the center, but for a wide angle lens certainly also at the edges, very high“.
14mm price check: [shopcountry 16258].

And Panasonic 8mm fisheye review again at Camerastuffreview (Click here): “The Panasonic 8 mm fisheye is a surprisingly compact, lightweight, but good lens. Both finish and optical performance.“.
8mm price check: [shopcountry 14820].

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GF2/GF3 and GH2 price drops…

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If you are shopping for present take a look at the daily deals homepage at Amazon (Click here). Today I found new GF2/GF3 deals (and of course don’t forget that super GH2 discount!).

GH2
GH2 +14-42mm kit  now in Stock for $699 at Amazon (Click here) and Bhphoto (Click here).
GH2+14-140mm kit for $1099 at Amazon (Click here) and Bhphoto (Click here).

GF3
White or Black GF3 with 14-42mm kit lens for $474 at Amazon (Click here).

GF2
The GF2 will soon get hacked by Vitaly and this makes the camera suddenly more interesting. So grab one if you want!
Red GF2 with 14mm pancake for $449 at Amazon (Click here).
Black GF2 with 14-42mm lens for $379 at Adorama (Click here).

Compact cameras
Panasonic LX5 for $339 at Amazon (Click here).

 

P.S.: Didn’t find that many Olympus deals in that time. Would have been nice to see some huge rebate on the E-P3!

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Olympus majority shares now hold by non-japanese! Now becoming a “western company”?

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Today another Olympus board member quit. It’s Makoto Nakatsuka that was named one of the key players of the accounting cover-up. And Amateur Photographer reports that it will take at least two months to organize an extraordinary shareholder meeting. This means the current board will be operational at least until February-March.

But let’s take a look at some other news. Who is playing a big role behind the Olympus fee scandal? Reuters reports: Goldmann Sachs bought a near 7% Olympus stake in November. Woodford said that he spoke with whom bought the stock for Goldman and he doesn’t believe they were trying to turn a quick profit on the company’s misfortunes: “I don’t forsee Olympus being sold or anything like that happening. Those interested in taking a stake see a company that will have a renaissance — and support a new strong management with me and others.

But the real big news is coming via Market experts: They say that more than 50 percent of Olympus’s stock is now likely to be held outside Japan!!! And Mr. Woodford said: “I think overwhelmingly those outside Japan support me.”

So while the japanese board is getting decimated western investors are playing more and more a big role behind the scene. The Olympus crisis could end with a reinstatement of MR.Woodfrod as CEO and with the majority of shareholders being western banks and investment fonds.

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New Panasonic GH2 firmware is out! Download it now!

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The new Panasonic GH2 firmware 1.1 has been released. You can download it here: http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/dl/gh2.html. (The Installation How-to is available here: http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/index.html). The real HIghlight is the new 1080p25 24Mbp recording feature.

These are alle the new features and improvements:

  1. Added a video mode [HIGH BIT RATE] which is suitable for editing video recorded at high bit rate(24Mbps).
  2. Added a function [POWER ZOOM LENS] when using power zoom lens.
    ([DISP FOCAL LENGTH], [STEP ZOOM], [ZOOM RESUME], [ZOOM SPEED], [ZOOM RING]*)
  3. Full area enlargement of AF area setting.
  4. Improved in the speed of consecutive shooting when shot with auto bracket.
  5. Increased number of recordable images in consecutive shooting.
  6. [EX.TELE CONV. (Extra Tele Conversion)] can be set ON/OFF separately in photo or video recording.
  7. More accurate light adjustment of built-in flash.
  8. Improved in the AF performance in video recording.
  9. Synchronization of alarm volume for low battery with [BEEP VOLUME].
  10. Added a function [HALF PRESS RELEASE].
  11. Improved NR (Noise Reduction) in high sensitivity shooting.
  12. Added a function [TOUCH SCREEN] which is ON/OFF control of touch-screen.

 

The Panasonic GH2 got some discounts in USA and Europe. So if you don’t want to wait for the GH3 here are the direct search links to check the current price and deals: [shopcountry 16254].

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readers work roundup…(GF1 used bye Peter Jackson employee)

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Here is a list of works done by our 43rumors readers:

Farrukh: “I also visited a Michelin star restaurant today where I created this video clip and this photo set: implausibleblog.com Photos: flickr.com Really liking this lens!

RS: “Mirrorless, but not a system: flickr.com shots taken with pre-production sample of Lumix 3D1, original MPO-files splitted/converted with shareware GraficConverter 7.5 by Lemkesoft (http://www.lemkesoft.com). GraphicConverter handles other .MPO-files from photos taken with Lumix 3D-lens at G-models (and Fuji), too flickr.com. You can recommend GraficConverter to all Mac-users, which don’t want see their 3D photos only on TV. And you can recommend  in general – It’s a real swiss army knife for photo editing, not only 3D. I use GraphicConverter as main browsing instrument and fast everyday-editing, when I dont need some special Photoshop features. As long as you don’t register and pay the little share, you only have to wait a few seconds after starting the program, that’s all, no other limitations.”

Russ: “Thought you’d be interested.  I’m gearing up for a 3 month bicycle trip to New Zealand and have switched to PENs for stills and video. Some samples here! Travel Video shot with PEN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kYncfBywPw Review of 3 mics for PEN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcqaCbE2Dj8 CycloCross http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNdvcyk8HDw”.

Daniel: “I am currently living in New Zealand at the moment and working for Peter Jackson’s company Weta Digital.  We are all camera geeks there and I find your site very informative.
I made this little timelapse video with my Panasonic GF1 and wanted to share it with you.  My friend at worked built a motorized timelapse dolly for this short.  I thought it was fitting for you site so I wanted to share.
Keep up the good work and I look forward to hearing about updates.   I am waiting for that pro camera with a view finder from Panasonic still. ;)  I think my next camera may be the GH3 or that new Fuji you just showed!
vimeo
http://vimeo.com/32377031
youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9Ym1fKs6nA&feature=youtu.be&hd=1

Taz: “This is not a rumor but your site shared my SLR magic lens video a while back, so I was thinking it would be nice for people to see the Rokinon (Samyang) 7.5mm f3.5 lens as well. I did a quick unboxing with shooting video through the fisheye lens in the same video. Hope this helps! Here is the link: http://youtu.be/rcuBdqvlI-M

Melvin:Would like to share my new short film with 4/3rumors readers. Dolphins, killer whales, gannets, seals and puffins, all filmed on locations in the North Sea over 7 months time. Equipment used: GH2 with olympus zuiko lenses 9-18, 12-60, 35-100/2.0 150/2.0 and 300/2.8 and both zuiko converters. The close ups of the gannet were made with 300/2.8 and ec20. http://youtu.be/zSRpC3MfiM8 The gopro was used to film under water. A water proof housing for the GH2 could be an interesting option in future. GH2 and the zuiko lenses have proven to be a reliable setup for me. Great system!

As usual keep sending me your best videos and pictures! Thanks!

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