(FT3) Is the new GH2 video feature nothing else than “Progressive Segmentes Frame” recording?

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[shoplink 16254][/shoplink]As you know Panasonic announced a “new video mode which is suitable for editing video recorded at high bit rate (24Mbps)“. But what does it mean exactly? Sources from the German website Slashcam said that this is nothing else than a 1080/25p signal recorded as 1080/50i with 24Mbit/s. If you want you can easily convert that 50i video in 25p. De facto this means you can now record 1080/50p in 24Mbit/s. That “trick” is called “Progressive Segmentes Frame” recording.

P.S.: The GH2+14-140mm price recently dropped down to $1299 at Amazon (Click here). More price checks at [shopcountry 16254].

Reminder: A new GH2 firmware update is coming in December. There are many new features and fixes:

  • – New video mode which is suitable for editing video recorded at high bit rate (24Mbps)
  • – New functional option with Power Zoom Lens ([DISP FOCAL LENGTH (Display of Focal Length)], [STEP ZOOM], [ZOOM RESUME], [ZOOM SPEED] and [ZOOM RING*])
  • – Full area enlargement of AF area setting
  • – Improvement in the speed of consecutive shooting when shot with auto bracket
  • – Increased number of recordable images in consecutive shooting
  • – [EX.TELE CONV. (Extra Tele Conversion)] can be set ON/OFF separately in photo or video recording
  • – More accurate light adjustment of built-in flash
  • – Improvement in the AF performance in video recording
  • – Synchronization of alarm volume for low battery with [BEEP VOLUME]
  • – New [HALF-PRESS RELEASE] function
  • – Improved NR (Noise Reduction) in high sensitivity shooting
  • – ON/OFF control of the touch-screen

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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First 14-42mm X lens in Stock. Leica 25mm and Olympus 45mm also in Stock.

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For the first time the Silver 14-42mm X lens is in Stock for almost the normal price at Amazon (Click here). UPDATE: The Leica 25mm lens is finally in Stock for the normal price at Amazon (Click here) !
And also other highly requested lenses are in Stock:
The Olympus 45mm f/1.8 at Amazon (Click here).
The Panasonic-Leica 25mm f/1.4 at Amazon (Click here) and Adorama (Click here).
The Nokton 25mm f/0.95 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
A non m43 deal. The Fuji X100 had a price drop at Amazon (Click here). Now in Stock for $1156.

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Panasonic GX1 gets already “unboxed” on video. Coming in Japan on 25th of November.

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The guys from MLZphoto sent me the GX1 unboxing video on top. Japanese folk will not have to wait a lot before the camera gets shipped. According to DC.watch Panasonic will ship the GX1 to the domestic market on November 25. All the rest of the world will have to wait weeks if not months (read the usual USA delays).

Preorder ar now available on Amazon Uk and Japan too. That is the new preorder link list:
Black GX1 body at Amazon (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here) and Digitalrev (Click here).
Silver GX1 body at Amazon (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here) and Amazon Japan (Click here).
Black GX1 with 14-42mm X lens at Amazon (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here) and Digitalrev (Click here).
Silver GX1 with 14-42mm X lens at Amazon (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here).
Black GX1 with 14-42mm at Amazon (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here).
Silver GX1 with 14-42mm at Amazon (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here) and Jessops (Click here).

 

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POLL: Do we really need a compact GX model with built-in viewfinder?

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[shoplink 23692 ebay][/shoplink] The picture on top shows the back of the [shoplink 23692 ebay]Panasonic L1 Four Thirds camera[/shoplink]

Now let’s face the big question. Who of you believes a GX model with built-in viewfinder would have been a better product than the newly announced [shoplink 26836]Panasonic GX1[/shoplink]? As you know the chiefs of Pana said that a GX model with built-in viewfinder “may price it out of the range of the people we’re trying to reach. And not everybody wants a viewfinder, so at least this gives the consumer the option of having it or not. Personally I do not use them…“. (Source: Photographyblog).

Let’s make some calculations about the possible price of the GX model with built-in viewfinder:
1) The GX1 body costs $700 at Amazon. The external viewfinder has been priced at around $250. Total price: $950
2) The [shoplink 25396]NEX-7[/shoplink] costs $1200 (but price will go up because of the flood)
3) The [shoplink 19929]Fuji X100[/shoplink] (which comes with fixed lens) also costs $1200.
4) The current Panasonic L1 Four Thirds camera with built-in viewfinder sells for $1900 at Amazon and for $1000 used on [shoplink 23692 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

So let’s assume the price of the GX model with built-in viewfinder would be $1000-$1100. The question is:

Would you buy a GX camera with built-in viewfinder (and priced at $1100) or would you still prefer the GX1?

View Results

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And an even more complicated question is:

Whay's the reason why you need a built-in viewfinder?

View Results

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New Panasonic 14-42mm X lens in Stock in Europe and Asia.

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[shoplink 25104][/shoplink] In my modest opinion this is a tiny little jewel of a lens. And as you know I am not often prising Panasonic products (See the not so exciting GX1 camera). The real advantage of the m43 system over other systems is the quality-size aspect. And that zoom (yes zoom!) lens actually rises the bar on a level neither Sony nor Nikon couldn’t reach yet. And in these days the lens is getting in Stock in most European and Japanese stores. it’s worth a news here on 43rumors. The stores having it in Stock are Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, Amazon JP and [shoplink 25104]eBay[/shoplink] (Click on the shop names). Anyway, no matter where you buy it, the important thing is that Panasonic learns that these are the kind of products we want to see coming from them!

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New Panasonic GX1 image samples (and preorders at Jessops and Digitalrev)

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The video on top shows the extremely fast new GX1 autofocus.

And Panasonic Japan posted a set of new image samples (Click here). And Trustedreview (Click here) performed a new ISO test: “The GX1 is able to match the more than impressive results obtained with the G3 earlier in the year. Shooting a couple of subjects outdoors in fading light and also indoors under dim artificial lights, we found the GX1 delivered excellent, virtually noise-free results up to ISO 800 with ISO 1600. Above this, ISO 3200 is actually still quite useable, despite noise becoming more noticeable“.

More GX1 news I didn’t post yesterday at Dpnow, The OnlinePhotographer and Letsgodigital. Popco posted a couple of GX1 videos on vimeo: X lens test, 20fps test, level gauge, FN control, touch&shooting.

Preorder ar now available on Digitalrev and Jessops too. That is the new preorder link list:
Black GX1 body at Amazon (Click here) and Digitalrev (Click here).
Silver GX1 body at Amazon (Click here).
Black GX1 with 14-42mm X lens at Amazon (Click here) and Digitalrev (Click here).
Silver GX1 with 14-42mm X lens at Amazon (Click here).
Black GX1 with 14-42mm at Amazon (Click here)
Silver GX1 with 14-42mm at Amazon (Click here) and Jessops (Click here).

 

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