Olympus 12mm lens coming in US on July 21. E-P3 already shipping in Asia! Flash in Stock!

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Jurek Ugarow tested the new [shoplink 23576]Olympus 12mm f/2.0[/shoplink] lens with the GH2 (some parts of the video on top are taken with that lens).

As you know I am on vacation but you people keep sending me tons of links to news and reviews ;)
Mad a roundup of the latest interesting news!

I have been told that the Olympus 12mm f/2.0 should be in Stock in US and European stores by July 21st. Quantities should be very limited. Preorders available here at [shopcountry 23576].
The Olympus E-P3 is already shipping in Asia! You can see the first unboxing pictures at mobile01 (Click here). The japanese E-P3 manual is available at Olympus Japan (Thanks Ogawa). A bit of E-P3 cameraporn is available at DC.watch :)
Robin Wong posted a new review article of the E-P3.
ThePhoBlographer tested the Olympus EP3 with Panasonic Lenses.

The new Olympus FL-300R Compact Flash is in Stock at Amazon (Click here).

 

Preorder links:
Olympus E-P3 preorders at Amazon US, Adorama, BHphoto, Amazon UK and Amazon DE.
Olympus 12mm f/2.0 preorders at Amazon US, Adorama, B&H, Amazon DE and [shoplink 23576 ebay]eBay[/shoplink].
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 preorders at Amazon US, Adorama, B&H and Amazon DE.

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Sony beats on time Panasonic and Olympus. Rangefinder styled camera coming!

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Many readers here on 43rumors are waiting to see a rangefinder styled camera from Panasonic and Olympus. But Sony did it “right” and they will beat them on time with the new NEX-7 which should be announced in late August. How does it look for you? At least better than the current NEX cameras! The real problem for Sony is that they have no small lenses on their roadmap (That Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 is still way to large!). Read more at http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/sr4-hot-is-that-the-first-image-of-the-nex-7/

UPDATE: Keep in mind that Panasonic will announce a GF PRO camera this year (probaby in August too) which could have the rangefinder style of the [shoplink 21096 ebay]Panasonic L1 (Click here to see that camera on eBay)[/shoplink].

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DxOmark tested the E-P3 sensor: Pretty much the same old sensor.

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Image courtesy: Clubsnap.

Is DxOmark destroying the “legend” that Olympus used a new 12 Megapixel sensor? DxOmark (Click here) published their Olympus E-P3 sensor review: “We have tested the PEN EP3, the latest 4/3 camera by Olympus and the first results are now available. The Olympus PEN EP3 apart from changes on the exterior, it is pretty much the same sensor as the Olympus PEN EPL2 and Olympus E5.”

I would love to meet an Olympis enegeneer to ask him once and for all what they did and what they did NOT on the “new” sensor.

Preorder links:
Olympus E-P3 preorders at Amazon US, Adorama, BHphoto, Amazon UK and Amazon DE.
Olympus 12mm f/2.0 preorders at Amazon US, Adorama, B&H, Amazon DE and [shoplink 23576 ebay]eBay[/shoplink].
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 preorders at Amazon US, Adorama, B&H and Amazon DE.

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New wave of Micro Four Thirds lens tests!

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[shoplink 14800][/shoplink] Image courtesy: Photozone

Photozone (Click here) posted a full review of the Olympus 14-150mm lens: “The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm f/4-5.6 is an acceptable “high-power 10.7x zoom” but don’t expect magic from it. The delivered center resolution is actually pretty decent across the range whereas the border and corner performance is not that impressive“. Get the lens here at [shopcountry 14800]

SLRgear tested the Panasonic 14-42mm kit lens: “good sharpness wide open, and excellent stopped down a little. Given that it’s the kit lens to a G3 package, you’ll probably find yourself with one of these lenses just by buying into the system, and then it’ll become a question of whether to stay with the kit lens, or buy something else. While you’re deciding, you should be able to make excellent photographs.” Get the lens here at [shopcountry 23962] (Those are all direct search links)

ePhotozine tested the Olympus 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 Lens:”The levels of sharpness it can deliver throughout the zoom range are excellent, especially in the centre of the image area. This coupled with the low levels of CA and distortion make it an excellent choice for anyone looking to expand the zoom range of their Micro Four Thirds camera into telephoto.” Direct search links at [shopcountry 15864].

ePhotozine also tested the new Olympus PEN Converter Lenses: “All three converters offer a cheaper way of extending the usability of your kit lenses, without adding much bulk to your existing Micro Four Thirds camera kit and they are quite reasonably priced too.
Olympus Macro Converter links at [shopcountry 21293].
Olympus Fisheye Converter links at [shopcountry 21289].
Olympus Wide Angle Converter links at [shopcountry 21292].

FourThirdsUser posted someShooting wide with the m.Zuiko 12mm f/2.0. Preorder at [shopcountry 23576].

There is a new set of 45mm f/1.8 image samples at Callotype.com. Preorder at [shopcountry 23577].

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Next E-P3 and 45mm f/1.8 tests roundup (E-P3 almost on par with the Canon 7D)

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The PhoBlographer (Click here) compared the high ISO results of the new [shoplink 23568]Olympus E-P3[/shoplink] with the [shoplink 23176]Canon 7D[/shoplink] and [shoplink 23568]Canon 5D markII[/shoplink]: “Based on the image samples, the Canon 5D Mk II is still way ahead of the other two cameras. However, the EP3 is almost on par with the Canon 7D’s high ISO output results. Overall, the new Olympus EP3 has been able to vastly improve the high ISO output and may finally creep up within the next iteration of the camera (or maybe even in RAW).

Focus Numerique (Click here) made an LCD spectrophotometer and continous autofocus test. The LCD contrast is excellent and makes it comfortable viewing in bright sunlight. The autofocus speed is extremly fast in bright light but has a poor performance in low light conditions.

Pekkapotka (Click here) posted a new continous autofocus test: “While E-P3´s single AF might be at same level as D3x´s single AF, continuous AF is not.

Simon from Clubsnap had the chance to test the new Olympus 45mm f/1.8 portrait lens. He posted a set of images including 100% crops.

Preorder links (Amazon DE is now accepting preorders on lenses too!):
Olympus E-P3 preorders at Amazon US, Adorama, BHphoto, Amazon UK and Amazon DE.
Olympus 12mm f/2.0 preorders at Amazon US, Adorama, B&H, Amazon DE and [shoplink 23576 ebay]eBay[/shoplink].
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 preorders at Amazon US, Adorama, B&H and Amazon DE.

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Next two days auctions of refurbished Olympus cameras and lenses…

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[shoplink 23923 ebay][/shoplink]

THose are the last 43, m43 and XZ-1 deals you can find the next two days on [shoplink 22691 ebay]Olympusmarket[/shoplink]. As usual the first ending auctions are on top of the list (Click on camera/lens names!):

[shoplink 23912 ebay]Olympus E-PL2 double lens kit[/shoplink] [shoplink 23913 ebay]Olympus E-PL1 with kit lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 23914 ebay]Olympus FOUR THIRDS 40-150mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 23915 ebay]Olympus E-PL1 with kit lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 23916 ebay]Olympus E-PL1 with kit lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 23917 ebay]Olympus E-PL1 double lens kit[/shoplink] [shoplink 23919 ebay]Olympus E-PL1 with 14-150mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 23920 ebay]Olympus E-PL1 with 14-150mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 23921 ebay]Olympus E-PL1 with 14-150mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 23922 ebay]Olympus E-PL1 with 14-150mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 23923 ebay]Olympus XZ-1[/shoplink] [shoplink 23924 ebay]Olympus E-PL1 with kit lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 23925 ebay]Olympus E-PL2 double lens kit[/shoplink] [shoplink 23926 ebay]Olympus E-PL1 with 14-150mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 23927 ebay]Olympus E-PL1 with kit lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 23928 ebay]Olympus FOUR THIRDS 40-150mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 23929 ebay]Olympus E-P2 with kit lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 23930 ebay]Olympus 14-150mm lens[/shoplink]
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Nice $66 discount on the Panasonic G3 at Amazon!

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There is now a $66 discount on the black G3 with 14-42mm lens on Amazon (Click here).

UPDATE: There is a new deal! The Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 pancake is in Stock for $369 at Amazon (Click here).

More deals

You can now get the Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 pancake for $334 on Amazon (Click here)
Adorama has the Voigtländer 25mm in Stock (Click here). And don’t forget that they are also accepting preorders on the Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 lens (Click here)
You can now get the AG-AF100 Micro Four Thirds camcorder with a free (!) 14-140mm zoom lens at BHphoto (Click here).
The Black and White Olympus XZ-1 are in Stock for $409 only at Amazon (Click here).
The Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 lens is in Stock for $379 via third party resellers on Amazon (Click here).
BHphoto sent me an email to say that the very last GH1 cameras are now in Stock (Click here). Once sold out there will be no more GH1 cameras for sale anymore! And if you purchase the GH1 body (for $399) you will get $100 on any Panasonic m43 lens you buy. You have to click on “Save $100 on Select Panasonic Lenses” to see the deal.
The same deal is ongoing at Amazon (Click here) and Adorama (Click here).

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