New E-P3 news and reviews roundup!

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[shoplink 23568]Olympus E-P3[/shoplink] commercial in Malayasia.

Pekkapotka (Click here) posted a new E-P3 vs. E-P2 RAW comparison: “My conclusions (from these and other images): Images from these cameras are close to each other with E-P3 having better resolution and sharpness. Noise is equal or slightly lower in E-P3. E-P3 images show better surface texture in objects. That would suggest that filters in front of sensor are of a better quality in E-P3.

ThePhoBlographer (Click here) wrote an article about “Shooting Street Photography with the [shoplink 23568]Olympus E-P3[/shoplink]”: “The Olympus EP3 is a small camera; and as we’ve stated before, small cameras seem to be best for street photography. Though I used the white version of the camera (which is the sexiest and stands out the most) people would often just look out of curiosity but not be intimidated by it. Instead, they’d actually just be a bit mesmerized by how gorgeous and simple it was. Not intimidating your subjects is a big part of being able to capture a candid moment. If you combine this with reading one’s body language you’ll have a winning combination for getting the photo that you want.

Lori Grunin from CNET Asia (Click here) also posted the E-P3 test: “For what it delivers, the E-P3 is quite expensive–especially since the new models expected in the fall are supposed to have the same performance and sensor. Even if they’re not as fast, they’ll probably be fast enough. Once I get raw software and if Olympus possibly tweaks the defaults I may boost the image rating and the camera might rise in my estimation. But if you’re looking for a sleek model that delivers superb image quality, spend the extra $200 on a Fujifilm X100

And also Techradar (Click here) posted the final E-P3 review: “Olympus has been able to keep the price of the P3 down and maintain its rectangular, compact camera-like form. Provided the sensitivity is kept below ISO 3200, the P3 produces superb images, that are well exposed, have lots of sharp detail and pleasant colours.

 

REMINDER: Those are the direct search links to all the new Pana/Oly stuff:
Panasonic G3 search page at [shopcountry 22077].
Panasonic GF3 search page at [shopcountry 23109].
Panasonic-Leica 25mm f/1.4 search page at [shopcountry 23110].
Olympus E-P3 search page at [shopcountry 23568].
Olympus 12mm f/2.0 search page at [shopcountry 23576].
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 page at [shopcountry 23577].

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Leica 25mm worldwide shipment started (review at Clubsnap).

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The new [shoplink 23110]Panasonic-Leica 25mm f/1.4[/shoplink] is finally shipping worldwide. As usual japanese shops like Amazon.co.jp are the first to have them in Stock. The guys over at Clubnsap (Click here) were very fast in reviewing one of he first production samples. What are there conclusions? Read here (but please visit their website to see the full image samples!):
Bokeh:
Only one comment, Sweet ! Besides of [shoplink 15659]Nokton f0.95[/shoplink], this is m4/3 largest aperture AF lens. f1.4 allow good indoor shot. (indoor/lowlight field test in next thread)
Optical Quality:
Very sharp. I have not shot with Leica Summilux/summicron mounted on m4/3 cam before, but up to date, this is the sharpens m4/3 fens I have used. It is certainly a mile ahead of [shoplink 14796]Panny 20mm f1.7[/shoplink] Corner Sharpness:
Have not done pixel mapping or MTF chart. But based on eye ball judgment, the corner performance has held up pretty well. Only at the 3-5% corner, you would see some softening.
CA:
Very well controlled and hardly noticed. In extreme conditions, there is only small amount of purple fringe.
AF:
Though mounted on first m4/3 camera [shoplink 16885]EP1[/shoplink], the focusing is pretty fast. I have also tested this lens on [shoplink 23109]GF3[/shoplink] and [shoplink 23568]EP3[/shoplink], the AF is almost instant. Hardly imagine how could the AF can further improved. However, similar to [shoplink 14796]Lumix 20mm f1.7[/shoplink], it has some unpleasant motor sound when the apertures move during focusing.

Check the preorder status at [shopcountry 23110]! Click on shop names to visit the search page (Some websites may not do list the lens!).

One more thing: The Panasonic GF3 and G3 are still not in Stock in US stores? Are we experiencing the usual US supply problems?
Panasonic GF3 at [shopcountry 23109].
Panasonic G3 at [shopcountry 22077].

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(FT4) There will be two more Olympus product announcements ths year! (Next Olympus PRO render from Marc)

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A trusted source that Olympus plans to make two more product announcements this year. One in September and one in November. There will be at least two new lenses (one should be the 50mm macro). But I am not sure yet if Olympus will also announce a new m43 camera. I got rumors about a PEN camera with built-in viewfinder but also about a Four Thirds E-xx. If you know something about that camera feel free to send me some info using the anonymous contact form on the right sidebar! Thanks!

The picture on top has been made by Marc (Source: Marcs page on Flickr). Keep sending me your renderings of the future PEN PRO and GF PRO cameras!

And take some inspiration from the past:
See the [shoplink 24193 ebay]Zeiss Ikon ZM (Click here to see it on eBay)[/shoplink].
The amazing [shoplink 24194 ebay]Contax G2 (Click here to see it on eBay)[/shoplink]….very innovative camera!
The [shoplink 24196 ebay]Konica Hexar RF (Click here to see it on eBay)[/shoplink]…this was a better copy of the Leica M6!
The [shoplink 24195 ebay]Minolta CLE (Click here to see it on eBay)[/shoplink]…so small!

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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a little bit of everything… and Samsung loves the PEN cameras ;)

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AF noise comparison at m43photo.blogspot.com.

It looks like Samsung prefers the Olympus PEN cameras over their own Samsung NX! If you look at the Galaxy Tab presentation page (Click here) scroll down to “Snap and Share the Moments”. You see the camera logo? LOL :)

New Olympus 12mm unboxing pictures at Mobile01.

Panasonic Lumix G3 review at OutBackPhoto.

Panasonic GF3 review at Ubergizmodo (french) and DC.view (chinese)

Olympus E-P3 review at Fotopolis (polish), Mobile01 (chinese) and DC.View (japanese).

Olympus test day at Dudamobile.

Olympus EP3 iPhone 4 Skin at Etsy.

Olympus is talking shit about your camera phone (Chase Jarvis).

The Pinwide Pinhole Cap for Micro Four Thirds review at ThePhoBlographer.

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New Four Thirds Matching simulation features.

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I am traveling from Tuscany to France today. Hope to not find any jam like I am used to find every time I am travelling across Europe! In the meanwhile you can have some fun by trying out the new updated version of the Four Thirds Matching simulation (Click here). You can now select the grip color of the new [shoplink 23568]Olympus E-P3[/shoplink] and also add some other fancy accessory like the [shoplink 24233]MAL-1[/shoplink] pictured on top.

 

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First Olympus 12mm f/2.0 lens Unboxing video

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It’s not a review but let’s give some free space to our “emotional” part of the brain :) Here is the first [shoplink 23576]Olympus 12mm f/2.0[/shoplink] video! The lens is in Stock Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), B&H (Click here) and [shoplink 23576 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. Feel free to send me your first image samples and videos if you already managed it to get the lens!

P.S.: A Black E-P3 with 17mm lens is in Stock at Amazon (Click here). And a third party reseller is trying to sell the first Silver E-P3 for $1,799.00 on Amazon (Click here).

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A japanese market share analysis. New firmware updated for two Olympus lenses

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The japanese website BCNranking displayed the latest data about the japanese camera market.

Most sold cameras with interchangeable lenses:
The E-PL2 is on position three with 6.4% of the whole volume share. The [shoplink 17361]Panasonic GF2[/shoplink] is on Position 5 with 6.2%. And on position 9 you can find the in Japan only available E-PL1s.

Mirrorless Market Share (January to May 2011):
Olympus (37.95%), Sony (32.02%), Panasonic (30.03%). The year 2010 ended with following shares Panasonic (38.7%), Sony (32.2%), Olympus (29.1%).

Market share for all interchangeable cameras (Mirrorless and DSLR):
Canon (29.3%), Nikon (27.4%), Sony (15.0%), Olympus (12.7%), Panasonic (9.7%)

P.S.: 31% of all sold interchangeable cameras are Mirrorless.

 

In Europe and US you cannot have such detailed reports. You can get a very vague idea about the popularity of a camera by checking the Amazon rankings:
– System camera rankings (DSLR+mirrorless) at Amazon US (Click here). Amazon has also a dedicated Micro Four Thirds ranking (Click here) where you can check which m43 camera is the most popular.
– All digital camera rankings Amazon Germany (Click here). Mirrorless camera ranking at Amazon Germany (Click here)
– All digital camera rankings at Amazon UK (Click here). Mirrorless camera ranking at Amazon UK (Click here)
– All digital camera rankings at Amazon France (Click here). Mirrorless camera ranking at Amazon France (Click here)

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