The first G3 cameras are in Stock at Amazon (Click here). But you have to pay $100 more than the normal price (sold by third party resellers)!
To pay the normal price go on [shoplink 23340 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] where Kenmore Camera has the RED G3 with lens in Stock.!
[shoplink 23321 ebay]
[/shoplink]
Image on top shows the current [shoplink 23321 ebay]VF-2 viewfinder (around $279.95)[/shoplink].
Olympus will not only announce three new cameras and two new lenses, there will be also two new accessories:
1) A new Flash that will be positioned a bit lower than the current [shoplink 23320 ebay]FL-36 flash[/shoplink]. UPDATE: The flash will be called FL-300R.
2) A new Olympus external electronic viewfinder which is cheaper than the current [shoplink 23321 ebay]VF-2 viewfinder (around $279.95)[/shoplink].
I have no specs about both products. That’s why I don’t knwo if the new viewfinder will have the same VF-2 quality or not. But a cheaper alternative is very welcome!
P.S.: Check the current Olympus VF-2 price at [shopcountry 23321].
Yesterday we reported that BHphoto was offering a $500 trade in for the Panasonic GF2. But as our user noticed the maximum amount you could get in reality was $350. BHphoto made an unintentional mistake and sent us the following text:
“We’re sorry for having caused any disappointment or dissatisfaction. B&H enjoys a 35+ year history of unimpeachable ethical integrity and certainly would not endanger that over any one lens.
Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video”
I want to thank Henry (and BH) for reacting so quickly. Mistakes do happen! You can see the correct trade in program at BHphoto (Click here).
Here is the list of the latest US deals:
– Back again, Fuji X100 preorders on Amazon (Click here). And it’s still hard to find it in Stock “This item is in high demand and supplies from the manufacturer are limited”
– There is one Four Thirds (I repeat Four Thirds! Not m43!) 25mm f/1.4 lens in Stock at Amazon (Click here) for $957.14 only ($140 discount).
– Panasonic 20mm lens is in Stock at Adorama (Click here) has them in Stock for the normal price, $399.
– The Olympus XZ-1 is in Stock for $453.88 at Amazon (Click here).
Before to go on with more new Olympus rumors I want to remindert you what’s going on with the competition:
1) Tomorrow Pentax will announce the new NC-1 mirrorless system with small 1:2.33 inch sensor. You can follow the announcement live on MirrorlessRumors (Click here) at 13:00 Tokyo time! The camera is very tiny almost like the old film [shoplink 21191 ebay]Auto 110 system (Click here ot see that on ebay)[/shoplink]. It’s very important for you to know that Pentax will launch a second “k-system” in autumn (with APS-C) sensor. It’s very likely that they will use the current Sony NEX sensors.
2) Leica will announce a mirrorless system at Photokina 2012. It will use a built-in EVF instead of a rangefinder sytem a là [shoplink 22857 ebay]Leica M9 (Click here to see that camera)[/shoplink]. There are no specs now, but I guess it will be a very expensive system ;)
3) Sony delayed the new NEX Pro and lens announcement form July to late August. Pity that Sony doesn’t offer any decent lens for their NEX users!
4) Samsung will announce the NX-200 and NX-20 with 18 Megapixel sensor in July. And there will be also a nice 85mm f/1.4 lens (Source: MirrorlessRumors.com)
As you cansee, there is nothing to come from Canon and Nikon. They don’t want to cannibalize their entry level DSLR market. But how long can they play that game?
Olympus just launched a new Teaser video you can see here: http://www.getolympus.com/PENteaser/. The teaser is a bit boring because you really don’t see anything :(
I am still not 100% about some aspects of the new “mysterious” Olympus designed (or tweaked) sensor. What I know for certain is that Olympus kept the promise and will not join the Megapixel race which lead Panasonic to announce cameras with 16Megapixels (for the [shoplink 22077]G3 and [shoplink 16254]GH2[/shoplink]). The new sensor has 12.1 Megapixels! I have been told that this is not the same “old” 12 Megapixel sensor which you can find inside the current Olympus PEN cameras. The sensor has been “tweaked” (and some sources say “redesigned”) by Olympus. What that word “tweaked” means is a big and yet unanswered question.
The second news is that the new PEN cameras will indeed use the new TruePic VI engine which has two cores. Olympus worked on all aspects of the camera, sensor, internal circuity, imaging processor with the main goal to increase the dynamic range and ISO performance. Sources said that we should expect an image quality that is at least on par (but more likely even slightly better) than the current top [shoplink 17163 ebay]Olympus E-5 model[/shoplink]. First reports I received from testers said that there is a visible step forward in image quality (with pre production models and unfinished firmware!).
In summary, Olympus may made a bit of mess with the product naming and specs (See for example missing tilt screen on the E-P3) but we have to give credit to Olympus for working on the key aspects where many of our 43rumors wanted to see an improvement:
1) That sensor is designed by Olympus and that means that they will no more have to rely on second generation sensors from Panasonic.
2) It’s nice to see that Olympus worked to improve dynamic range and ISO performance instead of increasing Megapixel numbers.
3) AF speed is amazing. And that’s going to impress many potential m43 buyers!
4) Finally some amazing lenses! The high quality 12mm f/2.0 and the cheap ($299) and fast 45mm f/1.8 portrait lens.
Overall I am very happy with the steps Olympus made with the new PEN’s. Of course there is still room for improvement. But guys, they are finally going in the right direction or not?
CNET Asia was at the Asia Pacific Lumix G Seminar 2011 in Thailand. Panasonic told them that they are holding the 30 percent mirrorless market share in Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong and 25 percent market share in Singapore: “According to Panasonic, the company aims to increase its market share in the total ILC category by 10 percent (which roughly translates to 120,000 ILC units) by 2012. To achieve this, they shared some strategies which include targeting shutterbugs looking to upgrade to dSLRs and expanding its current lineup of Lumix G Micro System cameras, lenses and accessories. Panasonic also announced plans to allocate US$20 million in advertising dollars to promote the compact design of the Lumix G series cameras and focus on their touchscreen capabilities and iA mode settings.”
Panasonic’s group general manager of AV in Asia Pacific, Motoki Nakahara, confirmed that there will be Micro Four Thirds lenses are slated for the later part of this year. As you might remember after the GF3 launch Panasonic confirmed that they are working on a professional GF camera, a new GH3 camera and that two new lenses would be announced by end of the year.
Reminder: Panasonic launched two cameras and one lens in 2011:
The G3 should be in Stock in most countries within the next days. Check those links: [shopcountry 22077].
The GF3 should be in Stock by late July/early April. Check those links: [shopcountry 23109] (It’s difficult to find preorder options in Europe).
The Leica 25mm f/1.4 will be in Stock in late July. Check those links: [shopcountry 23110] (Almost impossible to find it for preorder. And don’t confuse that lens with the Four Thirds version!).
