Pentax 6mm f/1.2 tested on the GH2 by Seb Farges (with Panasonic 14mm comparison)

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The fantastic 1:1 video crop mode of the Panasonic GH2 allows you to use C-mount lenses without having that huge vignetting. Seb Farges tested the Pentax 6mm f/1.2 lens: “AT LEAST I’ve found the PERFECT WIDE SHARP and CHEAP lens for the GH2 !!! It’s a [shoplink 20747 ebay]C-mount Pentax/Cosmicar 6mm 1:1.2 lens I’ve bought 9.99€ (12.50$) on Ebay[/shoplink]!
The rear barrel had to be modified for 20€ (watch pictures below) to fit on the [shoplink 20746 ebay]C-mount to micro 4/3 adapter (Kipon)[/shoplink].
This 6mm focal lenght on the GH2 gives a huge vignetting on micro 4/3 sensor, but thanks to the new crop 1:1 [shoplink 16254]GH2[/shoplink] function, the vignetting is disappearing completely !
This 6mm lens with the crop function gives nearly the same frame (same width but less height) than on the [shoplink 16258]Lumix 14mm 1:2.5[/shoplink], but much much more faster.
It’s a sharp lens, even with the crop. In 24X36 eq. it’s a 30mm.
This lens is incredible for GH2, there is no other competition for such a fast lens !

In this movie you will watch daylight tests (always @ 1:1.2, 1/50 shutter speed, 160 asa) with a 22€ Polaroid 43mm variable ND filter and a 40.5 to 43mm step-up ring, there’s my girlfriend preparing her new collection for children “Pitchoovintage”.
Then you will watch night test, from 160 to 3200 asa, always @ 1:1.2 and 1/50 shutter speed.

Seb tested many C-mount lenses and is one of our daily 43rumors readers. Feel free to make him any question you want and he will answer you! Thanks SEB!

UPDATE
: This is the original place where Seb got the lens on [shoplink 20770 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

Links:
– C-mount Pentax/Cosmicar 6mm 1:1.2 at [shoplink 20747 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
– Kipon C-mount to micro 4/3 adapter at [shoplink 20746 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
– Panasonic GH2 at [shopcountry 16254].
– Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 lens at [shopcountry 16258].

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(FT5) Panasonic confirms the 25mm f/1.4 is coming this summer!

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In an interview with Amateur Photographer Panasonic UK product manager John Mitchell confirmed that the 25mm lens is coming this summer: “We are sure it’s going to be a great hit because it’s 50mm [35mm viewing angle] equivalent – really fast, really bright

What we don’t know yet is if the 25mm lens is going to be announced along the Panasonic G3 on late March/early April and be available in summer or if the announcement itself will be in made this summer.

What we know about that lens:
– It has double the size of the [shoplink 14796]20mm f/1.7 pancake[/shoplink] – Unlike the [shoplink 16340 ebay]Four Thirds Panasonic/Leica 25mm f/1.4 lens[/shoplink] it is not Leica branded
– It has no OIS.
– It should cost around $700.

Links:
– 25mm f/1.4 Four Thirds lens at [shopcountry 16340].
– 20mm f/1.7 at [shopcountry 14796].
– 8mm fisheye at [shopcountry 20015].
– 45mm f/2.8 at [shopcountry 14794].

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POLL: is the digital camera future modular?

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Over at SonyAlphaRumors you can read the latest rumor about a modular NEX camcorder which should be announced within the next few weeks. The key feature about that rumor is the new Sony NXCAM works like a medium format [shoplink 20714]Hasselbald modular system[/shoplink]! Viewfinder, grip and other parts can be attached and detached. I don’t think the camera will become a strong [shoplink 16841]AG-AF100[/shoplink] competitor because of two reasons:
1) The price is to high. The body only costs $7.000 and once you add grip, EVF, LCD and the other missing parts total price will claimb over the $10.000 mark.
2) The most important part isn’t modular…the sensor!

Ricoh built a nice [shoplink 20713]GRX system[/shoplink] but it’s not fully modular (and the single sensor+lens unit concept doesn’t convince me). Now, imagine if your m43 camera could use different sensors, different LCD screens. Imagine if you would be able to remove the grip and the EVF to transform your pro-camera in a more portable GF or Pen. So what is your opinion on that? Maybe that could be the killer feature of the future Olympus PEN pro cameras?

Would you prefer a modular m43 camera-system over any other classic mirrorless camera even if you would have to spend a bit more?

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LInks:
Ricoh GXR system at [shopcountry 20713] Hasselbald medium format cameras at [shoplink 20714]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]

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A not so popular lens gets tested at SLRgear: The Olympus 40-150mm for m43 (+ Geometric distortion correction for Panasonic lenses)

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[shoplink 15864][/shoplink]

There are some lenses that are tested and reviewed by many websites and there are lenses nobody ever talks about. That is the case of the Olympus 40-150mm f/4-5.6 ED M.Zuiko which has been recently tested by SLRgear (Click here): “The Olympus 40-150mm ƒ/4-5.6 M.Zuiko fared well in our tests, offering excellent performance up to 100mm, and above-average performance at 150mm. For the PEN system user looking for a portable telephoto option to supplement the 14-42mm kit lens, they should look no further.

That is the very first test or article we found about that lens. Just a coincidence or nobody really cares about that lens? Who are the target buyers? The biggest plus point for that lens is the price in US. With $209 at Amazon (Click here) the lens is the cheapest Micro Four Thirds zoom. Sadly the price is almost double as high in Europe (244 Euro at Amazon.de). Would love to know what you think about the 40-150mm M.Zuiko!
P.S.: Check the price of the 40-150mm lens at [shopcountry 15864].

M43photo.blogspot.com posted a very interesting article about the geometric distortion correction of current Panasonic lenses: “Many Micro Four Thirds lenses feature in-camera geometric distortion correction. Two examples are the Panasonic pancakes, [shoplink 16258]Lumix G 14mm f/2.5[/shoplink] and [shoplink 14796]Lumix G 20mm f/1.7[/shoplink]. Both have pretty similar distortion corretion needs. When converting the sensor output to the out of camera JPEG image, around 10% of the pixels in the border area are lost. This is somewhat controversial. Some feel that a quality lens should not require further software correction. In fact, the lack of geometric distortion is a traditional sign of a high quality lens.” Read the article to see the comparison of the uncorrected and corrected images for some lenses!

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Panasonic GF2 in Stock, Fuji X100 delayed

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[shoplink 17361][/shoplink]

The good news first: The black Panasonic GH2+14mm is in Stock at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here). Check all the kits and colors availability at [shopcountry 17361].

The bad news: Fuji announced that due the huge amount of preorders the [shoplink 19929]Fuji X100[/shoplink] cannot be delivered in time. That remind us the issue Panasonic has with the GH2 delivery but there is a small and very important difference. Fuji released an official press release to apology and to promise to increase the production. Panasonic should learn from them! Source: Fuji Japan.

Preorder the X100 at: Amazon US, Adorama, BHphoto and Amazon UK.

P.S.: The GH2 is still “Missing” at Amazon US, Adorama, BHphoto :(

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(FT5) “PEN pro” camera in 2-3 years (via Megapixel)

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Image courtesy: Megapixel

Olympus gave an Interview at Megapixel (Click here). There is one big surprise statement:
We see the mirrorless system as the future of digital photography. In 5-10 years reflex cameras will be a niche or will not be there at all. So we believe that PEN in the long run will also be in the professional market – but that will take maybe 2-3 years. In 2011 you will see more PEN products and more lenses (beyond what was discussed in the presentation).

According to Olympus DSLR will become a niche market within 5-10 years. Interesting that Olympus says “PEN-type” cameras instead of “mirrorless” cameras :)

There are a also a few more info about 3D (they don’t plan to support the [shoplink 16264]Panasonic 12.5mm 3D lens[/shoplink]) and the new [shoplink 19904]Olympus XZ-1[/shoplink] (it will not create a new line of cameras). Editor’s note: The “good weapons” Olympus is talking about are the new [shoplink 18844]Olympus E-PL2[/shoplink] and accessories.

So dear readers….what do you think about that news? Are you surprised? The good news is that Olympus plans to enter the PRO market. The issue here is to define what is a “PRO” camera. We have been told that an advanced Olympus m43 model will be announced within 2011. It will not replace the [shoplink 17163]Olympus E-5[/shoplink] but as long as it has built-in EVF, a solid body, a new sensor and fast AF this will be PRO enough for me ;)

What is your opinion on that? What defines a PRO camera? What should Olympus do to satisfy your professional needs?

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Need for speed? Look what a f/0.75 lens can do on your Panasonic GF2 (terrible!)

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There are not many videos out there which have been shot with a f/0.75 aperture lens(!) and a Micro Four Thirds camera. The maker of the video is seelling that [shoplink 20634 ebay]Kowa 44mm f/0.75 on eBay[/shoplink]: “This is a very unique and beautiful lens that produces a soft blur due to its fast aperture.I tried it also with the HD video mode on my [shoplink 17361]Panasonic GF2[/shoplink] and the result was stunning. This lens can be adapted to almost any camera as far as you buy the right adapter for it, I previously used it on my [shoplink 20637]Canon 50D[/shoplink] and on a [shoplink 20638]Sony NEX 5[/shoplink]. I can say that due to the sensor size and distance from the back of the lens, you will get better results with the NEX but any mirrorless camera (EVIL camera) is good to use with that ultra fast lens.”

[shoplink 20634 ebay]Click here to see the Kowa 44mm f/0.75 auction on eBay[/shoplink]. That lens is very cheap compared to the [shoplink 20636 ebay]De Oude Delft 50mm f/.075 which usually sells for over $2000 on eBay[/shoplink]. You can’t find anything faster than that (there was once a Zeiss f/0.7 but that’s impossible to find).

P.S.: Panasonic GF2 is in Stock at [shopcountry 17361]

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