BHphoto: Panasonic G3 (body and kit) discontinued. GH2 (with 14-140mm) discontinued.
Last week BHphoto (Click here) informed that the Gh2+14-140mm lens kit has been discontinued and Amazon (Click here) itself isn’t selling that kit anymore. This doesn’t necessary mean that a GH3 is imminent. The GH2 body only is still available and that could also mean that there will be a new GH2+12-35mm X kit option (or 35-100mm X) soon.
But today also the Panasonic G3 body has been officially discontinued at BHphoto (Click here). And the RED, White, Brown G3 + kit lens too (again here at BHphoto)! You don’t discontinue the body only version without having an upcoming new model!
I am pretty sure that not only Olympus but also Panasonic will have a BIG announcement right before the CP+ show in Yokohama (mid February).
P.S: US deals:
Olympus 12mm lens now for $703 at Amazon (Click here).
Panaosnic GF2 with kit lens for $355 at Amazon (Click here).
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Comment from Camaman: Discontinued and it hasn't even reached ...
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tmrgrs
5 months ago |Maybe Pannys has shifted inventory to somewhere where those faux-DSLR’s can sell.
mahler
5 months ago |Aha. As soon there is a rumor from Panasonic, there is one of the DSLR form factor haters sticking out, to make a respect less comment about them.
Unfortunately you guys deny the fact that those soap boxes called “rangefinders” are the most unergonomic (multicontrollers, flimsy gripless designs), most limited ), and worst designs of system cameras ever invented. You seem to forget that in the system camera market the DSLR form factor and cameras with reasonable size outsell the soap box ILCs still by far.
Cameras, like the GH2 are the smallest of this kind, and have additional size advantages due to the small lens system.
The only rangefinder designs, which I would consider as reasonable system camera designs, are Fuji X-Pro 1 and with some caveats NEX 7. For the rest of the breed, people could be better off buying a smartphone with a good camera or an advanced compact such as Olympus XZ 1 or the new Canon G1 X.
Esrhan
5 months ago |I’m honestly interested, if you can actually explain your opinion rather than just assert what you did?
mahler
5 months ago |I now honestly explain:
A system camera is to me, where a whole system of interchanegable lenses can be realistically and ergonomically operated. That said, combinations like EPM / EPL 3 plus lenses like the 100-300 and 14-140 or any other who don’t fit in one’ s pocket really do not fit together with such small bodies. They are odd combinations, and thus, such small cameras are limited in use. The small size paradigm forced the vendors of such small cameras to awkward to operate control designs, such as the multicontrollers in the PENs, because otherwise the controls necessary to operate the cameras, won’t fit into the body. This against a system camera philosophy as much as people claim that “faux DSLRs” are against m4/3 or mirrorless philosophy (if one of this statements is nonsense, than the other is that as well). Additionally,ma good system camera really profits from a view finder, because long telephoto lenses can be handled better. None of the current Olympus and Panasonic soap boxes do this. Therefore, people scream after the build in EVF. Ironically, when Panasonic releases a body without EVF, Olympus fans shout, despite the fact that it is Panasonic, which has build in view finders in reasonably small bodies. For them the only problem that the VF is not in their beloved left position. So they value VF position over VF existence, and complain about the cameras, which don’t have build in VFs. Really, I can’t understand that logic. Generally, they put also Olympus much more under fire than Panasonic, because even in tis third PEN incarnation there iisnt still one with it.
So cameras like a GH2, satisfies customers, who prefer handling and configuration of a DSLR, but want an overall smaller package, that even entry level APS-C DSLRs can’t deliver (due to lens sizes). I think this is a legitimate customer group, which deserves respect and being served by the vendors. Thus the success of G3 and GH2.
The PENs lack much of the versatility of the aforementioned cameras, and could therefore easily replaced with cheaper, simpler point and shoot cameras, such as the new Canon G1X.
I don’t deny that the pseudo rangefinders are legitimate products, but as system cameras they don’t play very well, or in other words, the current DSLR form factor cameras play this better.
It would be better that the soap box friend acknowledge this and accept that m4/3 is about diversity, instead of stubbornly denying that the DSLR form factor has its legitimate place in the variety of m4/3 body offerings.
Esa Tuunanen
5 months ago |Well said.
And GH2 is actually already too dumbed down and slightly undersized to be high end body.
Demanding all modern digital camera bodies to be made like those World War 2 era analog mechanical designs is like demanding car makers to start doing only horse wagons.
mahler
5 months ago |I did not refer to high end or not high end. This has nothing to do with form factor or ergonomics. High end is durability / robustness of a solution, a special quality of materials, exceptional performance, and so on. Currently, no m4/3 ( or mirrorless respectively) camera qualifies for high end. Not the GH 2 and not the EP3.
NativeFloridian
5 months ago |I personally think that the E-P3 has set THE example for a system camera. It is modular in almost every way… you can add a bigger grip or you can add an EVF is that is your thing. With a large grip and a viewfinder it is suitable to using the larger zoom lenses. With a smaller grip it can be used as a go-anywhere rangefinder style camera.
That being said, I think having options is good. But, is OK if some users don’t like faux-dSLRs or rangefinders.
Agent00soul
5 months ago |Right! And in a true system there are wireless flashes, something Panasonic never has offered.
Esa Tuunanen
5 months ago |You can put a lipstick on a pig but that doesn’t still change it to anything else.
Pens have limited retro crap controls, and “top model” has fixed LCD.
External EVF is just thing waiting to break up and adds heck lot more bulk.
Proper grip is what gives this kind of grip:
http://a.img-dpreview.com/reviews/konicaminoltaa2/Images/inhand02.jpg
And houses that high end “standard” 1.5Ah battery inside along with providing place for second dial/wheel of DLRS’s control interface.
Olympus has wasted over three years only to make so many subversions of same darn camera (probably another round of version number updates this year) that they could have used some of that time to make also couple actually different mirrorless bodies.
mahler
5 months ago |There is no THE example for a system camera, and it is certainly not the EP3. The EP3 doesnt follow the principle that form follows function. It is a camera, where PEN style and retro design is more important than being a working tool. If this wasn’t true, the EP3 would not have a multicontrollers, would have larger controls, would have a tiltable screen, and a build-in view finder, no matter in what position.
Esrhan
5 months ago |Well said and thanks for the reply.
DonTom
5 months ago |@Mahler
Seconded, thank you for the reply. I agree, the larger grip of the modern DSLR form does help with bigger lenses. As does the EVF. I also agree that an E-P3 with large grip and the VF2 is no worse.
One of the great things about the m43 system is that it has the potential to suit many different needs/ wants. Sonfar they are doing well, except if you are one of the users that (like me), want an EVF where it is on a Leica.
At the moment, I don’t use large/ long lenses much. If I did, I would probably buy a GH as well. I have been tempted to buy a GH just to mount a 100-300mm. But that is a lens I would want to use for wildlife, and would want such a combo to be weatherproof.
I guess the reason mamy of us get frustrated is because we shouldn’t have to wait so long, or go to alternative systems. There is no reason Olly or Panny couldn’t have put out a RF style camera some time ago. Same innards as the GH2 for example, just laid out like a Leica. I am really glad that the weatherproofing is coming, because I can start looking forward to a camera to use for birding and hunting.
Like you, I get frustrated by the whingers that put down any body style that isn’t what THEY want. Lighten up people! This format will succeed if it offers variety.
Right now I am very happy using my E-PL1, two fast primes and the VF2. I bought a camera bag bigger than I need now, because it will be carrying a bigger body and some more lenses in the future. This is a great format, and we should be celebrating new additions and choices!
mahler
5 months ago |But, honestly, it is quite unfair to blame Panasonic here. They have contributed to diversity within a camera system / lens mount more than any other vendor. They have small cameras, soap boxes, DSLR alike, a video cam, all the same lens mount. They have cameras with build in view finder in the end, only with the problem for stubborn fanatics, that it is not in the very position they want to have it. Olympus has just PENs. Same form factor, just little bit different size. Why was Olympus not brave enough to release at least one, only one PEN body with that very form factor, that has a high quality build in view finder? NEX isn’t much better. NEX in essence represents also only one concept, although better than Olympus PEN, because there is also an E-Mount video cam.
JRK
5 months ago |Every time something is “discontinued” it turns out to be supply problems. Then again, the GH2 might see a replacement, but I feel the G3 still has a few more months before seeing a replacement cam.
uiti
5 months ago |Sounds strange. Because according to Panasonic Japan web
http://panasonic.jp/dc/g2/index.html
G3 get still NEW.
Barugg
5 months ago |They are giving up! What a pain pana product cycles remind me of vacuum cleaners. Buy nikon and find peace if mind
twoomy
5 months ago |Bring it on! There has to be something new to stick those 12-35 and 35-100 f/2.8 lenses to. New high-end zooms would logically be marketed with a new high-end camera.
Do you think they might combine the GH2 and G3 lines into one line? From my point of view, I couldn’t really see the need for both cameras.
Nico Foto
5 months ago |G3 discontinued? Thats unexpected…
Bob B.
5 months ago |I noticed that a couple of weeks ago. Many of the G3′s were listed as discontinued at B & H weeks ago…almost everyone was out of stock or discontinued on the G3. (I got a great deal on an open-box white G3 and sold the lens on eBay. Wanted a back-up body. None were available new at reasonable prices.) There has to be something new coming ….perhaps the Pany Pro?…but then why stop making the G3 which is only 6 months old and has the same sensor as your flagship model???? Something must be coming and will be announced at the Feb. show in Japan.
Andi
5 months ago |I see the need for such a camera as the G3.
“Cheap” with an excellent viewfinder and a good Sensor:)
If I buy the GH2, I have to pay for a many features, I do not need!
Bob B.
5 months ago |Agreed. I think the GH2 is a very good camera but it is loaded up with video which is something that I never do. I do not want a video camera…no do I want to pay for one to take still pictures.
Miroslav
5 months ago |+1
No need to replace G3. Hopefully, it’s just going to get new 14-42 X as kit lens…
DonTom
5 months ago |Perhaps they only ever intended to make a set number of production runs of the G3. Sold well, moving onto the improved model early. Better for us if they sell out their stock, more profit for R&D!
Bob B.
5 months ago |It is amazing how quickly they are turning these cameras around. Something is up though..could be that they are reissuing the kit with the X kit lens…but that doesn’t explain with the body is out of stock now …does it???????????????? We will definitely know by Feb.
Agrivar
5 months ago |Adorama still sells the black G3 with 14-42 kit. I think it’s just supply issues
Oliver
5 months ago |At panasonic.de you still can order/buy the G3.
There´s actually a cashback campaign.
So does “discontinued at BHphoto” automatically mean discontinued by Panasonic?
Berneck1
5 months ago |Yeah, could be just supply problems, as they always seem to have. I ordered a G3 a while back, because I get a nice discount. It said expected to ship in 3 weeks. I waited nearly two months, and their customer service was awful, and couldn’t tell me anything. I finally canceled. I’m hoping Olympus does it right. I would prefer not to buy Panasonic if possible…
Frederic Hugh
5 months ago |We’ve that a couple of times already, it turned out to be supply problems. Admin keeps going at it simply because it generates traffic.
Noam G.
5 months ago |Hehe, just yesterday I got my package from B&H with the black G3 kit inside
I don’t think that discontinuation of body-only and color variants necessarily means discontinuation of the entire model. It may very well be that they will keep manufacturing and selling these puppies (at least black kits) for several more months.
It could even be just that Panasonic’s US distributors decided to discontinue these models in the US, regardless of manufacturing status back in Japan.
BTW the body and color variants have been discontinued at B&H for quite a while already (more than 1 month!), so it’s not really news.
Great little camera, BTW, and I probably nailed it at the bottom price ($580) before the eventual discontinuation.
Berneck1
5 months ago |A GH2 stuffed into an E-P3, with viewfinder of course, is what I have wanted all along. I hope something like this is coming. I sounds like it is…. Fingers crossed!
Leu
5 months ago |yeah, you can get a GH2 for twice the price of a GH2 as the Olympus OM-D, right before the GH3 is released. Smart purchase man.
Kasteel
5 months ago |How long are on sale today’s cameras before being discontinued from sale? Nobody can make a product fit and keep at least 3 to 5 years on the market?
It’s ridiculous.
Barugg
5 months ago |Check d700 or 5dmk2 going strong for over 3 years, and even after a successor is announced, they are still class leading, and lightyears from obsolation
Leu
5 months ago |Hahahahahahhahahahahahahahah.
Yeah right. Keep dreaming. The GH2 is lightyears beyond both of these. I have never heard someone try to justify Nikon or Canons lack of ingenuity and total disregard for tech advancement -recycling of 10 year old sensor designs- and ridiculous pricing as being strong. You can take a video frame from a GH2 and it will look better than a photo from a 5DmkII from fanboy hands.
The same can’t be said about photos though.
nobody
5 months ago |Yeah, Canon and Nikon are really clueless about making cameras…
Barugg
5 months ago |The video frame gh2 joke was good, obvioulsly pros seem to use gh2 all over the world nowdays, its that good , it makes all other cameras obsolete. You nailed it, i give you the Dork of the year award
Leu
5 months ago |That might’ve come off a little to harsh. What I meant was that the 5DmkII is the most over-rated shit camera in the world. All the debating about DR is worthless, color rendition is worthless, shallow dof is worthless, because every interchangeable lens camera is capable of the same, and every photo is processed through some kind of editor.
Do you really think that digital cameras will still have mirrors in 10 years?
Barugg
5 months ago |Unfortiunately NO interchangeble toy system camera doesn’t even scratch the surface. Forget it ang go try one, keep shooting and editing shadow noise and jerk about edge to edge sharpness with your toy camera. Mirror or not is not the point here, a nex9 with FF could easily replace a 5d, as long as companies keep messing with crop sensor they wont come even close.
Esa Tuunanen
5 months ago |> Do you really think that digital cameras will still have mirrors in 10 years?
I don’t see why there couldn’t still be some niche for SLR design…
And remember that I’m the one who’s been damning camera makers for years for still making half film camera designs.
Dana
5 months ago |Yes it is. It’s counterproductive and ridiculous.
Why buy anything brand new when you can wait a few months and get it for half price or less?
TheEye
5 months ago |A good consumer has the next model already on pre-order.
Don Carrot
5 months ago |Did they ever make it to the storeshelves? Or is it doa?
reverse stream swimmer
5 months ago |Is this a coincidence?
1) Maybe the upcoming OM-D is a rebadged DMC-G3? The formfactor is similar what I can see.
2) Or Olympus is going to wipe the floor with the Panasonic G3, with the new features the OM-D has?
Maybe this formfactor with built in EVF is solely for the premium cameras, as an easy understandable product differentiation? Therefore the successful series with the upcoming DMC-GH3 will remain with this look as well!?
Aly
5 months ago |The G3 is pretty young in the production cycle. The G4 could simply be a tweak much as the G2 was to the G1. If there was some quantum sensor improvement, we probably would have seen it in the GX1.
Dumbdumbdumb
5 months ago |G- *yawn*
MJr
5 months ago |@ Admin
“GH2+14-35mm X kit option”
Little error. Either 12-35, or 14-42
admin
5 months ago |ops! THX!
Kylberg
5 months ago |Many alternatives for mirrorless for enthusiasts: Fuji, Pana, Pentax, Oly and maybe Canon!? 2012 will be exciting to start with and expensive in the end:-)
matt
5 months ago |oh, seeing a weathersealed gh3 with better screen,EVF,new functions, usable iso 6400, better DR and IQ , and better video (than hacked gh2) would satisfy my tastes !!
twoomy
5 months ago |Same here! That would be perfect!
Ranger 9
5 months ago |Components age out pretty quickly nowadays, and this might be a reason for discontinuing a model. For example, the GX1 supposedly has an upgraded image processor vs the G3; if true, it wouldn’t make much sense to continue inventorying the “old” chip for the G3 plus the “new” chip for the GX1. Better to use the same chip in both and use it as an excuse to announce a new model!
I’d like to see (and probably would buy) a camera consisting of the GX1′s basic layout plus a SOLE (Stuck On Left End) EVF, but I think we’re still a couple of cycles away from that… plus the problem that Panasonic’s sequential EVF is probably a bit too bulky to fit into that kind of package. They’ll need a new, smaller EVF (probably an OLED like Sony’s) before they can get away from the central-hump finder placement…
Berneck1
5 months ago |Maybe they’ll discontinue the GX1, and realease what we’ve been waiting for….. LOL
spam
5 months ago |It’s a new employee at B&H trying to find out what the Discontinued-button do.
MP Burke
5 months ago |There is no sign in the UK market that either the G3 or GH2 has been discontinued. The G2 is no longer available at some dealers and the price of the G3 has dropped to be the same as that of the G2 last year.
When/if a G4 model is introduced I would expect the G3 to be on sale alongside it for a few months, to offer a cheaper alternative.
Jorge
5 months ago |Too bad if Panasonic doesn’t figure out soon how to get the attention from enthusiasts, mainly through retro style (X PRO 1, OM-D…) or spectacular features(NEX-7). The GX1 with the X 14-42 has better specifications than the E-P3, but I hear a lot more about the Olympus.
MacGyver
5 months ago |GH3 I’m still waiting you!
photo9
5 months ago |I am really hoping the GH3 will be able to do 4K video! If not, then I hope they leave the door open for a HACK to be able to enable it.
Chris
5 months ago |I just noticed that all the E-P3′s are also now Unavailable/Out of Stock at B&H. So it seems to me there is little doubt that it is being replaced as well.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=olympus+ep3&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&BI=4499&KBID=4968
admin
5 months ago |They are not marked as “discontinued”. They are just “temporarily unavailable”. And last week I told you that this happens because of production issues with thrid party companies.
Chris
5 months ago |Guess we’ll know soon whether that’s the real story or a cover to help sell out inventory before the announcement. Time will tell!
safaridon
5 months ago |Nothing surprising for Pany to drop the color options and focus on the best selling most poupular black model with lens. This could well be a consolidation of the new GH3 with a G4 with the main difference being smaller Xlens with one and premium fast X ones with other while they continue to make the G3 for lower price range?
The G3 continues to sell well in Europe and reasonably well in Japan but still below volume of GF3,GF2, and GX1 while GH2 does not even register in Japan.
Montego
5 months ago |I bought my GH2 for video, so that I could use wider lenses (14-140, 7-14) and some primes (20 1.7 and Nikon 50 1.8) to complement my Panasonic TM700 camcorder. Just now editing my first project with both cams, and they cut together well. Hacked GH2 at 24P and TM700 at 60P.
Based on what Panasonic has said, I think the GH3 will have Global Shutter and AVCHD 2.0 for 1080 60P @28 mbits, improved EVF.
On the photo side I don’t think my GH2 performs quite as well as my Nikon D90, but close, so I’m looking to see a lot of improvement for the JPEG engine, and for the sensor to provide a bit better Dynamic Range. Internal ND woud be fantastic. I also would like to see an internal HDR processing mode, and something akin to Sony’s Sweep Panorama mode for quick pano’s. Not sure, but a sweep panorama may only be possible with certain lenses through a lens firmware upgrade.
Also, even though I own an intervalometer for the GH2, I would love an internal timelapse mode like on the TM700 that automatically creates a video file rather than an image sequence.
Sven
5 months ago |I guess we´ll find out wihtin the next couple of days if there´s a new GH3 to be released soon…
Since they announced the weather sealed x lenses.. it´ll only make sense to come up with a weather sealed body..
I can´t wait for the new Oly/Pana bodies…
My Canon SLR just broke ( within warranty )
Mike
5 months ago |Admin: Why are you basing a headline of the status of a camera on the online text shown when you visit one or two online photo retailers? Are you verifying this with a phone call to them or some other inside information from Panasonic? It seems premature to do this (even for a rumor site) if there is nothing else to corroborate the headline. I don’t see a FT number associated with this ‘story’.
Diane B
5 months ago |Interesting that they are in stock at Kenmore’s in WA. I’ve found they seem to have the best stock of Panny cameras of about any online store. The brown and white have been discontinued for awhile.
Mike Fix
5 months ago |Love my GH2, looking forward to the GH3!
Narretz
5 months ago |Semms unlikely that Panasonic will announce a G4 so soon. Did somebody inquire at BHPhoto why they put “Discontinued” and not “Temporarily out of stock”?
Maybe they asked Panasonic for supply, but they said they couldn’t deliver, instead of giving them a timeframe for new shipments. So they assume it is more honest to say discontinued, because they don’t know if they will get any at all.
flash
5 months ago |They may have run out prematurely, do to some supply issues and are not planing to make any; as such no more shipments to B%H. So bring on the GH3, and hopefully the G4. It will be nice that they do not combine the two lines, having an enthusiast. Or one faux SLR and the other faux rangefinder.
Maybe a new sensor or some other item that was slated for the GH3 was significantly better, so they smartly are limiting the production of the older models.
I feel a real jump in technology for sensors is just around the corner in which they will be a magnitude better, and hopefully much cheaper to make. The question is who will make the leap.
Jack
5 months ago |I can understand the discontinuation of GH2, but the G3?!
I think that if the m43 system were to fail, it would not be because of technical or image quality reasons. It would be because these manufacturers are so unsure with their designs that they roll out a new model every few months.
I know for sure that if I buy anything m43 now, I would be made to look like a fool a few months later because there will be a newer model. I went to a second hand camera shop the other day and asked the guy there why weren’t many second hand m43 cameras in his shop. He said he would not even want to take them in because the prices drop so fast with newer models being released so frequently.
Come on Panny & Oly, spend some time thinking through the design. Be confident and release a killer product which lasts in the stores for at least a couple of years. Your constant dumping of new products into the market is not helping anyone. I know. My EPL2 was outdated barely 4 months after I bought it…
Olympius
5 months ago |I just looked at Amazon.com’s list of top selling “Compact System Cameras” (mirrorless) and here are the top three selling cameras:
1. Black NEX-3 w 18-55 lens
2. Black Olympus E-PL1 w 14-42 lens
3. Black Lumix GF-2 with 14-42 lens
Notice anything interesting in that list? Yep– the top three cameras are all discontinued models, and the E-PL1 is from two generations ago! But the price, a mere $300 USD with lens, makes it as cheap as many advanced point&shot digicams. In other words, the top three selling models at Amazon.com are on top because they are being sold at almost half their original price.
After the top three, it gets interesting:
4. Black Nikon 1 V1 with 10-30 lens
5. White Nikon 1 J1 with 10-30 lens
6. Black Lumix G3 with 14-42 lens
Amongst cameras in current production, the two Nikons are doing the best, with the more expensive V1 outselling the J1!
And the top selling micro 4/3 camera at Amazon right now? The Lumix G3 — which is even outselling the newer Sony NEX models.
This goes to demonstrate something I’ve long argued about the American camera market: if you want to sell mirrorless cameras here and make a buck, then they best have a viewfinder of some-type. People don’t want to pay $600 for a camera that operates like their iPhone or Android. Of course, there are many who don’t care, but most prefer veiwfinders when they are available.
As for Olympus, their new cameras debut on the current Amazon.com chart at number 18:
18. Silver E-PM1 with 14-42 lens
19. Silver E-PL3 with 14-42 lens
20. Black E-PM1 with 14-42 lens
The Silver E-P3 is stuck in 28th position.
While this is not a “scientific” survey of the whole market, it does show just how well the Nikons are doing, as well as older models at blow-out pricing.
If Olympus and Panasonic are getting killed in the marketplace by the new Nikon system (which it seems they are), no doubt they would be very willing to kill off their current products if sales isn’t there. But at least with Panasonic, there won’t be 1,000,000 G3′s sitting in a warehouse somewhere, being sold at Costco for $299 with the kit lens…
- Olympius
PS – I do hope that there is some sort of top-secreet micro 4/3 sensor that will come to market in the OM-D and perhaps other micro 4/3 cameras in early 2012, but it’s hard to tell at this point.
Olympius
5 months ago |I just checked the B&H website, and the black G3 with 14-42 kit lens is now showing “Temporarily out of Stock” — NOT discontinued. So perhaps the G3 is selling pretty well, which matches the evidence I’ve seen in the mirrorless realm here in the USA…..
- Olympius
Camaman
5 months ago |Discontinued and it hasn’t even reached my market! lol!