Today it’s firmware update party! Also Olympus announced a new [shoplink 17163]Olympus E-5[/shoplink] firmware: “Firmware version 1.2 ensures the movement of the dial on the optional HLD-4 battery grip matches the movement of the selected AF point.“. You need the Olympus Digital Camera Updater software to upgrade the E-5: http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_downloads_updater.asp

It is not a Micro Four Thirds camera but many on 43rumors do own it and the news is worthy to be posted :)
Panasonic released a major firmware upgrade for the [shoplink 21136 ebay]Panasonic LX5[/shoplink] high end compact camera. You can download it here: http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/LX5/index.html

The main changes are:
Auto Focus speed-up.
[HIGH ISO NR] has been added to the [REC] menu.
Improved auto white balance performance.
[ACTIVE MODE] has been added to the [MOTION PICTURE] menu.
The AF/AE Lock operated by half-pressing the shutter button has been improved.
When [MF] is set, you can make fine adjustments to the focus using a simpler operation than before.
The position and size of the AF area you have set are now stored.
The upper limit of the shutter speed in Manual Exposure Mode has been raised. (Max 250 seconds approximately)
[MINIATURE EFFECT] has been added to My Colour Mode.
[MONITOR] / [VIEWFINDER] has been added to the [SETUP] menu.

And those are the direct LX5 search links at [shopcountry 21136].

Panasonic Japan announced a new firmware upgrde for the following lenses:
LUMIX G VARIO 7-14mm / F4.0 ASPH. (H-F007014)
LUMIX G FISHEYE 8mm / F3.5 (H-F008)
LUMIX G 14mm / F2.5 ASPH. (H-H014)
LUMIX G VARIO 14-42mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. (H-FS014042)
LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. (H-FS014045)
LUMIX G VARIO 45-200mm / F4.0-5.6 / MEGA O.I.S. (H-FS045200)
LUMIX G VARIO 100-300mm / F4.0-5.6 / MEGA O.I.S. (H-FS100300)

The update improves the tracking focusing for video recording, the silent auto focus, and the exposure control. The stability of the optical image stabilizer is also enhanced for video recording.

Doanload the firmare at http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/index.html (via Slashgear).

It is not a secret that sooner or later Olympus will make a Micro Four Thirds camera that will be on par with the best Olympus Four Thirds camera (which currently is the [shoplink 17163 ebay]E-5[/shoplink]). But what will happen with Four Thirds lenses? They do not focus as fast on m43 camera as the new m43 lenses. The answer is coming from a new Olympus patent. It discloses an adapter that has built-in lenses. Those lenses will help Four Thirds lenses to have a much faster contrast autofocus. You can read a google translation of the Japanese patent at Egami (Click here).

It’s quite a complex design and It is up to our expert readers to understand the tiny technical details. My work now is to try to get some info about the Olympus PRO m43 camera that will replace the [shoplink 17163 ebay]E-5[/shoplink]…maybe next year? ;)

Rayqual announced new Micro Four Thirds adapters with built-in tripod mount! The adapters are made for Nikon F, M42, Leica R, Olympus OM, Canon FD and Pentax K mount. Rayqual is a Japanese company and the only place where I found their adapters is on [shoplink 25387 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. What you see on eBay are their “normal” adapters. I don’t know yet when those adapters will be on sale on eBay, but the Japanese website Rayqual.com says the lens will cost around 200 Euro /Dollars (converted from yen).

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47 (Dcresource).

Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 3.8 now supports the E-P3, G3 and GF3 (Download ad Apple).

Are smartphones killing compact cameras? (Amateur Photographer).

E-PM1 instruction manual is available in French, English and Spanish via OpenPn.

Olympus E-P3 review at zonetenphotography (part one, part two and part three).

P.S.: Panasonic powerzoom lenses are available for preorder at:
Black 14-42mm X lens is available for preorder at Amazon (Click here) and Amazon Germany (Click here).
Silver 14-42mm X lens is available for preorder at Amazon (Click here) and Amazon Germany (Click here).
Black 45-175mm X lens is available for preorder at Amazon (Click here) and Amazon Germany (Click here).
Silver 45-175mm X lens is available for preorder at Amazon (Click here).
Black GF3 with 14-42mm X lens at Amazon (Click here).
Red GF3 with 14-42mm X lens at Amazon (Click here).
White GF3 with 14-42mm X lens at Amazon (Click here).

Olympus Japan (Click here) reports that under certain circumstances the [shoplink 25333 ebay]Olympus FL-300R flash[/shoplink] can have overheating issues on one of the corners of the flash. Olympus said to NOT use that flash anymore and to send it in to the nearest Olympus service center to get it repaired!

A reader sent me the image comparison on top to “prove” that the 12-35mm X lens could have a constant f/2.0 aperture. The theory says that if the [shoplink 25320 ebay]Olympus Zuiko 14-35[/shoplink] with f/2.0 aperture has the same size of the [shoplink 25321 ebay]Zuiko 7-14mm[/shoplink] with f/4.0 aperture, than the Lumix 12-35mm could have the same f/2.0 aperture as it has the same size of the [shoplink 14822]7-14mm m43[/shoplink] lens. Easy or not? :)

Meanwhile Trustedreviews (Click here) spotted the two lens prototypes of the 12-35mm and 35-100mm pictures: “The lenses were still very much in prototype phase, with no word on aperture ranges, no lever for the powered zoom and even the focal ranges were stickers, but it was strongly suggested these would be the basic designs for future lenses in the range. The prototypes also didn’t appear to fold flat as on the 14-42mm X lens.”

Black 14-42mm X lens is available for preorder at Amazon (Click here) and Amazon Germany (Click here).
Silver 14-42mm X lens is available for preorder at Amazon (Click here) and Amazon Germany (Click here).
Black 45-175mm X lens is available for preorder at Amazon (Click here) and Amazon Germany (Click here).
Silver 45-175mm X lens is available for preorder at Amazon (Click here).
Black GF3 with 14-42mm X lens at Amazon (Click here).
Red GF3 with 14-42mm X lens at Amazon (Click here).
White GF3 with 14-42mm X lens at Amazon (Click here).