The video on top shows how the amazing [shoplink 15659 ebay]Voigtländer Nokton 25mm f/0.95[/shoplink] gets assembled in the Cosina factory from Nagano (starting from 2:15min). It shows how much handwork is necessary to make that unique lens. The video does also contain an interview with a Cosina engineer. It’s not casual that our readers voted it as lens of the year 2010 (Click here to see the 43rumors poll). Damn, that video makes me even more like my Nokton lens :)

P.S.: As I already told you two days ago it’s almost impossible to find that lens in Stock. BHphoto (Click here) sells it for $815 only but they don’t know when they will receive supply from Japan. On eBay prices are usually higher. The most decent offers do come from a german [shoplink 21676 ebay]eBay store (Click here)[/shoplink] and a [shoplink 21679 ebay]Thai eBay reseller (Click here)[/shoplink].

I just got an email from Wanderlust (the creators of the Pinwide cap for Micro Four Thirds):

Press release:

“Wanderlust Cameras is proud to announce the general availability of Pinwide, the world’s widest digital pinhole. Designed specifically for Micro Four Thirds cameras, the impressive 11mm focal length (22mm equivalent) finally brings real wide-angle pinhole photography into the digital era.
Wanderlust’s Pinwide is a true Kickstarter success story, with 100% of the US-based tooling and manufacturing costs funded by preorders from Kickstarter backers. After shipping over 600 preorders, Wanderlust Cameras is excited to invite everyone to join in the fun!

About Pinwide
Lens mount: Micro Four Thirds. With the exception of the Panasonic AF100, Pinwide
is compatible with all Micro Four Thirds cameras.
Aperture: ƒ/96 ~ ƒ/128
Field of view: ~ 80°
Focal length: 11mm (22mm equivalent)
Materials: Precision injection molded polycarbonate with a scientific-grade metal
aperture
Designed and manufactured in the United States
Software: Specialized Pinwide processing software arriving May 2011 allows fine-tuning
Price: $39.99, shipping today at http://wanderlustcameras.com”

There are more pinwide caps for sale on eBay (mostly made by asian companies):
– Skink Pinhole Pancake Pro Lens Kit for Olympus PEN on [shoplink 21696 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
– Pinhole Cap Lens for m43 on [shoplink 21697 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
– Skink Pinhole Pancake Creative Kit for Four Thirds on [shoplink 21698 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

Panasonic GH2 + C-mount Pentax 6mm 1:1.2 lens ([shoplink 21691 ebay]Click here to see that lens on eBay[/shoplink]).

Panasonic to shift more lithium battery (Reuters)
Mini E-PL2 review at Macworld.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 Review (Photographyblog).
Panasonic Lumix ZS10 review (DigitalcameraHQ).
Panasonic Lumix G 14mm f/2.5 and Pentax DA 21mm f/3.2 – An Informal Easter Shootout (Seriouscompact).
The Compact System Camera’s big moment in the US… (Dpreview forum).

I guess we are now seeing the first supply problems on Panasonic lens after the earthquake in March.

The very popular Panasonic 20mm lens in now out of Stock in every US online store I checked: Amazon, Adorama, B&H and J&R! Adorama says “We have no estimated time of arrival for this item“. Third party resellers on Amazon are selling the lens for $799.95 (Click here)! And the price of the lens also increased on new items on [shoplink 14796 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

The image on top shows the price increase of the lens in Germany. As you can easily see the price increased a few days after the earthquake. All European Amazon stores do also list the lens as back ordered. I guess this is the first sign that Panasonic can’t supply worldwide stores with new stock of 20mm lenses. It may not be casual that this lens is the first to be out of Stock. It’s probably the most popular and requested lens from Panasonic. I didn’t notice any supply problem on other lenses. Drop me a line if you notice supply issues on cameras and lenses. Thanks!

P.S.: Those are all the links to the 20mm lens ordered by country:

You might not be interested in getting those converters but it’s good to know that Olympus manged to solve all logistic problems due the recent Japan earthquake disaster. The new converters worldwide shipment was scheduled for March 18 but i had to be delayed. In a recent press release (Click here) Olympus announced that worldwide shipment will now start on April 28. Reminder, those converters can be used on the new 14-42mm II lens which is also the new kit lens of the [shoplink 18844]Olympus E-PL2[/shoplink].

You can already preorder the converters in many stores:
Olympus Fisheye Converter at [shopcountry 21289].
Olympus Wide Lens Converter at [shopcountry 21292].
Olympus Macro Converter at [shopcountry 21293].

View Larger Map

Tomorrow (on Saturday) for the very first time I will have the chance to see some of my readers….for real! Everybody can meet me between 13:30 and 16:00 at the “Bar 2” which is located in the center of the city (Vrijdagmarkt 19). How can you find me? Easy, I will have my white E-P1 with Nokton lens on the table.

The reason for the meeting is quite simple. I need to discuss about the further development of the website and you will might help me on that. And It’s by far more funny to talk about it on a table with a couple of beers!
UPDATE: I plan to make more minimeetings in Barcelona, Montpellier and NYC.

See you tomorrow!

P.S.: If you will arrive after the start of the meeting and for some reason we will not be there because we might moved to other place ask the barkeeper where “43rumors” has gone.

-> The full list of TIPA award winners can be seen here: http://www.tipa.com/english/XXI_tipa_awards_2011.php

What a surprise! The [shoplink 17163]Olympus E-5[/shoplink] has been voted as “Best expert DSLR camera” for the year 2010. It received the TIPA award for the following reason: “For a very reasonable price, the Olympus E-5 provides benefits that rival those found in some professional SLRs: complete weather-sealing, comprehensive functions, excellent responsiveness, 100% viewfinder, good noise control, dual CF/SD slots, built-in image stabilisation, all in a rugged magnesium-alloy body. Add to this Olympus’ Dust Reduction System, which has proven to be among the most effective solutions in the market. The 12.3 Megapixel Live MOS sensor, combined with the ‘TruePic V+’ image engine produces images that rival competitors with substantially higher pixel counts.”
To be onest we have to admit that the E-5 had almost no competition. The [shoplink 21101]Nikon 7000[/shoplink] the price in the category “Best D-SLR Advanced” and Canon didn’t announce any high-end DSLR cameras in 2010.
Check out price and availability of the E-5 at [shopcountry 17163].

And that is certainly NOT a surprise. The Panasonic GH2 won the price as “Best Compact System Camera Expert“: “The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 is a true ‘hybrid’ photo and video camera, where video is no longer just an additional function. The DMC-GH2 features full HD 1920×1080, 60i (NTSC) / 50i (PAL) smooth, high quality video recording with 60p (NTSC) / 50p (PAL) output in addition to the high quality photo, a world’s first for cameras in this category. The DMC-GH2 can be operated through an intuitive touch control screen. For example, just tapping a subject on the screen will make the camera focus with a speed that rivals the best DSLR’s on the market.”
Check out price and availability of the GH2 at [shopcountry 16254].

And the Olympus XZ-1 won the price as “Best Expert Compact Camera“: “The Olympus XZ-1 has one of the fastest zoom lenses in its class, the iZuiko f1.8-2.5 6.0-24mm (28-112mm equivalent angle of view in 35mm cameras.) Rather than succumb to the continuing Megapixel race, the light-reception area of each pixel of the 1/1.63-inch, 10 Megapixel CCD has been doubled. The XZ-1’s AF illuminator, Dual Image Stabilisation, Low-Light mode that automatically adjusts the ISO sensitivity up to ISO 3200 and the compact size all add up to an exciting “candid” camera that also offers advanced manual controls.”
Check out price and availability of the XZ-1 at [shopcountry 19904].

The full list of TIPA award winners can be seen here: http://www.tipa.com/english/XXI_tipa_awards_2011.php