New Olympus patent discloses phase detection and optical viewfinder adapter for MicroFourThirds

Olympus SLR Adapter

The japanese website Egami found a new Olympus patent (Google translation doesn’t work very well). I tried to make a small summary:

* Patent publication number 2010-152140 published on 2010/07/08  and filled 2008/12/25

The following patent discloses an adapter (in blue) that adds phase detection and optical viewfinder to current MicroFourThirds cameras. This is not a new concept, we already saw that with the Leica Visoflex (click here to see the Visoflex on eBay).

Such an adapter makes sense because phase detection autofocus is still much faster than the current contrast autofocus system of MicroFourThirds cameras. And not few of us will like the idea to have an optical viewfinder instead of the sometimes noisy and not good enough electronic viewfinder.

That could be also the final solution to merge FourThirds and MicroFourThirds (but that’s just speculation for now!).

UPDATE: Olybold has taken a nice picture of the Leica Visoflex on the Panasonic G1 (Many Thanks!!!)

Livedoor GF2, GH2, LX5, FZ100 renderings (Fake!)…and some speculations.

Livedoor is very well known for their very cool renderings of future camera. Those are NOT the real cameras but I like their designs!
See more of those pictures on: http://blog.livedoor.jp/e_p1/archives/51464445.html

They also say that the LX5 and the FZ100 will be released on July 29th. Other two cameras will be announced on July 25th.
But one of our sources already told us that they are not correct. The cameras will be annoucned a little bit earlier…

P.S.: If the guys from Livedoor are reading me…one suggestion: Remove the “HD” mark form the GH2 and the FZ100 and add “FullHD” ;)

New version of the Panasonic GH1 hack (+ europe price drops)


A newer firmware patch for the Panasonic GH1Panasonic GH1Panasonic GH1Panasonic GH1Panasonic GH1Panasonic GH1Panasonic GH1Panasonic GH1Panasonic GH1Panasonic GH1Panasonic GH1Panasonic GH1Panasonic GH1 has been released: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=206788&page=225

Version 3.40d adds following new features:
Interface redesign, now each patch have proper place.
Settings storage (up to 10) and sharing.
More tight integration with forum.
Many hints are rewritten to be more clear.
720 GOP settings ported to GF1.
MJPEG Compression Cut patches (for testers only).

In the meanwhile the GH1 price is dropping in Europe (above you see the GH1 price graph from idealo.de).
Check the current price in your country on: Amazon UKPixmania SpainPixmania ItaliaAmazon ÖsterreichAmazon DeutschlandPixmania BelgiumeBay AustraliaAmazon FrancePixmania HollandeBay CanadaAmazon JapanPanasonic GH1Amazon US. Very important for europeans: If you buy the GH1 Panasonic will give you 200Euro cashback (the action runs out on July 31)!

New close-up lens for the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 lens

The japanaese company UN-LTD will now offer a new close-up lens for the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 LensPanasonic 20mm f/1.7 LensPanasonic 20mm f/1.7 LensPanasonic 20mm f/1.7 LensPanasonic 20mm f/1.7 LensPanasonic 20mm f/1.7 LensPanasonic 20mm f/1.7 LensPanasonic 20mm f/1.7 LensPanasonic 20mm f/1.7 LensPanasonic 20mm f/1.7 LensPanasonic 20mm f/1.7 Lens.

Google translation:
“Simply attach the lens, you can enjoy close-up photography of about 5cm minimum.
Size: φ52mmx9.4mm (H)
Weight: 27.5g
Material: Aluminum
Country of Origin: China
UNX-7821: Open price (estimated actual sales price 3,480 yen)”

I believe you can order the lens on their website only: UN-LTD.com

P.S: Amazon US has the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 Lens for $345.69

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases