Our friend Sam B. sent us following mail:
“Best Buy, the largest electronics chain store in the United States is now carrying the E-PL1 in its brick and mortar stores. This is a very significant development since it is essentially the “starting gun shot” for the race for MFT in the US. Previously you could only buy MFT cameras online or through specialist camera stores, giving them zero visibility with the market segment Olympus and Panasonic are targeting – P&S upgraders looking for a higher quality camera without the dSLR size.”

Here the link to the shop: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Olympus+-+12.3-Megapixel+Digital+SLR+Camera+-+Black/9769158.p?id=1218170032854&skuId=9769158

It will be interesting to see if that will really increase the MicroFourThirds sales. In the meanwhile Samsung is pretty confident to “Samsung Electronics, which will absorb Samsung DigitaI Imaging Co. as of Thursday, plans to grab a 20 per cent share of the world’s digital camera market in two years, up from 11.7 per cent last year, the company said in a release.”. Source: tradingmarkets

I know who will dominate the market in 2012! Just give me some time to find my cristal ball on my basement…

Dear readers,

Yesterday I asked you to give your opinion on the need to cover the rumors from more brands with mirrorless camera systems.

As you understood from my comments it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me to “expand” 43rumors coverage on other brands. I started 43rumors I wanted to have a place for FourThirds-MicroFourThirds only.

But I have been surprised to see how many people need a place for general mirrorless rumors and news. So my idea is to create a new mirrorlessrumors.com website and comunity! The website should not only contain the unique rumors from our sources but also become a dynamic network with people sharing reviews, comparisons and tests.

What do you think?

The japanese company “Yuenu” created a new close up lens for the Olympus 17mm pancake lens. Once attached you can shoot as close as 4cm!

Weight: 14g
Open price (estimated actual sales price 2,980 yen / $32 / 24 Euro)

BCNranking just published the lens sales ranking for January-Febraury 2010.

The following lens list contains the 10 most sold FourThirds and MicroFourThirds mount lenses (including third-party producer like Sigma). Click on the lens name to see the product page on amazon.

1	Panasonic	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH./MEGA OIS
2	Panasonic	LUMIX G VARIO 45-200mm/F4.0-5.6/MEGA OIS
3	Panasonic	LUMIX G 20mm/F1.7 ASPH
4	Panasonic	LUMIX G VARIO 7-14mm/F4.0 ASPH
5	Panasonic	LEICA DG MACRO-ELMARIT 45mm/F2.8 ASPH./MEGA OIS
6	Olympus	ZUIKO DIGITAL 25mm F2.8
7	Olympus	ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 70-300mm F4.0-5.6
8	Panasonic	LUMIX G VARIO HD 14-140mm/F4.0-F5.8 ASPH./MEGA OIS
9	Olympus	M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm F3.5-5.6
10	Olympus	ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 50mm F2.0 Macro

Finally new FourThirds lenses have been announced at the International Lodz Film Video Photography 2010.
Following three lenses have been released:

• Samyang 14mm f/2.8 ED IF Aspherical MC
• Samyang 85mm f/1.4 IF MC
• Samyang 8 mm f/3.5 Aspherical IF MC Fish-eye

source: optyczne.pl

We will let you know when the lens will be available on Amazon or other online-shops.

Few weeks ago I wrote a list of very fast 50mm lenses. But if you are looking for fast lenses you should also take a look on the very good Konica Hexanon 57 f/1.2 lens!

If you want to see some image samples click here:

dpreview forum (on the GH1)
e-p1.net (on the E-P2)
flickr.com (on the GF1)

UPDATE: Lumix L1 + Konica samples http://iztokx.blogspot.com/

The lens itself sells for $550 on Ebay (used). And you need an Adapter!

If you have some image samples send me your links at 43rumors@gmail.com
And also send me your test with other fast lenses!
Thanks

As you know Panasonic owns Sanyo since 2009. So it is a little bit strange that Sanyo unveiled their latest GH2 full-HD cam. Why has Sanyo/Panasonic choosen that name? Does it mean that the next Panasonic GH1 successor will have a different name?
There must be some reason behind that choice…