Press text:

Lensbaby Velvet 28 is a 28mm, f/2.5 all-metal, hand-crafted art lens that captures tack-sharp detail beneath a layer of radiant glow. Velvet 28 also features exceptional 1:2 macro capabilities with a close focus distance of 2” from the front of the lens. Built with landscape, adventure, travel, and street photographers & videographers in mind, the Velvet 28 offers Lensbaby’s popular variable glow effects at a wide 28mm focal length. Lensbaby’s Velvet effect lenses add an ethereal mood to scenes. This unique, in-camera creative effect elevates imagery with depth, dimension and soulful expression. The Velvet 28’s close-focus capabilities, combined with effects varying from impressionistic at bright apertures to just a touch of velvety smoothness at darker apertures, provides a set of visual tools that will help creative shooters expand their vision of the world. One of Velvet 28’s key features is its 1:2 macro capability. It is an ideal in-camera effects lens for photographers & videographers who like to shoot wide, while also offering the versatility to capture closer details. The lens allows image makers to move seamlessly from shooting street scenes or capturing landscape, adventure & travel images to capturing details such as a subject’s clothing or wildflower blooms and butterflies in an alpine meadow.

Features

• 28mm Focal Length
• 1:2 Macro Magnification Ratio
• Aperture Range: f/25 – f/22
• 67mm Filter Threads
• Manual Focus

Olympus Tethered Shooting – Olympus Capture

How To Freeze Motion When Photographing Moving Subjects (Explora).
We Hope Sigma Is Making More F1.8 Zooms for APS-C and M4/3 (ThePhoBlographer).
Lume Cube 2.0 review at Dpreview.
How to Survive the Coronavirus as a Photographer/Videographer! (TheSLantedLens).

Plenty of news on the facebook OMD group, Panasonic FF and the GH5 group.

It’s now two years that Panasonic expanded their camera business by joining the L-mount alliance. Many questioned if this would be the end of their MFT commitment, or if their L-mount adventure would fail.

And for the first time we got a real answer about the L-mount alliance is working out. The french magazine Phototrend interviewed Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki and he said:

In terms of market share, Sigma is not satisfied by the L-Mount Alliance. But according to Kazuto Yamaki it is still too early to draw conclusions. There needs to be 3 to 4 years after the launch to assess the results L-rumors

I hope he whole L-mount alliance will make some more progress the coming years. If their project fails I am sure this would have severe consequences on Panasonic MFT commitment too.

Best M43 Ultra Wide Manual Lens? Laowa 7.5mm f2 & 9mm f2.8 – RED35 Review

Shooting RC jets with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III (Dpreview).
Breaking in the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III (Rob Trek).
How to Choose a Lens for Landscape Photography (Explora).

Matt:

Just thought I would point out a video that I made in Costa Rica, which shows the use of Flash in Wildlife photography. I’m a user of the OM-D system from Olympus, so it seems to be quite relevant for your readers. If that doesn’t suit, then I have a video on packing for a photo safari in Africa, again – using Micro Four Thirds equipment.
Costa Rica – Flash for Wildlife Photography https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP_kTNPA_W4
Packing for Africa Photo Safari http://youtube.com/watch?v=qB7d9XijBuI

Plenty of news on the facebook OMD group, Panasonic FF and the GH5 group.

On March 3 the French magazine Photorend interviewed Masanori Sako from Olympus. Here are the highlights:

2020 goal:
Our objective in 2020 is to stabilize and strengthen our position on the market. To achieve this objective, we are actively carrying out marketing activities and have also set up a roadmap of interesting products. We will continue to develop future technologies for photographers and videographers, such as new cameras and new lenses in 2020.

E-M1X sales:
E-M1X, but it is selling pretty well. The addition of the Starry Sky AF function on the OM-D E-M1X is under consideration.

Full Frame:
Full format is interesting in many cases, but many customers are looking for a more compact and lighter interchangeable lens system and we are almost the only ones able to offer this kind of product on the market. In fact, we are not afraid to be “alone” and we are proud to have the Micro 4/3 and to offer unique features for photographers.

Camera business shutdown rumors:
Some people thought that Olympus was planning to reduce or even close its imaging business, but that is not the case. Imagery continues to play an important role in the business, by being at the forefront of technologies or innovations. We will therefore certainly maintain the imaging activity as an important part of Olympus society. The rapid pace of technological development could help accelerate certain developments in medical devices or life sciences. The photo division is also our public face, and contributes to the fact that many people know about Olympus, which should promote the presence of the brand.

Coronavirus effect on Olympus camera business:
Olympus has been affected to some extent. We don’t see any significant impact at the moment, but we will see. Our factories are now in Vietnam, although some parts are purchased from Chinese companies, so there could be some impact.

New higher resolution MFT sensors:
We are also studying how to use higher resolution sensors in the future. There is no limit, but our priority is to obtain a final image of quality and usable.

Does GEAR MATTER In Photography – Yes or No?

Solutions for Photographing in Cold Weather (Explora).
Video tripods and fluid heads vs photo tripods (DpreviewTV).
Tito Ferradans tested the Vazen 40mm t/2 Anamorphic lens on Panasonic GH5

Reg:: “The video is about adapting old EF autofocus lenses (I called them autofocus vintage lenses) on a Panasonic Lumix G7 and seeing if it performs well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IP-SX5q_PJs”

Plenty of news on the facebook E-M1II group, Panasonic FF and the GH5 group.

STC announced the new grip for the Olympus E-M5III:

Press text:

STC Announce new Folding Grip [Fogrip] for Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Innovative imaging designer and manufacturer, STC, has announced a new folding grip solution for the Olympus Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III camera, providing greater stability and critical benefit with weight distribution.

STC continues to deliver cutting-edge innovations for photographers and videographers the world over and their latest product announcement has been designed specifically for photographers and filmmakers using Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III cameras. The new grip follows quickly from the recent announcement of the STC Fogrip for Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III and Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II cameras.