a bit of everything…

Fredrik (video above):I have made an animated GIF (and video) which illustrates how the OM-D sensor moves around when you hand hold the camera: m43photo.blogspot.com/2015/09/olympus-e-m5-mark-ii-sensor-shift-demo.html. This is fascinating in itself, and it also gives you impressively stable video recordings.

Panasonic 30mm f/2.8 Macro Lens Video Review (ePhotozine).
An affortable zoom lens for m43: Panasonic Lumix G X VARIO 45-175mm (eyesuncloudedphoto).
7-14mm review with side-by-side comparison shots with the older Zuiko 7-14mm/F4 (Pixelmania).

Johannes:This time the topic is not as hot as some of my last posts. but I did want to give it to a wider audience. m43 suffers a bit from affordable high performance lenses. Like the Nifty Fifty in the Canon world…I had some discussions in the mu43 forum – and gave the Sigma f2.8 30mm a try – and I am impressed… It is a good lens for a really fair price…This should be more public – especially for the people starting photography….delightphoto.zenfolio.com

New Metabones firmware release adds phase-detect autofocus (PDAF) support for the Olympus OM-D E-M1!

MetabonesMFT

Good news for E-M1 owners! You can finally use the full phase-detect autofocus on EF-mount Speed Boosters and Smart Adapters from Metabones!

PRESS TEXT:

Vancouver, Canada, September 18, 2015: Metabones® adds phase-detect autofocus (PDAF) support for Olympus OM-D E-M1 and Sony Alpha 7R2 to its EF-mount Speed Boosters and Smart Adapters through firmware update version 1.8, available from Metabones’ web site for download.

Free of any potential misalignment issues, on-sensor phase-detect autofocus is capable of attaining excellent accuracy. Overall, phase-detect autofocus offers a significant performance improvement over contrast-detect autofocus, and for shorter focal length lenses the autofocus speed approaches that found in digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras. Performance, features and limitations of our solution are comparable to other on-sensor PDAF systems involving adapted DSLR lenses on mirrorless cameras, such as A-mount lenses on Sony Alpha 7R2 with LA-EA3 adapter, Four Thirds System DSLR lens on Olympus OM-D E-M1 with MMF-3 adapter or Canon SLR lens on EOS M3 with Mount Adapter EF-EOS M.

Limitations include:

  1. During video recording there is no AF (Olympus) or only slow contrast-detect AF (Sony).
  2. Continuous AF may have unsatisfactory performance (phase-detect AF) or not supported (contrast-detect AF).

Also added to Metabones firmware update version 1.8 is fast contrast detect AF for other Olympus cameras including E-M5II, E-M5, E-M10 and E-P5. Contrast-detect AF accuracy on Olympus is lens-dependent with most Canon-brand lenses introduced over the last 10 years working satisfactorily. However, some older Canon lenses and some third party EF-mount lenses may not be able to achieve pinpoint-accurate focus on Olympus cameras with contrast-detect AF. These lenses should be used on OM-D E-M1 instead.

In addition, AF support for JVC GY-LS300 is added to this new firmware version. Existing Panasonic contrast-detect AF support is enhanced with 24p added as a supported frame rate for single-autofocus (AFS) during video recording.

By simply downloading and running Metabones App Version 1.8, new autofocus support is added to the following Metabones products:

  • EF-E Smart Adapter Mark IV (model number MB_EF-E-BM4)
  • EF-E Speed Booster ULTRA (model number MB MB_SPEF-E-BM2)
  • EF-E T Smart Adapter Mark IV (model number MB_EF-E-BT4)
  • EF-E T Speed Booster ULTRA (model number MB_SPEF-E-BT2)
  • EF-Micro Four Thirds Smart Adapter (model number MB_EF-M43-BM1)
  • EF-Micro Four Thirds Speed Booster (model number MB_SPEF-M43-BM1)
  • EF-Micro Four Thirds Speed Booster S (model number MB_SPEF-M43-BM2)
  • EF-Micro Four Thirds T Smart Adapter (model number MB_EF-M43-BT2)
  • EF-Micro Four Thirds T Speed Booster ULTRA 0.71x (model number MB_SPEF-M43-BT4)
  • EF-Micro Four Thirds T Speed Booster XL 0.64x (model number MB_SPEF-M43-BT3)

The following discontinued products must be updated by factory service. Please contact Metabones customer service for details.

  • The original EF-E Smart Adapter
  • EF-E Smart Adapter Mark II
  • EF-E Smart Adapter Mark III
  • The original EF-E Speed Booster

via MirrorlessRumors.com

a bit of everything…


OM-D E-M10 Mark II Features Video (Thailand)

Using the Kipon EF to m4/3, smart adapter (Tyson Robichaud).
Olympus Air AO1 – Pros And Cons (Soundimagesplus).
Panasonic dvx 200 review part 5: resolution, rolling shutter, moire, and low light performance (Newsshooter).
Olympus 7-14mm PRO lens test at Capacamera.
Shootout: Voigtländer 10,5 f/0,95 gegen die Kristallkugel Zuiko 7-14 f/4 (PenAndTell).

Siim Jänesto‎:One very foggy morning. Shot with Panasonic GH4@Lumix 14-140.Downconverted from 4K to 1080p. http://vimeo.com/137999360

Panasonic releases firmware 2.4 for the GH4 to stop the “V-LOG leak”.


Panasonic LUMIX GH4 VLog L & Firmware 2.4 Update Process

Lumixlounge got an official Panasonic press info with information about the new firmware 2.4 for the GH4 which fixes the V-LOG leak.

Here is the Press Text:

ACTIVATION ISSUES – LUMIX GH4 V-LOG L WITH FIRMWARE V2.3

Many thanks to those who have recently purchased the LUMIX GH4 V-Log L upgrade. We are aware of an oversight in our Panasonic Image App which allows enabling of V-Log L as a “custom” setting without purchase. This was not our intent, and our apologies for the oversight.

We appreciate the many messages of support for the continuing development of innovative new products and features, and Panasonic intends to stand behind your investment in V-Log L and the LUMIX GH4. Therefore, it’s important to know that future LUMIX GH4 firmware upgrades, including mobile app upgrade pushes, will disable unlicensed activations of V-Log L. In addition, it’s Panasonic’s service policy to upgrade firmware during warranty claims, thereby eliminating unlicensed features. Thank you again for your continued support of Panasonic and the LUMIX G camera system and innovations yet to come.

NOTE
A new firmware V2.4 will be available starting Sept 17th. Use of the V-Log L workaround associated with firmware Version 2.3 runs the risk of the Zebra Function not working and the Histogram reading improperly.

Bildschirmfoto 2015-09-16 um 15.25.01

Yesterday Panasonic made a huge mistake and with a simple workaround it was possible for anyone to download the V-LOG update for free. But according to Nick Driftwood that version has incorrectly working Zebras & highlights.

Panasonic V-Log L Function Activation Code for Lumix DMC-GH4 at BHphoto, Panasonic Store.

a bit of everything…

JR (video above):Here is part 1 of a 3-part scifi/horror mini series shot on the GH4 with the SLR Magic Anamorphot 1.33x on a Sigma 18-35. The Anamorphot covers the entirety of the Sigma’s rage and remains tack sharp all the way open at f1.8. It worked so well that we ended up shooting 99% of the film with the Sigma/Anamorphot combo. https://youtu.be/5cOycfQFZPM
Parts 2 and 3 will be released on September 17th and 24th, respectively.

Five Handy Portrait Lighting Accessories that Make a Big Difference (WexUK).
OMD E-M10II – kann Sie Stacken….bzw. Focus-BKT (Pen And Tell).
Tough Cameras on Vacation: Olympus, Ricoh, Fujifilm—and Me (Explora).
Proper Photographic Technique (Explora).

Craig:Had some fun with the LX-100 for a few hours. Impressed with the 4k capabilities! https://vimeo.com/137069370