Panasonic UK just had the smart idea to launch the new ‘Try Before You Buy” servie! Basically you can get the new Panasonic GH3 and 12-35mm lens for 48 hours (excluding delivery and collection time). You will have to request he camera form one of the stores listed here below. I think that’s a great thing for all those of us that want to try a camera before to actually buy it. Barney Sykes, Lumix G Camera Product & Marketing Manager says “The GH3 is by far the most advanced system camera we have ever launched and we recognise customers may want to road test this product before committing to such as high value purchase, therefore we are  delighted to be able to offer this scheme to our key retail partners to help increase their sales opportunities”

I wish this service to be extended worldwide! :)

Retailers include:

·        Annings, Ilkley, Yorkshire
·        Bradford CE
·        Cambrian
·        Camerabox Kettering
·        Cameraland / Stanbrook Cardiff
·        Camera Solutions
·        Carmarthen Camera Centre, Camarthan
·        Castle Cameras Bournemouth
·        Chas Eagles
·        Chas Norman Cameras Sevenoaks
·        Chris Goodhead
·        Clifton Cameras Dursley
·        Comleys
·        Frank Wilkinsons
·        Harrison Cameras
·        Mathers
·        Mifsuds Brixham
·        Park Cameras
·        Peter Rogers
·        Photo Express
·        Photosound Vantage, Bishops Stortford
·        Richards (Bass & Bligh)
·        S R S Microsystems Ltd Watford
·        T4 Cameras Swindon
·        Williams
·        York Camera Mart
·        Conns Camera, Ireland
·        Bermingham Camera, Ireland

found via Whatdigitalcamera.

In response to yesterdays article from Sponichi Annex (translation here) today Olympus officially denied that they are going to reduce their DSLR (aka Four Thirds) business (Source: DC.watch). And they underlined that their DSLR plans will remain “unchanged”. And regarding the compact camera business they said that they are now “focusing management resources on higher-priced models”.

Editor’s note: With no new Four Thirds lens released in three years and just one Four Thirds camera (the E-5) there is no need to read a press release to see that their DSLR investments and product strategy has been “reduced”. No matter what Olympus says. Of course, Olympus may could restart to push the Olympus FT system. But I don’t think this is ever going to happen (just my personal opinion).

In summary what to expect in 2013: Rumors are unreliable and unproven stories but they tell us that there will be a new PEN in June, new OMD in September, new MFT zooms and indeed a high end premium compact camera with fixed lens. It is also rumored that there will be a camera with a 100% lens support for Four Thirds lenses. But whether this will be a high OMD with phase detection AF pixels or an E-7 has yet to be seen.

Last week Panasonic announced a new sensor tech that basically signs their first step out form the classic Bayer sensor paradigm. Now you can read a more detailed report about the new Colour Splutter sensor tech at readcube (Click here). Panasonic writes:

Sigma was the first company getting rid of the color filters. And now it’s Panasonic turn. And plenty of patents from Fuji, Canon and Sony shows that they are also working into the same direction. Exciting time ahead on the sensor front!

Found via Image Sensor World.

The Japanese news site Sponichi Annex (translation here) just published story about Olympus:

They report that Olympus will soon announce a new strategy for the digital camera business. And in short they will heavily reduce their investments in DSLR and compact camera development and focus their efforts on Mirrorless products. The exact word used by the Japanese news site is “reduce” investments. How far Olympus will “reduce” the DSLR business has yet to be seen. Olympus also had to lower the earnings forecast. The overall camera sales were down 28% in one year.

It’s really nothing earthshaking. The DSLR lineup have not see a new Four Thirds lens for years now. The only new camera we had in two years was the E-5. And the compact camera market is something shrinking for all camera makers. It will be interesting to see the Olympus report in Spring where they will disclose their general strategy and we may will learn more about the Olympus-Sony development.

via Digicaminfo.

Image courtesy: DSLRmagazine

Last week Panasonic Mangers Michiharu Uematsu and Yoshiyuki Inoue have been interviewed by the DPreview team and they admitted that they are rethinking the whole G product strategy. Today DSLRmagazine (translation here) also posted an interview with Mr. Uematsu and another part with Mr. Terada from Olympus. Here are the key info:

Panasonic:
– When asked if the new Kodak-JK Imaging MFT camera couldn’t bee lower the image of the Micro Four Thirds system (because of the Chinese manufacturer) the answer was “no”. Kodak has a big name.
– The GH3 is a clearly positioned product while the rest of the G MFT series isn’t. There is a huge competition and there is no clear target about what kind of features and specs the future G cameras should have.
– Different countries also like different cameras. So it’s hard to develop and make a universal G camera.
– Uematsu believes that there will be a considerable group of DSLR owners that will switch on High End Mirrorless cameras. 43rumros note: It clearly sounds once again that Panasonic wants to play a role in the (semi-)pro digital camera world.
– The good news is that Panasonic lens sales are good and particularly the two constant zooms are welling well.
Olympus:
– A Tilt Shift lens has very low priority for Olympus.
– It is highly Unlikelye that a Optical Viewfinder with a Digital Trans Panel like the one used by the Fuji X20 is going to be used by Olympus.

One more thing: Terada also explained that the ideal time for product launch is Spring and Autumn. That’s why there were no new MFT camera announced for the CP+ show. So let’s wait for spring and the new PEN with built-in EVF :)
And…what are your thoughts on those news coming from Panasonic and Olympus?

That you don’t have to own the latest and most expensive stuff to create an exceptional work should now be obvious for everyone. I use my Olympus E-P1 on daily basis and plenty of filmmakers still do some amazing shots on the now very cheap Panasonic GH2. Nofilmschool (Click here) spotted a couple of new movies entirely shot on the GH2. The one I embedded here on top of this post is the trailer of “Upstream Color” that has been shown at the Sundance film festival.

Great work! And do you still want the GH3? :)

GH2 vs GH3 price comparison:
GH2 at [shopcountry 16254] GH3 at [shopcountry 33624]P

Olympus OMD5 and FL-50 electronic flash

60mm lens test by Lepidi (translation here).
GH3 test bei DerSpiegel (in German).
A Shift Adapter from Kenko at DC.watch.
75mm lens review by MicroFourThirdsinfo.

Hajdu Tamás: “Hi, I’m an old reader of your blog. I was thinking that maybe you are interested in a photo taken with an Olympus OMD and Panasonic 14mm f2.5 goal, that has become a finalist in the Sony World Photography Awards in the category Travel http://worldphoto.org/images/image/457624/?FromImageGalleryID=16047”

Michael: “I see you’re posting more reviews of the much-maligned Olympus 17mm F1.8 as they trickle in. I’ve had this lens for a week and I find it is plenty sharp for my needs, which are mostly video-related. It’s early days, but I believe the question of sharpness will be an non-issue for video shooters.
You can see my first video test with it here: https://vimeo.com/58682286”

Rachid: “Just to share with you a work entirely done on a Panasonic GH2 camera. It’s a trailer for a movie-play (movie sequences – memories of the main character – are projected during a play) called Quai 33. I hope you’ll enjoy it.
https://vimeo.com/58508982”

Hehku: “It is up to you if you think this is worth posting but in Finland, you can get
E-PM1 + 14-42mm R II for 250 EUR
Olympus 12-50mm for 199 EUR
Olympus 75-300mm for 499 EUR
(and the Sigma 19/30mm for 109 EUR)
The store is at www.topshot.fi.”