a little bit of everything…

Apefoscope Anamorphic Adapter Project from apefos on Vimeo. More info on Personal View.

For EU readers: a list of eight(!) refurbished E-M5 camera is available on [shoplink 22691 ebay]Olympusmarket (Click here)[/shoplink]. But please be ware that the lowest price for the new E-M5 is 879 Euro (Here on Slidoo eBay).

New reviews and news:
A Tale Of Three G5 Cameras at Brianbyrdsphotos.
The 28th of October E-Pl1 report on Greekdiaries.
Olympus XZ-2 Review at Photographyblog.
Olympus E-PL5 test at Photogenic Weekend.
Things move on – Olympus E10 (Soundimagesplus).
Tokina Reflex 300mm MF Macro Lens Review at ePhotozine.
Panasonic GX1 – why don’t I like using it? (Soundimagesplus).
Smart Lens cap for the LX7 at DC.watch.
60mm macro review by Smallcamerabigpicture.
Olympus body cap lens test by Fotosidan.
Panasonic 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye lens for Micro 4/3 review by Steve Huff.

Readers mail:
Markus:I am afraid I don’t have any rumors but if you need a link for your next “readers roundup” it would be an honour to be mentioned with my blog www.rkushanselmann.de I am especially interested in macros. After having used  an E-510 the ZD40-150mm and a Raynox (amazing what this combination is capable of doing!) for years I now use the E-M5 (most times with the adapted ZD50mm). Lately I have done some zoo test shooting with the E-M5 and the Panasonic 100-300mm (great combination as well).”
Tan:I’m an avid user of Olympus cameras and I love reading your rumours on the development of 4/3 and m4/3 systems. I’m afraid I do not have any rumours to share but I have a blog/gallery at http://worldwitholympus.designbykl.com/ shot with different models of Olympus camera to share. It consist of some oldies from C8080 and C7070 too.
Plochmann:I just finished a blog about using the GH2 for a videography camera.   I compare it to the FS100, its stiff competition, and I also mention things in light of the GH3s immediate release.  I haven’t read anything thorough on using the GH2 for event video work, so I thought it would be worth sharing.  http://www.production1studio.com/2012/09/29/880/
Twills:Here is a set of highlights from a local BMX competition that I filmed with my GH2 + 35-100mm F2.8 @ F2.8 and my new GoPro 3 Black mounted to the hot shoe. The clicking noise in some of the clips is the GH2 taking stills while the GoPro Recorded video. I know the editing is poor in this video. I shot WAY TOO MANY things this weekend and just didn’t have time to do the editing justice. Take it for what it is. Just a bunch of samples from both cameras. I tried editing the colors on the first few clips but after that I just didn’t have time. I shot in 720p  60 FPS and F2.8 for the GH2 shots(Can you tell which one those are?). And I shot at 720p @ 120 FPS Narrow angle non-Protune, 720p @ 120 FPS Wide angle Pro-tune, 1080p @ 60 FPS Medium Angle Pro-tune, and 2.7K @ 30 FPS Pro-tune for the Go-Pro 3. Can you tell which clips are what resolution and frame rates for the GoPro? Hint, several of the clips having very bad aliasing in the fence in the background. That is eliminated by using a narrower field of view. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNqNIOm3CY0“.
HoracioFellow photographer, If you are about to travel to Argentina, I’m willing to pay you for your used equipment -if it is in good condition- the same price you would paid back home for new gear.
I apologize if its not the place to say this.  horaciux.43@gmail.com

Dpreview mistake made you think Zeiss would do MFT lens :)

By mistake Dpreview today announced that Zeiss would release the Zeiss 135mm and in MFT mount. They confused the M42 screw mount with the MFT (Micro Four Thirds) mount. Dpreview quickly removed the post but some of our readers still think that this was a correct news. That’s why I am reporting this.

The only Zeiss lenses we can use on our MFT cameras are the superb [shoplink 24401 ebay]Zeiss ZM lenses (her eon eBay)[/shoplink]. You have to use a M to MFT mount adapter for them. My favorite ZM lens is the Zeiss Planar 50mm (here on Slidoo eBay). But of course you don’t have electronic communication between these kind of lenses and your MFT camera. I can live with that.

 

 

BH marks some E-P3 kits as “discontinued”

The well known US store BHphoto just marked most of the E-P3 kits as being “discontinued” (Click here to see the list). This doesn’t necessarily mean that the successor is coming but it matches the rumor we posted two weeks ago saying that new Olympus cameras are going to be announced within the next 2-3 months. Question is what’s coming?

Meantime, the E-PL5 is in Stock at Amazon and BHphoto. And so the E-Pm2 (Amazon and BHphoto). But the most sold camera at Amazon is the Panasonic GF3 (ranking here).

A new MFT lens is in Stock for the first time. The Mitakon 35mm f/0.95.

[shoplink 34694 ebay]

[/shoplink]

I don’t know if you knew it but there is a new Mitakon 35mm f/0.95 Micro Four Thirds lens that is now for sale for the very first time on [shoplink 34694 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. Actually this lens has been designed to cover even larger APS-C sensors and is available in X and E mount too (Full list of Mitakon lenses on Slidoo eBay).

The only image samples I found where made on the Sony NEX and posted at Xitek Forum (Translation here) and MFlenses. Let me know if you have some image samples ot share!

Panasonic announces the new AG-AF100A!

AV.Watch (translation here) reports that Panasonic will release the new AG-AF100A on November 15th. New features include 10-bit HD output via SDI port, 18Mps data rate, Full 1080/60p recording, new focus assist and 16bit LPCM audio. This sounds more like a nicely upgraded AG-AF100 rather than a complete new camera. Here is the press release:

—-

Panasonic Introduces The AG-AF100A Series Micro Four Thirds Camera Recorder Featuring Full HD Progressive Recording And 10 Bit 4:2:2 Camera Live Output Via SDI Terminal

Osaka, Japan (November 5th, 2012) — Panasonic Corporation will release the new AG-AF100A Series Memory Card Camera Recorder in November 2012.

The AG-AF100A Series is the professional HD camera recorder with a Micro Four Thirds mount. As with the conventional model AG-AF100 Series, AG-AF100A Series can use a wide range of lenses* including Micro Four Thirds compatible DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) lenses and Cinema lenses with a mount adapter. AG-AF100A Series also features two-channel XLR audio input terminals and more functions to meet the professional needs.

In addition to the professional high quality PH mode (average approx. 21Mbps, maximum 24Mbps), AG-AF100A Series complies with the AVCHD ver. 2.0 (AVCHD Progressive) standard in its new PS mode (average approx. 25Mbps, maximum 28Mbps) for recording, playing and outputting (via HDMI only) Full-HD progressive (1080/59.94p, 1080/50p) images. The PS/PH modes support uncompressed 16 bit LPCM 2-channel audio recording.

The AG-AF100A Series can newly output HD signals with 10 bit 4:2:2 quality via the camera’s live output function and record onto the external devices, such as P2 Recorder, compatible with 10 bit high quality recording through SDI. P2 Recorder also syncs Rec Start/Stop with the AG-AF100A series trigger.

The AG-AF100A Series is newly equipped with the expand focus assist function, which enlarges the center of the displayed image, and 2.39:1 (cinema scope size) safety zone marker.

The AG-AF100A Series will be available in November 2012 at an open price in Japan.

—-

Readers work roundup (alJazeera, hacked GH2, Pakistan…)

D600 vs OMD comparison at Soundimagesplus.
Four refurbished FT lenses at Oly market: [shoplink 34673 ebay]35-100mm[/shoplink], [shoplink 34674 ebay]50-200mm[/shoplink], [shoplink 34675 ebay]12-60mm[/shoplink], [shoplink 34676 ebay]150mm[/shoplink].

Elena (and her E-PL1) are telling us more about the Greek-Suisse scandal at Greekdiaries.

Gregory:I’m a regular follower of your blog, which I open each morning before drinking my coffee :), and I was wondering if you could mention mine, which presents my urban photography work in Istanbul – most exclusively taken with a GF1 or E-M5. www.semiocity.com

Sam:I just wanted to share some shots from an amazing website/blog I follow: http://www.alpineexposures.com/blogs/chamonix-conditions/6796926-charakusa-valley-pakistan On his last expedition to Pakistan, his 5D MkII died upon arrival. Luckily he brought an OM-D E-M5 as backup. He’s amazed by the quality. I’m into mountaineering myself, where everything has to be as lightweight and small as possible. My GF1 and pancake lenses have proven to be the perfect companion for this type of use.

Andrew:shot with a hacked GH2, intravenus apocalypse now patch, shot in 720/60p https://vimeo.com/52519478

Plochmann:No rumor, sorry.  I just finished a blog about using the GH2 for a videography camera.   I compare it to the FS100, its stiff competition, and I also mention things in light of the GH3s immediate release.  I haven’t read anything thorough on using the GH2 for event video work, so I thought it would be worth sharing.  http://www.production1studio.com/2012/09/29/880/

Lazar:noticed that you sometimes show published work taken with Oly cameras. I’m a freelance photojournalist and one of my first stories shot with the OM-D E-M5 (except for the second photo that was taken with a Pentax K-5) is now on Al Jazeera: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2012/10/20121031112633999227.html

Atom:Not a rumour, but good news for the often neglected Australian and Kiwi consumers.  Olympus Australia has just announced three promotions for AU and NZ, running from 1 November until end of January.
– 20% rebate of RRP on some of the lenses (I’ll be getting a rebate on the 60mm macro I bought on Thursday)
– bonus 15mm lens cap and leather strap with E-M5 (body or kit)
– bonus 8Gb FlasAIR card with E-PL5 or E-PM2 (tempted to get the E-PL5 as a back-up body now)
Details are at http://www.olympus.com.au/Learn—Explore/Current-Promotions.aspx

a little bit of everything…

Paris / Nuit Blanche 2012 from Fabrys on Vimeo.

News and reviews:
G5 test at Dtown and DCview.
X-cap on the E_M5 on google+.
A 43rumors reader made this: MEMOVY photo app on iTunes (Click here).
Panasonic GF5 review at Imaging Resource.
Olympus XZ-2 preview at ThePhoBlographer.
60mm macor lens test at Fengniao.
Panasonic GX1 review at Photographylife.
Lensbaby Composer Pro for MFT with Sweet 35 Optic (ThePhoBlographer).
Adobe RAW now supports:

  • Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ200
  • Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G5
  • Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX7

Readers mail:
John:I recently found a way to make the iDC System ZERO friction follow focus work with the GH2 and small prime lenses that I think your audience might appreciate in one of your catch all posts: https://vimeo.com/51918199
Jam:Long time reader here! I made this video with my Panasonic GF2, which I consider highly underrated for it’s video abilty: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nD3rWjOCzI. I shot it using my GF2 and a canon FD 50mm f1.8 legacy lens. I would love if you could give this camera (and my video) some love on your site!
Twills:I entered a video contest for Misty Mountain Climbing. A link to the video I entered is below. If you want to help me out then please click on the picture at the link below and then “like” the picture on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=488161051214714. Here is the video that I entered: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otxKw48QyJw
Ben:Just finished up a video on the GH2 with the Voigtlander 25 0.95 and an old Canon FD 50mm  1.2. https://vimeo.com/51004409
Anonymous:This is not simply rumour but a very serious concern, in the EU it is illegal to price fix, i.e. to set a minimum price or to limit sales to certain region or to enter agreements formal or otherwise that would result in a region paying more for goods.  There appears to be at least some evidence the GH3 price is being made artificially high in the UK and that sales at the EU price are being prevented to UK citizens. I have detailed some findings here and will be making a formal complaint to the UK’s Office of Fair Trading on Monday 5th November if Panasonic has not replied.  Panasonic have been refusing to reply on questions about the UK’s GH3 price on their Twitter account and at least one large UK dealership has failed to honour its own claim of having an EU price match on the GH3. More details can be found here: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?295430-EU-retailer-leaned-on-by-Panasonic-to-prevent-affordable-UK-GH3-!

For EU readers. Refurbished deals Reminder:
[shoplink 34605 ebay]Black E-M5 with 12-50mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 34612 ebay]Black E-M5 with 12-50mm lens (auction two)[/shoplink] [shoplink 34619 ebay]Black E-M5 with 12-50mm lens (auction three)[/shoplink] [shoplink 34610 ebay]Silver E-PL3 with 14-42mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 34611 ebay]Black E-PL3 with 14-42mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 34615 ebay]Red E-PL3 with 14-42mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 34616 ebay]White E-PL3 with 14-42mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 34606 ebay]Brown E-PM1 with 14-42mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 34607 ebay]Violet E-PM1 with 14-42mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 34609 ebay]White E-PM1 with 14-42mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 34617 ebay]Silver 75mm f/1.8 lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 34618 ebay]Silver 12mm f/2.0 lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 34608 ebay]Black 12-50mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 34614 ebay]Silver 12-50mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 34613 ebay]9-18mm lens[/shoplink]

Full list of auctions is available at [shoplink 22691 ebay]Olympusmarket[/shoplink].