Panasonic G3/GF3/XZ-1 news, reviews and in Stock status!

[shoplink 22077 ebay][/shoplink] I have to catch up with some news I didn’t post because of the recent Olympus rumor and news mill! Here is the news list:

1) Lori Grunin from Cnet US (Click here) tested the G3: “If you’re looking for a camera that’s not quite as big as a dSLR but doesn’t skimp on hardware controls or features like an articulated LCD, EVF and stereo full HD video, the G3 is one of my top options. But performance is hit-and-miss for shooting action, so you may end up having to go with something just a bit bigger, anyway.”

2) Hardwarezone (Click here) tested the G3 and GF3: “In the two days of manhandling the G3 and GF3 in Chiang Mai, both cameras performed up to speed with our expectations and were outstanding in their respective specialization…Of course, we have also littered our hands-on observations with little quirks that we didn’t quite like – say, G3’s rather disappointing battery life and the positioning of GF3’s video button, but these are naturally little quirks in an otherwise pleasant shooting experience with both Lumix G cameras. ”

3) Engadget (Click here) posted a GF3 hands-on: “Shooting 1080i video is as simple as hitting record, just to the right of the shutter button. Remembering not to accidentally cover the microphone, however, was more of a challenge. Internal mechanical noises dominated the first few minutes of our first video — our subject picked up volume significantly after we adjusted our grip, creating a free path to the mic. ”

4) There is a new [shoplink 19904]Olympus XZ-1[/shoplink] firmware you can download at Olympus (Click here). It has an improved algorithm for ESP spot metering. Get the camera at [shopcountry 19904].

And finally some in Stock status info about the very nice G3!
In Europe you can find it right now at Amazon.de (the brown model), Amazon.uk (they have all kits in Stock!) and [shoplink 22077 ebay]eBay[/shoplink].
In US at Amazon, B&H, and [shoplink 22077 ebay]eBay[/shoplink].

Continually updated: Olympus new PEN and lenses announced!


This post gets continually updated. Latest addition are on top of each categories. You can reload this page from time to time to see the updates. Thanks!
In Summary, Olympus announced three cameras (E-P3, E-PL3, E-PM1) two new lenses (12mm f/2.0 and 45mm f/1.8) and a new external flash. We are still missing the external viewfinder announcement.

Links to preorders

Olympus E-P3 preorders at Adorama (Click here). Price $899 with kit lens!
E-P3 presentation page on Amazon (Click here). No preorders yet.
Olympus 12mm f/2.0 lens preorder at Adorama (Click here). Price $799.
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 preorder at Adorama (Click here). Price $399.

Reviews, Previews and Hands-on

Doug Brown’s Luminous Landscape preview
E-P3 review by Robin Wong.
Hands.on at TvSmith
Sexy camera pictures and image samples at Clubsnap
Size comparison at ePhotozine.
E-PM1 hands-on at FourThirdsUser.
E-PL3 hands-on at FourThirdsUser.
E-P3 review at DCresource.
Short E-P3 review at PDN.
Full E-P3 review at Digitalcamerareview.
HOT! E-P3 versus G3 at Dpreview (Jpeg Studio comparison)
HOT! Full E-P3 review at ThePhoBlographer.
Olympus E-P3 field report at OutbackPhoto.
Olympus E-P3 preview at Dpreview.
Olympus E-PL3 and E-PM1 preview at Dpreview.
HOT! First complete E-P3 review at Digitalcamerainfo!
E-P3 hands-on at Quesbesde.

Image and video samples (+ video reviews)

12mm hands-on on youtube.
An image of a personalized E-P3 grip at HastaLosMegapixeles.
E-P3 spanish presentation at Quesabesde.
E-P3 video hands-on on youtube (Photographyreview).
First video quality test at youtube (ThePhoBlographer).
12mm image samples on Quesabesde.
First hands-on video on youtube (ThePhoBlographer).
HOT! First RAW pictures at Quesabesde (once clicked scroll down to download them).
12mm image sample gallery at Dpreview.
E-P3 image samples at Dpreview.
E-P3 field test gallery by OutbackPhoto.
Image samples at ThePhoBlographer.
HOT! Autofocus speed test on youtube (ThePhoBlographer)

Official press release

Grip option list at Olympus Japan.
Openpn (french)
Engadget
The new reworked kit lenses at DC.watch.
Focus Numerique (french).
Photoradar.
Amateur Photographer PEN presentation on youtube.
SystemKameraForum (german)
Cnet US
Photoscala.de (german)
E-P3 at Olympus official website.
Photographyblog
Imaging Resource
Launch event pictures in Malaysia (Twitter)

Hot news

Olympus E-P3 price: $899 in US and 849 Euro in Europe (with kit lens).
Olympus doesn’t explain what’s new with the new sensor. After first tests we can see the new PEN cameras do have an excellent color accuracy and superb AF speed.
M. Zuiko Digital ED 12mm f2.0 lens: Available Now Estimated Street Price: $799.99
MCG-2 Exchangeable Camera Grip: Available Now Estimated Street Price: $19.99
FL-300R Compact Flash: Available Now Estimated Street Price: $169.99
M. Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f1.8 lens: Available in September 2011 Estimated Street Price: $399.99

User reactions

Olympus E-P3 tweets.
Olympus E-PM1 tweets.
Olympus E-PL3 tweets.

Poll

Now that you have seen all new product images and specs. What will you REALLY buy? (You can choose multiple products!)

View Results

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The full Olympus presentation (It’s a new Panasonic fabricated and Olympus designed sensor!)


The big question of the day is, “Is Olympus using an own designed sensor?”. The official pree release didn’t mention anything about that but we know got a confirmation from Asian websites.
TvSmith interviewed “Mr Yasuo Asakura, the General Manager of SLR R & D, (he said) the E-P3 features a new Panasonic MOS sensor fabricated exclusively for Olympus”

And Clubsnap posted the full Olympus press release power point presentation. It contains the info about the new sensor, new shutter and a lot more interesting news!

UPDATE: Clubsnap now removed the presentation!

Links to preorders

Olympus E-P3 preorders at Adorama (Click here). Price $899 with kit lens!
E-P3 presentation page on Amazon (Click here). No preorders yet.
Olympus 12mm f/2.0 lens preorder at Adorama (Click here). Price $799.
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 preorder at Adorama (Click here). Price $399.

a little bit of everything…


SLR Magic x [shoplink 209191 ebay]Toy Lens 26mm f/1.4[/shoplink] Olympus PEN E-PL2. Get the lens on [shoplink 209191 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

There is a Panasonic G3 review at CNET (Click here): “If you’re looking for a camera that’s not quite as big as a dSLR but doesn’t skimp on hardware controls or features like an articulated LCD, EVF and stereo full HD video, the G3 is one of my favorite options. But performance is hit-and-miss for shooting action, so you may end up having to go with something just a bit bigger, anyway.”
Check if the new G3 is in Stock by clicking those direct search links: [shopcountry 22077].

A very nice Olympus XZ-1 Field Report at Seriouscompact (Click here). Click those links to see the current Olympus XZ-1 price at [shopcountry 19904] (There are price drops in many countries).

Fotosidan discovered that the Panasonic GF3 catalogue pictures have been taken with the Canon 5D :)

Our japanese reader can participate to a Panasonic product presentation in Tokyo and Osaka (DC.watch)

Fuji X100 review at Steve Huff. In Stock check at [shopcountry 19929].

Innovation Underwater: Nauticam NA-EPL2 Housing for Olympus E-PL2 (Imaging Resource).

Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-150mm F4.0-5.6 review Popco (korean only).

Image samples of the GF3 Miniature function at Flickr. GF3 preorder search links: [shopcountry 23109].

Pentax makes a new mirrorless suicide system :)

Today Pentax announced their new “Q” mirrorless system! For $700 you get a camera with 47mm lens and a sensor that is smaller (1:2.33 inch) than the one used inside the [shoplink 19904]Olympus XZ-1[/shoplink]. I know Pentax will announce a more serious APS-C mirrorless system in autumn but isn’t that “Q” system way overpriced? And isn’t Pentax wasting to much of their (few) resources?

You can read the full announcement article on MirrorlessRumors (Click here).

Panasonic has 30% of the mirrorless market share in Japan (and confirms the new lenses by late 2011)

CNET Asia was at the Asia Pacific Lumix G Seminar 2011 in Thailand. Panasonic told them that they are holding the 30 percent mirrorless market share in Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong and 25 percent market share in Singapore: “According to Panasonic, the company aims to increase its market share in the total ILC category by 10 percent (which roughly translates to 120,000 ILC units) by 2012. To achieve this, they shared some strategies which include targeting shutterbugs looking to upgrade to dSLRs and expanding its current lineup of Lumix G Micro System cameras, lenses and accessories. Panasonic also announced plans to allocate US$20 million in advertising dollars to promote the compact design of the Lumix G series cameras and focus on their touchscreen capabilities and iA mode settings.”

Panasonic’s group general manager of AV in Asia Pacific, Motoki Nakahara, confirmed that there will be Micro Four Thirds lenses are slated for the later part of this year. As you might remember after the GF3 launch Panasonic confirmed that they are working on a professional GF camera, a new GH3 camera and that two new lenses would be announced by end of the year.

Reminder: Panasonic launched two cameras and one lens in 2011:
The G3 should be in Stock in most countries within the next days. Check those links: [shopcountry 22077].
The GF3 should be in Stock by late July/early April. Check those links: [shopcountry 23109] (It’s difficult to find preorder options in Europe).
The Leica 25mm f/1.4 will be in Stock in late July. Check those links: [shopcountry 23110] (Almost impossible to find it for preorder. And don’t confuse that lens with the Four Thirds version!).

Leica 25mm f/1.4 image samples on dpreview (+ US deals summary)

Dpreview (Click here) posted a few image samples taken with the new Panasonic-Leica 25mm f/1.4 lens. You can preorder the lens at Adorama (Click here) and on [shoplink 23181 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

Here is a short update about the latest US deals:
UPDATE: The GH2 with 14-140mm lens is in Stock at Amazon (Click here).
There are a couple of GH2 body only cameras for sale via third party resellers on Amazon (Click here). For the normal price ($899)!
During the last month the Panasonic 20mm was very difficult to find in Stock. If you are willing to pay a bit more than the official price you can fidn them in Stock at Amazon (Click here).
Panasonic GF3 preorders accepted at Amazon, Adorama, and J&R.
The price of the Panasonic 100-300mm dropped down to $521 at Amazon, Adorama and B&H.

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