A short break from rumors. There are two REAL news to report :)

Samyang 24mm f/1.4 for Four Thirds:
Olympus hasn’t unveiled any new Four Thirds lens for a very long time now. But Samyang is making their homework and released an amazing 24mm f/1.4 prime lens. And it is now shipping! That’s the official press release from sent to me by Samyang:
“Optics of the lens has been constructed based on the system of 13 lenses arranged in 12 groups. It should be noted that four lenses has been made of the low-dispersion glass (ED), while two another are aspherical lenses. We have also employed multi-layered and anti-reflective coatings of UMC type adding to the perfect light transmission. Samyang 24 mm F1.4 ED AS IF UMC has been designed to work with most popular reflex cameras produced by renown manufacturers and equipped with small-image sensors
or smaller. The lens will be available with a mount for the following systems: Canon, Four Thirds, Nikon AE, Pentax, Samsung NX and Sony Alpha.
Warranty
36-months guarantee is provided for Samyang 24mm 1:1.4 ED AS IF UMC.
Price
599 EUR gross – mount: Canon, Four-thirds, Pentax, Samsung NX and Sony”

I don’t know yet where you can preorder the lens. You can find Samyang lenses for Olympus on [shoplink 28695 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and branded as Rokinon at BHphoto (Click here).

Kenko 400mm f/8.0 for Micro Four Thirds:
You can now read the full specs of the new 400mm Kenko lens at Kenko Japan (Click here).

There is now a final price and preorder option for the Fuji X PRO 1:
$1699 at Amazon US (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Lenses are available too at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).

Along the Sony NEX-7 ($1200) this will become the main competitor of the Olympus OM-D which rumored price is around $1100. I have no clue if the X PRO 1 will sell well with that price. And I guess there will be a tuff battle between the OM-D and that camera. Based on rumors and early X PRO 1 test (See Fujirumors) I guess that this is the advantages-disadvantages list:

Olympus OM-D advantages:
– Cheaper
– Weather sealed
– Better video quality
– Super fast autofocus
– Smaller body (if you care about size)
– Lens line up (and powerzoom lens availability)
– built-in stabilization
– tilting LCD

Fuji X PRO 1 advantages:
– Superb image quality
– Hybrid viewfinder

But this is just a list based on rumors and not yet tested cameras. But I want to hear your thoughts on this!

I don’t know why, but after 20 days only after the last compact camera announcement Panasonic today announced more new not so spectacular compact cameras! For those of you wondering when the LX5 successor is coming I haven’t received any info yet. I only know the Olympus XZ-1 successor is coming this summer (not yet).

Anyway, I am sure the next announcement is for m43 related stuff only and I expect this to be right before the CP+ show in Yokohama (mid February). The only thing I am (almost) sure of is that the new X lenses will be released.

For my European readers: There are now around fourty refurbished PEN cameras on auction at [shoplink 22691 ebay]Olympusmarket (Click here)[/shoplink]. I am going to put my efforts on one of the [shoplink 11330 ebay]E-P2 bodies (here)[/shoplink]. Please don’t bet on it :)

I am catching up with one news I wanted to post a week ago: Last year I posted a news about Canon launching a camera with 4:3 sensor. I got the rumor from a new source and of course I didn’t really believe it but at the CES show Canon launched the Canon G1 X camera that has a 4:3 ratio sensor which is just a tiny bit bigger then the Micro Four Thirds sensor (See sensor size comparison at Dpreview). There are many previews at ePhotozine, Techradar, ISO test at Focus Numerique, ThePhoBlographer.

While the Fuji X PRO 1 has been the real star of the show the Canon G1X is the first attempt from Canon to offer “something” against the mirrorless systems. It’s not exactly tiny (a GF3 with 14-42mm X is smaller), it is not exactly cheap $800 at Amazon and it has not that nice design and hybrid viewfinder of the Fuji X100 (now $1120). Anyway it’s still a surprise that Canon made such a camera. And I want to ask you if you think this could be seen as a strong m43 competitor!

Photography Monthly published the 50 greatest camera list of all time! Here  is the list of chosen Olympus and Panasonic cameras plus the top three (from the bottom of the ranking to the top):

No. 38: Olympus OM-1 ([shoplink 28222 ebay]Click here to see it on eBay[/shoplink])
“The release of the Nikon F had made the 35mm SLR the standard choice for professionals accustomed to using Leicas and other rangefinders, but it had driven the market towards heavy and bulky cameras. The Olympus M-1 changed all that and with it began a reduction of size, weight and noise of the 35mm SLRs. It’s not fashionable but it is brilliant.”

No. 34 Panasonic DMC-LX3 (Click hee to see it on Amazon)
“The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3, or LX3, is a high-end compact camera launched in 2008 as a successor to the LX2 and continues to be one of the best high-end compact point and shoots available.”

No. 22 Olympus Pen E-P1 (Click hee to see it on Amazon)
“Beautifully designed and named after Olympic’s original half-frame 35mm Pencameras launched in 1959, the E-P1 is another of the cameras leading the way in the compact system revolution.”

No. 20 Olympus Trip ([shoplink 28606 ebay]Click hee to see it on eBay[/shoplink])
“The Trip 35 was introduced in 1967 and discontinued in 1984. The name referred to its intended market, people who wanted a compact camera for holidays. More than ten million were sold. This point and shoot model had a solar powered selenium light meter and just two shutter speeds. Although the Trip is coming back into fashion due to its quality and ecological credentials, you can pay as little as £10 for one.”

No. 14 Olympus Pen ([shoplink 28607 ebay]Click hee to see it on eBay[/shoplink])
“The Pen half-frame, fixed-lens viewfinder cameras were made from 1959 to the start of the eighties. The original was one of the smallest cameras to use 35mm film in 135 cassettes.”

No. 11 Panasonic GF1 (Click hee to see it on Amazon…new for $1500!)
“Released in 2009, the Panasonic GF1 has a strong following among pro and enthusiast photographers as a compact system camera which can change the way you can create images. Great quality of build and image.”

No. 3 Hasselblad 500CM ([shoplink 28608 ebay]Click hee to see it on eBay[/shoplink])
“The professional’s first choice medium-format camera for more than 40 years. The 500 was the second generation of the Hasselblad 6x6cm format film and was launched in 1957. Strong build, high-quality lenses and ease of use have made it the professional photographer’s friend, whatever they are shooting.”

No. 2 Nikon D3s (Click hee to see it on Amazon)
“The latest top pro offering in the Nikon range. The D3s has broken new ground with its incredibly high ISO capability and super tough build and construction. Designed to meet the needs of the most demanding of pro photographers, it deliversand then some.”

No. 1 Kodak Brownie ([shoplink 28609 ebay]Click hee to see it on eBay[/shoplink])
“The Brownie, launched in 1900, popularised low-cost photography and introduced the concept of the snapshot. The original cardboard box camera took 2.25in sq pictures. The 127 modelsold millions from1952 to 1967.”

—

Just my two cent. If I would have to pickup only one camera I would chose my [shoplink 28309 ebay]Mamiya 7[/shoplink]. It’s the camera that gives you the best image quality compared to the camera size. What’s your top camera?

The french company MicroOLED announced a new impressive Oled viewfinder technology (Source: Imaging Resource). It has 5.4 million pixel density and a 0.61 inch diagonal. Imaging Resource says that this resolution should surpass the human eye! It has a High contrast (maximum 100,000:1) and high uniformity (96 per cent). And there is a monochrome version too! Would be nice if the Olympus OM-D could be the first camera to use this but I guess that will remain a dream for now because the french company clearly said that this is aimed for the high end market (camcorders but also military stuff).

Meanwhile there is one more Fuji-Olympus partnerhsip rumor…yes..again! Here on Reuters.

JUDO from SCHAZ on Vimeo.

The Mirrorless Camera Industry and the search for the Perfect Camera at Admiringlight (Click here). Micro 4/3 vs a Full Frame Legend at Admiringlight (Click here).

Andrew Reid (Click here) compared the Panasonic Gh2 and RED video quality: “Straight off the camera the GH2 can look great, but the Scarlet holds up far better in post, where you are able to change pretty much any aspect of the image to a massive extent. This simply isn’t possible with DSLR footage.”

Tyson Robichaud (Click here) dared to make a comparison between the Panasonic G3 and Canon 5DII: “I am very impressed with the G3 files when seeing them side by side.  Noisier, yes, but they do a good job at retaining definition and color.”

E-P3 versus GX1 ISO comparison at DCfever (Click here).

Olympus 12-50mm lens tested at Digitalcamerareview (Click here): “Pretty impressive when you realize this lens basically fits in the palm of your hand.”

Olympus E-P3 review at Imaging Resource (Click here).

Big Prints From 4/3-Format Sensors. How Big Can You Go? (The Online Photographer).

And take a look here ot see how to cover the PEN in a cold arctic winter: Penowiec.com

DxO Optics Pro v7.2 brings Panasonic G support.

Again plenty of new refurbished Olympus cameras and lenses at [shoplink 22691 ebay]Olympusmarket[/shoplink]! Here is a short selection of what you find for the weekend:
[shoplink 28582 ebay]Black Olympus E-PL2 double lens kit[/shoplink] [shoplink 28583 ebay]Black Olympus E-P2 with 17mm pancake[/shoplink] [shoplink 28584 ebay]Silver Olympus E-PL1 with 14-42mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 28585 ebay]Olympus 300mm f/2.8 Four Thirds lens (damn expensive!)[/shoplink] [shoplink 28586 ebay]Olympus E-5 body[/shoplink] [shoplink 28587 ebay]Black Olympus E-P2 with kit lens and external EVF[/shoplink] [shoplink 28588 ebay]Black Olympus E-PL2 double lens kit[/shoplink] [shoplink 28589 ebay]Olympus 9-18mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 28590 ebay]Olympus 12mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 28591 ebay]Black Olympus E-P3 with 14-42mm lens[/shoplink] [shoplink 28592 ebay]Silver Olympus E-P2 body[/shoplink] [shoplink 28593 ebay]Black Olympus E-P2 body with external EVF[/shoplink]