Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 review at DxOmark.
Kirk Tuck picks the E-M1 as camera of the year.
Modifying Yongnuo RF-603 to work with Olympus (to trigger flashes) at Betterfamilyphotos.
Modifying Yongnuo RF-603 cable to trigger the camera itself at Betterfamilyphotos.
M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.8 with an OMD EM5 at Samudranil.
E-M1 field test images at Outbackphoto.

Sam: “Not really a rumor, but the Meike extension tubes (http://www.amazon.com/Meike-Automatic-Extension-Olumpus-Panasonic/dp/B00BY0F0P0/ref=pd_cp_p_2) in conjunction with the Olympus body cap lens yield some surprising macro results. See more at: http://samgoldphotos.blogspot.com/2013/12/meike-extension-tubes.html”

Marc: “I’m a big fan of 43Rumors as a user of an Olympus OM-D and and EP-2 and look at your blog every day. On the off chance that you might do a readers round up I wondered if you might like to feature my photography blog. I’ve just done my 200th blog post and that will stay as the current one for a week or so now. http://marcprovins.blogspot.co.uk”

Stefan: “This is not a rumor per se, it´s a tale of my experience after buying Olympus EM-1 and the PRO kit-lens 12-40mm f2,8.
A month ago I decided to expand my Olympus family and let the kit with the EM-1 and that tasty 12 – 40 mm F2.8 lens join my loved EM-5. I knew Olympus had a hit with the EM-5 and I belive they have an even grater hit with the EM-1. I just love it!
Just because I love it so much I was really shocked when I pulled the camera out of its bag to shoot pictures of my son as he was making tricks with his kickbike in an actioncenter. At first I simply refused to belive my eyes, the lens was litterally dangling from the camerabody and I could see the electronics inside. How on earth could that have happened? I had mounted the lend on the body and put the camera into a small tamrac-bag which it fit perfectly in. In fact, this whole summer I have been wearing this bag when I was hiking and biking with the EM-5 and my Voigtländer 17,5 mm F0,95 has been with me everywhere. Granted, it’s not the lightest lens to mount but I adore it and try to use it as my “normal” lens.
Imagine my shock when I pull out my camera after a 25 minutes walk and the lens is, in every sense of the word, broken!
I mean, come on! This is the PRO-lens we have been waiting for. I was actually already saving up for the 40 – 150 mm lens but that is cancelled right now in my mind. I actually have returned the lens to the shop and they are baffled.
They told me that I should contact the Olympus premium support since I have all my gear registered with Olympus but I felt that I simply had to show them what had happened. They need to know.
What worries me the most is that when I examined the lens I could easily see that the bayonett was only secured to the lens with four screws. That in itself does not need to be so bad, what is bad however is that these four screw are tightened into plastic sockets and from what I can see in my lens, three of the four plastic sockets inside has broken from just carrying the camera in a padded bag. It amazes me that a lens this heavy has such a weak construction. It totally belies the tactile feeling you get when shooting with it. It feels like it’s built like a tank! I’m sorry to say that it’s not.
Olympus tells me they will repair the lens at no charge, that does nothing to instill confidence in the lens though. I want to know how they will improve the construction! I wish that they would use metal in the lens instead of plastic. This is not a lens that you should need to leave at home because you are afraid it will break in the bag! This should be the lens you pick when you are going out in a blizzard to shoot pictures, or put in your backpack when you plan to go mountainbiking or trekking. This is THE lens that is meant to be in your pack when you fear for the life of all your other lenses!
I can’t see how I will have my confidence in this lens restored.
There is two reasons I write to you in what must be described as despair. First off, I just found out that other people have had the same misfortune as me so I’m not alone. (See http://www.mu-43.com/showthread.php?t=56256 for example).
Secondly, I feel that you are a positive force online and in the photo community. I love your site and I wish that this will sort itself out somehow without all of us having to return the lens to Olympus for a refund.
I am hoping that you have a good solid relation with Olympus and can bring this to their attention. I’m hoping they will revise the construction and turn the lens into the PRO-lens we all expected.
I have taken a few pictures of my lens but *I find no way to attach them to this message.“

The Olympus E-M1 is by far the best MFT camera of the year according to our 43rumors readers (POLL results here). And now let’s see what new lens they liked most:

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This is a simple plain post to wish you all a quite, nice, beautiful day with your family and friends.

Merry Christmas dear 43rumors fellowship! :)

Ale

P.S.: That Panasonic GM1 is perfect for family shots. Really enjoying the cam in these Christmas days. And for once it’s snowing like hell here. We had 50cm in 24h right now!

It has been a busy year and I expect the new year to be even busier. The Big CP+ and Photokina event will bring us many exciting cameras. New OMD, new GH 4K, new G and PEN cameras will arrive. But let’s have a look at what happened in 2013. The Olympus E-M1 is likely the best professional MFT camera ever released and it also is likely the best sold MFT camera of the year (always on top at Amazon rankings). The GM1 is a little jewel that can do so many things in such a small body. The GX7 is the one camera we were waiting to see from Panasonic but it has been released too late and in a market with many competitors. The GF6 didn’t make us jump from the chair when they announced it while the G6 is a great camera for the price. Unlike the E-P5 which is probably a too expensive camera for what you get. And we also had the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema camera for hardcore filmmakers :)

Now let’s see what’s the best camera of the year according to the 43rumors community:

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It may be a surprise for you but TheCameraStoreTV team picked the GM1 and not the E-M1 as one of the best three cameras of the year (the other two being the K-3 and A7r). And you know what? I tend to agree. The E-M1 is certainly a more capable camera. But the GM1 is always with me since day one. So easy to keep it in your jacket!

P.S.: I will soon launch a poll to see what was the best MFT camera for the 43rumors reader community.

GM1 store list:
In US at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
In Europe at Amazon Germany, Wex Germany, Amazon UK, Fotohanskeuzekamp, Cyberphoto Sweden and Wex UK.

E-M1 Store Links:
Olympus E-M1 body at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto, Amazon DE (via DL), Amazon UK (via DL), Amazon ES (via DL), WexUK, Topshot FI, CameraWorldUK.
Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO Lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, AmazonDE (viaDL), Amazon ES (via DL).
Olympus E-M1 with 12-40mm Lens kit at Amazon DE (via DL), WexUK and CameraWorldUK, Amazon UK (via DL), Amazon ES (via DL).
Olympus E-M1 with 12-50mm Lens kit at Amazon DE (via DL), WexUK, CameraWorldUK, Amazon UK (via DL), Amazon ES (via DL).
Olympus EP-13 Eyecup for E-M1 at Adorama and BHphoto.
Olympus HLD-7 Battery Grip for E-M1 at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
Olympus LC-62D Metal Front Lens Cap for 12-40mm at Adorama and BHphoto.
Olympus LH-66 Lens Hood for 12-40mm at Adorama and BHphoto.

Portrait of a Soviet Lens; JUPITER 11 by Blunty

Panasonic GH3 Shooter’s Guide (EosHD).
Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 5.02 adds support for the E-m1.
Stylus 1 test at DC.watch.
Olympus 12-40mm lens test at Lenstip.
12-40mm review at Johnsson-photo.
E-M1 review at CameraStuffreview.
Part one fo the Stylus 1 review at Imaging Resource.
Panasonic 20mm version one vs version two by Tyson Robichaud.
Olympus 45 f/1.8 Mini Review at Betterfamilyphotos.
E-m1 first impressions by Sergio Muscat.
Lomography Experimental Lens kit review at ePhotozine.

Michal: “Olympus CZ issued a new ad called “Photo brick”. It is currenty on web only in czech language (so not that funny for those who dont understand fully), but still you might be interested to see it. http://www.fotocihla.cz/ It is a joke about Olympus issuing a new accessories for those who feel strange about shooting with the light Olympus cameras. To complete the joke Olympus CZ even sells it for 799 CZK (approx. 30 EUR). http://www.olympusobchod.cz/katalog/prislusenstvi/ostatni-yqfqw/olympus-fotocihla-ART06218. I hope they add the ENG subtitles and let it live its own life on the web world wide. link of my blog – http://www.samudranil.in/blog/?id=69252778574“

J.S.: “I have just completed a 7500+ word review of the Olympus E-M1 from an owner/buyer standpoint: http://smithclicks.com/hardware/olympus-om-d-e-m1-review-1/“

David: “new tests… read bottom paragraph: http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/m43/em1-samp-lens.html”

Noah: “How well does Olympus service their warranties? I posted this here on G+. I’d love to hear experiences others have had with Olympus and warranty work. https://plus.google.com/107466393242613969565/posts/TzDqZCDnon6“

Ivar: “There are some great picture’s and video taken with the EM-1 on Mark Humpage’s page from Iceland: http://www.markhumpage.com/Mother-Nature/Iceland-E-M1/33381852_fpWk6K#!i=2899791048&k=b3rBcQL”

Eric: “I just got back from a trip through the Yucatan peninsula, and was lucky enough to receive my E-M1 and 12-40mm lens before heading off. I’ve written up a quick review of how the camera and lens handled here (with samples): http://wp.me/p1feV0-j2”

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Editor’s note: A readers work roundup will be posted next week. I will include all the reader work I got via mail the last weeks.

Park Cameras is the first store that finally gives us a clue about the price of the Tamron 14-150mm MFT lens that has been announced many months ago. It’s 600 pounds (720 Euro or 980 Dollars). A bit pricey if you ask me.

P.S.:There is still no info about when actually the lens will ship.