Olympus is sharing the 5axis stabilization to Casio. The newly announced ZR800 has the same 5axis system but with one limitation: it doesn’t work in video mode. As I told you weeks ago also some future Sony A and E-mount cameras will use the 5 axis stabilization. In exchange Olympus will get super brand new Sony sensors.
Panasonic LUMIX GX7 Introduction Video
The Cosina 42,5mm f/0.95 will be on sale in Japan from August 23 (Kakaku).
Olympus VF-4 Electronic Viewfinder: Terrific Improvement over Built-In E-M5 EVF (diglloyd).
Olympus Stylus SH-50 Review (ePhotozine).
Sigma Sigma 30mm F2.8 DN test in German at Julifoto.
examples of flash photography for portraits (Olypmus OMD facebook).
Panasonic LF1 Firmware Update Version 1.1 at (Panasonic Japan).
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ9 Review (ePhotozine).
Panasonic 100-300mm first imrpessions at ThePhoBlographer.
GX7 first impression at Bestmirrorlesscamerareviews.x\
New Samyang Cinema 16mm Lens Four Thirds Lens (ePhotozine).
Panasonic 35-100mm lens test at DC.watch.
Sigma A 60 mm f/2.8 DN review at Lenstip.
That mirrorless wasn’t a huge success in US and Europe as in Asia is known. And two articles at The New York Times (Click here) and USA Today (Click here) analyzed the situation. I cite three parts of their articles:
1) Nikon manager Okamato said “In Europe and the U.S. the ratio of mirrorless to SLRs hasn’t grown at all, unlike in Asia, where it’s quite popular with women because it’s light. We had higher expectations for other regions. But people who like cameras tend to just go for SLRs, even though they’re very heavy.”
2) Olympus Corp said on Thursday that its sales of its signature mirrorless model, the PEN, had fallen 12 percent in the first quarter, below its expectations.
3) Panasonic manager Darrin Pepple said “In the U.S. at least, [DSLRs are] still what they know and what they understand. We’re continuing to innovate in the way of lenses, size, form factors, trying to find the magic bullet.” Panasonic has found that DSLR-style feature sets are more attractive to Americans, and simpler mirrorless models failed to find an audience.
Mirrorless growth now stucks in US and Europe. I personally have the feeling that it’s only a matter of time until mirrorless will grow again. But I have to admit, this is just a feeling not based on real facts.
We all Laughed at Hasselblad when they launched the Lunar camera (a luxurious NEX-7 clone). But it seems like Olympus will follow Hasselblad path. They just announced a £16,000 E-P5 Art Edition that will be sold exclusively by Harrods in London.
This is the official Olympus Press Release:
Olympus PEN Art Edition – exclusive to Harrods
A uniquely collectable collaboration between Olympus, urban artist Suzko & fashion photographer Jay McLaughlin
London, August 8: Exclusive, luxurious, one-of-a-kind, the perfect premium ‘accessory’ for both photographers and petrol heads, the Olympus Art Edition aims to combine the heritage and unique features of the Olympus PEN compact camera system with the prestige and individuality of owning an original artwork.
By twinning a stunning high-end camera with an effortlessly cool custom painted white Vespa, this project sumptuously succeeds in being a true ‘one off’. It’s a uniquely collectable first collaboration between urban artist Susie ‘Suzko’ Lowe and fashion photographer Jay McLaughlin. It’s also the first ever – and therefore highly prized – Olympus Art Edition available exclusively through Harrods Technology.
The Art Edition has its origins in presenting the power and portability of the PEN system in a new way. The scooter is in effect a revved up case on wheels – the ultimate paparazzo companion while the camera kit includes two powerful new PEN E-P5 bodies and all the premium fast prime lenses in the Olympus micro system.
To give the kit a unique twist, no two will be the same. Each will be a one off lovingly painted on and illustrated by hand by urban artist Lowe in a design flowing through the scooter, helmet and camera.
The fact that Suzko is an urban artist goes hand in hand with street art and street photography, a favourite style of McLaughlin and also a genre of photography for which the Olympus PEN range is ideally suited. Jay has documented the whole customisation process of the first Art Edition Kit for a limited edition perfect bound catalogue available on request in store. (download a pdf here https://www.hightail.com/download/bWJxb2VBT003N0FpR01UQw )
Another perk of the Art Edition is that is qualifies the owner for a photographic training session with Jay who will explain the finer points of the system and give some photographic technique advice.
Via the Olympus Art Edition the E-P5 has become the ultimate portable camera kit complete with personal tuition and the ultimate ‘case’ – a custom painted Vespa scooter for the street photographer who likes to travel light.
Available for £16,000 from Thursday August 8th – exclusively at Harrods Technology
the new [shoplink 40423 ebay]Gariz E-P5 case[/shoplink]
Olympus Japan released a new firmware update for the E-P5 that modifies the transfer mode settings for [shoplink 40829 ebay]Eye-Fi cards[/shoplink]. There is not other fix or improvement coming along the update.
There is also a new review written by ThePhoBlographer: “Olympus’s EP5 is their best Pen camera yet…by no means is this a bad camera. In fact, it’s a rather exceptional one. But it could have gone a tad further.”
MACRO in MUSIC by Dario Viola from Dario Viola on Vimeo.
Amos Chapple work has been featured on CNN (Click here). Pictures have been taken with the GH3 but he confessed to me that he could change to the GX7 soon :)
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And here are more 43rumors readers work to see:
Duncan: “Short blog post of why I swapped the Panasonic 20/1.7 for the Olympus 17/1.8 – http://www.duncanmartin.com/blog/2013/07/losing-faith-in-the-lumix-20/”
Pier-Yves: “I have a DMC-GH3 I bought upon its release. I use it everyday for my institutional shoots. However, I always hesitate to use the Panasonic for a wedding where the shooting is more restrictive. No right to mistake. A few days ago, I had a little Wedding close to Chartres. Only 5 peoples. I wished to test the GH3 in real situation with a simple Rode Videomic Pro Microphone.
Il let you, and you readers, judge by yourself… > http://youtu.be/2MyFCZMr17E”
Romain: “Hi, just a weeding video with a GH3 / 12mm 1.6, 25mm 0,95 and GH2 with 12-35mm, Oly Zuiko 50mm 1.8 http://vimeo.com/70587239”
Nick: “I just wanted to let everyone know that I’ve set up my Zenfolio web page where people can see my artwork and photography. http://concordenickartphoto.zenfolio.com I’ve been an Olympus owner going back to the OM-10 days and progressing upwards to my current E-5.”
Gonzalo: “I came to the m43 world from video, as I was a filmmaking student in the search of an affordable camera to shoot my school projects, but even since I bought the GH3 last January, I started enjoying photography as never before. Therefore I have created a blog where I post my experiences using this camera for photography, showing that it’s as capable for stills as it is for video. But of course videos on the way, too! :) http://gonzalobroto.blogspot.com”
Nathan: “I’ve just written an informal review on my favorite lens, the Panasonic 14mm F2.5 Pancake lens. I thought this could be benificial to readers of 43 Rumors. This lens has gotten a negative reputation but I love it and wanted to express that love. :) http://talkingtree.org/my-love-for-the-panasonic-lumix-14mm-f2-5-pancake-lens-perfect-for-landscapes/”
Heather: “I just finished up writing our full review of the Pen E-P5. I can honestly say that I’ve never enjoyed testing a camera more than this one. The review is written in the style of a travel diary to give it a unique flavor. I’d be ever so grateful if you’d share: http://www.bestmirrorlesscamerareviews.com/2013/07/31/travelling-home-with-the-olympus-pen-e-p5-a-full-review/”
Josh: “We’ve shot our scifi feature, Senn, entirely on a Panasonic GH3 (and 43rumors was very helpful to us in the filmmaking process!). The 1080 60fps capability was invaluable. The Senn teaser has just gone live: https://vimeo.com/71460025 Believe it or not the entire production budget is $10k. Amazing what one can do these days with inexpensive tools…“
Guess what the big Sigma teaser was for? A Mount Conversion Service :(
In short Sigma announced an (expensive!) service to converts a very limited range of Sigma lenses in other mounts. SigmaPhoto writes:
Global Vision lens owners can request the Mount Conversion Service to convert their current Sport, Contemporary or Art DSLR lenses to their choice of a Sigma, Sony, Pentax, Nikon or Canon mount. Global Vision category lenses for mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras (MILCs) can be updated to either a micro four thirds (MFT) or Sony E- mount.
This wasn’t worth a teaser :(
P.S.: I would really like to see a Foveon sensor inside an MFT camera. Me thinks this is the way to go! :)
