What happens when you realize how cool the Micro Four Thirds world is?
What I am going to feature is almost a Christmas tale (because it happened on Christmas) :-)
J Shin wrote a long and interesting post at Leicarumors about how it came to the abandoning of the Leica world, and to the entry into the MFT world. Definitely worth to be read.
Have fun!
Let’s keep talking about past Olympus cameras and today I will shortly introduce you to the [shoplink 35694 ebay]PEN-EED (auctions here on eBay)[/shoplink]. As you see it had a built in optical viewfinder. Produced from 1967 to 1972, it is a more expensive automated-exposure model, with a CdS meter, a 32mm f/1.7 lens and a hot shoe. Why did Oly created the EED? The Pen E had no fast lenses and only slow shutter speeds, The Pen D’ had no automatic exposure. The EED combined the best from both cameras. And how did Olympus advertise this camera? Just look at the image here:
LOL!
A list of all PEN-EED auctions can be found on [shoplink 35694 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] or via Slidoo (Click here).
Source: Olypedia, pdf manual at Butkus, Image samples can be seen at Rangefinderforum.
Update: hands-on video at engadget.
It's common in our Micro Four Thirds world to use third party lenses on MFT camera via the use of adapters. But what about using MFT lenses on other cameras? Polaroid just did that, a new mirrorless camera that is compatible with MFT lenses with the use of an adapter. I am wondering why they didn't make it with native MFT mount. There is little info about the camera now:
18 megapixel, 1080p video, Android OS, 3.5 inch display, pop-up flashand $399 price with a 10-30mm lens included.
2012-13 Cinematography Show Reel from Chris Forshaw (shot with GH2 and GH3)
Olympus 17mm f/2.8 test at SLRgear.
Olympus 15mm pancake test at Lepidi and at Quesabesde.
Lumix X 12-35mm f/2.8 review (Soundimagesplus).
Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 ASPH test at Fotopolis (translation here).
Olympus 60mm macro first impressions at ThePhoBlographer.
Geometric distortion correction (M43photo).
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 Review (Photographyblog).
Marocchio: “Not a rumor, but here’s the full collection of capsule toy pens that are currently available here in Japan. They’re 200 yen each, and have removable lenses. Pretty cool!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marccocchio/sets/72157629108158375/“
Image: Dpreview
The worldwide largest forum community at Dpreview picked up the Olympus E-m5 as the camera of the year 2012. I think back 1-2 years when many blogger and experts forecast a decline of the Olympus camera system. Nevertheless Olympus was able with their limited resources but very creative engineers to develop and launch an extraordinary camera. I hope both Panasonic and Olympus will continue to create useful and well made cameras like this. 2013 should be the year of the new advanced PEN, OMD and GX models. This is going to be (again) and intriguing year!
—
Two unusued E-M5 for $879 on eBay US (via Slidoo). 829 for the refurbished E-M5 at Cametaauctions (via Slidoo). 899 Euro is what you pay for the OMD in Europe (via Slidoo). E-M5 at Amazon, Adorama, B&H, Jessops, Amazon UK, Amazon Germany, Amazon France, Amazon Japan and Digitalrev.
E-M5 Case:
There is the official [shoplink 31898 ebay]CS-36FBC Olympus case[/shoplink]. A [shoplink 31899 ebay]leather half case from Hong Kong[/shoplink]. A full [shoplink 31900 ebay]leather case with strap from Cina[/shoplink]. Than we have half cases from two well known producers, [shoplink 31901 ebay]Zelenpol[/shoplink], [shoplink 31906 ebay]Kaza[/shoplink] and [shoplink 31902 ebay]Gariz[/shoplink].
E-M5 Batteries, and other things:
The [shoplink 31905 ebay]Olympus GS-4 strap[/shoplink] and the [shoplink 31903 ebay]DSTE E-M5 batteries[/shoplink] you have to use with an extra charger. There is an [shoplink 31903 ebay]E-M5 car charger[/shoplink] a [shoplink 31908 ebay]new E-M5 LCD screen[/shoplink] and a [shoplink 31909 ebay]Front Cover+ Top Panel[/shoplink].
Dear readers!
Now it’s 2013 and I wish you all the best for the coming year! I am sure we are going to see some exciting rumor time too. And you will not have to wait that long. New MFT stuff are scheduled for a late January announcement. Stay tuned ;)
Image source: BCNranking.
BCNranking disclosed the full camera sales rankings in Japan from January 1st til the December 24th. By watching the ranking there are multiple surprises. Of course, the first one is seeing that the Nikon J1 is actually on top of the ranking. As you see a good marketing sometimes works better than the camera “WOW” factor. The bets selling Olympus and Panasonic MFT cameras are right behind the Nikon and these are all GF and E-PL entry level cameras. The more advanced E-M5 and GX1 models lag behind them and are even behind the Pentax Q! Hands-up if you ever thought the tiny Pentax would outsell the E-M5!
Of course the Japanese market is quite different from EU and US markets. But outside Japan we usually don’t get these kind of exact camera sales numbers. You only get purely unscientific rankings from Amazon. But they change hourly and often reflect current deals status:
US ranking (Click here).
DE ranking (Click here).
UK ranking (Click here).
FR ranking (Click here).
Anyway, this year is now over and 2013 will quite an important year for all camera makers. There is a complicated economic situation that will force plenty of companies (and I mean all worldwide companies) to take some drastic if not dramatic decisions. I hope we can recover from the troubling times we are having now.
I Wish You a Happy New Year!
