a little bit of everything…(and small 20mm price drop at Amazon)


Video on top: pre and post firmware v1.5 update showing the difference that the IBIS (In Body Image Stabilization) makes when using adapted, third party lenses in video mode on the Olympus OM-D E-M5. By Tyson Robichaud.

There is a small price drop on the Panaosnic 20mm pancake at Amazon (Click here).

More MFT news:
ePhotozine posted their 2 months E-M5 review.
The Panasonic mini cameras at Focus Numerique (Translation here).
Olympus 75mm f/1.8 – Assessment and Conclusion at Soundimagesplus.
Dynamikumfang E-M5 – on Field (Pen And Tell).
Panasonic G5 review at Gizmodo and Soundimagesplus.
Introduction to LOMO OCT 19 cinema lenses on the GH2 and FS100 (EosHD).
Eric:Decided to follow someone’s advice on the forums and create a Google Doc version of the lens spreadsheets I sent you last month. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Av6A1MA87MyldDhtbEdOQkZiSVFZcXI3WEVNTTE1enc
Sterling:Just wanted to give you a heads up that we’ve published our annual Best Underwater Compact Camera roundup, and it features several Olympus cameras as our top picks, including the weatherproof Tough TG-1, the PEN series, and the OM-D E-M5! http://www.backscatter.com/learn/article/article.php?ID=57“.

Panasonic announces the new firmware update for the two f/2.8 zooms.

Panasonic announced an upcoming firmware update for the 12-35mm and 35-100mm X lenses. The firmware will be released in mid December and enhance the AF (auto focus) performance with the sensor drive at 240 fps for use with DMC-GH3.

Source: http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/pressrelease/h_hs12035_h_hs35100_firmware/

P.S.: The new 35-100mm lens is in Stock at Technikdirekt (Click here). In US the lens will be in Stock next week via Panacam at Amazon (Click here) and November 15th at BHphoto (Click here).

BIG shift lens release delayed. Complete new design to make.

via Personal View.

PenAndTell and ThePhoBlographer confirmed that the BIG Shift 15mm f/4.5 MFT lens will not be released. As you know the lens is (now was) based on the [shoplink 33839 ebay]Voigtlander Heliar 15mm f/4.5 (here on eBay)[/shoplink] design. But the manufacturer claimed that “the 15mm Voigtländer didn’t work as expected“. They are now “currently looking for other solutions to make the lens work“.

Let’s see if they will fix it any time soon…

 

(UPDATED) GH3 to officially ship from December 13th. RAW samples at Quesabesde!


Big Prints from LUMIX GH3, featuring Ira Block

Now it’s official. Panasonic announced the shipment date for the new GH3: December 13th (Source: DC.watch). History proved that EU and US readers will get their preorders weeks later. Panasonic store (Click here) still shows a shipping date of Nov 30th but I guess they will change that soon. Note that previously shipment period was guessed for November (Source: Which, Techradar, Photoscala, Nofilmschool, Photographyblog, and so on…).

UDPATE: Quesabesde (translation here) posted a new set of GH3 image samples including full size RAW images!

Special GH3 page at Amazon (Click here) and a full Olympus presentation page at Amazon (Click here).
GH3 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here)Panasonic US and in Europe at Wexphotographic UK and Technikdirekt.

Panasonic postpones the GH3 shipment date (and new hands-on video)


GH3 hands-on video by Whatdigitalcamera

BHphoto (Click here) now postponed the GH3 release from November to December. And so Panasonic store (Click here ->now Nov 30th). Le’ts hope this is not the beginning of a long series of small delays!

Panasonic and Olympus Preorder Links with specs and price:
Special GH3 page at Amazon (Click here) and a full Olympus presentation page at Amazon (Click here).
GH3 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here)Panasonic US and in Europe at Wexphotographic UK and Technikdirekt.
35-100mm X lens at Amazon (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), Panasonic US.
E-PL5 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here). In EU at Amazon Germany, Amazon UK, Amazon France,
E-PM2 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here). In EU at Amazon Germany, Amazon UK, Amazon France,
XZ-2 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here).
60mm macro at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here).
12mm Black prime lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here).
15mm cap-lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here).

Akira Watanabe interview: “New system cameras coming in the short term!” -> High End model!

Two days ago I told you that I am getting new rumors about two possible Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras. It may be a good time to remind you some statements made by Akira Watanabe at Amateur Photographer. Here are some of the key info he unveiled:

– The Canon EOS-M is “not a big challenge
– About the Olympus fee scandal: “It is, at the moment, a management issue and there is no negative or positive impact on development or planning – no impact.
– About future products: “new system camera technology, to be rolled out in the ‘short term’, would be ‘trickled’ down to future ‘high-end compact cameras
– And “Basic technology development-wise, we will focus on high-end models and mainly compact system cameras
– “very big jump’ in the performance of electronic viewfinders” and “At a certain point most people will be satisfied with replacing their optical finder with an EVF
– “Olympus will ‘accelerate development of high-grade lenses for MFT systems’.

The key words here are “short term” – “High End models” and “Electronic Viewfinders”. That sums it up what we will see soon (early 2013). What I didn’t hear yet is if Olympus will make some High Grade zooms like the Olympus [shoplink 25320 ebay]14-35mm f/2.0 (Click here to see them on eBay)[/shoplink] and the [shoplink 25119 ebay]35-100mm f/2.0 (Click here to see them on eBay)[/shoplink] Zuiko lenses. From what I heard prime lenses are priority.