Sometimes companies try to do things differently and Olympus is known for being very innovative. Back in early August the 15mm cap lens rumors I posted on 43rumors initiated huge discussions about the (non-)utility of such a lens. Now the lens is here for real and hands-on and/or first pictures have been posted at Popphoto, Photographyblog, Thedigitalstory and PetaPixel. The lens is now available for preorder at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and Bhphoto (Click here). But the question is:

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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) and in Europe at Wexphotographic UK (horrible price in UK!).
35-100mm X lens at Amazon (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here).
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).

We saw this many times. And it happens always again. The companies competing with the Micro Four Thirds system are often cheating on the Micro Four Thirds size. And this time Hasselblad really invented a new kind of MFT sensor with soemthing like 27:9 size. Funny or not? Don’t think this kind of advertising will help them to sell that super expensive Nex-7 alike camera.

Source: Hasselblad-Lunar.

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Photokina is over and we can talk again about the Olympus fraud story. Some of you may read that this morning three former Olympus executives plead guilty in fraud trial (Source: Reuters). Our reader Michael underlined that “Sentencing will occur at a later date. Typically Japanese executives in business scandals get fined and receive suspended sentences rather than being sent to jail.”

That said there is one more very important news. Reuters reports that “Sony Corp will likely approve a plan this week to invest 50 billion yen ($642 million) in cash-strapped Olympus Corp, becoming its biggest shareholder with around a 10 percent stake. Sony will set up a joint business with Olympus to develop new medical equipment, and next year will send an executive to join its board of directors. Sony wants to nurture new businesses, including medical equipment, to increase revenue as it draws back from loss-making televisions. Olympus, seeking to retain a high degree of independence, may favor a capital injection from Sony rather than offers of closer business ties from rivals such as medical device maker Terumo Corp and camera maker Fujifilm Holdings Corp.”

There is no info about how the deal will effect the camera business. I don’t think Sony will join the m43 system nor do I think that Olympus will join the NEX system. Sony wants to have their hands on the medical business. I hope Sony will keep doing great sensors for Olympus cameras like the one we had inside the [shoplink 29074]Olympus E-M5[/shoplink]. That’s all we need!

The last days Panasonic repeated in many interview that they want to compete in the “PRO” segment and the new [shoplink 33624]Panasonic GH3[/shoplink] is actually the first high end camera. And of course these kindof market will also need a professional service. A reader (Thanks!) found that new Panasonic job offer on Linkedin. It really explains in easy words what the new PRO service is:

Accountabilites:
1. Create, manage and improve Value Add Programs to attract Enthusiast and Pro Markets for Lumix:
– Pro Rental Programs for G Series cameras and lenses
– Trade In Program for Lumix G Series
– Financing / Leasing programs
2. Collaborate with Services and BOG to create new services
– Expedited technical services
– Extended hotline hours etc.
– Exchange programs for Pro Photographers
3. Training
– Develop training programs for channel partners and consumers
4. Accessories
– Manage accessory offerings for Lumix Hi End
– PSI for accessories
5. VDF and e-Commerce
– Support sales programs for e-commerce
– Provide support for accessory selection and content to VDF partners
– Create up-sell strategies for accessories on e-commerce and / or VDF platforms

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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) and in Europe at Wexphotographic UK (horrible price in UK!).
35-100mm X lens at Amazon (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here).
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 Adorama (Click here).

Olympus redesigned the website and honestly this looks so much better than before! Check it out at http://getolympus.com/. Also the Matching Simulation (Click here) has been updated. But I don’t like the fact that they removed the nice lens overview we had before. Now you have to select the manufacturer and lens category before to get to a small range of lenses. I liked to see them all. Still missing is the possibility to see larger images of the camera and lens combination.

EOSHD – Panasonic GH3 test footage shot at Photokina 2012 from Andrew Reid on Vimeo.

EosHD posted and analyzed the pre-production video quality: “Dynamic range, noise grain and colour are improved big-style. I feel rolling shutter is less of an issue too. But fine details are not as stable as they were on the GH2 in this pre-production camera. Detail is superb, but if the pitch of texture is fine enough to invoke aliasing and moire you will get the instability I mentioned.”

There is also a new Panasonic interview at DC.watch. And once again Panasonic admitted that they are “thinking Full Frame” as a possibility for the future.

P.S.: Hands-on at Digitalcamerareview. Panasonic GH3 Multi Aspect Ratio Demo on Youtube.

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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) and in Europe at Wexphotographic UK (horrible price in UK!).
35-100mm X lens at Amazon (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here).
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 Adorama (Click here).

The 42.5mm f/1.2 and 150mm f/2.8 Panasonic prototype lens (Image courstesy “H.B.”).

I am a bit surprised Sigma and Tamron still didn’t show any new m43 lens. Anyway, a total of twelve lenses (some are protptypes only) have been announced at Photokina. We have the new SLRmagic manual lenses, the amazing three Schneider AF lenses for less than 1500 Euro, the new BIG lens and of course the Panaosnic and Olympus lenses. Now we all want to know from you:

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I am so curious to see the results!

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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) and in Europe at Wexphotographic UK (horrible price in UK!).
35-100mm X lens at Amazon (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here).
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 Adorama (Click here).