New Panasonic GX80 reviews by Richard Wong, Mirrorlessons, CameraLabs

GX80

Richard Wong writes:

When reviewing the Panasonic Lumix GX85, I keep asking myself this question: Which is the better camera, is it the GX85 or the GX8?
It’s a hard question to answer. The GX8 has some better key features, the much bigger EVF, the new 20MP image sensor, slightly better controls…etc.
On the other side, GX85’s smaller and lighter body, lower price (GX85’s retail price should be around NZD$250 cheaper than the GX8 when it hits the market), and with the better image stabiliser and built-in flash, it is also a more versatile camera for everyday use. Personally, I want the GX8 if I’m buying a micro four thirds camera for myself tomorrow because I just really love that camera especially it’s fantastic electronic viewfinder. But at the same time I feel the GX85 is indeed the better camera for most people.
The GX85 may not have the best of everything, but its a really versatile camera that you can easily carry with you all the time.

Apologies for bombarding you but we thought you might be interested in our GX80 first impressions, as well as a video showing its 4K live cropping capabilities.

Mirrorlessons posted some image samples and a test video on Youtube.
Panasonic Lumix GX80 / GX85 sample images at CameraLabs.

Store links:
Black GX80/85 at BHphoto. Amazon. Adorama. WexUK. ParkUK.
Silver GX80/85 at BHphoto. Amazon. Adorama. ParkUK.

New Panasonic 12-60mm reviewed by ePhotozine

12-60mm

ePhotozine tested the new Panasonic 12-60mm lens:

The Lumix 12-60mm f/3.5-5.6 Asph Power OIS lens is not perfect, but it has some remarkable properties and is incredibly versatile. The low levels of distortion and CA are truly impressive and overall central sharpness is of a high standard.
Lenses have different applications and this Lumix seems an ideal light, compact travel lens that will deliver the goods over a wide range of subject matter.

12-60mm store search links: [shopcountry 59679]. The lens is set to start sipping next week!

Panasonic 35-100mm Mega O.I.S. Lumix G X Vario review

Panas45-200

Imaging Resource posted the full review of the compact 35-100mm Panasonic zoom:

Optically, the Panasonic 35-100mm Mega O.I.S. Lumix G X Vario is very good for the price – there are some very slight issues with corner softness and de-centering with our review copy, but nothing to write home about. For what it does, the lens does it very well: the only performance item I might have a problem with is that the variable aperture reduces quite quickly. For example wide open at 35mm the maximum aperture is ƒ/3.5; zooming in to 50mm, your maximum aperture is ƒ/4.9. This will restrict your shooting style a bit; you’ll either be shooting outside, with a flash, or you’ll need to boost your ISO settings.
Panasonic has had a 35-100mm ƒ/2.8 zoom available for some time now, but the casual Micro Four-Thirds shooter could have been put off by its $1,500+ price tag. Panasonic has wisely provided a less expensive option that will match extremely well with the Panasonic 12-32mm ƒ/3.5-5.6.

Get the lens at [shopcountry 59578].

Richard Wong reviews the Leica 100-400mm lens: “insanely long effective focal length but with reasonably compact size”

Leica100-400mm

Richard Wong (Click here) published the full Leica 100-400mm lens review:

The Panasonic 100-400 really highlights one of the strength of the micro four thirds system. A lens with insanely long effective focal length but with reasonably compact size. The build quality and image quality of the lens are decent and I really like the dual lens hood and lockable focal length design. Not to mention that the really fast autofocus speed and good O.I.S. /dual I.S. performance. I do wish the integrated lens hood is a little bit longer so I don’t need to touch the detachable lens hood most of the time. But the only thing I don’t really like is the tripod collar can only be rotated by 90 degree so you do have to remove it when shooting handheld. The smallish f/4-6.3 aperture size also limits the low light performance (both autofocus speed and image quality).

Leica 100-400mm store links: [shopcountry 59084].

PEN-F review by Echenique and Admiringlight

[shoplink 59394 ebay]PEN_PEN-F_ET_M7518_2015-12_black_still__mood_12a-1024x768[/shoplink]

We got two new PEN-F reviews:

Admiringlight writes:

It’s by far the best PEN camera Olympus has made, and it will satisfy almost any MIcro 4/3 shooter with its full feature set, very good image quality and compact size. The biggest issue with the Pen-F is price. It’s priced at $1199 body only, a full $200 more than the E-M5 Mark II, but with almost no advantages over that camera.  The only clear advantage is the slightly newer sensor. 

Echenique listed the pros/cons:

Pros
Drop dead sexy camera – Conversation starter and ice-breaker all in one.
Super fast single shot AF – despite it only having CDAF, the Pen-F locks on quickly and accurately. Not perfect (see Cons), but very, very good.
Small & easy to carry – great for those long street photo journeys.
Vastly improved High-ISO performance – while not the High-ISO king, the Pen-F has the best High-ISO performace I have ever seen in an MFT camera.
Cons
Not weather sealed – but then, neither is the Leica M (the de-facto king of street photography).
Continuous AF needs work – Hopefully Olympus will address this with a firmware update since they drank the Kaizen Kool-Aid a couple of years ago.
Weak video features – lacks an external mike and headphone jacks. Suited for B-roll work.

Olympus PEN-F store links to [shopcountry 59394].