DxOmark (Click here) posted and wrote that this is “certainly the best (MFT) kit available based around zoom lenses“.
The 12-35 and 35-100mm basically have the same kind of quality. And it’s rumored that Olympus will launch a f/2.8 zoom with even better image quality. It’s likely going to be announced along the new OMD in September. But I still need to get a confirmation form trusted sources about that…

The Panasonic 35-100mm store links to [shopcountry 33626].
Links to the two superb Zuiko f/2.0 zooms:
14-35mm f/2.0 on [shoplink 25320 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and via Slidoo eBay.
35-100mm f/2.0 on [shoplink 25119 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and via Slidoo eBay.

Image courtesy: Photozone.

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Klaus from Photozone (Click here) analyzed the Olympus 75mm f/1.8 lens performance. And the conclusion is: “The Olympus M.Zuiko 75mm f/1.8 ED is, by quite a margin, the best micro-four-thirds lens that we have tested to date.” If you know Klaus he is quite sever in his judgments. Olympus really should do more lenses like the 75mm prime!

Lens Price check: [shopcountry 31284].

And ThePhoBlographer (Click here) tested the new 17mm prime lens: “Overall, the Olympus 17mm f1.8 is a solid lens that performed well throughout this test. The autofocus speed is incredible and the overall image quality is very good. It is a bit on the pricey side when compared to the Olympus 17mm f2.8 and the Panasonic 20mm f1.7”

Lens Price check: [shopcountry 34914].

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera – Market from John Brawley Tests on Vimeo.

John Brawley (Click here) had the pleasure to test the new Blackmagic Cinema Pocket Micro Four Thirds camera. And Rick Young posted a hands-on video on Vimeo (Click here). I can’t wait to see real video comparison between the Blackmagic and the GH3 :)

P.S.: Again more new PEN and OMD auctions on refurbished cameras at [shoplink 22691 ebay]Olympusmarket (Click here to see all their auctions)[/shoplink].

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Pixel Peepers fanatics can now download some RAW image samples at Quesabesde (Click here). More JPG image samples have been also posted at FourThirds-User. Meantime GF6 preorder quantities aren’t really overwhelming. The camera ranks 21st at Amazon mirrorless camera ranking (Click here, note changing hourly!).

GF6 Preorders are now up at Amazon (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and now at Adorama (Click here) too.

Curiosity: Too bad the Blackmagic Pocket camera ins’t sold by Amazon -> you can preorder it at Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here) -< It would have been nice to see if preorders of the Blackmagic are higher than the GF6 :)

LUMIX GF6 Actual Shooting Video by PanasonicLumixVideo

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Note: The new Panasonic GF6 can now be preordered at Amazon (Click here) and at BHphoto (Click here)!

After Panasonic  and FourThirdsUser also ePhotozine (Click here) published some GF6 image samples. It is still not possible to make a final judgment about the image quality. While it’s true that the GF6 uses the same GX1 sensor we also have to acknowledge that the GF6 uses a completely new Venus Image Processor Engine.  What are your early thoughts about the image quality?

Links to the two new MFT cameras:
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema camera specs and preorders at Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Panasonic GF6 specs and preorders at Amazon (Click here) and at BHphoto (Click here)!

NAB 2013: Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera unveiled from Dan Chung on Vimeo.

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Right now the new Pocket Cinema Camera can be preordered at Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here). But what’s so Magic with the new Blackmagic?

First of all, if you are a pure photographer stop here. The Pocket Cinema Camera is a video camera! But if your priority is shooting film than this little (and non expensive) camera may be for you! You can read all specs of the camera at Blackmagicdesign. What I like about the camera is that it has been (well) designed and developed with one specific goal in mind: Deliver the best video quality in the most pocketable package. It shoots 12 bit CinemaRAW DNG and has 2 Megapixels…exactly what you need for HD shooting and not a pixel more that gets “wasted” like on current hybrid photo/video cameras. The result is an amazing sharpness and 13 stop dynamic range:

The new Pocket Cinema Camera has the same sesnor tech as the bigger Blackmagic Cinema Camera. And the video below nicely shows you how much better the Blackmagic is when compared with the Canon 5DmarkIII:

Comparing the Cinema Camera & 5D Mk III from OneRiver Media on Vimeo.

Now you get that kind of quality for $995 and in a cool small sized camera. I think Blackmagic did an incredible good job and also added more value to the full Micro Four Thirds system that is more and more becoming the mainstream mirrorless system! Yes, that camera “wowed” me yesterday! Well done Blackmagic!

P.S.: You may also read the Pocket Cinem Camera review written by John Brawley and the hands-on at Leavethatcouch. Again, preorders at Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).

DxOmark (Click here) and also ePhotozine (Click here) tested the 14-42mm II (non X!) lens. And the DxO result shows that the 14-42mm II lens beats the X power zoom (and compact) version. ePhotozine “Highly Recommends” the lens and writes: “The Panasonic Lumix G VARIO 14-42mm II Lens has excellent sharpness throughout the zoom range.”

DxO also underlines one problem, none of the existing cheap MFT zoom kit lenses is really a high quality performer. It’s my opinion that Panasonic and Olympus should try to produce a lens with the characteristics of the Fuji 18-55mm f/2.8-4.0 lens.

Reminder: The new GF6 will come with an updated new 14-42mm lens that is a little bit shorter. Stay tuned on 43rumors on Tuesday 6 am London time! We will follow live the Panasonic announcement.