First images samples and tests of the new Tokina lens for Micro Four Thirds can be seen at Dslrcheck (Click here) and at Flickr (Click here). As you know this is a 300mm f/6.3 lens that costs around 300 Dollars/Euro. I haven’t found any preorders in Europe or US yet. It’s only available in Japan.

The spectacular Nokotn 17.5mm f/0.95 lens just got tested on the GH2 by Filmmakingetc (Click here): “The build quality is superb, the low light is awesome, and the mechanical focus ring is a joy is use (especially after using icky focus-by-wire rings so many modern lens have). Oh, and the image quality is stunning.”

You can find plenty of these lenses in Asia and Germany at [shoplink 30452 ebay]eBay (Click hee to see all acutions)[/shoplink]. Great and a bit expensive lens!

E-M5 video quality
My friend Andrew from EosHD (Click here) agrees that the E-M5 is an absolute great camera. But he focused on the video quality of the camera and writes: “The Olympus approach to video on the other hand is the opposite of masterstroke. If this camera was hacked to support high bitrate 24p it would be a GH2 beater. Given the shear responsiveness of the camera, the speed of the AF, the fast scan of the sensor for minimal rolling shutter and the high resolving power in video mode – it clearly packs some powerful hardware under the hood and a very capable sensor. It is just a shame we yet again don’t see the best of it in video mode because of decisions made in firmware.“. Agree, Olympus could have done better! They could make it good by releasing a firmware update which increase the video quality. Are you listening Oly? :)

E-M5 sensor with moirè?
The french magazine Chassimages claims to have found the answer about the E-M5 sensor. Pierre Lepidi (Click here) posted the text from the magazine (you can’t find the Chassimages text online): “its the same GX1 sensor but what changes is that the E-m5 sensor has a lighter Anti Aliasing filter. Images are sharper although you have a higher risk to find moiré“. This seems to be confirmed by the comparison posted by DSRLcheck (Click here). There is visible more reoslution and moirè when comparing the E-M5 with the GX1.

E-M5 news roundup:
TVsmith (Click here) has been asked at the race track if the OM-D can do action… The pictures may show you the answer ;) OM-D in-body stabilisation versus Pana OIS @ 300mm at Snappydiablog (Click here). OM-5 initial reaction at Footlessfish (Click here). The latest Apple RAW update brings support for the E-M5 and GF5!

E-M5 third party battery:
A review of the third party E-M5 battery at Clubsnap (Click here): “These batteries will only hold 84% of the charge of a real Olympus 1220mAh battery. (Assuming you get 250-shots out of an original battery, this will give you 209-shots before it gives up on you.) It is also only 70% of the claimed 1450mAh.“. You can buy those batteries on eBay:
[shoplink 30960 ebay]One Olympus batteries and NO(!) charger (Click here to check the price on eBay). You need to have a compatible charger![/shoplink] [shoplink 30954 ebay]One Olympus battery + 1 chargers (Click here to check the price on eBay)[/shoplink] [shoplink 30955 ebay]Two Olympus batteries + 1 chargers (Click here to check the price on eBay)[/shoplink] [shoplink 30961 ebay]Three Olympus batteries + 1 chargers (Click here to check the price on eBay)[/shoplink]

James: “Hi, I see you have a lot of love for the Olympus Om-D, so do I. If your readers like they can subscribe to my facebook as I’m travelling around Europe for the rest of the year with my OM-D, 7-14mm, 12mm, 25mm & 45mm. I’m trying to post photos for my friends and family as much as possible. Just thought it might be something your readers could be interested in. the url is www.facebook.com/coxy84”

E-M5 orders (Click on the names of the stores to see the product page):
Black E-M5 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, J&R, Warehouse UK, Digitalrev and Amazon Japan.
Silver E-M5 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, J&R, Warehouse UK, and Amazon Japan.
Black E-M5 body with 14-42mm lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto , Digitalrev and J&R.
Black E-M5 body with 12-50mm lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, J&R, Jessops, Amazon UK, Amazon Deutschland , Digitalrev and Amazon Japan.
Silver E-M5 body with 12-50mm lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, J&R, Jessops, Amazon UK, Amazon Deutschland and Amazon Japan.

Popco (Click here) posted a nice set of sexy 12-35mm X lens pictures including a “weight comparison”! And they made a autofocus speed test you can see on vimeo (Click here). A new set of image samples can be found here at Flickr. And there is another full review at Camerastuffreview (Click here). The conclusion are very positive like it was at Photographyblog, ePhotozine, SLRgear and DSLRmagazine. The only flaw of that lens may be the missing powerzoom (hey I am a film maker, for me that would have been a nice addition).

Lens preorders:
in USA at Amazon (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and Adorama (Click here).
in Europe at FotoHanzKeuzekamp (Click here).
in Asia at Amazon Japan (Click here) and Digitalrev (Click here).

Silver E-M5 delay
Olympus heavily understimated the demand of the Silver E-M5. Because of that today Amazon reports that the Silver body will ship within 1-2 months only (Click here to read). And 43rumors readers that preordered the Silver body on February 7 have been notified that shipment has been delayed to “June 27, 2012 – July 24, 2012“. A reader from UK also wrote that his preorder has been canceled by Amazon UK. Olympus usually isn’t known for that kind of delivery delays. It’s really to larger than expected succss of the camera that is pushing forward the shipment of your cameras.

Meantime you can enjoy some new reviews and tests (Thanks to all reader for sending me those links!!!):
Digital Camera Magazine posted the E-M5 color accuracy test and you can see a screenshot at Imageshack (Click here).
Lori Grunin from Cnet US (Click here) posted the final E-M5 review: “You don’t have a lot of choices if you’re looking for something rugged under $1,000 that’s better than most of the point-and-shoot alternatives. There’s the forthcoming Pentax K-30 dSLR, but it’s bigger and clunkier. While you don’t get best-in-class photo quality with the OM-D E-M5, it’s a not-unreasonable trade-off for the rest of the package.”
Photographing the streets of Paris with the Olympus OM-D at Dearsusans (Click here): “The JPEG engine is so good I really doubt there would be any point in using the RAW option – at low ISOs – unless you’re a pro shooting on assignment with strict orders.”
Using the Olympus OMD EM5 on a Cosplay Photoshoot at ThePhoBlographer (Click here). E-M5 versus NEX-5n on youtube.
Ticket zu verlosen: OM-D Workshop in Münster (1.-3. Juni 2012) at SystemKameraForum (Click here). Une occasion unique de tester le nouvel Olympus OM-D à paris (Focus Numerique / Lepidi).

E-M5 (Pre)order links (Click on store name): Amazon, Adorama, B&H, Jessops, Amazon UK, Amazon Germany, Amazon Japan and Digitalrev. Don’t forget you can buy plenty of cheap [shoplink 31278 ebay]third party E-M5 batteries on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

The E-M5 keeps to be present in the Amazon Bestseller list(changes hourly!):
USA: E-M5 on position 5/6/12 (Click here)
UK: E-M5 is on position 3/7/9 (Click here).
Germany: The E-M5 is on position 1/12 (Click here).
France: not available (Click here to see rankings anyway).
Japan: E-M5 on position 13/14/16 (Click here).