M43photo.blogspot compared the [shoplink 16254]GH2[/shoplink] vs [shoplink 14828]GH1[/shoplink] video quality: “First of all, it is easy to conclude that the colour balance is different. I have the same saturation settings in both cameras (+1), and the lightning was the same. So the difference must be due to different implementation of auto white balance. Overall, I feel that the GH2 colours look more natural. When it comes to the sharpness, I think the conclusion is that the GH2 has better image quality. Even though the bandwidth is a bit smaller than in the hacked GH1.”

That’s the second comparison test I see and it looks like the 24Mbit AVCHD codec does an impressive job. Reminder, the new GH1 cameras that are for sale in stores are not hackeable because they feature the newest firmware which has not been hacked yet! But if you are still interested in getting the cheaper hackeable GH1 there are few of them for sale on [shoplink 18422 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

Travis sent me the following text to explain the GH2 vs GF1 comparison:
“So I had a chance to film a competition this weekend with my GH2. I had filmed the exact same competition last year with my [shoplink 14828]GF1[/shoplink] and the [shoplink 14796]20mm[/shoplink] in true manual focus mode.
GH2 Rise Up comp: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ahT2JHsYZo
GF1 Rise Up comp: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5ePxmdu0k8
This year I felt lazy and stuck it in continuous autofocus for most of the comp and single point auto focus for a few shots where the focus didn’t need to change. There are a few spots where you can see the focus change but not too bad for indoors in horrible lighting.
The biggest advantage to the GH2 is the teleconversion feature. Last year I had to use the 2x digital zoom when I wanted to film with the 20mm pancake. This year I just shot in 1080p with the 2.6x converter on. It gives me extremely detailed 1080p video as if I was using a 52mm lens. The two links below point to similar samples. The first link uses the 2x digital zoom and the second on shows the 2.6x lossless teleconversion. The difference is pretty amazing and both were filmed with the same lens in the same location.
GF1 2x Digital Zoom: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5ePxmdu0k8&t=0m50s
GH2 teleconversion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ahT2JHsYZo&t=1m36s
The first two clips at the link below were shot at a fixed ISO 3200 with the 45-200mm indoors. I never thought that would be possible until the GH2 came around: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ahT2JHsYZo&t=3m55s
I did have some trouble with the camera turning off periodically because it couldn’t recognize the battery. That made me very mad but I have two spare batteries being delivered that should resolve the issue.
Overall I couldn’t be happier with the GH2. And now that I have the [shoplink 16258]14mm F2.5 lens[/shoplink] I really don’t think I need anything more.”

And here short in Stock status update:
For US: The GH2 is in Stock at Amazon or [shoplink 17664 ebay]eBay[/shoplink].
For Europe: The GH2 is in Stock in almost every online or local stores: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, Pixmania.fr, Pixmania.it, Pixmania.pl, Pixmania.es.

Photographyblog tested the new [shoplink 16261]Panasonic 100-300mm lens[/shoplink]. The lens scores 4 of 5 stars: “While this lens is obviously not in the same class as the primes and high-grade zooms that we have reviewed so far, it is actually pretty amazing for a superzoom….For starters, it’s surprisingly small and lightweight…Optically, the lens isn’t a top performer, but it’s perfectly acceptable and actually better than we expected. At most focal lengths, you can safely use it wide open…The lens also earns our admiration for fast focusing on the equally new [shoplink 16254]DMC-GH2[/shoplink], even at the 600mm equivalent end of the zoom range in low-light conditions. This is equally true for moving subjects too, making this lens well-suited to sports and wildlife photography…”
Read the full review at Photographyblog.

The lens itself is in Stock at Amazon or [shoplink 17618 ebay]eBay[/shoplink].

Cinedigital.tv made this Lumix GH2 vs Canon 5DmarkII vs Canon T2i comparison.

Digitalrev posted the first part of their Panasonic Lumix GH2 vs Canon EOS 60D Review. It has been written by Andrew reid from EosHD: “Having already covered the video side of these cool new DSLRs on EOSHD.com, I’m approaching this review from the stills side. “…”In video mode, quality is excellent, easily beating the Canon 60D. But in stills mode although it’s a good improvement over previous Lumix G cameras like the GH1 and GF1 it cannot match the Canon 60D“. P.S.: Imaging Resource published a set of image samples.

But Andrew discovered a nice trick to enable video recording with the new 3D lens (which by te way is in Stock at BHphoto right now)! “Now, it seems by simply covering the electronic contacts of the Lumix 3D lens with paper you can shoot with it in video mode, not just stills.” Read mroe about that on EosHD (Hey Andrew you should find a new name for your website!).

For our US friends: Panasonic store has a bunch of Body Only GH2 in Stock! A few more cameras are [shoplink 17664 ebay]in Stock at eBay[/shoplink]! And an expensive silver GH2 is in Stock at Amazon :(

There is a new Voigtländer Nokton review written by Lenstip (Click here to read it). It’s a very detailed and accurate test (Good job!): “If you ever held any of Voigtlander lenses in your hand, you won’t be disappointed by the Nokton 0.95/25. Its build quality is really beyond reproach – we deal here with metal and glass, nothing more.”

At f/0.95 resolution is very low, it has high coma and vignetting(-2.08 EV). The good news is that “the image doesn’t feature any out-of-focus colour cast which means the longitudinal aberration is corrected splendidly” and there is a negligible level of chromatic aberration. Stopped down the lens performance is very high (from f/1.4 upwards) with sensational image quality in the frame centre.

The real problem of that lens is that it is sold out! There is only one single lens in auction on [shoplink 15659]eBay (via german reseller)[/shoplink]. Camerquest announced that they have no camera left. And my second request goes directly to Voigtländer. Please make more MFT lenses like the [shoplink 15738]35mm and 40mm fast pancakes[/shoplink] :)

Photographyblog posted their Panasonic GH2 review. And the conclusions is: “The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 offers a winning combination of high-quality stills and video, proven handling and design, and a more affordable price-tag – it’s simply the most complete interchangeable lens camera currently available for people who want to shoot in both formats.”

And it’s the first time I see such an amazing rating by Photographyblog… 24/25 points! The camera gains an “Essential” recommendation!!! Only the Nikon D3s and the Nikon D3x do have the same “Essential” rating (but they also do cost over $5.000!).

GH2 preorders in US

Amazon US, Adorama, BHphoto (notify only)

GH2 Europe (in Stock)

Amazon.de, Pixmania.fr, Amazon.co.uk, Pixmania.it, Pixmania.pl, Pixmania.es.

The next [shoplink 17163]Olympus E-5[/shoplink] review has been published by Neocamera. It turns out that also in that case the reviewer is positively impressed by the camera: “This Olympus E-5 turns out to be an excellent DSLR. It has all the makings of a refined product and an advanced feature set which makes it suitable for all types of photography. There are very few cameras which include all the E-5’s important features and it even has some unique capabilities.”

One more news: Olympus E-5 manuals available now in “all” languages, on:
http://www.olympus-europa.com/consumer/208_manuals.cfm?prodID=MN4279292
via http://www.forum-olympus-france.com.

I guess not many of you knew that there is a new adapter ([shoplink 18298 ebay]made and sold by a taiwanese company on eBay[/shoplink]) which enables the use Micro Four Thirds lenses on Sony NEX cameras. Woodent (a dpreview forum user) tested the Voigtländer 25mm f/0.95 on the Sony NEX-5. Click here to see the camera+lens combo on Flickr. There are also a few image samples (again on Flickr). The lens has a lot of vignetting at f/0.95 aperture. The focal lenght on the Sony corrisponds to 37.5mm (fullframe). That’t definitely not an ideal combination, but the Sony NEX system currently offers only three lenses so you have to be inventive :)

P.S.: There are only a few [shoplink 15659]Voigtländer Nokton 25mm f/0.95 lenses in Stock in Europe (via eBay and Europe shipment only)[/shoplink]. And the US store Cameraquest has already sold out the 2nd factory shipment of 25/.95 lenses expected by late December.