Olympus XZ-1 Field Report at Luminous Landscape: “At low ISOs (up to 400) and without too much file manipulation the XZ-1 is capable of producing very acceptable image quality on up to about 11X17″ prints, and is certainly more than acceptable for web-destined images. In comparison with its primary competitors from Canon, Panasonic and Samsung, I would judge it as having a very slight edge in terms of usability though not high ISO noise.”
Direct search links to the XZ-1 at [shopcountry 19904] (Click on shop name).

The Olympus XA: The smallest rangefinder camera by Konstantinos Besios (SteveHuffPhoto.com): “Of course the image quality is not a par with a Leica, but for those instances where even a small camera bag is too much to carry  this little rangefinder is perfect (and the price is really a bargain !!)”
See the Olympu XA auctions on [shoplink 22904 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

Panasonic GF3 Hands-On Preview (Photographyblog) and first look at Amateur Photographer.

Spanish GF3 presentation video at Quesabesde.
Preorders at [shopcountry 22077]

The Leica Noctilux is so expensive that only a few people can afford it. So it’s quite impressive that 3Dkraft had the chance to test not one…but two different Noctilux lenses on Micro Four Thirds! He compared the qualities of the [shoplink 23018 ebay]Leica Noctilux-M 1:0.95 / 50mm[/shoplink] with its predecessor, the [shoplink 23017 ebay]Noctilux-M 1:1.0 / 50mm[/shoplink]. He tested the lenses on the GH2: “The Noctilux mounted to a micro Four Thirds camera results in an unusually balanced combination, but still appears “visually” balanced. If your camera is equipped with an electronic viewfinder providing magnification it is very helpful for precise focusing. The Noctilux 1.0 is said to have a certain focus shift on rangefinder cameras like the Leica M9, which was opimized ith the new 0.95er version. However – on cameras with electronic viewfinders this plays no role.”
See the test at 3Dkraft (Click here).

Check the Leica Noctilus 0.95 price on [shoplink 23018 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Check the Leica Noctilus 1.0 price on [shoplink 23017 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

P.S.: Get the Voigtländer Nokton 25mm f/0.95 on [shoplink 15659 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] if you want a fast lens. It’s “cheap”, has a very good image quality and is native Micro Four Thirds lens!

Panasonic G3 in Paris (made by Hybridcams.fr).

That tiny G3 is really surprising me. It’s getting a very positive feedback from reviewers and also the image samples do look very good!
The latest review is form Jeff Keller from DCresource (Click here). The first impression is very good: “The camera can be held and operated with one hand, with the most important controls within easy reach of your fingers.” but “controls are more cluttered…that led to lots of accidental button-pressing“. “Highlight clipping seemed improved over previous models…Overall, the Lumix DMC-G3 produces very good quality photos“. “The camera tends to slightly underexpose, usually be 1/3 stop. That’s easy to fix with bracketing or by just increasing the exposure compensation up a bit.”
Final words: “All things considered, the DMC-G3 retains the features that made the G-series a favorite of mine, which is why this latest iteration earns my recommendation.”

First preorders are now available on [shoplink 22077 ebay]eBay too (Click here)[/shoplink]. According to Amazon UK (Click here) the G3 will be released on 17 June 2011! You can preorder the camera at Amazon US (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and Amazon Germany (Click here).

Finding Waves – Hamburg Surffestival 2011 from Saubere Filme on Vimeo (via EosHD).

Dpreivew added the Panasonic G3 images on the studio comparison tool (Click here and than select the G3 to compare the results with the GH2). As you can see the G3 and GH2 are pretty close at low ISO. Only at 1600 you will see a small difference between the two cameras. Last week Digitalcamerareview posted the full G3 test and the camera became an “editor’s choice! And Popphoto posted a new set of G3 image samples.

And now the good news. According to Amazon UK (Click here) the G3 will be released on 17 June 2011! You can preorder the camera at Amazon US (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and Amazon Germany (Click here). And some fool reseller offers eleven G3 for 2.029,00 on [shoplink 22851 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]!

Side by side: The [shoplink 16258]Panasonic 14mm f/2.5[/shoplink] and [shoplink 14798]Olympus 17mm f/2.8[/shoplink].

Our friend Valentin Sama tested the [shoplink 16258]Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 lens[/shoplink] at DSLRmagazine (Click here to read the google english translation).
No flare, good contrast, good color ad fast AF (on a Panasonic camera). The resolution wide open is good in the center and sufficient o the border (that’s not really exceptional for a prime lens, but hey it’s an ultracompact lens!). Distortions and Lateral CAs are well controlled. The conclusion do math the verdict from Photozone (Click here) that tested the lens a couple of months ago.

Pancakes are one of the reason why one should join Micro Four Thirds. And the [shoplink 16258]Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 lens[/shoplink] is the smallest of all MFT lenses. Would love to see some more of them!

Click thos direct search links to find the lens price: [shopcountry 16258].

Kai Wong from Digitalrev tested my favorite Micro Four Thirds lens, the Voigtländer Nokton 25mm f/0.95! In my opinion the Nokton is one of these lenses that has that magical “WoW-factor” and can convince people to join the MFT system. Of course it’s difficoult to focus when you are in hurry. But sport or action photography is not what the lens was build for. It’s also a very cheap lens if you consider the high build and image quality. You want something better? Be prepared to pay over 9.000 Euro for the [shoplink 22726 ebay]Leica Noctilux 50mm f/0.95[/shoplink]!

Where can you get the lens? Here are some links for US and EU readers. Notice that the cheapest price I found in Europe is in France!!! Don’t know why, but they are 150 Euro cheaper than the rest of Europe!

US:
BHphoto (Not in Stock yet), Cameraquest (not in Stock), [shoplink 22723 ebay]Caxa[/shoplink] (ebay seller from Riga but ships worldwide), [shoplink 22724 ebay]infoto2[/shoplink] (ships worldwide), [shoplink 22725 ebay]fotomundus (worldwide)[/shoplink].

Europe:
Amazon France (749 Euro), Lapetiteboutiquephoto (749 Euro), [shoplink 22126 ebay]infoto2[/shoplink](ebay), [shoplink 22722 ebay]Fotomundus (ebay)[/shoplink].

Those are the pros and cns of the camera according to the reviewer:

Pros
Small size and weight
Very good still images
Excellent video

Cons
Low battery life
Slow flash recycle
Entry-level DSLR price

Yes, looks like Panasonic has a real winner here!

Look for preorders by clicking those links: [shopcountry 22077]!