Short UPDATE: The Silver GH2 is in Stock at Amazon (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and J&R (Click here).

Digital-photography-school (Click here) tested the Panasonic GH2: “This is a very sophisticated camera, with a bevy of external controls and a big pile of finder menu options. It would suit those with previous experience of DSLR useage. One sour note: you may, as I did, grow increasingly annoyed at the rear control buttons which are nearly flush with the camera body surface and hard to activate with certainty.”
Click those direct links to check the GH2 price: [shopcountry 16254].

Digitaltrends (Click here) tested the Olympus XZ-1: “When you’re ready to move past the temporary pocket digicams but not quite ready to lug around a big-bodied DSLR, it’s difficult to justify the purchase of an “in-between” camera. But in this case, it’s an easy decision. Once you’ve outgrown pocket cams that either fall apart or are outdated in a year, it’s time to invest in a machine that you can discreetly use and won’t need annual replacing. The XZ-1 is such an investment, and yes, at nearly $500 it’s a solid one – but it will keep users of various skill levels interested all while delivering impressive quality photos.”
Also PCmag (Click here) tested the Olympus camera: “There’s no denying the fact that the Olympus XZ-1 is a fast camera that produces top-notch pictures. But it’s big, and at $500, it’s pricey for a compact-class camera. On performance alone, though, it edges out our Editors’ Choice Canon PowerShot S95, which is much smaller and less-expensive. The problem is that that the XZ-1 is too big and expensive to compete with compact cameras, and lacks the features and performance to measure up to D-SLRs or interchangeable-lens cameras.”
Click those direct links to check the GH2 price: [shopcountry 19904].

He tested the lens on the [shoplink 14828]Panasonic GF1[/shoplink]. Read the full review at www.photozone.de

Reminder: The lens is sold out in most worldwide shops. The next Stock of lenses will be shipped in late April only. You can get the lens at [shoplink 15659 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] where there are a dozen auctions ongoing right now.

You can read the 43rumors user reviews of the lens here at https://www.43rumors.com/cameras/voigtlander-nokton-25mm-f0-95/#submitownreview

Digitalcamerainfo (Click here) tested the popular Olympus XZ-1 camera. It’s a 15 page long detailed article and that’s the conclusion: “The [shoplink 19904]Olympus XZ-1[/shoplink] is a spectacular addition to the high-end compact camera family. We’re happy to see Olympus re-entering this market, especially with this 11-megapixel sensor and gorgeous new Zuiko lens. The hardware lets the camera churn out great photos, despite having such a portable form factor. For manual control enthusiasts, the XZ-1 has even more to offer: a slick control ring around the lens, full manual exposure options, and an accessory port that you can use for Olympus’ optional EVF. Most cameras in this price range have at least one weakness, but we’re not really sure what the XZ-1’s weakness is.”

The XZ-1 is not a Micro Four Thirds camera but it shows us that Olympus can make very good cameras. I do hope the next PEN cameras will be at least as successful as the XZ-1. You can get the XZ-1 in black or white at [shopcountry 19904].

Photographyblog (Click here) compared the Panasonic GH2 and Fuji X100 noise performance. Due the recent Japanese catastrophy the Fuji X100 shipment has been delayed until late April (Source: Quesabesde). The only place where you can get the X100 now is [shoplink 19929]eBay (but what a price!)[/shoplink].
Check the Panasonic GH2 price at [shopcountry 16254].

ePhotozine (Click here) tested the Panasonic LX5: “The Panasonic Lumix LX5 is a great camera for anyone looking to develop their photography without the bulk, weight, and potential expense of a ILC system or DSLR system. The camera provides an abundance of options and controls, and more importantly expansion potential. You can use the flash hotshoe to drive slave flashes, add an optical or electronic viewfinder, and more. Image quality is excellent for a compact camera, thanks to an impressive wide angle 24mm Leica f/2.0 lens. The body of the camera is built to a very high standard, and the ergonomics of the camera are excellent.”
Check the Panasonic LX5 price at [shopcountry 21136].

Crunchgear (Click here) posted a short Olympus E-PL2 review: “Again, I’m a big fan of what Olympus has done here and if you’re in the market for a mid-level portable camera with some great features, the E-PL2 is waiting for your call. Even with the caveats I mention above, the move towards micro 4/3s is exciting and potentially game-changing, especially when it comes to more casual prosumer shooting.”
Check the Olympus E-PL2 price at [shopcountry 18844].

The Olympus XZ-1 wins the red dot design award (Source: Photographyblog).
Check the Olympus XZ-1 price at [shopcountry 19904].

Hurry! Read the whole Panasonic GH2 review at Dpreview (Click here): “The GH2 might not be a revolutionary development (in all essential points it is very closely related to its predecessor, the GH1) but we’re confident in saying that it is the best mirrorless system camera that we’ve ever tested, bar none. With the GH2 Panasonic has finally demonstrated that it is able to compete with the APS-C format competition when it comes both to resolution and critical image quality. Although the GH2’s Micro Four Thirds sensor is smaller than those found in cameras like the Canon EOS 60D and Nikon D7000, it runs them both pretty close. Up to ISO 3200 in fact, we’d stick our necks out and say that the GH2 can hold its own against any of the current crop of APS-C format cameras on the market, which is high praise indeed. ”

The GH2 earned an overall score of 79% (which is pretty high!). It has the highest movie quality of all cameras ever tested on Dpreview. Only the [shoplink 21101]Nikon D7000[/shoplink] has one little point more (80%).

You can get the Panasonic GH2 at [shopcountry 16254] (Just click on shop name to directly visit the GH2 page). And for our US readers, it is in Stock at Adorama (Click here)!

Photographyblog (Click here) reviewed the Olympus 9-18mm f/4-5.6 lens: “Its sharpness is pretty good for its class throughout most of its zoom range, with only the extreme borders being somewhat soft for our tastes at the shortest focal length of 9mm. The essential absence of corner shading / vignetting at all focal lengths is impressive, and the close-up performance is also surprisingly good for a lens this wide. All is not rosy though, with chromatic aberrations in particular being too high, even by ultra-wide standards.”
Click here to read what our readers think about the lens.
And click those direct links to check the 9-18mm price at [shopcountry 14818].

Lori Grunin from CNET (Click here) testet the Olympus 9-18mm lens: “A great interchangeable-lens model if you’re looking for better photo quality and/or a more advanced feature set than your current point-and-shoot offers, the Olympus PEN E-PL2 still doesn’t satisfy for photographing active kids and pets.”
Click here to read what our readers think about that lens.
And click those direct links to check the 9-18mm price at [shopcountry 18844].

Neocamera (Click here) posted a short Panasonic GH2 review: “The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 is a full-featured Micro Four-Thirds SLD which delivers good image quality and a generally solid performance. Image quality is characterized by low noise, good retention of details, excellent metering and nice colors. White-balance performance is the main weakness of the GH2, although the custom white-balance feature gets around this with some discipline. The camera is quite responsive and stands out by its relatively fast contrast-detect autofocus system.”
Click here to read what our readers think about the GH2.
And click those direct links to check the Panasonic GH2 price at [shopcountry 16254].

Partial Solar Eclipse (GH2 + Voigtländer 0.95) from Seb Farges on Vimeo.

SLRclub (Click here) posted a very detailed Voigtländer Nokton 25mm f/0.95 review. There is only one little issue…everything has been written in Korean and posted as an image (which google translate cannot translate). But at least you can take a look to all images, videos and graph.
You can also read the 43rumors readers review of the Nokton lens at https://www.43rumors.com/cameras/voigtlander-nokton-25mm-f0-95/#submitownreview. And if you want to buy the lens than you have to look for current auctions on [shoplink 15659 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. It’s the only place were you can be sure to find some lenses.

Digitalcamera-hq (Click here) tested the Panasonic GF2: “While the GF2 may be a disappointment to a small, specific subset of enthusiasts (who also happen to be the most vocal commenters on the Internet), the majority will find it to be a full-featured, intuitive, and very useful photographic tool. In most senses it improves on the GF1, with a newer and more sensitive imaging sensor, higher-spec video recording, and reduced size and weight. It produces great stills and video — certainly on par with all but the highest-end Micro Four Thirds cameras and close to equaling the output of previous-generation APS-C dSLRs.
Read the 43rumors readers reviews and ratings at https://www.43rumors.com/cameras/panasonic-gf2/#ratingandreviews.
Direct GF2 links to [shopcountry 17361].

Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 pancake lens review at EosHD (Click here): “The 14mm pancake is highly recommended. It continues Panasonic’s approach to quality kit lenses, and I’ve enjoyed all of Panasonic’s Micro Four Thirds optics so far, apart from the rather high price of the fisheye, ultra wide and 100-300mm, and the slightly soft 55-200mm. But quality wise they’re mostly absolutely superb. Build too, although the rubber grip on the zoom ring of the 14-140mm had a pathetic habit of falling off after 3 months.”
Read the 43rumors readers reviews and ratings at https://www.43rumors.com/cameras/panasonic-14mm-f2-5/#submitownreview.
Direct Panasonic 14mm links to [shopcountry 16258].

The Norwegian website Akam (Click here) posted a short Panasonic GH2 review.
Read the 43rumors readers reviews and ratings at https://www.43rumors.com/cameras/panasonic-gh2/#submitownreview
Direct Panasonic GH2 links to [shopcountry 16254].

A different review:
Dpreview tested the Apple iPad 2 for Photographers