Image on top: The Panasonic AG-AF100

NoFilmSchool (Click here) reported that B&H erroneously stated the AF100 was discontinued. And they also say: “We did, however, hear a bit about a new camera they were calling the 4K VariCam. While details were limited, it will definitely sport a 4K Super 35mm sensor and feature a version of the newly developed AVC Ultra 4:4:4 codec. Though this isn’t a direct replacement to the camera that just got axed, it’s in the realm of possibility that we could see a version of this camera eventually finding its way down to the price of the AF100.”

That camera could be announced in April right before the NAB show in Las Vegas.

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For sources: Sources can send me anonymous info at 43rumors@gmail.com (create a fake gmail account) or via contact form you see on the right sidebar. Thanks!

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Rumors classification explained (FT= FourThirds):
FT1=1-20% chance the rumor is correct
FT2=21-40% chance the rumor is correct
FT3=41-60% chance the rumor is correct
FT4=61-80% chance the rumor is correct
FT5=81-99% chance the rumor is correct

I got an anonymous mail from a hacker. Be aware that I don’t know yet if what he tells me is correct or not but I hope other hackers or sources can confirm or deny this.

Here is the text I got. Be aware that he is not a native English speaker:

“After a long investigation I can say the OM-D EM5 can be hacked (with Olympus Studio and the Bin version of a OM-D EM5 Firmware that is only available somewhere here http://dl01.olympus-imaging.com/OLYMPUS_MASTER/FIRMWARES/).
How the update firmware work on OM-D. First the update firmware check the revision of your camera and check the firmware (last firmware, don’t update, new firmware, update)
if the update firmware find that your camera don’t have the last firmware, the update firmware take the last firmware revision in here http://dl01.olympus-imaging.com/OLYMPUS_MASTER/FIRMWARES/
We call that a silence update. You can easily hack the OM-D EM5 if you have the bin one, as you know many dev in the past was doing some decrypt olympus firmware work

First – We need the firmware.BIN it would be more easier this way
Second – you can use Olympus Studios or SDK to push the OM-D into the service and debugger mode that let you to work on it
Third – we can after really exploit the OM-D EM5 capabilities

Just to keep you informed. The debugger mode is available. The OM-D has a clean HDMI 4:2:2 ! but locked by Olympus. I saw that the OM-D have also a locked focus peaking functionality (beta feature revision probably, they should add on the next firmware revision not sure about it). For the rest… the OM-D is clearly more powerful than the GH2 and maybe the GH3, that the image processor can calc more information. For example the OM-D can easily support a 1080p120p ! i wonder why they blocked the OM-D to 30p…

But for know, you really need to find the firmware.Bin OM-D (it’s more easier) than using USB programming (on my way, it was a fully success and also need to be more experimented) but i expect to modify the firmware.BIN directly and not programming in fly.”

I ask the anonymous hacker to send me more details about the project at 43rumors@gmail.com. We may can help you to go one with the hack project!

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Refurbished E-M5 is also back via Cameta:
Silver Olympus E-M5 for $849 at Cameta (Click here).
Black Olympus E-M5 with 12-42mm lens for $949 at [shoplink 34210 ebay]Cametaacutions (Click here)[/shoplink] and Cameta (Click here).
Silver Olympus E-M5 with 12-50mm lens for $1149 at [shoplink 34211 ebay]Cametaacutions (Click here)[/shoplink] and Cameta (Click here).
Black Olympus E-M5 with 12-50mm lens for $1149 at [shoplink 34211 ebay]Cametaacutions (Click here)[/shoplink] and Cameta (Click here).

Sometimes patents can be very…funny. The last one found by Egami (translation here) shows how Olympus wants to improve the AF performance by having a different height of the micro lenses. It’s a bot hard for me to get into the details of the patent without having an appropriate translation. But it sounds like this technique can give you a sort of phase detection alike performance.

Our reader Francis (Thanks!) found an the price and availability info of the new Olympus 17mm f/1.8 lens on Yahoo Taiwan. I don’t know yet if the info listed there is correct, But it says that the price will be $16,900 NTD,which is about $565 USD or 435 Euro. And it will be available from mid November.

If the info is correct than this is definitely good news! The lens is supposed to have the same superb build and optical quality of the [shoplink 23576]Olympus 12mm f/2.0[/shoplink] which costs most more! Check out the 12mm price at [shopcountry 23576].

At that price I am certainly going to buy it and you?

Egami (Tranlsation here) spotted a new Olympus patent describing the design of three new wide angle lenses:
8-20mm f/2.8-4
8-35mm f/2.2-4
8-74mm f/2.8-4

From the description you will notice that this are actually Fisheye lenses! Right now only [shoplink 34168 ebay]Canon (with the 8-15mm)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 34169 ebay]Tokina (10-17mm)[/shoplink] have this kind of lenses on market. Is that something we need for the Micro Four Thirds system? Certainly not a priority lens but it’s always nice to expand the lens horizon.

I got multiple mails from different sources saying that Black Magic is working on a new version of their Micro Four Thirds mount camera. Unlike the current model (available here on BHphoto) this one will have “active m43 mount” which means it supports electronic contacts for zoom, aperture and focus control. It will also have phantom XLR, larger capacity battery and an external battery mount. And that’s not all! There will be an improved RAW coded and a slightly different design.

The camera should be announced in early 2013!

Editor’s note: This is a rumor based on “non-facts”. There is no official news from Blackmagic. So go for the actual Blackmagic M43 model if you want it. Don’t base your shopping intention based on rumors. If the current model is good enough for you buy it. If you absolutely need to have electronic contacts and support than wait and let’s hope the rumor turns out to be true!

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Rumors classification explained (FT= FourThirds):
FT1=1-20% chance the rumor is correct
FT2=21-40% chance the rumor is correct
FT3=41-60% chance the rumor is correct
FT4=61-80% chance the rumor is correct
FT5=81-99% chance the rumor is correct

Months ago I already published rumors about a possible GX1 successor coming after Photokina. Now rumors are getting stronger. According to multiple anonymous sources a Panasonic announcement is scheduled for the first half of November. One of the sources said that the GX2 has some “major differences” from the current GX1 and has “the same [shoplink 33624]PGH3[/shoplink] sensor“. The current GX1 got multiple price drops during the last weeks. The GX1 with kit lens (Click here) costs less than the “supposed to be cheaper” GF5 with same lens! I am still not sure if the camera will have a built-in viewfinder liek the [shoplink 23692 ebay]DMC-L1(Click here)[/shoplink] or not.

P.S.: I also heard that there will be no new lens announced along the GX2.

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Special GH3 page at Amazon (Click here) and a full Olympus presentation page at Amazon (Click here).
The Sony NEX-7 (Click here) and the Fuji X PRO 1 (Click here) are for now the only mirrorless cameras with such a rangefinder styled design.
The [shoplink 23692 ebay]DMC-L1 eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
The [shoplink 26385 ebay]DMC-LC1 on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

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Rumors classification explained (FT= FourThirds):
FT1=1-20% chance the rumor is correct
FT2=21-40% chance the rumor is correct
FT3=41-60% chance the rumor is correct
FT4=61-80% chance the rumor is correct
FT5=81-99% chance the rumor is correct