The new improvements list expected with the GH3 firmware update

Joe Fotosiamo from SLRLounge.com spoke to a couple of high-ranking officers at Panasonic and they can confirm that there is no technological limitation to prevent focus peaking to be added and that it is one of the features that are targeting to add in the next major firmware update.

As you know the firmware update is coming in late March so let’s see if Panasonic will add this feature too!

Damian McGillicuddy confirms on his blog that: “2013 is the NEW charge of the light brigade…  BIG announcements very,very soon – watch this space as they say.”

As I told you yesterday the announcement is scheduled for late April. And it’s a new PEN what we will see. Tonight I also got another feedback form a trusted sources confirming that the new PEN has no integrated viewfinder. So this is now FT5(!).

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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

Multiple trusted sources now confirmed that a new Olympus announcement has been scheduled for late April. And it is also confirmed that there will be a new PEN camera and there will be no new OMD of Four Thirds camera. I am still not 100% sure yet but it looks like the new PEN has no integrated viewfinder and price will be at around $1,000 with kit lens. So no [shoplink 37006 ebay]digital PEN-F[/shoplink] guys…and for $1,000 I hope it has at least a new generation sensor :)
There will be a new external viewfinder instead with 2,44 Million dots. This one is made by Epson.

Panasonic announcement will be in early April. At least two new MFT cameras are going to be announced. So better for you to stay tuned on 43rumors!

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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

My sources told me that Zeiss is going to announce three prime lenses for the X and E mount system in April. And Zeiss definitely will NOT introduce them for the Micro Four Thirds system! If you wonder why Zeiss decided to not make a MFT version is than read what they said back at Photokina in September: “We intend to concentrate initially on the biggest sensor size in this segment which is APS-C. It would be possible for us to make lenses for Micro 4/3-bajonet as well but we have not made a decision on that yet. If current APS-C lenses were also used for the Micro 4/3-bajonet, we wouldn’t be able to achieve the best tradeoff between lens size (weight), and image quality”

I think there is another reason. The Sony NEX and Fuji X system have only a limited offer of lenses and it’s easier for Zeiss to sell their lenses.

Mr. “Omega” sent me a new “talked to an Olympus rep” rumor :)
As I told you in the past those kind of rumors are very dangerous and unreliable. But it’s amazing to see how much Olympus reps talk :) Here is what the Omega shared to us: “A visit to Focus on Imaging over the weekend provided me with a little piece of tittle tattle which might be of interest. I spoke with ‘Mr Olympus UK’. His comment was “don’t buy the E-M5, wait until autumn, then you can have a body which will use your 4/3 lenses (50 macro, 11-22 & 50-200, with tube and 2x convertor), there was no suggestion of a 4/3 mount body.”

As usual take those kind of info with a grain of salt. We learned it from the past that Olympus reps not always share the full truth!

A couple of months ago Olympus officially said that they are working on the release of a new premium compact camera. They may hurry because one company after another is announcing such a compact camera and Olympus may be late to the party. After the new Fuji X100s (in stock soon) and  the Pentax MX-1 today Nikon announced the very compact Nikon Coolpix A (specs here). These are three different cameras, the Fuji X100s has a superb sensor and hybrid viewfinder (and is priced at $1299). The Pentax MX-1 is the cheapest camera ($499) and the Nikon is the smallest of the three.

So the question now, how should the Olympus premium compact be to gain some considerable interest over the three? My guess is that it will be very compact with a MFT sensor and fixed fast Zuiko lens. But I admit that the Fuji hybrid viewfinder looks very nice and as we know, Olympus officially denied they would sue that kind of tech :(

Premium compact camera price and specs check:
Fuji X100s at [shopcountry 37160].
Pentax MX-1 at [shopcountry 37161].
Nikon A at [shopcountry 37162].

After yesterdays post I got feedback from more sources including some trusted sources. The new E-P5 definitely has NO(!) electronic viewfinder. Price of the camera with kit lens should be close to $1,000.  It will also be announced “soon” (how soon I don’t know) and probably be in Stock by June/July. A source also confirmed that major high end Olympus cameras are coming the second half of the year.

I ask the sources if they may can give me some more hint about the upcoming new lenses and the exact release date. 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