Amazon just leaked a pdf file that includes the image of the new 60mm FR-2 adapter for RF-11 flash: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/B1YEzf4soyS.pdf. Thanks to the anonymous source for sending this. I hope you can find the image of the 15mm f/8.0 lens too :)

(UPDATED POST!)
Next week Olympus announcement will likely see the final release of the 60mm macro lens and we just learned from top sources that there will be a sort of RF-11 ring flash light adapter for the lens.

So for now we know that Olympus is going to announce a 60mm macro lens, 60mm ring flash adapter and a crazy 15mm f/8.0 and 9mm thick pancake. No cameras yet! E-PM2 (or E-PM5) and E-PL5 coming in mid September!

Stay tuned on 43rumors! And a way to remain informed in real time is to join the facebook comunity:

Thanks!

The message issued by Adorama

The Panasonic 100-300mm zoom is now out of Stock in all bigger US stores like Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto. I haven’t got any info about a possible replacement about the lens but Amazon US (Click here) even removed the preorder option!

Meantime our reader Eric sent me the screenshots of the OM-D iPad application that includes info about the 60mm macro lens. Click on the images to open the full size version. P.S.: iPad app download on iTunes (Click here).

P.S.: The never ending success story of the E-Pl1 continues…it is again on top of the Amazon rankings (Click here to see).

[shoplink 32796 ebay][/shoplink] Image on top: The [shoplink 32796 ebay]Leica Perara Triplet[/shoplink]. One of the smallest lens ever made.

What a surprise!

We just heard from our top sources that Olympus super cheap m43 lens will be a 15mm f/8.0 fixed aperture prime! It has a length of 9mm only!!! At first glance I thought this may would be a pinhole lens ([shoplink 32795 ebay]there is one from SLRmagic here[/shoplink]) but I have been told this lens….has lenses :) It will have about the dimension of the [shoplink 32796 ebay]Leica Perara Triplet[/shoplink] (the image you see on top).

Very likely the goal from Olympus is to set a new mark in the miniaturization war. Makes me wonder what they will do with the upcoming E-PM5…make it small as a [shoplink 32797 ebay]Minox[/shoplink]???

75mm f/1.8 and 60mm f/2.8 macro lenses.

According to top sources there will a “smaller” Olympus announcement next week. I am using the word “smaller” because it looks like the new PEN cameras will be announced later (in September). Easy to guess that Olympus will introduce the already shown 60mm f/2.8 macro lens. There is a chance that more accessories and maybe two other lenses will be released too…

Stay tuned on 43rumors! Finally we can start the big pre Photokina announcement period!

One more thing: Also Schneider announced the release of a 60mm f/2.4 macro in 2013. I hope they will withdraw that decision and make a m43 version of one of those already existing lenses instead:
[shoplink 27395 ebay]Xenon 16mm f/1.2 (Click here to see on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 27387 ebay]Xenon 25mm f/0.95 (Click here to see on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 27389 ebay]Curtagon 35mm f/2.8 (Click here to see on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 27391 ebay]Componon 50mm f/1.4 (Click here to see on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 27390 ebay]Xenon 50mm f/1.9 (Click here to see on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 27394 ebay]Xenar 50mm f/2.8 (Click here to see on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 27388 ebay]Xenar 75mm f/3.5 (Click here to see on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 27392 ebay]Xenotar 80mm f/2.8 (Click here to see on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 27393 ebay]Xenar 180mm f/2.8 (Click here to see on eBay)[/shoplink].

New week starts and new rumors are (hopefully) coming. But before to post them here is a short roundup of all the stuff that is “rumored” to be shown at Photokina in mid September. One month to go guys! As usual keep in mind that those are rumors and not facts (for now):

Panasonic GH3
FT5: similar GH2 design, weather sealed, no global shutter, major improvements in AF speed and EVF quality, GH3X kit with 12-35mm X lens.
FT3: 15.5 mega-pixel sensor, Iso 160-12800 (extends to 80-51200), 6.7fps, 3.2″ inch LCD with 1050k-dots, EVF with 2.06 mega-dots, double SDXC slots, in-camera GPS, external battery grip.

Panasonic GX2
FT3: Panasonic GX2 in November.

Panasonic 3-4 lenses
FT5: 35-100mm X lens and a Telephoto prime lens
FT3: Wide angle zoom (maybe a 7-28mm)
FT3: Another lens with unknown specs.

Olympus E-PM5 and E-PL5
FT5: E-PM5 (or E-PM3) and E-PL5 coming
FT3: E-PL5 with built in EVF

Olympus professional OMD
FT3: Coming a couple of months after…not at Photokina!

Olympus 2-3 lenses:
FT5: Cheap prime lens (not the 25mm lens!) and the 60mm macro.
FT3: 12-60mm zoom
FT3: 25mm macro (f/1.8)

Olympus XZ-2:
FT5: Coming in September.

Olympus E-7:
FT3: Small updates with same E-M5 sensor.

Sigma lenses:
FT5: New lenses specifically designed for m43.

I hope the real list will look even better than this one :)

—

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

In a bit surprising move Panasonic could announce the “GH3 only” at Photokina and according to one source the GX2 may be scheduled for a mid November release. I have no info about the new GX2 features yet. Recent Panasonic patents disclosed that image of a compact m43 body with integrated viewfinder (de facto like the long rumored Micro Four Thirds version of the[shoplink 23692 ebay]Lumix DMC-L1 camera[/shoplink]). The same patent described the camera having an in body sensor stabilization too. But as usual with patents they may are just here to protect a technology and not to release a real product. Anyway, the good news is that Panasonic engineers are actually thinking on it :)

UPDATE: In an interview made by Amateur Photographer Panasonic itself said that: “We will define more clearly what GH and GX means this year, so consumers have a better idea of what their characteristics are.”

Question to you guys. How should the GX2 be? Message to sources: Please define the release period as official announcement or official availability…Thanks! :)

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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].

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