The AG-AF100 Micro Four Thirds mount videocamera

Photokina will not only be important for the classic photo-cameras but maybe also for the mirrorless video-cameras. A source told me a while ago that Panasonic has deleted the AG AF line. The reason for that is that the AF100 had not been selling well and had seen a significant price drop since launch.

So what can we expect now? “Rumors” are floating around the web saying that Panasonic will now concentrate on a Super 35mm camera. This may be indirectly a good news regarding the GH3. They can now focus to make that camera rule in terms of video quality without to fear that this will take away some AG-AF100 sales.

Hopefully I can get some GH3 info soon! As usual feel free to send me completely save and anonymous messages through the contact form you see on the right sidebar. No identification needed and no info (like IP) gets stored! Juts use a fake name so that I can recognize you in future. Thanks!

P.S.: The AG-AF100 has a $500 rebate ongoing at BHphoto until late September (yep…until Photokina). The still super GH2 sells for $1,129 with kit lens at Amazon (lowest price ever).

In around one month Olympus will announce two new PEN camera (E-PL5 and E-PM2) and maybe another “secret” (Four-Thirds?) camera too. And it looks like Damian Mc GilliCuddy is already having fun while testing that Olympus “secret stuff“. He writes: “I’m in a secret location, for a secret client, preparing to shoot the first of my two weddings this year. Those whom know me will know most of my social commissions involve None Disclosure Agreements, so “mum” is the word… no details“.

Shooting a wedding… don’t think he is using an E-PL5 or E-PM2 for this….or? I got some first hints about a professional OM camera but as long as I heard this will arrive this winter. or maybe Olympus will announce it earlier and ship it later? Don’t know, need a little bit of help from my (anonymous) friends on this …or someone has to do a bit of stalking on Damian ;)

UPDATE: He now updated the post and writes the OM-D’s are with him. But this doesn’t exlude the possibility he carries the other “new” cameras too.

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Olympus E-M5 body in Stock at Amazon. And so the E-m5 with kit lens.

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Here is the chronological ordered list of all OM film cameras ever made by Olympus. Click on the names to see them on eBay (ordered by first announced camera): [shoplink 28221 ebay]M-1[/shoplink], [shoplink 28222 ebay]OM-1[/shoplink], [shoplink 28223 ebay]OM-1 MD[/shoplink], [shoplink 28224 ebay]OM-1N[/shoplink], [shoplink 28225 ebay]OM-2[/shoplink], [shoplink 28226 ebay]OM-2N[/shoplink], [shoplink 28227 ebay]OM-2S/SP[/shoplink], [shoplink 28228 ebay]OM-3[/shoplink], [shoplink 28229 ebay]OM-3Ti[/shoplink], [shoplink 28230 ebay]OM-4[/shoplink], [shoplink 28231 ebay]OM-4T/Ti black and chrome[/shoplink], [shoplink 28232 ebay]OM-10[/shoplink], [shoplink 28233 ebay]OM-20 (OM-G)[/shoplink], [shoplink 28234 ebay]OM-30(OM-F)[/shoplink], [shoplink 28235 ebay]OM-40 (OM-PC)[/shoplink], [shoplink 28236 ebay]OM-77AF (OM-707)[/shoplink], [shoplink 28237 ebay]OM-88 (OM-101)[/shoplink], [shoplink 28238 ebay]OM-2000[/shoplink].

A fake GH3 rendering.

Vitaly Kiselev, the Panasonic camera hacker posted a roundup of GH3 rumors floting around the web. And he added his firmware suggestions too. Here is the list via Personal-View:

GH3 Preliminary specs (really rumors and speculations, nothing official :-0 ):

• Wheather sealed, metal body
• Shutter button located similarly to G5, same power zoom rocker
• 920k or better capacitive touch screen
• Improved EVF (like full 1080p)
• 1080p50/1080p60 at 28mp
• 1080p120/1080p100 special modes (limited time usage), 720p120/720p100 unlimited
• WiFi direct with Android and iPhone applications with remote video capture
• 1/3.5″ mic input and headphone output
• Supplied with new wheather sealed kit
• And optional battery grip, of course.

Mine suggestions:

• Improve video encoder making it independent from bunch of fixed settings, improve it’s performance
• Make special dedicated expert screen for video settings, allowing to set any combination of encoder parameters, without any hacks
• Make proper electronic follow focus with speed selection, ability to set predefined positions, etc, driven from mobile phone or using rocker

I would be so happy with these specs!!!

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New Panasonic stuff preorders:
Black G5 at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here)
Silver G5 at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here)
45-150mm lens in Black at BHphoto (Click here) and in Silver at BHphoto (Click here).
LX7 in Black at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here) in White at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here)
Other compacts, the FZ200 at BHphoto (Click here), the FZ60 at BHphoto (Click here).

If you know 43rumors you know that sometimes server does crash and after that I spend a lot of time on fixing things. I am working on a new long term solution by redesigning the website and updating the server power. But this is costly and I can’t do this right now (I am saving my money for it).

For sources:
Anyway, what matters is that my sources can read this post to know that the anonymous contact form on the right sidebar is working again. You know it doesn’t store any info like IP address and you don’t have to share me your real name (just pickup a fake one). You can also create a fake gmail account and send me messages at 43rumors@gmail.com.

For sources and readers:
I am working on new rumors about the GH3, E-PM2, EPL5 cameras plus the new lenses (like the telephoto lens from Panasonic). It’s only one month to go until the announcement and new rumors and even leaks could arrive any time soon. It’s going to be a busy time!

The new Canon has been now announced and you can follow all live updates at MirrorlessRumors.com (Click here). For us what matters is that the entry level camera is actually much more expensive than the [shoplink 30485]Panasonic GF5[/shoplink], the [shoplink 23565]Olympus E-PM1[/shoplink] or even than the [shoplink 26836]Panasonic GX1[/shoplink]. It’s more in the price league of an [shoplink 23568]Olympus E-P3[/shoplink].

Anyway, watch out the test on MirrorlessRumors to check if the camera price and features balanace is correct and if Olympus/Panasonic should be worry!…I don’t think so…

Canon specs and info:
Dedicated presentation page on Amazon (Click here).
EOS-M Black at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
EOS-M White at BHphoto (Click here).
EOS-M 22mm pancake at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
EOS-M 15-55mm kit lens at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
EOS-M adapter at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
EOS-M Flash at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).

It’s very clear where Canon wants to compete against the Micro Four Thirds system. They will start from the cheap low-end models. The latest spec list I posted on MirrorlessRumors shows that the APS-C sensor sized camera is no bigger than the [shoplink 30485]Panasonic GF5[/shoplink]. We still have no info about the price but I suspect the price will be very low. This is a plastic Canon S100 styled touch screen camera. Tomorrow (5-6am London time) the camera will be officially announced. Follow the full announcement on MirrorlessRumors while I have to check if the upcoming E-Pm2 can do better than the EOS-M :)

For now this doens’t look like a WOW camera…

Yesterdays Canon mirrorless leaks posted on CanonWatch and MirrorlessRumors made the full server crash several times. The leaking done by my friend Frank on CW was a full surprise (he didn’t expect to find the pictures) and many websites picked it up. Unfortunately I was on trip on the French mountains and I had only bad Internet connection in few spots. I really gave my best to solve the issues. Loading time should now be ok and I also just fixed the comment system (I didn’t notice it wasn’t working until a few moments ago).

Now, I hope the upcoming PEN and GH3 announcements will create at least the same viral effect of the Canon EOS-M but that time I will be prepared. I am thinking to move on a bigger server as I really don’t want you to miss any second of the next late August release.

Wish you a nice weekend and remind you to follow the Canon announcement on CanonWatch (adminstrated by Frank) and MirrorlessRumors (where I am having the fun). On 43rumors I am working to get details about the next cameras. Will have less time for mountain trips in the next weeks :(