A website I know very well for posting false rumors started a buzz around a possible Sigma 12-35mm X lens. Many other websites picked it up. I am writing this post just to say that there is a 99% chance the rumor is fake. I say this based on the past fake stuff I saw on that website I don’t wanna link to it :)

Meantime the first user review of the real Panasonic 12-35mm X lens is up at Amazon (Click here). This is really a great lens. Can’t wait to see what’s coming next week from Panasonic!

P.S.: The Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 is back in Stock at Amazon (Click here) and is on top of the Mirrorless ranking (Click here).

I am not sure yet, and still sekeing some backup from trusted sources but the Panasonic announcement could take place next week on July 5th (Thursday). As usual keep in mind that the date may not be exact depending on where on eart you live :)

Stay tuned on 43rumors! And some more “likes” on facebook are welcome :)

P.S.: The GH2 with 14-140mm lens has now reached the lowest price ever at Amazon (Click here). The 12-35mm X lens is in Stock at Digitalrev (Click here).

We are getting closer to the Panasonic event and I am getting daily updated about the new stuff that is coming. We will certainly get a new Panasonic G5 cameras and with a bit of surprise I can also announce that there will be a new Micro Four Thirds lens! I have been told it’s not the 35-100mm X lens but a new lens. I hope to get the specs soon. There will be also new compact cameras and very likely the new LX7.

P.S:: I got a bit confused about the LX7 release because a source told me it would arrive in September. Maybe he was referring to the in Stock status and not the announcement?

Anyway, this is a major announcement and I am particularly intrigued by the LX7. I hope it is better than the Sony RX100 which in my opinion is a great camera (although I miss a wider lens). The current LX5 sells for $329 at Amazon (Click here) and it may a good deal because I expect the LX7 to be at least $200-$250 more expensive..but it will also be a major upgrade with a larger sensor?

[shoplink 23681 ebay][/shoplink] Image on top: The popular [shoplink 23681 ebay]Four Thirds 12-60mm[/shoplink] lens which so many wish to see in a native m43 version.

Mu-43 reports that Olympus may introduce a new 25mm f/1.8 and 12-60mm zoom lens.
The 25mm f/1.8 lens is a bit larger than the [shoplink 14798 ebay]17mm pancake[/shoplink] and built like the [shoplink 23577]45mm lens[/shoplink]. Price is very low and between $200 and $250 like the Four Thirds 25mm lens (here at Amazon).
The 12-60mm f/2.8.4.0 lens is weather sealed and a bit larger than the [shoplink 27977]12-50mm lens[/shoplink]. Price will be around $800-$900. A bit less than the popular [shoplink 23681 ebay]Four Thirds version[/shoplink].

The rumor hasn’t been confirmed by my trusted sources yet and even mu-43 doesn’t know the source. I hope it’s not a wishful thinking of someone so I posted it with a low FT2 rating (and probably I was too generous). Anyway, let’s imagine for a moment that this is a real thing:

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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

There is no vacation for a rumor website like me :(  Top sources just unveiled that Panasonic will have a major product announcement in early July. They didn’t share the “stuff” list but I was told that there are many new cameras. I am pretty sure we will finally see the new Panasonic G5. I am not sure about the LX6 yet. And I don’t expect any new m43 lens. The G5 should use the same [shoplink 22077 ebay]G3[/shoplink] 16 Megapixel sensor. What will change is the shape of the camera.

Stay tuned guys!

P.S.: I am moving to my new house in the middle of nowhere on the Pyrenees on July 5th. Please Panasonic no announcement on that day! :)

Links to the current G Panasonic models:
Panasonic G3 at [shopcountry 22077].
Panasonic G2 at [shopcountry 14834].
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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

Egami found a new Panasonic patent showing a motorized zoom teleconverter. Don’t know if we will ever see this for real! First we need an adapter with built in phase detection af and optical Viewfinder to attach on m43 cameras like the [shoplink 31778 ebay]Leica Visoflex (here on eBay)[/shoplink]. :)

Sometimes I think news agency are much worse in writing rumors than I do in my very amateurish way here on 43rumors. Every couple of weeks new agreement rumors are spreading through the world and getting posted on all newspaper from The New York Times down to my little local newspaper read by 2,000 farmers. Imagine if I would post a different GH3 rumor every two weeks…you would want my scalp :)

Anyway, I will report this news but as you have learned you have to take these “rumors” as they are…just rumors. Nikkei “reports that Olympus is in final talks with Sony to get a roughly 50 billion yen capital injection in return for a stake”. Olympus of course denied the existence of such an agreement.

Sony is a company in a very deep crisis and I really don’t know if that would be a good deal for Olympus. Let’s see, I still think Olympus is trying to find a way to avoid any partnership with other electronic giants like Sony, Panasonic or Fuji.