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! :)

—-
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

We know around four lenses are expected to be shown by Panasonic at Photokina. One is the tele prime lens, another one is the long awaited 35-100mm X zoom. A source sent us some info about another wide angle zoom. The rumor hasn’t been confirmed by trusted sources but I hope they are reading this post and can confirm the validity of it :)

This rumor comes via one of my trusted sources. He knows for sure (so he says) that Panasonic has a 7-28mm prototype lens. But he doesn’t know yet if this is the wide angle zoom lens that is coming in one month from now right before the Photokina show. In Full Frame terms this is a 14-56mm lens. A quite weird range but perfect for wide angle shooter.

Now we have to find out the info about the fourth lens…

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

Yesterday I wrote you about my E-7 release “troubles”. Two sources were so kind to explain me what’s going on with the E-7 development and release. It’s quite an interesting story! Here it is:

“According to those sources, the E-7 has been in development for quite some time now, and got initially canceled early this year. Both claim that the “Sony sensor” and IBIS were originally developed for the E-7 and that the E-M5 is in fact a spin-off of this technology. Once the E-M5 was established as a product, it was decided to continue the introduction of the E-7 anyway since it was as nearly finished, and mostly needed testing. Neither source mentioned an introduction date, but suggested that ‘this year would be extremely likely because it is already being tested.”

I guess the chance to see a new E-5 successor at Photokina is now getting bigger…

Last week a good source told me that he “heard” that the E-7 will arrive in 2013 only. But I just got some small rumors from other sources saying that a slightly E-7 is coming and will bring some smaller upgrades (like same [shoplink 29074]E-M5[/shoplink] Sony sensor). It happens sometimes that sources close to manufacturers receive incorrect or just partially correct info. I am rechecking the rumor now.

This is just to say that you shouldn’t give up the hope. A new Four Thirds High End camera may be coming soon after all. But what I am 99% sure about is that it will not bring any earthshaking new feature…

E-5 shop check [shopcountry 17163].

P.S.: There are still some guys saying the E-M5 has not a Sony sensor. Just a reminder…Olympus President Sasa said the [shoplink 29074]Olympus E-M5[/shoplink] sensor has been made by Sony!!! (Source: Yahoo Japan).

And here comes the next “Chinese” lens for the Micro Four Thirds system. Mitakon is ready to release the new 35mm f/0.95 lens. And you can already see a full test done on the E-mount version (on the NEX-7) at Xitek Forum (Translation here). The price of the lens should be around 600 Euro.

Mitakon isn’t a complete no name company. They even made lenses for the [shoplink 32660 ebay]Olympus OM (click here to see them on eBay)[/shoplink].