And here it is the first clear picture of the new Panasonic GF5. As you see it has pretty much the same shape of the current [shoplink 23109 ebay]Panasonic GF3[/shoplink]. The grip looks like the one used for the new [shoplink 26836]Panasonic GX1[/shoplink]. As I already told you last week the new GF5 has a 12 Megapixel sensor with an improved SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio). THE SNR is as good as the one on the [shoplink 22077 ebay]Panasonic G3[/shoplink]. It goes up to ISO 12.800, super fast AF of 0,09seconds and a new 920k dots touch screen LCD. The touch screen interface has been revised. Don’t know if you should wait for this GF5 or go for the now very cheap and hackeable GF2!

One more thing: Also the Panasonic G5 will be announced soon and use the same [shoplink 22077 ebay]G3[/shoplink] 16 Megapixel sensor…

One of my good sources just told me that the new Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 and 35-100mm f/2.8 X lenses will not be in Stock any time soon. Not yet, not in late spring not in early summer :(

As you know Panasonic showed this lenses for the very first time in September 2011. While it’s ok for me if Panasonic shows mockups at shows it’s pretty frustrating to wait so much time until they get finally announced. This means that if you need a fast zoom lens now you have to go for the amazing Olympus [shoplink 25320 ebay]14-35mm f/2.0 (here on eBay)[/shoplink] and the [shoplink 25119 ebay]35-100mm f/2.0 (here on eBay)[/shoplink] Zuiko lenses.

I don’t know the reason for the delay, all I know is that Panasonic (like many other companies) is facing serious financial losses and this may have slowed down the product release roadmap.
One more thing: These lenses are weather sealed and so will be the new GH3 which will be announced at the Photokina event in September.

Egami just discovered a new Panasonic lens describing a quite unspectacular new micro Four Thirds lens. It is a 12-60mm f/4.5-5.6 with inner focusing, inner zoom and O.I.S. zoom. While the zoom range is certainly interesting I don’t get it why Panasonic wants to make it that slow. The only reason would be if the lens would have the size of the 14-42mm X pancake but it’s it not the case here (lens length is 10cm!). Pana/Oly just try to get inspiration from the [shoplink 23681 ebay]Olympus Zuiko 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 (here on eBay)[/shoplink] if you don’t know how to do it right :) The lens is that much loved that is has an average review of 5 stars out of 5 at Amazon US (Click here).

For seven months now we are waiting for Panasonic’s official 12-35mm X lens release. We only saw prototype versions during the latest shows. Today a mysterious forum user from Mobile01 (Click here) posted a picture of a dissembled 12-35mm X lens. He didn’t unveil any info about the price and official release of the lens. All we know is that it has a constant f/2.8 aperture, a 0,25m close focus distance, Power O.I.S. and weather sealing. Panasonic didn’t go for a constant f/2.0 aperture because they wanted to keep a reasonable size. The [shoplink 25320 ebay]Olympus 14-35mm f/2.0 (here on eBay)[/shoplink] is indeed quite a big bigger.

And here is a mysterious part of the story: The same guy posted also the logo of Konica Minolta and said “it connects to the X lens picture“. Have no idea what he is referring to! Maybe some special feature of Konica is coming with the Panasonic lens? Do you have an idea what it could be?

Anyway, my guess (and hope) is that the lens will be officially announced right before the NAB show in April.

Image courtesy Photozone.

Samyang is one of this small companies that does an incredible good job with lenses. Most of the times their lenses have the right specs for what they need to do. They are also cheap (in terms of price) and absolute of good quality. As you know the first lens they released for the m43 system is the [shoplink 29106 ebay]Samyang/Rokinon 7.5mm fisheye lens (Click here to see it on eBay)[/shoplink]. The lens is pretty compact and Klaus from Photozone (Click here) said the lens is Highly Recommended! And Klaus is really severe in his Judgement! I am eagerly waiting to see what’s coming next from them. Samyang confirmed at Techradar that “more Micro Four Thirds lenses were planned“. There are no specs yet about the possible next lenses but I hope it will be some kind of fast prime and pancake lens. Something in the category of the [shoplink 14796]20mm f/1.7 lens[/shoplink] would be my choice :)

One more thing: Samyang is the only company the made lenses for the Four Thirds system during the last three years! The amazing [shoplink 29677 ebay]Samyang/Rokinon 24mm f/1.4 lens (here on eBay)[/shoplink] is an example!

On left the current [shoplink 23109]GF3[/shoplink] and on right the new GF5!

With yesterdays GF5 and G5 leak we have a pretty good picture of the products that will be announced and/or shipped within the next two-three months. Here is a short summary and a poll:

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Reminders:
Sigma Japan confirmed the shipment date of March 16th for the 19mm f/2.8 lens.
The Voigtländer 17.5mm f/0.95 is available for preorder at German ebay stores at [shoplink 29368 ebay]Digitalhandel (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 29367 ebay]Bayern Fotoversand (Click here)[/shoplink]. Both for 1.299 Euro.