I received very small pieces of rumors from people that claims to have seen and/or tested the G3. They all do confirm that the G3 has an updated body design. It’s smaller than the G2 (less high, less thick, less wide). The camera has less manual controls and is much more touchscreen oriented than the [shoplink 14834]G2[/shoplink]. The Q-button is integrated into trash button. The left dial is completely gone. As I already told you weeks ago it’s exactly like having the [shoplink 17361]GF2[/shoplink] instead of the [shoplink 14828]GF1[/shoplink].

The 16 Megapixel sensor definitely brings an upgrade compared to the G1/G2 sensor but it is not as good as the [shoplink 16254]GH2[/shoplink] at High ISO.

There are no other new features (P.S.: price $649 with 14-42mm lens). And there will be no new lenses. The real exciting stuff will be announced in late August. And in June Olympus should announce at least two new Micro Four Thirds lenses.

P.S.: A wonder when the G3 will be in Stock in US if the eight months old GH2 is still out of Stock in US stores (See at Amazon, Adorama, B&H, J&R, eBay). Hmmm…..

Reminder: 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

This is the week of the new Panasonic G3. It’s going to be announced on Thursday (May 12 in Japan). But before to report the latest G3 rumors we should make a small summary of the last week rumors (including rumors of Sony, Samsung, Pentax and Nikon mirrorless cameras):

1) Olympus will make a own designed sensor for the Pen PRO (Click here to read the article).

2) Valentin Sama’s prediction about all camera manufactors (Click here to read the article).

3) Panasonic G3 with lens will be priced at $649 (Click here to read the article).

4) Nikon delayed the mirrorless camera announcement (Read at MirrorlessRumors.com).

5) Samsung leaks a 300mm f/2.8 XF-ED lens on youtube (Read at MirrorlessRumors.com).

6) Sony NEX-C3 manual and lens leaked (Read at MirrorlessRumors.com).

I just found that very exciting new Panasonic patent. The United States Patent Application number is 20110103789 (Click here to read the full patent). The first thing I noticed is that the patent is extremely new. The filling date is 01/10/2011 and the publication date is 05/05/2011. The patent itself talks about a new adapter that adds contrast autofocus function to lenses not designed for Micro Four Thirds. But the real cool thing is that the patent shows a [shoplink 21906 ebay]Panasonic L1 (Click here to see it on eBay)[/shoplink] styled Micro Four Thirds body! It has a built-in Viewfinder. That’s exactly a camera I would love to see for real!

We are talking about a patent only so maybe Panasonic has no plan to make a mirrorless LC1. But the fact that they used that design and the fact that the patent is very new is reason enough to make us dream a bit!

P.S.: Imagine if the latest two rumors we posted on 43rumors would become true. Olympus designing their owns sensors, and Panasonic having a rangefinder styled mirrorless camera. That would push Micro Four Thirds in a new higher dimension :)

Links to the Panasonic L1 at Amazon (Click here) and [shoplink 21906 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

The Panasonic sensor (for the Olympus E-30)

It’s not a secret that Olympus is working on a Pen Pro camera line. We long discussed on 43rumors how those cameras should be to deserve that “Pro” definition. Many agreed that Olympus would have to get rid of the Panasonic agreement that forces them to use the second generation sensors (Olympus still hasn’t used the [shoplink 14826]GH1[/shoplink] or [shoplink 16254]GH2[/shoplink] sensors in PEN cameras). I know from my sources that Olympus tested Kodak sensor (two years ago) and Sigma sensors. But those were only prototypes and Kodak isn’t developing any CMOS sensor anymore. And I was told that they were not happy with the noise at High ISO of the Sigma sensor. But the rumor I got now is  a huge but also very welcome surprise! Before you read the rumor let me add that I got the info from a well known source. I asked him thousand times if he was really sure about that rumor he gave to me. He said he is 100% sure! But it’s to early to give that rumor a high credibility. I hope some other of my trusted sources can help me to confirm (or deny) the rumor. Thanks!

So here it is:

Olympus has designed their own very first Four Thirds sensor! And it’s going to be used inside the next Pen Pro camera. The sensor is 100% designed by Olympus and will be produced by Panasonic. If the recent Japan earthquake disaster didn’t delay anything than the PRO camera should arrive within 2011. The source could not give me any specs about the sensor but a second new source told me that Olympus has developed the sensor with “photography” in mind. He expects a low Megapixel sensor with high dynamic range and better image quality than any other current m43 sensor. I should receive more info about the sensor soon. But let me say I am crossing my fingers for that news to be true!

One more thing: The Pen Pro definitely has a built in electronic viewfinder (EVF). That has been confirmed by some of my other sources too. I don’t know yet if it will have a DSLR (EVF in the middle) or a rangefinder style like the [shoplink 16136 ebay]Olympus RC[/shoplink]. I bet such a camera would be at least as popular as the [shoplink 19929]Fuji X100[/shoplink].

As soon as the source gets back to me to tell me more I will post the new info on 43rumors. Just a reminder. We expect new Olympus pro m43 lenses to be announced in June!

Links:
– Olympus RC on [shoplink 16136 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
– Fuji X100 on [shopcountry 19929].

Don’t miss any rumors: Join us on Facebook and Twitter! Subscribe our RSS feed! If you have rumors to send use the contact form on the right sidebar or contact me at 43rumors@gmail.com.

Reminder: 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

Our friend Valentin Sama wrote an article with his prediction about all digital camera makers. It’s a mix of rumros and speculations. In short:

Olympus:
He expects a new E-P2 successor and new Four Thirds cameras

Panasonic:
He expects the 25mm f/1.4 lens and a neww brighter and at the same time compacter zoom lens.

To read the full prediction list click here (google translated text).

One more thing: If all works fine I will soon have a very BIG rumor for you. let’s hope the trusted sources can confirm the new hot rumor!

Links:
– The current Panasonic G2 at [shopcountry 14834].

A mirrorless zoom lens size comparison made by Serious compacts.

As you already know Panasonic will not announce new lenses along the Panasonic G3 (press release on May 11). The 25mm f/1.4 m43 lens and other lenses will probably come in late summer only. We have been also told that Panasonic will follow Olympus route and realize new compact (collapsible?) zooms. Our sources are pretty sure they will release them within 2011. We have no specs yet. It may be not an amazing news but it was about time that Panasonic reduces the size of their zooms. I guess this should be one of the advantage of the m43 system over the NEX and NX systems….to have smaller lenses!

If you know something more drop us an anonymous message using the contact form on the right sidebar. Thanks!

Olympus is currently offering two collapsible lenses:
The 14-42mm kit lens (direct links to [shopcountry 14816]).
The 9-18mm wide angle zoom (direct links to [shopcountry 14818]).

Reminder -> 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