A fake and completely unrealistic G3 rendering (but I liked it) Source: Iffo.nl

I am on the road to Antwerp (Belgium) and it will take a few hours (exactly 11 hours drive) until I will be there. I hope I will not find any big traffic jam like the historic Florence jam in December (9 hours stuck in the snow) and the jam in Aachen in late December (4 hours…again snow.). It shouldn’t snow in Belgium at that time :) so I am quite confident I will be at my home in a reasonable time. I am writing this because I will have no Internet connection and comments that do need moderation will have to wait for my arrival.

And here is the news:
I asked my sources if they can give me some more details about the G3. I didn’t get a lot of info. First, the announcement will be made on May 11th (London time) and not on May 12th. Second, I got confirmation that the new 16 Megapixel sensor is NOT a multi aspect sensor. It’s a completely new sensor, but I don’t know yet if Panasonic managed it to improve the noise performance and dynamic range. Third, the design. Confess, you got a heart-attack when you first saw the image on top or not? Like you I am also hoping that Panasonic will sooner or later make a Micro Four Thirds version of the L1/LC1 camera ([shoplink 17020]Click here to see them on eBay[/shoplink]). That would kick in the xxx of the [shoplink 19929 ebay]Fuji X100[/shoplink] ;). Kill your dreams and let’s go back to the cruel real world. The G3 is not the L1/LC1 copy. Compared to the [shoplink 14834]Panasonic G2[/shoplink] the G3 is…more compact. It’s a bit like the difference between the [shoplink 14828]GF1[/shoplink] and the newer smaller [shoplink 17361]GF2[/shoplink]. Panasonic reduced the size, added more touchscreen options and removed some physical controls. Don’t know if you will like that change!
I didn’t hear anything yet about possible new “revolutionary” features and honestly I don’t think there will be spectacular surprises. The real new thing here is the 16 Megapixel sensor and the new design.

For the rest I am still trying to get some info about the next Olympus PEN. Sounds like it’s not in the near future (next 2-3 months). Don’t know yet if there was a delay or whatever. The good news is that I started to receive some info about the lenses. I am double-triple checking the specs with other sources. As usual if you can help me with rumors contact me at 43rumors@gmail.com or use the contact form on the right sidebar. You can avoid to send me your name and contact address and no IP-address gets stored. Thanks!

Links to the cameras discussed in that post:
UPDATE -> Link fixed: The dreamers camera, the LC1 search results at [shopcountry 17020 ebay] (don’t know if you can find it in Stock)
The older but very popular Panasonic GF1 at [shopcountry 14828].
The newer more compact and touchscreen Panasonic GF2 at [shopcountry 17361].
The Panasonic G2 at [shopcountry 14834].

P.S.: Message for Panasonic: take a look at the crazy expensive [shoplink 19929 ebay]Fuji X100 auctions on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. You might get an idea why we want the LC1 back :)

P.P.S.: First 43rumors mini-meeting in Antwerpen (Belgium) on Saturday 23 April at 15.00. Location: Bar 2 (Vrijdagmarkt). For those of you that want to participate please drop me an email at 43rumors@gmail.com.

As you know Panasonic plans to release the 25mm f/1.4 Micro Four Thirds lens and probably also the OIS version of the current [shoplink 14822]7-14mm lens[/shoplink]. But according to our sources the lenses will not be announced along the new Panasonic G3 (mid May). Our source told us that we can expect those new lenses in to be announced in July-August only. This might has to do with the recent Tsunami-Earthquake-Fukushima disaster. Even if Panasonic plants were not damaged the problem is the lack of continuing energy supply and issues with the raw material importation. In general most Japanese companies are planning to produce in other Asian countries but this will not happen from today to tomorrow. It needs a lot of time. I am in contact with many European and American dealers and they all do confirm that Japanese product supply shortage will hit the stores by end of April. And it’s impossible for them to know when they can buy new stocks of cameras and lenses. That’s why we can expect some price increase too! If you plan to buy some lens or camera I suggest you to not wait to much time.

The Panasonic G3 introduction has been confirmed but a wonder when it will be available for worldwide shipment. I also got info about a possible Olympus product announcement delay. I will post more about that soon. Stay tuned on 43rumors!

UPDATE: The news is based on rumors and speculations. Panasonic officially didn’t announce any delay or production issue. Hope that’s clear that we are a rumors website.

One more thing:
I am going to develop 43rumors to a sort of readers network. I am planning  to slowly add features like:
– readers picture showcase
– extend the forum features (Check out the new forum at https://www.43rumors.com/forums/)
– I am playing with the idea to accept guest posts on 43rumors
– I also have a “image contest battle” idea.
– I would like to meet some of my readers during my frequent trips (I will be in Antwerp, Barcelona, NYC and Montpelier the next 2 months).

All those features will be made by professional designers and to support that effort you might help me to cover the costs by shopping whatever product you want by clicking on those links: [shopcountry 16254]. Thanks!

Image on top: The [shoplink 16254]GH2[/shoplink] sensor

A few weeks ago I heard from an anonymous source that the new Panasonic G3 will feature a 16 Megapixel sensor. But he didn’t tell me if the G3 would use the same [shoplink 16254]GH2 sensor[/shoplink] (that would have been a huge surprise). Finally I got the answer. No! The GH2 has a 18 Megapixel multi-aspect sensor that takes 16 Megapixel pictures when shooting in 4:3 format. The G3 will feature a “native” 16 Megapixel sensor. The G3 will of course deliver 1080i video-recording but the G3 is mainly a photographic tool (while the GH2 is an almost perfect hybrid video-still camera). I guess this is the sensor that will be used for future Olympus cameras too (like the E-P3). Some of you might argue that it would have been better to develop a new 12 Megapixel sensor with improved High-ISO performance. But you know, from a marketing point of view Megapixels is what the mass is looking for or not?

One more thing: The G3 will be announced on May 11.

Just for fun. The Mirrorless Megapixel ranking:
18 Megapixel -> Leica M9 -> Check price and specs at [shopcountry 17539].
16 Megapixel -> Panasonic GH2 -> Check price and specs at [shopcountry 16254].
14 Megapixel -> Sony NEX5 -> Check price and specs at [shopcountry 20638].
14 Megapixel -> Sony NEX-3 -> Check price and specs at [shopcountry 21021].
14 Megapixel -> Samsung NX10 -> Check price and specs at [shopcountry 19190].
14 Megapixel -> Samsung NX100 -> Check price and specs at [shopcountry 20762].
12 Megapixel -> Panasonic GF2 -> Check price and specs at [shopcountry 17361].
12 Megapixel -> Olympus E-PL2 -> Check price and specs at [shopcountry 18844].
12 Megapixel -> Olympus E-P2 -> Check price and specs at [shopcountry 14830].
10 Megapixel -> Ricoh GXR + P10 Kit -> Check price and specs at [shopcountry 20713].

P.S.: Samsung is rumored to announce a NX20 and NX200 in Juy with 20 Megapixel sensor (more info at MirrorlessRumors.com)

[shoplink 14834][/shoplink] Image on top: The one year old [shoplink 14834]Panasonic G2[/shoplink]

The last Micro Four Thirds camera to be announced was the Olympus E-PL2 back in early January. With a bit of surprise neither Panasonic nor Olympus announced some kind of lens or camera in February or March like we were used to. But you hard core 43rumors reader didn’t gave up to hope and finally I can share you a a good news. Now I am 99% certain that Panasonic will announce the new Panasonic G3 the second week of May. I got the info from three veeeery good sources. The cameras is a MAJOR step forward compared to the current [shoplink 14834]Panasonic G2[/shoplink]. It has a new design and a new sensor. I am working on the specs right now and trying to get confirmations from other sources too. But the wait is definitely over. One month from now we will see new stuff! I have no confirmation yet about the 25mm f/1.4 lens but I trust Panasonic when they say the lens will be here within summer. And I can’t exclude that there might be more lenses too like the [shoplink 14822]Panasonic 7-14mm f/4.0[/shoplink] OIS version or something else.

Oh one more thing: There will be Olympus rumors too! Soon on 43rumors!

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

Yesterday we reported the rumor about Fuji making an interchangeable lens version of the [shoplink 19929 ebay]X100[/shoplink]. A few hours after I received a message from one of my best sources. He told me a short and interesting story. He said Fuji met some of the m43 group members back in October-November 2010. Fuji was evaluating the advantage and disadvantages of joining m43. The company that is working very hard to find new members is Olympus. He also said that unlike Panasonic, Olympus is pushing a lot to find new m43 members. So what about Fuji? He doesn’t know if Fuji will join m43 but he believes the chances are low :(  Hope he is wrong!

P.S.: Image has been taken at http://www.four-thirds.org/en/index.html

P.P.S.: J&R is accepting Fuji X100 preorders -> “will be coming soon” (Click here to preorder on J&R). And Digitalrev says “Usually ships in 1-2 weeks” (Click here to order on Digitalrev). There are a few X100 on auction on [shoplink 19929 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

Bob Todrick, a pro photographer from Edmonton, Alberta wrote (Source: Dpreview Forum): “Have had my [shoplink 19929 ebay]X100[/shoplink] for a week now … puts any of the 4/3 compacts out their to shame. Pretty sure they have a winner here…and Fuji has confirmed an X300 next year that will have interchangeable lenses.”

Bob also said that “I’m in the pro photo supply biz…this is from Fuji. They have decided to pursue what they call the serious prosumer market. The plans are that in the fall they will release an X200…a simplified ‘p&s’ version of the x100. If these cameras do well they plan on the interchangeable lens version sometime next year.”

If Bob is telling the truth here than it doesn’t sound like Fuji will join the m43 system. I guess they will stick with their APS-C sensors :(

P.S.: J&R is accepting Fuji X100 preorders -> “will be coming soon” (Click here to preorder on J&R). And Digitalrev says “Usually ships in 1-2 weeks” (Click here to order on Digitalrev). There are a few X100 on auction on [shoplink 19929 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

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

[/shoplink] Image on top: The [shoplink 14834]Panasonic G2[/shoplink] which should be replaced by the new G3.

I just received info from a few of my sources. Due the recent energy supply problems in Japan Panasonic had to delay the announcement of some of their upcoming products. The new Panasonic Micro Four Thirds camera and lenses will be announced in May (and not in April as I told you before).
UPDATE: Other companies have been hit very hard by the earthquake desaster. According to Bloomberg “Canon earnings this year will probably be 27 percent lower than previously estimated after last month’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan“. And Sony had to delete the lates product announcements!

Than Panasonic should announce a new Micro Four Thirds camera, the G3. The [shoplink 14824]Panasonic G10[/shoplink] has already been discontinued, the G2 price lowered to make room for the new G3. There will be also a new Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 lens. It is not Leica branded, has no image stabilization and unlike the famous [shoplink 16340 ebay]Four Thirds brother[/shoplink] it is not Leica branded. It should cost around $700. That’s more than just a rumor because Panasonic UK product manager John Mitchell confirmed that the 25mm lens is coming this summer: “We are sure it’s going to be a great hit because it’s 50mm [35mm viewing angle] equivalent – really fast, really bright” (Source: Amateur Photographer). Oh forgot to mention: It has double the size of the current [shoplink 14796]20mm f/1.7 pancake[/shoplink].

Is there room for some surprise? Let’s hope yes! :)

Links:
The Panasonic G2 price dropped during the recent months at [shopcountry 14834].
The Panasonic G10 already disappeared from most stores (See [shopcountry 14824])
The current 25mm f/1.4 Four Thirds lens at [shopcountry 16340].

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