The chrome-silver color from the Sony NEX 18-55 kit

I am still “struggling” to get info about the price and availability of the new Panasonic 12-50mm f/2.5-3.3 zoom lens. The only new thing we heard form a new source is that the lens will come in SILVER. To be more specific I have been told that the lens color is close to the [shoplink 17230]Sony NEX[/shoplink] lens (Chrome). As you know all current Panasonic lenses are Black. A wonder why Panasonic should change the color. The only thing that came into my mind is that this is the very first Panasonic “pro” zoom lens and maybe they want to mark it with the new color. Sounds like that lens is going to be very expensive!

I also have a small update about the Panasonic mirror lens. I have been told that Panasonic will announce not one but two mirror tele-lenses. One has a 500mm focal length (it’s a redesigned [shoplink 19263 ebay]Minolta 50omm f/8[/shoplink] lens) and the focal length of the second lens is still unknown. One lens will be announced late 2011 and the other lens by early 2012.

As usual. Feel free to contact me at 43rumors@gmail.com if you have some info to share. You Can also contact me anonymously using the contact form on the right sidebar. Thanks!

Not a single of our trusted sources gave us any possible Olympus or Panasonic product announcement day. But a new source just sent us the following rumor: “Next olympus announcements : 8/2 and 2/3“.

As you know the japaneses biggest show, the CP+ is starting on February the 9th. I hope to have more info soon.

P.S.: Olympus should announce a few pro lenses and a new pro camera within the first half of the year. And Panasonic will announce the G3 and a bunch of new lenses.

That is a surprise! One of our very good sources just told us that Panasonic is developing a new 500mm mirror(reflex) tele lens! UPDATE: The source doens’t know if that lens will be announced within 2011. The picture I posted above shows the [shoplink 19263 ebay]Minolta 500mm reflex[/shoplink]. According to the source Panasonic is working with some of the minolta specialist that made that lens. The Panasonic version will have AF (autofocus), O.I.S. (in lens stabilization) and be smaller than the Minolta version. What I don’t know is if there is really a “market” for such a lens. That’s why I added a poll at the bottom of the post to ask you if you would be interested in buying such a lens. And if you know more about that lens drop us a line at 43rumors@gmail.com or use the contact form on the right sidebar. Thanks!

For reference:
– The Minolta 500mm lens is out of production. You can get it for $500-$700 at [shoplink 19263 ebay]eBay (Click here to see the current lens auctions)[/shoplink].
– The new verison of the Minolta lens is the Sony 500mm f/8. Price $750 at Amazon (Click here to see it).
– Opteka offers a 500mm lens with Four Thirds mount. You can get them on [shoplink 19264 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] or Amazon (Click here).

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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

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We just learned that Panasonic is going to introduce a completely new designed G3 camera. The new body looks different than the current [shoplink 14834]G1/G2 cameras[/shoplink]. But it will not have a “rangefinder look” like the famous [shoplink 17020 ebay]DMC-LC1[/shoplink]. One of our sources told us that the new body form is very close to the [shoplink 19190]Samsung NX10[/shoplink]. We received rumors saying that Panasonic wasn’t happy with the Panasonic G10 and Panasonic G2 sales. That’s why they anticipated the release of a new G camera having new specs and new design. As you know the G10 has been discontinued and the G2 price is decreasing.

The new sensor is the same that will be used by future Olympus cameras. We have no reliable info yet but we received rumors about a new 14-15 megapixel sensor from unknown sources. What’s certain is that the G3 can take FullHD videos (but not at 24mbit/s like the new [shoplink 16254]GH2[/shoplink]).

Stay tuned on 43rumors! I hope to receive some detailled spec as soon as possible. Thanks!

P.S.:
Links to the Panasonic DMC-LC1 on [shoplink 17020 ebay]eBay[/shoplink] or Amazon.
Links to the Samsung NX10 on [shoplink 19190 ebay]eBay[/shoplink] or Amazon.
The discontinued G10 at Bhphoto.

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

Image on top: The Hoya-Pentax 17mm f/2.0 Micro Four Thirds lens patent

Two days ago I posted a rumor about Tokina making two new Micro Four Thirds lenses which should be unveiled at the PMA show in November. The two lenses are the 17mm f/2.0 (or faster) and the 8-16mm/3.5-4.5 (or faster and with the body quality of the current [shoplink 19059 ebay]Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 lens[/shoplink]). Now we just noticed a very interesting “coincidence”. In recent years, Tokina has become a partner of Pentax, division of Hoya Corporation and jointly developed some lenses. And thanks to a discussion we had with one of our readers it came in our mind that a few months ago Pentax-Hoya fulfilled a patent for a 17mm f/2.0 Micro Four Thirds lens (Source: Egami). So if 1+1 makes 2 can we conclude that Pentax and Hoya are interested in joining the Micro Four Thirds world as lens maker (under the Tokina brand)? It looks like the answer is yes. But the one million dollar question is: Will this partnership go further and will Pentax join the MFT coalition? Probably not….or no? :)

[shoplink 19151 ebay][/shoplink] Image on top: The analogue Nikon S2 rangefinder ([shoplink 19151 ebay]Click here to see it on eBay[/shoplink]).

Sorry if I post a Nikon rumor on 43rumors but when we just got a “FT5” rumor about Nikon that will interest many 43rumors readers. One thing we were missing until today is a mirrorless pro system with advanced cameras that can compete against the best APS-C DSLR cameras. Now the same sources that usually are sending us top Panasonic and Olympus rumors now contacted us to say that both Olympus and Nikon will announce their PRO cameras in quarter two (Nikon will announce it in April)!

I repeat it, Nikon’s new system will not compete against the low entry Micro Four Thirds cameras like the [shoplink 17361]GF2[/shoplink] and [shoplink 18844]E-PL2[/shoplink]. I posted a few more info about the future Nikon system here: http://www.mirrorlessrumors.com/exclusive-nikon-to-launch-a-mirrorless-system-in-april-with-sony-sensor/

The good news for us Micro Four Thirds user is that usually competition brings better cameras for a lower price. Let’s hope Oly will announce something spectacular for a decent price ;)

P.S.: I would love NIkon to make a digital [shoplink 19151 ebay]Nikon S2[/shoplink]. That’s how I understand the “PRO” characteristic.

See and read the specs of the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 on [shoplink 19059 ebay]eBay[/shoplink] or Amazon.

P.S: Thanks to the anonymous source! I owe you a beer for that ;)

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

—-
If you usually make shopping at Amazon feel free to bookmark those links. They do contain a 43rumors affiliate code. Once clicked you can buy whatever you want and we I will earn a small commission from it without you paying any cent more. It’s a perfect solution to make you pay nothing and at the same time to help me to keep running this website! Thanks!!
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/?tag=
BHphoto: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/?BI=4499&KBID=4968
Amazon Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/?tag=43rumors0e-20
Amazon Deutschland: http://www.amazon.de/?tag=43rumors03-21
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/?tag=43rum-21
Amazon France: http://www.amazon.fr/?tag=43r-21
Amazon Italia: http://www.amazon.it/?tag=rumors-21