First Olympus E-P1 autofocus test with firmware 1.1

Gearlog made an autofocus test with the new firmware 1.1. Their conclusion is that there are no remarkable improvements. Focus Numerique also made a test (french). English google translation is available here . Their conclusion: “In AF-C mode, the autofocus does seem more responsive and especially in video mode, the problem of pumping and loss of focus was not resolved“

A more simple test has been made by Lucifer himself ;)

thanks to noisycameras for providing the links!

Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 (available in October)

Adobe just announced the new Adobe Photoshop Elements.

If you want to see what’s new visit the adobe website: http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshopelwin/features/?view=topnew

You can buy the software from adobe directly or from amazon US (click here to preorder Adobe Photoshop Elements)

The software will be available for October 22.

Other shops:
Photoshop Elements 8 (amazon Germany)

Photoshop Elements 8 amazon UK

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A preview is available at CNET

Thom Hogan praises Olympus PR

Thom Hogan (an independent Nikon stuff expert and reviewer) writes on his homepage:

“Let’s see, I’ve been using an Olympus for exactly a month now. Olympus yesterday announced a firmware update for the E-P1, and guess what, I got an email directly from their PR firm to that effect. In 15 years of covering Nikon, the only contact I’ve had from their PR firm (or in-house PR staff) is when I published the D70 specifications before announcement and they asked me to take them down because “they are wrong” (they weren’t). What makes me think that when Nikon introduces their compact APS camera they won’t even send me a press release? Oh, I know: despite asking more times than I can count, they’ve NEVER sent me a press release on anything…”

chapeau Olympus! Well done!

New reviews…

20mm

The 20mm f/1.7 lens has been reviewd by photoreview and has gained a very good reputation! “Imatest showed it to be capable of high resolution through its aperture range, with the highest performance being between f/3.2 and f/7.1….”

Digitalcamerareview tested the Panasonic GH1.  “The bottom line here is that the $1500 GH1 is a near perfect choice for shooters graduating from a prosumer/long zoom digicam to their first dSLR…“

One of our readers sent us a selfmade E-P1 review ;)  “After two months of use, I must say the Micro Four Thirds concept does work. And it works very well…“

Panasonic GF1 + 20mm f/1.7 lens to be delivered on December only (says Adorama)

Adoama will ship the Panasonic GF1 + 20mm lens combo on December:
Panasonic Gf1 Preorder now!
For the Panasonic GF1 + 14-54mm lens delivery is expected to start October 2009
Panasonic Gf1 Preorder now!

Amazon US will ship the Panasonic GF1 with 14-45mm Lens on September 24

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The most lucky people (like always) are the japanese. They are beginning to post their first GF1 pictures. An example? http://ganref.jp/magazines/index/1/0/330

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I just bought a portable hard disk for cheap! If you need one click here: SimpleTech by Hitachi Signature Mini 500 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive FS-U25/500E (Espresso). It is really incredible how cheap hard disks are. I remember the time when I bought a 40GB Hard Disk for 400$ :(

(FT4) UPDATED-> Samyang ready to produce lenses for Four Thirds mount?

Samyang_14mm-396x400

Samyang recently released the new 14mm f2.8 IF ED MC Aspherical lens for Canon, Sony, Nikon and Pentax mount. Now we know that Samyang will “possibly” produce lenses for Four Thirds mount! The lens they want to release for Olympus is the 35mm f/1.4 (UPDATE: 35mm in Fullframe format-> it will be a 70mm on your Four Thirds camera!). This lens is going to be announced early 2010 and should be also available for Nikon, Sony, and Pentax mount. UPDATE: The Canon version will have an f/1.2 aperture :)

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P.S.: UPDATE: Samyang is a korean company! You can see their lenses here: Samyang lenses on amazon

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