Panasonic GH1 firmware will upgrade the compression rate from 17Mb/s to 24Mb/s?

I received an email from Alex which I found very interesting:
I’ve seen on forum that the limitation to 17Mb/s compress schema is a choice from Panasonic. If you check Wikipedia, you can read that AVCHD has 2 bitstream rate 17Mb/s and 24Mb/s. The choice for the 17Mb/s rather 24Mb/s come from that the 24Mb/s has some compatibility problem with some hardware. The good news, it seem that Panasonic could update his firmware for to support the 24Mb/s, some forum related that some people from Panasonic confirm that a future firmware could be support this feature in the GH1.

Panasonic has selected AVCHD because this is a consummer format and for the compatibility you take 17Mb/s.

The problem is for the future with this codec you have a limitation to 24Mb/s and we can’t expected to see better video in GH-2 if AVCHD is the only video codec.”

I hope it is true, 17Mb/s is subject to artifacts when the image is full of detail.

Thanks Alex for sharing the news!

Photozone E-620 preview

Photozone is one of the most serious lens review page. But sometimes they make some camera review. They posted a Olympus E-620 preview (and the complete review should come soon). The most interesting part is the resolution test. It seems the strong E-620 filter causes a resolution drop compared to other DSLR.

weekly deals

Remember
1) Buy only what you really need, a better camera doesn’t make you a better photographer!
2) Invest in lenses. if you take care of them they will hold their value far better than cameras. A good lens is forever! ;)
3) If you do not have money visit ebay and buy the Olympus 35RC or 35SP. Incredible image quality in fullframe :)
4) The best camera is the camera you can carry with you. That’s why I love the Panasonic LX3!

So here the list:

1) Amazon sells the Panasonic 45-200mm lens with a 82$ price drop. A good chance to get this lens!

2) You can preorder the Panasonic 7-14mm lens. It is higly regarded lens (look at slrgear)

3) The Olympus 7-14mm is in stock with heavy rebates -31% You Save: $790.02!!!

4) The Olympus Zuiko 14-35mm is one of my favorite lenses and after rebates it is now avaible for $1,938.98 only

5) If you need a photocamera which can take video preorder the Panasonic DMC-GH1 . Do not wait for the Olympus MicroFourThirds camera or Pentax K7 or Canon 5DII. The Gh1 will be unbeaten for long time.

6) Tripods are necessary for almost everyone and good tripods are expensive…wait ALL good tripods? No! The chinese company Benro sells very good quality tripods for cheap. Get it here:
Benro tripod

7) For our german readers:
PANASONIC Lumix DMC-LX3 schwarz EUR 395 (mit dem Code “PIX05DE4”) Pixmania.de

Have a nice shopping!

(FT 4) Olympus Pen E-P1

Possible specs:

– 12 Megapixel

– 100-3200 ISO

– BodyIS

– 3.0 LCD with new improved liveview (IS will work while you use the liveview)

– Same autofocus as the Panasonic G1

– Video 720p 50/60p

– 2 models, one in silver-black, one beige

– thicker than the G10 or DP2

– pancake lens and zoom lens

– 990$ body+kit lens

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If you want to support our website start your shopping by clicking the links to our partershops (Amazon US, B&H Photo,

Adorama
,Calumet Photographic). It doesn’t cost you anything an the little commission we get will help to sustain our costs and daily work. Many thanks!