Panasonic patent discloses an Olympus “Open Platform” alike camera with three RGB sensors.

• October 16, 2014
• news
• 30 Comments

A new Panasonic US patent filed on June 4 discloses that Micro Four Thirds camera with “cube” form just like the recently introduced Olympus Open Platform camera prototype (article and images here). But the Panasonic patent is more detailed about the camera details than the Olympus prototype. The Panasonic version uses a color separation prism and three sensor each sensible to different colors (Red-Green-Blue).

Such a camera may be suited for professional video recording. But if that patented idea will ever make it into a real mass product is yet unclear.

And here comes the next Panasonic GM1 luxury edition designed by Wertel Oberfell.

• October 16, 2014
• news
• 30 Comments

The German Designer group Werteloberfell announced three new GM1 design editions. There is no info about the price yet but I guess it will be a sort of [shoplink 48916 ebay]Hasselblad Lunar[/shoplink] expensive item.

via Facebook and via Jurnal Du Design.

New Olympus US deals list (on lenses and cameras).

• October 15, 2014
• deals
• 1 Comment

This is the updated MFT deals list from GetOlympus US (Click here):

Up to $100 Off Portrait Prime Lenses for PEN & OM-D
Save $50 on the M.75-300mm f4.8-6.7 II
$800 Off Lenses with OM-D or PEN Purchase
VF-4: Only $99.99 with E-P5 Body Purchase
PEN E-P5: Over $479 in Savings!
PEN E-PL5: $100 Off + FREE Wi-Fi Card

Do not forget: E-M1 for $1,079 sold by [shoplink 48867 ebay]eBay Canadian Store (Click here)[/shoplink]. CameraLand US sells the E-M10 with $100 off and free lens: [shoplink 48766 ebay]Black E-M10 kit (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 48767 ebay]Silver E-M10 kit (Click here)[/shoplink].

Metabones releases the Canon EF Speed Booster S compatible with the OMD series.

• October 15, 2014
• news
• 70 Comments

Metabones (Click here) announced the new Canon EF Lens to Micro Four Thirds Speed Booster S which is finally compatible with the Olympus OMD cameras!

This is difference between Normal version and S version of EF-MFT Speed Boosters:

(FT4) Firmware update coming soon for other Olympus MFT cameras

• October 15, 2014
• Rumors
• 80 Comments

I keep receiving info from various anonymous sources saying that the E-P5, E-M5 and likely also other cameras will get a firmware update within the next few months. This is highly likely also because Olympus Capture Software yet doesn’t support any other camera than the E-M1. I hope the new firmware will allow tethering and some of the other new E-M1 features on all current MFT cameras!

—
For sources: Sources can send me anonymous info at 43rumors@gmail.com (create a fake gmail account) or via contact form you see on the right sidebar. Thanks!
For readers: Don’t miss any news. Join our group on facebook and follow our tweets.

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

New Panasonic LX100/GM5 and Olympus 40-150mm test roundup!

• October 15, 2014
• reviews
• 79 Comments

Image courtesy: DC.watch.

Olympus 40-150mm tested at CameraStuffReview and writes:

The construction and image quality of the Olympus 40-150 mm f/2.8 are absolutely top class. The combination of an Olympus OM-D E-M1 or Panasonic GH4 with an Olympus 12-40 mm f/2.8 PRO + 40-150 mm f/2.8 PRO is a compact, high-quality tool that weighs a couple of kilos less than a traditional 24-70 f/2.8 + 70-200 mm f/2.8 and a professional SLR, which the image quality comes surprisingly close.

More tests:
Some 40-150mm example photos published by Kenneth Lehtinen in Finland.
40-150 VI Bokeh Shootout (Pen And Tell).
French LX100 movie test at Focus Numerique.
Panasonic GM5 review at Digitalversus.
LX100 sample gallery at Imaging Resource.
LX100 hands-on at DC.watch.

–

Panasonic preorders:
LX100 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto. Europe at WexUK.
GM5 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto. Europe at WexUK.
GM5 in red at Adorama.
35-100mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.

Olympus preorders:
Silver E-M1 body at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto, GetOlympus. In Europe at Wex UK.
40-150mm f/2.8 PRO lens at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto, GetOlympus. In Europe at Wex UK, Technikdirekt and Amazon.
LH-76 lens hood at Adorama, Bhphoto, GetOlympus.
MC-14 1.4x teleconverter at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto, GetOlympus.
PRF-ZD62 Z protection filter at Adorama, Bhphoto, GetOlympus.
PRF-ZD72 Z protection filter at Adorama, Bhphoto, GetOlympus.
General links to all new Olympus stuff at Adorama.
ALL new stuff announced at Photokina at Amazon.

Ending today: 20% off on Olympus ref. stuff.

• October 14, 2014
• deals
• 7 Comments

The 20% off on Olympus refurbished stuff is ending today at GetOlympus (Click here to see the list of MFT stuff).

Other current Panasonic/Olympus US deals:
E-M1 for $1,079 sold by [shoplink 48867 ebay]eBay Canadian Store (Click here)[/shoplink] E-M10 with $100 off and free lens: [shoplink 48766 ebay]Black E-M10 kit (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 48767 ebay]Silver E-M10 kit (Click here)[/shoplink].
$100 free gift card on the GM1 sold at Adorama (Click here).
$100 off on the Nocticron 42,5mm f/1.2 OIS lens at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
$100 off on the Vario 35-100mm f/2.8 ASPH lens at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
Silver GX7 body or kit version sells with a huge $300 + $100 gift card at BHphoto (Click here).
There are plenty of savings including the $100 off on the 45 and 75mm lenses at GetOlympus (Click here).
Refurbished: $559 for the 75mm f/1.8 (Click here).
Refurbished: $399 for the Black 17mm f/1.8 (Click here).
Refurbished: $399 for the Silver 17mm f/1.8 (Click here).
Refurbished: $319 for the 75mm f/1.8 (Click here).