Olympus 17mm f/1.8 gets DxOmarked. Close to Panasonic-Leica performance.

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DxOmark (Click here) published the Olympus 17mmf /1.8 lens test. As you see the lens is almost as good as the Panasonic-Leica 25mm lens. Like so many reviewers before this lens leaves you with mixed feelings. DxO writes:

“In some respects, the new image quality of the M. Zuiko Digital 17mm f/1.8 is not up to scratch, as not only does it have quite high levels of chromatic aberration and distortion but it also fails to impress in outright resolution and acutance. On the plus side, sharpness is much more consistent across the field than the existing 17mm f/2.8 model and if it had used ED glass in the construction it would have been considerably more expensive than the $500 retailers are asking for it. Considering the build, fast maximum aperture and overall imaging characteristics, the 17mm f/1.8 remains an attractive option for the enthusiast.”

Yep, good lens, but not as good as it gets. Let’s see if the rumored 25m f/1.8 can be even better…

17mm price check at [shopcountry 34914].

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(FT4) The ultra compact camera is a new GX### (three digit number)

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A fake ultra small MFT camera design. P.S.: it’s going to be GX and not GL .

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A top source told me that the super small Panasonic MFT camera will be part of the GX series and it’s going to use a three digit name “GX###”. While the GF and G series will be targeted for amateurs the GX7 and GX### will be targeted to more advanced shooters.

The GX7 will be announced in late August while the ultra small GX will hit the stores in early 2014.

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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

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Fee free to send me your reviews and stories!

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It’s summertime (here in Europe) and soon a very hot rumor period will start. We will see plenty of new cameras (OMD, E, GX) and some new lenses. But in between I thought we could may try to do what my colleague Patrick from Fujirumors is doing for months now. Post your full stories and reviews!

If you have some long article you want to be posted on 43rumors send me your text and pictures on 43rumors@gmail.com. You can obviously link back to your blog to promote yourself and your work. I think that could be an interesting way for some of you to get known by the 43rumors community. Some topics I am interested in:

– Professional on field reviews. Unlike DxO or Dpreview what I want is to learn more about the real life use of cameras and lenses! No charts or pixel peeping needed :)
– Testing of little known lenses
– Funny stories around the use of MFT
– System comparison: Example,  switching from DSLR to MFT system

One more thing: After a couple of years it’s about time to change the 43rumors design and to clean it up. From October one I will take some time off from my regular job to work on this. I will tell you more about that in a future post.

Thanks guys!

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More DSLR vs Mirrorless graphs.

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Unit price in USD

Vitaly from Personal View (Click here) posted more graphs showing unit prices of DSLR and Mirrorlesscameras.  As you can see from the graph on top Mirrorless cameras average price seems to be slightly cheaper but you have also to consider that there are many expensive (FF for example) DSLR cameras rising the average level. The important thing to know is that Mirrorless camera shipments from Japan to oversea seem to stuck and not grow anymore. I don’t know yet what Panasonic and Olympus manager have in their mind to push the MFT system. The only thing I keep hearing from managers is that they want to move more towards the higher end market.

Let’s see…

 

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E-P5 video review by Kai (Digitalrev).

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This is Kai’s take on the new PEN. Enjoy watching!

 

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Links to all newly announced Olympus stuff:
E-P5 Black at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto and Samys. In Europe at Amazon Germany, Amazon UK and at Wex UK.
E-P5 White at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto and Samys. In Europe at Amazon Germany, Amazon UK and at Wex UK.
E-P5 Silver at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto and Samys. In Europe at Amazon Germany, Amazon UK and at Wex UK.
E-P5 Black with 17mm f/1.8 lens and VF-4 at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto and Samys. In Europe at Amazon UK.
E-P5 Silver with 17mm f/1.8 lens and VF-4 at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto and Samys. In Europe at Amazon UK.
E-P5 White with 17mm f/1.8 lens and VF-4 at Amazon UK.
E-P5 Black with 14-42mm lens at Amazon Germany, Amazon UK and Wex UK.
E-P5 White with 14-42mm lens at Amazon Germany and Amazon UK.
E-P5 Silver with 14-42mm lens at Amazon Germany, Amazon UK and at Wex UK.
17mm f/1.8 Black at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto and Samys.
45mm f/1.8 Black at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto and Samys. In Europe at Amazon Germany.
75mm f/1.8 Black at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto and Samys.
VF-4 viewfinder at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto and Samys.

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Ulterior price drop: Panasonic GH3 for $1,028 at Amazon.

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After the $230 discount today there has been an ulterior $20 price drop on the GH3 at Amazon US (Click here). You pay $1049 but there is also a 2% reward to add. If you are curious to see how good the disocunted GH3 sells than check out the DSLR (and not the mirrorless!) Amazon ranking (Click here). it’s getting closer to the top 20 which is quite a good achievement. I am still surprised the camera is listed as DSLR. Probably it’s part of a Panasonic US strategy to convince the mass that this camera is as good as a DSLR. In the US market mirrorless still plays an almost insignificant role (in terms of sales).

All other hot deals of the day fro US and EU readers can be found at DealsRunner.com.

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a little bit of everything…

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Get sharp shots with the Panasonic LUMIX 100-300mm f4-5.6 G MFT Lens

Olympus 75mm lens tested at Photographyblog and Thedigitalstory.
Panasonic GH3 review at ThePhoBlographer.
Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS tested at Dpreview.
E-P5 image samples at Fotopolis.
Les Rencontres d’Arles et Olympus (Focus Numerique).
ZZ top testing the OMD (Facebook).
There is a new Apple Digital Camera RAW update on OSX that adds support for the G6 and GF6.
Silkypix added support for the E-P5

Mathieu: “I just wanted to share an article I wrote about using the Olympus OM-D E-M5 as my primary work camera, and how I made the switch from DSLRs. The article covers a number of possible work scenarios including weddings, event reportage and theatrical performances. http://www.bestmirrorlesscamerareviews.com/2013/07/02/mirrorless-on-the-job-episode-1-working-with-the-olympus-om-d-e-m5-as-my-primary-camera/”

Rohith Thumati: “I just published a post comparing the Leica X2, Fujifilm X100S, and Olympus 17mm. It is probably a more controversial post than my last one :)
thumati.com/chronicle/x2-x100s-olympus17mm-test”

 

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