43 Rumors – Page 1806 – Panasonic and Olympus Digital Camera News

The last Photokina wrap up! (new Novoflex TS Bellows)

October 1, 2012
news
25 Comments

Novoflex Tilt- and Shift Bellows System for CSCs via Photographyblog.

And here is a new list of Photokina related news:
An image sample with the 15mm lens at TheDigitalStory. Nokton 17.5mm hands-on at ePhotozine. E-PL5 samples at ePhotozine. Nokton 25mm at ePhotozine. E-PM2 image samples at ePhotozine. E-M5 with the new 17mm f/1.8 lens by FourThirds-User. 35-100mm X at OpenPN. E-PM2 hands-on at Digitalcamerainfo. 35-100mm hands-on at m43.eu. DC.watch (Translation here) posted an Interview of Olympus. No bog deal here. It’s again obvious how Olympus wants to focus on the improvement of the EVF quality and dynamic range of the pictures (more than on the increase of Megapixels). Hands-on at DC.watch. Photokina impressions on Flickr. Shcneider Kreuznach won the Photokina Star Award. A roundup from ePhotozine. Swarowski lens on the G2 at m43.eu.

43rumors reader Nils wrote an interesting Photokina report:
“Just came back from Photokina. This is what I could find out about the GH3:
– Definitly the camera people where interested in at the Panasonic stand.
– Ergonimcs seem great to me. Feels like a real workpeace. Not overly big (exspecially if you compare to other Pro cameras) and just the right weight. Did compare it to an OMD with battery grip and the Olympus felt heavier and uncomfortable edgy in my hands.
– Firmware version was 0.4
– 5 copys made it to Photokina
– No information wether AF Light works with external flashs.
– ATM internal flash doesnt seem to work with electronic shutter, just as with the G5, might be due to early firmware.
– EVF is 16:9 ratio and gets cropped in other modes, making the viewable area rather small. Image is fast to respond no noticeable lag when moving fast. I could see the pixel grid the EVF picture. G5 EVF looked better in comparison. I hope its not the final version.
– Panasonic representatives reinforced that the sensor is multiaspect. With the current (0.4) firmware resolution is shown as 16M for 4:3, 14M for 3:2, 12M for 16:9.
– Reps only got their hands on the cam this morning.
– No words about XLR accessorie, wasnt on display either.
– Couldnt try and of the flash units whith the cam. Reps where afraid that it would freeze the cam due to early firmware.
– According to the guys filming the HDMI output looked great to them, and judging from the monitor they had hooked up to one cam the picture looked very clean with no discernable noise at ISO 1000. They hadnt tried out the clean hdmi mode, overlays where shown on the monitor.
– One rep hinted a kit with the 35-100mm 2.8 lens.
– Buttons felt nice and responsive not mushy like the OMD.
– No word about new version of the 7-14mm lens.
– Didnt try focus peaking, its not that important to me.
– Noticed with the “exploded” camera on display that the handgrip area of the cam seems to be rather hollow.
Maybe you can get more detailed info from the reps at the end of the exhibition when they got more time to play with the cam themselves.
With just 5 copys and firmware 0.4 it feels like the rushed quite a bit to make it to Photokina. The GH3 is clearly Panasonics headline for this show.
I really liked the cam. The EVF was a bit of letdown though. If it gets improved until the camera hits the shelves, along with the multiaspect part, its a definite buy for me. Otherwise I might wait for a GH3x.”

—

Soon the re-release of the Olympus E-M5 firmware 1.2 update….($80 Visa Gift Card deal)

October 1, 2012
Rumors
29 Comments

—-

As you know Olympus temporarily suspended the firmware updated version 1.2 download (See Olympus America).

Just got that news from an anonymous source: “E-M5 firmware version 1.2 had been finalized and is ready for use in cameras.” Olympus now started the testing period. If all works fine the firmware update could be released in October. One of the bug that will be fixed is the “not recognizing” of some lenses.

And our friend Tyson Robichaud (Click here) wrote a long fw update wishlist. I agree on all points and Olympus should read the full article :)

—

There is a $80 gift card deal on all Olympus cameras (Click here to see the detailed deal page on Amazon).

E-M5 at Amazon, Adorama, B&H, Jessops, Amazon UK, Amazon Germany, Amazon France, Amazon Japan and Digitalrev.

—

E-M5 Case:
There is the official [shoplink 31898 ebay]CS-36FBC Olympus case[/shoplink]. A [shoplink 31899 ebay]leather half case from Hong Kong[/shoplink]. A full [shoplink 31900 ebay]leather case with strap from Cina[/shoplink]. Than we have half cases from two well known producers, [shoplink 31901 ebay]Zelenpol[/shoplink], [shoplink 31906 ebay]Kaza[/shoplink] and [shoplink 31902 ebay]Gariz[/shoplink].

E-M5 Batteries, and other things:
The [shoplink 31905 ebay]Olympus GS-4 strap[/shoplink] and the [shoplink 31903 ebay]DSTE E-M5 batteries[/shoplink] you have to use with an extra charger. There is an [shoplink 31903 ebay]E-M5 car charger[/shoplink] a [shoplink 31908 ebay]new E-M5 LCD screen[/shoplink] and a [shoplink 31909 ebay]Front Cover+ Top Panel[/shoplink].

New Olympus E-PL5 and 60mm macro and SLRmagic reviews (AdmiringLight, Robin Wong)

September 30, 2012
reviews
34 Comments

EOSHD test of SLR Magic **prototype** 35mm T0.95 / T1.4 (Panasonic GH2 non-hacked) from Andrew Reid on Vimeo.

EosHD (Click here) tested the SLR Magic 35mm T0.95 and T1.4 prototype lenses on the GH2.

Further we have two new reviews from well know (and highly rated) Olympus reviewers:
Admiringlight (Click here) posted a new “Macro Battle” article between the Olympus 60mm f/2.8 and the Leica 45mm f/2.8: “Overall, it’s looking like the Olympus 60mm may have a slight edge in resolution over the also excellent Panasonic Leica”
Robin Wong (Click here) tested the “mini-Em5”, the new E-PL5. He shot a wedding and writes: “Honestly, I have very, very little complains, and generally very satisfied with what the camera could do. When I was shooting, I did not even wish for a moment to switch back to my old DSLR E-5. Yes, I have my minor complains of no Viewfinder and wanting a better grip, but what the E-PL5 could do, trumps all the complains I had.”

—

Another smart E-M5 ad :)

September 30, 2012
news
51 Comments

Enjoy!
—
For EU readers. back in Stock. E-M5 body for less than 900 Euro on [shoplink 33926 ebay]eBay Italy (Click here)[/shoplink].

GH3 remote APP videos.

September 29, 2012
reviews
27 Comments

If you are curious to see how the GH3 remote control works just watch these two vidoes. The first has been embedded here on top. The second can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od5fqlRba_g.

—

Special GH3 page at Amazon (Click here) and a full Olympus presentation page at Amazon (Click here).
GH3 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here) and in Europe at Wexphotographic UK (horrible price in UK!).

Olympus 60mm macro and 12mm Black shipping (and massive new lens test roundup!)

September 29, 2012
reviews
53 Comments

Image courtesy: Fotohanskeuzekamp.

Readers contacted me to say that the new Olympus 60mm macro lens is already shipping in US, Europe and Asia. To be more detailed they got them from Amazon, Adorama, and [shoplink 33616 ebay]eBay[/shoplink]. The 12mm Black edition is in Stock at Fotohanskeuzekamp.

And here is a new lens review roundup which includes many newly announced lenses:
SLRmagic 35mm f/1.4 test at M43.eu.
Olympus 75mm lens arrived (Soundimagesplus).
Panasonic 35-100mm X lens test at Popco.
Schneider lens release roundup at DSLRmagazine.
Panasonic 25mm lens test at KurtMunger and Tyson Robichaud.
Lensbaby Composer Pro for Micro Four Thirds with Sweet 35 Optic at ThePhoBlographer.
Voigtlander Nokton 17.5 mm f/0.95 Aspherical test at Lenstip.

Panasonic Interview at Imaging Resource.

September 28, 2012
news
62 Comments

Imaging Resource (Click here) interviewed a group of Panasonic managers (engineers). The focus is of course on the newly announced Panasonic GH3. Enjoy the reading you future Gh3 owners :)
—