Panasonic also using Sony sensors? At least on the new LX7…

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An imaginary LX7 vertical grip created by a user of the SLRclub forum.

Our reader Trevor pointed out how the new Panasonic LX7 sensor may be from Sony. There is a Sony Japan pdf (download here) that describes what seems to be exactly the new LX7 sensor (From Google Translate):

9.33mm diagonal (Type 1/1.7)
Approximately 12.4 million effective pixels (4072H × 3046V)
■ pixel size: 1.85μm square pixel unit
■ shooting 35frame / s approximately 12.4 million pixels Support

■ dynamic range, high sensitivity Back-illuminated with low noise CMOS image sensor
■ Movie mode 4K2K (4096H × 2160V, 60frame / s)

 

So after Olympus with the E-M5 also Panasonic with the LX7 is using Sony sensors. Wondering if Panasonic will sometimes in future use Sony sensors in m43 cameras too…

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New Panasonic stuff preorders:
Black G5 at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here)
Silver G5 at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here)
45-150mm lens in Black at BHphoto (Click here) and in Silver at BHphoto (Click here).
LX7 in Black at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here) in White at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here)
Other compacts, the FZ200 at BHphoto (Click here), the FZ60 at BHphoto (Click here).

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The sub $300 (or Euro) deals roundup….

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[shoplink 32506 ebay][/shoplink] For 299 Euro you can get that double lens kit in [shoplink 32506 ebay]Irland eBay[/shoplink].

You really don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a good Micro Four Thirds camera. And getting closer to the Photokina makes it even easier to find some good deal. This is just a tiny fraction of links to some good m43 camera price:

USA-Canada:
[shoplink 32500 ebay]E-P1 body for $199[/shoplink].
[shoplink 32502 ebay]E-P2 body for $249[/shoplink] and Amazon.
[shoplink 32503 ebay]GF2 body for $249[/shoplink].
[shoplink 32504 ebay]E-PL1 with 14-42mm lens for $249[/shoplink] and $274 at Amazon.
[shoplink 32501 ebay]E-P1 with 14-42mm lens for $279[/shoplink].

Europe:
[shoplink 32505 ebay]E-PL1 body for 129 Euro[/shoplink].
[shoplink 32506 ebay]E-PL1 double lens kit for 299 Euro[/shoplink].
[shoplink 32507 ebay]E-PL2 body for 219 Euro[/shoplink].
[shoplink 32508 ebay]GF2 body for 229 Euro[/shoplink].
[shoplink 32509 ebay]GF3 body for $199[/shoplink].

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New E-M5 and G5 reviews…SIlver E-M5 in Stock in US.

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The likely most difficult to find E-M5 camera is the Silver body only option. But it’s now in Stock at Amazon (via JR),  Cameta (Click here) and also on their [shoplink 32548ebay]eBay page (Click here)[/shoplink]. Menatime Amazon said that they will ship them on August 7th (Click here). The Black ktis are more or less all in Stock at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).

New E-M5 reviews have been posted at Rasmusphoto and OpenPN (french).

New G5 reviews at WhatDigitalCamera: “The G5 has to be the most complete Lumix G-series camera we’ve seen, that mounts a serious challenge to established DSLRs.” Cnet Asia: “We were also impressed with the improvement in video quality, which is one of the best we’ve seen from an ILC“. First pics of the G5 at the Olympus in London at Techradar. Panasonic G5 review at Fotovideo.nu (Translation here) incl. Imatest results.

 

P.S: Farrukh: “The G5 may shoot the Olympics, but I used the EP3 there yesterday ;) http://www.flickr.com/photos/swamibu/sets/72157630793769412/“

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Plenty of new Panasonic X zoom reviews!

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The best (and most expensive) Micro Four Thirds zoom is now shipping and 43rumor readers are testing the lens. Time for a short roundup of the links I got. Enjoy!

Reviews:
Admiringlight writes: “The 12-35mm f/2.8′s combination of top flight optics, fast aperture, quality build and great zoom range make it a lens for any serious shooter to consider.”
Soundimagesplus posted the first, second, and third part of the X zoom review: “A few test shots indicate that its VERY sharp, as good as anything I’ve seen in m4/3, and  there is some decent bokeh. Not normally a strength in m4/3 lenses.”
There are now eight User Reviews at Amazon (Click here). All 5 stars :)

43rumors Readers review:
Kevin: “I filmed a test video with my new 12-35 x lens. Thought you might like to see it at Eslkevin.blogspot.jp”
Pier-Yves: “Filmed today with the 12-35 and the 7-14 (here on youtube).Paris was dark today. Bonne lecture. LesFilmsDuRegard.Com”
Gary Hanna: “just wanted to share a 12-35mm X video I recently completed (here on youtube).

In Stock and price check: [shopcountry 31225].
For my European friends. The cheapest price i found is in UK at [shoplink 32542 ebay]T-Dimension[/shoplink] and [shoplink 32543 ebay]Simplyelectronics[/shoplink].

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Panasonic says: “G5 uses a different sensor than the E-M5”

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Panasonic managers Izumi Tomozawa and Atsushi Kato had been interviewed in Taiwan by ePrice (Translation here). This are some of the key info:

1) G5 uses a panasonic sensor, not the same one in [shoplink 29074]E-M5[/shoplink].
2) G5 can be considered as a sort of “GH2.5” according to Panasonic.
3) The 1/1.7″ CMOS sensor in LX7 is not a panasonic sensor, but purchased from another manufacturer.
4) While developing the LX7, there was two options: F1.4 lens with bigger body, and F1.8 lens with the same body size like LX5. In the end they chose to challenge the former one.
5) F2.3 at tel end is, technically, more difficult to achieve then F1.4 at the wide end.

I am surprised to hear they didn’t make the LX7 sensor!

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New Panasonic stuff preorders:
Black G5 at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here)
Silver G5 at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here)
45-150mm lens in Black at BHphoto (Click here) and in Silver at BHphoto (Click here).
LX7 in Black at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here) in White at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here)
Other compacts, the FZ200 at BHphoto (Click here), the FZ60 at BHphoto (Click here).

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Amazon scares m43 comunity with an Olympus 75mm delay message. Shipping in Europe.

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Quite many 43rumors readers got a scary message because of the following Amazon message they got the last few hours:

“Amazon US delay notice for 75mm: “Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm f1.8 High-Grade Portrait Lens”
New Delivery Estimate: September 13, 2012 – November 13, 2012”

We had this many times in the past. I wouldn’t get too worried about it! I am sure you will get your lens sooner than expected (at least that is what “some” US dealer told me). The good news is that the lens is now shipping in Europe. I got the two pictures from 43rumor readers:

Second pic via Fotohanskeuzekamp. Lens preorders at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Amazon Germany and Amazon UK.

Olympus Lens alternatives (if you don’t care about the missing autofocus and electronic contacts):
1) [shoplink 31292 ebay]Dallmeyer 75mm f/1.9 (Here on eBay)[/shoplink]. This is an extremely expensive lens and I don’t know why it is so. Only crazy guys would buy that :)
2) [shoplink 31293 ebay]Leica Summilux 75mm f/1.4 (Here on eBay)[/shoplink]. Extraordinary high quality lens for an extraordinary price (although it’s still less expensive than the mysterious Dallmeyer). It’s the fastest of all 75mm lenses
3) [shoplink 31293 ebay]Zeiss Biotar 75mm f/1.5 (Here on eBay)[/shoplink]. Fast and also a bit exotic lens made for the Exacta series.
4) [shoplink 31294 ebay]Leica Summarit 75mm f/2.5 (Here on eBay)[/shoplink]. High quality and relatively compact lens. A bit slow compared to the Olympus (f/2.5).
5) [shoplink 31295 ebay]Voigtlander Heliar 75mm f/1.8 (Here on eBay)[/shoplink]. Probably the best alternative of the new Olympus 75mm f/1.8 lens. Same aperture, superb high quality and cheaper.
6) [shoplink 31324 ebay]Fujinon 75mm f/1.8 (Here on eBay)[/shoplink]. This is a very cheap TV lens and I don’t expect the quality to be very good. I wouldn’t buy that unlike your really need that focal length and you have a very low budget.

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(FT3) Four new m43 lenses from Panasonic?

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Image on top shows the 35-100mm X zoom prototype lens.

Trusted sources told me that Panasonic will show many new lenses in September at Photokina. It’s still not confirmed but the total number could be of four lenses. One is the long awaited 35-100mm X lens. Than we will have an tele prime lens similar to the [shoplink 31284]Olympus 75mm f/1.8[/shoplink]. I also heard about a new wide angle zoom. The fourth lens specs are still unknown.

For the record, Olympus will also announce at least two new lenses. Makes a total of six lenses (minimum). But another very important question is when those lenses will be available. Hope these are not mostly prototypes that will than be available in 2013 only! May sources can also share me some info about that question. Thanks!

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The 12-35mm X zoom is in Stock in many stores: Check at [shopcountry 31225].
And first Europeans tores are finally shipping the Olympus 75mmm lens: [shopcountry 31284]

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