Panasonic Invests in Pelican Imaging for new sensor tech development.

• August 27, 2013
• news
• 30 Comments

PRNewswire reports that Panasonic invested in Pelican Imaging:

“Pelican’s array camera technology is extremely innovative; they’re pioneering the next generation of video and image capture,” said Patrick Suel, Venture Partner at Panasonic. “We think there are broad applications for depth-enabled imaging in many industries.”

Pelican Imaging CEO and President Chris Pickett noted, “We’re extremely pleased to add Panasonic to our investor group, which includes other industry leaders like Qualcomm and Nokia. Our relationship with Panasonic will provide further market leverage to bring Pelican’s solutions to multiple market segments.”

Image Sensor World reports that “Pelican array camera provides depth information of the captured scene, allowing users to refocus after the fact, create 3D models, and perform an unprecedented range of edits. At under 3mm thickness, Pelican’s array camera is said to be about 50% of the thickness of the best-in-class camera modules shipping in mobile phones today (not clear what resolution is compared).“

No more a surprise: Olympus Japana invitiation for a touch and try with the new “flagship camera”

• August 27, 2013
• Rumors
• 121 Comments

The google translated text (note: models should be “model”…singular)

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Olympus Japan (Google translation here) sent out an official invitation for a touch and try session with the new “Flasgship camera” and lenses. It will take place on Friday September 13 in Tokyo. The E-M1 and 12-40mm announcement is expected to be made a couple of days earlier (September 10-11).

By the way, there is a chance that one or even two more products will be announced. I am working on it to get the details….stay tuned on 43rumors!

P.S.: Don’t forget to join the “secret” competition at Damianmcgillicuddy.com.

Nokton 42,5mm test roundup…

• August 26, 2013
• reviews
• 75 Comments

Notkon lens test by Steve Huff.

The new Nokton 42,5mm is finally shipping in USA too at BHphoto (Click here). And there are new reviews to check out if you want to know more about the lens performance. On top I have embedded the video from Steve HUff. But there is also a review at Henrysnote (Click here), Mapcamera (Japanese) and Xitek (Chinese).

A great lens…what’s coming next from Voigtlander? A 75mm f/0.95? :)

It’s Panasonic GF3/5 Gold Box deal at Amazon US!!!

• August 26, 2013
• deals
• 8 Comments

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Next break from rumors to report that great deal: Three Panasonic GF3 and One GF5 camera are on Amazon US Gold Box deal (Click here to see them). A great chance to get these small MFT cameras for a very low price!

(FT5) Price of the E-M1 and 12-40mm lens in YEN

• August 26, 2013
• Rumors
• 558 Comments

There are the prices in YEN of the new Olympus camera and lens (Source: Digicameinfo). I converted the price in Euro and Dollar but as usual keep in mind that the price will be different because of TAX and VAT reasons.

1) E-M1 body ¥ 145,000
Converted: 1100 Euro or $1500

2) E-M1 with 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 kit lens ¥ 175,000
Converted: 1330 Euro or $1800

3) E-M1 with 12-40mm f/2.8 kit lens ¥ 220,000
Converted: 1670 Euro or $2200

4) Power Battery Holder HLD-7, ¥20,000
Converted: 151 Euro or $200

5) PT-EP11 Waterproof housing, ¥100,000
Converted: 750 Euro or $1000

6) 12-40mm f/2.8 lens only, ¥90,000
Converted: 681 Euro or $900

The good news is that the 12-40mm f/2.8 lens is cheaper than the [shoplink 31225 ebay]Panasonic 12-35mm X lens[/shoplink]!

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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

GX7 test by Magnum Photographer Thomas Dworzak

• August 26, 2013
• reviews
• 92 Comments

Magnum Photographer Thomas Dworzak tested the GX7 and you can see him in this video I embedded on top. Not as famous as Thomas but still enjoyable to watch if you speak German, there is a presentation video at SystemKamerForum on Youtube.

More GX7 bits: GX7 presentation in Japan at DC.watch. Image samples at Focus Numerique. And Spanish test by DSLRmagazine.

GX7 preorder list (Click on store name to open the GX7 price, specs and preorder page):
Silver GX7 body at Amazon US, BHphoto, Adorama, Samys, Wex Deutschland, Wex UK , Amazon JP.
Silver GX7 with 14-42mm lens at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, Samys, Henrys, Wex Deutschland, WexUK, Amazon UK.
Black GX7 body at Henrys, Wex Deutschland, Wex UK, Amazon UK, Amazon Japan.
Black GX7 with 14-42mm lens at Henrys, Wex Deutschland, Wex UK, Amazon UK.
Black GX7 with 20mm lens at Henrys, Wex UK, Amazon UK, Amazon Japan.
Silver GX7 with 20mm lens at Henrys, Wex UK, Amazon UK, Amazon Japan.

GH3 now for $958. G5 for $380. 20mm pancake for $348.

• August 25, 2013
• deals
• 27 Comments

And finally also Amazon dropped the price of the GH3 (Click here) and you can get it for $998 and a 4% Back in Reward which pushes the final price down to $958. Same reward applies for the G5 with kit lens (Click here), now $380.

And here are two more great deals:
The 20mm pancake can be bought for $348 at BHphoto (Click here and add the lens to cart to see the real price).
$100 off on the Olympus 60mm macro lens at [shoplink 41261 ebay]CameraLand (Click here)[/shoplink].