43 Rumors – Page 1864 – Panasonic and Olympus Digital Camera News

GF3 with 14mm pancake lens for $314. Less than the LX5 :)

May 19, 2012
deals
26 Comments

We were just talking about the new GF5 coming to Europe and USA that one of our readers noticed that super Gold box deal where you can get the GF3 with the superb 14mm pancake for $314 at Amazon (Click here to grab it!!!). That’s a lot less than what you pay for a high end compact camera with tiny sensor like the LX5 ($360 at Amazon).

One more news and deal: ePhotozine (Click here) reviewed the 45-200mm Panasonic lens. It’s a pretty decent lens if you consider that you can get it for $199 again at Amazon (Click here).

GF5 is now shipping to Europe and USA…

May 19, 2012
news
15 Comments

Oh, I didn’t forget that little sexy new Panasonic GF5 :) The camera just shipped to first Europea and American stores. The picture on top is from the dutch store FotoHansKeuzakamp. The body only is priced at 621 Euro at Amazon France. It’s a nice cameras but I feel like the recent GF3 price drops may will make it hard to justify the extra price you have to pay for the GF5. For example the GF3 body only costs a little over 300 Euro here a Digitech on [shoplink 31026 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and with the 14-42mm lens 379 Euro again on [shoplink 31027 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. And we Europeans as usual will get even more frustrated when checking the USA price of the GF3: You cna get the body for $249 only (180 Euro!) in [shoplink 31030 ebay]Black (Click here)[/shoplink], [shoplink 31029 ebay]White (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 31028 ebay]Red (Click here)[/shoplink].

(FT5) New Olympus teaser for the upcoming 75mm portrait lens!

May 18, 2012
Rumors
114 Comments

Image courtesy: Techradar

Olympus is sending out a new teaser! After the weird nuts(LOL) for the new Tough camera (Click here)…..Techradar got the message you see here on top of this post! Obviously this is for the new 75mm f/1.8 portrait lens. The lens will be announced within the next weeks (and don’t forget that there is a Panasonic announcement too!).

The lens is said to have the highest image quality of all current Micro Four Thirds lenses. It is not weather sealed and if according to some unconfirmed rumors it should cost $799. That’s a lot less than comparable Full Frame lenses like the [shoplink 30743]Canon 135mm f/2.0 (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 30744]Nikon 135mm f/2.0 (Click here)[/shoplink]. Only the 85mm Canon f/1.8 (here at Amazon) and the Nikon 85mm f/1.8 (here at Amazon) are cheaper but also have an older design and are not as long as the Olympus (127.5mm on an APSC camera).

I know I already posted a similar poll months ago. But now we have some more info about the lens price and quality. So I ask you again:

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One more thing. I don’t know yet if the 60mm f/2.8 macro will also be announced along the 75mm lens!

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

Olympus talks about current m43 cameras, future of compact cameras and future Application support (Techradar)

May 18, 2012
news
102 Comments

Today I want to catch up with some stuff I never managed to post before on 43urmors. In that case if you want to know a bit about Olympus future strategy look at Techradar that had a chat with Olympus about three themes:

1) Olympus: We’ve got the edge over competitors (Click here)
Thackara from Olympus affirms that Olympus has the edge compared to other mirrorless systems: “Some of the other compact system cameras have a very limited range of dedicated lenses, whereas we have now offer a choice of around 20, it’s a very good range of options and some of them are pretty serious“.
2) Olympus: Phones will never replace compacts (Click here)
Mark Thackara, Olympus UK marketing manager said: “The concern for us is that we have to keep giving people a reason why they should have a camera as well as a phone.”
3) Olympus: apps on cameras are coming (Click here)
In that case Mr. Thackara said: “It’s something that has been discussed, but because the emphasis is on image quality, they’re [Olympus] a little wary of opening up the OS. I think it’ll happen eventually, but things are not as easy as we think. The appeal of people being able to add to their cameras is big though. It’s on the list.”

Overall I think one of the crucial aspects will be the software. Sooner or later companies will have to allow the development and installation of third party application. Very likely Samsung will be the first company to release a camera based on the Android system.

Olympus E-M5 reviews (including thoughts from a m43 skeptic)

May 17, 2012
reviews
46 Comments

[shoplink 30942 ebay]

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The image on top shows the new [shoplink 30942 ebay]Kaza E-M5 case (Click here to see them on eBay)[/shoplink]. It’s way cheaper than the [shoplink 30624 ebay]Black (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 30625 ebay]Brown (Click here)[/shoplink] Gariz case!

And now it’s time for the next E-M5 review link session:
Trustedreview (Click here) posted a new E-M5 review: “Overall image quality is very good too, with the E-M5 consistently able to produce sharp, detailed and richly toned JPEGs, with the option to record 12-bit Raw image files for more detailed post production.”
Photoreview Australia (Click here) writes: “Despite its convoluted user interface, it’s difficult not to be impressed by the E-M5. Performance-wise, this camera has a lot going for it. Image files straight from the camera appeared sharp with a wide dynamic range in JPEGs and plenty of detail accessible in raw files.” They also tested the 12-50mm lens (Click here): “On the E-M5, the review lens produced a good set of results in our Imatest tests, which proved it capable of matching the performance of the camera’s sensor. The highest resolution figures were recorded between f/5.6 and f/8”
And to finish a review by a declared Micro Four Thirds skeptic at Camerazealot (Click here): “after having it in my hands over the weekend, I am very happy to state that it really was the best choice for my intended use. It is fast, compact and highly customizable. The image quality is improved, and the AF speed has definitely lived up to its advanced billing. The styling and functionality are superb, and even the little clip-on flash unit works well. It is an absolute perfect fit for my needs, with the added bonus of using it with legacy lenses.” ….Skepsis gone I guess? :)

E-M5 (Pre)order links (Click on store name): Amazon, Adorama, B&H, Jessops, Amazon UK, Amazon Germany, Amazon Japan and Digitalrev.

Bestseller list. Check the list (changes hourly!):
USA: E-M5 on position 11/17/20 (Click here)
UK: E-M5 is on position 7/15 (Click here).
Germany: The E-M5 is on position 4/6/14 (Click here).
France: not available (Click here to see rankings anyway).
Japan: E-M5 on position 5/10/13 (Click here).

(FT4) 12-35mm coming in June. And the 35-100mm will arrive later (August/September).

May 17, 2012
Rumors
63 Comments

Trusted sources told us that while the 12-35mm X lens from Panasonic will be announced within the next weeks the 35-100mm X lens will be released along the GH3 in late August/early September. I don’t know the reason why Panasonic is splitting up the lens release. Just my guess: looking at the past delivery problems of Panasonic they may choose to release only one lens first to avoid major delivery problems. The problem is particularly evident in USA where many lenses are still not availabel in decent quantity. The 20mm pancake (Click here) and the 25mm Leica (Click here) only got back in Stock in these days (and I guess they will again go out of Stock soon again).

New Viltrox adpater with AF support!

May 17, 2012
deals
35 Comments

[shoplink 30996 ebay]

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As you know the current official Olympus Four Thirds to Micro Four Thirds adapter costs around $150 (here at Amazon) while the Panasonic adapter is a bit cheaper ($115 at Amazon). Other adapters are offered form third party companies but do not allow any electronic use of the lenses….until today! I am surprised from the new [shoplink 30996 ebay]Viltrox adapter (Click here)[/shoplink]. It is a Four Thirds adapter that supports the AF! It’s sold for $70 by a Hong Kong store on [shoplink 30996 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. I hope Viltrox can do more of that kind of adapters with electornic support!