43 Rumors – Page 1931 – Panasonic and Olympus Digital Camera News

(FT4) Panasonic announcement on April 9th!

March 25, 2013
Rumors
74 Comments

According to multiple sources there will be a Panasonic announcement on April the 9th! Both, the new GF and new G camera could be announced on the same day. Both, the new GF and the G will be slightly bigger than the GF5 and G5 predecessors. I still have no final specs but I have been told the build quality and ergonomic feeling is of a more “higher level“.

If it is true that both camera will be announced the same day than we can expect a third new (MFT?) camera on late April when we will have the next Panasonic announcement! Let’s hope this is finally the GX successor. Or would you prefer something else? :)

And keep in mind that also Olympus will announce the new PEN and likely a new fast zoom by end of April!

I hope other sources can soon confirm the April 9th date. Meantime mark the date on your calender and follow 43rumors on facebook (Click here to subscribe) and twitter (Click here to follow us) to not miss any of the upcoming rumors!

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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

E-5 marked as out of Stock by Olympus (but replacement coming only end of the year).

March 24, 2013
deals
77 Comments

A couple of 43rumors readers noticed that Olympus Store marked the E-5 as “Out of Stock“. While it’s certainly a bit unusual that Olympus has no more E-5 left I want to make it clear that accoridng to some of my sources the E-5 replacement is certainly not coming now. It is due for a late 2013 release only.

Amarcord: Olympus XA

March 24, 2013
reviews
50 Comments

[shoplink 37225 ebay]

[/shoplink]

Smartphones are eating up the low end compact camera market. And the High End compact camera with fixed lens market is one the last niche left where companies cans till make some money. Olympus will soon announce their High End compact and let’s hope it can be as successful as they were with the [shoplink 37225 ebay]Olympus XA 35mm film compact camera (here on eBay)[/shoplink]. Cameraquest writes that this was a “groundbreaker“. it is the smallest full frame 35 with a built in Rangefinder!!! It had an Albada finder with parallax correction marks, automatic exposure, super smooth electromagnetic shutter release, self timer, a battery check, and tripod mount. yep all that stuff in a super small camera (see it on youtube here).

Guru Blogger Ken Rockwell writes about the XA: “Not only are the images wonderful, but the design and styling of these cameras are a joy to behold.”

It may doens’t look particularly great but it does all what we need and all in the smallest package possible. Let’s see what the new digital Premium compact Olympus will copy from it. I would like to see the clamshell! :)

Olympus XA auctions on [shoplink 37225 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

The GX1 deals roundup…

March 23, 2013
deals
3 Comments

The GX1 is almost as cheap as the GF camera. And I really hope this is a sign that a new GX2 is on the horizon. At leats in US you have these three deasl:
1) GX1 body only for $264 at Amazon (via BigValue).
2) GX1 with normal 14-42mm lens for $399 at Amazon (Click here).
3) GX1 with X kit lens for $499 at Amazon (Click here).

P.S.: And one refurbished 75mm f/1.8 lens is for sale for $819 at [shoplink 37466 ebay]Cametaauctions (Click here)[/shoplink]. And two 9-18mm lenses for $549 at [shoplink 37469 ebay]Cameraland (Click here)[/shoplink].

a little bit of everything…

March 23, 2013
news
39 Comments

Giulio Sciorio – Professional Photographer – Tells Us How He Uses the Panasonic GH3 Used for Photo and Video at WPPI 2013

you can’t do wildlife photography with MFT Cameras…can you? (Scott Bourne).
Panasonic 12-35mm X lens test at Lenstip.
New Olympus Magazine issue at Olympusmag.
Jackar Lens snapshooter 34mm f1.8 review at Meandphotography.
New 75-300mm F4.8-6.7 II lens test at Nikkeibp.
Olympus 17mm f/1.8 review at SLRgear.
MeFoto GlobeTrotter and RoadTrip Travel Tripods with The Aviator Travel Jib and OliviaTech Motorroid Slider (Oliviatech.com)
Rokinon 7.5mm f/3.5 Fisheye, get wide (Tyson Robichaud).
XZ-10 image samples at Clubsnap.

Olympus 17mm f/1.8 Review by Kai (Digitalrev) and SLRgear.

March 22, 2013
reviews
112 Comments

Is the Olympus 17mm f/1.8 lens good or not? Watch the video to hear Kai’s answer :)

A more “technical” review has been also posted by SLRgear. They write: “Olympus has produced a very nice lens here – it feels very solid, and produces some nice images. In comparison to its fellows, it isn’t quite as sharp or resistant to chromatic aberration, especially at the larger focal lengths, but its unique focusing technology might make up for that, and make it easier to use in the field.”

Yep, some like and some do not like the lens. May Olympus come out with a high quality 17mm f/1.4 lens too? That would be nice for all MFT owners asking for an extra super high quality 17mm lens!

Olympus 17mm lens price check at [shopcountry 34914].

New GF Gold Box deal (and Canon SL1 vs MFT size comparison).

March 22, 2013
deals, news
109 Comments

Before to start to talk about the new minuaturization step taken by Canon and Panasonic we have three GF deals to report:
1) Brown GF3 + 14mm Gold Box deal at Amazon (Click here).
2) White GF3 with 14mm pancake and free soft case for $299 at Adorama (Click here).
3) GF5 with 14-42mm kit lens for $399 at Amazon (via third party reseller).
4) Plenty of deals on all GF + X lens kits on eBay. GX1X (Slidoo eBay), GF3X (Slidoo eBay) and GF5X (Slidoo eBay).

New Canon SL1 vs Panasonic GH3 size comparison via Camerasize.com.

With the new GF camera that will be announced in early April Panasonic will step out from the miniaturization war like they already did with the GH3. But Canon seems to think that the miniaturization is still the way to go and as you see from the size comparison on top the new Canon SL1 APS-C DSLR is smaller than the Panasonic GH3. Yep, the world turned up side down and we have DSLR cameras that are smaller than Mirrorless cameras :)
That said I prefer a DSLR or “DSLR styled” like the GH3 to be big enough for ergonomic reasons. For me the SL1 size makes no real sense. It still doens’t fit in a pocket like a GF5 with pancake lens and you miss the usual advantage of a DSLR like having a nice grip and clear and easy to access button layout. That said I want to hold the Sl1 in my hands before to draw any conclusion.