Olympus 75mm gets DxOmarked. It’s the best MFT lens yet.

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DxOmark (Click here) tested the Olympus 75mm f/1.8 lens and writes that this is the “best lens DxOMark have tested for the Micro Four Thirds hybrid camera system.“. The only downside is the relatively high price: “If the high cost of the Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm f/1.8 is out of reach then Micro Four Thirds photographers will be pleased that the cheaper $400 Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f1.8 is a good alternative. As we’ve seen it’s not as sharp as the 75mm version and edge sharpness is inconsistent, but it represents better value if budgets are squeezed.”

I guess nobody here had ever a doubt that this is the best available MFT lens. The real annoying part may be the high price of the extra hood. But that’s an easily to solve inconvenience. Just buy a third party hood at n US ($7 on amazon), US ($32 better quality), [shoplink 34663 ebay]Germany (ebay)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 34664 ebay]Hong Kong (ebay)[/shoplink].

The lens itself can be found at [shopcountry 31284].

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Olympus 75mm f/1.8 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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Epson EVF goes into Mass Production (also for the new Olympus MFT)

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Last week I told you how two sources unveieled to me that Olympus would use the new generation Epson sensor on his next MFT camera. And today Epson issued a Press Release to confirm the start of the mass production. Here is the press release with specs:

TOKYO, Japan, January 22, 2013

Seiko Epson Corporation. (“Epson,” TSE: 6724) today announced that it has begun volume production of its latest Ultimicron panel These high-temperature polysilicon (HTPS) TFT color panels bring to life the electronic viewfinders used in mid-to high- end digital interchangeable lens system cameras. The new panel will be exhibited at Epson’s booth at CP + 2013 in Yokohama, Japan, from January 31 to February 3.

Measuring just 0.48 of an inch diagonally, the latest in the Ultimicron series offers XGA (1024 x 768) resolution in red, green and blue for a total of 2.36 megapixels. The new panel is equal in size to a 0.47-inch SVGA panel, but offers higher resolution. In addition, Epson has increased the surface luminance to 520 cd/m2, allowing photographers sufficient visibility in any environment, from the brightest sunlight to the darkness of evening.

The Ultimicron series is positioned to meet growing demand among camera enthusiasts of all levels and abilities for superb quality electronic viewfinders.

Advantages and features

  • Compact
    Small 0.48-inch diagonal screen contributes to compact, thin cameras
  • High resolution
    High pixel density with XGA resolution (1024 x RGB x 768, 2.36 megapixels)
  • No color breakup
    Use of a color filter ensures that it is not affected by the color breakup that can occur with fast-moving subjects and panning shots when using a field-sequential color system.
  • Bright
    Achieves brightness of 520 cd / m 2

 

Name L3F04X-80300C
LCD type TN mode, organic alignment layer
Color display system Color filter (RGB stripe)
Effective pixels 1024 x RGB x 768 (XGA)
Panel size (diagonal) 0.48 inch (1.2 cm)
Pixel pitch 9.6 μm (3.2 x RGB) x 9.6 μm
Color space 92% of sRGB
Backlight Yes
Surface luminance 520 cd / m 2
Displayable colors Approx. 16.77 million colors 

 

The new Olympus camera is rumored to be on market on Spring!

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P.S.: Olympus has a long history of making compact cameras with built-in rangefinders. Just check the super long list of [shoplink 36035 ebay]eBay auction on these cameras (Click here)[/shoplink]. Got some inspiration for the new digital PEN with EVF? :)

 

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EU deals reloaded (olympus 75mm, 17mm and Sigma).

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It’s four years now that I work on 43rumors and we Europeans usually don’t have these nice deals you can find in USA. But I found some deal that is might be very interesting for you:

1) First of all the superb Olympus 75mm f/1.8 lens got discounted and you can find it for less than 800 Euro at Amazon France (Click here) and Amazon UK (Click here).

2) The super Sigma lens disocunt is now available for the 19mm at FotoHansKeuzekamp and for the 30mm again at FotoHansKeuzekamp. Both for 95 Euro only!

3) Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 1,8 / 17mm + Olympus VF-1 Sucher at Fotomundus.

4) One day promo on the 20mm pancake at Pixmania Portugal.

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Next batch of GH3 cameras shipping at Amazon and BHphoto.

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GH3:
As you can see from the screenshot on top the GH3 preorders are finally shipping again at Amazon (Click here). Thanks Ryan for the image! Some GH3 are in Stock at [shoplink 33624 ebay]eBay US[/shoplink] but they are overpriced. And also BHphoto (Click here) notified me that they will soon receive a new stock of GH3 cameras with shipment within the next 7-14 days!

E-M5
The official US deals are now over but you can find the kits for an amazing price at Beat-n-retail:
[shoplink 36307 ebay]$899 for the Black camera with 14-42mm lens (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 36308 ebay]$1,049 for the Black camera with 12-50mm lens (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 36309 ebay]$1,049 for the Silver camera with 12-50mm lens (Click here)[/shoplink].

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(FT5) Some new 75-300mm lens and XZ-10 pricing info….

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I keep receiving info about the new Olympus stuff. That comes from Europe:

1) The Olympus XZ-10 will be priced at 399 Euro.

2) The 75-300mm f/4.8-6.7 II will come in black and lower price (599 Euro). 35 Euro less than the current lowest price at Amazon DE.

Don’t know you guys but I fail to see why GetOlympus on Facebook calls this a “Big announcement“. I really hope they may introduce something else too. Once again, I know one semi pro MFT camera and f/2.8 zoom are due for Spring but I don’t expect an official announcement yet. So again, I hope I am wrong here otherwise they will have to read a lot of unhappy comments on their FB page :)

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Olympus Teases a new announcement…

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The message you see here on top has been posted by GetOlympus on Facebook. As I told you yesterday we should expect at least a new 75-300mm II MFT lens and a new XZ-10 compact camera. This doesn’t sounds really…”big”.  I also know that a new MFT camera and a new f/2.8 fast zoom are scheduled to be in store in Spring but I am expecting it to be announced in 1-2 months.

Question now is: that “Big announcements” are just marketing blabla or are they going to surprise us with the MFT camera announcement? I wouldn’t hope too much for now but I would be happy to be proved wrong :)

P.S.: And if you visits GetOlympus Facebook site you may find the time to join our facebook 43rumors group too! :)

Thanks Leo for finding this!

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