43 Rumors – Page 1971 – Panasonic and Olympus Digital Camera News

GX1 X kit Gold box deal. E-M5 Firmware update no big deal :(

December 14, 2012
deals
26 Comments

There is a Gold Box deal on the Silver GX1 and 14-42mm X kit at Amazon (Click here).

And that’s the only big deal we had today as the December 14ht date for the E-m5 firmware release was wrong (P.S: it was a FT2 rumor from two unknown sources). So you see why you don’t see so many FT2 rumors on that website :(
UPDATE: 43rumros reader Samuel shared an email he got form Olympus saying that “we are not thinking of updating the firmware for OM-D E-M5 at present.”

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Back to the GX1, there is also a new Camera Cover from Gariz ([shoplink 35615 ebay]Click here to check out the three different versions for sale[/shoplink]).

Tamron will soon announce MFT lenses…

December 14, 2012
Rumors
42 Comments

Watch the video from minute 2.35. The Tamron manager says that they will soon announce lenses for the MFT system.
As you know Tamron already released on lens for the E-mount mirrorless system, the [shoplink 35611 ebay]18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 (here on eBay)[/shoplink]. Let’s see if they will release such a huge zoom lens for the MFT system too!

Thanks Noflux for the link!

17mm lens ships in Germany (Cashback in France and 35-100mm X firmware and Lightroom update).

December 14, 2012
news
12 Comments

Our reader Klaus sent me the picture of the new Olympus 17mm f/1.8 lens he just got from a store in Hamburg! And French readers should be even more happier because they got a 50 Euro cashback on that lens (read at lepidi).

And we have some small news:
1) Olympus Japan announced the availability of the 17mm acceccories and E-PL5 water housing (both sceduled for a December 21 release).
2) Panasonic Japan released the new firmware update for the 35-100mm X lens. The update enhances the AF (auto focus) performance with the sensor drive at 240 fps for use with DMC-GH3.
3) New Lightroom 4.3 update brings support of the E-PL5, E-PM2, XZ-2 and GH3.

There is still no store showing the 17mm as in Stock. You can save this Slidoo search to get notified when it will be on eBay (login to change country of reference). Preorders at at Adorama, BHphoto and Amazon DE.

Panasonic may sell its Sanyo digital camera business.

December 14, 2012
Rumors
11 Comments

Reuters reports that “Panasonic may sell its Sanyo digital camera business to Japanese private equity fund Advantage Partners by the end of March”
What I didn’t know til today is that “Advantage Partners” already makes cameras for other companies including Olympus. This should not have any influence on the Micro Four Thirds strategy. What Panasonic is selling is the unprofitable compact camera and video camera business acquired two years ago from Sanyo. As Reuters writes: “Sales of compact digital cameras are under pressure from increasingly powerful smartphones.“

GH3 to ship in January in US (and new US deals roundup).

December 13, 2012
deals
19 Comments

As you know Panasonic Japan announced a short two weeks shipment delay. And the GH3 shipment status at Amazon (Click here) has been modified and it says it will ship in January. Some bodies are available in Canada on eBay (via Slidoo) and in UK (via eBay again), Wex UK and Wex DE.

And here are some new US deals:
E-P3 with kit lens for $499 at Adorama (Click here).
Save $100 on the 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 R Lens when purchased along the E-M5 at BHphoto (Click here).
$50 price drop on the XZ-2 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
$100 off on the Olympus 75-300mm at Amazon (Click here).

Ongoing US deals:
GH2 body for $499 at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
-$50 on the E-M5 body only at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto (Click on store names to open the page).
-$50 on the E-M5 body with 14-42mm lens at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
-$100 on the E-M5 body with 12-50mm lens at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
-$100 on all E-PL5 kits at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
-$100 on all E-PM2 kits at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.

Olympus 17mm f/1.8 shipping in Asia. And some info directly from the lens designers!

December 13, 2012
news
80 Comments

First unboxing pics have been posted at Mobile01. Click on the green links to open the images. And Olympus OMD facebook posted the text from Planning Manager Eiji Shirota and Development Leader Kazuya Nishimura. Both developed the 17mm lens. They say: “Although a large front element may provide an attractive exterior appearance for a lens, we decided on an efficient aspherical front element which minimizes thickness and diameter, helping us achieve the compact size of the M.ZUIKO DIGITIAL 17mm F1.8 lens while providing extraordinary picture quality. We urge you to confirm this image quality with your very own eyes.” As you know this lens left some mixed feelings on reviewers like Ming Thein, Robin Wong and Pekka Potka. Hmmm….does it really have an extraordinary picture quality??? A good lens it is…but extraordinary probably nope :)

Shipping status: The lens will ship on Dec. 20th at Amazon Japan. It’s still uncertain when the lens will be available in US and EU. BHphoto removed the shipping date (which was mid December) and Amazon US even doens’t even list the lens. The new Olympus 17mm f/1.8 lens can now be preordered at Adorama, BHphoto and Amazon DE.

(FT4) First hints about a possible Olympus announcement…

December 13, 2012
Rumors
52 Comments

If the rumors is correct than Olympus will make my new job as father very difficult :)

I just heard from one source that Olympus will announce “something” in early January. Exactly the time when I am supposed to become father for the first time. That will be a head to head run between my private life and Olympus :)

I may ask some other sources if they got hints about a possible Olympus announcement? It may helps me to organize the work on 43rumors too. My colleagues from the other rumor websites will help me out in the days I will be off. Just send me an anonymous message by using the sharing contact form you see on the very right of your browser or contact me directly at 43rumors@gmail.com.

So what could Olympus announce? I got hints about one new lens. Than there is a rumor about a new OMD model. And we have that completely new PEN. Actually I heard the new PEN is scheduled for a release in February-March. Will try to give you some reliable info as soon as I can. One thing is 99% sure. At CES we always had new compact cameras which we usually don’t care a lot about :)

P.S.: Panasonic G5 and GF5 successor are scheduled for a later release AFTER Ces.

For UK readers: New Lightning deal on the E-m5 at Amazon UK (Click here).

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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