43 Rumors – Page 1987 – Panasonic and Olympus Digital Camera News

E-P3 autofocus is faster than the Nikon D3X autofocus!

July 7, 2011
reviews
146 Comments

[shoplink 23568]

[/shoplink] Pekka Potka (Click here) tested the autofocus speed of the new [shoplink 23568]Olympus E-P3[/shoplink]. First he compared it with he older [shoplink 14830]Olympus E-P2[/shoplink] using four different lenses. The E-P3 is around 40% faster than the E-P2! But the real surprise is that the new E-P3 is even faster than the 10 times more expensive [shoplink 23755]Nikon D3X[/shoplink]!!! Can’t wait to see what the next Pro PEN can do ;)
By the way the new E-P3 manual is online (Click here to download the pdf). One more test: Olympus E-P3 with 45mm f/1.8 versus Leica 25mm f/1.4 at Reddotphoto.

Check those direct search links to see if your preferred shop has the E-P3 available for preorder: [shopcountry 23568].

Akira Watanabe talks again about the 4/3 future…

July 7, 2011
Rumors
159 Comments

[shoplink 17163 ebay]

[/shoplink] Our friend Victor Pisarev sent us a link to Onfoto.ru. They talked with Mr. Akira Watanabe about the Four Thirds system (google translation from russian to english): “There is nothing sensational out of that battlefront: yes, DSLR system is also important for us, we honour and remember users of our 4/3 optics. We have [shoplink 17163]E-5[/shoplink] in our product line for them. It is possible that we return to active development but now I cannot say something audible. Current situation is so that we have to provide stability and survival, and that is what PEN system is dedicated to. By the way, their sales are good. We tried to adapt “big” optics to micro system but there are fundamental troubles: phase detection system is made to calculate needed focusing shift and to shift lenses to proper place at once but contrast detection system uses iteration fidgets by its nature. We cannot to join them right, so in fact we have capitulated. Approximately in this way. Watanabe also said me that many leading managers and bosses use E-5 personally so understand anxiety of simple users very well.”

P.S.: Links to the Olympus E-5 at [shopcountry 17163].

Panasonic GF3 tested at PhotographyBlog! (+new E-P3/G3 images)

July 7, 2011
reviews
28 Comments

[shoplink 23109]

[/shoplink] Photographyblog (Click here) posted the new GF3 review: “We do have a few more concerns about the [shoplink 23109]GF3[/shoplink] than the [shoplink 17361]GF2[/shoplink] though, most notably the lack of an external viewfinder, flash hotshoe, stereo sound and fewer external controls, but the majority of the GF3’s target audience will probably never notice their absence, while the speedy auto-focus may tempt more advanced users looking for a small and inconspicuous system.”

Just my two cent, if the target audience of the GF3 is an attempt to woo compact camera owners than the problem of the camera are not the lack of some GF1 features, but the price! It’s to high to appeal the compact camera mass typology. Don’t you think so?
Check the price and availability of the GF3 at [shopcountry 23109].

P.S: Dpreview updated the Olympus E-P3 samples gallery with images with revised settings. Outbackphoto posted a set of G3 image samples.

Olympus PEN E-P3 vs Panasonic Lumix G3!

July 6, 2011
reviews
128 Comments

ePhotozine compared the two newest m43 cameras, the [shoplink 22077]G3[/shoplink] versus the [shoplink 23568]E-P3[/shoplink]: “Overall the Olympus PEN E-P3 gives warmer results, while the Panasonic Lumix G3 gives cooler, but also more neutral images. The G3 shows less noise, but also seems to show less detail than the E-P3, which is surprising considering the higher resolution 16 megapixel sensor in the Panasonic, you would expect to see more noise, but ideally more detail as well. The Olympus PEN E-P3 shows more detail in highlights and in shadow areas which means you should get better dynamic range in your photos.”

On their website you can see many image comparisons. Now the big question is:

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The G3 is now slowly beeing delivered to worldwide stores. Check those direct search links to see the status at [shopcountry 22077]. And those are the E-P3 preorder search links at [shopcountry 23568].

(FT3) More rumors about Fuji joining m43…

July 6, 2011
Rumors
164 Comments

[shoplink 19929 ebay][/shoplink] The [shoplink 19929 ebay]Fuji X100[/shoplink] could soon get micrfourisized? :)

Inside his latest post Thom Hogan said that the Fuji m43 camera “has been prototyped and tested. The question is whether it would be built and sold. It’s looking more and more like it will.”

I am still working on that rumor. The only thing I heard from a trusted source is that Olympus and Fuji are very close friends and that Olympus officially invited Fuji to join the m43 consortium. Hope to get more rumors about Fuji soon! I would love this rumor to become true!!!

P.S.: Check the Fuji X100 price and availability at [shopcountry 19929]!

Reminder -> 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

PTool v3.60d released (hack for the GH2 included)

July 5, 2011
news
24 Comments

Vitaly Kiselev just announced the new PTool v3.60d which also includes the GH2 hack. This is the the new feature list (Source: Personal-View.com)

TZ10:
* Initial support with most major patches ported.
* Release not include manual movie modes and PAL<->NTSC patches.

GH2:
* Initial support with many ported patches.
* Some new patches added.
* Bitrate patches are intended for testers only!

Cooooooool!!!

US deals: GH2 body only in Stock via Samys camera (at Amazon).

July 5, 2011
deals
5 Comments

The black GH2 body only in Stock at Amazon (Click here) sold by Samys camera! It has the normal price…$899!

More deals

Adorama has the Voigtländer 25mm in Stock (Click here). And don’t forget that they are also accepting preorders on the Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 lens (Click here)
You can now get the AG-AF100 Micro Four Thirds camcorder with a free (!) 14-140mm zoom lens at BHphoto (Click here).
The Black and White Olympus XZ-1 are in Stock for $409 only at Amazon (Click here).
The Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 lens is in Stock for $379 via third party resellers on Amazon (Click here).
BHphoto sent me an email to say that the very last GH1 cameras are now in Stock (Click here). Once sold out there will be no more GH1 cameras for sale anymore! And if you purchase the GH1 body (for $399) you will get $100 on any Panasonic m43 lens you buy. You have to click on “Save $100 on Select Panasonic Lenses” to see the deal.
The same deal is ongoing at Amazon (Click here) and Adorama (Click here).

E-P3, 12mm and 45m preorders

Olympus E-P3 preorders at Amazon US (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and Amazon UK (Click here)
Olympus 12mm f/2.0 preorders at Amazon US (Click here), Adorama (Click here), B&H (Click here) and [shoplink 23576 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] Olympus 45mm f/1.8 preorders at Amazon US (Click here), Adorama (Click here), B&H (Click here).