43 Rumors – Page 2001 – Panasonic and Olympus Digital Camera News

(FT5) UPDATED: Panasonic will release an advanced GF camera!!! And a new GH successor!

June 13, 2011
Rumors
129 Comments

[shoplink 20740 ebay]

[/shoplink] Ichrio Kitao from Panasonic confirmed to PhotoRadar that “Panasonic plans to split the GF series into two lines and release a GF camera aimed at experienced photographers.”
That fits perfectly with the rumors I received saying that Panasonic is working on a Micro Four Thirds version of the popular [shoplink 20740 ebay]Panasonic L1 (Click here to see that cam on eBay)[/shoplink]. And one more hot news: “Kitao told us that the company’s next priority is the GH series and bringing out a successor to the [shoplink 16254]GH2[/shoplink]” and “Improving EVF resolution and refresh rate is a priority and Panasonic intends to liaise with its supplier, Epson, to achieve this.”
I also received some news about that and will write more soon on 43rumors. Stay tuned! Lot’s of Olympus rumors coming too ;)

UPDATE: In an interview with Amateur Photographer, Kitao said Panasonic is committed to the Micro Four Thirds system and has no plans to change the sensor format. “Once we launched the G system we have a responsibility to continue the system“. My personal take on that. Mr, Kitao, this sounds like “would like to change format but I can’t“! You should have answered something like that: “Why change sensor format? m43 is the best format to realize compact and good quality mirrorless cameras!” Better communication please ;)

(Continually updated) Panasonic GF3 and Leica lens announced!

June 13, 2011
news
139 Comments

I will continually update this page. Latest additions will be on top of each category!

HOT! Preorders available!

Black GF3 with 14mm lens at Amazon (Click here).
White GF3 with 14mm lens at Amazon (Click here).
Red GF3 with 14mm lens at Amazon (Click here).
Brown GF3 with 14mm lens at Amazon (Click here).
Leica 25mm still not available for preorder on Amazon (Click here to see the search results).

Hot details

Compared to the GF2 the GF3 has a high-speed contrast AF (approximately 0.18 seconds). Burst speed has been increased 3.8 seconds at full resolution screen as the shutter is re-designed. No hot shoe! The GF3 has the VII processor engine.
The GF3 is available from July in black, red, white and brown for a suggested retail price of 550 Euro-including 14-42mm kit lens. 599Euros (or 699 dollars) with the 14mm lens.
HOT! According to DC.watch websites the Leica 25mm F/1.4 Summilux will retail for 73.500Yen (630 Euro) and will like the Lumix GF3 be available around July.
The lens uses nano coating technology and also has a new UHR (Ultra High Refractive) index lens.

Previews and Reviews

Hands-on at Quesbesde (google translated).
HOT! MTF resolution chart and image samples on Panasonic’s website.
HOT! First Leica lens review at Dslrmagazine (google translated). The lens has a very good resolution and contrast!
Hands-on preview at Photographyblog.
Preview at Techradar.
Preview at Imaging Resource.
HOT! Preview at DPreview.
Hands-on at Reghardware (with ISO-test!)

Image samples

Panasonic GF3 image samples on Flickr. Leica images on Flickr.
HOT! Full size image samples in JPG and RAW at Quesabesde.
Full size image samples at lenstip.
HOT! First RAW pictures on Photographyblog.
Image samples taken with the Leica lens at Photographyblog.
Techradar.
Reghardware.
First images on Bestproduct.nl.

Videos on youtube and vimeo

Russian presentation on youtube.
First testvideo taken with the GF3 on youtube.
GF3 and Leica lens presentation video on youtube (dutch Beste Product).
First video on youtube (by italian PMAstudio).

Panasonic GF3 specifications

Image Sensor 12.1 MP LIVE MOS
Engine Venus Engine VII HD
ISO setting 160-6400
AF speed Approx 0.18 seconds
Burst shoot: 4 fps (12.1MP)
Movie recording: AVCHD HD (1080i, sensor output 25fps)
LCD Screen: 3.0″, 3:2, 460K dots Touch LCD
Size: 107.5 x 67.1 x 32.0mm
Weight: 222g
Built-in Flash: GN6
Interface: HDMI, Digital AV Out

Poll

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(FT5) Panasonic will announce two new lenses in autumn!

June 13, 2011
Rumors
17 Comments

Image courtesy: Quesbaesde

The nice guys from Quesabesde shared that screenshot that discloses Panasonic’s intention to unveil two more new lenses in autumn. According to our sources one should be a zoom and one a prime lens. And 1-2 current lenses should be updated.

(FT5) Pictures of the GF3 back, fastest light AF ever.

June 12, 2011
Rumors
28 Comments

Here are two more pictures. The picture on top shows the back of the GF3. And the picture below says the GF3 has the fastest light AF ever (when using the [shoplink 14802 ebay]Panasonic 14-140mm[/shoplink]).

We are very close to the official announcement. I will stay up the whole night to watch for news, previews images samples and other useful stuff. Keep following 43rumors!

(FT5) First picture of the Panasonic Leica 25mm f/1.4! And new GF3 picture (it has built-in flash)!

June 12, 2011
Rumors
121 Comments

And here it is the worlds first picture of the upcoming new Panasonic Leica 25mm f/1.4. I don’t know the exact price yet but it will be certainly below $1000 (some say even below $800). It has a diameter of 63mm and length of 54,5mm. That’s half the size of the older and discontinued Four Thirds version of the lens ([shoplink 16340 ebay]Click here to see it on eBay[/shoplink])

And the image on top shows the new GF3 with built-in flash! The GF3 has 12.1 Megapixel (so no [shoplink 22077]G3[/shoplink] sensor) and records FullHD!

The new Leica 25mm and the GF3 will be announced at 7am London time on Monday. As usual I will be here to give you all the links to previews, reviews, videos and other stuff like that. As usual help is appreciated! If you find some link or something I missed drop me a line at 43rumors@gmail.com! Thanks!

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

(FT2) Hints (or mess) about the upcoming Leica lens on Amazon? Lens available on June 17?

June 12, 2011
Rumors
4 Comments

It’s not a secret that dealers already know the specs and price of the upcoming new Leica 25mm Micro Four Thirds lens. And it sounds like someone on Amazon (Click here) is making a bit of mess while preparing the new product page. The page from the old Four Thirds lens is getting elaborated. It says the item will be released on June 17 (that would be amazing if it would be true) and inside the product description it sayd the model is “25mm Micro Four Thirds“. The rest of the page still contains the info from the older four Thirds lens.

P.S.: You can help me to find some info by using google to find leaks about the lens. Drop me a line if you find something! Thanks!

P.P.S.: Fuji X100 preorders are back at Amazon (Click here).

Leica Noctilux comparison on Micro Four Thirds

June 12, 2011
reviews
11 Comments

[shoplink 23018 ebay]

[/shoplink]

The Leica Noctilux is so expensive that only a few people can afford it. So it’s quite impressive that 3Dkraft had the chance to test not one…but two different Noctilux lenses on Micro Four Thirds! He compared the qualities of the [shoplink 23018 ebay]Leica Noctilux-M 1:0.95 / 50mm[/shoplink] with its predecessor, the [shoplink 23017 ebay]Noctilux-M 1:1.0 / 50mm[/shoplink]. He tested the lenses on the GH2: “The Noctilux mounted to a micro Four Thirds camera results in an unusually balanced combination, but still appears “visually” balanced. If your camera is equipped with an electronic viewfinder providing magnification it is very helpful for precise focusing. The Noctilux 1.0 is said to have a certain focus shift on rangefinder cameras like the Leica M9, which was opimized ith the new 0.95er version. However – on cameras with electronic viewfinders this plays no role.”
See the test at 3Dkraft (Click here).

Check the Leica Noctilus 0.95 price on [shoplink 23018 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Check the Leica Noctilus 1.0 price on [shoplink 23017 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

P.S.: Get the Voigtländer Nokton 25mm f/0.95 on [shoplink 15659 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] if you want a fast lens. It’s “cheap”, has a very good image quality and is native Micro Four Thirds lens!