A GF3 fac simile. Not the real camera!

In mid June Panasonic will announce the new GF3 which will be an ultra small camera that will replace the current [shoplink 17361]Panasonic GF2[/shoplink]. That’s a huge surprise if you do consider the GF2 is only eight months old! But it’s also not a surprise if you see the success of Sony’s NEX cameras which are as small as the current GF2 but do use a larger APS-C sensor. And the upcoming Sony NEX-C3 will be even smaller (Click here to see the NEX-C3 versus GF2 size comparison). So after the Megapixel and the High-ISO war Sony and Panasonic started a new kind of competition….the miniaturization battle!

To compete against the upcoming NEX-C3 the new Panasonic GF3 will be around 10-15% less high, less wide, less thick than the current GF2. I have been told it has about the same size of the current Panasonic TZ cameras ([shoplink 22338 ebay]Click here to see them on eBay[/shoplink]). De facto the mount ring is higher than the camera itself! And to make it that small Panasonic removed some of the GF2 buttons and also the hot shoe is no more present! Some of my sources told us that this is the first camera that easily fits in any pocket when the [shoplink 16258]14mm pancake[/shoplink] is attached. It feels like a real compact camera! A new source told us the GF3 has the same G3 sensor and specs (and that’s good news!). That means it has the new 16 Megapixel sensor FullHD recording.

And here is what Steve Jobs would call the …one more thing surprise:

The fact that the GF is going to be smaller and smaller doesn’t mean that we don’t want to see a GF model with more advanced manual controls. Three sources confirmed that we should expect a second GF model to be announced within the second half of the year. It’s aimed for semi-pro photographers. That’s all I know for now, but it’s enough to make me dream the Micro Four Thirds L1 might be coming for real ([shoplink 22740 ebay]Click here to see that amazing camera on eBay[/shoplink])!

I am constantly working to provide you with FT5 rumors about Olympus and Panasonic. Lots of stuff is coming! Stay tuned! Don’t miss any rumors: Join us on Facebook and Twitter! Subscribe our RSS feed!

Links to the cameras discussed in that article:
The current GF2 camera at [shopcountry 17361]. P.S.: You can get the Panasonic GF2 with 14-42mm lens for $499 only at Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
The current Sony NEX cameras at [shopcountry 20638].
The Panasonic L1 Four Thirds camera at [shopcountry 20740].
The Panasonic TZ compact cameras at [shopcountry 22338].

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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

UPDATE: The translation from google was not correct and the webmaster from Digicam info was so kind to contact me. He also said the info is from a new source (not a trusted known source!). That’s why I downgraded the rumor form FT3 to FT2 (see the rumor classification on the bottom of the post if you don’t know what this means).

The japanese blog Digicam Info (Click here) says the new Olympus E-P3 and E-PL3 will be announced in June the 3rd. And there will be a new Olympus mini too! All three cameras will feature the same 12 Megapixel sensor and will not have any built-in viewfinder. Digicam Info was the website that posted the (correct) rumor about the E-PL1s. Anyway I would be very careful with that information. Some of my new sources are giving me “different” rumors. I am  still waiting for my trusted sources to disclose the “real” details. That Olympus will replace the [shoplink 18844]E-PL2[/shoplink] after only 6 months(!!!) sounds a bit nonsense. And why replace it with an E-PL3 having the same sensor? Hmmm…

Digicam info also says the new Olympus mini camera will be a a mini model ideal for women! Should we expect a sort of Minox camera? ([shoplink 22328 ebay]Click here to see the Minox[/shoplink]).

As I said take all with a grain of salt!

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

It’s pretty busy here in the rumors world. I received dozens of rumors from new sources and I want to thank them all! As you can imagine I have to cross check all rumors with my reliable sources.

There are two things I have to keep in mind when I work with rumors:
1) I know the big companies often do spread false rumors
2) Sources can intentionally or unintentionally share some wrong information. Also trusted sources gave me (unintentionally) wrong rumors in the past!

There are a couple of things I am working on:

1) The Panasonic GF camera specs.
I also got a rumor from new sources about a second GF camera which will be announced in a couple of months.

2) The Panasonic 25mm f/1.4
I am trying to find out the price of the lens (hope it’s not over $700)

3) The new Olympus PEN camera(s)
So will there be one or two new PEN cameras in June? Got some more rumors from new sources and I can only say the answer seems to be more YES for teo PEN models :)

4) The new Olympus lenses
While most of the sources are pretty sure the 12mm 2.0 lens is coming there is some conflicting report about the second portrait lens. I have been told Olympus had a couple of different options. This might be the cause of the conflict.

Anyway, all that stuff is coming in June! You can expect me to post FT4 FT5 rumors at any time! Stay tuned :)

I am in touch with many dealers to talk about the present and future Micro Four Thirds cameras. We are not talking about rumors only but also about hard facts. The dealers confirmed the Panasonic GF2 is not selling as well as the older Panasonic GF1. They are currently selling more NEX cameras than GF2. Most of the dealers do think that Panasonic should make two kind of GF cameras, one ultra-compact and tiny model to compete against the NEX-C3 and a more advanced and bigger model with full manual controls and maybe built-in EVF. The current GF2 simply is neither fish nor fowl. Let’s see what kind of GF camera Panasonic will announce! In times like this I am having a lot of fun working on rumors. I really feel that some of the products we will see during June will be very much appreciated by the Micro Four Thirds folks.

And if you like me are looking for good cameras for a cheap price you have to look on current GF1 deals. You can get that camera for less than any high end compact with tiny sensor:
Silver GF1 body for 249 Euro at [shoplink 22301 ebay]Foto Video Digital Mundus (Click here)[/shoplink].
Black GF1 body for 279 Euro at [shoplink 22303 ebay]Der Foto Brell GmbH (Click here)[/shoplink].
Red GF1 body for 249 Euro at [shoplink 22304 ebay]Foto Video Digital Mundus (Click here)[/shoplink].
Silver GF1 with 14-42mm lens for 429 Euro at [shoplink 22305 ebay]Foto Video Digital Mundus (Click here)[/shoplink].

Feel free to add links to other stores if you can find come nice deal! Thanks! And stay tuned on 43rumors!!!

UPDATE: And take a look at the mirrorless roadmap at MirrorlessRumors.com!