Image source: Engadget

In my opinion Panasonic marketing made a huge mistake by announcing the new 42.5mm f/1.2 and 150mm f/2.8 MFT lenses. Don’t get me wrong…the lenses are great! 42.5mm f/1.2 sounds pretty amazing. And both lenses should have in lens stabilization. The “mistake” was to announce that they are very likely going to be shipped in early 2014 only…..yes in one and a half year! The hidden negative message Panasonic gave to the m43 community is: “we don’t have any new lenses for you next year“. I hope I misunderstood this and Panasonic may announce them earlier.
One more thing: With all that buzz you may have missed my post about the three new Schneider lenses (Click here).

Preorders:
Now let’s go back to the new stuff. There is a special GH3 page at Amazon (Click here) and a full Olympus presentation page at Amazon (Click here). And here the detailed links:
GH3 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here).
35-100mm X lens at Amazon (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here).
E-PL5 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here).
E-PM2 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here).
XZ-2 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here).
60mm macro at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here).
12mm Black prime lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here).
15mm cap-lens at Adorama (Click here).

Now even Dpreview is joining the leak party! They just published the full GH3 specs: Dpreview GH3 (cached!). We are living in a complete anarchy :)

Olympus announcement starts at 11:00 and Panasonic at 13:00. As usual stay tuned on 43rumors to get a continually updated list to reviews, preorders and more! And join the 43rumors FB group ;)

UPDATE: Cool countdown at Personal View.

Cnet Asia posted the XZ-2 (Click here) and the E-PL5 presentation (Click here). For the first time we also see the picture of the new 17mmf /1.8 lens!

UPDATE: Also Clubsnap posted the full E-PL5 press release! The XZ-2 Clubsnap press text is also available.

UPDATE_2: 60mm macro presentation at Clubsnap.

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Here we are. At 11:00 Cologne time the big announcement party will start with Olympus. You know everything about the new PEN cameras and lenses although there is still a surprise left because Olympus will very likely show a new lens roadmap or lens prototypes including the 17mm f/1.8 lens. And after that the Panasonic live event will start at 13:00 Cologne time. The Gh3 and 35-100mm X lenses are coming and also in that case I expect Panasonic to give us a glimpse about the future lens roadmap. And I do’t think that’s all. Zeiss, Schneider, Sigma and other manufactures may show some new m43 lens (real or prototype) soon. As usual by following 43rumors you will get updated life about all news and reviews. Feelf ree to send me everything you find about the new stuff at 43rumors@gmail.com. And join the FB fanpage if you still didn’t do it :)

Sadly I am not going to Photokina this year because I have a lot of work to do in my real working life. But if you are in Cologne feel free to send me your best pictures and findings and I will post them! Thanks!

So….ready for the party?

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By the way, SLRmagic announced the new 23mm f/1.7 and 35mm f/1.4 lenses. Click to read the full press release: