a little bit of everything…

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Sun Flares taken with the GH2 and [shoplink 20857 ebay]C-mount Canon 35mm 1:1.2 (Click here to see that lens on eBay)[/shoplink].

E-PL2

Olympus E-PL1 design patent (Freepatentsonline).
The Complete Olympus EPL-2 Review (ThePhoBlographer).
Test Olympus E-LP2 : colorimétrie et précision (Focus Numerique).
E-PL2 at [shopcountry 18844].

GH2

Panasonic GH2 Review (Seriouscompacts)
GH2 studio samples, a closer look (DPreview forum).
GH2 + wide C-mount Cosmicar 12.5mm 1:1.4 (Vimeo).
GH2 at [shopcountry 16254].

Other news

Olympus VG-130 Review (Photographyblog)
Panasonic introduce new SDHC UHS-I memory cards (ePhotozine)
Photos from the panasonic stand at Focus On Imaging 2011 (lumixg2photographer).
Panasonic launch the ‘A City Exposed’ campaign (ePhotozine).
Panasonic Announces Pricing For Its 2011 Premium Lineup Of Lumix Digital Camera Models (Imaging resource)
Fuji FinePix X100 Review: First Impressions (Photoradar).
Self-tutorial 01: Photographing interiors (Jjsemplephotography).

Videos you sent me

Solar Powered – Keep your camera charged (Vimeo)
Macklemore – The Making of Wings 01 (Youtube)

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GH1 for $399 + Adobe brings XZ-1 and E-PL2 support + Olympus lens converters coming on March 18

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Right now you can get the Panasonic GH1 body only for $399 at Amazon (Click here).

Adobes new Camera RAW 6.4 and Lightroom 3.4 release candidates bring support for the newest Olympus’s XZ-1 and E-PL2 cameras:
Click here to download Adobe Photoshop Lightroom v3.4 release candidate
Click here to download Adobe Camera Raw v6.4 release candidate
You can order the XZ-1 at [shopcountry 19904].
and the E-PL2 at [shopcountry 18844].

And Olympus Japan just announced that worldwide shipment of the new Olympus lens converters will start on March 18. The Fisheye, wide and macro converter do work on the new 14-42mm II lens, and on the 14-150mm and 40-150mm lenses. P.S:: The Japanese website DC.watch.impress (Click here) tested the three new E-PL2 converters a few days ago.

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(UPDATED with translation) New battery grip for Panasonic Micro Four Thirds cameras

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[shoplink 20831 ebay][/shoplink]

The Chinese company “Ownuser” made a battery grip for all Panasonic Micro Four Thirds cameras except the GF1/GF2. Sadly the only info we got has been posted as an image with Chinese text so I cannot translate it with the help of the google translation tool. Some Chinese 43rumors readers can send us a summary of all the key features of the battery grip? What I can understand from the images is that they have three different grips and that there is also some kind of IR transmitter. The person that send me that news told me that they have made 1.500 of those items.

This is the website of the company with the battery grip page: http://www.ownuser.com.tw/mig_pg2.html
This are the Ownuser products on [shoplink 20831 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] (didn’t find the battery grip…or is it there somewhere? I found the battery grip for Olympus cameras instead)

UPDATE: 43rumors reader “Kolen” translated the chinese text (Hurray for Kolen!)

The first battery grip from Ownuser:

For Panasonic G2/G1/GH1/G10
MIG-PG2 with camera as shown:

Model description:
MIG-PG2B
MIG-PG2AB
MIG-PG2RAB

MIG-PG2 overview:
1) tripod 1/4 20 screw thread
2) External Shutter release input
3) External AC power input
4) Camera shutter release output
5) screw of the tripod thread
6) hand grip
7) tripod mount
8 ) Left battery cover
9) Right battery cover
10) battery to camera
11) battery contact
12) cable
13) shutter
14) on/off button
volume: about 12.6cmX6.2cmX3.9cm
weight: 110g

Compact, convenient, good build, comfortable for portrait

3 type of battery input for convenience:
1) two Lithium batteries
2) AA Battery (6A/8A)
3) External AC power input

1500 units produced globally, unique for personal style

MINI-IR 2B overview
1) IR output
2) focus
3) shot
4) Bulb
5) clear
6) 10s self portrait
7) battery

The camera with Mini-RHS 2
1) volume is smaller than the DX-RHS2 by 70%. Lighter and more convenient.
2) channel lock to protect interference from other sources
3) timer alarm for accurate dusk/twilight photography
4) Can used together with DX-51R 2 & Mini IR 2
5) Attached to the hot shoe on the camera, e.g. Minolta, Sony Alpha 100.
6) 360 degree rotation ability: can be used together with on camera flash
7) 2XAAA battery

Mini IR 2B
for amateur, indoor photography
channel can be locked to prevent interference
1) 5 key control, simple and clear, perfect fit
2) Focus and shot seperately
3) Bulb / 10s self portrait

Mini-IR 2B basic function
A. Channel lock (must choose the channel first, then lock the channel to prevent interference) (After the first settings, it is automatically saved for future use)
1) press for 5 seconds, red/green light lights alternatively and a beep three times.
2) press the shot button on MINI IR2B, it is finished after the beep
3) press the channel lock once again to complete

B. 4 main functions (IR function will consume battery life. Please shut down when it is not in use)
Focus is separate from shutter to prevent delay. Focus can be set as AE-L or AF-L.
Tele/macro photography
self portrait
LIVE VIEW shot

Single button control without menu
typical camera need to go into the menu for self-portrait, not so convenient
a physical 10s self portrait button is more convenient
in operation, autofocus green light will lights up first. red light flash once per second, continuous red light in last three seconds
(in the figure: autofocus indicator (green), and red light)
Bulb shutter can be used
bulb shutter has a function to prevent false alarm. only after focus, bulb shutter can be activated. Only can be used to end the bulb.
support longest bulb for 10 hours
dusk/twilight night astro

Rhythmic speaker supporting bulb
bulb has a function of beep per second. After activated bulb, use the control button to set speaker.
(In the figures:) control method: On-> OFF -> ON
press setting button once > ON
twice > OFF
again > ON
You can use one hand to control the remote and another hand to cover the camera at the right time.

This is the website of the company with the battery grip page: http://www.ownuser.com.tw/mig_pg2.html
This are the Ownuser products on [shoplink 20831 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] (didn’t find the battery grip…or is it there somewhere?)

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Japanese shock: 43rumors solidarity

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Those are terrible news we are currently receiving from Japan. I think I speak for everyone here on 43rumors when I say that we are deeply concerned.  I confide that most people managed to escape the tsunami as the country has a well organized alarm system and procedure. I don’t have other words to express, I am really shocked.

A side note via Bloomberg:
Panasonic Corp. (6752) said several employees at its three factories in Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures sustained minor injuries. The Osaka-based company is still assessing the damage to facilities, Yuichi Takatoku, a Tokyo-based spokesman for the company, said by phone.

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Head to Head: Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GF2

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Do you still have troubles and you don’t know if you should pickup the E-PL2 or the GF2? I checked all the reviews we posted on 43rumors and made a list for all pixel-peepers (chronological order, latest review on top). Check out the table and read the 43rumors readers reviews too! Let me know if I missed to add some interesting review.

A quick reminder for US readers: The Black GF2+14mm is in Stock at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here). And today also the body only Black GF2 is in Stock at BHphoto (Click here).




Olympus E-PL2 43rumors user reviews Panasonic GF2 43rumors user reviews
Click here to read user reviews
(you can add your rating if you are a member)
Click here to read user reviews
(you can add your rating if you are a member)
Olympus E-PL2 reviews Panasonic GF2 reviews
RegHardware

Enticingthelight

CNET

Trustedreviews

Cameralabs

Dpreview

DCresource

Steve digicams

Pixelmania

Focus Numerique

DCview

Cameraguide
.
tweakers

Digitalcamerareview

DxOmark


Ascii.jp

DC.watch

CNET Asia

mobile01

yesky

Digitalrev

Digitalcamerainfo
Imaging Resource

Cameralabs

Dpreview

Hybridcams (one
two
three
)
BBC

CNET Australia

01net

DxOmark

DCresource

clubic.com

DCview

Focus Numerique
.
Digitalcamerareview

Trustedreviews

Photoreview Australia

Hardwarezone

Ascii.jp

Pocket Lint

Photographyblog

Systemkamera-forum.de
.
Olympus E-PL2 direct shop links Panasonic GF2 direct shop links
[shopcountry 18844] [shopcountry 17361]

What do you prefer?

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(patent) Panasonic 16mm f/1.4 and more prime lens specs!

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[shoplink 14796][/shoplink]Image on top: The current popular Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 lens you can get at [shopcountry 14796].

43rumors just found a new Panasonic patent that discloses full details about new fast primes for Micro Four Thirds (United States Patent Application 20110052181 via freepatentsonline). Let’s start with the official patent description:

It has conventionally been difficult to reduce the size of a fast lens system having an F number of about 1.4 to 2.4.“…”Each of lens systems according to Embodiments 1 to 11 of the present invention has an F number of 1.4 to 2.1, and includes, in order from the object side toward the image side, a front unit including two lens elements, i.e., a positive lens element and a negative lens element, and a rear unit having a positive power. The rear unit includes at least one negative lens element and at least one aspheric surface. A diaphragm A is disposed in a widest air space in the lens system.”

The patent unveils all details about the lenses including the spherical aberration, astigmatism and distortion data!!! Those are the lenses:

1) 17.5mm f/1,75 (lenght of the lens 5cm)
2) 17mm f/1.75 (lenght of the lens 5cm)
3) 17mm f/1.75 (lenght of the lens 4cm)
4) 20mm f/1.75 (lenght of the lens 4cm)
5) 16,7mm f/1.75 (lenght of the lens 4.1cm)
6) 21mm f/1.75 (lenght of the lens 4cm)
7) 17mm f/1.83 (lenght of the lens 4cm)
8 ) 16mm f/1.7 (lenght of the lens 5.6cm)
9) 14,4mm f/1.75 (lenght of the lens 4.3cm)
10) 14,4mm f/1.75 (lenght of the lens 5.5cm)
11) 16,4mm f/1.43 (lenght of the lens 5cm)

Those info are very detailed and do proof that Panasonic has working prototypes with those characteristics. I hope Panasonic will really bring them to final production! The most interesting lenses are the 14mm f/1.7 (faster and larger than the current [shoplink 16258]14mm f/2.5 lens[/shoplink]), the 16mm f/1.4, the 17mm f/1.7 (faster and larger than the current [shoplink 14798]Olympus 17mm f/2.8[/shoplink]). We already have the [shoplink 14796]Panasonic 20mm f/1.7[/shoplink] described in the patent (or at least a similar version). Interesting, Panasonic announced the development of the 25mm f/1.4 but that lens isn’t mentioned here!

I simplified the lens list and made a short poll

Which lens would you chose? (Select one only)

View Results

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The Micro Four Thirds system currently offers three compact primes:
Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 at [shopcountry 16258].
Olympus 17mm f/2.8 at [shopcountry 14798].
Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 at [shopcountry 14796].

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

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New Olympus XZ-1, E-PL2 and Panasonic GF2 reviews (+ unconventional E-5 review)

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The most unserious [shoplink 17163]Olympus E-5[/shoplink] review that I ever found!

Digitalcamerareview (Click here) posted a new Olympus XZ-1 review: “The Olympus XZ-1 would be a notable entry into the high end compact digital field if only for its fast lens, but throw in a dose of excellent still image quality and the camera commands serious consideration.”
Also the german website Dkamera (Click here) posted the XZ-1 review and got a very good rating 85,94% -> That’s a very german way to calculate and express a rating :)
Olympus XZ-1 direct links at [shopcountry 19904].

RegHardware (Click here) tested the new Olympus E-PL2: “The E-PL2 is a great camera. It’s a huge amount of fun, is highly usable, and I’m a big fan of its retro design. It’s also an enormously capable performer“.
Olympus E-PL2 direct links at [shopcountry 18844].

Panasonic GF2 review at Imaging Resource (Click here): “Performance is also somewhat of a mixed bag. Panasonic promises improved noise reduction across the board, and the GF2 does indeed improve chroma noise in shadows, but this comes at the expense of subtle image detail. The effects of noise reduction can be seen as smudging in images shot at all ISO sensitivities, although you’re not likely to notice this at the base sensitivity without pixel peeping.
Panasonic GF2 direct links at [shopcountry 17361].

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