New Panasonic APP for the FX90. A small step today, a big step into the future?

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Panasonic just released the new “Lumix Remote” APP for the FX90 (a $240 compact camera). You can find it here on iTunes and here for Android. This is an amazing APP that “allows the Live View screen from LUMIX DMC-FX90 digital cameras equipped with a wireless communication function to be displayed on a smartphone screen, and enables users to perform zoom and shutter operations on the smartphone screen.” Those are the main features:
・ A remote view function that allows users to check the same image as that on the camera’s Live View screen
・ A remote shutter function that allows users to set the zoom level and shoot a still picture
・ A self shot mode function that is useful when shooting a self portrait

This may be a small news today but I really hope Panasonic will “expand” these app to all Micro Four Thirds camera!!!

Do you think such kind of Application for Panasonic m43 cameras would be useful?

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Something else: A great idea for our mirrorless cameras at Kickstarter.

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E-M5: EosHD tests video, Chassimages the sensor, Clubsnap the third party battery!

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E-M5 video quality
My friend Andrew from EosHD (Click here) agrees that the E-M5 is an absolute great camera. But he focused on the video quality of the camera and writes: “The Olympus approach to video on the other hand is the opposite of masterstroke. If this camera was hacked to support high bitrate 24p it would be a GH2 beater. Given the shear responsiveness of the camera, the speed of the AF, the fast scan of the sensor for minimal rolling shutter and the high resolving power in video mode – it clearly packs some powerful hardware under the hood and a very capable sensor. It is just a shame we yet again don’t see the best of it in video mode because of decisions made in firmware.“. Agree, Olympus could have done better! They could make it good by releasing a firmware update which increase the video quality. Are you listening Oly? :)

E-M5 sensor with moirè?
The french magazine Chassimages claims to have found the answer about the E-M5 sensor. Pierre Lepidi (Click here) posted the text from the magazine (you can’t find the Chassimages text online): “its the same GX1 sensor but what changes is that the E-m5 sensor has a lighter Anti Aliasing filter. Images are sharper although you have a higher risk to find moiré“. This seems to be confirmed by the comparison posted by DSRLcheck (Click here). There is visible more reoslution and moirè when comparing the E-M5 with the GX1.

E-M5 news roundup:
TVsmith (Click here) has been asked at the race track if the OM-D can do action… The pictures may show you the answer ;) OM-D in-body stabilisation versus Pana OIS @ 300mm at Snappydiablog (Click here). OM-5 initial reaction at Footlessfish (Click here). The latest Apple RAW update brings support for the E-M5 and GF5!

E-M5 third party battery:
A review of the third party E-M5 battery at Clubsnap (Click here): “These batteries will only hold 84% of the charge of a real Olympus 1220mAh battery. (Assuming you get 250-shots out of an original battery, this will give you 209-shots before it gives up on you.) It is also only 70% of the claimed 1450mAh.“. You can buy those batteries on eBay:
[shoplink 30960 ebay]One Olympus batteries and NO(!) charger (Click here to check the price on eBay). You need to have a compatible charger![/shoplink] [shoplink 30954 ebay]One Olympus battery + 1 chargers (Click here to check the price on eBay)[/shoplink] [shoplink 30955 ebay]Two Olympus batteries + 1 chargers (Click here to check the price on eBay)[/shoplink] [shoplink 30961 ebay]Three Olympus batteries + 1 chargers (Click here to check the price on eBay)[/shoplink]

James: “Hi, I see you have a lot of love for the Olympus Om-D, so do I. If your readers like they can subscribe to my facebook as I’m travelling around Europe for the rest of the year with my OM-D, 7-14mm, 12mm, 25mm & 45mm. I’m trying to post photos for my friends and family as much as possible. Just thought it might be something your readers could be interested in. the url is www.facebook.com/coxy84”

E-M5 orders (Click on the names of the stores to see the product page):
Black E-M5 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, J&R, Warehouse UK, Digitalrev and Amazon Japan.
Silver E-M5 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, J&R, Warehouse UK, and Amazon Japan.
Black E-M5 body with 14-42mm lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto , Digitalrev and J&R.
Black E-M5 body with 12-50mm lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, J&R, Jessops, Amazon UK, Amazon Deutschland , Digitalrev and Amazon Japan.
Silver E-M5 body with 12-50mm lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, J&R, Jessops, Amazon UK, Amazon Deutschland and Amazon Japan.

 


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Depth of field equivalence “ripoff thoughts” by Admiring Light (Olympus 75mm to ship late in Europe?).

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According to Amazon UK (Click here) the Olympus lens will be released on July 31! That’s a lot later than the rumored late June early July release. But as usual, keep in mind that this is just an indicative date. Amazon US (Click here) says it will ship within 1-2 months. But now let’s read Admiringlight (Click here) because he posted some thoughts about the two new Micro Four Thirds lenses.
1) About the Olympus 75mm lens, he writes: “I think the lens looks to be a real winner. It’s got beautiful bokeh, a lovely contrast and color signature and is quite sharp at the focal point. It also seems to exhibit very well controlled longitudinal chromatic aberration and fringing, which is usually a big problem on lenses of this focal length and aperture. The downside for some with this lens is that the focal length of 75mm is a little longer than the ‘standard’ portrait lengths“.
2) About the Panasonic 12-35mm X lens, he writes: “Early reviews are showing this lens to be a truly stellar performer, right from f/2.8.  In fact, it’s looking like one of the sharpest f/2.8 standard zooms for ANY camera system.   Now, those who feel the need to bang on depth of field equivalence will cry “but it only gives depth of field similar to f/5.6 on full frame!  What a ripoff!” Read the full post to read the reasons why he says that this is an irrelevant argument. I 100% agree with him :)

Preorders:
The Olympus 75mm lens can be preordered at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here). And Adorama has also the accessories: Olympus LH-61F, Metal Lens Hood (Click here) and the Olympus LC-61, Metal Front Lens Cap (Click here).
The Panasonic 12-35mm X lens can be preordered at Amazon (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here) and Digitalrev (Click here).

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(FT4) New Micro Four Thirds lenses coming in June (not from Olympus/Panasonic)

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The (Micro-) Four Thirds group listed at www.four-thirds.org.

I am three weeks in the Alps and plan to climb many mountains. But I really have to keep an eye on my iPhone because one of my trusted sources just told me that there will be a new Micro Four Thirds lens announcement from an associated Micro Four Thirds group company. It’s not Panasonic and not Olympus. As you see from the list on top there are so many candidates (and Samyang is not listed) that I leave it up to you to guess what’s coming :)

Just a guess (no rumor!): I hope it’s a Samyang prime lens. A Micro Four Thirds version of the superb [shoplink 31320 ebay]35mm f/1.4 Four Thirds lens (here on eBay)[/shoplink] would be a nice addition! For my needs this would be a better portrait lens than the just announced Olympus 75mm f/1.8 lens!

P.S.: The Olympus 75mm lens can be preordered at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here). In Europe at Amazon UK (Click here), and in Asia at Amazon JP (Click here). And Adorama has also the accessories: Olympus LH-61F, Metal Lens Hood (Click here) and the Olympus LC-61, Metal Front Lens Cap (Click here).

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Financial report: Olympus keeps losing money, but sells more Digital Cameras.

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Olympus released the latest Q4 financial report (Click here to download the pdf). Olympus lost 49 Mrd. Yen (491 Mio. €). While Olympus Camera Business can’t still bring any profit Olympus managed to sell more digital cameras (+0,6%). Results would have been better without the Thai Flood that affected the whole camera industry production.

Olympus didn’t release any forecast but my very irrational feeling says that things will go better for Olympus this year. It cannot go worse than last year or not? :)

UPDATE: Thom Hogan analyzed the Olympus financial results on Sansmirror.com (Click here).

One more thing: Michael Woodford sues Olympus for $60m (The Telegraph). Damn is that a long going story!

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$99 for the Panasonic zoom lens (and new Gariz USA ebay shop).

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Panasonic US deals:
It’s not a spectacular lens but for $99 it’s nice to have a walk around zoom like the Panasonic 14-42mm. You can get it now for that price at Amazon (Click here) or Adorama (Click here). And two more Panasonic lens are now priced cheaper than usual. The super nice 14mm f/2.5 pancake is now in Stock for $269 at Amazon (Click here). And the 14-42mm X pancake is in Stock for $345 again at Amazon (Click here). There is no big deal on the camera front. Just a new couple of dollars price drop on the GX1+x lens kit at Amazon (Click here).

Gariz US store:
The Korean company Gariz was the first to offer the [shoplink 31306 ebay]E-M5 leather case (here on eBay)[/shoplink]. But as you know it’s always a hurdle to shop from other countries (because of the importation taxes and long delivery times). But finally Gariz opened a US located ebay store and you can buy the [shoplink 31307 ebay]E-M5 genuine leather case (Click here)[/shoplink] and the [shoplink 31309 ebay]E-M5 textured leather case (Click here)[/shoplink]. Hope they will open a store in Europe too!

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New Panasonic 12-35mm X lens reviews roundup!

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Popco (Click here) posted a nice set of sexy 12-35mm X lens pictures including a “weight comparison”! And they made a autofocus speed test you can see on vimeo (Click here). A new set of image samples can be found here at Flickr. And there is another full review at Camerastuffreview (Click here). The conclusion are very positive like it was at Photographyblog, ePhotozine, SLRgear and DSLRmagazine. The only flaw of that lens may be the missing powerzoom (hey I am a film maker, for me that would have been a nice addition).

Lens preorders:
in USA at Amazon (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and Adorama (Click here).
in Europe at FotoHanzKeuzekamp (Click here).
in Asia at Amazon Japan (Click here) and Digitalrev (Click here).

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