New Sigma lens reviews roundup!

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It’s time to check how good these two new Sigma lenses are. Here are five links to the latest tests:

1) The Sigma 30mm lens got tested with the E-P3 by Pekka Potka (Click here): “I think Sigma has produced here a lens, which is optically significantly better than I expected. It gives much compared to its price and is definitely worth considering if this focal lenght is otherwise interesting.”
2) Also TheDigitalStory (Click here) tested the same lens on the same camera: “Overall, I rate the Sigma 30mm a notch below Olympus prime lenses. But if you want a mild telephoto with a reasonably fast aperture for an affordable price, you’ll probably like shooting with this glass. I’m going to keep mine.”
3) A Sigma 19mm hands-on with image samples can be found at PhotoMalaysia (Click here): “This lens is just about perfect. Optically I’d say approaches Leica…a real bargain for the asking price!!!”
4) ePhotozine (Click here) about the 30mm lens: “During testing this lens proved itself capable of producing excellent results, even at maximum aperture. The light weight, fast autofocus and excellent build should win this lens many fans, especially with the price being so competitive.”
5) ePhotozine (Click here) also tested the 19mm lens: “This compact lens should make an ideal addition to any Micro Four Thirds or Sony NEX camera kit. Its light weight, compact size and excellent optical performance are complimented by fast auto focus speeds and good build quality.”

Mea culpa Sigma for criticizing you! Doesn’t sound bad at all for these $199 (or 199 Euro) lenses!

The 30mm lens is in Stock at Amazon US (Click here), Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon FR (Click here), Amazon JP (Click here).
The 19mm lens is in Stock at Amazon US (Click here), Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon FR (Click here), Amazon JP (Click here).

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E-PL1 for $149 reloaded (worldwide shipment included). E-PL2/E-PM1/GF3 for $300.

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Prince would say…You don’t have to be reach to be my girl! :) Click these links to grab a Micro Four Thirds camera for a ridiculous price:
E-PL1 black body for $149 at Amazon (Click here) or if you prefer worldwide shipment on [shoplink 30359 ebay]Cameta eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. And if you need it with lens get it refurbished for $199 at Cameta (Click here).
And if you need a more “advanced” PEN the E-P2 black body is in Stock for $249 at Amazon (Click here). With lens you can get a fatcory demo for $329 at Cameta (Click here).
Also the refurbished E-PM1 with lens can be found for $329 with lens at Cameta (Click here).
Ad the hackable black Panasonic GF3 body is in Stock for $355 at Amazon (Click here) or for $289 on [shoplink 30360 ebay]eBay (one camera only)[/shoplink].

Maybe in two years we will get the E-M5 for $300 too? Hm, I am sure you will not wait that long :)  Here is the preorder list for USA+Canada:
Black E-M5 body at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).
Silver E-M5 body at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).
Black E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).
Silver E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).
Black E-M5 with 14-45mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).

 

 

 

 

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Really? Panasonic X zooms may not be f/2.8?

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Valentin Sama (Click here) which has a good track of rumors just wrote that a Panasonic source said that it’s not sure the lens will have a f/2.8 aperture. The aperture will be fast and constant but it may not be f/2.8! I would be tremendously surprised to see that Panasonic did “fool” us. Although I would be happy if they do it in exchange of a constant f/2.5 or f/2.0 aperture :)

Anyway, as usual take this statements with a grain of salt. But Valentin already good some crazy rumors right in the past and let’s see if he is right that time too!

Reminder: The lenses are weather sealed, coming in by end of June, rumored price around $1,000-$1,300 which is the half of the Olympus [shoplink 25320 ebay]14-35mm f/2.0[/shoplink] and the [shoplink 25119 ebay]35-100mm f/2.0[/shoplink] Zuiko lenses.

 

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Olympus E-M5 now shipping in USA, Canada, UK, Germany!

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I am getting mails from 43rumors readers saying that they finally got the E-M5. An example: “My local Boston camera store called. My E-M5 is in the store waiting for me! They only got the one though. I was the first to pre-order.” and John wrote: “The EM-5 is shipping in Canada as well. I received the email from Olympus that mine was shipped yesterday.”. In UK it’s in Stock on [shoplink 30334 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and Systemkamerforum users are reporting that it is shipping in Germany.

In short, watchout! The postman could knock at your door soon! Below you can find a short recap of E-M5 links to US/Europe/Asia stores:

USA+Canada:
Black E-M5 body at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).
Silver E-M5 body at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).
Black E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).
Silver E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).
Black E-M5 with 14-45mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).

Europe:
Black E-M5 body at Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Jessops (Click here).
Silver E-M5 body at Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Jessops (Click here).
Black E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Jessops (Click here) and [shoplink 30334 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Silver E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Jessops (Click here) and [shoplink 30333 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

Asia:
Black E-M5 body at Digitalrev (Click here).
Silver E-M5 body at Amazon JP (Click here).
Black E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Digitalrev (Click here) and Amazon JP (Click here).
Silver E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Amazon JP (Click here).
Black E-M5 with 14-45mm lens at Digitalrev (Click here) and Amazon JP (Click here).

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Ridiculous low price for the new E-PL1 body: $149!

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The new E-PL1 body now sells for $149 only at Amazon (Click here). If Olympus would have sold the E-PL1 for such a price right from the start they would probably have double the market share they have today :)

And in these days Amazon sells more E-PL1 cameras than Fuj X PRO 1 cameras :)

P.S.: If you need a zoom lens on it take a look at the Panasonic 45-200mm lens which also got a price drop and sells for $199 again at Amazon (Click here).

 

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There will be no Sonnetar for Micro Four Thirds.

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So pity! KTF-Turbo which is right now testing the Sonnetar 25mm f/1.1 m43 prototype lens just informed me that for now they decided to not go into mass production with the lens. He couldn’t unveil me the reason for that decision. I hope Mr. Miyazaki who is designer of the lens will rethink is decision. I like the design lens a lot and I think quite a great group of current m43 owners would have considered to purchase the lens.

Bye the way, the Sonnetar 25mm f/1.1 for Q mount already did it into mass production and is in Stock on [shoplink 30286 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

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AVC-Ultra compression: A great news for the Panasonic GH3 and AG-AF100 successor?

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Yesterdays announcement was focused on the new Panasonic AVC PRO technology more than on real products. The new camcorder announcements will probably follow soon.

Sources told me that the new AVC PRO compression scheme will be implemented in future business and consumer camcorders. AVC PRO will be available in early 2013. The new cameras that will be unveiled for the NABshow can be upgraded to AVC-Ultra in 2013. It has to be seen yet if the AG-AF100 successor and the GH3 will include the new compression technology. We will probably know more about the products on Tuesday April 17th when Panasonic will have the official press session at the NAB show (at 03:40 PM Las Vegas time).

Meantime here are some info about AVC-Ultra via Wikipedia (Click here):
“The Panasonic AVC-Ultra family defines an additional three new encoding parameters within the MPEG-4 Part 10 standard, utilizing up to the 4:4:4 Intra Predictive Profile, as well as an additional low bitrate proxy recording mode.
The most efficient new parameter within AVC-Ultra is by Panasonic called, AVC-LongG. AVC-LongG enables compression of video resolutions up to 1920×1080 @ 23.97, 25 and 29.97p, with 10 bits of pixel depth at 4:2:2 color sampling, at data rates as low as 25 Mbit / sec.
More over, the AVC-Intra Class 50/100 is now extended to Class 200 and Class 4:4:4. The Class 200 mode extends the bitrate to 226 Mbit / sec for 1080/23,97p, while the Class 4:4:4 extends the possible resolution from 720p to 4K with pixel depths at 10 and 12 bits.
The bitrate settings for Class 4:4:4 varies between 200 and 440 Mbit / sec depending on the resolution, frame rate and bit depth. Both the Class 200 and the Class 4:4:4 are Intra-only coding modes.
The AVC-Proxy mode enables extremely fast ENG content delivery and offline edits of 720p and 1080p video at bitrates varying between 800 Kbit to 3,5 Mbit / sec at 8 bits of pixel depth.”

More info about yesterdays Panasonic announcement at Tvtechnology (Click here).

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