Surprise: Panasonic patent discloses a new in body stabilization system! And a rangefinder styled camera too?

Share

The image you see here on top is a drawing from a Panasonic in body stabilization patent. That alone is an interesting news and I would be happy to see Panasonic offering such a solution. But what’s even more intriguing is that the same patent actually shows the camera that could use the system and it looks like a sort of Sony NEX-7 competitor with build-in viewfinder in the corner. Check out the pic:

“Point 60” shows what looks like a viewfinder that can be tilted up to 90 degrees! I already saw a patent like this two years ago (that’s why I know it can tilt). You can look through the EVF from top to bottom. Yeah like in old days with the [shoplink 30387 ebay]Rollei or Yashica twin lens (here on eBay)[/shoplink].

As usual with patents they are no prov at all that this could become a real product. But It’s nice to see that Panasonic is “thinking” on a camera like that :)

You readers already expressed your opinion about a sort of “rangefinder styled” Micro Four Thirds version of the[shoplink 23692 ebay]Lumix DMC-L1 camera[/shoplink]:

Would you buy a high end GL1 with integrated EVF on the corner like on the picture you see on top of this post?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

P.S.:
The Sony NEX-7 (Click here) and the Fuji X PRO 1 (Click here) are selling very well according to Amazon ranking (Click here).
The [shoplink 23692 ebay]DMC-L1 eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
The [shoplink 26385 ebay]DMC-LC1 on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

Share

New E-M5 review at Digitalrev!

Share

Kai from Digitalrev made that E-M5 review. As usual take it easy, he has his own (in my opinion nice) way to make reviews. Enjoy!

P.S.: meantime more and more US/Europe readers are sending me info saying their E-M5 will ship next week. Let me know when your test pictures are online! Thanks!

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

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).

OM film cameras
Here is the chronological ordered list of all OM film cameras ever made by Olympus. Click on the names to see them on eBay (ordered by first announced camera): [shoplink 28221 ebay]M-1[/shoplink], [shoplink 28222 ebay]OM-1[/shoplink], [shoplink 28223 ebay]OM-1 MD[/shoplink], [shoplink 28224 ebay]OM-1N[/shoplink], [shoplink 28225 ebay]OM-2[/shoplink], [shoplink 28226 ebay]OM-2N[/shoplink], [shoplink 28227 ebay]OM-2S/SP[/shoplink], [shoplink 28228 ebay]OM-3[/shoplink], [shoplink 28229 ebay]OM-3Ti[/shoplink], [shoplink 28230 ebay]OM-4[/shoplink], [shoplink 28231 ebay]OM-4T/Ti black and chrome[/shoplink], [shoplink 28232 ebay]OM-10[/shoplink], [shoplink 28233 ebay]OM-20 (OM-G)[/shoplink], [shoplink 28234 ebay]OM-30(OM-F)[/shoplink], [shoplink 28235 ebay]OM-40 (OM-PC)[/shoplink], [shoplink 28236 ebay]OM-77AF (OM-707)[/shoplink], [shoplink 28237 ebay]OM-88 (OM-101)[/shoplink], [shoplink 28238 ebay]OM-2000[/shoplink].

Share

Plenty of new Voigtländer 17.5mm f/0.95 in Germany (eBay)

Share
[shoplink 30300 ebay][/shoplink]

Long before the official worldwide shipment (April 29th) German stores are having the 17.5mm in Stock! Don’t know hot they managed to get them so soon! Anyway, here are all links to the stores:

[shoplink 30300 ebay]Fotomundus (Click here)[/shoplink]!
[shoplink 30373 ebay]Bayern Foto (Click here)[/shoplink]. Not a Lederhosen store :)
[shoplink 30374 ebay]Shphoto (Click here)[/shoplink]!
[shoplink 30375 ebay]Photoalps (Click here)[/shoplink]! Again not a Lederhosen store :)

It is also available as kit lens in combination with the [shoplink 30301 ebay]GF3 (Click here to check)[/shoplink] with the [shoplink 30302 ebay]E-P2 (Click here to check)[/shoplink] and with the [shoplink 30303 ebay]E-P3 (Click here to check)[/shoplink].

Share

E-M5 RAW has better Signal-to Noise ratio and Dynamic than the X PRO 1??? (says Techradar)

Share

The surprising RAW Signal to Noise ration chart from Techradar. The Olympus E-M5 is the best!

If you are from America or Europe you are very likely going to receive your preordered [shoplink 29074]E-M5[/shoplink] next week! Meantime I have a new roundup of reviews for you!

Amy from Techradar (Click here) posted the full E-M5 review. She likes the “Excellent viewfinder, Tilting touchscreen, Customisable dials and buttons, High image quality at low ISOs and the New art filters“. What she doens’t like is the “Plastic unresponsive buttons, No in-built flash, Odd (sound) emitted“. But the real surprise is their RAW noise to ratio test (posted here on top of this post). The chart shows how the RAW files are clearly better than the [shoplink 26836]Panasonic GX1[/shoplink] suggesting that they may not be using exactly the same sensor. The real surprise is that it even beats the Fuji X PRO 1! As usual take those charts with a grain of salt. As I learned from my physics studies no test is perfect and always depends from the testers method :)

And below you can find the Dynamic range test results (again on TIFF converted RAW files):

But overall that E-M5 looks like a tremendous camera and I can’t wait to get my hands on it! Thansk Amy for sharing this great test!!!

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

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).

Share

New Sigma lens reviews roundup!

Share

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).

Share

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

Share

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).

 

 

 

 

Share

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases