43 Rumors – Page 2082 – Panasonic and Olympus Digital Camera News

Panasonic GF5 officially announced!

April 5, 2012
news
135 Comments

This post will be continually updated! Keep reloading it from time to time :)

key info and specs

“Newly developed” 12.1 megapixel Live MOS image sensor, Venus Engine VII HD2 processor, ISO 160-12,800, 0.09 second Auto Focus, 1080p Full HD video with stereo sound, available in black, white, red (and in Japan brown and gold too) from June for $749.99 (£579 or 699 Euro) with the 14-42mm X lens and $599 (£449) with the standard 14-42mm lens. The GF5 sensor technolgoy is based on the 16 Megapixel G3 sensor. The new processor can treat highlights and shadows noise differently…it’s called “3DNR” (three-dimensional noise reduction system).

Preorders

GF5 is now available for preorder at Amazon (Click here). In detail:
Black GF5 with 14-42mm or 14-42mmX lens at Amazon (Click here and choose the lens).
White GF5 with 14-42mm or 14-42mmX lens at Amazon (Click here and choose the lens).
Red GF5 with 14-42mm or 14-42mmX lens at Amazon (Click here and choose the lens).
There is no body only option yet :(

Previews

ePhotozine
Openpn (french)
Techradar
Imaging Resource
Which.co.uk (including a video)
Dpreview
Photographyblog

Image samples

ISO test by Openpn (Click and scroll down)
ISO test by Fotopolis
Techradar
ePhotozine (Click and scroll down)
Photographyblog

Videos

Actual Shooting Video on youtube.
Introduction Video on youtube.
preview and hands-on in dutch on youtube.
Test video on youtube.
Miniature Effect in Creative Control on youtube.

Press release

Amateur Photographer
Four Thirds User
Imaging Resource
Systemkameraforum and Photoscala (german)
Bestproduct (dutch)
Focus Numerique (french)
Dpreview
DSLRmagazine and Quesabesde (spanish)
Panasonic Japan and DC.watch (japanese text)
Photographyblog

Poll

Please wait and read carefully the previews and news before you vote and decide!

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Camera images (Click on the them to see the full size image)

(FT4) A second Panasonic product announcement next week?

April 4, 2012
Rumors
30 Comments

I just got some news from trusted sources saying that Panasonic will have a second product announcement next week. I guess this means that we will see a new GF5 camera tomorrow (April 5th, between 6-8 am London time). And a new Micro Four Thirds camcorder announcement next week.

Saty tuned on 43rumors tomorrow! Let’s see if the GF5 will be something good for us!

P.S.: The Fuji X PRO 1 is in Stock at Amazon (Click here) and an absolute topseller (Click here to see the ranking). That’s again a reason to make the my personal Panasonic GL1 dream camera :)
New Fuji reviews and full in Stock status check can be found on my sister websites: MirrorlessRumors.com (Click here).

—
Links to current hackable GF cameras:
Panasonic GF3 search links: [shopcountry 23109].
Panasonic GF2 search links: [shopcountry 17361].

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

New Panasonic GX1 reviews (and comparison with Fuji X PRO 1).

April 4, 2012
reviews
0 Comments

DigitalPhotographySchool (Click here) posted a short Panasonic GX1 review. Unlike so many other websites their conclusions are always very short and clear: “One of the most desirable Micro Four Thirds cameras around.” :)

GX1 versus X PRO 1 versus NEX-5N at Soundimagesplus (Click here). Obviously the Fuji X PRO 1 is the clear winner ….costs also 2,5 time the GX1! ($1699 at Amazon)

Zelenpol announced a new GX1 case (via DC.watch). You can already find E-PL3, E-P3 and GF3 Zelenpol cases for sale on [shoplink 30239 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

In USA you have those nice $100 price drop on the GX1 and a $20 price drop on the 14-42mm X lens.
GX1 body only is now priced at $649 at Amazon (Click here) and Adorama (with extras!).
GX1 body with 14-42mm kit lens is now priced at $699 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
GX1 body with 14-42mm X lens for $849 at Amazon (Click here).

Tomorrow GF5 and camcorder announcement. Is it just me dreaming a L1?

April 4, 2012
Rumors
99 Comments

A rendering inspired by the [shoplink 23692 ebay]DMC-L1 eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

Tomorrow morning (April 5th) at around 6-7 am London time Panasonic will announce a new GF5 camera. There will be also a new (super 35mm?) m43 camcorder (tomorrow) and a new G5 camera in May. The GH3 is expected to be launched in September. Now you know what’s coming from Panasonic :)

The question today is, will Panasonic release some kind of surprise this year? I know from patents and from my sources that Panasonic developed a G camera prototype with built-in viewfinder on the corner. Like the fake GL1 picture you can see here on top. For some reason Panasonic doesn’t want to release such a camera yet. I also have been told that they might fear to hurt their own G3 (and the future G5) series sales. I think they are wrong and that it about time to take inspiration from the super Four Thirds [shoplink 23692 ebay]Lumix DMC-L1 camera (Click here to see them on eBay)[/shoplink]. I wrote a list f reasons why I think it’s worthy for Panasonic to launch the GL1 :)

1) It has an attractive design. Yeah, I am influenced by the [shoplink 30167 ebay]rangefinder[/shoplink] culture and the design appeals to me.
2) I think the viewfinder in the corner is better placed than on top of the camera. You can make the camera a bit more compact and even more more important, you don’t have to push your nose and face against the back of the camera. It’s ergonomically easier to use.
3) Business. Cameras like the Sony NEX-7 (Click here) and the Fuji X PRO 1 (Click here) already proved that the concepts sells well!

By the way, I don’t fear the camera will hurt G sales. First it has a different design. Second you can still put some more advanced technology inside the GL1 (like for example a super high resolution OLED viewfinder).. Third,…wake up! Fuji and Sony are your competitors, not the G series :)

Here is an easy question for you:

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P.S.:
The [shoplink 23692 ebay]DMC-L1 eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
The [shoplink 26385 ebay]DMC-LC1 on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

(FT5) New Panasonic GF5 pictures!

April 3, 2012
Rumors
78 Comments

Gadgets.ndtv (Click here) posted a new set of the ready to be announced Panasonic GF5 camera. And here the specs:

Resolution: 12 Megapixels
Sensor: micro four thirds
ISO: 160-6400 (expandable to 12800)
Burst Speed: 4fps
Video: AVCHD/MP4 (FullHD)
Microphone: Stereo
LCD: 3-inch TFT LCD (921K Dot)
Ports: TV/Digital Out and Mini HDMI

As you know that camera is going to be announced on Thursday April 5th! Be sure to be online at 43rumors as I will follow live the announcement and keep you up to date with all latest news and reviews. I am still not sure yet but I guess the camera will be announced at 6-7am London time.

Automatic message to Panasonic: Make a Micro Four Thirds [shoplink 23692 ebay]Lumix DMC-L1[/shoplink]…make a Micro Four Thirds [shoplink 23692 ebay]Lumix DMC-L1[/shoplink]…make a Micro Four Thirds [shoplink 23692 ebay]Lumix DMC-L1[/shoplink] :)

Click on the pictures below to enlarge the image:

Sigma 19mm preorder started. Fuji X PRO 1 hits stores. GH2 with lens for $749

April 3, 2012
deals
16 Comments

The second Sigma lens is now available for preorder at BHphoto (Click here). There aren’t official review about that lens yet. I found an image of the lens on the GF3 at Flickr (Click here) and some image samples at Laoburi (Click here). But that’s it.

Maybe soon we can talk about a great Olympus-Fuji partnership. Meanwhile the X PRO 1 got in Stock at Amazon (Click here) and is already the most sold camera of the moment (Click here to see the ranking).

Reminder: GX1 and GH2 price drops:
GH2 with 14-42mm kit lens is now in Stock for $749 at BHphoto (Click here) and Amazon (Click here).
GX1 body only is now priced at $649 at Adorama (Click here) and $661 at Amazon (Click here).
3) The GX1 body with 14-42mm kit lens is now priced at $699 at Adorama (Click here), Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).

New E-M5 asian sound noise test and NEX-7 and GX1 comparison.

April 3, 2012
reviews
77 Comments

Click on the image to see the full size version!

Some E-M5 news are coming from Asia today! As you can see here on top Dslr-check (Click here) posted a E-M5 vs NEX-7 vs GX1 vs E-PM1 Jpeg comparison (all pics at ISO 400 and f/4 with zoom kit lens). I leave any judgment to you :)

A Japanese friend of mine that got the E-M5 did some testing to find out more about the so called “IS sound noise”. Here are his findings:
1) The noise is here, but you hear it only when you are closed in a complete noiseless room. In normal situation you don’t hear it at all.
2) The noise almost goes away when you switch to movie mode. That’s good news as this will avoid any “contamination” while recording video.
3) My sources told me the noise is related to the 5 axis system but even if you switch off the IS system the noise remains there.

Overall all I can say is that I understand customers reaction when hearing that noise for the first time. It’s something a bit…annoying! But it looks like this is a NON-issue when shooting videos or photos in real world conditions. I hope to get my hands on the E-M5 soon. Want to check that for myself!

One more news: As you know Asian stores like Amazon Japan and Digitalrev are already shipping the cameras. So guess who are the next lucky guys getting the E-M5? USA?….nope…Germany?…nope… it is Canada! Henrys just informed some of our 43rumors early pre ordered that the E-M5 will ship to their houses next week! Lucky guys!

(Pre)orders: Amazon, Adorama, B&H, Jessops, Amazon UK, Amazon Germany, Amazon Japan and Digitalrev.

Today Rankings:
USA: E-M5 on position 11/13/15 (Click here)
UK: E-M5 is on position 4/10 (Click here).
Germany: The E-M5 is on position 20 (Click here).
France: not available (Click here to see rankings anyway).
Japan: E-M5 on position 7/10 (Click here).