UPDATED: Panasonic GF2 preview at Systemkamerforum (+ more GF2 news)

Share
[shoplink 17361][/shoplink]

Hands-on at Systemkamera-forum.de. You need to be registered to download the pdf file. The most important news is that „ Mein persönliches Fazit nach einigen Stun- den und mehr als 200 Bildern mit der LUMIX GF2: Ich vermisse Tasten und das Modusrad in keiner Weise – mit erweiterter Touchscreen- Bedienung und Quickmenu hat Panasonic einen vollwertigen Ersatz geschaffen.“ Translated… “I don’t miss the buttons and wheel they removed from the GF1, the touchscreen works very well.

Meanhwile ThePhoBlographer gives you “7 Reasons Why I’m Not Buying the Panasonic GF-2“. Hmmm…do you agree with all his critiques?

And finally there is a Panasonic GF2 preview at Imaging Resource.

UPDATE: Photoradar posted ISO-charts results.

GF2 shop links (preorders available on Amazon UK only):
Amazon US, BHphoto, Amazon UK

Share

Double Panasonic 14mm review

Share
[shoplink 16258 ebay][/shoplink]

The polish website Optyczne (Impossible for me to spell it!) published the Panasonic 14mm lens review. Thanks to the magic help of the google translation tool I can post you the lens pro and cons list:

    Advantages:

  • robust and exceptionally compact design,
  • very good image quality at the center of the frame,
  • well corrected chromatic aberration
  • decent image quality in bright light,
  • negligible astigmatism.
    Disadvantages:

  • monstrous distortion,
  • a lot of vignetting,
  • image quality at the edge of the frame could be improved.

But we also have a native english review at m43photo.blogspot.com! Conclusion? “This is a very capable, fast focusing, sharp and compact lens. What’s not to like?

Ok, I like that lens but we europeans (and you americans too) have to wait a few weeks before to have the lens in Stock. Click on those direct links to check price and avilability:
Amazon US, Adorama, BHphoto, Amazon Deutschland,Amazon Japan.

You can’t wait that much? Get the lens from japanese eBay resellers. They have all three new Panasonic lenses in Stock (but don’t forget taht you have to pay import taxes!):
[shoplink 17556 ebay]Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 eBay acutions[/shoplink] [shoplink 17618 ebay]Panasonic 100-300mm f/4.0-5.6 eBay acutions[/shoplink] [shoplink 17620 ebay]Panasonic 3D 12.5mm f/12 eBay acutions[/shoplink]

Share

Olympus announces the E-PL1s and a new Kit lens!

Share

Surprise! Olympus announced the E-PL1s! It is a slightly tweaked version of the existing [shoplink 14832]E-PL1[/shoplink] (it now shoots at 6.400 ISO and it also comes in red). It uses the new BLS-5 battery instead of the BLS-1 (To meet the new safety standards for lithium-ion rechargeable Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law). But the most interesting news is the new version of the current [shoplink 14816]14-42mm kit lens[/shoplink]…the M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm II 1:3.5-5.6 kit lens! It has MSC (Movie and Stills Compatible) designation and it is smaller and lighter (112g= 25$ lighter) than the current version. The new kit should be released in Japan by December the 4th. The price of the lens only is 36,750 yen (US$440). There is no info about the possible release date in Europe and US/Canada. I was told the new lens will be available worldwide very soon. But there is no plan to release the E-PL1s in non-japanese countries.

More info:
Dpreview
Akhabaranews
DC.watch.impress
Olympus Japan
E-PL1.net forum

Share

Hot deal reminder: E-PL1 for $398 and GF1 for $599 (no E-PL1s tomorrow)

Share
[shoplink 14828][/shoplink]

The Panasonic GF1 with 20mm f/1.7 Lens is in Stock for $599 at Amazon (Click here). A month ago the price was close to the $800! I guess Amazon is clearing their stocks in favour for the [shoplink 17361]GF2[/shoplink] (and maybe for the future GF3???).

As you have seen there have been huge price drops on the [shoplink 14832]Olympus E-PL1[/shoplink]. Last week a japanese website said that there could be an E-PL1s announcement on November 16th (tomorrow!). I didn’t hear anything from my sources that’s why I don’t believe it’s really coming (ops I was wrong…the E-PL1s has been announced!). Anyway tomorrow we will know it for sure!
Get the E-PL1 for $398 at Amazon and $399 at Adorama (yes one single dollar difference).
UPDATE: The Amazon Deal is gone.

Share

Olympus E-5 third best DSLR camera ever tested at Fotomagazine.de (E-5 in Stock!)

Share
[shoplink 17163][/shoplink]

According to the very reputable german website Fotomagazin.de the [shoplink 17163]Olympus E-5[/shoplink] is the third best DSLR camera ever tested! It’s only behind the much more expensive Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and Nikon D3s cameras. Impressive what Olympus did with the same [shoplink 14832]PEN[/shoplink] sensor. Can’t wait to see what they will do with the next generation Panasonic (or Kodak?) sensor. You can download their original image samples here : zip (59MB).

Reminder: The Olympus E-5 is finally in Stock at Amazon (Click here).

Share

Panasonic GH2 review at Letsgodigial (+ more GH2 news)

Share
[shoplink 17361][/shoplink]

Letsgodigital reviewed the new [shoplink 17361]Panasonic GH2[/shoplink]: “Panasonic is creating a point of reference with the GH2 with which the competition can measure itself. Panasonic’s years of video experience are clearly visible and is very effectively integrated into an existing concept. Photo and video stand effortlessly together at a high level in the Panasonic Lumix GH2, and can live up to the competition.

Hybridcams.fr interviewed Jean-Baptiste Lefournier, the director of “Lumix On The Road / GH2 From Paris to California” (Once clicked on the link scroll to see the english translation). Jean says about the GH2 that: “The incredible speed of the autofocus will remain the no. 1 innovation of the GH2, then its new range of ISO 160 to ISO 12 800, then the touch interface even though I think it is for users not necessarily  pro (but for the Q Menu touch which is very convenient). The software processing of the video image seems better (no more banding issues on the skies).”

We also found some full size GH2 iso shots at Dpreview forum and a Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic GF1 on Flickr via Sunnyeva.

Check price and availability clicking on these Panasonic GH2 direct shop links:
Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Amazon UK, Amazon France, Amazon Deutschland and [shoplink 17664 ebay]eBay[/shoplink].

Share

Panasonic GF1 price drops also in Europe (finally!)

Share
[shoplink 17647 ebay]
Panasonic GF1+14-45mm price drop (idealo.de)
[/shoplink]

Oh finally we have some price drops in Europe too. It looks like most shops are busy to clearance their stocks of Panasonic GF1 cameras. In Germany the GF1 price dropped by 50 Euro on both kits. As usual keep in mind that I can’t check all stores in all countries!

Germany: Pixmania, Amazon, [shoplink 17647 ebay]eBay[/shoplink] UK: Pixmania, Amazon, [shoplink 17647 ebay]eBay[/shoplink] France: Pixmania, Amazon, [shoplink 17647 ebay]eBay[/shoplink] Italy: Pixmania, [shoplink 17647 ebay]eBay[/shoplink] Spain: Pixmania, [shoplink 17647 ebay]eBay[/shoplink] Belgium: Pixmania, [shoplink 17647 ebay]eBay[/shoplink] Holland: Pixmania, [shoplink 17647 ebay]eBay[/shoplink] Austria: Pixmania, [shoplink 17647 ebay]eBay[/shoplink] Poland: Pixmania, [shoplink 17647 ebay]eBay[/shoplink]

P.S.: One of our readers (Phil) went for a bike ride with the GF1 in the back pocket. It fell out at 30 mph but survived. Here’s a link to a photo of the damage. http://www.clubantietam.com/2010/11/14/photos-from-summer-rides/
. He said that the GF1 “still works like a charm – no need to upgrade to the GF2 yet :)

Share