(FT3) Will the Olympus compact camera feature a 26-100mm(35mm equiv.) f/1.8-2.4 lens?

Share

The japanese blog Egami just discovered a new Olympus patent that could referr to the lens used for the new High-end compact camera shown by Olympus at Photokina. As you know the compact camera will not feature a classic FourThirds sensor but it could share the same Panasonic LX5 sensor. The real highlight could be the new 26-100mm(35mm equiv.) f/1.8-2.4 ZUIKO lens.

Those are the specs (google translated)

  • Patent Publication No.2010-217478
    • published 2010/09/30
    • filled 2009/03/17
  • Embodiment1
    • focus distance f=6.06-18.76
    • Fno=1.85-2.39
    • angle of view 78.41-27.50°
    • back focus 7.33-9.19mm
    • length 60.49-62.17mm
    • zoom 3.88x
  • 4 groups of +-++
    • get zoom magnification
    • compact
  • optimize 3rd group
    • It is effective
  • optimize 3rd group
    • adopt a plastic lens
    • cost down

P.S: I would love to see such a bright zoom lens for MicroFourThirds!

Share

Tons of new Panasonic GH2 videos and news. Preview by videoaktiv!

Share


Bruce Dale posted three new GH2 videos on Vimeo (link 1 –2 –3)


Panasonic GH2 Bike Ride in Park 720p Full auto at 50% speed


The german magazine videoaktiv (google english translation) tested the GH2.

Philip Bloom had the chance to make a quick-test of the new GH2

Akihabara photographed the Panasonic booth (andthe GH2) at CEATEC 2010

And finally the updated list of shops with the GH2 available for preorder (Click on store name):
Amazon US, BHphoto, Amazon UK, Amazon France.

Share

Panasonic Lumix phone announced!

Share

Everything is written in Japanese and the website is in flash (google translation doesn’t work here). Some japanese 43rumors friend can help us to translate the text? Thanks!

UPDATE_2: Akihabara has some real world pictures of the new Lumix-phone (and so Engadget)

UPDATE_1: There is a first hand-on at mobile.cz

Share

Olympus US new instant rebates (E-P2 with lens and EVF for $814)

Share

We just received a document which shows all Olympus instant rebates planned for October 2010 in US only. Download the document here: http://www.4shared.com/document/u2UTF8pc/Olympus_Oct_IR_Promotions.html. You can easily notice how deals are focused on current FourThirds cameras and lenses.

Anyway, in those weeks a lot of Panasonic and Olympus got discounts. This is a list of the most interesting camera/lenses with disocunts:

1) The newest deal is the E-P2 with 14-42mm lens and Electronic Viewfinder for $814 only at Amazon (Click here). The little sister, the black Olympus E-PL1 is in Stock for $509 only at Amazon (Click here).

2) Both Panasonic GF1 kits are in Stock for $660-670 at Amazon (Click here). That’s a $50-100 price drop compared to the price before Photokina. ANother good GF1 deal is available at BHphoto where they offer a free EVF with the GF1+14-45mm lens (Click here). P.S.: I do not expect a GF1 replacement till February.

3) The Panasonic GH1 with 14-140mm lens is still in Stock for $999 at Amazon (Click here). Let’s hope Vitaly can hack the new firmware as soon as possible because this is really a great deal! Keep in mind that you have to pay $500 more for the new GH2 with the same lens at Amazon (Click here)

4) The Panasonic G2 also gets a discount and is in Stock for $649 at Amazon (Click here).

5) The very good Olympus M ED 9-18mm f/4.0-5.6 Micro Four Thirds Lens is in Stock for $591 at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto

6) A non-m43 dela: Pansonic LX5 (Black and White model) are discounted at Amazon (Click here)

Share

New reviews (G10, GF1 and LX5)

Share

Photographybay tested the Panasonic G10.

ThePhoBlographer posted a complete Panasonic GF-1 Review

Amin Sabet from Seriouscompacts reviewed the new Panasonic LX5: “The bottom line here is that the LX5 sensor delivers a noticeable improvement compared to the LX3 and is roughly on par with the sensor from the S95 and EX1.“.

A Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 High ISO JPEG Noise preview has been made by Cameralabs. Oh, and one more short LX5 review at has been posted on Macworld!

Both LX5 (the white and the black camera) are in Stock at Amazon (Click here). Both discounted!

Share

(FT2) A new Olympus E-P3 rumor

Share

Several days ago I received the following E-P3 rumor. I didn’t post it because I wanted to check it with my other sources. But I just saw that photorumors posted the same rumor. Please keep in mind that this is not a rumor from one of my reliable sources. Message for the anonymous sender. Can you contact me using a fake email account? Thanks! :) Message to all our anonymous sources. Don’t expect me to post your rumor right after I received it. I always try to double check rumors as you can imagine not all rumors I do receive are correct.

Here the original mail I received days ago:

“Olympus EP3 major upgrade with emphasis on classic 4/3 compatibility:

• 16MP sensor, supports 1080 video and up to ISO 6400, 12800 extension (same [shoplink 16254]Panasonic GH2[/shoplink] sensor)

• Articulated LCD, 3″ and 920K.

• No built-in flash or EVF, but there are connectors for optional ones.

• The design “lines” are closer to [shoplink 14832]E-PL1[/shoplink] than [shoplink 14830]E-P2[/shoplink]. The form factor, being slim with an articulated screen, is unique! The closest thing would be a scaled-up Samsung EX1.

• Considerable improvements in AF. A headline feature is a new dual AF (CDAF+ PDAF). The PDAF aids CDAF to decide the right focus distance reducing the typical CDAF trial-and-error, particularly helpful for AF of heavy classic 4/3 lenses, (it works MUCH BETTER than any m4/3 body with legacy 4/3 lenses, excellent w m4/3 lenses).

• A special accessory unit comprising a hand grip + 4/3 lens adapter. The unit covers the whole front panel and almost transforms the EP3 to a classic 4/3 camera when attached.

• Expected next November/December for the Christmas season, price TBA.”

Please contact me if you know more! Thanks!

UPDATE: A user on Dpreview forum got an answer from Olympus regarding the E-P3 rumor and said that “the rumour is pure fiction but there are many things happening next year.”

Reminder -> 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

Share

Two new Olympus E-5 reviews from Malaysia!

Share

We have new Olympus E-5 reviews for you!

Robin Wong posted some image samples taken with the E-5 and the 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 SWD lens. He liked the extremely fast and reliable autofocus because it “never failed to locked on target, and locked on it incredibly accurately“. He also liked the “lively, vibrant and yet very true-to-life colours” and the Jpeg output. Read the on street review at robinwong.blogspot.com.

Another malaysian blog called “Thru the Eye of the Zuiko” has the E-5 for testing. He also posted one image comparison with the older Olympus E-3. He used the Zuiko Digital ED7-14mm f/4.0 and the Zuiko Digital ED50mm f/2.0 Macro. A full list of images are available on Flickr.

E-5 preorders are available at Amazon US, BHphoto and Adorama.

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