Panasonic GX1 with X lens kit in Stock at Amazon. New firmware download and new review.

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The GX1 with X lens is now finally in Stock in some US stores:
Black GX1 with 14-42mm X in Stock at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and J&R (Click here).
Silver GX1 with 14-42mm X in Stock at Amazon (Click here) and J&R (Click here).

And right in time the new GX1 firmware update is now available for download (Click here to jump on Panaosnic’s website). And there is a french GX1 review at Clubic (Click here).

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(FT3) UPDATE: OM-D with two stop (JPEG) improvement over the E-P3?

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Image on top: The [shoplink 28231 ebay]OM4-TI (here on eBay)[/shoplink] is the one that looks very close to the OM-D

A new source (Thanks!) had the chance to test the new OM-D camera. He says “the 12800 ISO performance looks similar to the [shoplink 23568]E-P3’s[/shoplink] 3200 ISO”! Please take that rumor with a grain of salt because this is a subjective impression that needs to be verified with a real test. But if his “impression” is correct than this is a huge news! A two stop improvement is something almost unbelievable. All I know for sure form my top sources is that ISO goes up to 25.600. I hope my other sources can confirm or deny that rumor soon. The same new source said: “The effect of the stabilization can be seen though the new viewfinder in the OM-D“.

UPDATE: The sources just sent me some more bits: “The 12800 ISO comparison was with on JPEG, obviously, there is no RAW support. But interesting, there was no noticeable colour & chroma noise in the shadows, colour noise was very noticeable with the E-P3 at 3200.“. I guess he is reading your comments so feel free to write your questions!

In summary: (FT5) 16 Megapixel sensor with High Dynamic Range and super video quality and TruePic VI engine. It looks similar to [shoplink 28231 ebay]OM4-TI (here on eBay)[/shoplink] (FT3) 2 stop better noise performance than current PEN cameras. Sound all good for now!

One more thing: The final camera name starts with the usual “E” letter. The “OM-D” is the new camera line name like it is with the “PEN”.

Message to one of my best sources: Is it possible to have one more piece of image of the OM-D?

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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

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Place your bet: Who made the Olympus OM-D sensor?

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Image on top: The 16 Megapixel APS-C sensor from Aptina.

The only thing we now about the new Olympus OM-D sensor is that it has 16 megapixel, an increased dynamic range compared to the previous cameras and superb video quality. But the big question is …who made the sensor? I am having hard times to think that this is a Panasonic sensor. Panasonic wouldn’t give the newest sensor to Olympus before to use it on their own cameras. It could be Fuji but I don’t know if they want to cannibalize their newly launch X PRO 1. It could be a Sony, but again why ship sensors to a direct competitor? It could be Samsung that we know proposed their sensor tech to Oly. And it could be Aptina that is already selling their sensors for Nikon. Just for fun, I want you to place your bet:

The new 16 Megapixel sensor has been made by....

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

My bet goes to Aptina. It’s just my “feeling”, not a rumor :(

 

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(FT3) New Panasonic GF camera coming soon?

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[shoplink 23109][/shoplink]

While I am still not sure if the GH3 is going to be announced soon or not I am getting more reliable rumors about another Panasonic camera. According to two new sources the [shoplink 23109]GF3[/shoplink] has now been discontinued and the new GF7(?) could be announced in February-March. The GF3 has been announced in June 2011 so it’s not even 8 months old! You will argue that this is not possible but the GF3 has been announced exactly eight months only after the [shoplink 17361]GF2[/shoplink] release.

If the rumor is true than this will be a new chapter of the “miniaturization” war. But honestly, don’t know how much smaller you can get! What would you cut from the GF3? :) What’s true is that the GF2 is selling much better than the GF3 at Amazon (Click here to see the ranking). Maybe Panasonic cam up with a new idea to appeal the GF series.

Here is the current GF3: [shopcountry 23109].

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

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Astrodesign, Kenko and Tamron join the Micro Four Thirds group!

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The 4K camera from Astrodesign with the [shoplink 14802]Panasonic 14-140mm lens[/shoplink].

Olympus Global (Click here) announced that Astrodesign, Kenko and Tamron joined the Micro Four Thirds group! Here is the company description:

ASTRODESIGN, Inc.

A Japanese company established in 1977 that designs and develops professional video equipment and measurement/analysis-related equipment. Well known for developing the world’s first programmable signal generator and the Ultra HDTV image processor devices used at Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan.
ASTRODESIGN, Inc. Website
http://www.astrodesign.co.jp/english/
Editor’s note: It’s the very first time I hear about that company. And I am really wondering what kind of m43 related product they could release!!!

Kenko Tokina Co., Ltd.

A Japanese company established in 1957 that designs and develops a wide variety of photographic supplies and optical products. It is Japan’s largest manufacturer/seller of lens filters.
Kenko Tokina Co., Ltd. Website
http://www.kenkoglobal.com/
Editor’s note: Kenko has experience in camera and lens manufacturing. They made the [shoplink 28545 ebay]KF-1N (Click here to see it on eBay)[/shoplink] which is F-mount camera. And they make well known [shoplink 28546 ebay]adapters and extensions tube[/shoplink] (mostly for Canon and Nikon).

Tamron Co., Ltd.

A Japanese company established in 1950 that designs and develops interchangeable SLR camera lenses, lens units for surveillance, as well as ultra-precision optical components based on the integration of advanced optical, electronic and precision machinery engineering technologies.
Tamron Co., Ltd. Website
http://www.tamron.co.jp/en/
Editor’s note: That’s certainly the biggest new entry. And it’s interesting to notice that they already did lenses for the OM system in the past ([shoplink 28547 ebay]Click here to see them on eBay[/shoplink]).

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Final japanese camera market sales report (2012 vs 2011). Olympus gains, Panasonic loses.

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Plenty of good news for Olympus! First we have that nice OM announcement. Second Olympus is (slowly) getting out of the financial troubles. And today we have a third good news!

BCNawards (Click here) reports that Olympus had a mirrorless camera share of 36,6% in 2012. That’s a 7,5% gain over the last year (see screenshot on top). Panasonic lost around 9%. I don’t have the data of the overall digital camera market share but as you know in Japan mirrorless cameras are now selling almost as good as DSLR cameras. You can see the full ranking list for each category here at BCN. A reason for the Olympus success could be the triple PEN introduction back in June while Panasonic did wait until November to announce the nice [shoplink 26836]Panasonic GX1[/shoplink]. I am surprised to see that Sony felt back despite the NEX-5n and NEX-7 camera release! Of course they got hit by the Thai flood but my guess is that their unappealing and lacking lens offering could be a reason for the share drop.

There is no such nice ranking in other countries. As you know I rely on the very imprecise Amazon ranking listing to check if a camera is popular or not. But we know that in Europe and USA the mirrorless market isn’t growing as fast as in Asia. But I guess it’s only a matter of time until Mirrorless will surpass the DSLR market.

Watch:
Amazon ranking in USA (Click here)
Amazon ranking in UK (Click here)
Amazon ranking in Germany (Click here)
Amazon ranking in France (Click here)

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