43 Rumors – Page 2130 – Panasonic and Olympus Digital Camera News

My little SLR magic Hyperprime 12mm f/1.6 field test.

November 30, 2011
deals
21 Comments

Ethic statement:
SLRmagic is a company located in Hong Kong. I know their manager Andrew very well and I know he is continually working to meet the customers demand for m43 lenses. He contacted me to ask me if I have time to review the latest 12mm f/1.6 Hyperprime lens. I accepted the offer but warned him that I will not hide any of the negative aspects of the lens (if I would find them).

Why I need that lens:
A friend of mine (Franco Maurina) invented a new kind of theatre. The theatre takes place in a complete dark and small room. That’s why I need a fast wide angle lens. And that’s where the Hyperprime 12mm f/1.6 lens is playing the main role along my [shoplink 16254]Panasonic GH2[/shoplink] camera. I will post this video soon on youtube but in the meanwhile I posted a few image samples and first impressions.

November 29, 2011
news
55 Comments

Vitaly Kiselev is collecting the money to buy two Panasonic GF2 cameras. His goal is to hack the GF2 camera. You can support him via personal-view.com. The GF2 hasn’t been a popular camera but with the recent massive rebates on that camera it became far more appealing. And if Vitaly will also give us a hack for it than this could be a damn good deal!

Panasonic lowered the price of the GF2 in all countries. Here some examples:
GF2 body only now for $314 at Amazon (Click here). With kit lens for $400 at Amazon (Click here).
GF2 w/14-42 in Canada for C$289.99 at Newegg.ca
Red GF2 with 14-42mm lens for 298 Euro at [shoplink 27204 ebay]Digitalkamerprofi on eBay DE (Click here)[/shoplink].

P.S:: Our US readers can still enjoy Cyber Monday deals in most stores. Some deals will last the whole week: Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), Cameta (Click here) and J&R (Click here).

Reuters: Olympus may have to sell assets to survive the crisis?

November 29, 2011
news
152 Comments

I guess soon we will know if the Olympus Camera Division will be kept alive or sold to an external company. And that would be a bad news for the whole photography industry if such a appreciated and historical company disappears. Here is the news that worries me:
Today Reuters reports that “Olympus Corp has launched a review of its business structure, according to an internal memo, amid speculation that the 92-year-old company may have to sell assets in order to survive a massive accounting scandal.“. Reuters also underlined that “Olympus’s camera business currently runs at a loss” and “Investment bankers say rivals in both the endoscope and camera markets are closely watching events unfold at the company, although prospective bidders are expected to stay on the sidelines until the situation becomes clearer.”

I know Olympus managment will try to do everything to not sell the camera division. But I don’t know if the financial situation will force them to sell everything to…Panasonic?..Samsung??? no idea :(

More Olympus fee scandal news:
Michael Woodford meets the FBI (Source: AP). He supports the Olympus Grassroots action (Source: AP).
A number of European banks are under investigation by Japanese authorities to determine whether they helped the management of Olympus hide irregular payments (Source: NYT).

Panasonic AF301 prediction from Philip Johnston (4:2:2 processing).

November 29, 2011
Rumors
23 Comments

[shoplink 16841]

[/shoplink]

This years NABshow will be held in mid-April. It’s the largest international digital event for audio, video, film, broadcast and communication. And it’s very likely that Panasonic will show a new successor of the [shoplink 16841]AG-AF101[/shoplink] Micro Four Thirds camcorder. And there is a first “prediction” coming via Philip Johnston from HDwarrior: “The AF301 a direct poke at Canon C300 will have 10bit, 4:2:2 processing as seen on the HPX250 and will swap over to P2 giving us AVC Intra, I don’t see Panasonic going away from micro Four Thirds as they have invested far too much development on lenses. I hope we see a far better viewfinder and far higher resolution on version two (1000 lines +).”

P.S.: Search links for the current AG-AF100 at [shopcountry 16841].

Cyber Monday deals roundup (including European deals)

November 28, 2011
deals
20 Comments

New deals (with readers suggestions)

The Olympus E-Pm1 $50 discount will end tomorrow at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and B&H (Click here).
Cyber Monday deals at Personal-View (Click here). These are deals for filmmakers (lights, stabilizers, matte box, handles, etc).
Olympus E-P1 body for $239 on BestBuy (Click here / via E-P1.net).
Eric sent me this: “I thought you might like to know that Target has the Lumix DMC-GF3 Digital Camera (Black) with 14-42mm on Sale starting tomorrow – Sunday – for $399 plus a $75.00 Target gift card. So that is like $325, plus you can sell the 14-42 easily for $125 on eBay – so (if you can use a Target gift card) it is like getting a GF3 for $200: Weeklyad.target.com”
Joel sent me this: “Panasonic.com is having some good sales also. Free shipping, but for some states they do charge state sales tax.
GF3 is available in all colors with the 14-42 regular kit zoom at $499.99 PLUS the 14mm f/2.5 gets added for $0.01 – a great deal. Bought the camera for my wife and I’ll take the 14mm prime.
G3 (black only) is available with standard 14-42 zoom for about $524 – best price I’ve seen (I bought one).
GH2 with the 14-140 is a bit over $1200, a very good price for that kit.”
Gary sent me this: “GF2 w/14-42 in Canada for C$289.99 at Newegg.ca”

Europe deals

There is a cashback action on the GH2 and G3 in Germany (Click here).
Red GF2 with 14-42mm lens for 298 Euro at [shoplink 27204 ebay]Digitalkamerprofi on eBay DE (Click here)[/shoplink].
Black Olympus E-Pl1 body for 159 Euro at [shoplink 27205 ebay]Foto Mundus on eBay DE (Click here)[/shoplink].

New GX1 tests roundup.

November 28, 2011
reviews
20 Comments

Cameralabs (Click here) posted a set of new GX1 image and video samples.

The GX1 is now shipping in Asia and more reviews and tests are coming in:

Focus Numerique (Click here) posted a GX1 ISO test. In short, the GX1 is better than the E-P3 but not as good as the NEX-5n. Compared to the G3, it seems that the GX1 noise is more smooth at high sensitivities.

First GX1 unboxing pictures at Mobile01 (Click here and than on the green links!).

A hungarian GX1 review at Prohardver (Click here).

Preorders search links: [shopcountry 26836].

Rumors roundup: New Panasonic/Oly lenses and wather sealed camera

November 28, 2011
Rumors
98 Comments

Finally new rumors are coming in and the next two months will bring us may new Micro Four Thirds lenses (and a camera too?). Let’s make a short recap of what we heard these last weeks:

There will be soon a new Olympus zoom lens that starts with 12mm and has no constant aperture. It coule be a m43 re-edition of the current [shoplink 23681 ebay]Four Thirds 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 lens (here on ebay)[/shoplink]. Then we will have two or three new Panasonic X lenses. The two weather sealed 12-35mm and 35-100mm f/2.8 (or faster?) lenses for $1.000-$1500. There is also a rumor saying there could be a third X lens, a new 35mm f/2.4 macro pancake X lens. If we have weather sealed lenses than a weather sealed camera should also follow soon.

And now the question. If all rumors turn out to be correct. Than what is THE one product you are would be interested to buy?

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If you have some rumors to share feel free to send me an anonymous message by using the contact form on the right sidebar. You can also send me an email at 43rumors@gmail.com. Thanks!