43 Rumors – Page 2131 – Panasonic and Olympus Digital Camera News

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!

Patent: Panasonic nice trick to have phase detection AF.

November 27, 2011
news
73 Comments

We all know Sony’s solution to archive phase AF by using a semitransparent mirror. And looking at the latest Panasonic patent it looks like there are even smarter solutions! The sensor itself can reflect some of the light to the phase AF sensor (N.13 on the picture). There is a sort of reflective material between the pixels. That solution is called “Front side illuminated sensor”. There is also a second solution where some of the RGB pixels have been replaced with Phase-AF-Pixels like it works on the [shoplink 25297 ebay]Fuji’s F300EXR (it is a compact camera)[/shoplink].

Now, I doubt that Panasonic will ever introduce such a phase detection system. The current [shoplink 23568]Olympus E-P3[/shoplink] and [shoplink 16254]Panasonic GH2[/shoplink] have already an exceptional fast contrast autofocus. My bet is that in a few years every camera will use contrast AF only. Phase AF is only a waste of space and resources!

More about the patent at Egami (Click here to read the translation).

Here is the GX1 with built-in viewfinder :)

November 26, 2011
news
70 Comments

[shoplink 27072 ebay]

[/shoplink] Source: Flickr.

Sorry if I fooled you but this is the [shoplink 27072 ebay]Ricoh GX-1[/shoplink] with built-in viewfinder ;) In some way the Ricoh is closer to my dreamcamera than the new [shoplink 26836]Panasonic GX1[/shoplink]. Thanks to R.S. for sending me this!

This weekend I will work on the new Olympus lens rumor. The 12-60mm(?) should be announced withing the next two weeks!

US deals: GF3 with free accessory and $100 on every lens! GH2 for $1199.

November 25, 2011
deals
9 Comments

Our US readers can enjoy a lot of Micro Four Thirds deals (while we european have a hard time to find such good deals). Here you can find all deals homepage at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), Cameta (Click here) and J&R (Click here).

And here is a short list of Micro Four Thirds deals:

1) You get a free 16GB SDHC card and a free Backpack when you purchase the GF3 at Amazon (Click here).
2) $100 instant rebate on any lens when you purchase the GF3 at Amazon (Click here).
3) Panasonic GH2 with 14-140mm lens for $1199 at Panasonic store (Click here).
4) $100 or $150 discount on the Olympus E-P3 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
5) $200 price drop on the Olympus E-5 body at Amazon (Click here) and Adorama (Click here).
6) $20 price drop on the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 pancake at Amazon (Click here).