UPDATE: Google translation tool made a mess because the questions were made in nrowegian and the answers are written in swedish (what the heck?). Thanks to all readers sending me the correct info!
We are receiving more and more bits about the upcoming Panasonic 12-35mm and 35-100mm X lenses. We know they will have a constant aperture (f/2.8 or faster), we know the lenses are weather sealed. The info get’s a backup by Mac Berggen, a Norwegian Panasonic product specialist He revealed at akam.no: 1) “The new lenses will definitely be the best thing we ever did“…”the best performance of all Pany lenses” 2) “The aperture will be great“. 3) “The price will be high“. UPDATE: The price will be lower than the 70-200mm f/2.8 zooms from the competition. Note: Canon ([shoplink 27104 ebay]Click here to check that price on eBay[/shoplink]) and Nikon ([shoplink 27105 ebay]Click here to check that price on eBay[/shoplink]). He susggests the price could be around 10.000 Norwegian Krone which is 1.300 Euro ($1700).
The Olympus E-PM1 has been reviewed at Photoreview (Click here): “Because it provides most of the features of its more expensive siblings (the E-P3 and E-PL3), the E-PM1 represents excellent value for money. At $599 for the single-lens kit, it’s $200 cheaper than the E-PL3 and $400 less than the E-P3“.
E-PM1 price check links: [shopcountry 23565].
Olympus E-P3 test at Neocamera (Click here): “The Olympus PEN E-P3 rightfully deserves its flagship status among Micro Four-Thirds SLDs. By keeping the already great design of its predecessor and refining the internals, particularly the autofocus system, Olympus produced an excellent camera that is even more usable. True to the ideal compromise between performance and size, the PEN E-P3 compares well to previous generation entry-level DSLRs in terms of performance while offering it in a size comparable to a compact camera“.
E-P3 price check links: [shopcountry 23568].
There is a new E-PL3 review at Photoxels (Click here): “The Olympus E-PL3 is a perfect step up for someone graduating from a point-and-shoot and a better choice than one of the high end compact digicam or entry-level DSLR. Compact, light and giving DSLR-level image quality and performance, we believe it makes an ideal mirrorless DSLR for the whole family. Highly recommended“.
E-PL3 price check links: [shopcountry 23567].
Olympus 45mm review at m43blogspot (Click here): “The image quality is good, and the focus speed is fast. The lens is not so well suited for video recording, due to the lack of optical image stabilization.”
45mm lens price check links: [shopcountry 23577].
Panasonic 100-300mm lens review at Photozone (Clik here): “The delivered resolution is actually pretty decent across the image field and the focal length – especially towards the very long end of the range. The lens suffers from a high degree of lateral CAs – despite an extra low dispersion lens – which is mainly a problem for Olympus users whereas the auto-correction can cope with this issue on Panasonic cameras.”
100-300mm lens price check links: [shopcountry 16261].
Something different: Olympus E-1 Kodak sensor dynamic range test (dpreview forum).
The only place were you can find the old E-1 is on [shoplink 27100 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. Can’t find a reason why you should still buy that cam :)
A year ago 43rumors posted a lens poll asking our readers which new lens you would like to see for the Micro Four Thirds system. One of the most requested lenses was the 12-60mm zoom. It should remark the characteristics of the [shoplink 23681 ebay]Olympus Four Thirds 12-60mm f/2.8-4[/shoplink] zoom you see pictured on top of this post. And it sounds like your dream might become true soon!
Rumors from top sources (FT5!) are saying that Olympus will announce a new lens in December. It’s a zoom lens that at the wide end starts with 12mm and doesn’t have a constant aperture. There is no 100% reliable info yet about the exact focal length at the tele end but I guess it’s the new 12-60mm you were expecting for! A nice toy right in time for Christmas sales! Nice move Oly.
I hope to get some info about the exact specs and price soon. The current Four Thirds version costs around 900 dollars/Euro on [shoplink 23681 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Stay tuned!
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
Dear readers! Sorry to disturb you but this is a message for a top(!) anonymous source. He asked me where he can upload and share the new lens picture. Please use that link: https://www.wetransfer.com/ to send me the image to 43rumors@gmail.com. You can enter a FAKE email address in the field where wetransfer asks for your email address. You can also send me the picture directly to 43rumors@gmail.com! Thanks!
P.S: Dear readers, hope to share you the image soon ;)
If you want to create your own Lomo camera than read the How To posted by Unplggd (Click here). They use the [shoplink 27041 ebay]Olympus 50mm f/1.8 OM[/shoplink] as lens for the homemade camera. Of course you can buy Unplggd explains what’s the advantage of building that kind of Lomo camera: “There are several smartphone apps that can help you create Lomography look-a-like images, but nothing beats this DIY project which produces similar perfectly imperfect photos. You can even pair this hack with a vast array of OM Series SLR lenses or use an adapter for other glass from different manufacturers to further the array of results…”
Of course you don’t have to do this to get your Lomo styled effects. You can use the [shoplink 27045 ebay]m43 to Lomo lens adapter (Click here to see them on eBay)[/shoplink] to use original Lomo lenses.
Links:
[shoplink 27042 ebay]Olympus OM lenses on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 27046 ebay]Lomo lenses on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
As some of you know Facebook deleted our 43rumors account a while ago. I created a new Facebook 43rumors fanpage you can freely join (Click here). Today you have a good reason to join….read the last message! Yes, a surprise is coming very soon :)
Surprise! Rumors coming from good sources confirm that the upcoming new 12-35mm and 35-100mm X lenses will be weather sealed! About time Panasonic! The question now is. If Panasonic is going to announce weather sealed lenses will there be a weather sealed camera coming too? No current m43 cameras resist rain and dust. That’s why it’s easy to guess that in 2012 Panasonic will unveil the very first weather sealed cameras. What will it be? A new line of camera? The GH3? the GX3?
If you know something about the coming weather sealed camera feel free to send me an anonymous message by using the contact form on the right sidebar. Thanks!
Reminder: The new X lenses should be announced in January-February. They will have a bright constant aperture. Probably f/2.8 but I hope its’ f/2.0 like the [shoplink 25320 ebay]14-35mm f/2.0[/shoplink] and the [shoplink 25119 ebay]35-100mm f/2.0[/shoplink] Zuiko lenses.
Here are the links to the two amazing Olympus Four Thirds zooms:
Zuiko 14-35mm f/2.0 at [shopcountry 25320]
Zuiko 35-100mm f/2.0 at [shopcountry 25119]
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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