Panasonic GX1 news roundup (special preview in London)

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How are the GX1 preorder sales going? Watch at the hourly updated Amazon ranking (Click here). But still not as good as the main competitor, the [shoplink 26379]Sony NEX-5n[/shoplink].

There is a new short first impression review by Cnet Australia (Click here): “The GX1 should satisfy many current GF1 owners looking at upgrading their camera body. This is a new range within the G series of interchangeable lens cameras from Panasonic, incorporating full manual control in a body that looks a little bit like a souped-up GF1“. The bad news is that the GX1 will not available for Christmas in Australia. That happens because Panaosnic dosn’t want to sell t many camera. You know they don’t really care about sales :)

First look review at Pocket-Lint (Click here): “As we said, this wasn’t a final retail version of the camera, or final firmware, so we can’t judge the quality of the results, but we were impressed. The video is especially good, along with stereo sound, and we like the fact you now get the option to shoot in AVCHD or MPEG4, the latter being more universally supported. Unfortunately there is no conventional external mic input.”

Another first look review at Trustedreviews (Click here): “The Panasonic Lumix GX1 looks like it could well be the best Lumix G-series model to date. The lack of a built-in electronic viewfinder makes it physically smaller than the G3, while the all-metal construction makes it a more robust option with a more premium overall feel. Aside from that it looks to offer the same ease of use and, more importantly, deliver the same consistently high level of image quality“.

Starting from November 12th, Panasonic will be in selected Jacobs’ stores to demonstrate the new GX1 camera and providing consumers with their own opportunity for hands on with the camera, before it will go on general sale from mid December:
New Oxford Street, London: 12th, 19th and 26th November and 3rd December
London Road, Leicester: 19th and 26th November and 3rd December
Edinburgh: 12th, 19th and 26th November and 3rd December
Experts will be on hand to answer your product related queries between 10am-4pm each day. (via Photographyblog).

Preorder are now available on Amazon Uk and Japan too. That is the new preorder link list:
Black GX1 body at Amazon (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here) and Digitalrev (Click here).
Silver GX1 body at Amazon (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here) and Amazon Japan (Click here).
Black GX1 with 14-42mm X lens at Amazon (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here), Amazon France (Click here) and Digitalrev (Click here).
Silver GX1 with 14-42mm X lens at Amazon (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here).
Black GX1 with 14-42mm at Amazon (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here).
Silver GX1 with 14-42mm at Amazon (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here) and Jessops (Click here).

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14-42mm and 45-175mm X lens firmware update coming soon.

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As you have probably read on many forums the new 14-42mm and 45-175mm X lenses had some small issues. Panasonic reaction has been very fast and on November 17 they will release a new firmware update for both lenses.

For the 14-42mm X lens:
Optimized operation when using Touch Zoom with DMC-GX1
Improved the stability of O.I.S.(Optical Image Stabilizer)
Improved AF (Auto Focus) performance in photo / video recording

For the 45-175mm X lens:
Optimized operation when using Touch Zoom with DMC-GX1
Improved AF (Auto Focus) performance in photo / video recording

Source: Panasonic Japan.

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Shop Links:
Panasonic 14-42mm X lens at [shopcountry 25104].
Panasonic 45-175mm X lens at [shopcountry 25103].

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$60 discount on the Leica 25mm on Panasonic’s website! $100 Olympus E-PM1 instant rebates!

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You can get the new Leica 25mm f/1.4 lens with a $60 discount on Panasonic’s website (Click here). And there are now plenty of Leica 25mm f/1.4 lenses fro m43 in Stock via J&R at Amazon (Click here).

The other US deal of the day is the INtsant rebate on the E-Pm1. You can see the instant rebate list at BHphoto (Click here). Same deals are available at Amazon (Click here) and Adorama (Click here).

Other deal reminders:
There is a price drop on the Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 pancake at Amazon (Click here).
And at the moment of writing 17 Olympus 45mm f/1.8 lenses are in Stock at Amazon (Click here).
The E-P2 body is in Stock for $299 at Amazon (Click here).

Preorder ar now available on Amazon Uk and Japan too. That is the new preorder link list:
Black GX1 body at Amazon (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here) and Digitalrev (Click here).
Silver GX1 body at Amazon (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here) and Amazon Japan (Click here).
Black GX1 with 14-42mm X lens at Amazon (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here), Amazon France (Click here) and Digitalrev (Click here).
Silver GX1 with 14-42mm X lens at Amazon (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here).
Black GX1 with 14-42mm at Amazon (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here).
Silver GX1 with 14-42mm at Amazon (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here) and Jessops (Click here).

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(FT3) From unknown source: Upcoming X zoom lenses with f/2.8 constant aperture.

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As you know Panasonic will announce two new X zooms in January. The 12-35mm and 35mm-100mm zooms. A “person” just sent me this (Thanks!):

“don’t know if this is new but a UK Panasonic sales rep was demoing the GX1 locally –one of only two in the country. Of more interest to me though was a copy of the lens map he showed me. This clearly states 12-35 and 35-100 are both fixed f2.8 with power OIS. If this is final (and surely at this stage it is) then I reckon folk will be fairly pleased about the 35-100 at any rate though some had hoped for a bit faster with the 12-35.”

That the lenses would have constant apertures is not a surprise. And also not that it would have f/2.8. For a lens that was pre announced that it would be “bright” this is really the minimum. But I was hoping for a faster aperture like the amazing Olympus lenses the [shoplink 25320 ebay]14-35mm f/2.0[/shoplink] and the [shoplink 25119 ebay]35-100mm f/2.0[/shoplink]. But’ let’s wait. This is not a rumor coming from a very known trusted source.

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]

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Olympus scandal news roundup

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Finally I can give you some positive news about Olympus. Koji Miyate, Senior Exectuvie Managin Officer from Olympus toke action in defense of Olympus employees. He created the website olympusgrassroots.com and wrote the following text:
“To All Olympus Employees,
I cannot sit by passively and witness the demise of a company that I love. My perspective outside the company affords an objective view of the depth of the crisis that Olympus faces. It also offers a glimpse of the very real potential for overcoming the present adversity. Please join me in expressing your support for concrete measures to revitalize the company that we all love.
Koji Miyata
koji@olympusgrassroots.com
Former Senior Executive Managing Officer, Olympus Corporation
Former President, Olympus Medical Systems Corporation”

I wish all Olympus emplyees the best and I am sure Olympus has the chance to recover from the crisis!

More Olympus “fee scandal” news:
The Shareholders Foundation is collecting info about Olympus (pr-usa.net).
Corporate Japan Rocked by Scandal at Olympus (New York Times).
Falsche Bilanzen bei Olympus (Spiegel.de).

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SLRmagic reviews from the production version.

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SLR Magic HyperPrime 12mm / F1.6 (black ring version) – short review from Hacky on Vimeo.

Helge Hackbarth form 3D-kraft sent me the link to his SLRmagic 12mm f/1.6 review. Why is it important? Unlike all other reviewers he tested the final production lens which is less affected by flare issues. YOu can read the full review at 3D-kraft. HIs conclusions are quite positive. This is definitely the first seriously good and interetsing [shoplink 26928]SLR Magic[/shoplink] lens!

P.S.: Ther eis one more review of the production version lens at theeditman.

Other SLRmagic lenses for Micro Four Thirds:
SLR Magic 12-36×50 ED Straight Spotting Scope lens (w/ hand grip) is now available on [shoplink 25887 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
SLR magic 11mm f/1.4 lens you can preorder on [shoplink 22154 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Toy Lens 26mm f/1.4 lens on [shoplink 18603 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
SLR Magic 35mm f/1.7 MC lens on [shoplink 14881 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

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New reviews roundup (E-P3 wins award in UK)

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[shoplink 23567][/shoplink] Cameralabs (Click here) posted the full Olympus E-PL3 review: “And though the extension of the ISO sensitivity range enhances the E-PL3’s low light capabilities, the lack of composite modes made popular by Sony’s NEX is something Olympus is going to have to address in the future. But those are fairly minor points that do nothing to dim an otherwise shining performance from the Pen Lite E-PL3 and one thoroughly deserving of our Highly Recommended award“. And a spanish review of the E-Pl3 is available at Quesabesde (Click here).
The E-PL3 price check links at [shopcountry 23567].

There is a new E-P3 review written by David Lee Tong (part one and part two): “I do not hesitate recommending this to any serious buyer who’s looking for a better-than-point-and-shoot camera that offers interchangeable lenses, fast focus, and great out-of-the-box image quality. If you’re after a travel camera where all you need to do is to put the camera in the right metering mode and ISO, you’re bound to get a lot of keepers with the Olympus E-P3 Digital PEN camera.“. And Amateur Photographer (Click here) reports that the E-P3 won the Staff Gadget Award.
The E-P3 price check links at [shopcountry 23568].

There is a new Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Zoom Lens Review at ePhotozine (Click here): “The performance of the lens is good too. Although it isn’t the highest performing lens Panasonic make, it is certainly adequate, producing sharp contrasty images“.
100-300mm lens price check links at [shopcountry 16261].

And there is one more Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens Review again at ePhotozine (Click here): “Many look to this lens as a better quality alternative to the current 14-42mm lens and although it does turn in better sharpness across the frame, and lower distortion, the difference isn’t massive. As the other lens is much cheaper when bought as a kit with the camera, that makes the decision between them much harder to make“.
14-45mm lens price check links at [shopcountry 14814].

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