43 Rumors – Page 2165 – Panasonic and Olympus Digital Camera News

No source heard anything official about a possible Panasonic-Olympus acquisition plan.

September 1, 2011
Rumors
32 Comments

Two days ago we posted a rumor with low credibility (FT2) that Panasonic could buy the Olympus Imaging division. External websites + some new (and completely unknown sources) told me Panasonic and Olympus are talking about that since a couple of months.

Meanwhile I asked some of my very good sources if they heard anything about that. All do say that they don’t know anything about a possible sale of the camera division to Panasonic. There is absolutely no word about that going around at Olympus. This doesn’t mean that this would not be possible as such an acquisition would only be dealt by the very top Japanese managers from Panasonic and Olympus. So only time will tell if the rumor is true or not.

As I said earlier, I hope it is a wrong rumor as I think the whole Micro Four Thirds system would lose some of their “appealing”. What do you think?

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New E-P3 reviews (Kirk Tuck talks about why he keeps coming back to Oly)

August 31, 2011
reviews
32 Comments

[shoplink 23568]

[/shoplink] I have a lot of cameras. Why do I keep coming back to the Olympus ones? That is the title of the latest article written by Kirk Tuck (Click here). He had the chance to test the E-P3: “One of the nicest cameras I’ve had the pleasure to caress and certainly on my list of stuff to pick up next time I’m in Precision Camera.”

Olympus PEN E-P3 Mini Review at Photofocus (Click here): “The Olympus E-P3 is probably the best camera in its class – for now at least. Compared with the hot Fuji X100 the Olympus is in my opinion, a much better choice.”

Out on the street with the Olympus E-P3 and 12mm f/2 lens by Steve Huff (Click here): “If you have been on the fence about the E-P3 and are invested in the M 4/3 system, I’d say GO FOR IT. It is wonderful and a big improvement in just about every area over the E-P1 and E-P2.”

There is a nice field test written by Gakuranman.com and fiedl test at Hendralauw (Click here): “Just like my Panasonic GF1, the Olympus PEN E-P3 is great for street photography. It’s small, un-intimidating and powerful enough to create great images. And I love its combination with the new Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 12mm f/2 lens. Great wide angle lens.“. He also posted an ISO 10.000 picture :)

And than we have a Nikon 5100 versus E-P3 battle at Mashable (Click here): “After extensive testing, the two cameras’ performance was similar, but I think the Olympus E-P3 does a better job of fulfilling that mission.”

Click those direct search links to check if the E-P3 is in Stock at [shopcountry 23568].

P.S.: Silkypix now supports the E-P3

REMINDER: Those are the direct search links to all the new Pana/Oly stuff:
Panasonic G3 search page at [shopcountry 22077].
Panasonic GF3 search page at [shopcountry 23109].
Panasonic-Leica 25mm f/1.4 search page at [shopcountry 23110].
Olympus E-P3 search page at [shopcountry 23568].
Olympus 12mm f/2.0 search page at [shopcountry 23576].
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 page at [shopcountry 23577].

Panasonic says they can be better than DSLRs (via Techradar). And X lenses cannot be Leica (BJP).

August 31, 2011
news
109 Comments

Video on top: A Panasonic X commercial.

At British Journal of Photography Barney Sykes (Lumix product manager) explained why the new X lenses are not having the Leica brand: “Leica has very strict standards when making lenses,” says Sykes. “For the X line, we’re using digital technology to get the same quality [in a more compact product]. This would not have conformed to Leica’s standard.”

Amy Davies from Techradar (Click here) interviewed Mr. Uetmatsu from Panasonic. The most interesting points:
– Mirrorless are no second rate compared to DSLR.
– Image quality is not only about sensor size, but also about signal processing and optical performance.
– compact system cameras have an advantage is in the camcorder market.
– Many manufacturers will introduce mirrorless cameras, but we have a distinct advantage because we are already two years ahead
It is the second interview from Amy with Mr. Uematsu. A couple of months ago Uematsu confirmed to Techradar that they are working on a GF PRO model.

a little bit of everything…

August 31, 2011
news
14 Comments

Walk On The Wet Side: Lower East Side, NYC: Hurricane Irene Aftermath: Panasonic GH2 in DIY Hurricane proof housing from Mike Kobal on Vimeo.

Olympus E-PL3 review at DC.watch (google translation).

Richard Franiec grip coming soon for Olympus PEN E-PL3 (Dpreview).

New thumbs for our M43 cameras from Elva (SLRclub).

A cool image of the GF1 with Leica Visoflex at Tokyocamerastyle.

FourThirds – The End or The Beginning? (Zone-10).

Davi H. E-PL3 unboxing pics and XZ-1 unboxing pics.

Olympus E-5 wildlife gallery by Pekka Potka (Click o gallery and than on wildlife).

Comparison between Panasonic G3 + 12mm f/2 and Sony NEX-C3 + 16mm f/2.8 (Soundimageplus).

New Olympus E-P3, Panasonic G3 reviews and another Toy lens review

August 30, 2011
reviews
15 Comments

[shoplink 22077]

[/shoplink] There is a new full [shoplink 23568]Olympus E-P3[/shoplink] review at Engadget (Click here): “For those dead-set on this category, though, the E-P3 doesn’t innovate enough from an image quality standpoint to justify an upgrade, and for newcomers, that $900 price point is awfully hard to swallow. Here’s hoping the E-P4 will hit with an MSRP that doesn’t give us so much pause.“. Get the E-P3 at [shopcountry 23568].

Quesabesde (Click here to read the translation) posted a full [shoplink 22077]Panasonic G3[/shoplink] review: “The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 deserves to rank among the best options for those who walk looking for a compact camera with affordable price“. Get the G3 at [shopcountry 22077].

Steve Huff (Click here) tested the 11mm f/2.4 Toy lens: “The lens is small, light, has a metal mount, and focuses quickly and easily. If you buy this lens, do not expect perfection, straight lines, or super sharp images. Instead, expect some cool “SLR Magic” funkiness and you will be quite happy“. You can check the Toy lens price on [shoplink 24931 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]

Foveon-like sensor patent from Panasonic. Flash sync patent from Olympus.

August 30, 2011
Rumors
85 Comments

The japanese blog Egami (Click here to read the quirky google translation) found a new Panasonic patent that displays a sort of foveon sensor. The google translation is not so good but as far as I understood that sensor has no Low Pass filter. There is a sort of “photonic crystal” that splits the light into RGB directing the single beams to three different micro sensors. Unlike the Sigma foveon which has three layers placed one under the other the new Panasonic sensor would avoid the light loss typical from foveon sensors (that’s why foveon sucks at high ISO). As usual with patents this sounds very promising. But it is a patent so there is no clue if we will ever see such a sensor in a real camera!

The next patent found by Egami (via Nexthardware) discloses a patented from Olympus that allows a flash sync speed of 1/20.000 of a second! The even more interesting news is that the technology is based on a new electronic shutter system!

a little bit of everything…(with GH2 Hack Anamorphic Test)

August 30, 2011
news
11 Comments

GH2 Hack Anamorphic Test (4:3 vs 16:9)

Olympus Pen 14-42mm MKI vs 14-42mm MKII (ePhotozine).

Olympus SZ-30MR Review (Photographyblog) and another Olympus SZ-10 Review (Photographyblog).

Olympus SZ-10 vs Samsung WB700 Digital Camera Comparison Test (ePhotozine).

Olympus XZ-1 by ortega (Clubsnap).

Model Shoot with the Olympus E-P3 (TheDigitalStory).

The GH2 wins the swedish price as best mirrorless cameras.

‘Market Square’ on the Olympus E-P3 (Photographybay).

New Loewepro bags for Mirrorless cameras.

Adobe Lightroom 3.5 and ACR 6.5 release candidates do support the Olympus E-P3, E-PL3 and E-PM1, Panasonic’s G3 and GF3 (Dpreview).