Few days ago we told you what could come next from Olympus. In the meanwhile some of our sources confirmed our Olympus camera roadmap. Now the question is: What’s coming from Panasonic?

Let’s start with the most reliable rumors:
1) The Panasonic GH2 will be unveiled at Photokina. New sensor design, more megapixel (14?), 1080/50-60p, AVCHD 24Mbit/s.
2) We are also almost certain that the Panasonic LX3 successor (the LX5?) will be announced at Photokina. It will not use the interchangeable MicroFourThirds mount.
3) The Panasonic AG-AF100 m4/3 camcorder will be ready for the market by end of the year (certainly not at Photokina!)

And here the rumors we recieved from good sources but that still have to be confirmed by other sources:
1) The Panasonic GF2 will not come at Photokina! According to our source it will be announced by end 2010/early 2011. I was told that this is the current roadmap form Panasonic but may the competition will force Panasonic to release the camera earlier than expected. The GF2 will have a built-in Viewfinder (read our detailled GF2 rumor)!
2) Panasonic is also working on a ultr-slim m4/3 camera. But we do not have any concrete idea when it will be announced :(

In summary:
– no new camera until Photokina
– GH2 and LX5 almost sure to come at Photokina
– Panasonic is working on two GF cameras. Both could be announced after Photokina (or announced at Photokina but available later)
– new lenses like the 14mm f/2.5 will be announced in June-July (also before Photokina)

Contact me at 43rumors@gmail.com to confirm/complete the roadmap!
Thanks!

Olympus E-PL1 can do commercials

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Weekly japanese DSLR sales rankings. Olympus E-PL1 makes it into the Top 10! (BCNranking)
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25mm f/1.4 (C-mount) samples (dpreview forum)
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LUMIX DMC-GF1 + Summilux 35mm F1.4 (DCwatch)
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Panasonic UK recognising GH1 banding issue (EosHD)
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A user just sent me follwing text:
“Panasonic Firmware upgrade and non Panasonic Batteries.
I have a battery (purchased through Amazon UK from a German supplier) that worked in my G1 with firmware 1.4 – which means it includes the feature that identifies it as a genuine battery.
I can confirm that this battery still works with the G1 firmware 1.5 and my GH1 with firmware 1.3. It may be that this won’t be the case with all batteries that worked with G1 v1.4, but there is a fair chance. NOTE THAT THIS ONLY APPLIES TO BATTERIES KNOWN TO WORK WITH G1 1.4 (not earlier).
However, I strongly recommend that you upgrade your firmware with a genuine Pansonic battery in the camera – I have no idea what might happen if the camera does not like the battery – and try your other batteries afterwards!“

Steve Huff met Sefan Daniel and Steffen Keil from Leica on a party and…

“What Stefan did tell me was that I could SQUASH any rumor of a Leica mirrorless m4/3 camera. He pointed to the M9 and said “We already have a mirrorless camera”. He also told me that M4/3 is NOT in the future for Leica as the quality is just not there.”

source: Steve Huff
via: noisycamera