UPDATE: There was an error with the google translation tool. Olympus leas the mirrorless market in Japan (not the DSLR+Mirrorless market). They currently have a sales share of 38.7% and do beat Sony, Panasonic, Ricoh and Leica.
But there is a lot to do for Olympus. They have to translate the success into the rest of the world and work on a new sensor!
I was working on that rumor since a couple of weeks (and I told you here that there would be a surprise). Now our friend Andrew from EosHD beat me on time and published a part of the surprise ;)
Yes it’s true, Panasonic will announce a new Micro Four Thirds pro lens series. It will be called “X“. What EosHD didn’t mention is that the 14-42mm and 45-175mm lenses will be the very first lenses having that “X” mark! Unlike Andrews speculation there will be no 12-50mm or 45-300mm zooms yet. I have been told the new lenses are an “optical revolution” because they are incredibly compact, do have a high optical quality, powerzoom and inner focusing. The lenses are made with both worlds in mind, still photography and video recording. I am currently collecting info about those lenses but it’s clear that Panasonic is putting very high expectations in this new project. One of the source was actually very impressed by the new kit lens performance. When he saw the lens he thought this would be a new “cheap” zoom lens. But he image quality and the new size and features will have a “WOW” reaction even on more serious photographers. The source strongly believes this will become a very popular line for amateurs and pro photographers!
As I said that is only the first part of the surprise, the second part will be published as soon as I get more out of my sources! Thanks for your patience!
P:S.: I repeat. There iwll be no GF7 yet!
The video on top shows a 110mb AVCHD GH2 Hacked video sample! There have been a lot of activity around the GH2 hacke. Check here at personal-view.com. There is a long list of videos you can check to see the new hack at work :)
GH2 on the roof of the world on Youtube.
Hacked Panasonic GH2 Quant = 4 42 mb/se on Vimeo.
Hacked Panasonic GH2 300% playback speed Moon video on Vimeo.
GH2 links at [shopcountry 16254].
ePhotozine (Click here) tested the SLRmagic lens: “Fun to use, with artistic results, but the price tag is madness.” You can get the lens on [shoplink 21590 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
UPDATE: Slrmagic sent me an official statement about the ePhotozine review: “The editor mentioned many lens in the “far east” has this lens for like 20 pounds. One thing the editor did not mention is the comparisons of both a CCTV lens along with our lens before making the comment. As you can see here some people bought these cheap ones and have their lens stuck on the camera permanently! We know about the cheap ones on eBay. It is the reject parts of factories in China. Some does not focus to infinity. Some are over tight. As you know our mount is smooth unlike what people experience here:http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1042&message=39011656
Our lens is similar to many CS mount CCTV with 12.9mm rear flange distance but our Toy Lens 26mm f/1.4 is a c mount lens with 17.5 rear flange distance that is designed to adapt to digital camera. The rear flange distance design is different. The CCTV lens your editor refer to has 10 variations in China. I have attached a video of one we bought to show people who has one. Some even twist off when rotated to the every end!”
Our reader “Billy” made that first Olympus VF-3 viewfinder unboxing video. What I forgot to tell you is that the VF-3 is now also in Stock since a couple of days!
It is in Stock in US stores like Amazon US (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), Amazon Germany (Click here), Amazon France (Click here) and Amazon UK (Click here)
Over a month ago sources told us that new zoom lenses with power zooms would be announced soon. Now our soruces confirmed that both new zoom lenses will have Powerzoom and Inner focusing. And again the size is extremely compact! Also Andrew from EosHD got info about those lenses and said: “The zoom buttons are apparently on the lens itself so it will work with any current Lumix Micro Four Thirds camera.”
Andrew also mentions a new 45-300mm HD OIS. But according to our sources that lens will NOT be announced in late August.
All sources again confirmed that there will be no GF PRO (or GF7) camera yet. Panasonic wants to take some time before to announce the camera!
Image on to shows the current [shoplink 23962]Panasonic 14-42mm[/shoplink] and [shoplink 14816]Olympus 14-42mm[/shoplink] kit lenses.
Over a month ago I posted the rumor about a new 14-42mm lens coming from Panasonic. Now I got the bulletproof confirmation that those rumors were correct! Not only the 45-175mm lens is going to be announced but there will be also a new 14-42mm kit lens. Both will have an extremely compact size. I was told the 14-42mm lens is actually MUCH(!) smaller than the Olympus collapsible [shoplink 14816]Olympus 14-42mm[/shoplink] lens. I would not believe that if the rumor wouldn’t come from known sources!!!
Reminder: Announcement expected by end of August! And you are not going to see the GF7 soon (coming probably in December/January)
Sending rumors: If you have some rumors to share feel free to use the contact form on the right sidebar which doesn’t store your IP address and you don’t need to send me your real name and email! Thanks!
[/shoplink]
Those are the latest refurbished Micro Four Thirds deals at [shoplink 22691 ebay]Olympusmarket[/shoplink]. Only EU citizen can buy the cameras and lenses.
For US readers: there are plenty of (m-)43 cameras and lenses at Adorama (Click here to see the full list).
