Our reader “Andi” made a nice finding! If you visit that german Olympus page (http://www.de.olympus.ch/consumer/208_manuals.cfm?prodID=E-P3_master) and download the E-P3 manual you can find something “unexpected” on page 120. You can see the picture of the new VF3 which has a builtin flash!
The question now is…why didn’t Olympus announce the VF-3 yet? I do hope it has at leats the same quality of the [shoplink 23839 ebay]VF-2[/shoplink] if not better! I have been told by my sources that the VF-3 is cheaper than the VF3! Check the current VF-2 price at [shopcountry 23839].
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
Photoreview Australia published a full [shoplink 22077]G3[/shoplink] test: “Overall, we found the G3 very agreeable to use. It provides some worthwhile improvements on its predecessor, while taking on some of the more user-friendly features of other recent additions to the G-Micro stable. The key manual controls required by serious photographers remain reasonably quick and easy to access, not buried deep in menus where they can only be reached with many button presses. ”
There is also a Real World Review with Full Size images at E-P1.net.
Olympus and Panasonic announced many new products. Those are all the search links I usually sue to see if the new camera and lenses are in Stock (Click on shop name to visit the page in a new tab):
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].
The Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 pancake is now in Stock for $329.97 at Amazon (Click here).
More deals
Some of you may preordered the G3 long time ago. But you might re-order it now because there is now a $66 discount on the black G3 with 14-42mm lens on Amazon (Click here)!
You can now get the Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 pancake for $334 on Amazon (Click here)
Adorama has the Voigtländer 25mm in Stock (Click here). And don’t forget that they are also accepting preorders on the Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 lens (Click here)
You can now get the AG-AF100 Micro Four Thirds camcorder with a free (!) 14-140mm zoom lens at BHphoto (Click here).
The Black and White Olympus XZ-1 are in Stock for $409 only at Amazon (Click here).
BHphoto sent me an email to say that the very last GH1 cameras are now in Stock (Click here). Once sold out there will be no more GH1 cameras for sale anymore! And if you purchase the GH1 body (for $399) you will get $100 on any Panasonic m43 lens you buy. You have to click on “Save $100 on Select Panasonic Lenses” to see the deal.
The same deal is ongoing at Amazon (Click here) and Adorama (Click here).
Fotopolis published an English interview with Michiharu Uematsu from Panasonic. In short, he confirms they are working on new viewfinder technology and focus speed improvement. And for him the future is Mirrorless (not DSRL).
[shoplink 23109]Panasonic Lumix GF3[/shoplink] review at Trustedreviews: “It’s really hard not to like the GF3 – it’s very small, very stylish, very easy to use and is capable of delivering very good image quality too. On top of this it also offers a generous amount of user control, some useful shooting features and excellent HD video recording abilities. Our only real concern is that the removal of the hot-shoe is a step backwards in terms of flexibility. ” New GF3 studio shoots are available at Imaging Resource.
[shoplink 22077]Panasonic G3[/shoplink] review at Fotopolis (google translated!): “Panasonic Lumix G3 is an interesting proposition for amateurs and for those who prefer a little more size than access controls. It offers image quality comparable to the SLR, but it is closed in a much smaller package. Items that are missing in the new Lumixie is primarily the removal of the proximity sensor with an electronic viewfinder and the lack of artistic modes, HDR images and vast panoramas”
[shoplink 23568]Olympus E-P3[/shoplink] review at Adorama: “Would I recommend this camera for photojournalism, street, documentary, and travel photography? Absolutely—even with the higher price tag, and even though I would have to pay extra for an eye-level viewfinder—because in the tradeoff between speed and quality, in these particular areas of photography speed will inevitably win, and the E-P3 is faster than anything else out there in its size and price class for capturing the decisive moment.”
Those are all the directs search links to the new Oly/Pana products! Click on shop name to visit the search pages of every single product:
Panasonic G3 [shopcountry 22077]
Panasonic-Leica 25mm f/1.4 [shopcountry 23110]
Panasonic GF3 [shopcountry 23109]
Olympus E-P3 [shopcountry 23568]
Olympus 12mm f/2.0 [shopcountry 23576]
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 [shopcountry 23577]
Those are the Olympus refurbished auctions ending this weekend. Keep in mind hat only people living in the EU can buy them! Click on the single items to see the auction:
HOT UPDATE: One single 12mm lens is in Stock now at Amazon (Click here). I bet it will be sold out within minutes!
And here is the next hot review of the (let me say) wonderful Olympus lens! You can read the full and very detailed test at SLRgear (Click here). There are almost only good news! First the sharpness test proves that the lens is already sharp wide open. Chromatic Aberration is only slightly present and only in the corner when shooting wide open. Also Vignetting is a non issue. The distortion is very low and harmonic (easy to correct in Postproduction). Conclusion: “There isn’t much to add here that the tests don’t already say for themselves – the Olympus 12mm ƒ/2 M.Zuiko offers excellent results for sharpness in a quality package. The price might be prohibitive for some, but if you can afford it, you won’t be disappointed.”
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The Panasonic GF3 is finally shipping in Asia! Check at Amazon.jp and Digitalrev. It will be soon available in Europe too. Amazon UK says it’s coming on July 18. DOn’t know yet when it will be available in US. Click here to order or preorder the GF3 at [shopcountry 23109].
One more thing, the new Leica 25mm f/1.4 worldwide shipment starts on July 22. Preorder search links at [shopcountry 23110].
Our reader “Andi” made a nice finding! If you visit that german Olympus page (http://www.de.olympus.ch/consumer/208_manuals.cfm?prodID=E-P3_master) and download the E-P3 manual you can find something “unexpected” on page 120. You can see the picture of the new VF3 which has a builtin flash!
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The Panasonic GF3 is finally shipping in Asia! Check at