Vitaly Kiselev just announced the new PTool v3.60d which also includes the GH2 hack. This is the the new feature list (Source: Personal-View.com)
TZ10:
* Initial support with most major patches ported.
* Release not include manual movie modes and PAL<->NTSC patches.
GH2:
* Initial support with many ported patches.
* Some new patches added.
* Bitrate patches are intended for testers only!
Cooooooool!!!
The black GH2 body only in Stock at Amazon (Click here) sold by Samys camera! It has the normal price…$899!
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).
The Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 lens is in Stock for $379 via third party resellers on 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).
Olympus E-P3 preorders at Amazon US (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and Amazon UK (Click here)
Olympus 12mm f/2.0 preorders at Amazon US (Click here), Adorama (Click here), B&H (Click here) and [shoplink 23576 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 preorders at Amazon US (Click here), Adorama (Click here), B&H (Click here).
[/shoplink]One of my favorite cameras gets a field review at Luminous Landscape (Click here). They tested the [shoplink 22077]G3[/shoplink] and the new [shoplink 23110]Panasonic-Leica 25mm f/1.4[/shoplink] lens: “The new G3 may well be one of the best Micro Four Thirds camera yet. And, except for those that need more versatile video capability, the G3 may in fact be a preferable camera for some users than the top-of-the-line GH2…Overall image quality was very good indeed. The jump from 12MP to 16MP has not detracted from IQ in any visible way. At ISO 160 and 200 the camera is as clean as one could wish. ISO 400 and 800 start to show noise, but no worse that similarly priced cameras from Nikon, Canon, Pentax, etc. A bit of luminance smoothing in Lightroom and the images are certainly usable for most any purpose. Beginning at ISO 1600 noise begins to be problematic, and though it can be reduced, detail resolution starts to suffer.”
And about the 25mm lens: “I found little to fault and a lot to like. The lens’ resolution wide open is very good in the center, and naturally softens toward the edges, though by less than one would imagine. Vignetting is modest and I rarely bothered to correct it in post processing. Flare is minimal, even wide open.”
As you know the G3 is finally shipping everywhere in the world and you can find first kits in Stock in at [shopcountry 22077]! The Panasonic Leica 25mm lens is only available for preorder at Adorama, B&H, J&R, Digitalrev and [shoplink 23110]eBay[/shoplink]. Both the G3 and 25mm lens are highly recommended!
P.S: There is a new E-P3 hands-on at SystemKamera-Forum.de (german) image samples at Fourthirds-user.com and a Olympus EP-3 vs Olympus EP-2 comparison at ThePhoBlographer
I have been told that Olympus did show mockups of E-PM1 and E-PL3 cameras at the various Olympus events that toke place in different parts of the world. And those cameras will be available in autumn only. To me it looks like Olympus were in hurry to show their [shoplink 23109]GF3[/shoplink] and NEX-C3 competitor (the E-PM1)! And price of the cameras is also unknown. What do you think about the Olympus strategy to announce products without to mention the price and with an availability that si still far away? Something could be wrong or not? An example: who will buy the E-PL2 (still available everywhere at [shopcountry 18844]) knowing that “sooner or later” and with an “unknown” price the E-PL3 will be on market?
Thom Hogan describes exactly what I am thinking about the recent Olympus product/marketing strategy:
1) “There’s surprisingly little differentiation in key features of the three cameras.” And sometimes the differences are quite confusing (See the lower 3fps frame rate for the E-P3 when the lower end models can do 5.5fps).
2) “Olympus’ press releases and Web sites aren’t much help in differentiating the models, and I found a couple of mistakes on them, as well. Worse still, OlympusUSA is now in the confusing position of marketing six different Pen models (three incoming, three outgoing), and the best different at or they really provide on their site is simply price. Of course, none of the three new models are available yet and apparently won’t be for a couple of months, further confusing customers. Olympus, like most of the camera companies, seems to be of the “keep the customer confused” mentality in terms of marketing (yes, there’s really a type of marketing that utilizes customer confusion). Either that, or they’re just confused themselves.”
But the Olympus products are definitely better than the Olympus marketing:
3) “Overall I judge this to be a nice set of products from Olympus. Focus is improved, lots of small things have been addressed, fixed, or improved, the two new lenses fill in some gaps for enthusiasts, and I’m excited to try them out. As many of you know, I’ve been using a Pen for some of my work since my Africa trip in 2009. I’m sure that will continue, given the new models’ features.”
Overall I do think Olympus made some very welcome improvements (AF, own “tweaked” sensor, interchangeable grip, the new lenses are awesome!), but they still need to get rid of some “confusion” inside their product and marketing strategy.
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Hot preorders: Olympus E-P3 preorders at Amazon US, Adorama, BHphoto and Amazon UK. Worldwide shipment start soon (?).
Olympus 12mm f/2.0 preorders at Amazon US, Adorama, B&H and [shoplink 23576 ebay]eBay[/shoplink]. Worldwide shipment start on July 22.
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 preorders at Amazon US, Adorama, B&H. Worldwide shipment start in october
And GF3 preorders at [shopcountry 23109].
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Image on top shows the current [shoplink 16254]GH2[/shoplink] (will be replaced within one year!)
A couple of weeks ago Panasonic officially confirmed that they are working on two new cameras, the GF PRO camera and the GH3.
Yesterday a trusted source told us that Panasonic is working very hard on a new sensor generation with global shutter. He cannot confirm if the GH3 will have that sensor but told me that Panasonic GH3 feature roadmap included the global shutter sensor. The GH3 will be here within 1 year.
There will be also a new high resolution EVF with much higher refresh rate (no surprise here). He will give me more tidbits as soon as he get more info.
One more thing: I know for sure the GF pro [shoplink 23692 ebay](Panasonic L1 styled?)[/shoplink] will come within 2011! I will soon post some details about the GF camera! Stay tuned on 43rumors!
P.S.: Around the world wide web people is starting to get (fake?) info about a possible cease of the GH2 production..like here on the GH2 vimeo group. Check the GH2 availability and price at [shopcountry 16254].
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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
The video on top shows an AF test with the [shoplink 23681 ebay]Four Thirds 12-60mm[/shoplink] lens. It looks like the AF on the E-P3 works faster than on th older Pen cameras!
And the video below shows the AF performance with the [shoplink 14796 ebay]20mm f/1.7[/shoplink] pancake:
So what do you think?
P.S:
Check the 12-60mm f/2.8-4 ED SWD lens specs and price at [shopcountry 23681].
Check the 20mm f/1.7 pancake specs and price at [shopcountry 14796].
E-P3 AF speed test made by Unwire.
There are tons of new Pen and Lens articles. Thanks to everyone for sending me those links!!! Here is the list:
Olympus E-P3 Hands-On Preview at Photographyblog: “Although we shall reserve final judgment until we can bring you a fully-fledged in-depth review, our initial impressions of the Olympus E-P3 are exceedingly positive. The camera is solidly made, very responsive, extremely fast to focus and has great manual controls (although as noted we missed the dedicated ISO and WB buttons).”
Short E-P3 review at Wired: “bottom line on the PEN 3 is it’s a real shooter’s camera, not just a designer’s desktop paperweight. It’s an easy-to-use, fast focuser and shooter that’s got a steamer trunk full of fun, functional features, lenses and accessories.”
Olympus E-P3 JPG and RAW Photos at Photographyblog.
Olympus Debuts Dazzling New Micro 4/3 Gear (TheOnlinePhotographer).
The E-P3 has been added to the Four Thirds Matching Simulation.
Olympus event in Vienna at Photoscala (german).
Mass of E-P3 image samples on Flickr.
Olympus E-P3 Image Samples at TVsmith.
Olympus E-P3 review by Robert Wong.
Olympus event in Japan at DC.watch.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 12mm f/2.0 Sample Photos at ePhotozine: “the image quality and sharpness of this lens is very good, with excellent detail right to the corners, and very little flare“.
Olympus E-PM1 Hands-On Photos at Photographyblog
Olmpus E-PL3 Hands-On Photos at Photographyblog.
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 Hands On Preview at ePhotozine.
Olympus PEN flash unit at Letsgodigital. Olympus PEN E-P3 accessories at Letsgodigital.
Olympus PEN E-P3 camera grip at Letsgodigital.
The new Olympus PT-EP05L underwater case for the E-PL3 (Olympus Japan).
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Hot preorders: Olympus E-P3 preorders at Amazon US, Adorama, BHphoto and Amazon UK
Olympus 12mm f/2.0 preorders at Amazon US, Adorama, B&H and [shoplink 23576 ebay]eBay[/shoplink]
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 preorders at Amazon US, Adorama, B&H.
