(FT5) Panasonic G3 with lens for $649.

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[shoplink 14834][/shoplink] Image on top: The Panasonic G2.
We just learned from our sources that the Panasonic G3 with 14-42mm kit lens will be priced at $649. That’s $150 less than the price of the [shoplink 14834]Panasonic G2[/shoplink] (original launch price in March 2010).
As we already told you the major changes will be the new 16 Megapixel sensor with FullHD recording and the new more compact design (with focus on touchscreen controls). There will be no other big changes. Announcement is expected around May 11/12. The new Panasonic lenses will be announced in late August only.

Links:
– The current Panasonic G2 at [shopcountry 14834].

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a little bit of everything…(GH2 vs X100, GH2 Noise reduction issues?)

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The dpreview forum user “Morepix” found something really interesting about the GH2:”
1) The NR +2 shot had less noise and slightly less fine detail than the NR 0 shot.
2) I ran Topaz DeNoise on the NR 0 shot and compared the NR +2 image OOC. By comparison, the NR 0 shot with Topaz processing was better in every respect than the one with in-camera NR.
3) For some reason, the NR +2 shot showed chroma noise (blue) which the NR 0 shot did not.
4) My conclusion: Don’t use in-camera NR on RAW images. But if you want to clean up noise at higher ISO, Topaz does the best job I know of.”

ISO Test GH2 vs X100 (Dpreview forum)
Panasonic GF2 review at Blog.Paran.
PL-Mount and otherwise, cine-style lenses are proliferating (ProVideoCoalition).
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS18 / FH5 review (CameraLabs).

There are three refurbished E-PL1 cameras you can now get on Olympusmarket: First black E-PL1 on [shoplink 21833 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink], Second black E-PL1 on [shoplink 21834 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and a silver E-PL1 on [shoplink 21835 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

Links to:
GH2 at [shopcountry 16254].
GF2 at [shopcountry 17361].
Fuji X100 at [shopcountry 19929].

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Fuji X100 is shipping (and gets reviewed)

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The Fuji X100 Very First Look (Steve Huff).

Let me make a quick roundup about the news of the most popular camera of the moment, the Fuji X100.

Reghardware (Click here) tested the X100: “In these days of interchangeable lens, electronic viewfinder cameras, what possible appeal can a fixed-lens camera like this hold? Surprisingly, the answer is: quite a lot.”..”Finding a compact that forces you to engage with manual photography is a novelty that doesn’t wear off, and the result is a camera that’s intensely satisfying to use. But at a thousand pounds it’s next to impossible to recommend.”

The Fuji X100 shipment has started in many US stores. I got reports that Amazon (Click here) and Adorama (Click here) were the first to ship. The next stock of X100 cameras will arrive in two weeks. If you are willing to pay more than the normal price than you can find it in Stock right now at Amazon (Click here) via third party resellers.

In Europe shipment hasn’t started yet (Amazon UK still says “temporarily out of stock”). Only one European reseller has two Fuji X100 on [shoplink 21826 ebay]eBay UK (Click here)[/shoplink].

P.S.: Fuji is a member of the Four Thirds coalition but has yet to release any 43 or m43 camera (let’s hope they will join us sooner or later).

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Olympus sales declined. But future looks good?

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Olympus has revised it’s business results forecasts for the fiscal year that ended on March 31. The net sales are 2,1% lower than expected and the net income has fallen by 50%. Olympus said the decline of digital camera sales is caused by intensifying market competition and by the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Yesterday I had a talk with three of my best sources. All do confirm that Olympus and Panasonic will soon go back to 100% full production capability. There are only minor problems with external suppliers that could delay the way back to the “normality”. Olympus and Panasonic plants were not particularly damaged by the Tsunami disaster. They don’t have to face the huge problems Nikon Canon and Sony do have. I don’t want to sound cynical (that’s just a pure marketing and business information) but Olympus and Panasonic could take advantage of the situation because it looks like Canon-Nikon-Sony too will not be able to produce enough cameras to avoid a price increase on their cameras. Is that a chance for Oly and Pana to increase their market share?

P.S.: I expect new product announcements next week by Panasonic and in June by Olympus. So stay tuned!

 

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Digiscoping with the Panasonic GH2 (Luminous Landscape)

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[shoplink 21816 ebay][/shoplink] If you ever thought a long time ago what would happen if you attach a telescope or a spotting scope to a Digital Camera? Well I can tell you its still been done today and if you got the will to do it then all you need is £150 to start you off! Take for example the [shoplink 16254]Panasonic GH2[/shoplink]. It can be attached to a 75x Telescope for zoom ranges up to 5500mm. Yes thats a huge zoom. Its not the same quality as dedicated zoom lense but if your ok with that then just keep reading. You can buy a starter kit for the Panasonic GH2 with telescope + adaptors and all you need to get you started.
Take a look at that super-Tele Lens 1200mm-3600mm on [shoplink 21814 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

If you want to learn more about the use of telescopes on the Panasonic GH2 read the review on Luminous Landscape (Click here). They used the $1600 [shoplink 21816 ebay]Vortex Razor HD[/shoplink] spotting scope.As you can see the image quality s very good. So if you need a lens to spy a bit around like Jeff did in “Rear Window” from Hitchcock you might get one of those lenses ;)

Links to the Vortex Razor lens at Amazon, BHphoto and [shoplink 21816 ebay]eBay[/shoplink] And the links to the GH2 at [shopcountry 16254].

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Goyo’s new 4/3inch f/2.0 lenses with C-mount!

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Goyo (Click here) made five new C-mount primes lenses that do cover the whole 4/3 sensor! Those are 12-16-25-35-50mm f/2.0 primes! To bad they don’t have a native m43 mount because otherwise this would be an amazing news. You will need to buy the C-mount adapter ([shoplink 21797 ebay]You can get them here on eBay for $8-$20[/shoplink]) to use those lenses.
On their website you can find sketches of the optics (no real pictures). They look pretty big. But finally we have some new lenses we can play with :)
There are no info about availability and price. And I didn’t fin any Goyo Lens on [shoplink 21799 ebay]eBay (only…”Toyo”! Is it the same?)[/shoplink]. That’s the list of the new lenses you can find on Goyo’s website:

Links:
C-mount adapter on [shoplink 21797 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Goyo and Toyo lenses on [shoplink 21799 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

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