(FT5) UPDATED: There will be fast m43 lenses and new Four Thirds products too.

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Image on top: The [shoplink 21666]Olympus E-30[/shoplink] that could be replaced by a new model in 2011.

The chinese website Tech.sina interviewed the ex Olympus chief Mr. Watanabe (Click here to read the google english translation). The translation is quite terrible so I would be glad if some Chinese reader could confirm the news I am going to post here. Mr Watanabe added following interesting info:
1) Mr. Watanabe mentioned that Oly understands that consumers are waiting for large aperture M4/3 lenses, please look forward to this as Oly will bring out a few products that responds to this request. 43rumors note: The new bright lenses should be announced in late June.
2) There will be new Four Thirds product too. Both the single digit and double digit series will continue. The triple digit series has been officially replaced by the PEN cameras. 43rumors note: We heard the Olympus E-30 has been discontinued (Check at: [shopcountry 21666]). So this could be the first camera to be replaced by a new model.
3) Watanabe believes the Fuji X100 is a good product but Olympus will not develop a similar product. 43rumors note: Fuji is a Four Thirds group member but has not released any 43 product yet. The Fuji X100 is available for preorder at J&R (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here) and Digitalrev (Click here) and if you are willing to pay a huge extra than you can buy them in Stock on [shoplink 19929 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
4) Like Pentax did also Olympus will offer more color option in future cameras. 43rumors note: The [shoplink 21667]Pentax K-r series[/shoplink] has been quite popular because of the huge color options.

UPDATE: Our chinese readers helped us to highlight a few other points:
5) This P&E show in China will be focused on M4/3 as Olympus think China is a still a virgin market for EVILs (less than 10% market share)
6) Mr. Watanabe mentioned that Olympus is a camera manufacturer, unlike Sony and Panasonic who makes lots of consumer electronis products, so Oly products will be more like a real camera instead.(when being asked what he thinks of Oly EVILs might be more competitive than SONY or Pana etc. EVIL products)
7) Mr. Watanabe mentioned that XZ-1 has been selling really well world wide. Oly is happy.

I have to admit that I didn’t expect Olympus to continue the E-XX series. Let’s hope Olympus will not let us wait to much before to see some of the mentioned new products!

P.S.: An update about the not yet available Samyang 35mm f/1.4 Four Thirds lens. Samyang delayed the shipment start from March to April. That’s why you can’t find it on eBay yet. It should be available soon under the different names (Click on it to see the search results on eBay):
[shoplink 20647 ebay]Samyang [/shoplink] [shoplink 20684 ebay]Walimex [/shoplink] [shoplink 20649 ebay]Rokinon [/shoplink] [shoplink 20650 ebay]Opteka [/shoplink] [shoplink 20651 ebay]Falcon [/shoplink] [shoplink 20653 ebay]Vivitar [/shoplink] [shoplink 20652 ebay]Bower [/shoplink]

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

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First signs of supply shortage on Panasonic lenses. 20mm out of Stock and price increase in Europe!

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[shoplink 14796][/shoplink]

I guess we are now seeing the first supply problems on Panasonic lens after the earthquake in March.

The very popular Panasonic 20mm lens in now out of Stock in every US online store I checked: Amazon, Adorama, B&H and J&R! Adorama says “We have no estimated time of arrival for this item“. Third party resellers on Amazon are selling the lens for $799.95 (Click here)! And the price of the lens also increased on new items on [shoplink 14796 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

The image on top shows the price increase of the lens in Germany. As you can easily see the price increased a few days after the earthquake. All European Amazon stores do also list the lens as back ordered. I guess this is the first sign that Panasonic can’t supply worldwide stores with new stock of 20mm lenses. It may not be casual that this lens is the first to be out of Stock. It’s probably the most popular and requested lens from Panasonic. I didn’t notice any supply problem on other lenses. Drop me a line if you notice supply issues on cameras and lenses. Thanks!

 

P.S.: Those are all the links to the 20mm lens ordered by country:

[shoplist 14796]
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Good news! Olympus can ship the new m43 converters.

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You might not be interested in getting those converters but it’s good to know that Olympus manged to solve all logistic problems due the recent Japan earthquake disaster. The new converters worldwide shipment was scheduled for March 18 but i had to be delayed. In a recent press release (Click here) Olympus announced that worldwide shipment will now start on April 28. Reminder, those converters can be used on the new 14-42mm II lens which is also the new kit lens of the [shoplink 18844]Olympus E-PL2[/shoplink].

You can already preorder the converters in many stores:
Olympus Fisheye Converter at [shopcountry 21289].
Olympus Wide Lens Converter at [shopcountry 21292].
Olympus Macro Converter at [shopcountry 21293].

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43rumors Mini Meeting in Antwerp

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Tomorrow (on Saturday) for the very first time I will have the chance to see some of my readers….for real! Everybody can meet me between 13:30 and 16:00 at the “Bar 2” which is located in the center of the city (Vrijdagmarkt 19). How can you find me? Easy, I will have my white E-P1 with Nokton lens on the table.

The reason for the meeting is quite simple. I need to discuss about the further development of the website and you will might help me on that. And It’s by far more funny to talk about it on a table with a couple of beers!
UPDATE: I plan to make more minimeetings in Barcelona, Montpellier and NYC.

See you tomorrow!

P.S.: If you will arrive after the start of the meeting and for some reason we will not be there because we might moved to other place ask the barkeeper where “43rumors” has gone.

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Olumpus E-PL1 250 pound price drop in UK. New XZ-1 firmware.

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Olympus UK offers an 250 pound instant rebate on the Olympus E-PL1! Now you can get camera with lens for 299 pounds only at Amazon UK (Click here). And another good news for UK reader. We finally found an eBay store that has Panasonic refurbished stuff. Right now you can get a refurbished GH2 with 14-42mm lens for 649 pounds only ([shoplink 21636 ebay]Click here to see the item on eBay[/shoplink]).
UPDATE: Also in germany the E-PL1 cameras are discounted (Click here to see the E-PL1 price at Amazon DE)
And a deal for all europeans. Olympusmarket is selling a [shoplink 21638 ebay]refurbished white E-P1 with kit lens (Click here)[/shoplink]. Current auction price is 80 Euro (ends today).

And the new Olympus XZ-1 firmware is finally out. The Pic Orientation has been added to the Camera Menu. Download page: Olympus Japan (Click here).

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The Megapixel race (Sony making a NEX-7 with 24 Megapixel)

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Panasonic is going to announce the new G3 with 16 Megapixel in May. If you need one more explanation why Panasonic and Olympus are not going to stick at 12 Megapixel you might read this: We have been told that Samsung will launch a 18 Megapixel NX20 and NX200 in Summer and Sony’s new NEX-7 will have…drumming….a 24 Megapixel sensor!

As you see the Megapixel racing is still ongoing and it doesn’t sound like there is an end insight. Maybe next year Panasonic will make a 20 Megapixel sensor for the GH3?

More info about the upcoming cameras from the competition
NX20 and NX200 at MirrorlessRumors (Click here).
NEX-7 at SonyAlphaRumors (Click here).

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Tipa Award: The Olympus E-5 is the best DSLR, the XZ-1 the best compact and the GH2 the best Mirrorless camera!

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-> The full list of TIPA award winners can be seen here: http://www.tipa.com/english/XXI_tipa_awards_2011.php

What a surprise! The [shoplink 17163]Olympus E-5[/shoplink] has been voted as “Best expert DSLR camera” for the year 2010. It received the TIPA award for the following reason: “For a very reasonable price, the Olympus E-5 provides benefits that rival those found in some professional SLRs: complete weather-sealing, comprehensive functions, excellent responsiveness, 100% viewfinder, good noise control, dual CF/SD slots, built-in image stabilisation, all in a rugged magnesium-alloy body. Add to this Olympus’ Dust Reduction System, which has proven to be among the most effective solutions in the market. The 12.3 Megapixel Live MOS sensor, combined with the ‘TruePic V+’ image engine produces images that rival competitors with substantially higher pixel counts.”
To be onest we have to admit that the E-5 had almost no competition. The [shoplink 21101]Nikon 7000[/shoplink] the price in the category “Best D-SLR Advanced” and Canon didn’t announce any high-end DSLR cameras in 2010.
Check out price and availability of the E-5 at [shopcountry 17163].

And that is certainly NOT a surprise. The Panasonic GH2 won the price as “Best Compact System Camera Expert“: “The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 is a true ‘hybrid’ photo and video camera, where video is no longer just an additional function. The DMC-GH2 features full HD 1920×1080, 60i (NTSC) / 50i (PAL) smooth, high quality video recording with 60p (NTSC) / 50p (PAL) output in addition to the high quality photo, a world’s first for cameras in this category. The DMC-GH2 can be operated through an intuitive touch control screen. For example, just tapping a subject on the screen will make the camera focus with a speed that rivals the best DSLR’s on the market.”
Check out price and availability of the GH2 at [shopcountry 16254].

And the Olympus XZ-1 won the price as “Best Expert Compact Camera“: “The Olympus XZ-1 has one of the fastest zoom lenses in its class, the iZuiko f1.8-2.5 6.0-24mm (28-112mm equivalent angle of view in 35mm cameras.) Rather than succumb to the continuing Megapixel race, the light-reception area of each pixel of the 1/1.63-inch, 10 Megapixel CCD has been doubled. The XZ-1’s AF illuminator, Dual Image Stabilisation, Low-Light mode that automatically adjusts the ISO sensitivity up to ISO 3200 and the compact size all add up to an exciting “candid” camera that also offers advanced manual controls.”
Check out price and availability of the XZ-1 at [shopcountry 19904].

The full list of TIPA award winners can be seen here: http://www.tipa.com/english/XXI_tipa_awards_2011.php

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