43 Rumors – Page 2239 – Panasonic and Olympus Digital Camera News

Head to Head: Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GF2

March 10, 2011
reviews
33 Comments

Do you still have troubles and you don’t know if you should pickup the E-PL2 or the GF2? I checked all the reviews we posted on 43rumors and made a list for all pixel-peepers (chronological order, latest review on top). Check out the table and read the 43rumors readers reviews too! Let me know if I missed to add some interesting review.

A quick reminder for US readers: The Black GF2+14mm is in Stock at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here). And today also the body only Black GF2 is in Stock at BHphoto (Click here).

Olympus E-PL2 43rumors user reviews	Panasonic GF2 43rumors user reviews
Click here to read user reviews (you can add your rating if you are a member)	Click here to read user reviews (you can add your rating if you are a member)
Olympus E-PL2 reviews	Panasonic GF2 reviews
RegHardware Enticingthelight CNET Trustedreviews Cameralabs Dpreview DCresource Steve digicams Pixelmania Focus Numerique DCview Cameraguide . tweakers Digitalcamerareview DxOmark Ascii.jp DC.watch CNET Asia mobile01 yesky Digitalrev Digitalcamerainfo	Imaging Resource Cameralabs Dpreview Hybridcams (one – two –three ) BBC CNET Australia 01net DxOmark DCresource clubic.com DCview Focus Numerique . Digitalcamerareview Trustedreviews Photoreview Australia Hardwarezone Ascii.jp Pocket Lint Photographyblog Systemkamera-forum.de .
Olympus E-PL2 direct shop links	Panasonic GF2 direct shop links
[shopcountry 18844]	[shopcountry 17361]

Loading ...

(patent) Panasonic 16mm f/1.4 and more prime lens specs!

March 10, 2011
Rumors
86 Comments

[shoplink 14796][/shoplink]Image on top: The current popular Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 lens you can get at [shopcountry 14796].

43rumors just found a new Panasonic patent that discloses full details about new fast primes for Micro Four Thirds (United States Patent Application 20110052181 via freepatentsonline). Let’s start with the official patent description:

“It has conventionally been difficult to reduce the size of a fast lens system having an F number of about 1.4 to 2.4.“…”Each of lens systems according to Embodiments 1 to 11 of the present invention has an F number of 1.4 to 2.1, and includes, in order from the object side toward the image side, a front unit including two lens elements, i.e., a positive lens element and a negative lens element, and a rear unit having a positive power. The rear unit includes at least one negative lens element and at least one aspheric surface. A diaphragm A is disposed in a widest air space in the lens system.”

The patent unveils all details about the lenses including the spherical aberration, astigmatism and distortion data!!! Those are the lenses:

1) 17.5mm f/1,75 (lenght of the lens 5cm)
2) 17mm f/1.75 (lenght of the lens 5cm)
3) 17mm f/1.75 (lenght of the lens 4cm)
4) 20mm f/1.75 (lenght of the lens 4cm)
5) 16,7mm f/1.75 (lenght of the lens 4.1cm)
6) 21mm f/1.75 (lenght of the lens 4cm)
7) 17mm f/1.83 (lenght of the lens 4cm)
8 ) 16mm f/1.7 (lenght of the lens 5.6cm)
9) 14,4mm f/1.75 (lenght of the lens 4.3cm)
10) 14,4mm f/1.75 (lenght of the lens 5.5cm)
11) 16,4mm f/1.43 (lenght of the lens 5cm)

Those info are very detailed and do proof that Panasonic has working prototypes with those characteristics. I hope Panasonic will really bring them to final production! The most interesting lenses are the 14mm f/1.7 (faster and larger than the current [shoplink 16258]14mm f/2.5 lens[/shoplink]), the 16mm f/1.4, the 17mm f/1.7 (faster and larger than the current [shoplink 14798]Olympus 17mm f/2.8[/shoplink]). We already have the [shoplink 14796]Panasonic 20mm f/1.7[/shoplink] described in the patent (or at least a similar version). Interesting, Panasonic announced the development of the 25mm f/1.4 but that lens isn’t mentioned here!

I simplified the lens list and made a short poll

Loading ...

The Micro Four Thirds system currently offers three compact primes:
Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 at [shopcountry 16258].
Olympus 17mm f/2.8 at [shopcountry 14798].
Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 at [shopcountry 14796].

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

New Olympus XZ-1, E-PL2 and Panasonic GF2 reviews (+ unconventional E-5 review)

March 10, 2011
reviews
22 Comments

The most unserious [shoplink 17163]Olympus E-5[/shoplink] review that I ever found!

Digitalcamerareview (Click here) posted a new Olympus XZ-1 review: “The Olympus XZ-1 would be a notable entry into the high end compact digital field if only for its fast lens, but throw in a dose of excellent still image quality and the camera commands serious consideration.”
Also the german website Dkamera (Click here) posted the XZ-1 review and got a very good rating 85,94% -> That’s a very german way to calculate and express a rating :)
Olympus XZ-1 direct links at [shopcountry 19904].

RegHardware (Click here) tested the new Olympus E-PL2: “The E-PL2 is a great camera. It’s a huge amount of fun, is highly usable, and I’m a big fan of its retro design. It’s also an enormously capable performer“.
Olympus E-PL2 direct links at [shopcountry 18844].

Panasonic GF2 review at Imaging Resource (Click here): “Performance is also somewhat of a mixed bag. Panasonic promises improved noise reduction across the board, and the GF2 does indeed improve chroma noise in shadows, but this comes at the expense of subtle image detail. The effects of noise reduction can be seen as smudging in images shot at all ISO sensitivities, although you’re not likely to notice this at the base sensitivity without pixel peeping.”
Panasonic GF2 direct links at [shopcountry 17361].

Panasonic ready to attack the Canon and Nikon supremacy (Amateur Photographer)

March 9, 2011
news
47 Comments

Amateur Photographer posted some more info from the Interview with John Mitchell from Panasonic UK: ‘There’s strong growth globally. The market is growing by huge amounts, more than doubling year on year. In the UK we are expecting over 200,000 of our Compact System Cameras to be sold in the UK.”

John also ensured that Panasonic will release some “exciting products“. In December 2010 Panasonic managed to have 11.3% share of the UK changeable lens camera market. And Canon and Nikon are loosing ground in favour of mirrorless cameras. John said the reason for the success is the “small size” of the cameras. And Panasonic doesn’t fear Canon/Nikon future mirrorless cameras because they can offer an already mature system (with 11 lenses).

43rumors note: Would be nice to know the market share in US. Should be very low considering that the Panasonic GH2 isn’t in Stock at Amazon US, Adorama, BHphoto.

P.S.: The black Panasonic GF2+14mm is in Stock at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here). Check all the kits and colors availability at [shopcountry 17361].

Thom Hogan thoughts about the Olympus PEN pro (a must read!)

March 9, 2011
news
142 Comments

The latest rumor about the Olympus PEN pro cameras created a very long and interesting discussion on 43rumors (Click here to read the original article including the 160 comments). Thom Hogan from bythom.com added his personal thoughts about Olympus PEN pro future. I believe he made a very understandable and rational analysis of the risks, limits and chances of future Olympus PRO cameras. Let’s read the text and discuss the single points!

The following text has been written by Thom Hogan on 43rumors:

March 9, 2011
reviews
25 Comments

The fantastic 1:1 video crop mode of the Panasonic GH2 allows you to use C-mount lenses without having that huge vignetting. Seb Farges tested the Pentax 6mm f/1.2 lens: “AT LEAST I’ve found the PERFECT WIDE SHARP and CHEAP lens for the GH2 !!! It’s a [shoplink 20747 ebay]C-mount Pentax/Cosmicar 6mm 1:1.2 lens I’ve bought 9.99€ (12.50$) on Ebay[/shoplink]!
The rear barrel had to be modified for 20€ (watch pictures below) to fit on the [shoplink 20746 ebay]C-mount to micro 4/3 adapter (Kipon)[/shoplink].
This 6mm focal lenght on the GH2 gives a huge vignetting on micro 4/3 sensor, but thanks to the new crop 1:1 [shoplink 16254]GH2[/shoplink] function, the vignetting is disappearing completely !
This 6mm lens with the crop function gives nearly the same frame (same width but less height) than on the [shoplink 16258]Lumix 14mm 1:2.5[/shoplink], but much much more faster.
It’s a sharp lens, even with the crop. In 24X36 eq. it’s a 30mm.
This lens is incredible for GH2, there is no other competition for such a fast lens !

In this movie you will watch daylight tests (always @ 1:1.2, 1/50 shutter speed, 160 asa) with a 22€ Polaroid 43mm variable ND filter and a 40.5 to 43mm step-up ring, there’s my girlfriend preparing her new collection for children “Pitchoovintage”.
Then you will watch night test, from 160 to 3200 asa, always @ 1:1.2 and 1/50 shutter speed.”

Seb tested many C-mount lenses and is one of our daily 43rumors readers. Feel free to make him any question you want and he will answer you! Thanks SEB!

UPDATE: This is the original place where Seb got the lens on [shoplink 20770 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

Links:
– C-mount Pentax/Cosmicar 6mm 1:1.2 at [shoplink 20747 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
– Kipon C-mount to micro 4/3 adapter at [shoplink 20746 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
– Panasonic GH2 at [shopcountry 16254].
– Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 lens at [shopcountry 16258].

(FT5) Panasonic confirms the 25mm f/1.4 is coming this summer!

March 8, 2011
Rumors
34 Comments

In an interview with Amateur Photographer Panasonic UK product manager John Mitchell confirmed that the 25mm lens is coming this summer: “We are sure it’s going to be a great hit because it’s 50mm [35mm viewing angle] equivalent – really fast, really bright”

What we don’t know yet is if the 25mm lens is going to be announced along the Panasonic G3 on late March/early April and be available in summer or if the announcement itself will be in made this summer.

What we know about that lens:
– It has double the size of the [shoplink 14796]20mm f/1.7 pancake[/shoplink] – Unlike the [shoplink 16340 ebay]Four Thirds Panasonic/Leica 25mm f/1.4 lens[/shoplink] it is not Leica branded
– It has no OIS.
– It should cost around $700.

Links:
– 25mm f/1.4 Four Thirds lens at [shopcountry 16340].
– 20mm f/1.7 at [shopcountry 14796].
– 8mm fisheye at [shopcountry 20015].
– 45mm f/2.8 at [shopcountry 14794].