Panasonic GF1 and lenses firmware update!

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The official press release:
November 25, 2009: Panasonic is pleased to announce new firmwares for the DMC-GF1 camera and interchangeable lenses of Lumix G Micro System to expand the potential of the camera and lenses especially in the movie recording function.

Firmware ver.1.1 for DMC-GF1
-Improved AF(Auto Focus)performance in movie recording
-Improved AWB(Auto White Balance) performance
-Improved picture quality in high sensitivity photo recording
-Improved picture quality in portrait program modes
-Improved aperture control in scenery program modes
-Improved accessibility to MF(Manual Focus) Assist function with MF lenses.

Firmware ver.1.2 for LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. (H-FS014045)
Firmware ver.1.2 for LUMIX G VARIO 45-200mm/F4.0-5.6/MEGA O.I.S. (H-FS045200)
-Availability of AF in FHD(Full HD) mode
-Improved AF performance in movie recording

Firmware ver.1.1 for LUMIX G VARIO 7-14mm/F4.0 ASPH. (H-FS007014)
-Availability of AF in FHD mode
-Improved aperture control performance in movie recording
-Improved AF performance in movie recording

Firmware ver.1.2 for LUMIX G VARIO HD 14-140mm/F4.0-5.8 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. (H-VS014140)
Firmware ver.1.1 for LUMIX G 20mm / F1.7 ASPH. (H-H020)
-Improved AF performance in movie recording

The new firmware will be available worldwide at GMT: 2:00 on the 25th of November, 2009 at http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/.

via: dpreview

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Good news! Olympus E-P2 worldwide shipment to start on December 4!

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The Olympus E-P2 worldwide shipment begins on December 4. This is an official Olympus Japan news.

The text has been translated via google:

“Micro SLR “OLYMPUS PEN E-P2” products and related accessories
Notice of Decision Released

Olympus Imaging Corporation, the recent in November 2009 during its 12 day “in early October 2009 release 12” Orimashita we have been chosen with one eye micro “OLYMPUS PEN E-P2” For products and related accessories, the following as, the release date “December 4, 2009 (Fri)” and so decided, we will notify.

Product Name: Micro SLR
“OLYMPUS PEN E-P2 kit lens” (black / silver)
“OLYMPUS PEN E-P2 kit pancake” (black / silver)
Release Date: December 4, 2009 (Fri)
Retail Price: Open Price
Product Name: Electronic Viewfinder “VF-2” (black / silver)
Release Date: December 4, 2009 (Fri)
Retail Price: 30,000 yen each (approx. 31,500 yen)
Product Name: Leather Hand Strap
“CSS-S110LSBK” (Black)
“CSS-S110LSWT” (White)
“CSS-S110LSBR” (Brown)
Release Date: December 4, 2009 (Fri)
Retail Price: 3,400 yen each (3,570 yen including tax)
Product Name: Leather jackets Body “CS-10BBK” (Black)
Release Date: December 4, 2009 (Fri)
Retail Price: 5,400 yen (5,670 yen including tax)
Product Name: Leather straps “CSS-S109LLBK” (Black)
Release Date: December 4, 2009 (Fri)
Retail Price: 4,800 yen (approx. 5,040 yen)
Product Name: Aluminum Case “CBG-3SLV”
Release Date: December 4, 2009 (Fri)
Retail Price: 12,000 yen (approx. 12,600 yen)“

Olympus E-P2 preorders: Amazon US / Adorama / BHphoto / Amazon DE

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Two new underwater housings for your E-P1 and GF1 !

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underwater_housing_olympus_ep1

Two new underwater housing has been spotted inside the austrian shop unterwasserkamera.at:

1) Athena is offering a new underwater housing for the Olympus E-P1 (no price details yet). Google translation of the german text:

“High grade aluminum housing for the Olympus Pen E-P1. Athena Change port system (Dome mineral crystal 100, 170, 220mm, Macro Port Focus AF / MF, extension) rings.

Olympus TTL converter built in, dual Nikonos flash socket. No slave control, since the camera has no internal flash. All important functions are available underwater.

Dimensions: 170 x 100 x 100 mm
Weight: about 1.5 kg on land without a camera

Available as of December 2009“


2) 10Bar is offering a new underwater housing for the Panasonic GF1 (790.00EUR!!!). Google translation of the german text:

“10bar housing for the Panasonic DMC-GF1. Equipped with a change of port, slave control, zoom function. Equipped with a change of port, slave control, zoom function. All important functions can be operated UW. All important functions can be operated UW.

The back is made of acrylic, so can also be found all camera functions. The back is made of acrylic, so it can be found all camera functions.
Dive depth 60 meters. Dive depth 60 meters.

Size approx 20 (b) x 15 (h) x 15 (l) cm. Weight of approximately 1100 grams weight
Material: Aluminum / Acrylic


Available mid/late December 2009“

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Olympus E-P1 price drop in US!

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Amazon US:
– Olympus E-P1 14-42mm Lens (Silver Body/Black Lens) price drops to $749.95 (You Save: $50.04)
– Olympus E520 with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 and 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 ED Zuiko Lenses for $505
– The Panasonic 7-14 and Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 are in Stock.

Other deals:
– Kirkphoto, the maker of L brackets and other tripod-related gear, lists GF1, EP1 and 20mm 1.7 for discounted sale as “demo” units they used to test for their products. See http://www.kirkphoto.com/Blemished_Demo.html

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(FT2) First chinese Olympus rumors for 2010

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Very unreliable rumor from a chinese forum:

“Olympus Sale Rep at a Detroit camera store said that Olympus is currently focusing on m43 and the entry 43. Around mid next year, there will be a replacement for E620. And the replacement for E3 will possible come out next year, likely the second half of the year.”

Let’s see if one of our trusted sources can tell us more…

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(FT3) Thom Hogan predictions for 2010!

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Every year Thom Hogan predicts what’s coming next from Nikon (and not Nikon only! He also made a prediction about Olympus and Panasonic):

Read the article at http://bythom.com/2010predictions.htm

I like this phrase: “Put another way, I’d say that Olympus, Panasonic, Leica, and Sony have a plan. Pentax has no plan. Fujfilm thinks they have a plan, but don’t actually possess one. Nikon and Canon have their old plan and think it will work forever. ” :)

And here the Olympus and Panasonic 2010 predictions:

  • Olympus. Olympus has already announced the E-P2, but it’s not much of a change (a tux for the body and an optional EVF). We’ll get another m4/3 camera before the end of the year, and it’s likely to be a much higher specified one. Lenses have already been announced so will be no surprise (the 9-18mm and 14-150mm coming next, probably followed by another prime or two and a long zoom). Meanwhile, Olympus needs to get the 4/3 cameras down in size, too, if they want that line to live on. The APS crop cameras are now up to 18mp and still doing well with noise, so Olympus’s recent “12mp is enough” won’t hold, I think. We’ll see a >12mp Olympus announced before the end of the year.
  • Panasonic. A GH2 and a GF2 seem pretty likely, in that order. The tricky part is that to keep ahead of the pack the real advances are going to need to start coming at the sensor. Just adding features or gimmicks is not going to send a strong message. So, like Olympus, I think we’ll see >12mp cameras out of Panasonic sometime during the year. Like Olympus, Panasonic has telegraphed its lens lineup for the year, so no real surprises there. I do find it interesting, however, that every poll of m4/3 users and seriously considering m4/3 buyers shows that a 12mm prime is the number one lens request, yet we still haven’t seem either company decide to produce one. I’m betting that Panasonic picks up on this and makes such an announcement before the end of the year (that doesn’t mean we’ll see such a lens in 2010, though).

Olympus E-P2 preorders: Amazon US / Adorama / BHphoto / Amazon DE

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