At least one good news that is not a fool news! We noticed that US shops like Amazon US, Adorama and BHphoto are now getting more and more GH2 cameras in Stock. Today Adorama has all three different kit in Stock:
– Black Panasonic + GH2 14-140mm (Click here)
– Black Panasonic + GH2 14-42mm (Click here)
– Silver Panasonic + GH2 14-42mm (Click here)

I guess we can now safely say that there are no more GH2 supply problems in US stores.

P.S.: You can now preorder the Fuji X100 at J&R (Click here).

UPDATE: Sorry I had the wrong link. I corrected it.

Last week where questioning what happened with the Noktor lens. You can’t get it on their website nor on any other store I know. And now I found one on [shoplink 21210 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. It’s the first Noktor auction since November! A wonder what the final winning bid will be…
P.S.: I am a happy owner of the Noktor. Where I do use it most is for video productions. For stills the image quality at f/0.95 is insufficient but at least I can take pictures in very dark situations.

Two weeks ago the Chinese company “Ownuser” announced a battery grip for all Panasonic Micro Four Thirds cameras except the GF1/GF2.They made 1.500 battery grips you can now buy on [shoplink 21130 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

Those are the specs (there are different type of battery grips):

“MIG-PG2 overview:
1) tripod 1/4 20 screw thread
2) External Shutter release input
3) External AC power input
4) Camera shutter release output
5) screw of the tripod thread
6) hand grip
7) tripod mount
8 ) Left battery cover
9) Right battery cover
10) battery to camera
11) battery contact
12) cable
13) shutter
14) on/off button
volume: about 12.6cmX6.2cmX3.9cm
weight: 110g

Compact, convenient, good build, comfortable for portrait

3 type of battery input for convenience:
1) two Lithium batteries
2) AA Battery (6A/8A)
3) External AC power input

1500 units produced globally, unique for personal style

MINI-IR 2B overview
1) IR output
2) focus
3) shot
4) Bulb
5) clear
6) 10s self portrait
7) battery

The camera with Mini-RHS 2
1) volume is smaller than the DX-RHS2 by 70%. Lighter and more convenient.
2) channel lock to protect interference from other sources
3) timer alarm for accurate dusk/twilight photography
4) Can used together with DX-51R 2 & Mini IR 2
5) Attached to the hot shoe on the camera, e.g. Minolta, Sony Alpha 100.
6) 360 degree rotation ability: can be used together with on camera flash
7) 2XAAA battery

Mini IR 2B
for amateur, indoor photography
channel can be locked to prevent interference
1) 5 key control, simple and clear, perfect fit
2) Focus and shot seperately
3) Bulb / 10s self portrait

Mini-IR 2B basic function
A. Channel lock (must choose the channel first, then lock the channel to prevent interference) (After the first settings, it is automatically saved for future use)
1) press for 5 seconds, red/green light lights alternatively and a beep three times.
2) press the shot button on MINI IR2B, it is finished after the beep
3) press the channel lock once again to complete

B. 4 main functions (IR function will consume battery life. Please shut down when it is not in use)
Focus is separate from shutter to prevent delay. Focus can be set as AE-L or AF-L.
Tele/macro photography
self portrait
LIVE VIEW shot

Single button control without menu
typical camera need to go into the menu for self-portrait, not so convenient
a physical 10s self portrait button is more convenient
in operation, autofocus green light will lights up first. red light flash once per second, continuous red light in last three seconds
(in the figure: autofocus indicator (green), and red light)
Bulb shutter can be used
bulb shutter has a function to prevent false alarm. only after focus, bulb shutter can be activated. Only can be used to end the bulb.
support longest bulb for 10 hours
dusk/twilight night astro

Rhythmic speaker supporting bulb
bulb has a function of beep per second. After activated bulb, use the control button to set speaker.
(In the figures:) control method: On-> OFF -> ON
press setting button once > ON
twice > OFF
again > ON
You can use one hand to control the remote and another hand to cover the camera at the right time.”

This is the website of the company with the battery grip page: http://www.ownuser.com.tw/mig_pg2.html

And here again the current Ownuser battery auctions on [shoplink 21130 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

That’s the first time I see a discount ont the Panasonic GH2 at Amazon (Click here). It’s the silver camera and you can get it for $28 less than yesterday.

We also have been notified that BHphoto (Click here) will have all different GH2 kits in Stock within the next few days.

The eBay reseller “[shoplink 21082 ebay]jieying-usa[/shoplink]” made the second reworked Rodenstock 50mm f/0.75 for Micro Four Thirds (he already made one lens a few months ago). It fits on your camera without the need of an adapter. The lens focuses from 3ft to infinity. Wide open, images are very soft but unlike C-mount lenses the circle covers the full m43 size. You can see a few image samples on Flickr.

That is now very close to a miracle. OFr the first time in US all different Panasonic GH2 kits are in Stock and shipping at J&R (Click here). Check out the GH2 availability in other stores at [shopcountry 16254].

So now that everyone on the world can get the GH2 we hope Panasonic will release the next new products soon :)

Reminder: There are Instant Rebates on the E-PL2 at Amazon and BHphoto. And the white Olympus XZ-1 is in Stock at Amazon (Click here).

Now it’s becoming very unfair! While we europeans can get the Olympus 40-150mm lens for over 250 Euro only you US guys can get it for $150 (110 Euro) only!!! Check out BHphoto (Click here) to get the lens. That price makes it the cheapest Micro Four Ghirds lens on market. And we are not talking about a bad quality lens. DiwaLabs and SLRgear alredy tested the lens and said that it has an “excellent performance”. If those price drops will continue next month you will only have to buy a coffee for the BHphoto storekeeper to get the lens for free :)

Check the price and availability of the lens at [shopcountry 15864].