Panasonic US isn’t really famous for the punctual product delivery. But I hoped they would not repeat the mistake on the juts announced and very expensive 12-35mm X lens. My hopes are gone when 43rumors readers sent me that message from Amazon US:

“Due to a lack of availability, we will not be able to obtain the following item(s) from your order:
“Panasonic H-HS12035 LUMIX G X VARIO 12-35mm/F2.8 ASPH X Series Lens”
We’ve canceled the item(s) and apologize for the inconvenience. If you see a charge for the canceled item, we will refund you within 1-2 business days.
If you are still interested in purchasing this item, it may be available from other sellers. Please visit the detail page for this item below:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00843ERMW”

Amazon (Click here) even removed the preorder option. Damn :(

Here are some other preorder possibilities: BHphoto (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Panasonic store (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here), Digitalrev (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here) and [shoplink 31399 ebay]eBay (via Japan reseller)[/shoplink].

P.S: Many other current m43 lenses and cameras got discounted: Panasonic camera rebates list at BHphoto. Panasonic lens rebate page at BHphoto.
1) The 3D lens is in Stock for $49 only at BHphoto and for $67 at Amazon.
2) Panasonic GF3 with 14mm lens for $369 in White at Amazon and BHphoto.
3) Panasonic 14-140mm for $499 at Amazon and BHphoto.
4) The Panasonic 45-175mm X lens is now in Stock for $299 at BHphoto. For $282 at Samys.
5) The 14-42mm normal lens (not X!) is in Stock for $99 at Amazon and BHphoto.
6) The 14-42mm X lens is in Stock for $328 at Amazon.
7) The Panasonic 45-200mm lens sells for $199 at Samys.
8 ) The Black GX1 with X kit lens is in Stock for $739 at Amazon and BHphoto and $619 with the 14-42mm lens at Amazon and BHphoto.
9) Panasonic GF3 lens with 14mm pancake for $379 at Amazon.
10) GH2 body for $749 at Amazon. GH2 with 14-42mm lens is in Stock for $799 at Amazon. GH2 with 14-140mm lens for $1,179 at Amazon.

Like so many other Japanese companies also Olympus may have to cut jobs in order to save on costs. Reuters reports that “The job losses, equal to about 7 percent of its total workforce, will come mainly from Olympus’s loss-making camera business and by consolidating its overseas plants, the Nikkei business daily said. They would be revealed on June 8, it added. Sony and Panasonic are the leading contenders to pump fresh equity in Olympus, the Asahi newspaper said, adding that the successful”

There were so many rumors about possible partnerships that we really have to be careful with those kind of news. I for sure hope it will not become true. I Cross the fingers for all Olympus employees!

P.S.: Not all companies are facing hard times. Fuji is doing well and I posted about that on MirrorlessRumors.

Most of us still didn’t get their preordered E-m5 cameras that Olympus just announced the new E-m5 double kit (via DC.watch). It will be released in July.

More E-M5 news:
ThePhoBlographer posted the full E-M5 review: “Olympus took what many have said about them and their sensors for years and threw it upside down on its head. The new sensor is terrific and renders images with low noise at higher ISOs. But to be honest, all of their fast primes allow you to not need to shoot at such volcanic ISO settings. The RAW file quality is just like film…nuff said.”
An E-M5 test by Rob Knight. A new handmade E-M5 leather case on [shoplink 31362 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

E-M5 (Pre)order links (Click on store name): Amazon, Adorama, B&H, Jessops, Amazon UK, Amazon Germany, Amazon Japan and Digitalrev.

The E-M5 keeps to be present in the Amazon Bestseller list(changes hourly!):
USA: E-M5 on position 5/13/15/20 (Click here)
UK: E-M5 is on position 5/13 (Click here).
Germany: The E-M5 is on position 2/13 (Click here).
France: not available (Click here to see rankings anyway).
Japan: E-M5 on position 11 (Click here).

The German journal “Frankfurter Allgemeine” interviewed the Fuji president Komori. He admitted that Fuji send a partnership offer to Olympus. He says literally that “we were” (and not we are!) interested in Olympus. He uses the past because he said that Olympus is trying to remain independent and to solve their financial problems in house instead of joining a partnership. Komori adds that he “understands” Olympus decision. Anyway, nothing is over yet, the new Olympus board has still to meet in June and decide if it’s possible to avoid any partnership that would kill their independence.

Of course Fuji’s main interest is the Olympus medical division. Just yesterday Olympus announced the world’s thinnest industrial videoscope, packs HDR (video on Engadget). Also Sony and Panasonic are candidates for a partnership (latest news here at Marketwatch).

P.S.: Meantime the battle between Michael Woodford and Olympus is over. He settles with Olympus for a rumored amount of £10m (Source: Telegraph).

Panasonic just released the new “Lumix Remote” APP for the FX90 (a $240 compact camera). You can find it here on iTunes and here for Android. This is an amazing APP that “allows the Live View screen from LUMIX DMC-FX90 digital cameras equipped with a wireless communication function to be displayed on a smartphone screen, and enables users to perform zoom and shutter operations on the smartphone screen.” Those are the main features:
・ A remote view function that allows users to check the same image as that on the camera’s Live View screen
・ A remote shutter function that allows users to set the zoom level and shoot a still picture
・ A self shot mode function that is useful when shooting a self portrait

This may be a small news today but I really hope Panasonic will “expand” these app to all Micro Four Thirds camera!!!

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Something else: A great idea for our mirrorless cameras at Kickstarter.

Olympus released the latest Q4 financial report (Click here to download the pdf). Olympus lost 49 Mrd. Yen (491 Mio. €). While Olympus Camera Business can’t still bring any profit Olympus managed to sell more digital cameras (+0,6%). Results would have been better without the Thai Flood that affected the whole camera industry production.

Olympus didn’t release any forecast but my very irrational feeling says that things will go better for Olympus this year. It cannot go worse than last year or not? :)

UPDATE: Thom Hogan analyzed the Olympus financial results on Sansmirror.com (Click here).

One more thing: Michael Woodford sues Olympus for $60m (The Telegraph). Damn is that a long going story!

Finally Olympus announced the new 75mm f/1.8 Micro Four Thirds lens. The announcement was first scheduled for last Tuesday but it had been delayed because of some lens firmware issues. And Olympus decided in very last minute to release it today :) Keep watching this post for updates!

Preorders
Not available yet at Amazon (Click here). Should arrive soon!

Highlights
MTF curves offered by Olympus (Click here) show correction of astigmatism is almost perfect, the contrast (blue lines) is very high and very even center to corner, and that the resolution (red lines) is of similar rank. Image samples are available at Olympus Japan. The price in dollar is $899. But there seems to be a bit of confusion on the European price. 800 according to DSLRmagazine, 900 according to Quesabesde and 949 Euro according to Systemkameraforum. Same confusion in Japan…It’s also on Yodobashi for 99,000 yen and on Map Camera for 89,000 yen. I guess that’s why we had the not so correct rumor about the $799 price. Wrong prices are floating around the web :)

Here in short the lens specs:
• 75mm focal length (equivalent to 150mm in the 35mm film format)
• F1.8 aperture with circular blades
• 3 ED and 2 HR lens elements
• Premium multi-coating using Olympus ZERO lens coating technology
• High speed, silent focusing with MSC lens drive technology
• All metal barrel
• Precision manual focus ring
• Compatible with all Micro-Four Thirds standard mount cameras
• Portraiture, Fashion, Stage, Sports and low- light photography applications
• Expected availability in June/July 2012

Hands-on Previews and Image samples
Hands-on at Four Thirds User.
Image samples at Olympus Japan.
Hands-on by the finnish website Sulanto.

Press Release
Dpreview
Systemkameraforum (german). They actually say the price in Euro is 949! Hope it’s just a mistake.
Full Lens PDF at Olympus Australia
Techradar
Photographyblog
DSLRmagazine (google translation here)
Photoscala (german)

Poll
There are no reviews yet but the MTF curves promises that this is a very high quality lens. The only downsided are the price in USA which is $899 (no 1:! conversion rate with the European 799 Euro price) and the fact that you have to pay extra money for the metal hood. Here is the Question:

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