ePhotozine reports that “Olympus is to investigate cracking around the screws of the screen bezel on Olympus OM-D models after many users discovered that their cameras have the fault. There is debate as to whether this is a manufacturing fault where the screws have been over tightened, causing the plastic screen bezel to crack, or whether it is down to the quality of the plastic itself. Olympus are unsure whether the problem is due to a faulty batch, and is currently looking into the issue.”

We just had these nice E-M5 deals for Black Friday….. I hope they didn’t ship you a faulty batch of cameras!

Speaking of US deals:
Four Thirds owner may be inetrested to know that there are new rebates on Samyang/Bowler lenses:
$70 off on the 35mm f/1.4 at at BHphoto (Click here).
$80 off on the 14mm f/2.8 at BHphoto (Click here).
More deals: $1039 for the 12-35mm X zoom at Amazon (via Panacam) and $299 for the G3 with lens at Bhphoto.

Apefoscope – Hold Me Now – Indiegogo Project from apefos on Vimeo (shot on the GH2)

Reviews:
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 Review at Dpreview.
Panasonic G5 review at Neocamera.
Sony and Panasonic ratings cut by Fitch (BBC).
Olympus 17mm f/1.8 test at Quesabesde (translation here).

Readers mails:
Lars: “Hi not a rumor, but I just wanted to share some of my pictures taken during a recent trip to Ireland. All photos were taken with the E-M5 and either the 12-50mm, 45mm, or Pana 45-175mm. Hope you enjoy. http://www.flickr.com/photos/larsbeduhn/sets/72157632024744416/”
Mal: “i’m an Olympus spanish promoter and I pleased to trying the new XZ-2 camera. I have taked some photos last Friday in a music concert. I have some direct JPG examples that I would be pleassed if you want to show everybody.
Here are all of them: http://www.flickr.com/photos/malraulio/sets/72157632041612785/”
Vitor: “I just bought an olympus 40-150, that came whith a bag and a 8G class 10 cardo for just 149€ brand new in a FANC store in portugal. U can check it online at: http://www.fnac.pt/Olympus-ZUIKO-ED-40-150mm-f-4-5-6-R-kit-Acessorios-Objectiva-Objectiva/a639264”
Steve: “Thought I would share with you something that I still quite can’t believe. I am being quoted the sum of £1549.00 from my local Panasonic store in Elgin Scotland for the GH3 + 12-35 X lens. This is VAT inclusive and they have confirmed shipment at the end of November. I have asked them many times to confirm that the price is indeed correct and they have assured me that it is. The store is http://www.geddesandmellis.co.uk/”
Andy: “For USA buyers, Costco has the Olympus E-PL2 with 14-42mm Lens for $299.  Her is the link: http://www.costco.com/Olympus-E-PL2-with-14-42mm-Lens-Compact-System-Camera-Bundle.product.100011392.html”
Twills: “Here is a guide to how I have my GoPro 3 setup and some tips on how to handle some of the issues with it. This isn’t totally about Micro Four Thirds. However, I use a GoPro 3 instead of buying a wide angle lens which is very expensive with m4/3s. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d_GI31Tv5A”
Vittore: “Here a little summary of my equipmemnt for wedding photography: http://weddingphotographybest.wordpress.com/2012/11/13/micro-43-wedding-photography-settings-and-gear/“

IMMENSE IMMOBILE, a creative short documentary film (GH2+Voigtlander 0.95) from Seb Farges on Vimeo.

Nokton 25mm f/0.95:
I own this lens and I am always carrying it with me. Definitely my favorite lens! On top of this post you can watch a new video from Seb Farges shot with this lens. And ePhotozine just posted a new review of the Nokton. Another review has been posted in German by Heise.de. The cheapest price I found in Europe is 810 Euro in [shoplink 35293 ebay]France (Click here)[/shoplink] and 830 Euro in [shoplink 35292 ebay]Germany (Click here)[/shoplink]. As I mentioned yesterday yu can check for price drops via Slidoo :)
The newer sister lens sells for 1.010 Euro via [shoplink 35294 ebay]Fotomundus (Click here)[/shoplink].

Olympus E-M5:
James Harold posted a 24hours OMD review made while traveling across Europe. And the Crazy Comparison Returns! The $999 Olympus OM-D vs the $7995 Leica Monochrom by Steve Huff.
DOn’t forget that there are always plenty of new auctions with refurbished E-M5 at [shoplink 22691 ebay]Olympusmarket (Click here)[/shoplink].

More reviews:
Panasonic 35-100mm image samples by a 43rumors reader on iCloud.
E-PM2 review at Photographyblog.
60mm macro lens tets at DSLRmagazine (translation here).
Tokina 300mm Spiegeltele für mFT – Shootout (PenAndTell).

Readers work:
Lars: “Hi not a rumor, but I just wanted to share some of my pictures taken during a recent trip to Ireland. All photos were taken with the E-M5 and either the 12-50mm, 45mm, or Pana 45-175mm. Hope you enjoy. http://www.flickr.com/photos/larsbeduhn/sets/72157632024744416/”
Mal: “i’m an Olympus spanish promoter and I pleased to trying the new XZ-2 camera. I have taked some photos last Friday in a music concert. I have some direct JPG examples that I would be pleassed if you want to show everybody.
Here are all of them: http://www.flickr.com/photos/malraulio/sets/72157632041612785/”
Vitor: “I just bought an olympus 40-150, that came whith a bag and a 8G class 10 cardo for just 149€ brand new in a FANC store in portugal. U can check it online at: http://www.fnac.pt/Olympus-ZUIKO-ED-40-150mm-f-4-5-6-R-kit-Acessorios-Objectiva-Objectiva/a639264”
Steve: “Thought I would share with you something that I still quite can’t believe. I am being quoted the sum of £1549.00 from my local Panasonic store in Elgin Scotland for the GH3 + 12-35 X lens. This is VAT inclusive and they have confirmed shipment at the end of November. I have asked them many times to confirm that the price is indeed correct and they have assured me that it is. The store is http://www.geddesandmellis.co.uk/”
Andy: “For USA buyers, Costco has the Olympus E-PL2 with 14-42mm Lens for $299.  Her is the link: http://www.costco.com/Olympus-E-PL2-with-14-42mm-Lens-Compact-System-Camera-Bundle.product.100011392.html”
Twills: “Here is a climbing video shot simultaneously with the Panasonic GH2+25mm F1.4 and the GoPro 3 Black. The GH2 footage is 720p @ 60 FPS and 1080p @ 60 FPS. All of the GoPro footage is 2.7K @ 30 FPS with Protune. I love shooting wide angle and tight simultaneously. You never miss a shot that way. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ1NKGuiTPo”
Rafe: “I dilmed this video last year on my wonderful Panasonic GH2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb0mpMhae-k . Really looking forward to getting a GH3”
Christoph Harrer: “I am an Munich based DP and have seen a lot of stuff on your site.  I know, all are exited about the gh3 and I am waiting for my too. But maybe you are interested in a video completely shot on the Gh2, that could run under the phrase “Who needs a Gopro?” It is still an an amazing camera, that shoots amazing pictures. The Video was shot with the Voigtländer 25mm, 35mm, 50mm and a Panasonic 100-300 Zoom and the Panasonic 7-14 Wideangle. Editing andLook Design are completely done in Final Cut Pro 7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu47wKXtwqI  I hope you enjoy it.“

Now Olympus Europe admitted that this was a wrong statement. They now corrected the E-PL5 specification info on the official website and confirmed that the E-PM2, E-PL5 and E-M5 do have the same sensor and the same Anti Aliasing filter. Source: Lepidi (translation here).

Yep, even big companies can do mistakes sometimes. But I am surprised that it took one month(!) to get and admission of error. Oly, you can make it good by leaking us some good news about your future products :)

Image credit: Oly5050 at Clubsnap.

Like it is with me some of you also still don’t know if they should get the Black or Silver E-M5. The best way to help you (and me) is to show you some sexy pictures of the E-M5 with different kind of lenses. Here is the list:
Silver E-M5 with Olympus 12mm at Digitalcamerareview.
Silver E-M5 with Olympus 17mm at ThePhoBlographer.
Silver E-M5 with Olympus 150mm lens at Hwupgrade. SWD link at Amazon.
Black E-M5 with Olympus 150mm lens on Flickr.
Silver E-M5 with Olympus 50mm f/1.8 OM lens at Hwupgrade. OM lens link on [shoplink 32966 ebay]eBay[/shoplink].
Silver E-M5 with Olympus 45mm f/1.8 lens on Flickr.
Black E-M5 with Olympus 45mm f/1.8 lens on Flickr.
Black E-M5 with Olympus 35-80mm OM lens on Flickr. OM lens link on [shoplink 32967 ebay]eBay[/shoplink].
Black E-M5 with Zeiss 50mm f/1.5 ZM lens on Flickr. ZM lens link on [shoplink 30081 ebay]eBay[/shoplink].
Black E-M5 with Olympus 60mm macro prototype lens on Flickr.
Black E-M5 with Nokton 17.5mm f/0.95 lens on Flickr.
Silver E-M5 with Nokton 17.5mm f/0.95 lens on Flickr (Click here).
Black E-M5 with Switar 25mm f/1.4 lens on Flickr. Switar link on [shoplink 32968 ebay]eBay[/shoplink].
Black E-M5 with Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 lens on Flickr.
Silver E-M5 with Olympus 50mm f/2.0 macro Four Thirds lens on Flickr. Macro lens link at Amazon.
Black E-M5 with Leica-Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 Four Thirds lens on Flickr.
Black E-M5 with Olympus 14-35mm f/2.0 Four Thirds lens on Flickr. Lens link at Amazon.
Silver E-M5 with Zeiss 50mm f/1.5 ZM lens on Flickr.

Overall I have to say that it’s safer to go for the Silver E-M5. Black and Silver lenses will loook always good on it!

——–

E-M5 order links:
Amazon, Adorama, B&H, Jessops, Amazon UK, Amazon Germany, Amazon France, Amazon Japan and Digitalrev.

E-M5 Case:
There is the official [shoplink 31898 ebay]CS-36FBC Olympus case[/shoplink]. A [shoplink 31899 ebay]leather half case from Hong Kong[/shoplink]. A full [shoplink 31900 ebay]leather case with strap from Cina[/shoplink]. Than we have half cases from two well known producers, [shoplink 31901 ebay]Zelenpol[/shoplink], [shoplink 31906 ebay]Kaza[/shoplink] and [shoplink 31902 ebay]Gariz[/shoplink].

E-M5 Batteries, and other things:
The [shoplink 31905 ebay]Olympus GS-4 strap[/shoplink] and the [shoplink 31903 ebay]DSTE E-M5 batteries[/shoplink] you have to use with an extra charger. There is an [shoplink 31903 ebay]E-M5 car charger[/shoplink] a [shoplink 31908 ebay]new E-M5 LCD screen[/shoplink] and a [shoplink 31909 ebay]Front Cover+ Top Panel[/shoplink].

Home To Thanksgiving, lithograph by Currier and Ives. (1867) Wikipedia.

This is a short message to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! :)))

—

Black Friday deals: Amazon (cameras), Amazon (all stuff), Adorama, Bhphoto, J&R, TigerDirect, Bestbuy and eBay.

The Hong Kong located company Jackar Optical just announced a new 34mm f/1.8 Micro Four Thirds lens. The lens has manual and mechanical smooth focus and aperture rings. You can read full specs and more at Snapshooter.jackarlens.com. Image samples can also be found on Flickr. The retail price is $190. It will soon be on sale on eBay. Jackar currently sells many adapters and fisheye lenses on [shoplink 35027 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. For a $190 this looks like a well packaged present!