A reader sent me the image comparison on top to “prove” that the 12-35mm X lens could have a constant f/2.0 aperture. The theory says that if the [shoplink 25320 ebay]Olympus Zuiko 14-35[/shoplink] with f/2.0 aperture has the same size of the [shoplink 25321 ebay]Zuiko 7-14mm[/shoplink] with f/4.0 aperture, than the Lumix 12-35mm could have the same f/2.0 aperture as it has the same size of the [shoplink 14822]7-14mm m43[/shoplink] lens. Easy or not? :)

Meanwhile Trustedreviews (Click here) spotted the two lens prototypes of the 12-35mm and 35-100mm pictures: “The lenses were still very much in prototype phase, with no word on aperture ranges, no lever for the powered zoom and even the focal ranges were stickers, but it was strongly suggested these would be the basic designs for future lenses in the range. The prototypes also didn’t appear to fold flat as on the 14-42mm X lens.”

Black 14-42mm X lens is available for preorder at Amazon (Click here) and Amazon Germany (Click here).
Silver 14-42mm X lens is available for preorder at Amazon (Click here) and Amazon Germany (Click here).
Black 45-175mm X lens is available for preorder at Amazon (Click here) and Amazon Germany (Click here).
Silver 45-175mm X lens is available for preorder at Amazon (Click here).
Black GF3 with 14-42mm X lens at Amazon (Click here).
Red GF3 with 14-42mm X lens at Amazon (Click here).
White GF3 with 14-42mm X lens at Amazon (Click here).

Panasonic gives you the chance to participate to the Q&A session at the IFA event in Berlin. You can submit your questions here: http://ifa.panasonic.eu/en?questionid=q_1315231134248
And there is a video for every single answer! The video on top for example contains the answer about the next firmware upgrade. It sounds like there will be no immediate 25p support for the [shoplink 16254]Panasonic GH2[/shoplink].
Below you can see a selected list of questions that do link to the Panasonic video answers (Click on them to open a new tab):
When will the new X Series start shipping to the US?
Why is the GF3 more user friendly?
Are images stabilized in the lens or in the camera?
What Lumix between G3 and GF3 is more silent?
Which are the most important differences between the new optical Leica Summilux 25mm f/1.4 D.G. and the above?
Will the new compact X-series lenses be bundled with the GH2 camera?
Is Panasonic planning to make zoom lens within the X-series with mroe versatile focal lengths?
Does the focus and/or zoom rings rotate on the powered X lenses when you use the levers like on large bulky DSLR lenses?
Are there plans for the successor of the LX5?
Why doesn’t Panasonic ome up with a camera that let’s me upload pictures to social networks?

Samyang just announced the full specs, price and availability of the new Samyang 7.5mm manual fisheye lens for Micro Four Thirds.It will cost 300 Euro, that’s less than a half of the [shoplink 14820 ebay]Panasonic 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye[/shoplink]. It’s a manual lens only but I like it more than the Panasonic lens because the Samyang is really compact! It will be available in silver and black from mid September.

Here is the press release:

Delta company, the exclusive representative and distributor of Samyang Optics in Europe, is proud to report that the lens announced in March, Samyang 7.5mm 1:3.5 UMC Fish-eye MFT will be available from the middle of September this year. The lens will be available in two colour versions: silver and black. Estimated retail price is EUR 299.
Panoramic photography with Samyang fish-eye lens
Samyang 7.5mm 1:3.5 UMC Fish-eye MFT offers an exceptionally wide angle of view, up to 180 degrees diagonally, which makes it a very useful tool for making panoramic photographs. You can enjoy the example panoramic photos in the form of a virtual tour around Krakow on our specially created website: www.samyang.pl/75mft All these panoramic photographs were taken with Samyang 7.5mm 1:3.5 Fish-eye UMC MFT and PEN Olympus E-P1.
Samyang 7.5mm 1:3.5 UMC Fish-eye MFT is an ultra-wide-angle manual lens with 7.5 millimetre focal length and 1:3.5 aperture ratio, providing 180 degree angle of view. Despite its small size, the new Samyang successfully combines the best features of the popular model with 8 mm focal length offering highest quality optics closed in a compact and visually attractive casing. Samyang 7.5mm 1:3.5 UMC Fish-eye MFT is the first model from the new family of lenses developed specifically for Micro Four Thirds system.

Official news: http://www.samyang.pl/article,8,news
Image smaples: http://www.samyang.pl/75mft/panoramy.html

P.S.: All Samyang lenses for Olympus can be found on eBay only and under seven different brand names (Click on it to see all Four Thirds lenses from the specific brand!):
[shoplink 20647 ebay]Samyang [/shoplink] [shoplink 20684 ebay]Walimex [/shoplink] [shoplink 20649 ebay]Rokinon [/shoplink] [shoplink 20650 ebay]Opteka [/shoplink] [shoplink 20651 ebay]Falcon [/shoplink] [shoplink 20653 ebay]Vivitar [/shoplink] [shoplink 20652 ebay]Bower [/shoplink]

memories of lisbon from emeric on Vimeo.

Hands on: Olympus E-PM1 PEN Mini at the US Open (Electronista).

Twice.com (Click here) interviewed the big companies (including Oly and Pana). What it’s clear for everyone here is that the trend goes for Mirrorless, Mega-Zoom and Waterproof cameras!

Compact System Camera Image Quality (Luminous Landscape).

Panasonic Develops New Compact, Twin-Lens 3D Digital Camera with HD Video Capability (Panasonic.net).

Olympus E-PL3 unboxing (Mobile01).

Game-changing [shoplink 19904]Olympus XZ-1[/shoplink] gets tele conversion lens

Accessories boost high-quality magnification by 1.7x

Olympus’ multi award-winning XZ-1 compact camera just got even better, with the launch of a powerful and bright new tele conversion lens and adapter. The TCON-17X adds outstanding magnification and flexibility to the flagship digital compact’s already impressive optical talents, with no loss of lens speed.

The TCON-17X tele conversion lens is available for £149.99 and the CLA-12 adapter for £39.99, both from September 2011.

With the XZ-1 set to maximum telephoto, the new TCON-17X tele conversion lens lets you get 1.7 times closer, with a 1:2.5 F-number. Unlike with lesser lenses, it doesn’t affect the trademark luminance of the i.ZUIKO DIGITAL lens that comes with the XZ-1. The required CLA-12 adapter also makes it possible to attach a 55mm filter.

The XZ-1 comes in a matt black or white lacquered body with a large 3-inch OLED screen and costs £399.99.

TCON-17X main features:

Outstanding 1.7x magnification
Weight: approx. 280g
Length: approx. 77.5mm
Maximum diameter: 80.9mm
Focal length (with XZ-1): 190mm*
F-number: 1:2.5 at maximum telephoto
Minimum focusing distance: 3m
Attachable to XZ-1 using CLA-12 adapter

CLA-12 main features:

Weight: approx. 50g
Length: approx. 41.45mm
Maximum diameter: 58mm
Attachment dimension: 46.5mm
Filter size: 55mm
Attaches TCON-17X to XZ-1
Also attaches 55mm filter to XZ-1

Samsung NX200 and anti m43 advertising

Samsung announced the NX200 and you can read a list of all previews and press releases at MirrorlessRumors. What surprises me is that for the second time in one year I see a wrong size comparison between Samsung APS-C sensor and the Micro Four Thirds sensor. As you can see from the image on top they showed the m43 sensor area much smaller than it really is! Korean friends at SLRclub calculated that Samsung advertising material shows a APS-C vs m43  sensor area difference of 2,25. But in reality the  Samsung APS-C sensor (whihc has a 1,54 factor) is “only” 1,6x larger. And what will really piss off Olympus and Panasonic is the “fake” image comparison made by Samsung that you can see at SLRclub (Click here).

Fuji X10

It is not exactly a Micro Four Thirds competitor but many readers here liked the Fuji X100. So it might interests you to know that Fuji announced the new X10. Press release at Dpreview. A Fuji guys youtube presentation is available at MirrorlessRumors. A product page is available here fujifilm-x.com and one mroe article at ThePhoBlographer.

Video on top: A Panasonic X commercial.

At British Journal of Photography Barney Sykes (Lumix product manager) explained why the new X lenses are not having the Leica brand: “Leica has very strict standards when making lenses,” says Sykes. “For the X line, we’re using digital technology to get the same quality [in a more compact product]. This would not have conformed to Leica’s standard.”

Amy Davies from Techradar (Click here) interviewed Mr. Uetmatsu from Panasonic. The most interesting points:
– Mirrorless are no second rate compared to DSLR.
– Image quality is not only about sensor size, but also about signal processing and optical performance.
– compact system cameras have an advantage is in the camcorder market.
– Many manufacturers will introduce mirrorless cameras, but we have a distinct advantage because we are already two years ahead
It is the second interview from Amy with Mr. Uematsu. A couple of months ago Uematsu confirmed to Techradar that they are working on a GF PRO model.