Adam Wilt posted the first part of his GH3 review at Provideocoalition. He really got into the very deep video quality analysis and this is definitely a must read article! In very short, the difference between the GH2 and Gh3 in terms of video quality isn’t that big. While certainly the features offered by the GH3 are reason enough to step up to the GH3. For Adam the real surprise was that: “The real selling point on the GH3 is its electronic shutter, which allows completely silent stills capture in hush-hush situations where even leaf-shutter cameras fear to tread.”
Also Noam Kroll compared the GH3 and the GH2 cameras. He mroe or less comes to the same conclusion: “All in all the GH3 is an incredible successor to the GH2 and a better camera in most ways – even when compared to a hacked GH2. With that said it does potentially suffer from more moire than the GH2 and the jump in image quality isn’t drastically different.”
And finally also Discovermirrorless shared his thoughts about the GH3 vs GH2 comparison.
Time to share some new GH3 test. Particularly the tests on vimeo are interesting:
Triple video test:
Moire Aliasing Lumix GH2 vs GH3 test (Vimeo).
GH3 lens test | 12-35 Kit | SLR Magic 12mm | Voigtländer 25mm (Vimeo).
ISO test | Panasonic GH3 | Canon 5d mk3 | Canon 7d (Vimeo).
Readers mail:
Martin sent me a link on Flickr (Click here). As you see the GH3 is so eays to use that even babies can shot with it! :) Bernie: “I received yesterday my new GH3 and did some tests with it. Maybe you find it interesting and find a way to share this. https://vimeo.com/54810374“.
GH3 presentation in Japan (via DC.watch). Our reader Ogawa was there and tested the GH3 and talked to the Panasonic guys. These are the info he shared:
“You can “touch focus” shutter release with ios (maybe android. Too. I don’t interest android so no talk about android). Big one is the ios remote control. Great step forward.
Fn can be assigned from almost anything. And most of fns are symmetrically assignable from the same items list
New mf assist mode. When in mode. You can move the window. Notfocus. Target area. Previously assist window is fixed in center as you know
Menu is rearranged a litte for more intuitive Focus related settings are gathered. And more.
This is almost perfect Ui and function camera. This will becomes the new standard during next few years for all camera makes.
If it had released a half years before, I would have bought ie instead of E-M5.
But its good, because of it, i knew Olympus especially its in-body IS. And I realized how pana Ui is great :-)
M. Ogawa
Tokyo”
Panasonic US lens price drop:
Yesterday Panasonic lowered the price of the 12-35mm X lens by $200 at Amazon (Click here). . And today there is another deal: you can have the 20mm f/1.7 pancake for $324 only at Amazon (Click here).
GH3 APP:
Steve found that new info: Panasonic announced that Version 2.1 of Lumix Link App is coming out this month with new features specifically for the GH3. The Panasonic Link App is available on iTunes (Click here) and Google Play (Click here). It will add following features:
▪“Aperture”, “Shutter Speed”, “Exposure Compensation”, “ISO Setting”, “White balance” can be adjusted while monitoring live view image of camera in remote control.(GH3)
▪Focus control using a variety of “AF(Auto Focus) mode” and “MF(Manual Focus) mode” is available in remote control.(GH3)
▪”Touch Shutter” enables focusing and shutter release by just touching the target point on the camera’s live view image in remote control.(GH3)
▪All settings in the camera’s “Q(Quick)-MENU” can also be adjustable in remote control.(GH3)
▪Video can be recorded with timer setting in remote control.(GH3)
▪Images can be transferred to the smartphone / tablet automatically right after shooting.(GH3)
One more little new GH3 review: Nick Driftwood posted the third part of his ongoing GH3 review on vimeo.
Cameta just announced a price drop on refurbished E-M5 cameras and kits:
-30.00 E-M5 & 12-50mm Lens (Silver/Black) – Factory Demo at Cameta an [shoplink 35375 ebay]Cameta eBay[/shoplink].
-20.95 E-M5 & 14-42mm II Lens (Black/Black) – Factory Demo at Cameta an [shoplink 35376 ebay]Cameta eBay[/shoplink].
-20.00 E-M5 Body (Silver) – Factory Demo at Cameta an [shoplink 35377 ebay]Cameta eBay[/shoplink].
-30.00 E-M5 & 12-50mm Lens (Black/Black) – Factory Demo at Cameta an [shoplink 35378 ebay]Cameta eBay[/shoplink].
-20.00 E-M5 Body (Black) – Factory Demo at Cameta.
Let me catch up with a couple of new reviews of MFT cameras and lenses:
Nokton 25mm f/0.95:
I own this lens and I am always carrying it with me. Definitely my favorite lens! 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:
Olympus 75mm f1.8 Lens reviewed at ThePhoBlographer.
Olympus 60mm amcro review by Steve Huff.
Kimletkeman used the new Focus Numeriqe RAW files to post an interesting High ISO Shootout between the GH3, E-M5 and G5. A very well written articele!
Readers keep sending me links ot their work done on the GH3: Arnoud sent me the video you can watch on top of this post: “Very well made video of Story on madame Sokhna Fall, worker in the informal economy in Dakar, Senegal. She runs a shop, but is also president of a ‘groupement mutuelle’, a kind of micro credit. The group is supported by the national trade union UDTS (Union Démocratique des Travailleurs de Sénégal). via Pf.nl” Dario Battaglia shot this GH3 movie in Sicily (on vimeo). Nick Driftwood posted the second part of his ongoing GH3 review (on vimeo). Bass: “Not really a rumour but first pictures from my new GH3 that people may be interested in. I will update this gallery over the next few days. http://www.pbase.com/bassrock/gh3” John: “Not a rumour: apologies if I come through on wrong channel! (Please put me right) Taking up Steve’s point about overpriced GH3 in Scotland, you might like to ask Panasonic UK why prices there are so much higher than elsewhere. UK price GH3 £1199. I can buy in Europe at €1199 (£972). My brother in Canada can buy at $1299+13% tax = $1468 (£924), and USA price similar. Why are UK photographers always penalised?”
—
Check price and delivery dates at Amazon , Adorama, Bhphoto, Panasonic US, Samys and in Europe at Wexphotographic UK, Wex Germany, Technikdirekt and soon on eBay (via Slidoo).
The French website Focus Numerique (translation here) tested the Panasonic GH3 ISO performance. You can compare the ISO results with those of the Olympus E-M5 and Sony NEX-7. As expected the JPEG engine of the Olympus manages to get slightly better results at High ISO. But if you shot in RAW than there is really little difference between the two (you can download the RAW files at Focus Numerique).
Mirrorless reviews posted that EM-5 Third Party Grip vs. Olympus HLD-6 Grip Review video
Time to catch up with a list of news I got from 43rumors readers!
Deals:
First off Stefano found that amazing deal on [shoplink 35238 ebay]eBay Italy (Click here)[/shoplink]. It’s the first E-M5 with 15mm lens kit and sold for 829 Euro (sadly it ships to Italy only). Weird to see that in Italy and France the price for the E-m5 is much lower! Just check them on Slidoo eBay (it’s our little new website so feel free to login and use it).
If you want to try to get the E-m5 for cheaper than the normal price you may check the refurbished auctions on [shoplink 22691 ebay]Olympusmarket (Click here)[/shoplink]. They ahve eight of them on auction!
Reviews:
A Weekend of Extended Use With the Fujifilm X Pro 1 and Olympus OMD EM5 (ThePhoBlographer).
Shooting the SF Auto Show with the Olympus OM-D (TheDigitalStory). Zelko: “I thought you might want to know, that the OM-D has become “an important EVIL camera for underwater use.” as said in this (http://wetpixel.com/i.php/full/using-the-olympus-om-d-e-m5-underwater/) article. Wetpixel is a serious website dedicated to u/w photography by professional photographers. Actually the writer Alex Mustard is a very well known one.”
Issues: Anonymous: “this is not a rumor but a kind request to evaulate the opportunity to highlight a recent discovered E-M5 manufacturing/design weakness: there are a lot of confirmations that the LCD bezel develops crack near the bottom fixing screws. This should not to be considered a trivial cosmetic-only issue, the crack, growing up, could easily compromise the weather sealing and will lower the price of an used body when sold. Please, for further details see here: http://www.mu-43.com/f42/omd-em5-crack-bottom-bezel-screen-normal-36685/index2.html and here: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/post/50330633. Your support could greatly help to put some pressure to Olympus in order to officially acknowlegde the issue.”
Some more readers mails: Robert: “I just wanted to let you know that one of the biggest Swiss electronics dealers (www.digitec.ch) currently offers a 10% discount on all Olympus products. The offer is valid until 3rd December 2012. Unfortunately, they only ship to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, but still the discount is nice. Have just ordered an OM-D Kit with the 12-50mm zoom.” Pierre: “Like other sites, you missel the BEST deal available for Olympus OMD: 1049.99$ WITH 12-50 mm. A 249.99$ rebate! Link: http://www.henrys.com/68950-OLYMPUS-OM-D-E-M5-BLACK-W-12-50-LENS.aspx”
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].
