Olympus OM-D Underwater Video Tests – by Jim-Decker from Digital Shootout on Vimeo.

It’s summer time and I guess some 43rumors readers are divers. So you may look at the new double underwater test at Thedigitalshootout. They reviewed both the GX1 (here is the review) and the E-M5 (here is the review).

I live in the middle of the mountains so I am the wrong person when it comes to talk about what’s good or not about the underwater performance. Anyway, I trust the reviewer when he writes that the “E-M5 in the Nauticam housing is hands down the most sophisticated and highest performing mirrorless camera you can take underwater today.” and the “GX1 in the NA-GX1 is so brilliant… shooting performance is great, and the image quality rivals SLRs at 3 times its price.“.

For US readers: The Silver E-M5 kit is finally in Stock at Amazon (Click here).

GX1 shop search links: [shopcountry 26836].
E-M5 shop search links: [shopcountry 29074].

Olympus 75mm lens on the E-m5 (Image courtesy from DSLRmagazine).

It’s already time for a new review post on 43rumors:

DSLRmagazine (Tranlsation here) just posted the full Olympus 75mm lens review. As you see from the charts posted on the website the lens provides an excellent performance in every aspect. The reviewer writes that the lens has indeed the fastest AF on the market. And while the lens has a very tele focal length he writes that it’s “ideal for “stolen” portraits and street shots from a distance, more discreet and the focal inadevertido standard documentary.” Bye bye privacy :)

As noted by other before the only real flaw of the lens is that the hood is not included. For 900 Euro Dollar we would have liked to see it in our box fro free.

Some new in Stock status info. The lens will arrive in Europe within the next 2-3 weeks according to Amazon Germany (Click here), on July 31th according to Amazon UK (Click here), on July 20th according to BHphoto (Click here). If you really can’t wait you can uy it right now in Asia where it is in Stock on eBay ([shoplink 32105 ebay]here[/shoplink] and [shoplink 32106 ebay]here[/shoplink]) and at Digitalrev.

Time for a new recap of the newest tests. On top you see the E-M5 with standard lens comparison by DSLR-check. Click on the image to see the full size version at DSLR Check.

Tyson Robicheaud posted an update on his E-M5 and G3 sensor comparison. Olympus E-M5 coverage at Diglloyd. E-M5 with Panasonic 12-35mm X lens test at Itmedia (translation here). Some image samples taken with the 75mm lens at 500px. Venez essayer l’Olympus OM-D EM-5 at Focus Numerique. Long Term Comparison Review of the Fujifilm X Pro 1 vs Sony NEX 7 vs Olympus OMD EM5 at ThePhoBlographer. A new case for the E-M5 via DC.watch.

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Olympus and Panasonic lens preorder:
Panasonic 12-35mm X lens preorders at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon Germany, Amazon UK, Fotohanskeuzekamp, Amazon Japan and Digitalrev.
Olympus 75mm preorder and price check at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Amazon Germany and Amazon UK.

E-M5 preorder 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].

My friend Tyson Robicheaud (Click here) compared the [shoplink 29074]Olympus E-M5[/shoplink] with 16 Megapixel Sony sensor with the [shoplink 22077]Panasonic G3[/shoplink] and 16 Megapixel Panasonic sensor: “I really wanted to see how these two sensors compared to one another as I have been very impressed by the G3.” Check out his website to learn more about the test!

Meantime I remind you that on July 18th we will see the new G5 which has the same G3 sensor but a newly improved processor. Let’s hope the new GH3 (again 16 MPX?) sensor brings a major improvement in RAW quality too!

Olympus E-M5 price and in Stock status check at [shopcountry 29074].
Panasonic G3 price and in Stock status check at [shopcountry 22077].

This week we finally had the answer about the E-m5 sensor manufactorer. As you know i’s a Sony and you may will look to the reviews I link form now on knowing it’s not just a “re-used” Panasonic 16 Megapixel sensor. Here are the links:

Reviews:
Imaging Resource posted the full E-M5 review: “Not only does the Olympus OM-D E-M5 look great, it takes great pictures, meeting or exceeding the quality of some pretty surprising competitors. Its interface is designed with photographers in mind, with ready control dials and a smart interface, all in a very small package.”
Three first reactions at The Online Photographer.

And here are two readers E-M5 works:
Marco: “give a look to what I did: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcWds9N_hgc
 I wanted to try to test the AF speed of the OM-D with some of my regular 4/3 lenses such as 12-60, 35-100, 50-500 and 7-14. I think that it’s an interesting test to understand how the OM-D performs when using 4/3 lenses. Of course it’s not a great performance, but seeing it filmed may give confidence to doubtful users! Greeting from Rome!”
Cem: “I tried my new OM-D E-M5 last night with 4th of July fireworks. It did an amazing job. I tought you may want to share it so others can see what this camera can do!
here is my flickr link for the album! http://www.flickr.com/photos/cempayzin/sets/72157630429515370/”

E-M5 preorder 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].

Image courtesy: Pekka Potka

Pekka Potka (Click here) posted the full Nokton 17.5mm review: “It has potential to give you visually interesting images with its own touch. It has also potential for great image quality in strictest technical meaning. But it is not a good choice for a casual shooters. Street photography and moody images in low light are its own territory.

To get the lens check [shoplink 30452]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

P.S.: The Panasonic 12-35mm X lens is now shipping in Europe. In Stock for example at Fotomundus (Germany).

Robin Wong (Click here) posted the second part of his [shoplink 31284]Olympus 75mm f/1.8[/shoplink] review: “it will give you extremely sharp images, with very admirable bokeh quality and performs very well in autofocus. If you need the 75mm focal length, do a lot of portrait shooting, and know what you are doing with a 75mm focal length, this 75mm F1.8 lens will make you a much happier photographer.”

And don’t forget to play with the nice Matching Simulation (Click here). All newest lenses including the 75mm Olympus, Panasonic X zoom, Tokina 300mm, Sigma primes and Nokton 17.5mm are included! The only thing I hope Olympus and Panasonic will add is larger pictures. Hope they are reading me :)

Links to the mentioned newest lenses of 2012:
Panasonic 12-35mm X lens preorders at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon Germany, Amazon UK, Fotohanskeuzekamp, Amazon Japan and Digitalrev.
Olympus 75mm preorder and price check at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Amazon Germany and Amazon UK.
Sigma 30mm lens at Amazon US, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, Amazon JP (Click here) and Digitalrev.
Sigma 19mm lens at Amazon US , Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, Amazon JP and Digitalrev.
Nokton 17.5mm at Amazon and Bhphoto and we Europeans can find it for an incredible good price at [shoplink 31772 ebay]LaPetiteBoutique (Click here)[/shoplink].
Tokina 300mm….still missing :(