[shoplink 14800][/shoplink] Image courtesy: Photozone

Photozone (Click here) posted a full review of the Olympus 14-150mm lens: “The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm f/4-5.6 is an acceptable “high-power 10.7x zoom” but don’t expect magic from it. The delivered center resolution is actually pretty decent across the range whereas the border and corner performance is not that impressive“. Get the lens here at [shopcountry 14800]

SLRgear tested the Panasonic 14-42mm kit lens: “good sharpness wide open, and excellent stopped down a little. Given that it’s the kit lens to a G3 package, you’ll probably find yourself with one of these lenses just by buying into the system, and then it’ll become a question of whether to stay with the kit lens, or buy something else. While you’re deciding, you should be able to make excellent photographs.” Get the lens here at [shopcountry 23962] (Those are all direct search links)

ePhotozine tested the Olympus 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 Lens:”The levels of sharpness it can deliver throughout the zoom range are excellent, especially in the centre of the image area. This coupled with the low levels of CA and distortion make it an excellent choice for anyone looking to expand the zoom range of their Micro Four Thirds camera into telephoto.” Direct search links at [shopcountry 15864].

ePhotozine also tested the new Olympus PEN Converter Lenses: “All three converters offer a cheaper way of extending the usability of your kit lenses, without adding much bulk to your existing Micro Four Thirds camera kit and they are quite reasonably priced too.”
Olympus Macro Converter links at [shopcountry 21293].
Olympus Fisheye Converter links at [shopcountry 21289].
Olympus Wide Angle Converter links at [shopcountry 21292].

FourThirdsUser posted someShooting wide with the m.Zuiko 12mm f/2.0. Preorder at [shopcountry 23576].

There is a new set of 45mm f/1.8 image samples at Callotype.com. Preorder at [shopcountry 23577].

The PhoBlographer (Click here) compared the high ISO results of the new [shoplink 23568]Olympus E-P3[/shoplink] with the [shoplink 23176]Canon 7D[/shoplink] and [shoplink 23568]Canon 5D markII[/shoplink]: “Based on the image samples, the Canon 5D Mk II is still way ahead of the other two cameras. However, the EP3 is almost on par with the Canon 7D’s high ISO output results. Overall, the new Olympus EP3 has been able to vastly improve the high ISO output and may finally creep up within the next iteration of the camera (or maybe even in RAW).”

Focus Numerique (Click here) made an LCD spectrophotometer and continous autofocus test. The LCD contrast is excellent and makes it comfortable viewing in bright sunlight. The autofocus speed is extremly fast in bright light but has a poor performance in low light conditions.

Pekkapotka (Click here) posted a new continous autofocus test: “While E-P3´s single AF might be at same level as D3x´s single AF, continuous AF is not.”

Simon from Clubsnap had the chance to test the new Olympus 45mm f/1.8 portrait lens. He posted a set of images including 100% crops.

Preorder links (Amazon DE is now accepting preorders on lenses too!):
Olympus E-P3 preorders at Amazon US, Adorama, BHphoto, Amazon UK and Amazon DE.
Olympus 12mm f/2.0 preorders at Amazon US, Adorama, B&H, Amazon DE and [shoplink 23576 ebay]eBay[/shoplink].
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 preorders at Amazon US, Adorama, B&H and Amazon DE.

The camera is now avaialable in Europe (and slowly in US too). Click on the shop names to see if it is in Stock: [shopcountry 22077].

One more private thing: Sorry If I posted that news 10 hours to late but I am on vacation on an isolated place. And yesterday the whole phone network didn’t work in that place. So connection is coming and going and it will be like that until July 26th. Hope you can have a bit of patience If I am not so fast in answering your mails or posting news.

Thanks Valentin for being the first to test the lens and thanks Olympus for finding the way back to your strenghts (at least with the lenses!).

UPDATE: “Uwe” sent me this: Diffraction has nothing to do with the lens itself. It is only defined by f-stop and pixel size. Making a not about f/22 for a m43 lens does not relly make sense. I think m43 with 16MP sensor is easily diffraction limited at f/8.

Clcik those links to preorder the Olympus 12mm f/2.0 lens at Amazon US, Adorama, B&H and [shoplink 23576 ebay]eBay[/shoplink]

If you want that camera click those direct search links to find the G3: [shopcountry 22077].

“Cinegraphy” posted this very first 133 Mbit video shot with the hacked GH2 on Personal-View.com: “The name says it all: a 133 Mbit Mjpeg Clip, straight from my [shoplink 16254]GH2[/shoplink], not edited / graded / transcoded before upload…
Of course watching it on Vimeo doesn’t make that much sense, since it’s only interesting from a technical point of view; you’re welcome to download the source file…
Following settings were used (regarding Mpeg tweeking): Quality 400/300/250/188; Table 4/4/4/4 (as far as I know these are some settings, Modulr developed for the GH13 Firmware hack 1-2 years ago)…”

EosHD posted another video with the hacked GH2: “A preview of my shot film shot using the GH2 hack in 4:3 MJPEG mode with a LOMO 2x anamorphic lens. For the first time we can shoot as intended with a 2x anamorphic lens on a DSLR. 4:3 converts to true 2.35:1 cinemascope with such a lens. Anamorphic lenses were used on some great all time classics, Blade Runner and Alien for instance.” See a lis of anamorphic lenses on [shoplink 23850 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

Please follow that topic to read everything you need to know about the GH2: http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/332/ptool-3.60d-topic

Thanks again Vitaly for your amazing work!

Click those direct search links to see the GH2 price and specs: [shopcountry 16254].

The Phoblographer’s Autofocus Test: Olympus EP3 vs Canon 7D

There are many interesting E-P3 tests you absolutely have to see! On top you can see an [shoplink 23568]E-P3[/shoplink] versus Canon 7D autofocus test. Easy to see who is the winner! And here is the reviews list:

1) Photographyblog (Click here) made a very detailed Olympus E-P3 JPEG vs RAW comparison. And those are the most interesting notes:
– The camera-original JPEG shows considerably higher contrast, while the raw conversion has arguably better tonality.
– There’s a bit of luminance noise in the JPEG, while the raw conversion has some tightly-grained chroma noise.
– AT High ISO the JPEG has a monochromatic noise pattern, while the raw conversion has more chroma noise
– You can definitely achieve much crisper-looking results by shooting raw, but the actual amount of detail may not be that much higher, and you may also run into aliasing issues.

2) Micro Four Thirds high ISO noise compared – G1, E-P2, E-P3 at FourThirdsUser (Click here). Who wins? Easy…the E-P3 :)

3) Focus Numerique (Click here) posted their well known ISO tests of the E-P3. At highest sensitivities (ISO 3200 and 6400) images of the E-P3 are better than the [shoplink 18844]E-PL2[/shoplink] but it gets beaten by the [shoplink 22077]G3[/shoplink]. Focus Numerique posted also some Image samples you can download as RAW!

And finally also Amazon.de is accepting E-P3 preorders. Here is the updated Hot preorder list:
Olympus E-P3 preorders at Amazon US, Adorama, BHphoto, Amazon UK and Amazon DE.
Olympus 12mm f/2.0 preorders at Amazon US, Adorama, B&H and [shoplink 23576 ebay]eBay[/shoplink].
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 preorders at Amazon US, Adorama, B&H.