On February 8th OM Digital will announce the new macro lens. Here are the specs:

• M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 90mm F3.5 Macro IS PRO
  – Lens construction: 18 elements in 13 groups (2 Super ED lenses, 4 ED lenses, 1 Super HR lens, 1 HR lens)
  – Minimum focusing distance: 22.4 cm
  – Maximum magnification : 2.0x (35mm equivalent: 4.0x)
  – Filter diameter:
  62mm – Size: φ69.8 x 136mm
  – Weight: 453g
  – Image stabilization effect: Up to 6 steps (Lens IS), up to 7 steps (Sync IS)
  – Dustproof, splashproof, and freezeproof performance

via Digicameinfo

OM System launched that teaser for an “exiting announcement”. I guess we will finally get that new 90mm macro lens!

One more thought: OM writes “exciting” which leads to believe there might be more than “only” a 90mm macro lens. Let’s hope this is the case…but I learned to not trust marketing phrases :(

The new S5II specs got leaked and indeed it will have phase detection AF. I am 100% sure from now on all new Panasonic MFT cameras will have the same autofocus system.

Panasonic S5II

specification sheet

• 24.2-megapixel CMOS sensor
  , AR coat
  , sensor shift type dust removal unit
  , 14+ stops in V-log,
  5-axis 5-step in-body image stabilization
  , Dual.IS 2 6.5-step image stabilization
• JPEG/RAW/MOV/MP4
• H.264/H.265
• 6K 30p 200Mbps LGOP 4:2:0 10bit
• C4K 60p 4:2:2 10bit
• 3.68 million dots OLED viewfinder 0.78x 120fps
• Free angle monitor 3.0 type 1.84 million dots
• Image plane phase detection AF / Contrast AF
• DFD technology
• AF -6EV – 18EV
• ISO 100-51200
• Extended ISO 50-204800
• Dual Native
  , Normal ISO 100/640
  , V-Log ISO 640/4000
  , HLG 400/2500
• Mechanical shutter 1/8000 – 60 seconds
• Electronic shutter 1/8000 – 60 seconds
• Continuous shooting speed
  ・Mechanical maximum 9 fps
  ・Electronic SH 30 fps H 9 fps
• Video function
  ・Vertical position
  ・Level gauge
  ・Knee control
  ・Waveform monitor
  ・Anamorphic de-squeeze display
  ・HLG view assist
  ・LUT view assist
  ・Color bar
  ・Luminance level
  ・Live crop
  ・Stop motion animation
• USB-C 3.2 Gen 2
• HDMI A 4:2:2 10bit C4K 60p
• 3.5mm microphone headphone
• SD card dual slot
• 2.4/5GHz Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 5.0
• Fan Auto/Auto2/High Speed/Normal/Slow/OFF
• 2200mAh battery
  , 370 still images
  , USB power supply, charging
• Battery Grip DMW-BGS5
• Dust and splash proof
• Size 134×102×90mm
• Weight 740g

Panasonic S5IIx

• 24.2 megapixel full-size sensor with effective pixels
• 6K30P video (full size)/4K60P video (APS-C size)
• Supports Apple ProRes recording
• Supports IP streaming function (Wi-Fi, USB, wired LAN)

LUMIX S 14-28mm F4-5.6 MACRO

• Lens construction: 14 elements in 10 groups (1 aspherical ED lens, 1 aspherical lens, 3 ED lenses, 1 UHR lens)
• Shortest shooting distance: 0.15m
• Maximum magnification: 0.5x (at 28mm) / 0.25x (at 14mm)
• Filter size: 77mm
• Size: φ84 x 89.8mm
• Weight: 345g
• Dust-proof, splash-proof, and freeze-proof specifications

via Asobinet

They don’t expect any new Panasonic MFT camera for 2023 (or they forgot to mention this). But they expect to see a new OM-10 which I also think is 99,9999% likely to happen!

This could be the first image of the new Panasonic S5II. The camera is rumored to feature a new autofocus system (unclear if it has Lidar). And it might be announced on January 4th.

It’s likely future MFT cameras will feature the same new autofocus tech!

Here you have the first images and specs of the new Leica DG VARIO-ELMARIT 12-35mm f/2.8 ASPH. POWER OIS lens.

• LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT 12-35mm/F2.8 ASPH./POWER OIS
• mount: Micro Four Thirds
• Filter diameter: 58mm
• dust/splash proof
• Minimum focusing distance 0,15m
• Scheduled release date: February 16, 2023

So what’s different compared to the current Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 II lens? Obviously the new lens now uses the “Leica” brand name. And while it appears that the optical construction remains the same, the new Leica can focus at 0,15m while the Panasonic focused at 0,25m:

via Asobinet

An usually very reliable Japanese source sad that Panasonic will announce a new “H-ES12035” lens this week! I don’t know yet if this lens will be a successor of the current 12-35mm f/2.8 II lens (seen on the image on top). Here are the rumored specs:

• 12-35mm F2.8
• $897
• Announcement Mid-December

It’s unclear yet if Panasonic will also share some details about their new Lidar autofocus tech…

via Asobinet