The new Panasonic GX1 just got DxOmarked! The results aren’t that much different from the G3 which has the same GX1 sensor. There are only minor differences as you can see from the image on top. Hope the new year will bring us some kind of major improvement on the Panasonic sensor quality!
Click here to play with the DxOmark camera comparison tool!
Panasonic GX1 preorder links: [shopcountry 26836].
UPDATE: The GH2 has been marked as discontinued at BHphoto (Click here). But after a couple of hours BHphoto changed the status in “Back in Stock”. So false alarm. I am still not sure the GH3 is really coming now.
P.S.: Hot USA deal: Olympus 12mm f/2.0 lens sells now for $715 only at Amazon (Click here).
Personal-View (Click here) posted the image of the new Panasonic X lens prototypes and found you can clearly see how the lenses have a constant aperture of f/2.8 and a 58mm filter size.
As I told you weeks ago the lenses will be announced in early February. But I guess those are the final specs. What’s missing is the price info. Previous rumors said the lenses should cost somewhere in between $1200-$1500.
I really wish Olympus will one day make a m43 version of their [shoplink 25320 ebay]14-35mm f/2.0[/shoplink] and the [shoplink 25119 ebay]35-100mm f/2.0[/shoplink] Zuiko lenses.
The new super tiny 14-42mm X pancake has been tested at SLRgear (Click here): “the lens offers excellent performance, and provides a very small package in the process. Unless you’re hooked on zoom and focus rings, there’s not much to argue about with this lens.”
In Stock status: [shopcountry 25104].
Full Panasonic-Leica 25mm f/1.4 review at Steve Huff (Click here): “The IQ is superb, the lens focuses about as fast as the 20 1.7 and I had no issues focusing in low light with the E-P3. Overall I’d say if you don’t mind the size, go for the 25.”
In Stock status: [shopcountry 23110].
Deals:
The Panasonic GX1 body is back in Stock at Amazon (Click here),
Panasonic GF2 for $345 at Amazon (Click here). E-PM1 super kit for $459 at Cameta (Click here). E-PL1 for $222 at Cameta (Click here).
Today I wrote how the Fuji X PRO 1 was too highly priced to compete against the Micro Four Thrids world. An anonymous source yesterday told me that the real price is in relaity much cheaper and that it was a sort of “marketing trick” from Fuji to announce a higher price. Didn’t believe him first but now the very frist preorder is up and indeed the price is MUCH lower. Check it out:
Fuji X PRO 1 worldwide first preorder at Expansys USA (Click here), Expansys Canada (Click here) and Expansys UK (Click here).
That would completely change the situation and put a hard pressure on Olympus and Panasonic!
UDPATE: I am still not sure this is the full price you pay!
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Olympus Hong Kong is sending out invitation for a big event which will take place on Feb 8th! Olympus itself said that they will announce a new “PRO level camera” and a “line of new products“.
As I told you yesterday you should expect a super high quality body (weather sealed!), with built-in viewfinder. But unlike the X PRO 1 and NEX-7 this is not going to have a rangefinder look. It’s a “revival” of the glorious [shoplink 27042 ebay]OM camera[/shoplink] series. What I don’t know yet is what Olympus means with “new line of products”. Hope to get more rumors about that soon!
P.S.: OM camera and lens auctions on [shoplink 27042 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Rumors classification explained (FT= FourThirds):
FT1=1-20% chance the rumor is correct
FT2=21-40% chance the rumor is correct
FT3=41-60% chance the rumor is correct
FT4=61-80% chance the rumor is correct
FT5=81-99% chance the rumor is correct
Fuji almost did it! They almost made a super camera but there could be a problem. The price is very likely too high. $1699 for the body only? Niet! What are the other points in favour of the m43 system? The camera is also a bit to big compared to m43 cameras, video quality should be very low compared to what Panasonic cameras can deliver. The sensor looks promising but not revolutionary, no foveon alike design, no organic sensor, “only” the AA filter has been removed thanks to the new RGB pattern and with heavy postprocessing work. Not to play down the Fuji camera, it’s certainly a super nice camera, but I feel like there is a chance fro Olympus to get on par with this with the next [shoplink 27042 ebay]Olympus OM[/shoplink] alike m43 camera. While I am sure body quality and viewfinder technology of the Olympus will be on par with the Fuji X PRO 1 I don’t know if Olympus will make it right with the new sensor. Let’s cross the fingers!
The guys over at ePhotozine asked Fuji the following question: Why not join Micro Four Thirds?
Answer: “Fujifilm are a photographic company with a lot of history in Fujinon optics, using our own lens mount and sensor allows us to be in total control of the system and final image quality.”
And here below you can hear a Fuji manager that at the end of the interview talks about the Olympus situation:
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Fuji X PRO 1 at Amazon (notification only).
Fuji 18mm lens at Amazon (notification only).
Fuji 35mm lens at Amazon (notification only).
Fuji 60mm lens at Amazon (notification only).
