I’m an enthusiastic follower of the 43rumors.com website. Especially today. Their latest rumor is “(FT5) A “rangefinder” company will release a MicroFourThirds product in few hours…“. Isn’t that a great way to build tension, make your readers come back at least one more time today, start envisioning which company will make the announcement, what this product will be? For those less familiar with the site: FT5 means a rumor is more or less confirmed by reliable sources, preferably more than one (“almost certainly correct” in 43rumors words, but still a rumor!).
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Dutch internet retailer Foto Konijnenberg is now offering the Panasonic GF1 for € 699, including the 20mm/1.7 pancake lens.
One month to go until the Photokina in Cologne. All photo gear related sites have started speculating about what to expect from which vendors. We’ll see… Maybe Panasonic will announce the GF1 successor, maybe even sooner (rumors go that there is an important announcement by Panasonic next week). We’ll see… With the Canon S95 and Panasonic LX5 introduced lately, I’ll wait just a few more months before I decide whether or not I’ll but a supercompact to keep my DSLR’s company…
During my holidays Panasonic has officially announced the LX5, the much anticipated successor of their LX3 premium compact camera. According to the official Panasonic press release, the new DMC-LX5 is fully re-designed in the lens, the CCD and the image processing engine together with other improvements and upgrades. Goodthing: zoom range 24-90mm with diaphragm starting at 2.0, 10.1 mp with an increased dynamic range and HD video. Read all the details in the press release.
Not so long ago I wrote about the silence at the rumors front. Yesterday, 43rumors.com mentioned an upcoming camera by Panasonic, not the much anticipated GF2, but a fixed lens compact, slightly larger than the LX3, with a larger sensor and an optical viewfinder. Only rumors of course, all details still to be confirmed. Interesting detail is that the camera will probably be introduced in July, well before the Photokina in September.
DPReview has published an extensive review of the recently announced Sony Nex-5. I was rather disappointed with their findings: high image quality but low usability, especially in PASM mode, my preferred mode of operation. So maybe Sony is already working hard on a revised user interface or at least some improvements for the more advanced user who demands quick access to diafragm, shutter speed and ISO settings.
I just read this funny article on Ken Rockwell’s site about the Noktor 50 mm f/0.95. Apparently this company has managed to create a lot of marketing attention for their ultra-fast lens which turns out to be nothing more than a security camera lens in disguise. With probably horrible performance as a stills camera… Be warned!
Several sites have published hands-on previews of the new to-be-released Sony NEX-5 camera. Engadget has a video preview from which I wrote down some of the remarks:
- New 16mm and 18-55mm lenses are quiet and feel smooth
- Good image and video quality
- Irritating menu quirks
- Audio thin, external microphone is recommended
- 3D processing of panorama shots that can be viewed on Sany Bravia 3D TV’s (firmwarte update expeted in July)
- Camera is fairly fast, bu inconsistent autofocus now and then
- Creative styles: default setting renders inaccurate colors
- Severe barrel and pincushion distortion with 18-55 lens
- Magnesium body
- No autofocus when using E-mount adapter
- Flash not build-in but snap-on
- 1080i HD video capability
- Auto HDR (High Dynamic Range) further refined from A550 DSLR
Today, Nikon Europe announced the successor of the 200-400/F4 supertelezoom introduced in 1993: The AF-S NIKKOR 200-400 mm F/4G ED VR II (awful product name once again, Nikon!). Nice to have if you need a wide range of tele but I hardly use any lens beyond 85mm so I’m not in the market for this one. Especially not given the (expected) price tag of € 7.995!
Panasonic has released new firmware for their GF1 camera (also for the G1 and GH1 by the way). The new firmware promises faster autofocus.
In the Netherlands I’ve noticed a price drop of € 50 for the GF1 with the 20mm/1.7 pancake lens. (€ 749 now, used to be € 799 until last week).
Still in the decision making process, I’ve also considered the new G2 camera but I think it’s too big for a compact. At least for what I’ve in mind. However I do appreciate the built-in viewfinder!
