Filed under: Digital Cameras

Take this with a pinch of NaCl, but Adorama has it that Panasonic’s Yasunori Takase confessed to a US price tag on the newly unveiled Lumix DMC-G1. During a leisurely chat at Photokina, the higher-up noted that the Micro Four Thirds camera would hit US soil for $799, though he didn’t bother to mention an expected ship date. If you’ll recall, we found that the G1 would start shipping at the tail end of October for ¥80,000 (around $750); considering that, we’d say $799 sounds about right over on this side of the world.

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Panasonic might be the first to ship its new micro Four Thirds G1, but Olympus definitely stole the hotness crown with that retro concept cam, and the company just confirmed that it’ll join the ranks of the shipping — Olympus European marketing director Miquel Angel Garcia told Pocket-lint that we should expect a camera similar to the prototype within the next 12 months. According to Garcia, micro Four Thirds is “about design and style, not about a smaller black box” — take that, Panny. Hopefully this means we’ll be seeing the DSLR-sized micro Four Thirds sensor shake up the fashion cam market, but we’ll see what Olympus has in store — the sooner the better, guys.

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Is it Photokina time, or what? Joining the host of other camera manufacturers with sparkly fresh announcements this week is none other than Leica, which just announced a trio of new cams a few days back. This introduction, however, stands alone, and Leica’s making some pretty remarkably bold statements about its new S-system. The first device to take advantage is the 37-frickin’-megapixel S2, which sits between Canon’s EOS 5D and EOS 1Ds MkIII in terms of body size. The company designed the camera to provide “the quality of medium format and the handling and flexibility of 35mm,” and the outfit also has nine S-system lenses on tap. As for expectations? Leica says it’ll perform “twice as fast as Hasselblad H-series cameras,” and if that wasn’t straight-up enough, the firm’s David Bell proclaimed that “[Leica] thinks it has the best professional camera system in the world with this.”

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

We heard it was coming, but we didn’t expect Olympus to bust out a Micro Four Thirds system with such vintage hotness. Taking its visual cues from the classic Rangefinder cameras, this unnamed Olympus is just a concept for now with no pricing, specs, or release date announced. Still, it shows just how far Olympus and Panasonic can push the Micro Four Thirds standard while maintaining Four Thirds lens compatibility and a DSLR-sized 18 x 13.5-mm sensor. One more snap after the break, more beyond the read link.

Continue reading Olympus drops jaws with retro Micro Four Thirds concept

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

In the run-up to Photokina, Olympus just announced its latest Four Thirds DSLR targeting the “advanced amateur.” Positioned in the enormous gap between Olympus’ flagship E-3 and E-520 shooters, the new E-A1 DSLR inherits the E-3’s high-speed 11-point AF system, image stabilization with 5 stops correction, while featuring improved weather sealing around a housing we expect to be relatively compact by comparison. Available in Q1 2009 if things stay on track.

As co-consprirators with Panasonic behind the Micro Four Thirds format, it’s no surprise to hear that Olympus also has a tiny, mirror-less prototype camera to show off at Photokina as well. The only surprise is that it’ll be on display under glass without a date, specs, or price.

[Via cnet]

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

In the run-up to Photokina, Olympus just announced its latest Four Thirds DSLR targeting the “advanced amateur.” Positioned in the enormous gap between Olympus’ flagship E-3 and E-520 shooters, the new E-A1 DSLR inherits the E-3’s high-speed 11-point AF system, image stabilization with 5 stops correction, while featuring improved weather sealing around a housing we expect to be relatively compact by comparison. Available in Q1 2009 if things stay on track.

As co-consprirators with Panasonic behind the Micro Four Thirds format, it’s no surprise to hear that Olympus also has a tiny, mirror-less prototype camera to show off at Photokina as well. The only surprise is that it’ll be on display under glass without a date, specs, or price.

[Via cnet]

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

We just barely got our unsteady mitts on the upcoming Lumix G1, yet already Panasonic is teasing with something of a successor, currently dubbed the “G.” It uses the G1’s same micro four thirds body design, ditching the mirror and optical viewfinder in favor of case slimness, but adds a stereo microphone on top and record button on back for high-def video capture — rare stuff on a consumer digi-cam with a replaceable lens. No word on price or availability, but given the G1 isn’t slated to hit Japan until October we wouldn’t expect this one until sometime next year. Meanwhile, if you tend to prefer pictures of the non-moving variety, LetsGoDigital also has some test images taken by a pre-release G1. The 640×480 snaps themselves aren’t anything to get too excited about (unless you’re a Formula One fan), but do prove that the camera can indeed take pictures.

Read - Panasonic Lumix G
Read - G1 Test Photos

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

We got to handle Panny’s new micro Four Thirds camera, the Lumix DMC-G1, this evening. It’s obviously small for a interchangeable lens camera, but it’s not stunningly small. The build quality shows that Panasonic isn’t kidding around here: the camera is a hefty and solid, with a decent shutter click and no-nonsense manual controls. The 3-inch LCD also doesn’t disappoint, though the digital viewfinder is a tad disorienting, and precise focusing could be an issue. Yes, we fully recognize the irony of taking crummy photographs of a camera, but work with us here.

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

We got to handle Panny’s new micro Four Thirds camera, the Lumix DMC-G1, this evening. It’s obviously small for a interchangeable lens camera, but it’s not stunningly small. The build quality shows that Panasonic isn’t kidding around here: the camera is a hefty and solid, with a decent shutter click and no-nonsense manual controls. The 3-inch LCD also doesn’t disappoint, though the digital viewfinder is a tad disorienting, and precise focusing could be an issue. Yes, we fully recognize the irony of taking crummy photographs of a camera, but work with us here.

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Just weeks after Olympus and Panasonic launched the potentially revolutionary Micro Four Thirds system, in flies word that Samsung is looking to steal their thunder with a sure-to-be-incompatible alternative. Speaking at IFA in Berlin, Samsung Techwin executive vice president Byung Woo Lee confessed that the company was gearing up to introduce a new “interchangeable lens ‘Hybrid’ digital camera system.” The first model in the still unnamed system would reportedly carry Sammy’s own 14-megapixel APS-C sized CMOS sensor and a new lens mount, and while exact size specifications weren’t disclosed, you can rest assured that the end product will aim to deliver DSLR-like results in a much more compact frame. As with the aforementioned Micro Four Thirds, this method will also utilize electronic viewfinders and a live rear LCD for framing, though we won’t see anything on store shelves until early 2010. Talk about testing our patience.

[Via 1001 Noisy Cameras]

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Ready for this? Olympus and Panasonic just announced a new mirrorless format / lens mount based on the venerable Four Thirds standard. Dubbed Micro Four Thirds System, the enhanced standard uses the same 18 x 13.5-mm sensor but promises 50% slimmer cameras due to the removal of the mirror box. We’re also looking at smaller lenses (while remaining compatible with existing Four Third lenses with an adapter) thanks in part to a new reduced lens mount which is now 6-mm smaller. With the mirror box gone, Micro Four Third cameras will lose the optical viewfinder so you’ll have to frame up your subjects using a Live View LCD or an external viewfinder.

How big of a development is this? Huge. As Phil Askey, editor over at dpreview puts it, “This is without doubt the most exciting digital photography announcement this year. It’s fair to say that this “extension / addition” to the Four Thirds standard is finally able to deliver on the original promise of that format; considerably smaller and lighter lenses and bodies.”

Unfortunately, no products were announced so you’ve got plenty of time to debate the spec and pour over the illustrations we’ve dropped in after the break.

[Via 1001 Noisy Cameras]

Continue reading Olympus and Panasonic launch Micro Four Thirds, DSLRs enter a new phase

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Ready for this? Olympus and Panasonic just announced a new mirrorless format and lens mount based on the venerable Four Thirds standard. Dubbed Micro Four Thirds System, the enhanced standard uses the same 18 x 13.5-mm sensor but promises 50% slimmer cameras due to the removal of the mirror box. We’re also looking at smaller lenses (while remaining compatible with existing Four Third lenses with an adapter) thanks in part to a new reduced lens mount which is now 6-mm smaller. With the mirror box gone, Micro Four Third cameras will lose the optical viewfinder so you’ll have to frame up your subjects using a Live View LCD or an external viewfinder.

How big of a development is this? Huge. As Phil Askey, editor over at dpreview puts it, “This is without doubt the most exciting digital photography announcement this year. It’s fair to say that this “extension / addition” to the Four Thirds standard is finally able to deliver on the original promise of that format; considerably smaller and lighter lenses and bodies.”

Unfortunately, no products were announced so you’ve got plenty of time to debate the spec and pour over the illustrations we’ve dropped in after the break.

[Via 1001 Noisy Cameras]

Continue reading Olympus and Panasonic launch Micro Four Thirds, compact DSLRs will be yours

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Ready for this? Olympus and Panasonic just announced a new mirrorless format and lens mount based on the venerable Four Thirds standard. Dubbed Micro Four Thirds System, the enhanced standard uses the same 18 x 13.5-mm sensor but promises 50% slimmer cameras due to the removal of the mirror box. We’re also looking at smaller lenses (while remaining compatible with existing Four Third lenses with an adapter) thanks in part to a new reduced lens mount which is now 6-mm smaller. With the mirror box gone, Micro Four Third cameras will lose the optical viewfinder so you’ll have to frame up your subjects using a Live View LCD or an external viewfinder.

How big of a development is this? Huge. As Phil Askey, editor over at dpreview puts it, “This is without doubt the most exciting digital photography announcement this year. It’s fair to say that this “extension / addition” to the Four Thirds standard is finally able to deliver on the original promise of that format; considerably smaller and lighter lenses and bodies.”

Unfortunately, no products were announced so you’ve got plenty of time to debate the spec and pour over the illustrations we’ve dropped in after the break.

[Via 1001 Noisy Cameras]

Continue reading Olympus and Panasonic launch Micro Four Thirds, compact “DSLRs” will be yours

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