Panasonic DMC-GX8 announced

Panasonic announced the new GX8 with some pretty nice specs for a M43 (micro 4/3) camera, 20mp's is a first for a M43. Dynamic range is supposed to be increased and new processing power is supposed to keep pace with the 16mp GX7's 6fps speed continuous AF. The Dual IS system, sounds very interesting. It combines sensor and optical lens stabilization.

It seems Olympus has gone to sleep and left Panasonic to do the innovation in the micro four thirds realm, not sure why Olympus has been so quiet, perhaps they are preparing a 20mp sensor from Sony also. If this f/.95 lens was AF, I would consider this option. Come on Olympus, give us some really fast primes. The lens options are not bad, but not good enough to budge me to the mount.

Review: Imaging Resource here
Pocket Lint here
Camera Labs here
Phoblographer here
DPreview here

20.3 MP Digital Live MOS Sensor

Venus Engine Image Processor

Micro Four Thirds System

Tilting 2.36m-Dot 0.77x OLED EVF

3.0" 1.04m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen

4K UHD Video Recording at 30/24 fps

Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity with NFC

10 fps Shooting with AF-S and ISO 25600

DFD AF System, 4K Photo Modes

In-Camera Image Stabilization, Dual I.S.

Priced at $1198 body only, it will be a hard sell for a small sensor camera, but if image quality comes in high, it would be nice used with some of the fast primes from Panasonic and Olympus.

See the preview at DPReview here 

Ross
Images In Light

Photokina 2014

LX-100

This is the camera that looks most interesting at Photokina this year, it is a well specked compact camera, a 4/3rds sensor with a fixed 24-75 mm(equivalent) f/1.7 to f/2.8 lens. Could very well be the first 4/3rds camera I get to test, well 2nd after the GM1, anyway it should be a great little camera.

Not cheap at around $900 but probably well worth it, we'll see what the gang at DPreview have to say, I look forward to it. 4K video is pretty cool too, I want that in my next camera.

More here at the phoblographer, Photozine editors choice here

Camera Labs here

Panasonic here and here and here

Ross

Images In Light

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1

And now for those who want an ILC at a diminutive size, Panasonic announces the DMC-GM1, similar spec to the GX7 so this could be a real winner.

 

Will be interesting to see how this does with a nice lens on it like the M. Zuiko prime 75 f1.8

Panasonic site here 

DPreview preview here

Great review at ePhotozine here

Buy it here

Ross

Images In Light

Lumix GX7

Updated new video from the Lumix product manager



Another very interesting camera announcement, this time a micro 4/3's sensor, recently they have had some excellent new offerings, including the older Olympus E-M5 and the newer E-P5 here

This one ticks all the right box's: dual control wheels, AE/AF lock button, good auto focus,  hi-res tilt screen, interchangeable lenses, touch screen menu (includes AF point), state of the art tilting electronic view finder, a new 16mp sensor that includes image stabilization and a built in flash, an enthusiast's camera for sure.

The Lumix GX7 has a wide range of features and can use a wide range of lenses, including the excellent Olympus  45mm and  75mm primes. This looks like a pretty complete camera, it has all the controls in the right place, a new Panasonic 16mp sensor and promising auto focus, we shall see when the full reviews are out.

Interview with Ian Berry in Rome.



Things are looking better in the Micro Four Third's world and I am looking forward to carrying around a smaller camera some of the time that can give me excellent image quality.

DPreview here

See preview here and here

Reviews: here , here
here

Camera Labs here

Amateur Photographer here

 order the GX7  for $999.00 here

Panasonic site and here

Also announced is the Panasonic/Leica 42.5mm f/1.2 Nocticron lens this is the fastest Micro Four Thirds lens yet available for the system.

DxOmark selects best lenses for M43's 

Ross

Images in Light

MFT or M4/3 = Micro Four Thirds Cameras

Top image: sensor sizes of various digital cameras
Bottom image: 2 recent examples of MFT cameras
The Micro four thirds standard, a derivative of the Four Thirds system, was set up by Panasonic (Lumix) and Olympus, its similar in size to the APS-C system used by most of the other camera makers (see above chart), lenses and most accessories will be interchangeable between the companies :) what is most unique about this system is its small size for a DSLR but they have no mirror, the LCD is used to view or an electronic view finder, beyond the size advantage of the system is image quality, compared to digital point and shoots, as you can see above, the sensor of the MFT is much larger than the typical point and shoot of 1/2.5 - 1/1.7 , this allows for much better image quality and at the same time allowing a much smaller form factor. (for details see white paper) This is a camera for those that want to travel light and still come back with good image quality, if used right these will give fantastic photos, if used wrong, like any camera, you will be disappointed. I think this system holds real promise and I would like to give it a try and see if its something I would hold on to and use. Currently there are 4 cameras to choose from in this size sensor. the EP-1, G1, GH1 and the new GF1, the later being what I would like to try, another interesting aspect is you can get adapters for almost any lens, so you could mount a Canon 300mm f4 IS L and have the field of view of a 600mm f4. You can also put some serious Leica glass on these cameras with the adapters or without.
See some upcoming lenses here at a Japanese site DC Watch.
Finally something new for us gear heads :)

Micro Four Thirds standard White Paper

Ross Murphy

Images In Light