Panasonic G3 reviewed and tested. Gets positive ratings! And 25mm Lens coming soon!

The new Panasonic G3 has been announced and gets reviewed by Photographyblog. The very so impressed by the camera that they gave them the maximum ammount of starts 5 of 5! They also posted an interview with Panasonic (Click here) where Panasonic confirmed that they will soon announce the 25mm f/1.4 Leica branded Micro Four Thirds lens!

A few of links you might want to check:
Image samples for pixel peepers on Flickr.
Panasonic G3 presentation from Panasonic Uk on youtube.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 hands-on and interviews at London 2012 HQ on youtube.
Hands-on preview at Dpreview.

PREORDERS:
Preoder the black,white, red or brown G3 at Amazon US (Click here)
Now preorders in Europe too! At Amazon UK (Click here).
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 14-42mm Lens Kit at Bhphoto (Click here)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Camera Body at Bhphoto (Click here)

Fuji X100 is an Amazon bestseller (+ news, deals and reviews roundup)

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Let’s start the week by posting the latest Fuji X100 news. As you probably have noticed the first stocks of X100 cameras were quickly sold out. Amazon US (Click here) had a bunch of them in Stock and they were sold out in 23 minutes! BHphoto (Click here) increased the price up to $1399. In Europe Amazon UK (Click here) had a couple of cameras in Stock (now accepting preorders only). And to finish the X100 price is still very high on [shoplink 100018 ebay]eBay auctions (Click here)[/shoplink].

But let’s take a look to the latest news and reviews:
1) The Fuji X100 is the third most sold camera at Amazon US (Click here).
2) ePhotozine (Click here) posted a set of landscape image samples taken with the X100.
3) there is a new X100 forum in Germany (Click here).
4) Day 5 of the X100 field review at ThePhoBlographer (Click here).
5) read the new X100 user reviews at Amazon US (Click here) and Amazon UK (Click here).

Two mirrorless concepts

I am sure many of you already saw those nice mirrorless concept videos and images floating around the web. But for those that might missed them here is a short recap. The video on top shows the WVIL camera. It is a concept camera envisioned by Artefact’s award-winning design team. It answers the question: “what’s next for camera design?”. You can read more info at http://www.artefactgroup.com/wvil/.

And there is also that cool Leica i9 concept (See the image on Engadget). It transforms your in a real rangefinder-mirrorless looking camera.

The new Fuji X100 firmware is out! (and gets reviewed at the NYC)

The new firmware fixes the following problem: “If the images are shot with ISO Bracketing mode when “QUICK START MODE”(*1) is set to “ON” and turn off the camera,the camera cannot be turned on again even with ordinary operation.“
You can download the firmware at: http://www.fujifilm.com/support/digital_cameras/software/firmware/x/finepix_x100/fupd.html

There is also a new review by David Pogue from the New Yor Times: “Real photo devotees don’t see a fixed lens as a huge detriment. They see it as a limit that inspires compositional creativity, like the 140-character limit on Twitter. And on the X100, the lens is the equivalent of a 35-millimeter film lens, perfect for portraits and a nice balance for landscapes. If you know how to use aperture and shutter speed controls, no camera on earth gives you quicker and more direct access. “

Samsung NX10 & NX100 firmware updates (And Fuji X100 firmware coming on Thursday)

Samsung released a new firmware for the NX10 and NX100 (Download: samsung.co.uk):
“Released today, the upgrade for the NX10 and NX100 models is designed to enhance the ‘steadiness of video recording when moving from subject to subject’, according to Samsung.
‘It also incorporates an enhanced Contrast Auto-Focus, to deliver clearer low contrast shots, even in low light conditions,’ adds the firm.
‘The firmware upgrade also makes these functions faster and quieter than ever, giving photographers the ability to take noise-free professional-looking movies with ease,’ claims Samsung.
Billed improvements also include the availability of the Panorama Shot function in Scene Mode.“

Brandon Remler claims to know that Fuji will release a new X100 firmware upgrade “is set for Thursday the 21st“.

In deep Ricoh GXR review by Thom Hogan

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Thom Hogan (Click here) tested the Ricoh GXR and all the available modules: “An oddball in the “mirrorless” sweepstakes is the Ricoh GXR. I include it in the mirrorless end of things, because, well, it’s mirrorless and it has interchangeable lensors (more on that term in a moment).”

What does he think about? “I actually like the GXR. It’s not quite a pocket camera with the APS modules (though it may be with the P10 module if you’ve got largish shirt pockets). But it’s definitely a jacket pocket camera, and a very rugged one, at that. The two APS modules perform extremely well in terms of image quality, on par with most 12mp DSLRs. I find that I actually strongly prefer the GXR with the two APS modules to carrying a D3100 with the Voigtlander 20mm and Nikon 35mm f/1.8G lens (the closest I can match to the Ricoh’s focal lengths)” and “In the end, we’re still waiting. The 24-70mm and Leica M-mount modules promise to make the GXR a much more interesting beast, though I’m getting a little tired of buying the same sensor over and over. Especially considering how the 12mp Sony sensor is now a generation behind the times. Still, 12mp is good enough for my carry-all-the-time camera, so the two future APS modules may be just what the doctor ordered. Overall, I think you have to think of the GXR as an odd little DSLR substitute, especially if you use the EVF. As I noted, I like it better than carrying a D3100 around with a few prime lenses.“

Check out the current GXR price at [shopcountry 100059].

Fuji resumes the X100 production and shipment

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Good news for all X100 fans. Fuji resumed the production and shipment of the X100 camera (Source: DC.watch). The shipment had been stopped after the earthquake. !). The last two weeks only [shoplink ‘Fuji X100’]eBay had a few cameras in Stock[/shoplink] (but for over the double of the real prize).
You can preorder the X100 at [shopcountry 100018].

T3 (Click here) reviewed the camera.