Panasonic » Echenique dot com

Panasonic Introduces Pro Grade Micro Four-Thirds Lens

May 212012

SECAUCUS, NJ (May 21, 2012) – Today, Panasonic announced a new digital interchangeable standard zoom lens, the LUMIX G X VARIO 12-35mm/F2.8 ASPH./POWER O.I.S. (H-HS12035). The newest addition to the company’s premium lens brand “X,” which is compatible with the Panasonic LUMIX G Series and complies with the Micro Four Thirds™ system standard, this lens offers a versatile zoom range of 12-35mm (35mm camera equivalent: 24-70mm) and features constant F2.8 aperture brightness at entire zoom range. Suitable for professionals and enthusiasts, this new lens captures a wide range of scenes from dynamic landscapes to available light and studio-lit portraits and features superb image rendering for lifelike textures and crisp edge-to-edge contrast. Panasonic 12 35 F28

Panasonic announcements on May 21

Industry news, Lenses, Photography 1 Response »

May 162012

Panasonic is expected to announce a new camera and two new X-Series lenses on May 21. While the camera is interesting to me from a new product perspective, I am very interested in the new lenses.

Image courtesy of Photorumors.com

Noktor Opens Website – HyperPrime 50mm up for Pre-order

Industry news, Lenses, Photography No Responses »

Feb 282010

New Kid On The Block lens maker, Noktor has officially opened it’s website an is taking pre-orders for it’s HyperPrime 50mm f/0.95. Currently available in m4/3 mount, this lens is the fastest prime lens available for that format. Due to m4/3′s 2x crop factor, the Noktor 50mm has an EFL of 100mm making it an ideal portrait lens.

Speed-wise, this lens is as fast as Leica’s famed Noctilux 50mm f/0.95, but it remains to be seen whether its optics come anywhere near the caliber of Leica’s glass. Still, it’s a damn fast lens for less than 1/10 the price of the Noctilux. (The announced retail price of the Noktor is $750 USD. The retail price of the Leica Noctilux 50mm f/0.95 is $10,495 USD). The next closest lens would be the $1100 CV Nokton 50mm f1.1 which would still require the addition of a $200 M-m4/3 adapter.

I have contacted Noktor and am trying to arrange for a review sample. Cross your fingers.

Panasonic Introduces the Lumix DMC-GF1

Cameras, Industry news No Responses »

Sep 022009

Secaucus, NJ (September 2, 2009) – Today, Panasonic announced the new LUMIX DMC-GF1, the latest addition to the award-winning LUMIX G Series, which debuts as the world’s smallest and lightest system digital camera with a built-in flash*. The LUMIX DMC-GF1 distinguishes itself from previous models with its elegant, compact design reminiscent of classic film cameras, yet builds on Panasonic’s success with the revolutionary LUMIX G Series of digital interchangeable lens system cameras based on the Micro Four Thirds system standard. With its compact size, user-friendly design and ability to record High Definition (HD) video and take professional-quality photos, the LUMIX GF1 continues to redefine digital photography standards.

“Panasonic changed the digital camera industry with the world’s first Micro Four Thirds digital camera, the LUMIX G1 – a compact “DSLR-like” digital camera that produces exceptional image quality. Then, as we continued to raise the innovation bar, Panasonic launched the LUMIX GH1, adding full High Definition 1080p video recording with continuous auto focus,” said David Briganti, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “The new LUMIX GF1 continues the evolution and is the perfect addition to our LUMIX G Series, as its sophisticated, small body makes it easier and more convenient to carry. The GF1 is ideal for point-and-shoot consumers looking to step-up to DSLR-quality or for current DSLR users who want greater convenience without compromising performance quality or creative flexibility.” Continue reading »

More Olympus Micro 4/3 Rumors

Rumors 4 Responses »

May 152009

Various sites have reported that the eagerly awaited Olympus Micro 4/3 camera will be announced on June 15. I have been in contact with Olympus America and they neither confirm nor deny this. In discussions with other photographers (especially those who can read/translate japanese) the announcement states that:

the Olympus micro-4/3rds camera(s) have been designed to carry on the philosophy of the “silver-halide” era PEN half-frame cameras;
about a third of compact camera users are considering moving up to a DSLR but don’t because those cameras are too big, heavy, expensive, and complex — these users are seen as the target for the micro-4/3rds models;
this is the strategy by which Olympus can “revive their imaging business”.

[translation provided here]

So Olympus, like Panasonic, is targeting the “soccer mom” looking to move up from P&S cameras to something more sophisticated but still maintain ease of use and small size. If the announcement above is any indicator (along with the prototype Olympus has been showing off since the μ4/3 announcement last year), they might hit that market more accurately than Panny did. The Panasonic Lumix G-Series camera turned out to be a big hit with pros who were in search of a small, pocketable camera that would meet their quality demands. I myself found the image quality of the Panasonic Lumix G-1 to be very impressive, but was left wanting with the overall design of the camera. Olympus’ prototype camera’s retro styling and smaller size are more appealing to me. If the image quality is up to Olympus DSLR levels, they may have the ultimate travel camera on their hands.

The design is such a hit that Panasonic & Leica are rumored to be hard at work designing a μ4/3 system similar to it which will likely be sold as the Lumix LX-5/D-Lux 5 respectively. This after Leica announced last year that they had no plans for a μ4/3 based camera.

Panasonic Micro 4/3 camera image spotted in the wild.

Cameras, Rumors No Responses »

Aug 262008

As we head into Photokina, the images and spyshots start to crop up with greater frequency as NDA’s and people’s ability to keep their mouth’s shut are strained to the breaking point. Here we see a picture of a Panasonic Micro 4/3′s interchangeable lens camera. I believe the image is a computer generated model (albeit, a good one). But whether it escaped from a PanOLeica engineer’s laptop or someone’s fertile imagination remains to be seen.

The image evokes all of the design principles put forth in the recent Panasonic/Olympus Micro Four/Thirds announcement and the inclusion of Leica glass is very welcome (even if it is built by Panasonic) but I wouldn’t be put off by some Zuiko glass well.

This next image shows the body with the lens removed exposing the 11 electrical contacts (up from 9 contacts in the standard Four Thirds mount). This brings up the mystery of the increase in contacts. For what purpose? Fear not! Our intrepid engineer (artist?) provides us with an answer: a shoe mounted electronic viewfinder (EVF)! Once again, the design specs of Micro Four Thirds are followed. The spec calls for no mirror box in this design. This leads one to believe that the camera would be Live View (on a rather generous rear LCD panel) or some sort of rangefinder affair. A high resolution EVF is an elegant compromise that allows SLR-like framing and maintaining the small size demanded by the spec. This ties in with the increase in electrical contacts between the lens and body.

Panasonic Micro 4/3 with lens and EVF (rear view)

So, is this image real or fake? I say fake inasmuch as it is a computer model of a camera that I fervently hope they will really build. If the sensor is as good as those offered in recent Olympus SLR offerings, this camera would make an excellent travel camera and backup for a full sized DSLR. Hopefully there will be a Leica version of it.

Big thanks to Leicarumors.com for the heads up about the images. Images courtesy of zuiko.exblog.jp.

Analysis of Micro Four-Thirds

Cameras, Industry news 1 Response »

Aug 092008

With the recent press release by Olympus and Panasonic about Micro Four Thirds (m4/3), the photo-blogosphere has been buzzing concerning product announcements around this as Photokina 2008 approaches. To recap, Olympus and Panasonic announced a new variation of their five year old Four Thirds digital camera platform designed for smaller, thinner interchangeable lens cameras using the 4/3 sensor and capable of providing DSLR quality images in a smaller form-factor.

However, there are many questions still floating about concerning the implementation of this digital-only specification.

Translations of the press release has Olympus & Panasonic targeting women as the main demographic for this new camera format. They also feel, to a lesser degree, that DSLR owners will be interested as well. I feel that they are underestimating the desire of DSLR owners to have a small, easy-to-carry, high-quality backup camera. Sigma botched it with the DP1 and Nikon’s recently announced P6000 may be trumped by this technology.

Another group missed entirely is the rangefinder crowd. While Leica’s M8 is currently the only interchangeable digital rangefinder on the market, the high cost of entry and camera’s quirkiness (don’t get me wrong, I own one and love it) tends to relegate it to being a niche player. Oddly, rumors have Leica quietly bowing out of the 4/3s Alliance and producing their own lower priced DRF. Will it be m4/3?

Among the images shown during the press conference, a silhouette of a m4/3 camera body with a pancake style lens is shown. Will this proposed camera employ an optical or electronic viewfinder? Will it have a viewfinder at all – opting instead for a point and shoot Live View LCD instead?

Quoting the Micro Four Thirds website: …However, growing support for Live View shooting in the market presented another option. We could eliminate the conventional viewfinder and therefore the mirror box altogether. On this basis, the Micro Four Thirds System was conceived. It specifies the optimum flange back length required to reduce camera size and thickness, assuming the omission of the mirror box. The flange back length has been reduced to about 1/2 that of the Four Thirds System. This is considered short enough to allow radical reductions in size and thickness, without causing problems with the lens drive and while still reserving space for accommodating the devices indispensable for digital SLRs such as the low-pass filter and the dust reduction mechanism, as well as devices likely to be adopted in the future.

So it looks like the first m4/3 camera is shaping up to be an interchangeable lens P&S design with a large (and hopefully high resolution) LCD display on the back act as a viewfinder. Hopefully, someone will market a shoe mounted optical viewfinder.

Moving on to the new lens mount, the m4/3 spec calls for a lens mount that is 6mm smaller and has 11 electrical contacts to 4/3′s nine. What are the two extra contacts for?

According to the Micro Four Thirds website: “…the lens mount of the Micro Four Thirds System is equipped with two additional signal contacts for smoother Live View shooting with shorter time lags, faster higher communication speeds between the lens and body, and, of course, reduced lens and camera size.

These two contacts will also be used in high-speed data processing required for the movie handling capability expected in the future.”

Movie handling? Interesting choice of words.

Since they are using a Live Viewfinder as opposed to a more traditional design, the proposed camera can have a much smaller shutter box and still maintain the features we have all come to expect on high quality cameras: image stabilization, dust reduction and low pass filters.

If you have existing 4/3 mount lenses, adapters will be available to allow you to mount them. Since the 4/3 spec for lenses calls for a tele-centric design, the additional distance from the shutter should not have any effect on the image circle. the question here is whether they will produce adaptors for other lens mounts?

I, for one, have high hopes for the format. Olympus has really “stuck to its guns” with Four Thirds and now this new format will allow them to enter the blossoming high-end P&S market. I will be watching this with great interest!

Olympus Imaging and Panasonic announce new Micro Four Thirds System standard

Cameras No Responses »

Aug 072008

Olympus Imaging Corporation (Olympus Imaging) and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic) today announced joint development of technologies and devices for the “Micro Four Thirds System standard,” a new standard that extends the benefits of the Four Thirds System standard for interchangeable lens type digital camera systems by enabling dramatic reductions in size and weight. Under the terms of an agreement between the two companies, they will work jointly toward commercial production of significantly lighter and more compact interchangeable lens type digital camera systems.

The global market for interchangeable lens type digital SLR cameras is growing steadily, but still only accounts for a 7% share of the total digital camera market. Considering the much larger share held by interchangeable lens type SLR camera systems when film was the dominant imaging medium, it seems that there is still ample room for sales growth in the category. But compact digital cameras continue to offer an expanding range of features and performance, and market surveys indicate that customers choose compact models because they find digital SLR cameras to be “big, heavy, and difficult to operate.”

Recognizing this market trend, Olympus Imaging and Panasonic have introduced products based on the Four Thirds System standard, and have led the industry in bringing features such as Live View and contrast-detection autofocusing systems to interchangeable lens type digital camera systems.

Now, Olympus Imaging and Panasonic are expanding the potential of the Four Thirds System standard even further, enabling the development of radically more compact and lightweight interchangeable lens type digital camera systems based on the Micro Four Thirds System standard. Together with the existing range of Four Thirds System products, the new range of Micro Four Thirds System products will enable customers to enjoy true interchangeable lens type digital camera system performance.

When compared to the Four Thirds System standard, the primary distinguishing characteristics of the Micro Four Thirds System standard are:

Approximately 50% shorter flangeback distance (mount-to-sensor distance)

6mm smaller lens mount outer diameter

Electrical contacts in mount increased from 9 to 11

* Image sensor diagonal dimensions are the same for both Four Thirds System and Micro Four Thirds System standards.

The Micro Four Thirds System enables users to enjoy the high image quality benefits of the Four Thirds System’s 4/3-type image sensor in a much more compact camera body, and also take advantage of significantly more compact lenses, particularly in the wide-angle and high-power zoom range. The Four Thirds System offers compact, lightweight performance, and the new Micro Four Thirds System will take this even further by making it possible to develop ultra-compact interchangeable lens type digital camera systems unlike anything seen before. The new Micro Four Thirds System also incorporates a greater number of lens-mount electrical contacts, enabling support for new features and increased system functionality in the future.

In addition, users will be able to mount their existing Four Thirds System lenses on Micro Four Thirds System bodies via an adapter.

Moving forward, Olympus Imaging and Panasonic will jointly develop relevant technologies and devices for both Four Thirds System and Micro Four Thirds System standards, and will develop and introduce standards-compliant products in accordance with their respective business strategies.

While continuing to develop Four Thirds System interchangeable lens type digital camera system products, Olympus Imaging will also develop a range of Micro Four Thirds System lenses and accessories, and Micro Four Thirds System camera bodies that are even smaller and slimmer than the light, compact, and widely acclaimed Olympus E-410 and E420.

While continuing to develop Four Thirds System interchangeable lens type digital camera system products, Panasonic will also develop a new generation of compact, lightweight, interchangeable lens type digital camera system products, including ultra-portable camera bodies, interchangeable lenses, and related system accessories.

About the Four Thirds System Standard

The Four Thirds System standard defines design and development standards for interchangeable lens type digital camera systems that fully realize the performance potential of digital technology. Four Thirds System cameras utilize a 4/3-type image sensor that delivers the high image quality expected of interchangeable lens type digital camera systems in a form factor that assures outstanding mobility. The Four Thirds System standard is an open standard that enables bodies and lenses produced by participating manufacturers to exchange information and be used interchangeably with one another.

*The company names and product names specified in this release are the trademarks or registered trademarks of each company.
Please be advised that press releases and information posted on this site are current at the time of the original publication date. Please note that they may now be outdated or rendered inaccurate.