Hasta La Gadget!

When the Lumix GF1 was released less than a year after Micro Four Thirds first made its debut, it made a huge splash for its size, image quality, and versatility. Problem is, Panasonic set the bar very high for future GF-series models, and has sadly come up short with its latest update, positioning the GF3 ($600 with 14-42mm kit lens) as an upgrade for compact camera owners while leaving enthusiasts longing for much more. DPReview took the GF3 to task, publishing a very comprehensive review while finding that while Panasonic’s latest ILC is a good fit for some photographers, more advanced users will likely be disappointed — especially if they’re expecting a rangefinder-like successor to the GF1. We spent a few hours with a pre-production GF3 earlier this summer, and weren’t blown away by its performance. When testing against the class-leading Sony NEX-C3, we found the Sony camera to offer faster focusing, better high-ISO performance, more accurate white balance, and better image quality overall. So unless you’re really gunning to save 50 bucks on an ILC with a kit zoom (or you already have a collection of Micro Four Thirds lenses), the $650 C3 is definitely the better bet.

Panasonic GF3 reviewed: aging 12 MP sensor, good upgrade for current compact users originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ICam lets the iPhone hook directly into a real camera

Finally, somebody has invented the camera I have always wanted. Or at least, Turkish designer Zeki Özek has invented the camera tech I have always wanted.

Ozek’s iCam is a way to integrate your iPhone with a proper camera. The camera would have a cutout in the back into which the phone slots, hooking into the camera’s brain via the familiar 30-pin dock connector. The phone’s screen takes the place of a dedicated LCD, and photos are recorded direct to the iPhone’s internal storage.

Thus, the camera is downgraded to a dumb, light-processing terminal.

The iPhone’s camera is pretty good for a phone-cam, but nothing compared to proper, purpose-made cameras. Ozek’s iCam lets you shoot with proper lenses and large sensors to get much better images, but uses the iPhone as the brain so that you can edit and upload your photos immediately.

Imagine having Instagram and an always-on Internet connection in your DSLR and you’ll see what the excitement is all about.

While Zeki’s concept is shown using a Sony NEX 5 as a host, the more obvious system is Micro Four Thirds. It’s a fairly open standard, in that any manufacturer can join in, and there is already a good range of lenses (and lens adapters).

This weekend I took a trip away and carried my iPad and Panasonic GF1 with me the whole time. I took just one photo on the camera, and a whole bunch on the iPad, despite its truly awful camera, mostly because of Instagram and other apps. I doubt any existing manufacturer is going to relegate its range to a dumb photo-pipe anytime soon, but the potential for a proper iCam is huge. In fact, Zeki’s design has been accepted as a candidate for the prestigious Red Dot awards.

iCam. Connect iPhone directly to Camera [Rexplore via the Giz]

See Also:

• Ear Mounted iPhone Camera Is Like Tivo for Your Life
• QuadCamera for iPhone: Time-Stuttering Camera App
• Why the iPhone 4 Camera Is So Promising
• Hipstamatic Gentrifies iPhone Camera

Earlier today, Olympus announced its loosely veiled PEN E-PM1 (in the image above), along with the PEN E-P3 and PEN E-PL3. Our Chinese bureau had a chance to go hands-on with the trio of Micro Four Thirds cams at an event in Hong Kong, and walked away with some fairly positive impressions. The $900 E-P3 feels solidly built, and did appear to offer excellent autofocus performance, though we weren’t able to verify Olympus’s rather lofty claims that the new flagship model features “the world’s fastest autofocus.” We were able to capture an image within a second of tapping the shutter button, including the time required to refocus on a subject. The 3-inch OLED display was sufficiently bright for outdoor use, with noticeable improvements over its predecessor, and the touchscreen was a pleasure to use, offering three straightforward shooting functions — focus, focus and shoot, and enlarge. We’ll have additional details to share after spending more time with all three models, but our hands-on photos in the gallery below should help whet your appetite in the meantime.

Olympus PEN E-P3, PEN E-PL3, and PEN E-PM1 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 10:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You won’t be coloring us surprised at the launch of the E-PM1, but those other two? Well, let’s just say we’ve always been big fans of the elusive trifecta. Olympus just went live with the PEN E-P3 (shown above), PEN E-PL3, and PEN E-PM1, three 12.3 megapixel interchangeable lens cameras with Live MOS sensors, TruePic VI image processors and an ISO ceiling of 12,800. You’ll also get a reengineered autofocus system, a 1080i HD video mode, newly designed user interfaces and a variety of Art Filters. The E-P3 is outfitted with an all-metal body and “the world’s fastest autofocus” (really?), while the rear is dotted with a 614,000 pixel OLED touchscreen. The E-PL3 steps it up with a 3-inch tilting LCD, while the smallest and lightest of the PEN line (yeah, the E-PM1) will be shipping in a half-dozen hues. The outfit also revealed a new pair of prime lenses, a camera grip and a FL-300R flash, all of which are detailed in the source links below. The bad news? Only the P3 is being priced, with $900 landing you a fairly swank kit this August.

Update: We got hands-on with these guys, and you can check it out right here.

Continue reading Olympus reveals PEN E-P3, PEN E-PL3, and PEN E-PM1 interchangeable lens cameras

Olympus reveals PEN E-P3, PEN E-PL3, and PEN E-PM1 interchangeable lens cameras originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We already gave you some hands-on impressions of Panasonic’s new Lumix GF3, but we just had a chance to shoot video and stills with the Micro Four Thirds cam at an event in NYC, leaving with a couple hundred photos and a small handful of video clips. There’s no question that this GF2 successor was designed with interchangeable lens camera (ILC) newbies in mind, with no dedicated mode dial, a touchscreen display, and a boatload of auto settings, along with the usual spattering of effects modes. Panasonic chose a mock wedding scene as the centerpiece of its demo today, complete with bride, groom, and celebrity cake designer (a rather enthusiastic Ron Ben-Israel). Weddings mean colorful flowers, well-dressed subjects, and food — but also dim lighting and chaos — a perfect environment for showing off a camera’s strengths shooting in low-light, assuming it can actually deliver. The GF3 probably won’t be the camera of choice for our next celebration, however.

First up was a balcony shot with bride and groom. As expected, the backlit scene presented an incredible challenge for the GF3, which had trouble focusing and compensating exposure to properly light our subjects — even the professional wedding photographer on hand had difficulty focusing his GF3 at times. The position-adjustable flash allowed us to light our subjects at an angle, or to bounce light off the ceiling, which didn’t seem to work well in the cavernous room. As we progressed through the morning, additional scenes highlighted new shortcomings. Jump past the break for a sample video and more impressions, or check out the gallery above for sample images — the first four shots highlight different positions with the adjustable flash.

Continue reading Panasonic Lumix GF3: sample photos and video

Panasonic Lumix GF3: sample photos and video originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 20:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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