Hasta La Gadget!

There’s only one way to make leaked blurrycam images appear even less legit: shoot ’em in black and white. That’s exactly what we have here with the claimed leak of a new Olympus camera — the E-P3, according to Photo Rumors — in all its Micro Four Thirds glory. The camera appears to be a hybrid of both the E-P2 and E-PL2, including a P2-style button layout, but with a pop-up flash and sloping top plate reminiscent of the PL2. The new cam is also rumored to include a new 12 megapixel sensor, a max sensitivity of ISO 12,800, a high-res touchscreen, much-needed AF improvements, and an updated UI. Photo Rumors expects Olympus to announce the E-P3 on June 30th, along with an E-PL3 and E-PM1. That last model would be the first in the rumored Pen Mini series. We don’t expect the E-PM1 to best the new Pentax Q’s record-breaking small size, but with a significantly smaller sensor, the Q will be no match for any of Olympus’s new Micro Four Thirds offerings.

Update: Andrea wrote in to tell us that Mirrorless Rumors now has a much clearer publicity shot. Isn’t it lovely?

Is this the Olympus E-P3? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 19:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We know some of you have been a little disappointed in Panasonic’s GF line of Micro Four Thirds cams as they’ve shed advanced features and become more “consumer friendly” — terrifying words for any serious user to hear. But, we’ve got some good news, at some point in the future the GF line will split with a more professionally-minded model sold alongside the more simplistic GF3. That’s straight from the mouth of Ichiro Kitao, the head of Panasonic’s camera division, who spoke to PhotoRadar about the company’s plans. When the GF1 will finally get a spiritual successor isn’t exactly clear, but we’re glad to hear the pocketable Micro Four Thirds series will finally get another serious shooter.

Panasonic plans to expand GF line, return to serious shooter roots originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It took a year and a half for Panasonic to add the GF2 to the wonderful (big) pocket-sized GF1 mirrorless Micro Four Thirds camera. Now, just five months later, we have another one — the GF3. This camera is even smaller and feature lacking than the already cut down GF2, showing that Panasonic is clearly taking this line down to the consumer level.

The camera still has a 12MP sensor, just like its two older (and smarter) brothers. It combines this with a new processor (the Venus Engine found in the bigger GH2 and G3) which allows faster auto focus and generally makes the camera snappier. It also gets some new “Photo Styles” and a new filter called miniature, aka tilt-shift, and focus-tracking when shooting video.

Much bigger is the list of what the camera has lost. Minimum ISO climbs from 100 to 160, the rear click dial has gone, as has the stereo mic of the GF2. The flash is now top center, but the hotshoe has gone, meaning you can’t add an accessory viewfinder or a flash.

For those stepping up from a compact camera the fast response, big sensor and interchangeable lenses will be a huge difference, and many will buy this instead of an SLR. For enthusiasts who loved the GF1, it looks like the end of the GF line in terms of them being useful cameras. Thankfully, all those Micro Four Thirds lenses you bought can be used on Olympus’ Pen EP series cameras, which seem to be taking things a little more seriously.

The GF3 will be on sale in July with the slow and wide 14mm ƒ2.5 pancake lens ($700), and in August with the 14-42mm ƒ3.5-5.6 kit lens ($600).

Panasonic GF3 product page [Panasonic]

See Also:

• A Month With the Lumix GF1, And Why I No Longer Use The Nikon D700 …
• Hands-On With Panasonic's Leica-Lite GF1
• Panasonic Falters With Button-Light Lumix GF2

Last week, we caught a glimpse of the Lumix DMC-GF3, a new addition to Panasonic’s ever-growing family of Micro Four Thirds shooters. Turns out, the camera we spied in that YouTube video was legit: the company just made it official and yes, it’s missing a hot shoe. Available in four colors with 12.1 megapixel resolution, it uses Panny’s latest imaging processor, shoots 1080i AVCHD video, and has a 3-inch touchscreen, ISO range of 160 to 6400, and the usual array of intelligent Auto enhancements. Unlike the GF2 — which isn’t going anywhere, by the way — it’s designed with the greenest of novices in mind, which means it forgoes things experienced photogs might like, such as a hot shoe and viewfinder. This one has a mono, not stereo mic, and swaps in a simple scroll wheel on the back side. Panasonic also rejiggered the touch UI to make certain settings easier to find, and added a miniature art filter — already a staple on Olympus’ PEN series. Oh, and as a beginner-friendly camera, it looks more like a point-and-shoot than a DSLR — it’s 15 percent lighter than the GF2, and 17 percent smaller.

The GF3 will be available in July for $699 with a 14mm lens, to be followed in late August by a $599 kit that comes with a 14-42mm lens. In the meantime, head on past the break and check out our impressions after spending a few minutes with a not-final unit and a 14mm lens. We only got to play with it in a fluorescent conference room, alas, but hopefully our handful of test shots will give you a taste of what you can do with the depth of field should you spring for the higher-end of the two kits.

Continue reading Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 official: 12.1 MP, 1080i video, no hot shoe in sight (hands-on)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 official: 12.1 MP, 1080i video, no hot shoe in sight (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 01:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The G3 has the looks of an SLR, and the size of a compact

Panasonic’s new G3 Micro Four Thirds G3 continues the trend set by its two predecessors: Not only is it smaller, but it continues to exploit features that aren’t available in DSLRs.

First is a brand new sensor. Instead of Panasonic’s favorite 12MP sensor, the G3 has a 16.6MP chip. Next is the styling. The G3 looks a lot more like a compact camera, with a smaller finger-grip than the more SLR-style G1 and G2. This reduction continues with the dropping of some manual hardware features: gone is the eye-sensor, which would switch between the rear LCD and the viewfinder automatically. Now it is a manual control. And while the G3 has stereo mics for video, you can no longer connect external mics.

Gone also are the manual focus controls. Instead, you can now touch the screen to choose a focus point, just like the iPhone. And according to early hands-on reports, the entire touch-screen interface is easier to use.

The aluminum-bodied G3 will be available from today, in black, red, white and brown (!). It will come with the adequate 14-42mm zoom in a $700 kit.

Lumix G3 press release [Panasonic via DP Review]

See Also:

• Panasonic G2 Adds Touch-To-Shoot Screen, 1080p Video
• Panasonic Launches First 'Micro Four Thirds' Camera
• Hands-On With Panasonic's Leica-Lite GF1
• Panasonic Falters With Button-Light Lumix GF2