Items tagged with Micro Four Thirds
The Micro Four Thirds world is saying 'hello' to a new member today: Carl Zeiss. MFT took the world by storm a few years ago, but even today, the main players remain Panasonic and Olympus. Some other camera companies have produced rivaling interchangeable lens cameras, but your lens options for Micro Four Thirds cameras has been somewhat limited. Now, there's going to be some options. Carl Zeiss is a famed lens maker, already partnering with numerous camera makers. And now, Olympus and Panasonic are welcoming Carl Zeiss into the MFT world, with plans for the company to release lenses that are compliant with the standard. In other words, Carl Zeiss will soon be making lenses that work for Panasonic...
Read more...
The Micro Four Thirds and interchangeable camera sector is just blowing up these days. DSLRs are still huge, but it's the prosumer/MFT category that really seems to be getting traction. Panasonic's LUMIX GF1 was a huge hit, and people have been looking forward to the GF2 for some time now. The DMC-GF2 has just now received a price, getting to-be buyers really, really exciting. The GF2 is scheduled to ship later this month in silver, red, black and white for $499.95, but that's for the body-only configuration. The GF2 is the company's lightest and smallest interchangeable lens camera, complete with a built-in flash. It's compatible with MFT lenses, and that includes Panasonic's new 3D lens, the...
Read more...
This is a pretty sizable camcorder, but not nearly as large as some of the camcorders from year's past. And considering what kind of technology is within this unit, it's pretty microscopic. Panasonic's AG-AF100 is a Micro Four Thirds video camera. It's one of the few MFT devices that is tailored for video rather than still photography, and while it has taken some time to come to fruition, Panasonic's shipping lines are finally rolling on it. It's listed at $4,995, and offers a 4/3" sensor with a professional-grade enclosure. The full HD 1080/720 production camera is designed to handle pro jobs, but it's small enough to be carried around by the aspiring videographer. It also handles native 1080/24p...
Read more...
Panasonic's DMC-GF1 has easily been one of the company's most highly touted cameras, and one of the most popular interchangeable lens units altogether. But the GF1 has started to show its age somewhat with this newer era of Micro Four Thirds, and the competition is getting heated. In order to stay ahead of the curve, Panasonic has today unveiling the next version of the GF1, the Lumix DMC-GF2. It's the company's thinnest and lightest Micro Four Thirds system camera to date, weighing around 7% less than the GF1 and being around 19% smaller than the GF1. Pretty major for compact shooters! As for internal specifications, the unit has a 12.1MP Live MOS sensor, a Full HD movie mode (shoots in AVCHD...
Read more...
Another mirrorless option to consider? You got it! Panasonic has used the Photokina trade show in Germany in order to introduce their newest Micro Four Thirds camera, the LUMIX GH2. The body itself does not look too different than the GH1 before it, but the functionality of this new camera is quite impressive. It's the first camera to ship with support for an interchangeable 3D lens (also introduced today), and when used, the lens captures both 3D and 2D copies. Panasonic calls this their most professional-level DSLM yet, and it can even capture full HD 1920 x 1080 videos in smooth 60i, doubling the sensor output from 25p/24p to 50p/60p. The camera also supports 1080/24p native mode at 24 Mbps,...
Read more...
Micro Four Thirds has been skyrocketing in popularity over the past year. People have been clamoring for a better alternative between a full-on DSLR and a pocket camera, and the Micro Four Thirds / interchangeable lens category seems to be the exact cure that the doctor ordered. But why keep it contained to cameras? Sony has already announced a camcorder that supports interchangeable lenses, and now Panasonic seems to be ready to compete. The company just introduced their new AF105/AF100, which is the world's first Micro Four Thirds camcorder. Olympus and Panasonic jointed developed the MFT technology, so Sony's prior camcorder cannot actually be called "Micro Four Thirds." This new guy looks...
Read more...
Sony has their NEX line, while Olympus and Panasonic have Micro Four Thirds. It's a blossoming market, and just about everyone is getting into the interchangeable lens camera sector. They're smaller than DSLRs, yet offer far more flexibility compared to a standard compact digital camera. But one camera company that has yet to dive in is Nikon. Nikon is a staple in the camera industry, and it makes sense to think that they'd eventually follow suit. But they real question is "When?" According to a new interview and report from Reuters, "when" may be "soon." Nikon's president has reportedly told Reuters that they are "readying a camera model [that they hope] will create a new market," and that camera...
Read more...
Back at PMA earlier in the year, Sony teased us with prototypes of the company's forthcoming "Alpha Compact" cameras. These were similar in style to the Micro Four Thirds options already on the market from Olympus and Panasonic, combining the size of a point-and-shoot with the flexibility of a lens-changing DSLR. Today, Sony has come clean with those very cameras, giving them official names and specification sheets. Sony's two new Alpha compact interchangeable lens digital cameras are the NEX-5 and NEX-3, both of which promise to provide "the quality of a digital SLR in a compact body that is easy to slip into a small purse or jacket pocket for ultimate portability." They're also the world's...
Read more...
Micro Four Thirds cameras are slowly gaining serious traction in America. People want DSLR quality without the weight and complexity of a DSLR, and that's exactly what MFT delivers in many cases. Panasonic has been at the forefront of pushing this technology in the camera realm, but consumers have thus far been left in the dark with regard to pricing and availability for the company's upcoming LUMIX cameras.Today, Panasonic revealed those very details. The LUMIX G2 and LUMIX G10, both of which are being added to their MFT lineup, will be available late next month. The G2 will ship in red, blue and black and will sell for $799.95, while the G10 will sell for $599.95. The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G2...
Read more...
For the longest time, there were two main choices when it came to selecting a digital camera. You either purchased a DSLR, or you purchased a point and shoot. Needless to say, both of these options provided drastically different results, and there has been little in the middle to satisfy those who didn't want to jump into one camp or the other. And then, the Micro Four Thirds system was introduced. This solution packs DSLR-like image quality into a camera that's just barely larger than a typical point and shoot. Today, Panasonic has introduced two new cameras in their Micro Four Thirds lineup. The Lumix DMC-G2 is the G1's successor, and for the most part, it's almost the same camera. Very little...
Read more...
Ricoh isn't as big a name in the digital imaging arena as a company like Canon or Nikon, but it's still making some pretty big waves this year. Shortly after announcing its CX1 and GR Digital III, the company is now going after the Micro Four Thirds rivals with its GXR. The camera, which boasts both a simple name and a simple design, is most interesting due to its interchangeable slide mount lens units, which are described as "ealed modules containing both optics and sensor, meaning it can switch from a large (APS-C) 12 MP CMOS with a fast prime lens to a tiny 10 MP CCD (with a 24-70mm lens)."Ricoh says that this camera is the planet's smallest and lightest with the ability to change lenses,...
Read more...
Less than six months after the launch of its first PEN E-P1 Micro Four Thirds camera, Olympus is introducing the E-P2. Calling the new PEN "the world’s smallest 12.3-megapixel interchangeable lens system with In-body Image Stabilization," Olympus says the camera blends the image quality of a DSLR with High Definition video capabilities, stereo Linear PCM audio recording, and In-Camera Creativity controls. Key specifications of the E-P2 include a 12.3-megapixel image sensor, in-body image stabilization, fast Imager Autofocus, 3-inch full color HyperCrystal LCD, Olympus Dust Reduction System, and the TruePic V Image Processor. The image sensor in the E-P2 is the same one used in the E-30 and E-620...
Read more...
Panasonic introduced the “world's smallest and lightest system digital camera with a built-in flash,” the new LUMIX GF1. In addition to being small and lightweight, the LUMIX GF1 has DSLR and HD video capabilities. The LUMIX GF1 has an exterior design that is reminiscent of classic film cameras, yet offers many of today’s popular digital features, including Panasonic’s LUMIX G Series of digital interchangeable lens system built on the Micro Four Thirds standard. Like its predecessors in the LUMIX G Series line, the LUMIX GF1 eliminates the pentaprism found in traditional interchangeable lens cameras, thereby allowing Panasonic to reduce the size and weight of the camera without sacrificing advanced...
Read more...
Olympus’ latest camera is not a point and shoot, and it’s not a DSLR. Instead, the new E-P1 is the company’s first Micro Four Thirds camera. This 12.3 megapixel camera blends the high-quality image capabilities of a DSLR with high definition video capabilities, stereo Linear PCM audio recording, and in-camera creative options. What’s even better is that all of these features are packed into an ultra-portable body.“The E-P1 is designed for the mobile, visual generation that lives active lives online and off, and its portability ensures that it will go with you wherever life takes you,” said John Knaur, senior marketing manager, Digital SLR, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “As someone who has shot...
Read more...
