This is what Digital Camera Magazine expects to be release by Panasonic in 2014:
1) A new GH3 successor
2) Extension of the GX7 and GM line up.
3) Fixed lens camera with larger sensor.
From what I know from my sources there will be a GH 4K camcorder which will placed above the current GH3 model and not replace it. It’s also likely that there will be also new G and GF models.
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…so…2 separate cameras…a successor to the Gh3 AND a GH4K ???
What does Extension for GX7 & GM1 means ?
A new camera in the group ?
How about the 15mm Summilux news ?
More cameras with similar design?
That would make sense to me. Both are excellent.
Yes indeed as the GM1 has aluminum top and bottom plates attached to the rigid shell so Pany could easily produce a little deeper model on the bottom to contain both larger battery and larger heat sink for HD video while retaining most of the GM1 innards. With a higher top the GM could be transformed into one like their patent rendering with small raised EVF in the middle and still be very small.
it mean panny use constant serial name for new line,(like NEX-3/NEX-5 N/R/T)
it will be GX7-PRO or other and leaked of source about GM2
coming to solved GM1 ,
and i guess old line only G lines that continue new replacement
All sounds plausible and good, but would like a few nice surprises from Panasonic…
Hmpf, so is it really possible that Oly or Pana are going to use bigger sensors? Maybe I shouldn´t buy too much mft gear then…
???
Larger sensor means FF or APS-C and if they put it into a fixed lens camera it´s only a matter of time until there will be a new ilc…
They are talking about a fixed lens compact camera. A 4/3 sensor is about 6 times larger than typically found in a compact camera.
This is about a X100 or Ricoh GR styled camera, with 4/3 sensor… not FF or APSC
>>Fixed lens camera with larger sensor
LX7 successor?
I think it will be a LX7 successor but with a bigger sensor. Maybe 2/3 like fuji x20. It cannot be m4/3 or it will compete againt GM1.
Which is a real shame as I think a camera like the LX7/LF1 with a 4/3 sensor would be amazing! A camera like that is really missing from the market, seems manufacturers talk about moving away from the “compact” market but haven’t got the savvy to put a decent sized sensor into a truly pocket-able and practical camera.
Everybody’s forgetting the elephant in the room: on-sensor-PDAF. Sony and Oly have it, Panny – doesn’t. This year they have started with IBIS. Next year I expect them to do something about PDAF. GH4K doesn’t need it – but GX7 successor does.
Also, they should make a cheap plastic version of the GM1 and call it “GF7”. Otherwise, the GF line would never shed the stigma of outdated IQ.
> Fixed lens camera with larger sensor.
LX7 is two years old now. It is up for update.
On sensor PDAF? I don’t see the benefits so far. I have the NEX-5R and A7 and it doesn’t work where I need it most: video.
Likewise with the E-M1.
What we need is the dual-pixel technology, like Canon has.
I guess you don’t have any 4/3 lenses.
I use an E-M1, do mostly still images, and QUITE see a use, as it makes continuous focus work quite well, which makes it a lot easier to deal with many situations.
Its a shame that it doesn’t work for video, agree, but honestly, understanding the benefits for still imaging is not THAT difficult, despite this not being what you’d want to use it for.
The losses of the dual pixel system while ‘hybrid AF’ is active are pretty substantial, while interesting, I’m not sure its an overall better solution.
why need pdaf on sensor?pansonnic does not have some 4/3 lens,why need pdaf on sensor?
Its rather useful for continuous-focus also with m4/3 lenses
+1
pdaf-on chip worse than dslr pdaf,is a joke tech,
for continue-AF i bet panny will inspire new AF on contrast detect that
better than the same,more focus point ,fast sync -lens to processor ect.
they never said want to use PDAF !!!
I see a lot of arguments there…
But never mind, I’ll give you one.. the current OSPDAF does not have cross AF points.
In all other aspects it is actually better, as unlike any DSLR solution, it can use its imaging sensor for recognizing shape and color for tracking. Something serious DSLRs are inherently not good at, as their imaging sensor is covered by a mirror during AF, and their pdaf sensors can’t do this without losing sensitivity, and even when they can do this (Nikon and Canon both have this working to some extent), the gaps between the pdaf points are big enough to cause more reliability issues.
While the first issue can be resolved completely with OSPDAF, the second issue cannot be resolved completely with a DSLR style setup.
Additionally, contrast detect AF simply misses essential information for doing continuous focus properly. The first and most essential issue here is that contrast detect AF can not know something is in focus without trying to change focus.
EVERYTHING you mention Panasonic could do to improve contrast detect continuous focus can also be done for phase detect continuous focus, with the result that it will ALWAYS be better then contrast detect AF. There is some pretty basic and unavoidable physics responsible for this.
There are some alternatives for phase detect AF, and we may get so see those in the future, but pure contrast detect AF is not one of them. Again, that is a matter of pretty basic and unavoidable physics, regardless of how much Panasonic or you may dislike that.
There are a few lumix 4/3 lenses..
Hmm.. I recalled something .
As Leica is going to establish it’s mirrorless interchangeable system camera next year & this could be Pana’s way to follow suit with it new line of camera ,
Extension of GX & GM line up .
GM camera with inbuilt EVF would be sweet :).
… and with IBIS!
… and a tilty screen.
And a dial or two..
And we have a tiny version of GX7.
Tiny? It’ll be the same as the GX7. Say GX1 if we are lucky and give up something else (battery life?)
If they manage to keep it tiny, it will be a tiny GX7. If not, as I suppose, it would be another GX7.
My point is: why asking for features already present in an other good model?
I don’t understand why a lot of people won’t ever like cameras offered. I understand complaining about issues, but again, gm1 is what it is, and I saw different people (read using different formats) at my fav store looking at it with interest.
Everything can be done in a better or different way, but waiting for the perfect camera is a wasteof time and pictures. 😉
This is good news indeed if true. First the extension of the GM and GX7 lines means there will be a fuller featured GM2 and maybe even with EVF in the works and maybe a cheaper GX5 with plastic body or higher one with weathersealing rather than replacement of existing models. Admins note concerning GF and G models is likely only addition of lastest GM1 sensor. I also see the LX7 replacement with a smaller model much like the RX100 and hope it comes with 1″ sensor?
I hope 2014 will be a better year for lenses with Panasonic. All we got this year were 2 slow zooms (14-140mm and 12-32mm) and a cosmetic change to the 20mm.
Slow yes, but two excellent lenses they are! All lenses cannot be 1.4, both the 14-140 and 12-32 are superior when it comes to versatility and weight/size.
Its just a matter of time before Oly and Panny upgrade to a bigger APSC or FF sensor.
I think you completely missed the point of M4/3 and the founding idea of Panasonic and Olympus.
Making the perfect compromise of size/performance.
A full frame lens will require bigger lenses, and the main idea is discarded, so I don’t think this will happen very soon. At least not now as the M4/3 system is starting to look very well developed with regards to the avaliable lenses and their performance.
The perfect compromise huh???? M43 camera’s and lenses getting as big and more expensive than APSC but the picture quality of M43 is lacking behind. Keep on dreaming. M43 is going bigger and better in the sensor department and that is a good thing.
Does this mean you are ready to post a comparison review? I think that if you borrowed some cameras and went out for a day, it would put things in perspective for you.
Sorry, but the only thing beating a Fuji X series camera is focus speeds and ibis. The Fuji’s got Micro Four Thirds beat in Image Quality. Olympus is returning to larger cameras and larger lenses, so you can’t use size as an excuse anymore, unless you mention Panasonic and the GM1.
V/M: Fuji is slightly better only in low light but its xtran sensor is softer with any raw developer. No way to go!
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens VS Panasonic 35-100mm f/2.8 Lumix G Vario
8.89×19.81 cm / 1490 grams / 2499 USD VS 6.86×9.91cm / 360 grams / 1338 USD
M4/3: 75% lighter, 60% smaller, 50% cheaper.
This is just an example, there is of course other comparable lenses that compares differently. And dont let this be yet another DOF-debate 🙂
Naturally I cannot know, but I think it is unprobable that Oly/Pana will go full-frame as they now with their sensorsize and expertise on the format can provide this kind of advantage over Canon APS-C / FF.
And all of that is a sacrifice on image Quality. Sure the Panasonic is cheaper and smaller, but the canon lens is unbeatable.
What you get from the Panasonic 35-100mm at f2.8, you can get the same quality, even better at f4 on the Canon.
And let’s go there with dof. At 2.8, it’s not even debatable.
M43 is size over quality. That’s it. To think differently is laughable. Panasonic gets it, which is why they’re developing smaller lenses for the GM1. They’re not changing the mount, they’re just making the lenses smaller to match the smaller camera.
In fact, I can see Panasonic making more smaller M43 bodies to go with this new lens set. You won’t beat the competition in image quality, but you will beat them in size. In this way, I see Panasonic winning and making a space for themselves in Mirrorless.
This post was to answer the previous authors argument that ‘M43 camera’s and lenses getting as big and more expensive than APSC’. I wont argue that the Canon 70-200 might have better IQ, it better; being that much bigger! The DOF-argument is twofold, subject isolation is not always alpha omega. In macro work it is the complete opposite, so therefore I asked not to take this argument into the setting just for once.
+1
The macro argument is totally specious and repeated over and over again.
If you have a larger format and need the same DOF as on a smaller format, you just stop down and increase ISO which still gives you at least the same IQ. More often than not, it gives you even better IQ as you will have a macro flash anyways. Same argument for landscape where you will be using a tripod anyways, again giving you better IQ.
I have both those lenses, I love the 35-100 for its light weight and small size, but it isn’t that good wide open and the Canon lens kills it for IQ at every focal length and aperture. That doesn’t mean it’s bad, in fact it’s great, and when you allow for the size there is nothing to touch it, but if you really need the absolute best quality you have to lug the Canon around. Most of the time the Panny is quite good enough tho…
I really want a GH4 to have IBIS. 4k is so expensive and the files so storage intensive that it seems like it should be split off I to it’s own camera line. Maybe a GH4k and a GH4 would do.
I think that the GM1 is already a perfect camera. The only improvement I would want in a new model is a control wheel in place of the focus selector.
I can’t help wondering how the Lumix people in charge of naming their products will get around using the number 4 with these new cameras. I can see skipping GH4 and going to GH5, but GH4K seems to be unavoidable unless they increase resolution of these iterations and go for GH5K! Maybe it’s finally time for them to let go of the cultural superstition to not use the number 4 as it invites bad luck. It kinda cracks me up though, that high powered executives sit around a boardroom and are all on board with not naming products because of some magical beliefs. No offense to them. 🙂
It depends on the products. Usually they don’t care for high level products (e.g. Nikon did a D4), but they do care for the consumer
Not exactly having to reinvent the wheel for these predictions are they? Totally obvious and then some given panasonic s cycles…………..
Almost could care less about IQ these days. All mid & upper-range models are excellent. Now it’s all about features, ergonomics, size & price. How about the first u4/3 camera with embedded GPS? And for Panasonic, improved IBIS & EVFs in the mid-range models. Oly needs to include an embedded flash on more models, at least a weak one, for those spontaneous back-lit situations.
GH4 with 4K and inbuilt ND filter would be nice…