So let’s make a summary of the Panasonic rumors to date.
We expect Panasonic to announce new cameras and lenses by very late August/early September (one-two weeks before Olympus).
Panasonic GH2
Very likely: Yesterday we gave you the info that Panasonic Japan doesn’t have any [shoplink 14826]GH1[/shoplink] in Stock anymore. We are 99% certain the GH2 is coming (no surprise here). We expect the camera to be an evolution and not a reolution compared to the GH1. So no heavy design changes will be made. The new generation sensor will be used for the new GH2. Few months ago there were rumors about an electronic shutter. According to our soruces this is not going to happen (mainly because of patent reasons). There will be some sort of in-between solution (don’t ask me how this will work….I don’t know it yet). The sensor will have a 14-16MPX sensor. The sources also told me that Panasonic developed the sensor until the very last minute so don’t expect the camera to be in Stock after beeing unveiled. The AVCHD codec will work with a compression of 24Mbit/s.
Not so likely: We know that Panasonic developed a sensor based on ‘dual exposure technique’ which improves the sensitivity by a factor of 4. But we don’t believe yet if that will be one of the features of the GH2 camera (would be nice!).
Panasonic GF camera or cameras
Very likely: We are certain Panasonic has the plan to release a very compact GF camera to compete against the Sony NEX camera. It will have a much better usability as the NEX and be similar in size. That camera could become the very new hotseller in the mirrorless market! It will not replace the GF1. Don’t know if that GF camera will come along the new sensor (mainly because of supply reasons).
Not so likely: Could there be one more GF camera? Few months ago we found the patent of a GF camera with built-in EVF. But not one of our sources told us that such a camera is coming. We have to search and search and search again to find some info…
More cameras
Also the L10 is now officially out of stock on Panasonic Japan. But we don’t believe there will be a replacement. We received an interesting rumor about the AG-AF100 having a different sensor than the GH2. It’s from a new source and we will post that rumor soon.
Panasonic lenses
The 14mm f/2.5 and the 100-300mm lens will be unveiled at Photokina. We have also heard that zoom lenses for the AG-AF100 are currently beeing tested by video experts.
The most interesting rumor is certainly the one we posted few weeks ago about the next Panasonic primes. A good source told us that Panasonic is working on new very fast primes (soem of them faster than f/1.4). The same source told us that those lenses were not ready yet for mass production. he expects them to be on market starting by very late 2010 and early 2011. There is a very good chance Panasonic will announce the development of those lenses at Photokina.
Surpises?
I don’t knwo why…I have the feeling there is still a surprise around the corner. Sources are “scary” silent but also enthusiastic…
So that’s the quick summary. As you can imagine we received far more infos but we need to check them with as many sources as possible. Keep following us on 43rumors!
Alejandro
29 Responses
Interesting! I hope Oly will have a new pen!
Ugh, why can’t they give us a camera that looks like that diagram? That is exactly what enthusiast have clamored for ever since m4/3’s was announced, yet we still have no rangefinder-esque models to choose from (until the GF line has a built in EVF it doesn’t count). Why not make the GH2 look like that diagram? It’s the same basic concept, just in a better shape. They already have the G2, the GH2 will be scarcely different. Come on Panny, give us a m4/3’s version of the L1.
I’m thinking/hoping the GH2 will have a few creative surprises…
I wish the surprise was a sensor with APS-C DR and noise performance(like KX or D5000)…instead of a bunch new features….
Echo Eric’s comments. Really wish there is a m43 version of L1/LC1.
Thanks for answering my request for a panasonic update. I agree there feels like a missing piece here and it is exciting that it could be anything from a gf2 to a new superfast prime……or something different again. The next year will be pretty momentous- probably peaking with the global shutter . What do you think the biggest advance will be in MFT???
If they don’t put out something that looks like that diagram, I’m done waiting and I’ll go buy and old Epson digital rangefinder. Do you hear me Panasonic…..I’ll spend more money buying an older out-pf-date camera from a different company.
Sheeesh. I thought camera companies wanted to make money. Give the people what they want.
I don’t get all this small camera with VF lobby. Go get an E-P2 and live with the AF speed or buy the LVF1 for your GF1. Is that complicated?
Of course the AG-AF100 is going with a different sensor! Going with a reduced resolution (FullHD) 4/3 sized sensor they will get a 2.5EV stops gain compared to the GH1 which needs to be subsampled for video.
People keep forgeting that the AG-AF100 is a *VIDEO* camera for making videos, not for printing photos at 28”!!!
We want digital rangefinder camera, or at least something that feels like it, not with viewfinder hump on it.
And currently, Leica M8/9 is definitely out of reach for most peoples.
All I want is a pen with the features of the nex5, like pop out screen and panorama, but with their better UI. I am getting a little fed up waiting for a camera that ticks all the boxes, or at least the useful ones.
GH2: “The sensor will have a 14-16MPX sensor.”
I hope not! We don’t need more MP, which usually means either more noise or more smear due to extensive noise reduction. Look what they have done with the FZ series (FZ100)!
GF2: “We are certain Panasonic has the plan to release a very compact GF camera to compete against the Sony NEX camera.”
I would actually prefer a GF2 similar in size to the GF1 but with built-in EVF and/or tilt/swivel LCD.
Sigh!
“I would actually prefer a GF2 similar in size to the GF1 but with built-in EVF and/or tilt/swivel LCD.”
I agree completely. If they could make GF2 by taking out EVF and the EVF hump from G2 it would be perfect for me: tilt/swivel LCD and large hand grip.
Exactly!
Just give me an E-P2 or GF-1 design with built in viewfinder and very weak (if any) AA filter. And I have a camera that will go everywhere with me.
If Pana want to kill NEX, new small camera would be sold with 2 lenses. 20mm pancake and zoom?
IMO, they should be sold to retailers body only with discount, so retailers can tailor their offering. Body only, body with single kit, body with double kit. Keep the offering to buy lens with body cheaper than buying both separately.
That would help ease earliy adopters to upgrade without having to keep redudant lens.
Or better, the retailers could get the option sell the m43 body packaged with lens adapter to user of other system camera such as Canon or Nikon who already have their own lens collection.
“We expect the camera to be an evolution and not a reolution compared to the GH1. So no heavy design changes will be made.”
Yeah, I think I’ll be skipping a generation since we won’t see anything significant out of the GH2. Sounds like it’ll be a GH1 with the controls of the G2, touchscreen, and the G2 processor on top of the new sensor. IMO the promise of the 16MP sensor would have gone hand-in-hand with the new microlenses and backside illumination of the LX5 sensor. Without those improvements, I think it’ll simply look smeared like the FZ-100.
I sure hope I’m wrong, and I sure hope we’ll all be pleasantly surprised. The one chance we have for Panasonic to get its butt in gear on new technology introduction is the entry by Nikon/Canon into the field with either a compact DSLR or some mirrorless compact like the NEX. Panasonic doesn’t have competition right now for this market, especially in the high-end camera segment. Hope that changes soon.
L1, is a look like m4/3, but large.
If Panasonic L2 come up, is the a hight range a GH2!
Maybe we get look a L2 after Olympus modular camera have come?
I don’t think people will be buying the GH2 so much for the camera body as for the lens. Unlike the GH1 the GH2 should come with a wide aperture zoom lens that will be perfect for video and stills.
I bet the lens will only be available with the camera body at first and later it will be available separately. I doubt the GH2 will ever sell direct from Panasonic as a body only unit without a lens. However, I hope I am wrong and Panasonic decides to appease the users that have already bought into the m4/3s format.
I don’t understand the rumor about the sensor. First it says they will use the new generation sensor, then they say they will not be likely to use the dual exposure sensor. So which is it?
hi TH. They will use a new generation sensor but probably without the dual exposure feature 🙁
Thanks for the info! That’s a shame, I wouldn’t want to wait around for the GH3 though..
Geez, has no one at panasonic every read Goldilocks? They hit the exact right size with the gf1. Making it compete against a camera like the sony, which I will never buy because it is too small, will lose them a lot of customers. I just wanted to add my voice to the ones asking for a camera like the diagram. Give us a rangefinder style EVF.
I too am hoping Panasonic listens to it’s users and puts a built in EVF in there. *sigh*, a guy can dream…. :-P. COME ON PANNY DO ITTT
If Pany releases a camera with functional EVF (or optical VF) and very fast (f/1.7 or less) lenses before XMas, I will certainly write to Santa!
In agreement with much that has been said. I love my GF-1 but I find myself shooting blind with it half the time – and my LVF1 doesn’t help much. Integrate the EVF of the GH-1 into the internals of the GF-1 camera body and that’s all I need. Honest! I’m not kidding – that’s all I need!!!
…oh – and a fast 12mm prime *or* a 12-60 fast zoom. Ok – so that’s not *all* I need – but you get the idea, right Panasonic??
Hey Panny,
Leave the useless flash of the GF1 and install an EVF instead.
Right?
An m4/3 version of the L1 is exactly what I want.
Have all the companies stopped 4/3 development then? Some new lenses would be nice, and the only road map I can find is for u4/3.