[shoplink 23109]
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Trusted sources keep sending me confirmations that the next [shoplink 23109]GF3[/shoplink] replacement will arrive within the next 2-3 months. The camera has no major design changes and a very similar GF3 shape. It will feature a new sensor (very likely the same 16 Megapixel sensor from the [shoplink 22077]Panasonic G3[/shoplink]). But if you are considering to buy the GF3 you may buy it anyway. Vitaly is working on the GF3 hack that will bring you even more new features!
While the GF3 might not be the sexiest camera I really like it because of one main reason….the size! The GF3+14-42mm X lens (Click here) is probably the best compact camera with zoom lens you can carry with you all the time. Canon is the only one offering something similar, the [shoplink 29545 ebay]G1 X (Click here)[/shoplink]. But it is bigger, uglier, more expensive and has a fixed zoom lens only. Wondering if someone will spend $800 for this…
One more thing: The next Panasonic announcement will be made in early/mid April. The new m43 camcorder will be announced and hopefully the two new X zoom lenses too. I don’t know (yet) if there will be something else too.
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Shop search links to the three hackable Panasonic cameras:
Panasonic GH2 at [shopcountry 16254].
Panasonic GF3 at [shopcountry 23109].
Panasonic GF2 at [shopcountry 17361].
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Rumors classification explained (FT= FourThirds):
FT1=1-20% chance the rumor is correct
FT2=21-40% chance the rumor is correct
FT3=41-60% chance the rumor is correct
FT4=61-80% chance the rumor is correct
FT5=81-99% chance the rumor is correct
64 Responses
Keep the cute cameras coming Panny, they bring the money in obviously!
But you’d better announce the fast zooms soon, otherwise Olly will beat you to the market with theirs….
Oly’s fast zooms already are on the market and have been for years. What are you talking about?
Soccer moms everywhere will love the GH5,
Does it come in pink???
@Leu, Micro Four Thirds, of course. There’s always one in every crowd…….
the GF5 doesn’t sound like it will be that exciting but will probably sell well, it might be interesting to see what they bring out to replace/compliment the AF100 and to see what the do with the GH3…….
Olympus E-M5 samples here http://www.flickr.com/photos/youdidntdidyou/ will upload more over next few days…
Did you know both the Flickr O-MD groups out number and are more active than all the Nikon 1 groups (bar 1), not bad for a camera that’s not even out yet for another month!
LOL! Didn’t knwo that! Thx for sharing the pics!
The power and influence of social media!!
Upgrading the sensor is worthwhile, both for IQ and AF. I’d hope they’d bring back the hotshoe/viewfinder port, but it’s difficult with the GF3 formfactor.
I’d put a small viewfinder on the back side of the popup flash.
If the Incoming GF5 produce image quality similar with G3 , what is the point of buying G3 / GX ?
Panasonic seen failed to allocate the class differ among it’s cameras !
G3/GX1 has a bit different level of ergonomy, though. Not speaking about EVF.
Well Yun you could say the very same thing about the E-PL3, which is Oly’s much vaunted flagship model, yet still uses the very same archaic 12mp sensor which is a relic from the 1st ever m43 camera to be released way back in 2008: the Panasonic G1!
Since when was the E-PL3 the flagship model? What happened to the E-P3 or, dare I say it, the EM5?
Of course I meant the E-P3. Same sensor – no difference. I believe that was the point Yun was making yes?
E-M5 hasn’t been released yet, so just exactly how can it be a flagship model, hmm?
arghh.. I totally don´t understand panasonic.. Nex 5n and nex-7 are here quite a long time , now the superior EM-5 and all panasonic does is to announce another crappy camera for my mother with the “new” senzor that will have same IQ same DR as the GF3/GX1/G3, no VF and will have usable iso 6400 .. I hate those minimal improvements..
The IQ and DR of the G3 and GX1 actually is substantially different from that of the GF3. Upgrading the GF series from the old 12 Mpix sensor to Panasonic’s more recent 16Mpix sensor design, which presumably is mostly identical to the one that fires the E-M5, makes sense.
Idiot. You think it’s crap? only YOU don’t buy it, but a lot of people will buy it for whatever reasons. Don’t use your stupid mindset to judge others. Look at the sales, and you’ll know you or Panasonic is crap
wohooohoo , our Sammy is getting bad..
” Look at the sales, and you’ll know you or Panasonic is crap”
yes , look at the sales, and you´ll see that nobody wants that pink gf3 except you 😀
I like the G3 and GH2 , but I´m tired of those minimalistic improvements every half a year
The EM-5 is superior to what? It still has an inferior sensor to the GH2 IMO. Yes it is a good camera, and I happy to see the other m43 partner step up to the plate with a camera that can compete with the GH2, but the EM-5 isn’t lightyears ahead of the GH2 in every way. It has some very good features that beat the GH2, but the GH2 still beats it in others.
All cameras can’t be all things to all people, a GF5 with updated sensor, small form factor, and reasonable price is something that Panasonic needs to have in its lineup. Look for the GH3 to have the high end features with the same form factor, as the GX1 has it on the smaller form factor side.
superior to almost everything in m4/3 camp.. sure the price is a bit high but you get equall or better IQ than the best micro 4/3 cams now gh2/gx1 in weathersealed body with 5axis image stabilization.. that´s what I call a interesting camera.. I´m not a fanboy (have gh1 soon gh2) and I don´t care about the GF series.. but in last months there were a lot interesting announcements (5DmIII, 1Dx, D4,D800, EM-5) they have all some sort of magic technology.. and when I look on a rumor like this.. where panny will put a “new”senzor which is in every second m4/3 camera is a lot boring for me.. I don´t care GF5, If panny wants to make ten GF models a year it´s ok but make them interesting… give them new functions or something that is worth calling an upgrade
They should shave off few mm and regain the title of smallest mirrorless camera from J1. I’m not counting Pentax Q, that P&S with interchangeable lenses :).
Otherwise, not much to upgrade really, it’s good for the intended audience as it is. Maybe add in camera panorama? They should lower the price of outgoing GF3 to popularize the system further.
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Hope they bring the remote shutter port back or why not just include a wireless remote for TV playback and shutter? GPS maybe?
Agree, remote shutter is a must for all CSC and DSLR cameras.
It’s mine! I like GF3 form to handle it.
I hate something square design, because easy to drop, doesn’t fit my hand.
Where are those fast zoooooms!
I wanna see what body parts to sell!!!
I don’t understand all the hate comments. 🙁
Some people here endured 3 years of endless, mindless and worthless updates to the Olympus Pen line, and now that Panasonic makes a major improvement under the hood of one of it’s best selling cameras, everybody is acting like it’s nothing?
+10
It doesn’t make much sense. Whatever Olympus does is perfectly acceptable, 7 PENs with miniscule differences between models, while any and all Panasonic releases are suspect.
The best example is the ever-loathed “hump” of the GH and G series. Now that the OMD has it’s very own “hump”, which is bigger and with far fewer functions, “humps” are suddenly acceptable, especially if they look like they came from the 1960s. 😉
It all seems more like sour grapes than logic to me.
Anyway, the GF3 is kawaii. I was playing with one at B&H with the 14-42mm X lens. What a nice combo! Too bad it lacks the EPL3’s TiltyScreen! Maybe the GF5 will get one, along with the better sensor?
Because Olympus Fans cannot bring themselves to acknowledge that someone else is doing better than Olympus.
I can. But with the new five axis IS I think Olympus has something where they’re well ahead of their competitors. But something like the GH3 will surely be far better when it comes to serious video.
Well, I’m not sure if they make everything better, but I love to have options. Too bad there is no perfect camera.
I have GF3 and if it only would have ibis, I would almost be ready to part with my E-P1. Or if E-PM1 would have such a nice touch screen…
I think a new E-M5 with tiny GF5 would make a lovely arsenal for my non-pro shooting.
Panasonic makes great toaster ovens & vacuum cleaners.
In case you missed the past 15 years or so years of camera technology, cameras are no longer precision machines comprised of jewel-like mechanisms of gears, levers and tiny parts, but have essentially become electronic devices in all their silicon-based disposable glory!
And at this point, does it really matter?
Although it is nice to be able to use mechanical lenses with electronic cameras.
I agree. Given the new product cycle period of <2 years why do they have to make them with a metal body and charge more for it?
If they make it in plastic but better plastic with better seals (like Nikon bodies for example) it is good for everyone.
Already the sensor is in on a flex strip with loads of epoxy glue. No ceramic casing and such..
I must agree. It is phenomenal, how every move of Olympus (regardless if it is good or bad) is applauded, whereas Panasonic’s developments are usually written down. Usually this is the heroic fight of the traditional photographic David (though with fraudulent business activities) against the evil technology firm, which has no clue about stills photography. Not to mention the famous Olympus JPEG colors, which aren’t of much interest when you shoot raw anyway (which people should mostly better do), and are a very subjective aspect.
All this despite Olympus producing cameras with mediocre user interfaces, questionable high ISO IQ, and much less variation than Panasonic.
While Panasonic produced perfomant and ergonomic m4/3 cameras from day one (with build-in view finder and tiltable display !), the EM-5 is the first Olympus m4/3 camera product, which deserves respect.
The Oly updates to the PEN line were great, such as touch screen and faster AF.
I agree with you Duarte but drop the hate for Oly, you claim to be against hate and slander Olympus as mindless and worthless, sort yourself out.
GF5?, what why not call it GF4.
Panasonic usually doesn’t put No 4 on their product, 4 is dead or unlucky number in Japan.
@uiti, @Miroslav. I never knew that, very interesting…
The pronunciation of number 4 in east Asian languages sounds like the word death. So, they usually skip it in product names. If not, something bad happens: remember what happened with Olympus OM film cameras after OM-4 🙂 ?
Yes , I really hope Olympus and Panasonic will use the 4 in their models. Skipping it out of superstition is silly. I’m glad Nikon uses the number 4.
You are very Western centric…
Well it’s most probably not so much the manufacturers themselves but the customers. Take a Western example, where some buildings lack a 13th floor. I’m not superstitious myself, but I bet that the concern is very real for those that get to sell the cameras, or office space.
also in many planes you have 12 and 14th seat row following each other… (even in western companies: eg KLM)
Nevertheless I would like to see a GF4
My next camera will have 5 axis image stabilization. Don’t care how tempting the prices are on other cameras. Just impatient for Oly to release it in a cheaper model.
This will look great with the SLR magic pinhole. Hope, Panasonic will offer that as a kit.
Minor detail: Would this GF5 take a new battery?
As panasonic is a battery manufacturer, they have 1 million unique batteries each that will be custom fit into its own unique GF5 regardless of the huge expense to them as a company, and just to piss you off.
Wow! If they manage to do that I will be ecstatic! 🙂
1 million times 100 Euros worth of batteries to sell! Even if they make just 20% on them- that is a lot of cash. 🙂
They better release the zooms before the Olympics! Pana are major sponsors aren’t they?
the headline means that the GF5 will be on market at the end of the year… acording to pana cyclus…
I wish Panasonic would provide manual video controls for all their models instead of just the GH series. This is very limiting for video and is just a dumbing down of the firmware.
This is a tougher product that appears at first sight: will the next Pana beat E-PM1’s focus speed and jpeg rendition? Highly unlikely. Also, all the PENs will most likely drop in price by a notch after OM-D starts shipping.
From review tests the GF3 and E-PM1 AF speed are equal in good light but GF3 better in low light because of AF assist lighting. The JPEG rendering on GF3 is closer than one might expect with GF3 with more accurate colors from review tests like PP.
Not at all surprising for Pany to put the G3 sensor in the GF3 and likely we will soon see the same sensor in all the Oly Pen upgrades as well as more economic to produce a single processor with more volume. Also would free up manufacturing space for a still more potent sensor for the GH3 or rumored high end Pany product promised?
Yes the GF3 has proved to be a much tougher product than initially thought especially with its small size with Xlens and inbody flash and currently the best selling MILC camera in Japan.
I agree. Too many new models without much change…
Accessory port for remote shutter, please, please… (fingers crossed)
Maybe the E-M5 sensor is the GH3 sensor that Panny just produced and didn’t allow Oly to announce it – part of the deal! 😉
At B&H camera, a GF3 with the new “X” 14-42 zoom is going for $630 USD, and the the camera with the 14mm pancake is priced at $550 USD.
Considering that the pancake 14-42 zoom is priced at $400, and the 14mm pancake at $300, getting the GF3 with those lenses would be like getting a $230 (zoom) or $150 (pancake) micro 4/3 camera.
Taking that into consideration, even if you don’t like the GF3, getting a tiny little camera like that, with a 4/3 sensor, at the price you would pay for a dinky point & shoot, could be advantageous to those who like the quality and versatility of the 12mp sensor, in a size that could fit in most jacket pockets.
The only thing to be careful of, is that there are reports that the OIS on the new Lumix “X” zooms doesn’t work! That’s a pretty serious flaw for a $400 USD lens…I’d like to see 43rumors delve into the issue and see just how bad this problem really is.
Just something to keep in mind…
Panasonic’s policy to have two generations of sensors/image processors on higher and lower end cameras is totally idiotic.
I want to see that all the models (GH/G, GX/GF) are made on the the same level of technology for the sensor/image processor.
Sony does do it without complications on the NEX line.
that’s what this announcement is – they are putting the current sensor in the GF line
Regardless the G/GX series and GH sensors are different because of analog vrs digital readout and the bigger size of the GH sensor to minimize cropping for variable aspect ratios which makes the later more expensive to produce. Since high resolution is not required for video only 2 mp and fewer pictures taken at 16:9, it is possible to reduce costs that Pany could produce a single sensor to fit all the models?
“that’s what this announcement is – they are putting the current sensor in the GF line””
Just few months before GH3 arrives… No, they shall wait with the update of their lower end models till arrival of GH3.
2 Safaridon:
I do not catch your note: to be on the same level of technology does not mean to use exactly the same sensor. GF5 is the technology generation of GH2. When GH3 arrives it will be soon well-outdated (like GF2/3 after arrival of GH2). What I suggest is to bring all the models to the same generation of technology. For this they just need to wait few months with the update of lower-end models.
Sony has all NEXs on the same technology level. It is a better (for all sides) long-term marketing to synchronize all the models, even if they lose a bit in the short term.
As i wrote before:
After GH2 there should be GH6.
Why? GH every 2 Years. GF every Year.
2010: G2, GF2, GH2
2011: G3, GF3
2012: G5, GF5, GH6
2013: G6, GF6 (GH6 is still the Flagship)
2014: G7, GF7, GH7
2015: …
But after G9, G10 comes und they send back G10 to 2010…