Finally we are back on track on rumors and new products are about to be announced in early April! To be more specific I have been told by two different sources that Panasonic is going to announce two new MFT cameras in early-mid April and another completely new camera that will be the first of a new line of cameras. I have no clue yet about what Panasonic means with that “new line”. It could be a new high end compact camera with fixed lens or something completely different. Sources didn’t unveil that.
Anyway, I am 90% sure the info I got in these weeks is correct. I hope other sources can soon share me some info about all three cameras by contacting me at 43rumors@gmail.com or by sending an anonymous message via the website contact form (on the right side of the website).
On the other (Olympus) side I got only an info about a possible June release of the E-P5. But let’s see if there will be something else in April too…
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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
80 Responses
Hopefully they stop making those stupid GF cameras with no hot shoe and the GF7 should be essentially a GX2 type camera so they can get rid of that line to make it less confusing. Then the brand new camera will probably be an APS-C fixed lens compact, or possibly a fixed-lens DSLR-style camera with a 24-120mm lens or so like Sony did way back when.
GF has it’s room in sales and should stay. GX replaced GF1 successfully and remains on stage. Can’t see a reson to complain.
Well I hope they keep on making the GFx line and improve it as well.
My son has one and it’s very useful, it IS very small.
The only reason it’s below par is because it has old sensor tech. Pana should do as Olympus and put the newest sensors in all of their camera’s but it seems they suffer from insecurity, as do people who dismiss the GFx line.
For pro’s there are already good camera solutions that can be improved upon. The OMD and GH3 are more than capable, the only thing missing is an E-Px with integrated viewfinder (EVF).
“Pana should do as Olympus and put the newest sensors in all of their camera’s but it seems they suffer from insecurity, as do people who dismiss the GFx line.”
Honestly , it must be far more logical to utilize the same sensor across the whole range. Once you have designed and built the infrastructure to make a new sensor ,every sensor you then sell helps to reduce the development costs per unit.Though the GH2 sensor is less than 1 stop away from the E-M5 or GH3 so I imagine it would be possible to use a tweaked GH2 sensor. The G5 is within half a stop of the E-M5 performance which in real life use is negligible. So a tweaked GH2 sensor would allow for even cheaper production costs while still gaining a lot compared to the 12mp sensor
—So a tweaked GH2 sensor would allow for even cheaper production costs while still gaining a lot compared to the 12mp sensor—
And that my “friend” is the mentality that will lead to the demise of the lesser specced cameras and eventually the brand.
Nothing worse to sell the consumer rubbish.
They need to put in the best sensor in all lines, like Olympus has done with the PM2 and PL5. This creates credibility of the brand. The camera’s are different enough and will still sell to the intended public.
Interesting. M4/3 is taking longer to mature than I thought i.e. when it becomes clear what form it takes. After a lot of agonising I’ve decided to put off my move to mirrorless from DSLRs for longer, until there is a clearer picture. I’ve just ordered an LX7 as a stop gap to tide me over. The other concern to me is this shutter shock thing. I wish that either Panasonic and Olympus would either go with electronic first curtain shutters, or hurry up with the global electronic shutter thing.
The IBIS, lens IS, quandry is making things difficult for me as well. I think with hindsight the IBIS option is clearly the winner. I understood the supposed advantages with video, but Olympus already shown that is not an insurmountable hurdle. Clearly IBIS is king with adapted lenses, and small primes
The most likely new line I would have thought is a large sensored compact. The success of the RX100 would have only been clear to even Sony with hindsight. Whilst I think a 4/3 sized sensor is the sweetspot compromise for a compact ILC, I think for a fixed zoom lens camera it is smaller, maybe the 1 inch sensor Sony chose. Even though I use APS-C DSLRs as well as 4/3 DSLRs I think APS-C is ultimately too big for a compact ILC system. APS-C ILCs are probably a good accessory for a DSLR system, but Sony have yet to come up with convincing lenses that match the compactness of its NEXs. I suspect that if Sony could go back to square one, they would go the m4/3 route. I think Canon and Nikon have only avoided the obviousness of the 4/3 sweetspot, because it would hand too much of an advantage to Panasonic and Olympus. However, this will really hamper CaNikon in their attempts to produce a successful mirrorless ILC system.
Well sorry for you but it has a clear direction, you’re just afraid to take the plunge. A differnt camera line of Panasonic is not suddenly making it worse or better.
The only missing camera is a brick with EVF like Sony and Fuji and maybe the next Canon. But the camera’s are still small and light and very capable. Even the GH3 is comparatively small though too large for what I need my camera for, but that’s fine.
A large sensored, fixed lens compact might have it’s place but imo wouldn’t be a big seller. Not versatile enough only for a small public. a 35mmFF is also not desirable since it would make the package only larger. Ofcourse we can argue about bigger always having advantage but at time there’s a break even point where it doesn’t matter if quality gets better because the IQ available will be enough for 99.9% of the cases, unles one wants to shoot in complete darkness. The latter will be a very specialized branch.
…..with fixed lens I meant prime.
A large sensor compact (43sensor) with zoom lens would sell much better of course.
I guess You could order GF3 with 2.5/14mm pancake for the price of LX7. When there will be a satifying body You’d already have VERY nice lens.
I did buy a GF3 body for $200 awhile back and it thoroughly beat my Oly XZ-1 in terms of quality….but now I also have an RX100…my o my what a P+S camera!
My go to cameras now are the RX100 and my G3…see no reason for an OMD or G5….maybe the G7 will be a good enough upgrade.
5 axis?
I’ve been shooting m43 since June 2009. Going on 4 years now. I’ve really got great work from my m43 (other system is FF). What is this “shutter shock thing?”
Never heard of it. The only issue I know of is the IBIS on my former EPM1 seemed to vibrate at the wrong frequency when shooting around 1/100 second. That was the only camera with an issue. What is the “shutter shock thing” and how come I’ve never seen it??
SteB, you just summed up the whole situation in a nutshell
Shutter shock is the biggest problem now for me.
Then humpless viewfinder.
Then better video on Oly.
Almost sure that they will realease a compact/fixed lens camera with a 4/3 sensor.
Andrew wrote: “Hopefully they stop making those stupid GF cameras with no hot shoe”…
Well, actually a hot-shoe isn’t that essential at all — if the camera supports wireless flash control. The GH3 is the first m43-camera from Panasonic to support that feature and (hopefully) won’t be the last. Adding wireless flash control to the GF-series would keep them very compact and still allowing to have extra flash power when needed; simply by triggering one (or more) external flash units wirelessly with the built-in flash. So a physical connection like that of a hot-shoe isn’t necessary any more; a wireless connection would do it too!
“Hopefully they stop making those stupid GF cameras with no hot shoe and the GF7 should be essentially a GX2 type camera so they can get rid of that line to make it less confusing.”
Learning about aperture, FoV, DoF, dr, ISO, exposure, shutter speed, histogram, post process, rules of compositions, color schemes, light, flashes, flares, ghosting, distortion of all kind, to name a few elements of photography, that is a world in its own, yet a little line of camera gear with compromise makes it too much. I feel sorry dude.
Hopefully it is not published 1st of April…
“New line” could be ranger finder style…:-) – hopefully not with a fixed lens.
— “New line” could be ranger finder style…:-) – hopefully not with a fixed lens. —
Well than we have to emigrate to the US or Canada, since those countries have “rangers” 😉
Sorry, was a typo. I even recognized it at once. But this site is a “shot and forget” system, like tanks are equiped with.
😉 No prob, just couldn’t resist, this site sometimes needs some humor/humour.
http://www.budgetblonde.com/wp-content/uploads/blogger/-4rLXPKJig_8/TZtXdFmlptI/AAAAAAAADdk/59Btoc_qU4g/s1600/jessica%2Brabbit%2Bpark%2Branger.jpg
Do you know what is the release date of the sigma 60mm? Is it good for portraits?
Yes , that is my long await camera .
The very highend camera that Pana promised .
The new version of L style camera .
Good morning! Did you really have such wild dreams tonight? 😀
For all we know it could be a new video camera
The “completely new camera” is unlikely to be a m4/3. Four camera lines are more than enough IMO. I hope the GF7 gets an accessory port, a hot shoe and an updated sensor.
If they are about to make a pro m43 it is not likely to be a 135.
I am a fan of Panasonic, mainly for its intuitive menu layout and camera design. Currently own a GX1. However, as I shoot more with primes, I have become a fan of IBIS and not IOS. That is why I am moving toward Olympus. While this is great news for m43, I’m hoping and waiting for some solid FT5 rumors from Olympus front soon.
Having a g , a gf, a gx, a gh, and a gsomethingelse feels like a clutered approach. One of them is undoubtedly gonna go.
The new model is going to be designated GFHX1 to keep it in line with current Panasonic naming convolutions…
The most important part of this rumor is the no rumor from Olympus.
The ongoing anarchy concerning the 4/3 adapter or any other solution.
Yeah, the FT guys who have been faithful to Olympus for a long term deserve to know what to expect to facilitate fully functioning use of their FT lenses some of which are pretty pricey
Haven’t you heard the latest rumour about the 43 problem solution?
They are currently preparing a big May fire sale of the remaining stock of SHG lenses at Olympus – the shorter focal lengths will be available for $99 each, the teles for $199 each. Once the lenses are sold out, there will be no need for adapters, E-7 and similar nonsense anymore; they’ll just shake it off, the nightmare’s finally away and they can fully concentrate on designing new $99 lens hoods! 😉
“can fully concentrate on designing new $99 lens hoods! ”
In Silver!
Right. But it’s already planned that they will start designing black versions in 2014, which will be sold for $149.
Wow super fast progress, developing the development prior to it developing.
Sorry Liad but you’ll be waiting a long time.
Admin, it feels a little unclear to me whether it’s two cameras + a new line, or is is the new line one of these two cameras that will be announced in April?
Well…I think it is a safe bet that one of these cameras is simply a GX2 with the new (GH3) sensor…I am not expecting a radical new body style or big changes (I.e. there will be no in-camera viewfinder), because Panasonic is so conservative. Also, it has been years of almost everyone on this forum anticipating a rangefinder-style MFT camera…but I sincerely doubt that a MFT camera of that ilk will ever be built…don’t know why…but clearly Panasonic and Olympus have no desire to produce this camera.
Hope you are wrong, but fear you are right. Except you are more optimistic than I am about a GX2 with a GH3 sensor. The GX1 had the G3 sensor, so I figure this one when it arrives will have the G5 one.
That is funny..I thought someone would crack on me for being negative!!!!!!!!
Well…..you could be right…but how can they introduce the GX2 with anything but their best sensor….(oh..yeah …it is Panasonic)..
Olympus put the OMD sensor in the EPL-5…so you get great capture and just don’t have the image stabilization of the top DAWG.
I just do not see how Panasonic can release the new model of their premier “still” oriented camera (GX2), and not have a sensor in it that competes with Olympus’ year-old best..right????
GH-C cinema line. Much like the C100 and C300 are to Canon.
GH-C.
Sounds good to me.
…except of course the Canon prices…
Right, but…..
On the other hand, this site suggests the GX2 isn’t coming until September. The sensor in the G7 will tell us something. Perhaps it will be the same one as the GX2 later.
yeah GH-C cinema version
may call ‘new line cinema’ 555
Two new MFT cameras in early-mid April: GF7 and G7.
New camera line? My guess: GS1(?). Fixed lens GF1/GX1 styled camera with or without integrated EVF, GH3(?) sensor, 14mm (28mm) f/1.7 fixed lens with aperture ring. Panasonic pricing: ~$900 with EVF, ~$700 without EVF. Wishful pricing: ~$700 with EVF, $500 without EVF.
Uematsu has expressed interest in a fixed lens compact with 4/3″ sensor several times. Whether Panasonic have already made it or will make it is another question.
http://www.43rumors.com/panasonic-shows-interest-in-fixed-lens-compact-camera-with-ft-sensor/
Your are wrong. It will be a 17mm 0.95…:-) fast and furious.
And they will sell it as well with a mount for the other product lines.
Fast aperture and high speed is nice, but camera makers avoid very fast apertures for fixed lens cameras with large sensors. That’s why you see f/2.8s (Leica X2, Sigma DP) and f/2s (Fuji X100/S, Sony RX1), not even f/1.4 or faster. Lenses like Nokton 17 f/0.95 are good for specific and artistic purposes where narrow DOF and high speed is advantageous. For street and lanscape use, that kind of speed can be more hindrance than help.
A 22 or 23mm 1.8 would fit the historic 135 film focal length offered by the great popular consumer cameras of the past.
But would cost take it away from general consumers. Thus making it a niche product and as a niche product would that be fast enough, wide enough, narrow enough. Then does it have live view and electronic shutter, or an old-fashioned viewfinder and leaf shutter just to be different.
Obviously the larger the sensor the larger the lens combine this with the faster the lens the larger the lens and it means that you are going to be restricted in how fast a lens you can put in a truly small body. An mFT has a far smaller sensor than the FF option in the RX1 yet it has a by all accounts an excellent F2 lens { as it should be for $2500 }, so a faster option would be easier for an mFT fixed lens compact but this would increase the size and price. Personally for such a model I would opt for the Sony 1″ sensor with a super fast lens for a genuinely tiny setup. The problem that mFT has is that you can pick up a lower end pen with one of the pancakes for decent money and close to pocketable
Camera Size comparison. Various DIY “fixed” prime lens mirrorless ILC vs fixed prime lens mirrorless non-ILC. 4/3″, APS-C and FF sensor sizes; 28-50mm focal lengths; apertures f/1.4 to 2.8.
http://j.mp/XgIUMz
Fixed lens with m43 sensor makes sense, not too large, economies of scale. Either fixed focal length 17-20mm, f1.4, or relatively fast zoom with perhaps short range, maybe 14-35 f/2.8 or shorter, maybe 14-45 f/2.8-3.5?
Dang, my reply was intended for Bob.B.
For m4/3 format to take a leap of maturity, it has to integrate a full-frame format.
The application of multiple formats in photography, is not a new concept, it’s been going on for decades.
But I suspect that the m4/3 partners will continue in their attempt to fight off the smartphones; and continue with further segmentation of the market.
I agree with Admin, it will be a high end fixed-lens (Leica) camera.
You mean, “it has to integrate a 135 format”
Because, it is already “full frame”, a full 4/3″ frame to be exact.
Anyway, won’t happen because of differences in image circle size, mount size (both of which are pretty much unsurmountable), giving up one of the prominent advantages of the format (possible to make much smaller cameras and lenses) and so on.
One could use a 135 format sensor and then use optics directly in front of the sensor to overcome those issues, but that will inherently throw away the advantages of a larger format, so it complicates things without actually adding anything useful.
Sorry but if you want 135 format, you’ll have to buy an 135 format camera, and bring it with you for the corner cases where extremely shallow DOF is required, or acceptable in order to work in extremely low-light conditions.
you think m43s is fighting with smartphones??
There is a big price gap between the X920K consumer camcorder at $1000 and AF100 pro camcorder at $5000. Perhaps the new line is a low-end m43 camcorder? Or is this where the GH3 is positioned? Maybe a sub-$1000 m43 camcorder then?
(not that I’m saying I’d want such a thing, but I could imagine a marketeer thinking like this)
Full frame range finder style with true Leica glass 25-100 , and…please make it affordable. Please….with bounce flash!
and f1.0!
How about combine the G and the GX to make a rangefinder style with viewfinder in left corner.
New line could be a video camera that takes MFT lenses. The film community has already adopted the GH2 so a line of cameras that are optimized for video and take MFT makes sense. Basically, take the best of the Panny camcorders and put an MFT mount on it.
This FT5 rumor says a new camera, the first of a new line of cameras. If it is a fixed lens camera ala RX100 as suggested or with m4/3 sensor then that would be a single camera not a series? If the above description was correct then I would guess the new line of camera is the new rangefinder with EVF series but odd to have no significant rumor leaks so far of more details from any source? Maybe Pany was going to drop the GX1 for the new rangefinder with EVF but is having second thoughts as a GX2 with GH3 sensor would still fit in their price structure below the new higher end rangefinder?
My guess is that the completely new line of cameras will be a compact camera line with some mobile phone operating system (either Android like with the Samsung Galaxy Cam and Nikon Coolpix S800c or maybe even with Firefox mobile OS)… Not that uninteresting at all, as such cameras would allow a high degree of customization (just buy some app to add new functions and/or uninstall some apps to remove unneeded functions)!
I Guess “the new camera line” is the rumored special sensor for 3D but with standard lenses:
http://feber.se/foto/art/265874/ny_kamerasensor_kan_fota_i_3d_/
and
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20130223/267691/
I thought 3d for cameras and TV died and was put to rest. Trying to resurrect it would be an expensive project. It would have a lot of negativity to overcome and I don’t think Panasonic is in a position to do that on their own.
At present only a 3d TV could be used as the output. So how do you show your friends your ‘snaps’ over coffee.
@Admin, I already promised my G3 for selling to a good friend in order to buy a G7 by June/July. Please don’t dsiappoint me! 😀
no disappointment! The question is…how good will the G7 be?
I have a hunch the rangefinder is going to be overlooked again and we will get a fixed lens 4/3 sensor camera instead.
I like your name, sort of like an internet super hero. “Heat seeking troll missile” ha ha.
I do hope for a rangefinder too, but have my doubts.
So far cameras have been added to mobile phones.
What I’d like to see is a phone added to a camera.
A weather, dust and shock proof RX-100 with touch screen back and phone inside. Sell that for a grand and I’m in.
Camera is not a necessity, but a phone is. As a result, the phone function will always be the main focus with the camera being a secondary function. But if it happens, then it will be very niche. The Samsung Galaxy camera has android with internet connection on it so it is kind of moving toward the direction of your vision.
Then the camera makers would have to make arrangements with the mobile network carriers for plans and contracts. Or you could buy it outright and arrange your own SIM plan. I could see Samsung and Sony doing it as they are already down that convergence path. But the others are too conservative and want to protect traditional interests (lens and accessories sales, system “lock-in”). I don’t think the traditional camera and optics makers want to go down the integrated smartphone path right now; it’s a huge risk, even more so considering the terrible financial situation many of them are in.
the g5 has got to be one of the shortest lived camera models of all time…
Olympus PEN E-P1 Announced 2009 June 16
Olympus PEN E-P2 Announced 2009 November 5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 Announced 2012 July 18
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7 Announced? rumored 2013 April
http://www.panasonic.com/business/provideo/AG-AF100A.asp
http://www.43rumors.com/panasonic-announces-the-new-ag-af100a/
Just either gimme a GX2 or a (true) rangefinder with fixed 25mm F1.4 Leica lens. :\
No, Leica won’t let Panasonic build such a camera, I bet.