The new Panasonic LF1 is now in Stock for the first time in USA via BHphoto (Click here). That camera left us with a bit of mixed feelings. Certainly a nice camera but not a real winner in the higly competitive compact camera market. It’s rumored that Olympus will release a high end compact camera soon. I hope it will feature a larger sensors to compete against the Sony RX100.
And finally the E-P5 will ship on June 12 (body only) and June 15 (superkit) according to Amazon US (Click here).
The other MFT camera deals:
GH3 for $1,028 (with 2% reward included) at Amazon US (Click here).
G5 with 14-42mm lens for $349 and free 32GB SD card at Samys (Click here).
G5 with double lens kit and free $100 Gift Card(!) at Adorama (Click here) for $598 (or $498 if you detract the gift card).
E-P3 for $329 at Amazon (Click here).
24 Responses
Another Panny FAILURE. The good news, it’s not the worse to come.
Nail in the coffin: The recycled tech coming from the upcoming FAILED GX7.
– Same color as the competition (can’t beat ’em… join ’em!)
– Mediocre IBIS that has existed since the E-P1.
– Ho-hum viewfinder & tilted screen, that the competition, such as the NEX & the PEN series provide.
– 18mp Bayer sensor? Yup, a hyped tech that doesn’t make the cut.
Keep trying Panny… The only way to go is up (the haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaard way).
Did you get driven out from under your bridge? 😉
> And finally the E-P5 will ship on June 12 (body only) and June 15 (superkit)
> according to Amazon US (Click here).
June?
> And finally the E-P5 will ship on June 12 (body only) and June 15 (superkit)
> according to Amazon US (Click here).
June?
> And finally the E-P5 will ship on June 12 (body only) and June 15 (superkit)
> according to Amazon US (Click here).
June?
When I followed the link to Amazon.com, I see July. I already got my E-P5 super kit at an local dealer in Frankfurt / Germany. OK it was the only one he got, but they have more from the other kits.
> And finally the E-P5 will ship on June 12 (body only) and June 15 (superkit)
June?
“And finally the E-P5 will ship on June 12 (body only) and June 15 (superkit)”
June?
I don’t think the comparison to the RX100 is applicable: The Sony is 30% more expensive, has half the zoom, and no view finder. They are not targeting the same users. The LF1 has a lot of features and capabilities in a very small package, so, of course, it makes compromises. All cameras do. This one looks to me like a good all around, always with you, camera.
Yeah, it isn’t targeting the same market as the RX100 or the X20. More the people who are buying the S110 and P330.
It’s the same size as the S110, but with a longer zoom range, EVF, better screen, longer battery life.
Now Panasonic needs to update the LX line with a better sensor but the same great lens as a companion. Maybe add in a tilt LCD.
I really like the LF1 – no other camera this small has a decent viewfinder. For those of us who really need a diopter-adjustable viewfinder to compose without switching reading glasses on and off, this is a great solution. Not a failure; that’s ridiculous but par for the course in web commentary.
The LF1 EVF is not “high-res” but it matches the quality of the vast majority of superzoom EVFs that have proven quite effective. It is smaller than LX7 despite the EVF, the sensor IQ is similar to LX7; lens is a bit slower (f/2 vs. F/1.4) but more zoom range at the tele end. All in all very versatile and more than satisfactory image examples coming back from early reports.
The LF1 wouldn’t replace my M43 cameras but it would be in my briefcase or my car all the time.
The Sony RX100-II is quite intriguing also but adding the EVF kills the sleekness (never mind the much higher cost). I would be thrilled if Sony would put an accessory EVF port on the left end of the camera; then an EVF could stay attached to the camera, keeping the profile and only extending the length by half an inch or so. Rotate the eyepiece up into place for viewing and rotate back down for pocketing.
Admin – Why all your disparaging comments regarding the LF1? No other quality compact has its 28-200mm range or an EVF inbody in such a small size of the RX100. You fail to note that the LF1 is almost as fast f2 at 28mm as the RX100 and similar speed at 100mm to RX100 at about f4.5 even if f5.9 at 200mm. Yes it uses the same sensor as the LX7 at 1.7/1 versus 1″ for RX100 but don’t expect to see a 28-200 lens in a RX100 model. Users of LF1 on DPR find its small EVF fine for framing and you do have a high resolution LCD for checking focus. Smaller sensor cameras are tack share at focus so that is less of an issue. In bright sunlight having a small EVF will make all the difference in usability. Makes for a very versatile small travel cam. You can’t add an EVF to the RX100 as no socket.
The LF1 fills an important niche and expect the coming LX to have the faster shorter reach lens with maybe 1″ sensor similar to RX100 but with hotshoe and optional EVF.
Admin – Why all your disparaging comments regarding the LF1? No other quality compact has its 28-200mm range or an EVF inbody in such a small size of the RX100. You fail to note that the LF1 is almost as fast f2 at 28mm as the RX100 and similar speed at 100mm to RX100 at about f4.5 even if f5.9 at 200mm. Yes it uses the same sensor as the LX7 at 1.7/1 versus 1″ for RX100 but don’t expect to see a 28-200 lens in a RX100 model. Users of LF1 on DPR find its small EVF fine for framing and you do have a high resolution LCD for checking focus. Smaller sensor cameras are tack share at focus so that is less of an issue. In bright sunlight having a small EVF will make all the difference in usability. Makes for a very versatile small travel cam. You can’t add an EVF to the RX100 as no socket.
The LF1 fills an important niche and expect the coming LX to have the faster shorter reach lens with maybe 1″ sensor similar to RX100 but with hotshoe and optional EVF.
Admin – Why all your disparaging comments regarding the LF1? No other quality compact has its 28-200mm range or an EVF inbody in such a small size of the RX100. You fail to note that the LF1 is almost as fast f2 at 28mm as the RX100 and similar speed at 100mm to RX100 at about f4.5 even if f5.9 at 200mm. Yes it uses the same sensor as the LX7 at 1.7/1 versus 1″ for RX100 but don’t expect to see a 28-200 lens in a RX100 model. Users of LF1 on DPR find its small EVF fine for framing and you do have a high resolution LCD for checking focus. Smaller sensor cameras are tack share at focus so that is less of an issue. In bright sunlight having a small EVF will make all the difference in usability. Makes for a very versatile small travel cam. You can’t add an EVF to the RX100 as no socket.
The LF1 fills an important niche and expect the coming LX to have the faster shorter reach lens with maybe 1″ sensor similar to RX100 but with hotshoe and optional EVF.
Sorry for all the repeat comments. As far as I know I only hit the submit comment button once.
It’s called Echo
Echo
Echo
Echo
…
Ground breaking sensor, awesome zoom range, top of range EVF. Wow. For $500. Absolute bargain. This will force Sony to rethink its RX100 line.
I hope next model will have 20x zoom. Maybe they can put 35x zoom. More zoom is good. Should also have 1″ sensor upgrade.
So, you would like 35x zoom (say 24mm to 840mm equivalent) and a 1″ sensor. I’m assuming you also want the speed to be at least, say, f/6.3 at the long end, otherwise you would be dissatisfied with the “dog slow” lens. This combination would mean the lens glass diameter alone would be well over 50mm (2 inches), then you add the extra diameter of the telescoping lens barrel, mount and motor electronics, and you’ve exceeded the entire height of the LF1 camera (62mm). Not to mention the depth of the camera is only 27mm including the rear EVF projection there is probably only about 12mm of depth within which the lens assembly must collapse.
Essentially, you would like the LF1 to be an entirely different camera, one that presently is available only in the size of at least a small DSLR.
I think that goes along with most of the criticism – people are truly comparing apples and oranges, sometimes mythical “competition” that don’t exist.
The LF1 is simply the only camera out that does what it does. Complaining that it falls short of some differently-targeted set of features is like complaining that a new motorcycle doesn’t have all the features of your favorite pickup truck.
The LF1 is such a disappointment , a true waste of time & resources . Agree with Admin , not a camera that up to competition .
Again, what competition are you referring to? Not one that has a viewfinder, and is this small, and that has this 7x zoom range, and that has an f/2 lens. You can exceed perhaps any two of these in more expensive competitors, but not three or all four of them.
The Sony doesn’t have built in wifi nor a viewfinder. This camera was made to compete with the Canon S110 which has the built in wifi as well.
Besides, Olympus can’t make a point and shoot that can sell anyways. I wouldn’t keep your hope up on that dream camera if I were you.
I keep hoping that Olympus will put out a compact with a 4/3 sensor, maybe something to compete with the Coolpix A, X100s, and GR.
I doubt Olympus will come with a compact that has a sensor larger than 1/1.7″ It’ll be too close to the 4/3 format. For Sony and Nikon the situation is easier, 1″ is still quite a bit smaller than their APS-C sized mid range models.