m4/3 Zuiko 12mm f2.0 + much more

gavinlg

gavinlg

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- Zuiko 12mm f2.0, made @ tatsuno plant (same as OM) Japan
- Zuiko 45mm f1.8
- E-p3, E-pl3, E-pm1 bodies
- E-p3 has built in flash, OLED screen, all bodies have AF assist light
- All bodies have new AF which is reportedly faster than Pana GH2 AF, and faster than DSLR AF
- All bodies have new Olympus designed sensor, still 12mp, designed for higher IQ in noise/dynamic range
+ more

All coming June 30th.


I'm starting to get excited about m4/3 again - finally Olympus commits to making a decent lens!
 
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This lens is promising. I hope that it is sharp and has excellent optical qualities, plus a decent price.
 
Very promising lens. Pair it with a 25 f/1.4 or so and then that new 45 f/1.8 and you've got a 24/50/90 three-lens setup small enough for a small messenger bag. Talk about traveling light.

I'm interested to see what the new cameras will look like and what their feature sets will be. I wish they'd include some kind of VF that is better than just an EVF... But alas, you can't have it ALL can you? :)

I had an EPL1 with the 17/2.8 for a short time but just couldn't get used to it. I don't really know what it was, I just didn't like it. Perhaps these new offerings will inspire my interest a little more...

Thanks for sharing.
 
jsrockit said:
The answer is in the middle of the picture ruby...

wonder what the price is on the lens...
Click to expand...

Around $799 for the 12mm and $299 for the 45mm, according to 43rumors.com.
Seems pretty reasonable for a metal lens with the 24mm f2 status. A used OM 24mm f2 is still pretty expensive, and the zeiss 24mm f2 for Sony DSLRs is $1200...
 
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jsrockit said:
The answer is in the middle of the picture ruby...

wonder what the price is on the lens...
Click to expand...
I was rather hoping for something more than "an unnamed source on a rumour site, but he's really reliable - no, honestly guv"; because the thought of Olympus finally doing something new with their m4/3 system *is* exciting.
 
ruby.monkey said:
I was rather hoping for something more than "an unnamed source on a rumour site, but he's really reliable - no, honestly guv".
Click to expand...

They've accurately predicted and gotten news on new m43 products for the last few years. In fact I think every single m43 camera or product over the last year or 2 has been accurately detailed by 43rumors before the official launch. Go back through the rumors and see for yourself.
 
I'm still sulking because they don't make a kick-butt 17mm/2 (an Olympus Summicron, so to speak). :p
 
The panasonic 14mm is one of those lenses that absolutely needs distortion correction through software - the main reason I did not buy one.
Let's hope the olympus one is better.
 
I just realized that the picture above is of the new E-P3.

Two comments:

1. Why doesn't it have a control dial around the lens mount? even Canon S90 has it and it'll free up precious real-estate on the top of the camera.

2. Please don't tell me that it's only available in porcelain white surface. That goes for the 12/2 lens.
 
shadowfox said:
I just realized that the picture above is of the new E-P3.

Two comments:

1. Why doesn't it have a control dial around the lens mount? even Canon S90 has it and it'll free up precious real-estate on the top of the camera.

2. Please don't tell me that it's only available in porcelain white surface. That goes for the 12/2 lens.
Click to expand...

The control dial comment is interesting - but I think maybe it's more suited to point and shoots without an actual lens mount. I could be wrong, I'd be excited if they did do something like that...

The white is just a color I'd say - it'll definitely come in black. The lens isn't white - it's silver. Apparently it's real metal. Hopefully it'll come in black too!
 
In other news, I heard a very interesting bit of information just now...
The e-p3 and all the new bodies utilize IR focussing (through the lens) alongside the regular focussing system - kind of like the hexar AF. This is why it uses a dual processor - to handle AF processes. Details are as follows:

(1) TruPict VI consists of two cores. "Left brain" is for image processor, "Right brain" is for Focus Processor.
(2) The new Focus Processor:
a. During focus attempt, image is recorded twice: in visible band (R-G-B) and IR band (R-IR-B) and stored in "buffer memory".
b. First image ~540nm will be "overlayed" with second image ~900nm.
c. Predictive focus is opted from the "overlayed image"
(3) Tweaked sensor: Olympus adds IR channel onto Green channel in RGB sensor. the tweaked channel occupy approx. 50% area at the center and in circular shape.
(4) Microlens design: IR band should not be filtered.
(5) New lens: Coating should allow IR band to enter the sensor. Previously, Olympus patented special glass (in 2002) and coating (in 2008) to block IR band completely.

This patent also shows that Olympus (E-P3) will have IR assist focus.

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(from here

I really hope this is true - from what I've heard about how good the new AF is, I'm fairly sure it is indeed true.
 
fdigital said:
The control dial comment is interesting - but I think maybe it's more suited to point and shoots without an actual lens mount. I could be wrong, I'd be excited if they did do something like that...
Click to expand...

Gavin,
I think this is a serious omission that could make the camera stand up from its competition.

I really was hoping for that (not hinted anywhere, I just "intuitively" hoping :) )
For goodness-sake, Olympus invented shutter speed dial around the lens mount (either them or Nikon in their Nikkormat models), but the point is, it just make sense.

Especially with a digital camera where you can decide what to control, imagine how handy it would be for switching ISO speed, for instance.
 
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