Micro 4/3rds Goodness… the Panasonic GF1
Panasonic are announcing a new Micro 4/3 camera. On paper it looks to be a clear Olympus EP-1 beater, an optional Live view finder that works with different lenses. The 20mm Pancake lens is an f1.7 instead of 2.8, lets hope they dont’f fluff the Manual Focus like Olympus did. Though the “MF Assist” sounds like it is similar*, but the AF+MF option could be like the USM on canon lenses, let the AF get you close and you tweak it.
I like the variable image ratios, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9 and 1:1 such as on the Panasonic LX3, I’m glad they kept this. I must admit I am quite excited about this, and I’m hoping it is what I wanted the EP-1 to be! Come on Panasonic, don’t let me down. This is one camera that I defintely want to try out, hmm now to get Panasonic to lend me one for a while! 
Oh and as Leica have an announcement coming on the 09/09/09 I should think they will be launching a version of this camera then… probably for an extra £999!
*EDIT:
Manual focus is performed using the focus ring on the lens. If you’ve activated the MF assist function the image will be magnified to 5x or 10x as soon as you turn the focus ring. It’s surprisingly usable.
This is from the DPREVIEW preview, and so looks as though you can operate the MF without the “assist” automatically kicking in, thank you Panasonic! (though my bank balance may not thank you).
[...] “must upgrade” mentality/desire. I know I am guilty of it, my recent post on the new offering from Panasonic is a case in point. It is the carrot that they always tempt us with and a bloody juicy carrot it is [...]