Great read that addresses GH3 briefly, new lenses, etc. They seem to be preparing update that will somehow support the hacks? I'm not sure what the firmware update is supposed to do, but I think it is interesting that they are very knowledgeable about the hacking going on and are not stating any issues with it.

Are they saying they are trying to design new GH2 firmware to not interfere with hacks? Not sure.

Panasonic Announce Two New Power Zooms (http://www.ephotozine.com/article/panasonic-announce-two-new-power-zooms-17214)

I read somewhere they may be something like F/ 2.2-3.3. Whatever the numbers were they were very odd. But that is what I saw, I don't remember where it was.

So these will be parfocal lens? Seems like these will cost more than the GH2 body.

It's been said that even if they aren't para-focal, it shouldn't be too hard for the software to adjust the focusing accordingly to the zoom speed that you select. That's for the normal speed powered zooms.

I had my eye on the Olympus f2.0 since although it's a little slower than the Panasonic f/1.7 lens, it's a pretty decent size different going from 20mm to 12mm. Now Panasonic decides to show off their new fast lenses so I might want to get that instead even if it end up being f/2.5 at the widest. Being decently fast and having the ability to go from 12mm to 35mm will be perfect for low light event shooting in which being stuck on either 20mm or 12mm is not always desirable and changing lenses in the middle of a song for example is not an option. Heck, even changing lenses in between songs is problematic since sometimes they continue to the next song without stopping.

It wasn't too long ago that their were a lot of complaints about the Micro 4/3rds system not having any native fast lenses if you don't include the regular 4/3rds lenses but now, they'll be so many lenses that the decision over which one to buy will get very difficult. Micro 4/3rds have finally matured.

Meh, there may be a lot of options, but none of them seem to be that great. There's a lot of compromise any which way you go. With Canon cameras there appear to be a few clear cut favorites, like, for example, the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8.

The 14-42mm zoom lens will cost $400 but I see that the bundle price with a GF3 will be $750. The price of the lens alone seams a little steep but at least the bundle price doesn't look that bad.

Groundbreaking is right -- this makes our Panasonic GH2/AF100 ecosystem a lot more attractive for ENG and event shooters.

I have been seriously considering moving over to the Sony VG20/FS100 ecosystem (for the larger APS & S35mm sensor sizes), and had resigned myself to the idea that shooting with a large sensor camcorder meant manual zooms forever -- but now Panasonic has gone and messed things up!

Good thing too -- I was really starting to feel the pull of the Dark Side.

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution (http://hybridcamerarevolution.blogspot.com)

If the software can compensate the focus during a powered zoom I can live with that. Zooming live with the present Panasonic lens is ill-advisable beyond a certain amount as the auto-focis can not keep up.

I should have paid more attention to your post. I Actually meant the normal speed lenses not the fast speed ones since the software will already know how fast the powered zoom will be. That will be more differ-cult on the fast lenses unless the zoom will be powered as well.

Here's a video that shows the regular lenses in action.
Panasonic debuts world's first pancake zoom lens and fixed telephoto lens - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyQngOjHskk)

Very nice technology. For those of use that shoot weddings, the lenses aren't practical, with f/stops beginning at f/3.5. I can only imagine what a fast zoom in these formats might cost!

Pentax had a bunch of power zoom lenses for their film SLRs .
Pentax power zoom lenses (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/jogiba/Pentax%20lenses/680282644_Umzhz-X2.jpg)

Pentax 250-600mm F5.6 ED IF power zoom (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/jogiba/Pentax%20lenses/680281379_wQZ3n-X3.jpg)

Pentax Power Zoom Explained (http://www.mosphotos.com/PentaxLensPowerZoom.html)

I just wish someone would come up with a $3500 videocamera with a 35mm sized sensor and fixed zoom lens.

I just wish someone would come up with a $3500 videocamera with a 35mm sized sensor and fixed zoom lens.

This is pretty close:

Sony launches NEX-VG20 Handycam Camcorder: Digital Photography Review (http://www.dpreview.com/news/1108/11082415sonynexvg20.asp)

Thanks for the link John, but isn't that a rehash of the previous model? And that kit lens is slow. There isn't a fast e series zoom made yet. I don't see the point, at least for event video.

Yes and yes. But it does have a large sensor :)

So the zoom control is the little slide buttons on the side of the lens? I doubt is these would give you much precision in the zoom. And the image seems as though it would drift out of focus until the software can catch up. I've shot some live events with the GH2 using a B4 adapter and putting a 2/3" lens on the body. It works great if your on sticks. If your not, you'll need a different setup.

You are absolutley right Bryan. Useless for most of us, but who knows, maybe it's fine.

Bottom line for me is these cameras are consumer gadgets that happend to shoot great video. I really need to get a regular video camera to supplement these things, they are so much work.

I think they are tantalizing. I see them along the same lines as the Red Camera where you have the record module and can build out from that. Unfortunately it may take Panasonic another generation of these cameras to get there. When I talked to Panasonic about the GH2 at NAB I was told they considered these cameras as consumer cameras and not to expect much more in lens development.

But then there's the AF100 which uses the same lenses as the GH2.

I just wish someone would come up with a $3500 videocamera with a 35mm sized sensor and fixed zoom lens.
A $3500 videocamera with the same 35mm/FF sensor as the Canon 5D MKII with fixed zoom lens will not happen IMHO. The NEX-VG20 has the same APS-C sensor as the NEX-5N APS-C mid-range mirrorless compact.

Hmm the message says to contact Panasonic if you have an idea.. I can't seem to find an emailaddress suitable though.. anyone have one?

I would desperatly want the composite out to be enabled for live viewing, especially since I can't downconvert the HDMI output to composite..