...serious, and seriously expensive (though not necessarily overpriced).

Pany 12-35 f2.8 OIS:

Panasonic launches Lumix G Vario 12-35mm F2.8 fast zoom for Micro Four Thirds: Digital Photography Review (http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/05/21/Panasonic-12-35mm-F2-8-fast-standard-zoom-for-micro-four-thirds)

- Compact, fast, stabilized zoom, wide-to-normal range, premium build quality. Weather sealing implies a forthcoming weather-sealed Panasonic body. In any case, I'll bet many OM-D owners will be snapping this up, even at $1300 -- together they'd make a fantastic landscape photography kit (also street, for those who prefer wide-angle in that situation). Too rich for my blood, but could find its way into my hands if it gets a deep discount as a premium kit lens.


Olympus 75mm F1.8 for Micro Four Thirds gets $900 price-tag: Digital Photography Review (http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/05/24/Olympus-announces-m-zuiko-75mm-F1-8)

- New high-spec Oly tele prime. Also too pricey for me at $900, but I have a feeling this one is going to sell very well. Lack of weather sealing is a little perplexing, maybe a big mistake (supposedly it's intended for studio use, which I find a bit of a head-scratcher). With a weather-sealed top-of-the-line body, Oly should be releasing lenses that will make the most of its best body. Nevertheless, should be a very good concert/theatre lens, just not for dusty or wet festival-type shows.

Yeah, I'm kind of salivating at the prospect of a weather sealed Panasonic body... I would think seriously of opting for the new landscape lens if it were bundled in as a kit for the forthcoming body.

But I'm still torn between that and a Sony solution. Those little Sony cameras are offering pretty amazing image quality in a small package but they just don't look anywhere near as appealing ergonomically.

I'm also hoping for a weather-sealed Panasonic with the 12-35 as the kit lens. What would really be killer is if they didn't reserve sealing for the top-of-the-line GH series, but also offered it on a G-series body. Not really expecting that, though.

Sony doesn't appeal to me at all, first and foremost because of the Nex lens offerings -- mostly too big in relation to the bodies, and not enough choice overall. Not that I need lots of lenses, but it's good to have plenty of options, and m43 now has that.

Precisely my problem with the Sonys, iMatt. Seems the lens and body combo is terribly out of balance. I would rather have a slightly larger/beefier body that's better matched, weight and balance-wise, to the body. Plus I like the Panny articulating panels in the G series.

It's about time! A lot of our customers always ask for faster lenses for the micro four thirds or mirrorless cameras that aren't prime wide angles. I think there's more potential to sell these little cameras when they have quality lenses oppose to the consumer quality f/3.5-5.6 lenses.