Micro Four Thirds. Olympus might be onto something here...

[photohiker]

Olympus and Panasonic have recently announced a new version of the 4/3 system called 'Micro Four Thirds'

Basically, they have removed the mirror and pentaprism from the 4/3 system, reducing the lensmount to focal plane distance by 20mm and the lensmount diameter by 6mm. This leaves us with a rangefinder-style camera with interchangeable lenses and a 18 x 13.5 mm sensor (same as 4/3) Existing 4/3 lenses will fit via an adapter (and presumably OM lenses via adapter also)

To me, this looks like the progression of affordable camera styles between the point & shoot and the DSLR is about to have a new category added, and one that might finally plug the hole between the tiny sensor pocket cameras and the SLR. The Sigma DP1 was the first P&S with a decent sized sensor, and while tempting, some implementation quirks have made it relatively easy to resist. A good, small, rangefinder camera with interchangeable lenses might not be so easy to resist if it is done well. Looks like I'll have to hold off on the Canon G9 after all.

No cameras have been announced yet. Perhaps at Photokina Cologne late in September...

More info here: http://www.dpreview.com/news/0808/08080 ... thirds.asp

Michael

[Glen]

Very interesting, I wonder if these may become the Leica or Nikon rangefinders of our time? Olympus always used to make good small cameras

[aim54x]

Sounds interesting, Thom Hogan was talking about doing this with a fixed lens on a Nikon D40/40x a while back

http://bythom.com/compact.htm

[gstark]

This is, IMHO, much ado about nothing. I saw this announcement at the start of the week, and my first impression was "yawn". My second impression was that the announcement was referring to the upcoming cameras as DSLRs. Er, no. With no mirror, there's no "Reflex".

Consider where the four thirds system has gone, and where has it taken us?

Now, add to that the brilliant speed and response that digital viewfinders give us. Makes Stagger Lee look responsive. Certainly not going to be seeing too many at the London Olympics, except perhaps on the podium.

Sensor size is too small given where DSLR trends are taking us. This is really just going to end up as a potentially better compact camera style, with interchangeable lenses. Will that be more convenient in actual use than one with a just some damn good glass? I'm not so sure.

The question is whether Olympus will return to making the Zuiko glass of old - truly great glass. Given that the market for this camera is purely in the PHD realm, I just don't see that happening.

[photohiker]

I agree that the format won't knock any established quality DSLR off it's perch, but that is not what makes it interesting.

Most of us would like something smaller than a DSLR that takes a pretty good image for those times when a DSLR is too big and too conspicuous. There are a bunch of cameras in the P&S 'high end' that do a somewhat reasonable job of this, but apart from the DP1, they all suffer a miniature sensor and it's associated noise. It looks to me that the segment is turning towards larger sensors as a means to differentiate itself.

This is really just going to end up as a potentially better compact camera style, with interchangeable lenses. Will that be more convenient in actual use than one with a just some damn good glass? I'm not so sure.

That's exactly the point. It's about the sensor size. It should make a better compact camera. Ask DSLR users about the Sigma DP1 and a significant number of them object to the chosen lens. People want choice, even if it's to choose the one lens they want on the camera.

I wouldn't be too worried about Zuiko lens quality then and now. Partly because the smaller sensor is less demanding of the absolute lens quality, and also because the other 4/3 partner is Panasonic, and they bring Leica designed glass to the table.

Like the DP1, this development is defining a new upper P&S class of camera. I don't expect many Pro's to use them for work, but I bet plenty have them in their pocket at the weekend...

Michael

Michael

[chrisk]

thom hogan summarised this well. the 4/3rds was supposed to be an alternative to aps-c but difficult control over noise and sensor size limitations have not seen it make the inroads first thought due to the compact size. now they make it even MORE compact to try and make some ground. but the big 2 will likely follow suit with a micro aps-c camera and then oly is back to square one.

what i hope is that this encourages Canikon to get their little "dslr's" out a little quiker. i welcome the innovation and ballsiness, (desperation ?), of Oly but really, not much has changed.

[photohiker]

Hi rooz,

The more compact is in the camera, not the sensor size. Whilst 4/3 hasn't been successful against APS sized sensor cameras (it's around half their size after all) it's a whole lot better than the micro sensors in the P&S class.

Yep, I'd expect the big players to recognise the new segment and plug a camera or two into it. They couldn't let Olympus, Panasonic and Sigma have a market to themselves...

[chrisk]

yes i know its the camera body, thats my point.

4/3rds dslr's are smaller than aps-c dslr's
micro 4/3rds is a smaller body again with a 4/3rds sensor but Canikon can, (and will), release a similar DVF compact "dslr" with an aps-c sensor and oly is back to square one really.

at the end of the day oly's main competitive advantage is ther size of the body but its major competitive disadvantage is the performance of its small sensor. so really...not much has changed.

[photohiker]

Point taken

Note that an APS sized sensor needs APS sized lenses. An upper P&S camera will still need to be pocketable. Reading between the lines, the reason the DP1 came with a wide prime lens was to keep the size within pocketable limits. If Nik/Canon release an APS sensored camera it will need DSLR sized lenses. If they create a micro-apc sensor, smaller lenses can be used, but they will battle with the same quality issues as 4/3 even if they may have better technology and a bigger budget than Olympus.

My point is that this is going to be an interesting market segment to watch.

Michael