Olympus / Panasonic announce Micro Four Thirds

[dorts]

That's what I love about Olympus. Innovation.

Can't imagine a weathersealed Micro Four Thirds camera smaller than the current E-420.

If lenses will be small, does it mean flashes will be too?

Will there even be a hot shoe? Extension Tubes? Teleconverter? :bsmilie:

 

[weekh]

While I look forward to this, but it is not a breakthrough news.
Sony has put a 1.6x sensor on its R1. If Sony had gone ahead to develop on the R1 and make interchangable lens for the body.....

 

[sadwitch]

Olympus is so cooool! I really love the idea and the imminent return of the Pen in digital form! More pancakes with even better optics please!

 

[cityzensg]

Since Panasonic recently announce the LX3 ... seems like now they tie with Olympus to make one LX3 but with interchangeable lens

I would love to believe it will look more or less like LX3 body and size.

As for the view finder ... maybe can also use the range finder one similar to LX 3 where you fix to the hotshoe

 

[spidey89]

i don't quite like evf,makes me dizzy,if it really happens,i'd rather switch or give up photography altogether,how small can cameras get?if everything keeps getting smaller,guys like me will have trouble using stuff that are meant for smaller sized people,if humans evolved to be a lot smaller and weaker in terms of strength,I can understand,but today,there are still guys like me and most probably to come in the future,but kinda creepy from the pictures i've seen of humans in the future

 

[diCam]

I think Olympus will maintain 2 4/3 system. The normal 4/3 and micro 4/3 serves different market.

Technology advancement may allow for faster contrast AF and higher resolution EVF and LCD display with lower energy consumption. Let's see how Olympus innovate from here.

 

[diCam]

While I look forward to this, but it is not a breakthrough news.
Sony has put a 1.6x sensor on its R1. If Sony had gone ahead to develop on the R1 and make interchangable lens for the body.....

I beg to differ. IMO, Sony route is different from Olympus. The micro 4/3 is still a 4/3 standard. It may eventually evolve into a new camera design that serve different photography needs.

 

[srinivasanj]

If we use the 4/3 lenses on the micro 4/3 bodies, will the adapters act like extension tubes as well? Seems like the new adapter would actually try to increase the flange distance to match the overall distance from the sensor to that of a normal 4/3 lens.

 

[srinivasanj]

If we use the 4/3 lenses on the micro 4/3 bodies, will the adapters act like extension tubes as well? Seems like the new adapter would actually try to increase the flange distance to match the overall distance from the sensor to that of a normal 4/3 lens.

I think this is a stupid question!

Ignore!

 

[Parchiao]

Yes, I have been waiting for something like this! Let's hope to see some great lenses too. When I read this, the first camera I thought of was the Contax G2. This will make a great travel camera!

:heart::lovegrin::heart:

 

[sadwitch]

I hope with that form size, they're going in SD card instead of XD.... Please no more XD unless they can match other formats performance and robustness. Still its a great day in olympus camp!

 

[splim]

I hope with that form size, they're going in SD card instead of XD.... Please no more XD unless they can match other formats performance and robustness. Still its a great day in olympus camp!

well, you have the choice of either "O" or "P", in this case, "O" will be out of your choice.

 

[dorts]

Some photos.

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/dslr/2008/08/05/8979.html

 

[Adammax]

definitely something to look out for.

 

[pisduck]

While I look forward to this, but it is not a breakthrough news.
Sony has put a 1.6x sensor on its R1. If Sony had gone ahead to develop on the R1 and make interchangable lens for the body.....

?? I think the R1 is a totally different beast than the new micro 4/3rd. The main point of micro 4/3rds is size and portability. Everything else is secondary. The R1 is hardly small....

 

[egnaro]

I thot new oly new cam will be square format or new pro body after E3.... a bit disappointed...

 

[Mikefellh]

If lenses will be small, does it mean flashes will be too?

They'll probably promote the FL-20 for it.

 

[Mikefellh]

If we use the 4/3 lenses on the micro 4/3 bodies, will the adapters act like extension tubes as well? Seems like the new adapter would actually try to increase the flange distance to match the overall distance from the sensor to that of a normal 4/3 lens.

It's not a stupid question in that this camera (and news) is new for all of us, and people are still working out the details of what it means.

First the facts, the micro lens mount is smaller in diameter, the back flange is half of the distance of the legacy 4/3, and there are a 11 electrical contacts instead of 9...what the adapter tube does is restore the mount diameter, restore the back flange distance, and convert the electrical signals (and probably alerts the camera to let it know a legacy 4/3 lens is on the camera).

In other words with the adapter on the camera you can only attach the legacy 4/3 lenses, you can't use the micro4/3 lenses for all the reasons I just listed.

 

[SNAG]

Definitely something exciting. Will this result in affordable Sigma DP-1-ish cameras? I hope so.

Am keeping my fingers crossed for new camera releases.

 

[Parchiao]

?? I think the R1 is a totally different beast than the new micro 4/3rd. The main point of micro 4/3rds is size and portability. Everything else is secondary. The R1 is hardly small....

I sure hope size and portability isn't all there is to these cameras. I would want fast and accurate focussing in low light situations, good low light "noise free" capabilities at minimum ISO800, fast data write speeds, quiet shutter and most of all great and fast glass to go with it.

While the R1 is big, it was the first camera with an APS sized sensor, now one of two cameras next to the Sigma DP1, where you will not hear the shutter when it is activated. Also, the R1 is big on image quality, the jpegs are really that good, and glass that is simply superb.

I sure hope Olympus and Panasonic do a good job with this camera.