WHATS NEXT FOR M43, after Olympus, what future is left?

[Pitachu]

@ricohflex No point rattering for years how good is Full Frame and how bad is M43.
You should go Facebook and search for the Olympus OM-1 group and join.
Then post your Full Frame Photos there and ask the members there to compare it with the photos they have posted taken with their OM-1.
Let's see if you can impress them with your Full Frame photos

 

[Pitachu]

JIP took over Olympus Camera division on 1 Jan 2021.

SInce them, OM Systems under JIP has released the
OM-1 Camera
OM-5 Camera
OM System 12-40mm F2.8 PRO II
OM System 40-150mm F4.0 PRO
OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 20mm F1.4 Pro
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4 Pro
OM System 90mm Macro

JIP is a investment company and probably keep a very close eye on the progress of OM Systems. It is likely that sales has been encouraging and therefore they invested more money to release more products.

Meanwhile, Panasonic has released
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-35mm F2.8 ASPH. POWER O.I.S.
Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 9mm F1.7 ASPH

Laowa has released for M43
10mm F2 Zero D and
6mm F2 Zero D

Sigma has also just filed some new patents for M43 lenses.
Panasonic, Sigma and Laowa probably has done their mkt research on M43 before investing on coming up with new products for M43.

It really seems that M43 will be around for quite some time.

 

[Pitachu]

If you are also into videos of considering a FF camera, here is a good review that M43 may still be useful in certain scenarios.

M43 can be useful when you want wider aperture but more light but do not want extreme depth of field.

 

[one eye jack]

Tougher competition for M43?
People coming from phone camera want easy , small and fun compact cameras.

Dynamic range in practice. The truth... Even old cameras are more than adequate!

 

[one eye jack]

Lower megapixel camera + a sharp lens can outperform a higher megapixel sensor.

Photographic myths and truths.

 

[one eye jack]

Dynamic range in photography. A new perspective. Why 6 to 8 stops is more than enough for display purposes.

 

[Pitachu]

I was at an Olympus Birding Event a few days ago.
All the OM-1 owners, especially those with the 150-400mm lenses are smiling all the way.
The OM-1 ProCapture used with the Bird Subject ID mode is simply amazing.
Most of us besides capturing stationary shots also able to capture when the bird launched from a branch or when landing with a insect in the mouth.
For beginners in birding, I am surprised with the high hit rate of shots in focus.

They are so happy with set up, especially when a Purple Heron appeared further way than the bird we are shooting and the guy just turn on the built in 1.25 teleconverter and nailed the shot of the heron catching an eel.

Then a spider appeared on someone's back and they were just joking on who already has the newly released 90mm Macro (2x / 4x).

You can join some Olympus interest group and see how OM users all over the world enjoying OM Systems products.

OM Systems and the local dealer seems to be doing a good job, organizing events like this and supporting old and new firmware updates for reliability and compatibility. I was really surprised they even update some of my 7 year old M43 lenses when I connect to update the camera. Just happened that the old lenses is on my camera, it was detected by the OM workspace and it offer to update the firmware

 

[JW73]

I was at an Olympus Birding Event a few days ago.
All the OM-1 owners, especially those with the 150-400mm lenses are smiling all the way.
The OM-1 ProCapture used with the Bird Subject ID mode is simply amazing.
Most of us besides capturing stationary shots also able to capture when the bird launched from a branch or when landing with a insect in the mouth.
For beginners in birding, I am surprised with the high hit rate of shots in focus.

They are so happy with set up, especially when a Purple Heron appeared further way than the bird we are shooting and the guy just turn on the built in 1.25 teleconverter and nailed the shot of the heron catching an eel.

Then a spider appeared on someone's back and they were just joking on who already has the newly released 90mm Macro (2x / 4x).

You can join some Olympus interest group and see how OM users all over the world enjoying OM Systems products.

OM Systems and the local dealer seems to be doing a good job, organizing events like this and supporting old and new firmware updates for reliability and compatibility. I was really surprised they even update some of my 7 year old M43 lenses when I connect to update the camera. Just happened that the old lenses is on my camera, it was detected by the OM workspace and it offer to update the firmware

Those experts who lead the field trip have inspired some other format users to switch to OM-1 with their amazing action shots. I am one of the victims ..lol. No regrets.

 

[Pitachu]

This is a good video on how a Full Frame Camera user got converted and discover the benefits of Olympus and OM Systems
He is shooting with ISO 20,000 and the photo got published!

 

[one eye jack]

Low light with M43 and high iso what's the catch? It's correct exposure.

 

[Blu-By-U]

Sorry folks, I may sound like @ricohflex, maybe his prediction is going in line with this ...

Brutal honest statement from Sigma manager Yamaki: We ain’t going to develop new MFT lenses as the MFT system is in sharp decline – 43 Rumors

www.43rumors.com

 

[one eye jack]

In the comment section one person said Sigma said the same thing 9 years ago in 2014.

Guys, I found something very interesting.

The same manager from Sigma declared the same things in 2014 (9 years ago):

https://www.43rumors.com/si...

Same reasons like now :
-too expensive to design m4/3 lenses;
-low sales.

That said, I'm surprised he is still sigma CEO.. the real reason is sex yes or the lack of it. Population decline so less consumers. My personal take is when humans learn to take care of earth environment plus wakening up of their consciousness will we see improvement but not necessarily in photography..haha.

Sorry folks, I may sound like @ricohflex, maybe his prediction is going in line with this ...

Brutal honest statement from Sigma manager Yamaki: We ain’t going to develop new MFT lenses as the MFT system is in sharp decline – 43 Rumors

www.43rumors.com

 

[Pitachu]

I would not deny that there is a possibility that M43 may go down in history to the muserm 1 day, just like Yashica, Minolta and Ricoh.
And if you are really looking for a camera for general photography eg. with only 1 x 24-70 or 24-105 lenses, probably a FF or APS may serve you better.

Meanwhile, I have just upgraded to an OM-1 and joined some of the OM System Group and actually there are tons of very happy users,
especially those who have gotten the 150-400 lenses with 1.25TC and those into macto waiting for the new OM 90mm (4x macro equivalent).
And there was quite a fit bit of excitment when Laowa introduced the 6mm lenses for M43 (I gotten 1 too).
Sigma CEO's tunnel vision has cause it to lose these business opportunieis and after its sucessful Art Series, it has been sitting on its laurels
and now Tamron has caught up and developed a few very interesting lenses for Sony too. So I was never too concerned about what Sigma does.

OM Systems do have some unique strengths relevant to certain interest groups, but it is not for everyone, but if can see its strength, then you will
appreciate it.

 

[ricohflex]

OMDS Profitability

An article from Feb 2022.

It is a business after all. They need to survive.
Businessmen make hard nosed decisions based on bottom line.
We users are simply the beneficiaries or victims (depending on your point of view), of the manufacturer's decisions.

How many cameras and lenses OMDS needs to make and sell, in order to break even.
They have factory buildings, employees' payroll, many other costs to pay.

Probably the previous film formats of 16mm (vintage sub-miniature cameras), 126 (Kodak Instamatic) and 127 (roll film) had their die hard fans.
Every film or digital sensor format has its own die-hard fans.
Time will tell what happens.

 

[swifty]

Sorry folks, I may sound like @ricohflex, maybe his prediction is going in line with this ...

Brutal honest statement from Sigma manager Yamaki: We ain’t going to develop new MFT lenses as the MFT system is in sharp decline – 43 Rumors

www.43rumors.com

One take from a respected industry commentator. Scroll to the bottom:

https://bythom.com/newsviews/strange-things-said-xxiii.html

 

[JW73]

In the meantime Lumix just launched a proven m43 lens 12-35mmf2,8 mark III.

Sigma for the past 10 years, they only launched the 16,30,56mm (M43) which were meant for APS_C mount. Sigma again launched the same 16mm, 56mm ,30mm for Z mount(APS_C) recently. I think they made the decision of not developing M43 lens were done 10 years ago.

M43 lenses range (from Oly, Lumix or china brands) are already very matured (after >10years) and no lack in focal range for different aspect of photography.

 

[ricohflex]

By the way ANY manufacturer does not need to make MFT lenses - before they are considered qualified to comment on MFT future prospect.

quote from bythom.com article
Quote [
Sigma never really produced a true m4/3 lens
] UnQuote

What is "true"?
What is ""untrue"?

Apart from those already mentioned by others, Sigma did make this lens.
Sigma 19mm f/2.8 DN Art Lens for Micro Four Thirds (discontinued).

The general thrust of the comment of bythom is to disparage Sigma so as to devalue its CEO Kazuto Yamaki's statement about MFT.

[Side comment]
In bythom.com article it also talks about:
Quote [
Canon? Guilty with the R50 and R10. (I’ll give them credit for the R7, though.)
Nikon? Guilty with the Z30, Z50, and Zfc.
] UnQuote

Is bythom.com stupid or what?
The idea by Canon and Nikon to make lower priced entry level cameras (APS-C) in RF mount and Z mount - is to attract new entrants into their {system}.
Later on, when those photographers have more money, they can upgrade to the more costly full frame camera bodies and lenses.
It is a beach head landing (like Omaha Normandy) into buyers' future purchasing decisions.

 

[swifty]

By the way ANY manufacturer does not need to make MFT lenses - before they are considered qualified to comment on MFT future prospect.

quote from bythom.com article
Quote [
Sigma never really produced a true m4/3 lens
] UnQuote

What is "true"?
What is ""untrue"?

Apart from those already mentioned by others, Sigma did make this lens.
Sigma 19mm f/2.8 DN Art Lens for Micro Four Thirds (discontinued).

The general thrust of the comment of bythom is to disparage Sigma so as to devalue its CEO Kazuto Yamaki's statement about MFT.

He's just calling it as he sees it. I don't necessarily agree or disagree with Thom's statement but as an m43 user (at least when I used to have the time for the hobby), Sigma has never featured prominently as a third party supplier to m43. The options were just very limited and strongly catered towards APS-C with m43 being an afterthought. I'm also not criticizing Sigma for it, that's just how they've always seen the market even when m43 enjoyed far stronger popularity.

[Side comment]
In bythom.com article it also talks about:
Quote [
Canon? Guilty with the R50 and R10. (I’ll give them credit for the R7, though.)
Nikon? Guilty with the Z30, Z50, and Zfc.
] UnQuote

Is bythom.com stupid or what?
The idea by Canon and Nikon to make lower priced entry level cameras (APS-C) in RF mount and Z mount - is to attract new entrants into their {system}.
Later on, when those photographers have more money, they can upgrade to the more costly full frame camera bodies and lenses.
It is a beach head landing (like Omaha Normandy) into buyers' future purchasing decisions.

I think you completely missed the point. He's pointing out those are actually just low end models with price adjusted higher compared to their predecessors, rather than making higher end models. Case in point, the Zfc is just effectively a higher priced Z50 selling on the cosmetic changes rather than a higher end model. And they are all priced higher than their respective DSLR models D3000/D5000 series.

 

[one eye jack]

Let's be realistic, camera manufacturers exist to make profit. Canon and Nikon had ridden the wave of their old EF and F mount lenses and want to ride the new profit wave, RF and Z mount respectively.
Canon wants to position themselves as better than Sony.
Canon and Nikon new mount lenses are technically superior and clinically sharp. It depends on which genre of photography benefit from these lens qualities. Mostly commercial, product , fashion and landscape photography. Commercial and fashion because it is print focussed require cropping, editing and compositing and higher resolution with landscape needing detail sharpness from corner to corner of the frame. While for wedding and portrait photography require not sharpness but softness of the look for women so really the new lenses render photos too clinically sharp and therefore boring.

The reason why camera manufacturers use social media
for marketing and champion lens sharpness and technical superiority is because it can be measured whereas artistic/ aesthetic quality of a lens rendering is subjective and hard to quantify or proofed.

Photographers of the various formats have already bought and built up their collection of lenses and especially M43 users unless Sigma can design superior lenses than by Panasonic and Olympus pro lenses it cannot sell any of their current lenses so therefore do not want to compete head on with m43 established players.

It is already proven that m43 despite it's small sensor can offer good quality output for professional use. Of course now m43 seeing that the competition and consumers have been heavily marketed that fullframe is the way forward , M43 now has gone into the sport and wildlife/ macro genres where the format has an advantage.

That said, unless the new Canon , Nikon and Sony mount offer technology advantages but up to a point there is a limit and when that happens , photography has not changed meaning it's about ideas/ concepts, lighting and composition. The fundamentals apply so photographers will need to learn these basic skills in order to realise their visions.

Here is what one pro thinks...
See @3:30 about lens sharpness , @ 8:40 about depth of field /m43 and conclusion at the end.

DSLR Vs Mirrorless

 

[one eye jack]

Canon R7 kicks Nikon's apsc bottom.So dun ya ya papaya..( Nikon ) @ricohflex , Nikon also not selling it's cameras.

Some friendly advice from Youtuber.