Comments on: (FT5) UPDATED3 -> Four Thirds is dead! Long live Four Thirds! http://www.43rumors.com/ft5-four-thirds-is-dead-long-live-four-thirds/ Panasonic and Olympus Digital Camera News Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:02:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Chow http://www.43rumors.com/ft5-four-thirds-is-dead-long-live-four-thirds/comment-page-1/#comment-3127 Chow Sun, 06 Sep 2009 17:41:02 +0000 http://43rumors.com/?p=3898#comment-3127 Why would anyone consider buying an upgraded E-3 (E-3 Mark II) this fall when 6 months later a totally new cam will be launched at Photokina (E4??). I can't imagine Olympus will go this road. Furthermore why would Olympus wait till Photokina. It's pretty obvious Canon and Nikon will launch new products than also which gives Olympus less interest. The way they launched the E-P1 was one of the smartest marketing tricks I've seen. It makes more sense if Olympus picks its own time for launching the E4 so the whole world will watch. Why would anyone consider buying an upgraded E-3 (E-3 Mark II) this fall when 6 months later a totally new cam will be launched at Photokina (E4??). I can’t imagine Olympus will go this road. Furthermore why would Olympus wait till Photokina. It’s pretty obvious Canon and Nikon will launch new products than also which gives Olympus less interest. The way they launched the E-P1 was one of the smartest marketing tricks I’ve seen. It makes more sense if Olympus picks its own time for launching the E4 so the whole world will watch.

]]> By: Rocko Wallaby http://www.43rumors.com/ft5-four-thirds-is-dead-long-live-four-thirds/comment-page-1/#comment-2760 Rocko Wallaby Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:21:26 +0000 http://43rumors.com/?p=3898#comment-2760 I don't think FF in digital photography is as inevitable as some believe. I'm certainly not saying that it will go away - I think it will become the "new medium format" for wedding photographers and other pros that have been using MF film. They'll love the compactness and light weight of the FF stuff compared to their old MF equipment. And let's face it, if you're going to pay somebody $6000 to photograph your daughter's wedding, you'll want him or her showing up with top-notch tools. However, those same attributes of compactness and light weight that the FF pros and serious enthusiasts will love have also become much appreciated by the new generation of dSLR users - soccer moms, trekkers, travelers, and casual photographers that have grown used to small dSLRs and P&Ss in the 10 - 12 MP range that deliver stunning prints of Johnny's soccer team or their vacation to the Grand Canyon, along with the occasional 8x10 print of Jane's prom dress for grandma. Yes, of course camera makers can put FF into tiny bodies - my Oly Stylus comes to mind. But the thing that must be considered here is not in the size if the body but rather the size of the lens. There's no getting around it - 35mm lenses are bigger, heavier, and, if you want faster glass - more expensive than their APS or 4/3 counterparts. My Stylus has a 35mm lens. Try hanging a 14-42mm lens on it such as the one found on the EP-1 and you've got a completely different animal. And because of the much higher resolution of the FF sensor, the glass needed to deliver that fine detail will be very expensive indeed. Of course the cost of FF sensors will come down, but you also need to factor in the size, weight, speed and quality of the lenses needed to take advantage of a large sensor, and that's the rub. While we "enthusiasts" (and by the very fact that we visit and read forums such as this one probably means that we are in that group) probably don't mind toting around pounds of equipment in pusuing that nth degree of perfection, it's the other 95% of camera buyers that drive the market, and they want small, light, and cheap. They pretty much have that now, but the success of the M4/3 format shows that they want smaller still. The big two, N & C, are still busily developing and introducing APS lenses, and there are rumors abounding that they are working on mirrorless cameras a la M4/3. I think that's a pretty good sign that they realize that small sensor cameras, including dSLRs, are here to stay. One final thought. There's a lot of excitement over the development of backside illuminated sensors. Sony just released a new P&S with this technology, and I've read that others, including Panny, are developing their own versions. It's a promising technology - low light ability with low noise - but as of this moment I've read that it probably won't work its way into the 4/3 sensors for quite some time because of the "heat and gain issues on larger sensors" that at this time cannot be easily solved. However, I'm pretty sure it will probably eventually reach the 4/3 format ,and if it's easier to implement on smaller sensors, it's a tantalizing thought to think the technology will reach 4/3 sensors way before it can be applied to FF! Well, no one knows the future, so this is just my 2 cents. Its value to you depends on your current exchange rate. :) I don’t think FF in digital photography is as inevitable as some believe. I’m certainly not saying that it will go away – I think it will become the “new medium format” for wedding photographers and other pros that have been using MF film. They’ll love the compactness and light weight of the FF stuff compared to their old MF equipment. And let’s face it, if you’re going to pay somebody $6000 to photograph your daughter’s wedding, you’ll want him or her showing up with top-notch tools. However, those same attributes of compactness and light weight that the FF pros and serious enthusiasts will love have also become much appreciated by the new generation of dSLR users – soccer moms, trekkers, travelers, and casual photographers that have grown used to small dSLRs and P&Ss in the 10 – 12 MP range that deliver stunning prints of Johnny’s soccer team or their vacation to the Grand Canyon, along with the occasional 8×10 print of Jane’s prom dress for grandma.

Yes, of course camera makers can put FF into tiny bodies – my Oly Stylus comes to mind. But the thing that must be considered here is not in the size if the body but rather the size of the lens. There’s no getting around it – 35mm lenses are bigger, heavier, and, if you want faster glass – more expensive than their APS or 4/3 counterparts. My Stylus has a 35mm lens. Try hanging a 14-42mm lens on it such as the one found on the EP-1 and you’ve got a completely different animal. And because of the much higher resolution of the FF sensor, the glass needed to deliver that fine detail will be very expensive indeed. Of course the cost of FF sensors will come down, but you also need to factor in the size, weight, speed and quality of the lenses needed to take advantage of a large sensor, and that’s the rub. While we “enthusiasts” (and by the very fact that we visit and read forums such as this one probably means that we are in that group) probably don’t mind toting around pounds of equipment in pusuing that nth degree of perfection, it’s the other 95% of camera buyers that drive the market, and they want small, light, and cheap. They pretty much have that now, but the success of the M4/3 format shows that they want smaller still. The big two, N & C, are still busily developing and introducing APS lenses, and there are rumors abounding that they are working on mirrorless cameras a la M4/3. I think that’s a pretty good sign that they realize that small sensor cameras, including dSLRs, are here to stay.

One final thought. There’s a lot of excitement over the development of backside illuminated sensors. Sony just released a new P&S with this technology, and I’ve read that others, including Panny, are developing their own versions. It’s a promising technology – low light ability with low noise – but as of this moment I’ve read that it probably won’t work its way into the 4/3 sensors for quite some time because of the “heat and gain issues on larger sensors” that at this time cannot be easily solved. However, I’m pretty sure it will probably eventually reach the 4/3 format ,and if it’s easier to implement on smaller sensors, it’s a tantalizing thought to think the technology will reach 4/3 sensors way before it can be applied to FF!

Well, no one knows the future, so this is just my 2 cents. Its value to you depends on your current exchange rate. :)

]]> By: Kathy http://www.43rumors.com/ft5-four-thirds-is-dead-long-live-four-thirds/comment-page-1/#comment-2501 Kathy Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:58:28 +0000 http://43rumors.com/?p=3898#comment-2501 Just last weekend I stopped by my local camera store looking for a fast, single focal length lens (10mm or 12mm) for my E-3. They didn't know of anything but pointed me towards this website. I was very happy to see this FT5 article about expected new lenses --though, it seems unlikely now (on Aug. 14) that they'll be available by the time I need them (leaving on a trip on Labor Day). Anyhow, this site is a real find and I will check back often. Since you asked, the ads don't bother me. Just last weekend I stopped by my local camera store looking for a fast, single focal length lens (10mm or 12mm) for my E-3. They didn’t know of anything but pointed me towards this website. I was very happy to see this FT5 article about expected new lenses –though, it seems unlikely now (on Aug. 14) that they’ll be available by the time I need them (leaving on a trip on Labor Day). Anyhow, this site is a real find and I will check back often.
Since you asked, the ads don’t bother me.

]]>