Death of 4/3rds predicted ?

[dee]

Having gone this route 'cos of my traditional interface Leica Dig 3 and the opportunity to use my Rokkors , but with rumours that Olympus is concentrating on m43 , it seems that this format is destined to go the way of film APS ....
[ sorry - edited 'ead 'itted ]

 

[rxmd]

Don't worry. Your Leica still works, I gather, or are you looking to replace it? The only traditional interface bit about it is the shutter speed dial, the rest is as digital and button-heavy as any other digital camera.

Your lens investments are safe. If Olympus decides to move from 43 to Micro 43, you'll still be able to use your lenses on Micro 43 cameras.

 

[David R Munson]

Did I miss something? Is APSc getting the axe?

 

[dee]

I should have said film APS , sorry .

 

[David R Munson]

No worries. 🙂 I seriously thought I missed something, as I commonly find myself out of the loop.

 

[ampguy]

well

well

There are 2 vendors, and 2 sensors. And it's been that way for what, 2 years now?

Having gone this route 'cos of my traditional interface Leica Dig 3 and the opportunity to use my Rokkors , but with rumours that Olympus is concentrating on m43 , it seems that this format is destined to go the way of film APS ....
[ sorry - edited 'ead 'itted ]

 

[ebino]

i think you don't have to be clairvoyant to see that u4/3 was just a stop-gap marketing strategy to get people buying in what seemed like a system but "people" completely forgot that the sensors in cameras only get bigger... thats just the nature of computer chips, they get bigger/smaller, stronger, faster and better...

Sony did not go that way and instead packed a APS-C size sensor in a P&S size body... people had their fun while they could with u4/3 but unfortunately it was just a another digital camera, not a system for future investment with lenses.

 

[Matus]

Well, hard to say. On one hand the existing m4/3 cameras are rather well received from users. On the other hand the zoom lenses are so large that one starts to wonder - why not to go to large sensor? The bodies could possibly get a bit smaller too (matter of taste indeed).

For me the m4/3 would make more sense with more COMAPCT fixed focal length lenses - but it seems that CV will bring some in the near future. Their lack only says that producers are careful about producing lenses that may not sell well.

What I also miss is a m4/3 camera with BUILT-IN decent quality zoom lens that would make the whole package smaller that what is on the market now. But maybe Fuji will bring something like that at some point.

Anyhow - I think that the segment of mirror-less compact cameras is still in early stage (compare to DSLRs) and it is hard to say in which direction it will continue. After all - size of the sensor is indeed important factor, but there are many others that are at least as important (lenses, user interface, etc.). Recent economy crisis did not really boost the process.

Sony NEX 3 & 5 cameras are aiming at P&S guys who find DSLRs too bulky, while most current m4/3 cameras seemed to be designed for more advanced (from point of control) shooter.

Fuji X100 is bringing us some new wind and depends how it will be received it may change the course of the development of this segment.

 

[zumbido]

Contrary to what ebino says, it's apparent that sensors in cameras won't "only get bigger", because there's a limit to the size of camera and (more importantly) lenses that a consumer will tolerate. Micro-4/3 is likely to persist because, as sensors improve, the impact on final quality of the extra size of an APSc sensor will continue to dwindle, while the flexibility in both camera and lens size and design that the smaller sensor offers will continue to be meaningful. My own prognostication is that APS-c is a dead-end for mirrorless cameras, and that in the medium-term ( 2 years to 5 years ) it will disappear.

 

[ebino]

zumbido, what you're saying is contrary to every trend in computer industry and camera sensor market.

When CanoNikon had a firm grip on the market, they stalled as much as they could the sensor wars because there was no sense in getting into that cut throat struggle, but then Sony came along with its FF DSLR and as one of the leading sensor makers it begun to make those two really nervous. But not only that, other companies begun to chip in the entry level DSLR and high-end P&S market with 4/3 and other large sensor cameras.

So, in this free-for-all market, which is the best way to get ahead? Very simple, larger sensors. And who's leading the charge, Sony, because Sony has everything to gain and nothing to lose. its DSLRs are a minuscule market, so its going after the entry level DLSR market and throwing the full weight of its sensor technology behind it with large sensor compacts that have interchangeable lenses mount.

I mean, you give one good reason why I should by a GF1 or MP2 when NEX 5 with a larger sensor and comparable performance is available for $400 cheaper?

 

[antiquark]

If Olympus says they're not making lenses for the original 4/3 standard, then it's dead. I guess their u4/3 cameras were so successful, they'll concentrate their efforts on that.

Larger sensors cost wayyyyy more than small sensors. It's just a basic fact of semiconductor manufacturing. For that reason, I doubt that APS-C or u4/3 (or even smaller sensors) are doomed to be replaced with FF sensors.

 

[zumbido]

zumbido, what you're saying is contrary to every trend in computer industry and camera sensor market.

When CanoNikon had a firm grip on the market, they stalled as much as they could the sensor wars because there was no sense in getting into that cut throat struggle, but then Sony came along with its FF DSLR and as one of the leading sensor makers it begun to make those two really nervous. But not only that, other companies begun to chip in the entry level DSLR and high-end P&S market with 4/3 and other large sensor cameras.

So, in this free-for-all market, which is the best way to get ahead? Very simple, larger sensors. And who's leading the charge, Sony, because Sony has everything to gain and nothing to lose. its DSLRs are a minuscule market, so its going after the entry level DLSR market and throwing the full weight of its sensor technology behind it with large sensor compacts that have interchangeable lenses mount.

I mean, you give one good reason why I should by a GF1 or MP2 when NEX 5 with a larger sensor and comparable performance is available for $400 cheaper?

You don't understand. As I said, a bigger sensor means bigger body and to an even greater degree bigger lenses. That's just physics. Some advances could be made there, but nowhere near as easily as advances in making smaller sensors better.

There are a number of reasons to get a GF1 instead of a NEX5. You can read about it til your eyes glaze over all over the internet, no need to rehash it here. Personally neither one interests me.

 

[BillBingham2]

I hope not. Not a lot of options with such a short flange to sensor distance out there. In a few years I want to get one to play with some C mount glass.

B2