What Future for M43?

[CameraQuest]

With Olympus selling its camera business,

how do you see the future of Micro Four Thirds cameras?


Will Olympus camera production continue?

Will Panasonic M43 sales increase?

Has M43's time come and gone?

 

[Bill Blackwell]

The M43 sensor is far too small for any serious imagery. I've personally never had any use for it.

If you're serious about photography you'd be looking for a larger sensor (at least a APS-C [1.5x Crop Factor]). Otherwise, your cell phone will do.

 

[kshapero]

My Pany LX100 never ceases to amaze me and it's not even a real M43 camera. Of course it is just a back up.

 

[Forest_rain]

It seems like every year people declare micro 4/3 to be "over" but it never seems to go away. It's because it has its niche.

I use a micro 4/3 camera and I find it quite good. The sensor is a little smaller than ASPC but not THAT much smaller. Certainly a lot bigger than a 1" sensor.

The cameras are very small and handling is good, I've used mine a lot and happy with the image quality. The AF lenses are also really cheap compared other brands.

If I were to buy again I'd probably get a Sony 6000 series instead though, similar size. The lenses cost more though.

 

[raid]

The M4/3 is useful for snapshots and for light travel photography. I am not sure that this system will continue.

 

[benmacphoto]

M 4/3 has been long gone with how good small APS-C cameras from all major manufacturers are.
The Canon M50 is their best selling interchangeable camera.
Sony A6000 series as well for its size and performance.

The time has come and gone which is why Olympus is exiting.
Olympus AND Panasonic made up 4% market share.

 

[taemo]

I follow Steve O'Nions youtube vlogs and he shoots all sorts of format and his go to digital camera is M43
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLa_g3d3Izw&t

wouldn't mind snaggigg a LX100II or a EMD5 kit for dirt cheap later on and be the judge myself.

wasnt a fan of M43 for daliy photography as I found the noise to be terrible but for slow meditated photography, it might be good.

 

[aizan]

I bet we’ll see Micro 4/3 alongside APS-C at the big box stores as usual, though both will become more niche: video, vlogging, telephotos. Full frame will play the same game, but it’ll solidify its position as the go to still cameras for pros and photo enthusiasts.

I’m holding out for the Panasonic GX10 as a vlogging and compact travel camera. Maybe I’ll get some Voigtländer primes while I’m at it since I don’t really need full frame. The decision would be much easier if Olympus updated the 35-100mm f/2 for M43. Then I could cross off the 3:2 Canon R5 and 70-200mm from my shopping list.

 

[jsrockit]

The M43 sensor is far too small for any serious imagery. I've personally never had any use for it.

If you're serious about photography you'd be looking for a larger sensor (at least a APS-C [1.5x Crop Factor]). Otherwise, your cell phone will do.

A few Magnum photographers use M43 (or at least did). I'd say they are pretty serious. While I personally like APSC or larger, there are certainly advantages regarding M43 vs. a cellphone... like high ISO and detail at bigger print sizes. Some M43 cameras do computational methods like cellphones too. Also, some of the best weather sealing available. I'd say you are off base here.

As far as if M43 will survive, we have not seen a new M43 sensor in 5 years. Panasonic has gone FF. Olympus was bought out. The best M43 cameras are APSC and FF sized now. FF is getting cheaper and cheaper. APSC is still the sensor size in most of the cameras sold world wide in 2019. I can see life still being left in this sensor size. They will have to go back to their roots though of small cameras.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Hard to predict. It is seems to be failing format to attract new buyers with intent to commit some photography.
It might survive via demand on video, where Panasonic has strong base. While Olympus set itself as defunct well before going out.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

In the still image market, M43 may not have much more life but in the motion picture segment, M43 is taking over slowly with many independent filmmakers and even serious ones wanting 4K footage, either B roll or in areas where it's hard to get a crew. The 24p 4K image of the GX85 and similar generation (and later) cameras doesn't have a match at that pricepoint. The next step up is a BMPCC 4K or 6K, which need more peripherals, so they don't work for grab and go. The M43 sensor is a great size for pixel density and cooling. After those, we're looking at Arri and Red cameras with actively cooled sensors with a 50x jump in price.
I think M43 will be around for much longer since it has a firm hold in motion picture production.

Phil Forrest

 

[Forest_rain]

Micro 4/3 certainly doesn't have the market share of the bigger brands, but I still think it's a good buy for people on a budget. The models are CHEAP - and the lenses are CHEAP - it's good for a budget conscious person.

They are also SMALL. The two women I know who own non-smartphone cameras bought Olympus PEN cameras because they were small - they wanted the camera to fit in their purse, but couldn't see the any improvement from their smartphone in a 1" sensor camera.

I think you guys are underestimating handling. I use my rangefinder and my micro 4/3 camera way more than my Sony A7, because they are just way more convenient and less bulky. This includes the lenses, which are smaller due to the smaller sensor.

 

[narsuitus]

When I got tired of waiting for the Fuji X100 to be released, I started using micro 4/3 cameras. Loved the lenses, loved the images, but could not depend on the bodies. The bodies kept breaking. Eventually, I dumped the micro 4/3 cameras for Fuji APS-C cameras.


Candid Wedding Cameras by Narsuitus, on Flickr

 

[Disappointed_Horse]

I don't see the high end ($1,200+) M43 cameras surviving in the marketplace when FF cameras are getting down to that price point. However, I think there may be room for lower end M43 cameras like the GX85, PEN, and OMD-EM10 lines. These cameras sell for considerably less than comparable APS-C models and have a much better lens selection. This is especially so since neither Canon, Nikon, or Sony seem inclined to build out a full line of reasonably sized and reasonably priced APS-C mirrorless lenses. These cameras would have to be priced substantially less than APS-C models like the XT-30, Z50, and A6000 series to be viable in the marketplace.

 

[nickthetasmaniac]

The M43 sensor is far too small for any serious imagery. I've personally never had any use for it.

If you're serious about photography you'd be looking for a larger sensor (at least a APS-C [1.5x Crop Factor]). Otherwise, your cell phone will do.

Well I apologise for not being serious about photography during the decade or so that I’ve used MFT 😀

On a more serious note though, I’m not sure if it will survive but I certainly think it has its niche. Many MFT lenses are fantastic, sensor tech is good enough now that IQ is ‘good enough’, and they kit can still be much, much smaller.

Have you seen the size of the new Nikkor Z 50/f1.8? And this is at the ‘compact’ end of mirrorless 50’s...

For myself, I’ll be continuing to use my Pen F and Zuiko 60mm Macro as a hugely capable orchid kit 🙂

 

[Archlich]

All manufacturers are moving upstream for the smaller but more lucrative market. If you're not going high-end you'll be dead (Pentax is another story). Olympus failed here, while Panasonic carved out a video-oriented segment exclusively to itself with the GH.

Other than that, a slow but sure death I see.

Personally I stopped lugging my GX9 (and later G9) around when I bought the Ricoh GR3. A larger sensor, acutely sharp lens, IBIS, in a smaller package...it's a deal breaker.

 

[jmilkins]

I just picked up a new OM-D EM1 mkii with choice of any of the promotional f1.2 lenses - I chose the 25mm for my free lens in that promotion. The f2.8 and f4 Pro series zooms are very compact and great glass, and the primes are miniscule and excellent too.

The sensor size means image stabilization is great (c 5.5 stops) , and I can use the high res mode 50MP mode in the limited situation where I want bigger files and the conditions allow it.

The 40-150/2.8 is amazing and for wildlife photography the 300 f4 is very compact - nothing comparable in the larger formats- and on my bucket list.

I think the focus on the bodies misses the advantage of lens size in overall package.

I'm not pixel peeping or outputting massive prints and M43 will replace some of my FF and APS-C.

Sure it is niche, but it's my kind of niche. Using the right tool for the job, and/or working with any system to maximize its benefits can be rewarding, and generate images we just might not have otherwise shot.

YMMV but I'm going to enjoy diving back into M43.

 

[Godfrey]

When I was running my photo business (2007 to 2011), my standard cameras were originally a couple of Pentaxes, but then I moved to the Panasonic L1s, Olympus E-1 and E-5, then a Panasonic Lumix G1. Then, as I wound down the business, I bought an Olympus E-M1 when it came out in 2013. And I just ordered a Panasonic GX9 body to take advantage of the latest sensors and the GX9 body form factor.

I made and sold thousands of prints, licensed hundreds of sets of images, and exhibited extensively during that period of time—usually winning various awards and recognitions at every exhibit I entered.

FourThirds SLRs and then Micro-FourThirds mirrorless cameras did a superb job as professional photographic equipment: it proved reliable and produced high quality photographs. The Olympus high grade and pro class lenses are as good as lenses get, the Panasonic/Leica lenses are similarly excellent, and the ultra-fast Voigtländer mFT lenses are outstanding quality across the board.

So whatever is happening with Olympus is a question mark, but Panasonic is still delivering new cameras and new lenses, and the community of pros who use FourThirds format continue to produce excellent work with their equipment.

Is it going away? I don't know and I don't care. My E-1 (first actuation in 2003) is still going strong, my E-M1 is as new, and the new Panasonic GX9 is a beauty. My lens kit is complete and outstanding. All this stuff will make photographs for as long as I want to shoot with it.

I shoot more with my Leica CL (APS-C) and Hasselblad 907x/CFVII 50c (33x44 medium format digital) now, but that's for aesthetic reasons and for reason of what lenses and accessories I have for them more than anything else. I know that I get excellent results out of all of this equipment, and that the bottom line isn't the equipment: it's the photographer.

G

Equipment is transitory. Photographs endure.

 

[zuiko85]

The M43 sensor is far too small for any serious imagery. I've personally never had any use for it.

If you're serious about photography you'd be looking for a larger sensor (at least a APS-C [1.5x Crop Factor]). Otherwise, your cell phone will do.

Come on, If you are serious about photography you use a Holga....
You knew that.

 

[Darthfeeble]

For todays photography it's a beautiful system, but the inferior tag that everyone puts on it will probably doom this beautiful, well engineered system. I hope they make the decision to go to the larger sensors, particularly if they can continue with the same lenses somehow. The bulk of the lens assortments for the various full frame and beyond are insane. I have a Nikon Z7 that I got to ease the strain on my arthritis while shooting and all the lenses for it nearly double the weight of the camera. I find myself shooting the M mount lenses on it more and more. Olympus was always the more compact camera, why they thought the smaller sensor would be a good idea is beyond me.