Just posted on DPReview.
Mirrorless, 4/3, possible EVF, contrast detect AF.
The line is being blurred between DSLR & P&S.
What would we called?
A DSL, DSLC, ....
Sony tried something similar with the R1 and didn't sell very well. I really wish they'd make what you're talking about, but who'd buy it? I use a Sony R1 as my back-up camera, and it works wonders whenever I need an absolutely silent camera, or whenever I need a waist-level finder.
Looks interesting. Maybe this is the future of the 4/3rd format as FF cameras become cheaper, And the competition start to move away from the crop sensors.
It would be a good pocket P&S, With the flexibility of a interchangeable lens system. I know there have been heaps of people asking for a similar product over the years on this forum (And others) So I guess it would be popular, Especially amongst the P&S Crowd.
It will sell like hotcakes. I am sure Canon is very worried about this. It is the most direct assault on their DSLR hegemony yet (even counting Nikon). The "point and shoot crowd" which gets sneered at here is also the largest target SLR market. Most DSLR owners today are parents etc. that would love a smaller camera.
deeprblue wrote:
A glorified point and shoot. With interchangeable lenses.
Yup. It's about time somebody starts putting larger sensors in P&Ss.
Maybe in these modern day rangefinders the 4/3 sensors will be finally successful.
deeprblue wrote:
A glorified point and shoot. With interchangeable lenses.
Yup! When coupled with a larger sensor than P&S's have, that pretty much sums up the "currently-unavailable-camera-that-is-most-wanted-by-an awful-lot-of-photographers" (including me!).
There's no doubt that such cameras are coming; the big question is whether Nikon or Canon will follow Olympus's (and Sigma's) leads.
When the lead technology columnist for one of the most influential papers in the U.S. writes a column for a general audience (i.e., not just photographers) calling for "small cameras with large sensors," it's hard to believe that more such cameras are very far off:
Could be some pretty exciting times ahead for photographers who appreciate the value of big capabilities in a tiny package. I still miss my Olympus Stylus 35mm pocket camera....
If they get the lenses right and by that I mean not making super zooms but tiny primes or 2.5X quality zooms and if they make it pocketable with the lens attached it will be very enticing for all those of us who have looked at the ever increasing megapixel counts on p&s's with despair!
Imagine the almost pocketable E-420 with half the depth and without the entire viewfinder assembly, with lenses smaller than the 25mm pancake and a sensor that can knock every single tiny p&s sensor into oblivion. It will be priced cheaply as well, the E-420 is pretty cheap as it is. It could almost make a G9 camera become niche, this will only be a tiny bit bigger. Have to admit that I'm quite tickled by the whole idea. Bet Sigma isn't! This could knock the overpriced DP-1 into oblivion
Can Canon do it? I thought the whole point of the system was that due to the far smaller sensor they can build the camera with less lens to sensor distance.
It would be nice if Olympus/Panasonic offered external hotshoe mounted viewfinders just like what you find on a rangefinder for those who don't like using liveview for framing their shots.
I wonder how good the AF will be since it's using contrast based AF.
If they price the cameras/lenses right, I'm sure they will sell heaps of them!!
This is definitely interesting. I like my p&s to be pocketable though... and I'm guessing this is most likely going to be similar in size to the G9, which I find to be an awkward size.
I'm sure Canon will have an answer for it. That's a very lucrative segment...
Yep - very exciting indeed! I love the DP1 for landscapes but a DP1 with tiny lenses for different situations (macro, wider, longer) would be a dream for me. I would keep the 5D for formal landscape work but this EVIL camera would kick __s for travel / hiking photography. Looks like Canon should have announced the G10 a bit earlier. Now I'm not even interested in the G10 till I see this panny / oly offering.
Looks interesting. Maybe this is the future of the 4/3rd format as FF cameras become cheaper, And the competition start to move away from the crop sensors.
It would be a good pocket P&S, With the flexibility of a interchangeable lens system. I know there have been heaps of people asking for a similar product over the years on this forum (And others) So I guess it would be popular, Especially amongst the P&S Crowd.
Can't wait to see more at Photokina!
Micro 4/3 standard. It is akin to buying EF-S lenses - some neat lenses, smaller, allegedly cheaper, and lighter - but one can't put them on 1/3 or ff sensor bodies.
The regular 4/3 lens will fit the micro 4/3 with a 20mm adapter - more or less eliminating the thin-ness of the new body and format. Buy the micro 4/3 lenses, and that's all they will work with.
4/3 promised lighter, smaller, and cheaper lenses - well that has not panned out - I saw the 4/3 Oly lens - 150mm f/2.0 for three grand! - and their 300mm f/?? for over seven grand! Why not just fit the $700 135 f/2.0 Canon to the 4/3 mount and get one of the best IQ lenses going - same for the $500 200 f/2.8. How about a 300mm f/2.8 w/adapter for 4/3 for 2/3 the price of the Oly 4/3 lens?
Maybe the Leica "M" lenses will fit the micro 4/3 bodies w/adapters. Hmmm...
