Camera Labs

Hi folks,

Do the worthies at Olympus and Panasonic know something? In two techradar articles (here and here) we have:

Speaking to TechRadar, Mark Thackara, Olympus UK marketing manager, said, "If Canon comes in with an APS-C size [mirrorless] camera then they have misunderstood the point."

"You don't get the size advantage with an APS-C sensor," he said

and

Barney Sykes from Panasonic UK told TechRadar, "One of the benefits we have is that Four Thirds was built from the ground up as a digital format. We can improve the sensor a lot – there's still room for that improvement.

"APS-C sensors aren't "old" sensors as such, but they've been around a long time. While improvements are probably still coming, there's got to be a lifespan – it's a question of how far you can improve the sensor."

The first quote conveniently ignores Sony's NEX system while the second is laughable. I can only assume that this willingness to attack a product that hasn't even been announced means they are seriously worried about something!

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

If there were Rules from Dilbert, one of them would have to be "never trust marketing".

Back to basics, to miss the point, there would have to be one. What is the point of mirrorless? If I had to name one, it would be smaller bodies than mirrored cameras. They have to play to their strengths, and combining the smaller than APS-C sensor with the most mature mirrorless system, they do have a size advantage card they're playing. Sweep the many disadvantages away. They don't matter, because they got the smaller size!

And assuming that quote from Barney Sykes is accurate, that's just pure marketing BS.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Not sure why you think they're conveniently ignoring Sony's big and chunky Nex system? The bodies may be compact but that advantage is somewhat lost once you stick an APS-C sized lens on it.

I think one of the advantages of the 4/3 sensor shape is that it requires a smaller image circle being more square-shaped than rectangular, which requires a smaller lens to cover. Perhaps this is what the marketing guy was referring to. The advantages of the wider APS-C format can still be incorporated on 4/3 systems with minimal loss of resolution by using mult-aspect sensors such as that found in Panasonic's GH2

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/53061745@N02/

Panasonic G3: 9-18mm, 14mm, 20mm, 45mm

The only thing I never liked about the NEX system is that there are no decent zoom lenses that doesnt double or tripple the size of the camera and destroys the APS-C sensor in a small body argument.

Having said that, the 4/3 sensor has made huge leaps and bounds. Keep in mind, EVERYONE, canon, nikon etc always made fun of the 4/3 sensor. They was a lot of comments made about the 10MP roof and the ISO and I remember when I was selling cameras, Canon Reps came into the store telling my customers to never buy Olympus and Panasonic becuse they werent real camera companies. I worked for a chain store so I was hearing that a few friends in the other stores were also hearing similar expewriences.

But besides the point, 4/3 has pushed past these criticisms, with 14MP and potentially 16MP in future bodies like the OM-D line. So I think that their attempts at marketing 4/3 are sound, the comments yes are abit childish, but hey, all the companies do it. I remember working for a TV company where we were given lots and lots of empty TV boxes from this company and told to place them near street front shops, so it looks like lots of people are buying these TVs. Sometimes people were hired to wear a company's uniform and talk to customers and then secretly "give their own experience" which was, oh I work for company A, but Its not so great, buy company B.

These comments from the companies at the very least is quite honest and effective - we are talkinga bout it now

Id like to see where APSC and 4/3 goes from now on. There are bright futures ahead.

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1) Olympus OM1 [Zuiko Auto-S 50mm f/1.8]
2) Pentax MZ-60 [Sigma 28-90 & 100-300]
3) Canon 7D [EF-S 15-85 & 70-200mm f/4 IS]

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