Micro Four Thirds

[Funkstar]

Anyone else getting really intrigued with this standard?

I've been reading about the new DMC-GH1. The HD video recording as well as high quality stills could be extremely interesting.

Video recording sounds like it is a lot less gimicky then the Nikon D90, not sure about the Canon 5D though. Continuous autofocus ounds great.


http://www.dpreview.com/news/0903/09...gh1handson.asp

Then there is the two lenses announced by Panasonic at PMA too, the latter being optimised for HD video as well.




7-14 F4 - http://www.dpreview.com/news/0903/09...onic7-14mm.asp
14-140 F4.0-5.8 - http://www.dpreview.com/news/0903/09...14-140mmhd.asp

[kalniel]

Yes.

Image quality of the original G1 was shown to be equal to the canon 450D, which is some achievement. Only let down by the lack of good lenses.

Price on the new one looks like it's going to be current D90 territory though, which is too high IMHO.

[brammers]

It's exciting. I'd take one without a viewfinder (LCD only), a 35/2 equivalent lens, a tough body, a decent rear-synch flash mode and something that wasn't a total mess at ISO 1600 - a real take-anywhere, pocketable camera with high performance.

I'm not excited about the size advantage Vs a DSLR - the quality of my a900 + Zeiss glass means that if I want to take a good photo I'm bringing that. I'm excited about the quality & speed advantage Vs a compact - this would give better DoF control, better high ISO performance and much better AF than a Panasonic LX3, with the option to give it say a fisheye or a short tele-prime (85mm-ish) if I fancied it.

Samsung's looks great too - theirs is REALLY thin.

[Funkstar]

Size does play a part for me. I would happily ditch my compact (it's a Panasonic TZ5, so not that compact) for a half decent small MFT camera. And I would be willing to have multiple bodies for different situations too if I could share lenses. Like the tiny Olympus I linked to in the other thread for a true compact replacement, then something that more closely resembles a traditional dSLR with more features or a higher quality sensor/image processor and longer battery life.

Perhaps we will see true video/still hybrids now. I can see these taking better video than the stills a normal camcorder takes. (if you see what i mean).

[brammers]

Personally I couldn't care less about video - I've got a camera phone that does that. Video on small sensors is easy - no AF to worry about and exposure is a doddle. I don't care about the quality - with the stuff I shoot videos of it's all about the content - just memories.

I'll bring over the pic you posted so everyone can see what we're talking about:



I want this. It's a digital rangefinder for the masses and I can see it killing Leica sales. AF, quiet, should be high quality IQ, pocketable. I'll even take it in that orange

[Funkstar]

btw, Engadget is saying the Olympus mock up is slated for a summer release. Not holding my breath, but hopefully we'll know at least something by then.

Would eb good if there were a few more 'pancake' lenses to accompany this.

[BUFF]

I think that pretty much all the big names will be investigating some form of EVIL/hybrid cameras.
The question is will they retain any compatability betwen existing lenses via adapters or will they say goodbye to backward compatability.

[YorkieBen]

It's exciting. I'd take one without a viewfinder (LCD only), a 35/2 equivalent lens, a tough body, a decent rear-synch flash mode and something that wasn't a total mess at ISO 1600 - a real take-anywhere, pocketable camera with high performance.

apparently a 20mm f/1.7 pancake is due to be released this year (so equiv field of view to 40mm) - will be an interesting combo with a body similar to the olympus concept.