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Micro Four Thirds FAQs

By Leonard Goh
Jun 04, 2009

According to various camera manufacturers, the bulk of their sales come from point-and-shoot offerings. This is not surprising, considering most people start with compact cameras and then move on to something more sophisticated as they look for greater control over their shots. But the majority of these users are amateurs and the complexity of a dSLR may be a deterrent for them.

This is where the Micro Four Thirds System comes in. In a nutshell, it offers almost all the functionalities of a dSLR but on a smaller scale. The technology it uses is quite innovative and many readers have been wanting to know how different it is compared with what is available in the market now. So we contacted Panasonic and Olympus, the two major players in this class of shooters, to give you a better insight into the Micro Four Thirds System.

We've compiled eight frequently asked questions regarding this new standard. If you have more questions, feel free to ask here.

What is the Micro Four Thirds System?


(Credit: Olympus)

The Micro Four Thirds System is a joint initiative by Panasonic and Olympus. It was announced last August and is based on the existing Four Thirds System which the two companies use for their dSLRs. Do note that shooters which employ the Micro Four Thirds System are not dSLRs, says Olympus. Rather, the lengthy term of "interchangeable lens camera system" is used. While you can switch optics on a Micro Four Thirds snapper, the lack of a mirror puts it outside the definition of a dSLR.

What advantages/disadvantages does the Micro Four Thirds System have?
On the Four Thirds Web site, Olympus lists three main benefits of the system.

First, the weight and size of cameras and optics using this technology are reduced, making them more portable than conventional dSLRs. This is achieved by removing the mirror component, shrinking the lens diameter and increasing the number of electrical contacts on Micro Four Thirds lenses from nine to 11.


The Micro Four Thirds lens mount is smaller than the ones used in Four Thirds dSLR. (Credit: Olympus)

Secondly, video recording is possible with Micro Four Thirds camera, as shown by Panasonic with its Lumix DMC-GH1. Although some dSLRs today, such as the Canon EOS 500D and the Nikon D5000, have this function, such a feature was thought to be impossible last year when the Micro Four Thirds System was announced.

The new system enables the use of current Four Thirds optics via an adapter. Given that Olympus already has a wide range of glasses for Four Thirds dSLRs, users will have more options. Of late, other third-party manufacturers such as Voigtlander have also announced adapters for Leica/Voigtlander M-mount lenses to be used on a Micro Four Thirds camera. Panasonic, too, has introduced its own adapters for users to attach Leica R-mount or Four Thirds optics on such shooters.

Due to the lack of a mirror component, Micro Four Thirds cameras don't have optical viewfinders. This is a deal-breaker for some shutterbugs as they find electronic viewfinders, or Live View Finder as Panasonic calls it, unreliable for snapping shots in dimly lit environments.

For some photographers, the mirror's removal means they can shoot at lower shutter speeds without worrying that the flipping action may cause vibrations that blur the shot. This will also make snapping shots a quieter affair without the loud sound produced when the mirror mechanism moves.

Which takes better pictures: dSLRs or Micro Four Thirds cameras?
Micro Four Thirds shooters employ Four Thirds sensors which are smaller than those used in dSLRs. This means there is a smaller surface area for light to fall on. In theory, this results in lower image quality, although Olympus and Panasonic mentioned that this issue can be rectified by using a good image processor to output better pictures.

After reviewing the GH1, we found that at lower ISO sensitivity settings, its picture quality was comparable to a dSLRs.

Should I get a dSLR or Micro Four Thirds camera?
It depends on your needs. If you find a dSLR too cumbersome and want something portable, a Micro Four Thirds camera might be suitable. However, some users prefer an optical viewfinder which dSLRs have.

What Micro Four Thirds cameras and lenses are available right now?
As of the time of publishing this story, there are only two models of Micro Four Thirds snappers and both manufactured by Panasonic. The Lumix DMC-G1 was the world's first shooter to embrace this technology and has been followed by the recently launched DMC-GH1, which has full-HD video-recording capability.

At press time, the only Micro Four Thirds lenses are from Panasonic. But we were surprised that none of these are Leica-branded, given the close relationship these two companies have. Panasonic told us it has received feedback from customers regarding this issue and will consider employing Leica glasses in its future lens lineup.

Only Panasonic? What about Olympus?
Olympus showed a mockup of its Micro Four Thirds camera last year at the biennial imaging tradeshow Photokina in Germany. The company also mentioned it will be announcing its version in Q3 this year. Recently, the Japanese firm launched a series of teaser ads on its Web site relating to its film-based Pen series. It confirmed with CNET Asia that this is part of a marketing campaign to ramp up interest for its upcoming camera. However, Olympus could not comment on whether the new shooter would look like the mockup. It did mention that the Micro Four Thirds camera will help the company stage a comeback and stand out among the competition in the digital imaging industry.

Pricing for the shooter remains unknown, but we were told by Olympus that it will be value for money and very competitive compared with what is available in the market. For the new Micro Four Thirds camera, the firm aims to target two main groups of users: Current point-and-shoot owners who find dSLRs too complex to operate; and dSLR users who want a spare camera to complement their equipment or to bring along on vacation.

Are there similar alternatives to the Micro Four Thirds cameras?
Shortly after Panasonic and Olympus announced the Micro Four Thirds technology, Samsung, too, mentioned that it had plans to develop a similar technology. At the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) tradeshow held in Las Vegas earlier this year, a prototype of the Korean chaebol's Hybrid camera system was displayed. The basis of this technology is similar to Micro Four Thirds, and the advantages are the same. However, the Samsung Hybrid camera system will utilize an APS-C-sized sensor which is bigger than the Four Thirds sensor, so we should be expecting better image quality. Samsung also announced during PMA that this camera will be available later this year.

Will Olympus and Panasonic still manufacture Four Thirds dSLRs?
Yes. The two companies told us they will continue to make Four Thirds cameras alongside Micro Four Thirds shooters.


Tags: DSLR, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Adapter, Camera, System

 

 

    Talkback
Hitman says...
"The basis of this technology is similar to Micro Four Thirds, and the advantages are the same. However, the Samsung Hybrid camera system will utilize an APS-C-sized sensor which is bigger than the Four Thirds sensor, so we should be expecting better image quality." - Is this based on any facts?

Jun 04, 2009 19:12
 
 
gohleonard says...
Hi Hitman,

You may wish to refer to the Samsung Hybrid Camera article at asia.cnet.com... for more information.

If your concern is whether or not the APS-C sized sensor will deliver better image quality, we cannot confirm for sure now. Which is why the article stated "expecting better image quality".

Jun 04, 2009 23:38
 
 
paulsa says...
Novoflex already has a MFT to Leica M adapter on the market and is just starting to deliver further adapters for MFT to Leica R, MFT to Canon FD, MFT to Minolta FD, MFT to Olympus, MFT to M39, MFT to M42, MFT to Nikon (including Nikon G lenses. These are available from camera stores.

Jun 05, 2009 18:22
 
 
Jesadac says...
IMHO, I feel that this will become a niche product. "Casual" users will want something small and simple while more advanced users will want more flexibility, expansion options, including accessories, than these can offer. Sadly, I see this as the UMPC of photography.

Jun 09, 2009 14:38
 
 
gohleonard says...
@Jesadac: So far, the experience of using Panasonic's Micro Four Thirds camera have been pretty similar to using its point-and-shoots, with the exception that I get more control over the exposure. Given that the companies want to target casual shutterbugs, they'll have to keep it as user-friendly as possible. We'll just have to wait and see how the Micro Four Thirds technology will grow. It's pretty much still in its infancy stage for now. Hopefully it won't end up like UMPC!

Jun 09, 2009 18:13
 
 
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