EVIL cameras on the way...

[andyoxon]

Oly & Panasonic have just annouced the micro 4/3 system - no mirror, big sensors, compact lenses and body. Electronic Viewfinder Interchageable lens.
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0808/08080501microfourthirds.asp

I'm interested, seems like a great compact size/IQ option.

 

[John the Monkey]

Blimey - an Olympus Pen for the digital age maybe?

The idea of a big sensor in a small body isn't that new (weren't Sigma working on one at one time?) - the idea of coupling that with interchangeable lenses is quite radical though. It's a big idea, and an interesting one - not for me (I've never been impressed by electronic viewfinders, and am fairly committed to Nikon kit anyway). I hope Olympus and Panasonic can pull this off, if only to see the former making genuinely interesting and innovative cameras as they did under Maitani(sp?)

Incindentally, compact size/IQ? Grab an XA or XA2 and a few rolls of Provia

 

[andyoxon]

Blimey - an Olympus Pen for the digital age maybe?

The idea of a big sensor in a small body isn't that new (weren't Sigma working on one at one time?) - the idea of coupling that with interchangeable lenses is quite radical though. It's a big idea, and an interesting one - not for me (I've never been impressed by electronic viewfinders, and am fairly committed to Nikon kit anyway). I hope Olympus and Panasonic can pull this off, if only to see the former making genuinely interesting and innovative cameras as they did under Maitani(sp?)

Incindentally, compact size/IQ? Grab an XA or XA2 and a few rolls of Provia

Nor me, but there will be a 3"+ high res and gain LCD panel I guess.

 

[CopperBrompton]

I do wonder who this is aimed at. The masses are quite happy with the quality of their small-sensor compacts, while enthusiasts want optical viewfinders. In theory, this is less bulky than an SLR, but if you're going to take advantage of the interchangeable lenses then you're probably carrying a camera-bag anyway.

Ben

 

[Tim Bennet.]

The success of Live View on SLR's has proved that a lot of enthusiasts can live without optical view finders. I find myself using it more and more even when there is strictly no need.

I would be tempted to get one as there's times I would happily trade a mirror for the bulk of the E3. Especially if the adaptor did make it compatible with all the lenses.

 

[andyoxon]

The success of Live View on SLR's has proved that a lot of enthusiasts can live without optical view finders. I find myself using it more and more even when there is strictly no need.

I would be tempted to get one as there's times I would happily trade a mirror for the bulk of the E3. Especially if the adaptor did make it compatible with all the lenses.

I could probably live without an optical VF, especially if the LCD was tilt and swivel (bright and high res). Though perhaps a really good HRes EVF may be quite useable anyway.

Ben, IMO there’d be a big market for those who want the benefits of a 4/3 sensor size (IQ & much better low light/high ISO performance) over the much smaller compact sensors, without the bulk of a dSLR system. A smaller 14-250mm ‘carry-all’ (and some good small prime) lens would be quite attractive to many. m4/3 should also allow HD video t’boot, especially with Panasonic involved.

If m4/3 takes off, it will be interesting to see how Canon/Nikon respond – how it ‘opens up’ the dSLR market.

 

[CopperBrompton]

The success of Live View on SLR's has proved that a lot of enthusiasts can live without optical view finders.

Live View offers the choice of optical viewfinder or LCD screen; that's a totally different proposition to having no optical viewfinder.

I view LV as an occasionally-handy bonus, but there's no way in the world I'd ever buy a viewfinderless camera as my main camera.

Ben

 

[andyoxon]

Live View offers the choice of optical viewfinder or LCD screen; that's a totally different proposition to having no optical viewfinder.

I view LV as an occasionally-handy bonus, but there's no way in the world I'd ever buy a viewfinderless camera as my main camera.

Ben

Yes fair enough, and I'm sure these mFT format cameras will have a HQ electronic VF (as well as a ~3" LCD display) - will be a mistake if they don't.

 

[CopperBrompton]

IMO there’d be a big market for those who want the benefits of a 4/3 sensor size (IQ & much better low light/high ISO performance) over the much smaller compact sensors, without the bulk of a dSLR system.

Hmmm.

The micro 4/3 seems predicated on people being sufficiently discerning to appreciate the benefits of a large sensor size, yet not sufficiently discerning to appreciate the benefits of an optical viewfinder. That market segment strikes me as likely to be wafer-thin.

As I say, I think the bulk argument is overplayed. As soon as you're into interchangeable lenses, you're pretty much out of the pocketable category. If you want reasonably good quality in pocketable form, there are things like the Fuji F30 and variants (800ISO is amazing and even 1600ISO is usable).

I'll be happy to be proven wrong, though: the more options available on the market, the better.

Ben

 

[andyoxon]

I suppose time will tell; you do get used to the camera you work with. I, for one, will give any m4/3 camera a serious look. At some point before Photokina (I guess) perhaps we'll find out more; hopefully about the mythical Nikon D90 too.

I've used a Panasonic Lumix superzoom for 3yrs now, which fits in my baggy shorts pockets, and it's light. The 36-432mm leica F3.3+ IS lens is great, but use the camera at anything above ISO 80 and the noise becomes apparent. If I'm walking/cycling it's no problem to carry for long periods, but I always have my CCS case (ex FE2) handy (also has spare cards and batteries).

As I've mentioned my FE2 is going to Cornwall (with Provia), and having had a D40 for a while, the FE2 VF is so much brighter and bigger. When I'm using the Lumix, I just accept that in bright light I have to peer a bit at the LCD display, or on odd accasions resort to the (fairly awful) EVF.

 

[CopperBrompton]

The Nikon rumour-mill was absolutely spot-on with the D700 (which is on my shopping-list), so I suspect the D90 will also be as described.

Ben

 

[andyoxon]

I've just seen this the D90...

The Nikon D80 Replacement...
Thom Hogan http://www.bythom.com/index.htm

The big news, however, is that Live View now has a twist that other DSLRs can't currently claim: it can record video (thus the microphone grill).

mmm video?

 

[Rhythm Thief]

The Nikon rumour-mill was absolutely spot-on with the D700 (which is on my shopping-list), so I suspect the D90 will also be as described.

Ben

Am I missing something with the D700? As far as I'm aware, it's the D3 sensor in a D300 body, sold at a price not that far below what an actual D3 goes for. Am I wrong about that? If not, that seems like a product searching for a market too ...

 

[CopperBrompton]

Am I missing something with the D700? As far as I'm aware, it's the D3 sensor in a D300 body, sold at a price not that far below what an actual D3 goes for. Am I wrong about that?

A bit wrong, yes :-)

It's a D3 sensor in a D300 body for £2000 instead of £3400!

Ben