Is the Micro Four Thirds camera system dead?
Derek Smith • 1 June 2020
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 lens
Photo By: Derek Smith
Graylag Goose
Photo By: Derek Smith
Teasel
Photo By: Derek Smith
Ruby
Photo By: Derek Smith
Is the Micro Four Thirds camera system dead?
They were the first interchangeable lens mirrorless cameras on the market, operation of the cameras is remarkably like that of a DLSR. The cameras are significantly lighter and smaller than a DSLR, because of the smaller sensor, and absence of the mirror box.
Advantages of the Micro Four Thirds system.
The early 16mp sensor had only 81 contrast detect focus points. (The newer 20.4mp sensor has 121 cross type phase detect focus points.)
Rumours
Rumours have been circulating online, predicting the imminent death of the Micro Four Thirds camera system. I believe that the rumours have originated because of corporate changes by both proponents of the Micro Four Thirds camera system. Panasonic have diversified into producing a full frame model alongside their existing Micro Four Thirds product line, and Olympus have closed camera production in South Korea, however a brand-new factory in Vietnam has recently been opened.
History
The 4/3 sensor (not m43) was designed for DSLR cameras with the aim of creating a new, original, and entirely digital standard, that allowed the interchange of lenses and bodies from different manufacturers. The Four-Thirds name was chosen because the sensor dimensions produce images with a 4:3 aspect ratio as opposed to the 3:2 aspect ratio of SLRs. The Four Thirds sensor is 50% of the width, and height of a full frame sensor.
Panasonic and Olympus jointly designed the mirrorless camera system of Micro Four Thirds with the 4/3 sensor and identical lens mount enabling lenses from either manufacturer to be used on any Micro Four Thirds body. Panasonic produced the very first mirrorless model in 2008, with Olympus following suit shortly after.
Both Olympus and Panasonic produce Micro Four Thirds cameras of exceptional high quality with professional standard lenses for more demanding photographers. The Micro Four Thirds system is fully mature, with an extensive range of lenses available from both manufacturers.
The Panasonic G9 camera, and Olympus’s OM-D E-M1X, and the OM-D E-M1 III, are examples of class leading designs that are winning many photographers over to the Micro Four Thirds system.
Size, and weight of the camera system, while some of the camera bodies may not be much smaller than a DSLR, the lenses are significantly smaller, and lighter, owing to the smaller sensor, making a Micro Four Thirds camera an ideal travelling companion.
Price, as the lenses are smaller the manufacturing costs can also be reduced.
Stabilisation, both Olympus, and Panasonic have stabilised bodies and / or lenses producing a sharper image at low shutter speeds.
An extensive range of lenses at different price points from both manufacturers.
Increased depth of field for a given aperture, to some this may be a disadvantage, but this is an advantage for me in macro photography, and portraiture.
Disadvantages of the Micro Four Thirds system.
Noise, a smaller sensor will produce more noise in low light situations, this can be mitigated using slower shutter speeds, with a low ISO setting, and utilising the image stabilisation properties of the camera.
Cropping, the smaller sensor produces a smaller image, so paying careful attention to composition, and framing will pay dividends.
In conclusion.
All camera manufacturers are having financial difficulties at this present time, the market is shrinking, everyone now has a camera phone, why buy a camera? Canon, and Nikon are investing huge sums of money into playing catch up with mirrorless camera systems. Sony, and Fuji are relatively stable with a mature camera, and lens line-up. So, in my opinion there is little reason to believe that Olympus, or Panasonic will leave the market place any time soon.
Micro Four Thirds is very much alive, and well.
All photos taken with an Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
Louth Photographic Society
Good Morning All Last week at the club we held a local PDI competition, Wildflowers and Open, there were some very good entries and especially well done to Keith Rossington who was placed first in both categories. The results are on our website. Thank you to Dave Turner who judged the Open, the first time he had judged live, and he did an excellent job with plenty of helpful comments and some good advice as regards processing our images. That was the last meeting at Church House until September as we now begin our summer break. There is however an LPA Battle, third round at Cleethorpes camera club next Tuesday, It is at 7.30 in their clubroom which is between 49 and 51 Reynolds Street DN35 7TU. Parking is best by the tennis courts. Regards Graham
Last night we held our last competition before our summer break. The PDI (Projected Digital Image) competition had the categories of "Local Wildflowers", and "Open". As this was a members competition, Dave Turner judged the "Open" category, this was his first time judging a competition, he had previewed the images, and made notes, and he gave some excellent critique, which will help members when submitting images in future competitions. After the break, Graham Harrison judged the "Local Wildflowers", a couple of the submitted entries were excellent, but unfortunately did not meet the category criteria so lost some points, flowers always make a good subject for a competition, and Graham had quite a task in judging the images. It was a superb evening with some amazing images, Keith Rossington took first place in both categories, the images he submitted show how much time, and effort he takes with his photography, well done Keith.
Good Morning All Last Sunday I went to the Armed forces day at Cleethorpes, there were not so many people about as I think most wanted to see the Red Arrows on Saturday. There was an excellent display from a group of first world war re-enactors who were mounted and in the uniform of the Lancers as well as a limited air display the highlight been the Spitfire. Last week was also the run for life in Louth, Sam from Colorgrafix did the run in memory of Paul Malley and raising money for cancer research. Sam asked the club for sponsorship so we sent her a donation from us all. Last Friday 21 members and partners enjoyed a meal at the Royal Oak, Cawthorpe, it was good to be able to socialise with each other with a few drinks and a very good meal. I hope everyone had a great night. This week, Wednesday 9th July, we are holding a PDI (Projected Digital Image) competition, with the categories of "Local Flowers in Their Environment (25 miles limit)" and "Open". I am going to judge the Flowers with Dave Turner judging the Open. Regards Graham
Most people are aware of “writers block”, where a writer sits staring at a blank page, and can’t think of a story to write, well photographers suffer from a similar affliction, with a camera sitting on a shelf, and we can’t think of anything to photograph. I believe that change in one way or another can invigorate our photographic creativity, one of our members renowned for his seascapes, has begun taking photos of birdlife, creating some stunning images. My favourite photographic genre has been in fashion and portraiture for the past 6 years, but I’ve lost the “joy” in the genre, so now I want to take more landscape, and macro photography, varying my style. I have just changed my camera system, and now I’m excited to try out the new lenses and watching endless YouTube videos to learn about the new camera system, as well as getting out, and trying the new techniques, these are some of the images from my new camera system. Another method of invigorating your photography is to start a project, think of a subject, and build a portfolio of images, watching how your photography improves as you take each image over time. Joining a camera club is another way to invigorate our photography. Many of our members have stated that their photography has improved since joining, being inspired by the talks, workshops, and regular competitions. The competitions are important both from a learning perspective, but also from the challenges in the subject matter. Recently I was dashing around trying to photograph “Wildflowers in the Environment” for our next competition, a lot of the roadside verges had been mowed reducing the wildflowers locally. Next, I tried some churchyards, there was some “Ladies Bedstraw” flowers in Scrivelsby churchyard, but it didn’t make for a convincing photo, I found some wildflowers along a footpath that did work. I did find another convincing photo in a local church yard, but still I had only two out of three photographs, and the deadline for competition entry submission was fast approaching. Driving out of Horncastle I spotted an ideal wildflower candidate, so quickly turning the car around, parking on the verge, and laying flat on the ground I was able to take one of the best images of the three, and with a lens that I wouldn’t normally associate with this style of photography. In conclusion, dust off that camera, take some photographs, and rediscover the simple joy of photography.
We had a really good turn out for the visit to Rimac last night and the weather was fantastic for taking wildlife photographs. There was plenty to photograph from moths and butterflies to many different birds, there were also plenty of wildflowers as well. I think we all took plenty of photographs so the competitions should have plenty of entries this year. We spent just over two hours photographing and walking round then some of us visited the Prussian Queen in Saltfleetby, where we were made to feel welcome and quenched our thirsts.
Paul Malley, a gentle, genial, giant of a man sadly passed away recently after a long illness. Paul had been a longtime member of the Louth Photographic Society, and had served in several roles, Treasurer at one time, and latterly as a stalwart active member on the Committee. Always ready with helpful knowledge, and advice, Paul was calm in a crisis, and insightful, able to understand both sides of a discussion, and suggest a compromise. An outstanding photographer, dedicated to his craft, he produced some excellent images, some of which are shared here. Rest in peace my friend, you will be much missed by Pam, family, friends, and members of the Louth Photographic Society.
Good Morning All Last week at the club we held our monthly print competition, there was a good entry of just over 40 prints and of a very good standard. Tony Gaskins won the subject, Britain's Coastline with an excellent photograph of Whitby and Dave Tuner was 1st in the Open with an excellent misty morning photograph at Buttermere. Thank you to all that entered, and all the results are on our website. This week, Wednesday 25th June, we are going to Rimac near Saltfleet, I have heard there is quite a bit of wildlife there at the moment, let's hope we are lucky. If we meet in the car park at 6.30pm and set of as a group though we usually get stretched out as we go. I have attached a map, but if you are on a corner and there is a track going towards the sea at the area shown on the map you should be ok. Regards Graham
Our print competition with the categories of “Britain's Coastline”, and “Open” was held last night. Gail Wrigg, the LPA President, was the judge for the evening, and there were some stunning prints submitted into the competition to review. The images were judged fairly, majoring on the technical imperfections of the images, depth of focus, composition, elements within an image that could have been removed, and improved cropping of an image. Gail always connects with the audience with her critique of the submitted competition entries. It's surprising how the print medium looks, and feels so different from an image viewed on a screen, just very alive, and tactile. The competition results have been updated on the Competition page of our website.
Good Morning All, I visited Welton-Le-Wold nature reserve the other evening, a bit like a small Red Hill, there were a lot more wildflowers there than Red Hill but again not many insects, it may be better in the daytime? It is only about two miles from Louth as well. Last week was the LPA battle at Scunthorpe, only Dave Turner went taking our prints with him, not a good result for Louth, 1st Grimsby 258, 2nd Scunthorpe 245 and 3rd Louth 236, quite a difference from the first round but that's LPA battles. The next round is at Cleethorpes, it would be good if a few more members could attend. It will soon be our annual dinner at the Splash, any more deposits this week please and menu choices by midnight Wednesday please, otherwise you may go hungry. This week, Wednesday 18th June, we hold our monthly print competition, with the categories of “Britain's Coastline” and “Open” there has been a good entry so should be a good night. Regards Graham
Good Morning All Last week we visited Red Hill nature reserve, a very good turnout, but the wildlife didn't seem to know we were going, it's quite worrying though the lack of any butterflies or any other insects of any sorts. Hopefully we all got some photographs before we visited the Three horseshoes at Goulceby. I did photograph an unusual caterpillar but couldn't manage to identify it? This week we are away in the LPA Battles at Scunthorpe, for anyone planning to attend it is at the Pavilion, Bramley Crescent, Bottesford DN16 35N this Wednesday 11th at 7.30pm. I don't think I will make it due to work but hopefully some members will attend. There will be no meeting at Louth this week as members will be a way at Scunthorpe. The following week, Wednesday 18th June, we are holding the monthly print competition, if you can email your titles to Dave Turner by midnight Wednesday 11th if you have not already and bring your prints in on the night by 7 pm as no one is there to collect them this week. There are still a few deposits for the meal to come in yet, but in two week's time will be ok. If you can send your menu choices to me if you are attending by midnight 0n the 18th June please, as they need typing out and sending to the Splash two weeks in advance. Well, I think that's all, Regards Graham
