Recognizing the consumer preference for smaller cameras, in addition to their curiosity for DSLRs, Olympus and Panasonic have decided to remove the optical viewfinder and mirror box from the four thirds standard (which will still continue), essentially reducing the flangeback distance by %50. This allows Olympus and Panasonic to use smaller lenses on a smaller camera body with the same size sensor as before with excellent image quality. Or as Haruo Ogawa (head of Olympus Imaging Corp SLR division) puts it:
“Packing high picture quality into a body thin enough to slide into a pocket. That is the basic concept of Micro Four Thirds.”
Existing Olympus lenses can be used with the new format via the use of an adaptor, and as of this moment no actual product has been announced. But just the idea of a smaller, lighter compact type camera with interchangeable lenses is very exciting. And as DPR points out, the new standard allows:
…Enables seamless switching between still and movie shooting
Now this new system does have a “catch”:no viewfinder. But the average consumer probably is used to composing on the LCD anyway. For me though I picture a ultra compact rangefinder with small interchangeable lenses, and perhaps an EVF thown on for good measure…we’ll have to wait and see. (I always hate that part)
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