Four thirds

[Kalvaer]

Or maybe the manufacturers involved knew that if they didn't share the same lens platform, they'd have a much smaller chance of continued survival. I wonder how Olympus' market share would have been if they had kept their film lens mount?

In South Africa.. As bad as it was previously and still is, this though I believe is due to Customer support being non-existant and Olympus SA being a bunch of complete idiots. I've been trying for years to get them to bring in the SLR range, but they seem intent on focusing on the Point and shoot market. The SLR range overseas though is huge with the E510 being one of the top sold camera's in 2007 I believe. In conjuntion with Zuiko though as well, Olympus have a very big scientific and medical support base which has always kept them in the top runners. Their OM1 is still considered by many as one of the top camera's available today for certain film applications

[edit] There are many other things as well. Olympus' sensor cleaning is also still considered the best. I doubt the would of faded away, Search google for olympus world firsts, they are still doing well and even two days ago introduced the worlds largest zoom in a compact camera... DAMN.. I sound like a fanbois[/edit]

Interesting - how much bigger?

I am not sure at all, but it is listed on the list of reason why 4/3rds was developed:

• No decrease in image resolution due to insufficient lenses – full use of the sensor’s performance
• No loss of wide angle capability
• Significantly reduced occurrences of cornershading
• Smaller, lighter lenses and bodies
• Brighter lenses by approximately two f-stops with same depth of field as 35mm lenses (plus solutions to provide shallow depth of field if required)
• Designed to remain compatible with future sensor developments
• Cross-manufacturer interchangeability
• Perfect harmonisation of lens and body due to communication standard
• Secure investment due to future-oriented design

 

[koffiejunkie]

It's amusing, really. I read good things about the Olympus bodies, there are many supporters on-line, but I have never ever seen anyone with an Olympus SLR anywhere. Truly a niche...

 

[Kalvaer]

Which is why I think is mainly a problem in SA where we just dont have the support so people have flocked over to Canon who gave them what they wanted.

Thinking maybe I should cave in and get one to at least try show some of its potential here and maybe we can then compare photo's directly. The fact that its the same megapixals as my wifes 400D should help to compare.. Now all I need is a good excuse to give her for buying it

 

[koffiejunkie]

Which is why I think is mainly a problem in SA where we just dont have the support so people have flocked over to Canon who gave them what they wanted.

Well I'm not in SA. Everywhere I go I always take a peek at what people are shooting with. I've seen the odd Pentax or Sony and loads of Canons an Nikons.

 

[ToxicBunny]

I contemplated buying a 4/3rds camera when I started looking at SLR's.. and quickly dismissed the idea due to the cost of the lenses, and the lack of local support.

 

[Kalvaer]

Each country must have its favourites due to support. dpreview has pentax listed as lower than Olympus, and then panasonics on top of both of them, and I haven't seen a panasonic in ages. Though the Lumix is higher than even the canon's???

Canons support seems to be really good world wide, and I think programs like CSI, NCIS etc, made Nikon very popular again.

Its a pity though that a division in a country of a popular brand can be destoryed by the idiots working in their marketing department

 

[bwana]

Each country must have its favourites due to support. dpreview has pentax listed as lower than Olympus, and then panasonics on top of both of them, and I haven't seen a panasonic in ages. Though the Lumix is higher than even the canon's???

Canons support seems to be really good world wide, and I think programs like CSI, NCIS etc, made Nikon very popular again.

Its a pity though that a division in a country of a popular brand can be destoryed by the idiots working in their marketing department

I'm not sure I'd agree with that completely - just look how badly the average canon user is screwed over wrt pricing and service.

 

[Kalvaer]

True, but what I mean is you can go into any game and buy a Canon, You can also go to any incredible and get a sony, and so on. Where can you buy Olympus SLR??? There is just no support for them in the country

 

[koffiejunkie]

Each country must have its favourites due to support. dpreview has pentax listed as lower than Olympus, and then panasonics on top of both of them, and I haven't seen a panasonic in ages. Though the Lumix is higher than even the canon's???

Those stats "are calculated based on 'click throughs' to the specifications database as well as reviews / previews. One view of one camera model in one user session is counted as one click (hence multiple clicks on / views of the same camera in the same session are counted only once). The percentages shown are based on a five day running total (the last five days)." linky

In other word, it only reflects people's interest, not what they go out and buy. Also keep in mind that dprevew is a website, and it's audience is quite global. Check out their stats - scroll down to the last two tables.

 

[Kalvaer]

Those stats "are calculated based on 'click throughs' to the specifications database as well as reviews / previews. One view of one camera model in one user session is counted as one click (hence multiple clicks on / views of the same camera in the same session are counted only once). The percentages shown are based on a five day running total (the last five days)." linky

In other word, it only reflects people's interest, not what they go out and buy. Also keep in mind that dprevew is a website, and it's audience is quite global. Check out their stats - scroll down to the last two tables.

Correct...so for thr last five days atlest, they stats show a treand,,, was it because of us,, or the other 40000 people voting,


We dont know, but polls themselves show result which are uncomman to standad pool,,,, but one can not ignore results buy us lay men,,,, because theur calculauons are what make them what they and, define them in a box , as in box A that we are used to and agree with because its all we know

 

[koffiejunkie]

Well, the trend is influenced by the latest news stories. For a week or two Pentax as at the top of that list (when the K20D) launched. But then Canon launched something (I think the 450D) and Pentax dropped off the map.

 

[Kalvaer]

How did you make an sense of what I said.. because I still cant.

I must lock my PC so that I cant log on to myadsl at 3 am after an afternoon of drinking way to much with friends... Should also not drink that much anymore.. my head hurts

 

[koffiejunkie]

How did you make an sense of what I said.. because I still cant.

I must lock my PC so that I cant log on to myadsl at 3 am after an afternoon of drinking way to much with friends... Should also not drink that much anymore.. my head hurts

Maybe because it was after 03:00 AM (your time) and I just got back from the pub after putting back six or so pints of scrumpy - we were on the same wavelength...

 

[BigAl-sa]

How did you make an sense of what I said.. because I still cant.

I must lock my PC so that I cant log on to myadsl at 3 am after an afternoon of drinking way to much with friends... Should also not drink that much anymore.. my head hurts

I'm glad I'm not the only one that does this

Back on topic: My feeling is the biggest advantage of a 4/3 camera is that it's much closer to square than 3/2, so it will be using more of the sweet part of the lens area than a camera with an aspect ratio similar to that of a 35mm film camera. As a result, the corner sharpness should theoretically be better.