Nobody else will join MicroFourThirds (no Fuji, no Sigma, no Kodak, no Leica)

One thing I noticed is the two biggies were totally absent from the list and article. Nikon and Canon. So thats actually good news.

But why would anyone want to make a mount to help the consumer by hurting their own sales. It's a great idea, but probably not the best business idea.

SirDan said:

Read it here:

http://43rumors.com/ft3-sigma-will-not-make-any-microfourthirds-camera/

Hi all. I'm really interested in the m43 system I think it's the perfect balance between size and quality but I'm not sure if it's gonna be a dead end in the long run. I've also heard contradictory rumors (like Pentax joining m43 anytime soon) What do you think?

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I think it's well known, Pannasonic could not get very much business in the regular DSLR market.

Now with Pannasonic and Olympus making m4/3 cameras and lenses they are both doing well. As has already been said here, and discovered by those who use m4/3 systems they provide without question good enough IQ and without the size and expense of the older DSLR's systems from Canon and Nikon and even Pentax and Sony.

I think Canon, Nikon and Pentax will follow soon with their own propriortory new system of new mirrorless cameras and a each with their own new lens mount. Just as Samsung and now soon Sony is doing.

Pannasonic and Olympus with m4/3 got here first and showed us all the future. Competition will be rough but I think enough of us already own m4/3 gear so this will continue even when the others do bring out their own versions.

The large mirrored DSLR is on the way out with the more modern technology provided with mirrorless live view systems.

The people with the expensive DSLR glass will be the ones who lose out as I doubt anyone will be supporting that sytem in a few years.

Does anyone actually doubt the march of technolgy in providing supperior mirrorless systems to current DSLR systems in the very very near future? Also cheaper to make.
-Peter
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Why would oly or panasonic drop m43 because of that?

Compared to Nikon and Canon they are minnows in the camera world and they were basically forced into m4/3 since they know they will never compete in the DSLR market, even with DX, let alone FF. Even Samsung knows it cannot compete in the DSLR market and has abandoned it for the NX mirrorless APS-C approach.

IMO m4/3 is a much better idea than 4/3 was and will be the only thing to save Oly as a camera company, so I hope the market continues to grow in this segment. I think Pentax is in deep trouble and can't see them holding out too much longer without an entry in this market.

I hope if Canon, Nikon etc go down this path we eventually see a universal lens mount (assuming it's not m4/3).

Is Sony's camera m4/3 or APS-C?

Landscapephoto99 said:

4 3rds has two large camera companies making cameras for them. That is more cooperation than anywhere else in the industry.

Having said that, I think we'll eventually see at least one other smaller player joining after a while.

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Peter Nelson said:

I think it's well known, Pannasonic could not get very much business in the regular DSLR market.

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Because they designed, in my opinion, a really odd/bad looking camera with the L1 with IQ that did not match its Leica lens and the improved L10 still was stuck with a poor sensor. I am pleased that they have a winner with the G-series.

Peter Nelson said:

The people with the expensive DSLR glass will be the ones who lose out as I doubt anyone will be supporting that sytem in a few years. Does anyone actually doubt the march of technolgy in providing supperior mirrorless systems to current DSLR systems in the very very near future? Also cheaper to make.

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While I don't doubt that technology marches on, I do not see how the current APS and FF DSLR's get much better by going mirrorless, so I see that market segment going on. Canon and Nikon will certainly support their users. We will see how Olympus, Pentax and Sony fare.

I just bought a Pen. Don't see it replacing my DSLR's, but as a nice complement. If I had bought a GH1 ... well I wouldn't. I can get better IQ and almost the same size with an APS DSLR.

I expect no other company will make a camera body with a Canon lens mount, or a Nikon lens mount, or a Leica lens mount, or any other proprietary lens mount not their own.

I think it's amazing that Panasonic and Olympus got together on Micro4/3. The idea that other companies won't produce bodies for m43 really isn't a surprise.

What is more surprising, and is good news, is that Sigma still plans to make m43 lenses! And, if Fuji really did make a 4/3 sensor perhaps Oly can use it.

kwa_photo said:

I see the DSLR market to continue being dominated by C&N with everyone else niche players in the game. In the EVIL category, I see Oly and Panny becoming much like C&N in the DSLR world for quite sometime. Maybe I'm wrong, only time will tell.
--
-Ken
http://kwaphoto.wordpress.com

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If C&N comes into the EVIL scene, I doubt that Oly/Panny would remain in their current position. In the electronics world, being the first mover doesn't necessary means that you will be the lead in the long term.

The APS format cameras have proven that in terms of low light performance, they are still better than the "noisy" 4/3 format. The 4/3 sensor has been with us for a few generations now and has yet to prove it is a viable alternative to the APS sized sensors in terms of low light performance.

Once C&N comes into the EVIL scene, the market will shift to the low light leaders. Maybe, they might even come up with a full frame sensor EVIL.

thx1138 said:

Compared to Nikon and Canon they are minnows in the camera world and they were basically forced into m4/3 since they know they will never compete in the DSLR market, even with DX, let alone FF. Even Samsung knows it cannot compete in the DSLR market and has abandoned it for the NX mirrorless APS-C approach.

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Olympus and Pentax competed well as niche players in the DSLR market. It is true that many people will continue to mindlessly buy Canon or Nikon, but the niche players have been around for many years and will continue to be around.

thx1138 said:

IMO m4/3 is a much better idea than 4/3 was and will be the only thing to save Oly as a camera company, so I hope the market continues to grow in this segment.

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It's an entirely new market that Canon and Nikon will have a hard time competing in given the head start of Panasonic and Olympus.

thx1138 said:

I think Pentax is in deep trouble and can't see them holding out too much longer without an entry in this market.

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Their K-x is one of the best selling DSLRs in the market. They are making quite a comeback though they admittedly have a long way to go.

thx1138 said:

I hope if Canon, Nikon etc go down this path we eventually see a universal lens mount (assuming it's not m4/3).

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No chance of this. The mounts are not the same for regular format cameras and there is no reason to expect they will be the same for mirrorless cameras.

thx1138 said:

Is Sony's camera m4/3 or APS-C?

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It's APS-C with a new mount that I believe can use the regular Alpha lenses with an adapter.

StillHaveMyDiana said:

m43 will only become a "standard" if/when camera companies can procure m43-format sensors from other sensor manufacturers than Panasonic, and if/when Panasonic chooses to license the electronic lens interface. It suits Panasonic to maintain the illusion that m43 is a "standard" because they have Olympus as a junior partner.

I am not a fanboy of Panasonic, their manufacturing quality (except optics) and service is poor, and I'd rather m43 was a true standard. Time will tell.

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what is a "standard", but a business partnership amongst companies. It's either you're part of that inner circle or not, and being a part of that inner circle is going to cost you.
To me, a real standard is when it is freely available and freely shared.

I don't see more companies joining the M4/3 bandwagon yet. What's stopping them from developing APS sensors in the EVIL category ? nothing. Unless they just want to develop the bodies and leave the lens development to Panny/Oly. The lens they develop will bring in revenue as well.

JosephScha said:

I expect no other company will make a camera body with a Canon lens mount, or a Nikon lens mount, or a Leica lens mount, or any other proprietary lens mount not their own.

I think it's amazing that Panasonic and Olympus got together on Micro4/3. The idea that other companies won't produce bodies for m43 really isn't a surprise.

What is more surprising, and is good news, is that Sigma still plans to make m43 lenses! And, if Fuji really did make a 4/3 sensor perhaps Oly can use it.

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the fact that Sigma has plans for m43 lenses shows that they believe the market segment is large enough to support 3 lens manufacturers. This is, of course a projection based on current sales figures. We will just have to see if this really pans out. When Sony, Canon and Nikon joins in the EVIL bandwagon, the picture will change. It is just a matter of time. I for one, am holding off till that time comes. Prices on current M4/3 cameras will take a free fall then. In the meantime, I will live with the compromises of my P&S camera, which is incidentally, truly pocketable and is thus with me most of the time.

cimman305 said:

To me, a real standard is when it is freely available and freely shared.

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Can you think of any standards that are freely available?

USB, WiFi, Blue-Ray, MiniSD... these are all standards precisely because they are not freely available. You have to pay a license fee to the consortium that owns the patents, and your product has to conform to the spec.

cimman305 said:

JosephScha said:

I expect no other company will make a camera body with a Canon lens mount, or a Nikon lens mount, or a Leica lens mount, or any other proprietary lens mount not their own.

I think it's amazing that Panasonic and Olympus got together on Micro4/3. The idea that other companies won't produce bodies for m43 really isn't a surprise.

What is more surprising, and is good news, is that Sigma still plans to make m43 lenses! And, if Fuji really did make a 4/3 sensor perhaps Oly can use it.

Click to expand...

the fact that Sigma has plans for m43 lenses shows that they believe the market segment is large enough to support 3 lens manufacturers. This is, of course a projection based on current sales figures. We will just have to see if this really pans out. When Sony, Canon and Nikon joins in the EVIL bandwagon, the picture will change. It is just a matter of time. I for one, am holding off till that time comes. Prices on current M4/3 cameras will take a free fall then. In the meantime, I will live with the compromises of my P&S camera, which is incidentally, truly pocketable and is thus with me most of the time.

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You planning on responding to your own thread at all? - or do you just think that you owe it to everyone to explain your choice of gear everywhere you can?

My mFTs camera is with me all the time. The FF dSLR isn't. So what is your point?

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It is irrelevant. The fact that two companies joined together is amazing. What has been produced I think is changing the way cameras will be made in the future. Keep in mind cameras in the past were built around film formats. So the only reason there are 35mm cameras is because there was 35mm film stock. That film by the way was originally made for motion pictures not still. So it is not like they joined together to create a format. I like the way each company has its own slant. Olympus traditional made beautiful quality compact cameras think X-A. Panasonic somewhat bigger trying to get the best lens and image quality.

In the end if companies can make a profit they will join. In these economic times they may consider it already to competitive to assume a new risk. However everyone that see my EP-1 really likes it. I tell them its either a big small camera, or a small big camera whatever you like.

--
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So an unconfirmed, mid ranked rumor from a rumor site says no one will join, and I'm supposed to worry?

I'll be shocked if Sigma doesn't release a micro four thirds camera eventually; since they are already committed to building lenses for the system, and have the DP series with a suitable sensor already. The effort to adapt this camera to take a micro four thirds mount should be trivial compared to what other companies face, and I think they'd find a substantial market.

For the rest, time will tell. All I can say is that it is in the interest of both sides to make a deal, and the consumer would benefit too.

Oh, and if none of them make cameras, it won't be the end of the world - with Olympus and Panasonic, we're still better off than any other system...
Walter

baxters said:

Peter Nelson said:

I think it's well known, Pannasonic could not get very much business in the regular DSLR market.

Click to expand...

Because they designed, in my opinion, a really odd/bad looking camera with the L1 with IQ that did not match its Leica lens and the improved L10 still was stuck with a poor sensor. I am pleased that they have a winner with the G-series.

Click to expand...

No, It's because Canon and Nikon have this market in their pocket. They forced Pannasonic to come up with something different if they and Olympus wanted to stay in the camera market with more advanced bodies that are of the interchangeable lens design.

baxters said:

baxters said:

The people with the expensive DSLR glass will be the ones who lose out as I doubt anyone will be supporting that sytem in a few years. Does anyone actually doubt the march of technolgy in providing supperior mirrorless systems to current DSLR systems in the very very near future? Also cheaper to make.

Click to expand...

While I don't doubt that technology marches on, I do not see how the current APS and FF DSLR's get much better by going mirrorless, so I see that market segment going on. Canon and Nikon will certainly support their users. We will see how Olympus, Pentax and Sony fare.

Click to expand...

APS and FF mirrored DSLR cameras will be replaced with new advanced mirrorless camera technology. It's so new that many do not see this, yet.

baxters said:

I just bought a Pen. Don't see it replacing my DSLR's, but as a nice complement. If I had bought a GH1 ... well I wouldn't. I can get better IQ and almost the same size with an APS DSLR.

Click to expand...

--
Life as an artist has had some unusual times to say the least.
visit my web site http://www.flickr.com/photos/artist_eyes/
Remember to click on 'All Sizes' for better viewing.
Artist Eyes