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Good news or bad news?

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NCV

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TOP often has some thought proving posts. This is one of them .

We are told that the latest Sony 1" sensor now matches the old film 120 medium format for image quality. We see the DXO add on for the iPhone and so on.

All this might seem a bit off topic, but perhaps not.

I have a feeling that with small sensors getting ever better, it will not be long before we will see MF or FF for the stuff that really needs the maximum possible quality an 1" for the rest.

Where does that leave M43?
 
I bought my first Olympus in 2008 and have been hearing stories about the imminent demise of the 4/3 sensor ever since.
 
Good news. There is no new 1" system on the horizon, Nikon 1 seems like dead, so m4/3 is the smallest ILC system available and will remain as such for quite some time. It is already good enough for most uses and with advancement of sensor technology there will be even less need for larger sensors.

It doesn't matter how good smaller sensors are because for a serious photography (and video) you need a system - various lenses, accessories, filters, dedicated flashlights ... You cannot replace a system with just a better sensor.
 
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I don't believe a whole 1" system will be there soon. Nikon tried, but flunked.

One thing to look forward too... more equivalence discussions! We, the mft crowd, can then finally say that we have shallower dof 😁
 
NCV said:
TOP often has some thought proving posts. This is one of them .

We are told that the latest Sony 1" sensor now matches the old film 120 medium format for image quality. We see the DXO add on for the iPhone and so on.

All this might seem a bit off topic, but perhaps not.

I have a feeling that with small sensors getting ever better, it will not be long before we will see MF or FF for the stuff that really needs the maximum possible quality an 1" for the rest.

Where does that leave M43?
Click to expand...
I bought into m4/3 in 2014, when one of the business magazines was predicting that Olympus would disappear from the market before the end of the year. At the time, the prediction worried me a bit. Three years later, m4/3 still going strong, and I don't worry as much.

Sensor size, megapixels, or whatever ... I don't especially care about any of it as an end in itself. Sometimes, my iPhone is the right tool, other times it's M4/3, and occasionally it's FF. These days, I try to concentrate on the image instead of the gear.

M4/3 works well for me for many things. It is comfortable in the hand, and it does what I want/need. As someone mentioned in a previous post, m4/3 gives me a lot of choices for lenses and lighting, and there is no similar choice in a 1" sensor.

But nothing lasts forever. If we get the point where our only choices are 1" or MF/FF .... well, I will deal with it when the time comes. Until then, I will shoot what I have and be happy.
 
in camera processing is the only thing improving not the sensors imop.

Don
 
Okapi001 said:
Good news. There is no new 1" system on the horizon, Nikon 1 seems like dead, so m4/3 is the smallest ILC system available and will remain as such for quite some time.
Click to expand...
Not quite. Don't forget the Pentax Q - or is it also dead?
Okapi001 said:
It is already good enough for most uses and with advancement of sensor technology there will be even less need for larger sensors.

It doesn't matter how good smaller sensors are because for a serious photography (and video) you need a system - various lenses, accessories, filters, dedicated flashlights ... You cannot replace a system with just a better sensor.
Click to expand...
 
Pains me to say it, but I think continued improvement in phone camera tech will have many companies going the way of Kodak. I think the market for anything but the highest cost PRO gear will ultimately evaporate away.

Hope I'm wrong.

Of course, if I were any good a predicting the future, I'd be considerably more wealthy.
 
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All M4/3 needs is a sudden jump in sensor tech.

If Sony could be encouraged to make a 4/3 size sensor with the same BSI stacked technology as their 1 inch sensor then there would be a really new camera available to M4/3 users.

Or if that fabled organic sensor of Panasonic/Fujifilm ever comes to a camera, that could be a similar "revival" sensor.

I wonder what sensor the rumoured upcoming Panasonic G9 has.

Regards.... Guy
 
DonParrot said:
Okapi001 said:
Good news. There is no new 1" system on the horizon, Nikon 1 seems like dead, so m4/3 is the smallest ILC system available and will remain as such for quite some time.
Click to expand...
Not quite. Don't forget the Pentax Q - or is it also dead?
Click to expand...
Pentax Q is not 1", but much smaller 1/1.7" sensor, and it is even more dead than Nikon 1. Latest new model was introduced in 2014 (Nikon 1 in 2015).
 
NCV said:
TOP often has some thought proving posts. This is one of them .

We are told that the latest Sony 1" sensor now matches the old film 120 medium format for image quality. We see the DXO add on for the iPhone and so on.

All this might seem a bit off topic, but perhaps not.

I have a feeling that with small sensors getting ever better, it will not be long before we will see MF or FF for the stuff that really needs the maximum possible quality an 1" for the rest.

Where does that leave M43?
Click to expand...
Putting aside whether his claim is supported by the image he links to - the thing missed is that any new sensor technology can also be applied to larger sensor formats. So as 1" steps up, so will m43, APS-C, FF etc.

We sometimes see things on this forum like, "If we had 'X-tech' then m43 sensors would be as good as FF!!". Sure, but then if FF had 'X-tech'....

As to the more general point of whether or not 1" (and by extension larger formats) is 'good enough' - yes, for most people most of the time it is and has been for years. For most people most of the time smartphone cameras are 'good enough'.

Companies and formats come and go. Be happy with what you have and use it while you can. If you get to a point where you can't (use it or be happy with it), then move on.
 
Barty L said:
Putting aside whether his claim is supported by the image he links to - the thing missed is that any new sensor technology can also be applied to larger sensor formats. So as 1" steps up, so will m43, APS-C, FF etc.

We sometimes see things on this forum like, "If we had 'X-tech' then m43 sensors would be as good as FF!!". Sure, but then if FF had 'X-tech'....
Click to expand...
What is actually happening is that the differences are narrowing. Just consider the latest comparisons with FF and MF sensors, many tests are suggesting that the differences are marginal.

Just the other day, this was doing the rounds: https://www.mirrorlessrumors.com/first-jpeg-side-side-comparison/ .
 
NCV said:
TOP often has some thought proving posts. This is one of them .

We are told that the latest Sony 1" sensor now matches the old film 120 medium format for image quality. We see the DXO add on for the iPhone and so on.

All this might seem a bit off topic, but perhaps not.

I have a feeling that with small sensors getting ever better, it will not be long before we will see MF or FF for the stuff that really needs the maximum possible quality an 1" for the rest.

Where does that leave M43?
Click to expand...
Member said:
http://nigelvoak.blogspot.it/
Click to expand...
You need a big sensor in order to charge a big sticker price. A big sticker price means higher margins, especially on all those lenses, and so more chance of staying in business. The hassle with a titchy sensor is that you just can’t charge so much for the kit. So for most camera companies a 1” sensor might not be all that attractive as more than a minor line. And it’s awfully close to those smartphones ...
 
OzRay said:
Barty L said:
Putting aside whether his claim is supported by the image he links to - the thing missed is that any new sensor technology can also be applied to larger sensor formats. So as 1" steps up, so will m43, APS-C, FF etc.

We sometimes see things on this forum like, "If we had 'X-tech' then m43 sensors would be as good as FF!!". Sure, but then if FF had 'X-tech'....
Click to expand...
What is actually happening is that the differences are narrowing. Just consider the latest comparisons with FF and MF sensors, many tests are suggesting that the differences are marginal.

Just the other day, this was doing the rounds: https://www.mirrorlessrumors.com/first-jpeg-side-side-comparison/ .
Click to expand...
 
Michael1000 said:
OzRay said:
Barty L said:
Putting aside whether his claim is supported by the image he links to - the thing missed is that any new sensor technology can also be applied to larger sensor formats. So as 1" steps up, so will m43, APS-C, FF etc.

We sometimes see things on this forum like, "If we had 'X-tech' then m43 sensors would be as good as FF!!". Sure, but then if FF had 'X-tech'....
Click to expand...
What is actually happening is that the differences are narrowing. Just consider the latest comparisons with FF and MF sensors, many tests are suggesting that the differences are marginal.

Just the other day, this was doing the rounds: https://www.mirrorlessrumors.com/first-jpeg-side-side-comparison/ .
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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