The 'current' state of M43

Not long ago 43rumors posted a video from Robin Wong and his opinion how to improve M43 as a system and to increase sales. His ideas are similar to mine.

• Release affordable cameras
• Release small cameras
• etc.

He also talked about M43 as a system not doing as well as it once did. He also mentioned he explained this in his previous Live video which I posted a link to below. So I put on his other video on and wow M43 situation is bad. I knew the system isn't doing as well it once did pre Pandemic but no wonder things are rubbish now. No wonder we not getting models with proper updates or products becoming too expensive compared to other brands. The reason are since Sony released the A7iii and Canikon started releasing mirrorless Full Frame, M43 sales plummet.







So it's no wonder new releases been 'odd' and unless both OM system and Panasonic release something new to bring back photographers, things will remain the same. Let be honest, Panasonic are trying to get the L Mount to take off and it's up to OM system to do a Sony.

By releasing an OM body with global shutter?

I’d be more interested in a true Quad Bayer implementation of the OM1 sensor with all 4 read modes used and proper ex-camera processing. I bet acquiring ProfHankD’s software wouldn’t be that expensive.

Andrew

For me, the 'current' state of M43 is fine.

By 'current' I refer to my current systems which I'm happy with and have no desire to change







-richard

Really nice capture, Richard! And I, for one, fully agree with you.

Just got back from a trip to Kentucky to visit the 'Ark Encounter' (outstanding), and then to Tennessee to attend my nephew's wedding. I took my Pen F and some lightweight lenses and got a ton of excellent images -- I'm really please with the old Pen F.

My OM-1 Mkll and more premium lenses languished back home with the cat. I'm very pleased with the whole m4/3's system.

IF they introduce advanced models (stacked sensors, GS, etc.)...

• Constant complaints about price
• Comparisons to available FF options at that price
• Complaints about size
• Complaints about low-light disadvantages of the sensor size

IF they introduce smaller/affordable models...

• Complaints about lack of advanced video functions
• Complaints about rolling shutter
• Complaints about lack of speed
• Complaints about lack of computational features

Between the two, m43 is suffering from the first scenario anyway. Why not try the latter? I feel it's better to try than not doing anything.

I use a G9ii as primary camera and GH5ii as a backup. I have enough lenses. Between all these, they will serve me as long as I am actively photographing. I won't need another m43 gear. So, I won't comment on what others want or the market needs.

In my opinion, m43 had an advantage during DSLR era. The video capabilities of DSLRs left lot of users wanting.

Now with ML FF/APSC options increasing, m43 is definitely at a disadvantage EXCEPT with long tele lenses. With the advantages of scale that the FF makers have, it will only get worse unless something drastically changes.

They are going away tomorrow but not showing signs of growth.

All the best.

I am not over thrilled by misery threads of the "sky is falling" type on the M4/3 mount system.

But I will let it run on the grounds that it will remain "fair comment" and not turn int a self-fulfilling death wish that will effectively drive otherwise happy M4/3 users to seek other ships.

M4/3 is a good mount forum that provides a slow but well received supply of new camera bodies for our pleasure. It also is home to a huge selection of lenses that we can mount on said bodies. Even such obsoleted camera bodies such as the GM series, Pen-F, GX8 and E-M1x continue to be revered long after they are no longer on dealer's shelves. Recent additions such as the OM-3 and G9II (dare I throw in the G100D as well ....? (laugh) and others too numerous to mention keep this forum busy. It is strong and vibrant and only can be killed off if we collectively abandon it.

So if we insist that the future is dim then try and keep the negativity out of it and use the old fashioned positive spin.

It only stands to reason that with ML camera bodies at a stage of matured technology then the smaller market will see fewer new releases. But what we might get is well sorted-out more-lasting product.

Unlike the majors who keep their volume up by trickling out features over regular updates and fill every price-point niche otherwise their whole marketing edifice would collapse.

Do we really need to update same with much the same when the latest from OMS and Panasonic are so well thought out and complete that we can forego an update for a much longer period. Surely the lack of continual excitement from new releases can be compensated knowing that the M4/3 camera we buy might be good for many years - in the case of the GM5 for instance it is 10 years and counting. Once over the disappointment of misisng out on perhaps 5+ updates (seriously) one can get to appreciate that such a camera as the GM5 is long-lasting and still makes great images. That makes them a much better investment than say serially owning the A7R, A7RII, A7RIII, A7RIV, A7RV (and counting) with perhaps a side serve of A9 and A1 ..... Virtually (more or less) all within the lifetime of use of my GM5.

I wonder how many M43 users are like me: who had been to FF and decided that M43 is a totally acceptable system, and we understand the sacrifices we make but gain in size and weight?

The desire to go FF is sort of like a highly contagious virus, very few people can resist it and you only develop immunity to it after you have caught it at least once:-D

I think with more and more people developed immunity to the FF virus, things will get better for M43. OM just needs to hang in there. Don't think about out-doing the big boys in latest and greatest tech because that's impossible, at least on the hardware side. Just try to keep up with them and that should be good enough. They already have good product lines. Focus on making models with solid build quality, modestly priced, and continue on the smaller size and lighter weight direction. Sooner or later, folks will come to the conclusion many of us did, that for what we do, M43 is a pretty good format, even though not perfect.

Surely the best indicator of the health of the MFT system is actual sales? The rest is idle speculation.

There can be no doubt that the biggest threat to the traditional camera market is the smartphone sector & that is why the camera makers are increasingly concentrating on the Pro sector & tending to neglect the entry-level users. This is a big mistake & if it continues, it will only worsen the situation.

This was taken from earlier in the threads "Between all these, they will serve me as long as I am actively photographing. I won't need another m43 gear" I often see this type of comment and have used something similar myself.

I believe the demographic of the m4/3 user to be on the more mature side so its quite understandable. Although this group often do have disposable income they are generally more cautious these days about parting with it.

We have reached a point where improvements appear outwardly to seem fairly minor. My opinion is the sale of new cameras has stagnated and many have settled on what they already own.

My own style of photography is overwhelmingly static subjects or at worst slow moving transport. Therefore the newer subject detecting AF isn't very helpful and I haven't felt the need to replace my main camera which is a G9. I could afford to, but it seems pointless from an image quality angle and I wonder just how many others feel the same?

C Sean said:

The reason are since Sony released the A7iii and Canikon started releasing mirrorless Full Frame, M43 sales plummet.

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This happened way before that. A lot of the damage happened when Canon started making APS-C mirrorless. EOS M and beyond. Canon, with its popular brand, did some real damage to Olympus (and Panasonic) well before the current bunch of Full Frame mirrorless.

Panasonic hires all the marketing drop-outs:


Panasonic doesn't mention its own company name in its advertising above. Panasonic were also caught not using their own products in their advertising, which doesn't exactly encourage the potential customer to either. Panasonic doesn't even write Panasonic on the front of its cameras, instead insisting on the LUMIX brand that nobody really cares for, decades on. Worst branding practices of the entire industry.

OM System. I wish I was a fly on the wall to see when they chose this 'genius' brand. OM System will fail spectacularly. Imagine Olympus throwing in the towel, not seeing it worthwhile to have a camera division. Now imagine a brand nobody cares about with absolutely no camera heritage, building a brand name from zero.

I think the problem with Panasonic is that they haven’t released a mid-range Micro Four Thirds camera in years.
The GX9 dates back to 2018 and the G90 to 2019.
The only interesting camera at the moment is the GH7.
The G9 II can’t really compete in its price range with full-frame cameras.
Since Panasonic has neglected the GX9 and G90 lines for so long, I’m not very hopeful things will turn around.

That said, I’m still very happy with my GX9 and this lenses: the Panasonic Leica 15mm f1.7, the M.Zuiko 60mm f2.8 Macro, and the Panasonic Lumix 12–60mm.
I do really miss PDAF though. To get that, I’d need to switch to the G9 II, but I find it too expensive.

A compact macro lens is especially important to me.
If I had to start fresh today, I’d probably go with this setup:

• Panasonic S5 II
• Panasonic Lumix S 35mm f1.8
• Panasonic Lumix S 100mm f2.8 Macro
• Panasonic Lumix S 24–105mm f4 or 24–200mm f4–7.1

Some camera mounts come and go with the wind. Others prove to be incredibly resistant to the fashion of the day.

The Pentax KF was arguably the shortest lived mount ever made. Only one camera (Pentax ME F) and one lens (SMC Pentax-AF 35-70/2.8) were ever made for this mount, from 11-1981 to 1984. It was a flop, despite it being the very first mass produced SLR camera with autofocus. That is a mount life of just........ 3 years.

The Leica M mount is, as far as I can tell, the oldest mount system still in production today. This bayonet mount was first introduced in 1954 for the Leica M3 (the M2 and M1 models came later). And has been used since on all M cameras including the current production film Leica M-A and the digital Leica M11. That is 71 years of continuous production, including the transition to digital cameras, and no signs of it being discontinued anytime soon. People still want to buy this.



What has that all to do with the "current state of m43" you may ask? Well, nobody can predict how long a mount system lasts. As long as someone keeps making cameras and lenses for it, it is alive and kicking.

I do not think Pentax or anybody could have predicted in 1981, that their KF mount with first AF in an SLR, would be dead and buried just 3 years later.

I do not think Leica or anybody could have predicted in 1954 (or 1994 for that matter), that their M mount would still be in production 71 years later. And Leica too had it's ups and downs and crises in history. They always managed to re-invent themselves. And their M-mount series has a very loyal following, exactly because they did not just drop the mount for something "better" like many other makers.

C Sean said:

wow M43 situation is bad. I knew the system isn't doing as well it once did pre Pandemic but no wonder things are rubbish now. No wonder we not getting models with. . . .

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Perhaps my memory is playing tricks on me, but it sure feels as if you have started dozens of similar threads over time. It must be an overpowering urge to bang this drum.

I think m4/3 is great and that many users of full frame systems would be very happy with it if they had started with it. It is the best system for low light sports if size/weight and price matter to you. I suspect that for the vast majority of photographers, a m4/3 system would meet their needs in all but the rarest of circumstances.

M4/3 is facing a "bigger is better" PR battle that is difficult, if not impossible, to win due to human nature. I get it; I tend to default toward the highest quality even if it's more expensive. It makes me feel better about my purchase. I continue to stay in m4/3 land because I challenge myself to question whether I would truly get appreciably better images from a full frame system and, if so, are the size/weight/cost tradeoffs worth it. The answer remains "no" in both cases.

OM System keeps making products I want to use. I cannot say that about anyone else right now. I have about 30 years of photography enjoyment ahead of me and I am keen on the current state.

M43 needs to get back to its roots: making smaller camera bodies and great lens. If I wanted a bigger body I would go FF or ASP-C. FYI, I do still shoot with a Pentax ASP-C but even with it I use smaller lens to keep the weight down.

--
GR
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gqr/
https://garyrichards.smugmug.com

grcolts said:

M43 needs to get back to its roots: making smaller camera bodies and great lens. If I wanted a bigger body I would go FF or ASP-C. FYI, I do still shoot with a Pentax ASP-C but even with it I use smaller lens to keep the weight down.

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Human hands are not depending to sensor size.

I don't need a huge SUV that can drive up mountains off road

I don't need a Ferrari that can accelerate 0-100kmh in under 3 seconds and top out at 290 kmh

I don't need an 8 person minbus

I don't change my car every year and buy a new one

I drive 80km a day to work and to do my shopping and visit people. Once every couple of months I go a couple of 1000 km on holiday - sometimes I take my car sometimes my wife's

Very literally YMMV

Ditto camera gear

Just when I thought and that were things were looking positive on this forum another Doom & Gloom thread comes along!!

Oh well lucky I'm a Bluesman and am kind of used to this kind of stuff, time for another cool video if this helps!!