'Lumix G Micro System'?

[Mithandir]

I don't normally bother much about things like this, but have you guys seen the new adapters panasonic has released? They describe them as adapters for a "Lumix G Micro System" and the entire press release doesn't have the phrase "micro four thirds" in it at all.

Is Panasonic trying to move away from the standard believing that "four thirds" has become a tainted name?

Also, I'm a bit annoyed that dpreview didn't mention that it was micro four thirds either, or that these adapters will also work on the upcoming Olympus µFT camera.
--
Mithandir,
Eternal Amateur
http://www.wizardtrails.com/

 

[rovingtim]

--
Seeing is believing.

 

[amalric]

It might be that Panny wants to emphasize its going multiformat with the new GH1 chip. A 4/3 ratio image would be only an option among others in such chips:

http: fourthirds-user.com/2009/04/the_biggest_four_thirds_sensor_yet.php

But I am wondering why you call 4/3 'tainted'. By whom?

Am.
--
Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/amalric

 

[Holgs]

I don't normally bother much about things like this, but have you
guys seen the new adapters panasonic has released? They describe them
as adapters for a "Lumix G Micro System" and the entire press release
doesn't have the phrase "micro four thirds" in it at all.
Is Panasonic trying to move away from the standard believing that
"four thirds" has become a tainted name?
Also, I'm a bit annoyed that dpreview didn't mention that it was
micro four thirds either, or that these adapters will also work on
the upcoming Olympus µFT camera.

Maybe someone realised that 4/3 really isn't all that great a name in marketing terms. Maybe Olympus should go with something like "E-Micro" as well...

--

http://www.harrystravels.com - for travel stories, thoughts on travel camera equipment, and links to my photo portfolios.

 

[kociasek]

Fortunately there's still that micro4/3 logo stamped on the adapters (although Panas photographed the adapters in such way as to make its wording ilegible). But it's a shame that dpreview and a number of other sides did not comment on that marketing ploy by Panasonic.
--
Marcin
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lensjoy/

 

[Franka T.L.]

Well, Micro 4/3 just somewhat a mount standard, not a brand, nor range name for the product. Just as when mentioning Canon DSLR, few mention its for EF system or even mention the EOS range namesake ..

And Panasonic had not any obligation to promote Olympus either , their marketin guy's duty is to promotoe Panasonic, not Olympus.

--

• Franka -

 

[Martin Frost]

yes I think 4/3 is not a great marekting term, and its a oly trademark nt

 

[Helen]

yes I think 4/3 is not a great marekting term, and its a oly
trademark nt

I've noticed that in the UK a lot of people seem to think that it indicates that the sensor is MUCH smaller than any other interchangeable-lens camera, whereas of course it's the same size as normal 4/3...

 

[duckling]

Well 'micro' is not a very good term either. People might think that it refers to the sensors.

 

[acid_test]

... that it will be a very small system.

 

[duckling]

It is what it is no matter what marketing is trying to hide. If I'm not mistaken, Panasonic is avoiding the association of the GH1 with m4/3. It may sound strange, but I'd like olympus to differentiate their m4/3 products from Panasonic's. The reason for that is the dodgy lenses Panasonic offers for this format. No wonder they are busy making adaptors for proper ones.

 

[rovingtim]

Their press release:

Tokyo, 5 August 2008, Olympus Imaging Corporation (Olympus Imaging) and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic) today announced joint development of technologies and devices for the "Micro Four Thirds System standard,"

The reason I thought it was interesting is that 4/3rds was the umbrella name for people working jointly on the 4/3rds system. Remember the 4/3rds consortium?

That Oly owns the trademark might simply be a means to capture the trademark.

I thought micro 4/3rds was to be a similar concept. While I agree Panasonic would properly push their brand over everything else, the fact that they don't mention M4/3rds anywhere in their copy is significant, in my opinion.

--
Seeing is believing.

 

[Zauner]

m-mount adapters etc. have long been available from novoflex (and other 3rd-party-suppliers I guess) so except from the badge "panasonic g-micro system" there's not much interesting about this announcement .

panasonic seems to emphasize marketing on video abilities of their cameras.

While I hoped m43 would be one system complementing each other we'll now see two competing brands. I'm quite sure oly will take the lead in stills photography from the beginnning in june with more and better lenses and acessories available. hope