Is the Micro Four Thirds camera system dead?
Derek Smith • 1 June 2020
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 lens
Photo By: Derek Smith
Graylag Goose
Photo By: Derek Smith
Teasel
Photo By: Derek Smith
Ruby
Photo By: Derek Smith
Is the Micro Four Thirds camera system dead?
They were the first interchangeable lens mirrorless cameras on the market, operation of the cameras is remarkably like that of a DLSR. The cameras are significantly lighter and smaller than a DSLR, because of the smaller sensor, and absence of the mirror box.
Advantages of the Micro Four Thirds system.
The early 16mp sensor had only 81 contrast detect focus points. (The newer 20.4mp sensor has 121 cross type phase detect focus points.)
Rumours
Rumours have been circulating online, predicting the imminent death of the Micro Four Thirds camera system. I believe that the rumours have originated because of corporate changes by both proponents of the Micro Four Thirds camera system. Panasonic have diversified into producing a full frame model alongside their existing Micro Four Thirds product line, and Olympus have closed camera production in South Korea, however a brand-new factory in Vietnam has recently been opened.
History
The 4/3 sensor (not m43) was designed for DSLR cameras with the aim of creating a new, original, and entirely digital standard, that allowed the interchange of lenses and bodies from different manufacturers. The Four-Thirds name was chosen because the sensor dimensions produce images with a 4:3 aspect ratio as opposed to the 3:2 aspect ratio of SLRs. The Four Thirds sensor is 50% of the width, and height of a full frame sensor.
Panasonic and Olympus jointly designed the mirrorless camera system of Micro Four Thirds with the 4/3 sensor and identical lens mount enabling lenses from either manufacturer to be used on any Micro Four Thirds body. Panasonic produced the very first mirrorless model in 2008, with Olympus following suit shortly after.
Both Olympus and Panasonic produce Micro Four Thirds cameras of exceptional high quality with professional standard lenses for more demanding photographers. The Micro Four Thirds system is fully mature, with an extensive range of lenses available from both manufacturers.
The Panasonic G9 camera, and Olympus’s OM-D E-M1X, and the OM-D E-M1 III, are examples of class leading designs that are winning many photographers over to the Micro Four Thirds system.
Size, and weight of the camera system, while some of the camera bodies may not be much smaller than a DSLR, the lenses are significantly smaller, and lighter, owing to the smaller sensor, making a Micro Four Thirds camera an ideal travelling companion.
Price, as the lenses are smaller the manufacturing costs can also be reduced.
Stabilisation, both Olympus, and Panasonic have stabilised bodies and / or lenses producing a sharper image at low shutter speeds.
An extensive range of lenses at different price points from both manufacturers.
Increased depth of field for a given aperture, to some this may be a disadvantage, but this is an advantage for me in macro photography, and portraiture.
Disadvantages of the Micro Four Thirds system.
Noise, a smaller sensor will produce more noise in low light situations, this can be mitigated using slower shutter speeds, with a low ISO setting, and utilising the image stabilisation properties of the camera.
Cropping, the smaller sensor produces a smaller image, so paying careful attention to composition, and framing will pay dividends.
In conclusion.
All camera manufacturers are having financial difficulties at this present time, the market is shrinking, everyone now has a camera phone, why buy a camera? Canon, and Nikon are investing huge sums of money into playing catch up with mirrorless camera systems. Sony, and Fuji are relatively stable with a mature camera, and lens line-up. So, in my opinion there is little reason to believe that Olympus, or Panasonic will leave the market place any time soon.
Micro Four Thirds is very much alive, and well.
All photos taken with an Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
Louth Photographic Society
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Roger Hance Memorial Lecture 16th October
Last night Lee Dixon from Cleethorpes Camera Club gave his first ever presentation to a camera club, which we were privileged to view. His presentation consisted of portraiture, creative, and his genre of choice; wildlife. Lee is an extremely talented photographer, with a highly creative portfolio, his portraits are quite atmospheric, unusual, and capture the essence of the model, and scene. For Lee’s creative work, he buys props from charity shops, often very cheaply, reusing those props in various scenes. For his composite work he will often take one of his photos of a room, and blend it with a subject in Photoshop using “blend” modes. For wildlife he visited Lake Kerkini in Greece to photograph the Pelicans, if the sky is a little on the bland side, Lee will often over expose the image resulting in a striking white background to the subject. On safari in Africa Lee showed us some amazing images of the wildlife, the close-up images of elephants, the wildebeest migration, and this stunning image of a cheetah. Lee was ably assisted by Mike Bennett. More of Lee’s work can be found on his website: https://leedixonphoto.co.uk/ Lee his kindly given permission for his images to be used in this post. Many thanks to Lee, and Mike for an amazing evening.
Good Morning All Last week at the club we held our monthly PDI competition, with the categories of "Objects in the Air" and "Open", there was a very high-quality entry in both competitions and judge Mike Bennett had quite a job on his hands scoring the entries. Well, done to Dave Turner for first place in the Objects in the Air and Tony Gaskins for first place in the Open. All the results are on our website. This week, Wednesday 30th September, our speaker will be Lee Dixon from Cleethorpes Camera Club showing us his natural history, Creative and many other photographs he has taken. It will be the first time Lee has shown his photographs at our club. If anyone else wants to enter PDI's in the 2027 N&EMPF Exhibition, the deadline is this Wednesday at midnight. Harry is still taking entries for the PDI competition, with the categories of "Local Straight from Camera" (unedited .jpg), and "Open", to be held on Wednesday 7th October. Regards Graham
At the meeting last night Mike Bennett judged our competition with the categories of “Objects in the Air”, and “Open”. The standard of entries was excellent, and it gave Mike a tough task of judging the images, Mike gave some very good critique of the images displayed, the feedback helps members to develop compositional skills. Dave Turner was awarded first place for his image of the “Tiger Club Display Team” in the “Objects in the Air” category. Tony Gaskins was awarded first place for his image of the “Spectacular Rustgill” in the “Open” category.
Good Morning All, Last week at the club we watched the N&EMPF PDI Exhibition for 2026, it was a very good evening viewing very high standard images from all over the East Midlands. Dave Turner and I did manage to get images accepted; there is a full report on our website. This week, Wednesday 23rd September, we will hold our monthly PDI competition, with the categories of "Objects in the Air" and "Open", please send entries to Harry by midnight tonight. Harry is also accepting images for the PDI competition, with the categories of "Local Straight out of the Camera (only resizing permitted)" and "Open". Regards Graham
Members were shown the 2026 N&EMPF PDI Exhibition video last night with all of the accepted PDI images in the first part, and after the break the awarded PDI images. There were some stunning images on view, and Louth was successful in having 3 PDI images accepted, Graham Harrison with his image of a Stonechat, and Dave Turner with his portrait of Paul Rudd, and his monochrome image of Kings Cross railway station "Going Down". Overall it was a good inspirational evening.
Good Morning All Last week at the club members had 15 minutes to show what they had done over the summer. It was a very interesting evening with eight members taking part. There were many locations on show and as usual some excellent photography. There is a full report on our blog. This week, Wednesday 16th September, we will be showing the N&EMPF exhibition, this is part one showing all the PDI's that were accepted. This is the highest standard of photography we as individuals take part in as a club. Members sent around 50 entries but only 3 were accepted. If you are inspired to enter the 2027 Exhibition after seeing the show, I send the clubs entries and I can give you more information. Closing date is the end of September. The Maximum size for N&EMPF is 1600 x 1200 3MB sRGB Harry is still taking entries for the monthly PDI competition, with the categories of "Objects in the Air" and "Open". Harry did ask about what can be accepted, and we couldn't really say as long as it's an object in the Air. The best way is to look up the definition of an object first. Harry is also accepting entries for the Local and Open competition in October. Robin is going to judge the Open competition, does anyone fancy judging the "Straight from the camera" category? Regards Graham
The Louth Photographic Society has returned after the summer break. It was an incredible return, with members providing us with some stunning images from over the summer break. A full, and varied smorgasbord of well executed photos, many of us visited Whitby, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, and further north images from Staithes, and Sandbanks. Tony showed us his long exposure minimalist calming coastal scenes, from the Lincolnshire coast, and Whitby.. Chris brought us some beautiful photos taken of local churches, many of which many of us have never seen. Now I’ve never really seen the attraction of an expensive Leica camera, but when Mark showed his photos from his visit to the German Leica factory in Wetzlar, I now understand, camera bodies, and lenses milled from solid blocks of aluminium, hand polished, hand finished lens glass, and textured leather applied to the camera body, not a robot in sight, just craftsmen, and women making a superb photographic instrument. Sue brought us “pink” ladies driving tractors to raise money for cancer research. Last but definitely not least Richard showed his monochrome, and infrared images of trees, his compositions, and photographic eye bring these tree studies to life, we appreciate them even if some judges don’t understand. Many thanks to all of those members who contributed.
Good Morning All We spent last week on the Isle of Wight visiting many of the attractions. This week, Wednesday 9th September, we are back at the club with 15-minute PDI shows of what you did during the summer break, I have Derek Smith, Tony Gaskins, Harry Kerman, Chris Birchmore and Richard Hildred on the list, if I have missed you off, please let me know. I should be there but could be late as away playing golf. Harry is taking entries for the September PDI competition, with the categories of "Objects in the Air" and "Open". Harry will miss the October local competition but will sort the entries out for us, The competition categories will be "Local-Not Edited" and "Open". We judge this competition in house so could do with two volunteers to judge. The local competition is a .jpeg photograph taken and straight from the camera, no cropping, or post processing etc, like the old days taken no more than 25 miles from St James church. Regards Graham
