Also the relative diameters of the Airy disks representing the limitation by diffraction are identical. That said, there’s quite a range of autofocusing capabilities across the Micro Four Thirds market, and you’ll find something for everyone–including high-speed, tracking-intensive cameras such as the Olympus OM-D E-M1X, as well as slower, more deliberate options such as the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV. DSLRs automatically come with optical viewfinders, but not all mirrorless Micro Four Thirds cameras will have a viewfinder of any kind–and when they do, it’s an electronic viewfinder. The Panasonic Lumix G9 is an all-around excellent Micro Four Thirds camera–one that manages to combine both video and still capabilities into a $1200 USD package. Compare. Electronic viewfinders come with additional features to think about, such as resolution, refresh rate, and type (OLED vs LCD). Depending on the type of photography (or videography) you like to do, some of these factors will be irrelevant to your needs–and some of these factors will be of great importance. Unlike Four Thirds, the MFT system design specification does not provide space for a mirror box and a pentaprism, which facilitates smaller body and lens designs via the shorter flange focal distance of 19.25mm. The PEN E-PL9 caters to former point-and-shoot or smartphone photographers looking to take their photography up a notch. When it comes to choosing the perfect Micro Four Thirds camera, I would recommend paying attention to the megapixel count. The key features on the Olympus OM-D E-M1X are the continuous shooting speeds, which reach up to 60 frames per second (though this drops to 18 frames per second if you want to focus continuously), as well as the Olympus Pro Capture option, which is one of my favorite Olympus features, that allows you to start capturing images the moment your finger half-presses the shutter button. Aftermarket adapters include Leica Screw Mount, Contax G, C mount, Arri PL mount, Praktica, Canon, Nikon, and Pentax, amongst others. Micro Four Thirds interchangeable lens system camera. So try to consider the factors that matter most to you based on your own shooting style. Low-light conditions are common fo… As of June 2012[update], Olympus, Panasonic, Cosina Voigtländer, Carl Zeiss AG, Jos. It's a reasonable size, too, meaning that it pairs well on most Micro Four Thirds bodies. Micro Four Thirds has several advantages over larger format cameras and lenses: Though many DSLRs also have "live view" functionality, these often function relatively poorly compared to a Micro Four Thirds electronic viewfinder (EVF), which has the following advantages: Olympus and Panasonic approached the implementation of electronic viewfinders in two ways: the built-in EVF, and the optional hotshoe add-on EVF. Quite possibly the perfect Micro Four-Thirds camera for those creatives who have found themselves shooting more video than stills, the Panasonic GH5S is a videographer’s dream. [11] Lenses designed for mirrorless camera systems such as Nikon 1 or Micro Four Thirds often use image-space telecentric lens designs,[12] which reduce shading and therefore light loss and blurring at the microlenses of the image sensor. It really depends on your type of photography and your personal preferences. Plus, some videography professionals use Panasonic cameras, especially the GH5s, which is designed as a videography powerhouse. From the palm of your hand, you can capture cinema quality video in 4K ultra high definition. Panasonic Lumix G100 4k Camera, Mirrorless Camera, Vlogging Camera, Micro Four Thirds Camera with Flip Screen (3”), 12-32mm Lens, 5-Axis Hybrid I.S, 4K 24p 30p Video, Tripod Grip – DC-G100VK (Black) Contrast-detection autofocus is not prone to systematic front- or back-focusing errors which may occur with. The best Micro Four Thirds camera is the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III, because it offers a great all-around package: nice image quality, a beautiful build, a decent electronic viewfinder, and fast continuous shooting speeds. From there, you can decide which cameras fit the bill. Related Post: The Best Micro Four-Thirds Lenses On The Market in 2020. Because while it can seem daunting to choose from dozens of cameras, it doesn’t have to be hard. The G7’s core feature set is quite decent, especially for a camera of its age. The handgrip isn’t huge, so if you’re used to larger cameras then you might struggle a bit at first–but I really do feel that the E-M5 Mark III offers a nice balance between size and ergonomics. Electrically, MFT uses an 11-contact connector between lens and camera, adding to the nine contacts in the Four Thirds system design specification. Buy Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera (Body, Black) featuring 16MP Live MOS Sensor, TruePic VII Image Processor, 2360k-Dot Electronic Viewfinder, 3.0" Vari-Angle OLED Monitor, Full HD 1080p Video at up to 60 fps, 40MP High Res Shot, Built-In Wi-Fi; 10 fps Shooting Rate, 5-Axis VCM Image Stabilization, Dust and Splashproof Construction. There’s also a surprisingly nice electronic viewfinder, which even manages to compete with some of the EVFs coming out today. Panasonic called the combination of lens and body stabilization "Dual IS," and this function won an award of the European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) in the category Photo Innovation 2016–2017. You also get impressive autofocus capabilities, especially for a Panasonic camera; you can quickly acquire focus on still subjects, and you’ll also have little trouble tracking people or wildlife as they move through the frame. It’s also reasonably priced, which means that you can grab an OM-D E-M5 Mark III plus a nice lens without breaking the bank. It’s cheap enough to be affordable, but expensive enough to know that you’re getting a high-quality product. Yes, Micro Four Thirds cameras are very good! Generally speaking, Panasonic cameras do well when it comes to video, and the G7 is no exception. Image samples can be found readily online, and in particular on the MU-43 adapted lenses forum. Yes! Olympus has four available add-on hotshoe viewfinders. You also get a high-resolution option, which allows you to shoot 80 MP images through some clever sensor-shift technology, so if you occasionally find yourself in need of a megapixel boost, the G9 has got you covered. Panasonic GH5S. Sure, the GH5s can shoot decent stills, and it even offers a nice 11 frames-per-second continuous shooting speed and impressive handling. These EVF's not only slip into the accessory hotshoe, but also plug into a dedicated proprietary port for power and communication with Olympus cameras only. So if you’re a professional looking for an excellent all-around Micro Four Thirds camera, make sure you look at the truly impressive OM-D E-M1 Mark III. Canon FD, Nikon F (G lenses require special adapters), MD/MC, Leica M, M42 Screw Mount, and C-mount Cine lenses to name a few are all easily adaptable to the Micro Four Thirds system with glassless adapters resulting in no induced loss of light or sharpness. Four Thirds DSLR cameras designed by Olympus and Panasonic initially used exclusively PDAF focusing systems. It must be easy to accomplish. Sign up for our newsletter to get 52 free photography tips. These stabilize the image by shifting a small optical block within the lens. Thus, "Four Thirds" refers to both the size and the aspect ratio of the sensor. And for those of you who worry that 20 MP isn’t enough, bear in mind that the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III also offers a high-resolution mode that allows you to capture 50 MP images (though you’ll need to use a tripod for it to work). [2] Camera bodies are available from Blackmagic, DJI, JVC, Kodak, Olympus, Panasonic, Sharp, and Xiaomi. [88] In a press release posted on January 26, 2012, Olympus and Panasonic jointly announced that "ASTRODESIGN, Inc., Kenko Tokina Co., Ltd. and Tamron Co., Ltd. join[ed] the Micro Four Thirds System Standard Group". That depends on what you care about. While the DSLR-style body prevents the G7 from being labeled as truly “compact,” it’s still relatively small, and could easily work as a travel or street photography camera. Of particular interest in illustrating this fact are the Panasonic 7–14 mm ultra-wide angle (equivalent to 14–28 mm in the 35 mm film format) and the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 9–18 mm ultra wide-angle lens (equivalent to an 18–36 mm zoom lens in the 35 mm film format). 12-60mm Lens Kit. Announced April 2017, Splash / Dust / Freezeproof. Olympus recently announced the sale of their camera division, bringing an end to the storied company's history, at least in the iteration that we know. weather-sealed, announced 17 September 2012, weather-sealed, image stabilization (announced 6 January 2016), weather-sealed, 2.5 cm minimum focus distance. Vloggersand amateur movie directors have been turning to the Lumix DC-GH5S for a while now due to its superb 4K capabilities and 10bit 4:2:2 internal recording. Four Thirds sensors are smaller than APS-C sensors, and way smaller than full-frame sensors. ), a beautiful (3.69M-dot) EVF, and 1080p recording at a whopping 240 frames per second. On July 27, 2010 Panasonic announced the development of a three-dimensional optic solution for the Micro Four Thirds system. Micro Four Thirds cameras tend to offer impressive video capabilities, especially in the Panasonic lineup, which includes the pro-level GH5s. By using a 35mm film lens, one would be using a lens that casts an image circle that is far larger than what is required by Micro Four Thirds Sensors. Viewfinders are another big feature to consider. Optical viewfinder quality varies greatly across all DSLRs. [citation needed]. The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III can do it all, from split-second action shooting to low-light event photography and more. For one, you get a nice 20 MP sensor, one that’s equivalent to the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III (as well as the other Olympus 20 MP options). You also get Olympus’s best-in-class in-body image stabilization. The Panasonic Lumix G7 offers a beautiful EVF, a lightweight build, and impressive video capabilities into an affordable package. This proprietary port and the accessory is omitted in the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 design. In other words: You have a huge number of lens choices, because you’re not just confined to the brand of your camera. [31] In April 2009, Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 with HD video recording added to it. So you don’t need to get too hung up on image quality; instead, appreciate what your camera can offer, and learn the skills you need to get your images looking great. PhotoWorkout is an online magazine reviewing and comparing the best photography gear, software, and photo prints. Choosing a Micro Four Thirds camera is hard. The much shorter flange focal distance enabled by the removal of the mirror allows normal and wide angle lenses to be significantly smaller because they do not have to use strongly retrofocal designs. Autofocus is quite fast, and you can push the camera to 18 frames-per-second when using the continuous AF, which is insane, and approaches that “Do I really even need this?” level for all but the most serious sports-shooters. Lumix G Micro Four Thirds System. So you’re going to want to pay careful attention to sizing specifications before buying a camera, especially if you’re planning to do a lot of hiking, traveling, or other activity that requires a compact option. "Optical Viewfinders (OVFs) vs. Electronic Viewfinders (EVFs)", "Swing Into Action! Viewing is achieved on all models by live view electronic displays with LCD screens. ), as well as an all-around gorgeous feel that more traditional photographers will absolutely love. The small lenses do not allow the noise depth-of-field tradeoffs of larger lenses in other systems. In normal photography with any one camera, equivalence is not necessarily an issue: there are several lenses faster than f/2.4 for Micro Four Thirds (see the tables under Fixed Focal Length Lenses, below), and there are certainly many lenses faster than f/4.8 for full frame and no one hesitates to use them even though they can have shallower depth of field than a Nikon 1 at f/1.7, in fact that can be seen as advantageous, but it has to be taken into consideration that a further aspect of image resolution is limitation by optical aberration, which can be compensated the better the smaller the focal lengths of a lens is. In truth, pretty much all the cameras on this list will offer pro-level images if you use it right. Thus, while full-frame DSLR’s remaining the industry standard even today, we cannot ignore the undeniable advantages of the Micro-Four-Thirds cameras. 16x Optical Zoom. And you also get a decent, 2.36M-dot resolution electronic viewfinder, which works alongside a fully-articulating touchscreen LCD. Honestly, you could probably store it in a purse or even a big pocket, then have it ready to whip out whenever the need might arise. [4] However, the chip diagonal is shorter than 4/3 of an inch; the 4/3 inch designation for this size of sensor dates back to the 1950s and vidicon tubes, when the external diameter of the camera tube was measured, not the active area. You can use MFT lenses designed by Olympus on Panasonic cameras, and Panasonic lenses on Olympus cameras. So keep an eye out for that, and make sure you don’t get drawn in by a camera that can’t track your subject and shoot fast at the same time! By comparison, DSLRs use phase-detection autofocus (PDAF). Olympus promises stabilization in the area of 7.5 stops, and while it’s difficult to confirm this exactly, the IBIS does a great job, and will let you handhold your setup at shutter speeds that’ll impress even the most seasoned pros. The Panasonic Lumix G7 is an old camera–it debuted way back in 2015–yet it still manages to pack a lot of punch, especially for the hobbyist photographer looking for a serious interchangeable lens camera (or serious interchangeable lens video camera, because the G7 performs very well in that regard). Fast forward over a decade later and I’m still loyal to Micro Four Thirds, and one of my main cameras is the Panasonic G9. Older cameras can be prone to "shutter shock" at slower shutter speeds. Which means that Micro Four Thirds cameras are smaller, too. Advantages of the LUMIX G AF System. Of course, the E-PL9 isn’t for everyone. New Live Guide user interface for easy, intuitive adjustment of brightness, hue, background defocusing, and other image parameters.New dedicated Movie mode button for seamless access to movie shooting at any time. This capability makes the GH5S an excellent choice for video creators who regularly make use of a green screen. The advantage of in-body IS is that even unstabilized lenses can make use of the in-body stabilization. You can purchase it for around $700 USD (with a kit lens), or just $600 USD (body only). Ideally, you’ll be able to record 4K/30p internally, which prevents you from having to route your footage to an external recorder while in the field. This list does not include fisheye and macro lenses (see below). You can grab it for just $1399 USD, which comes in below the Sony a7 III, the Nikon Z6, and the Canon EOS R6. This will net you enough resolution to print large or crop, without sacrificing on high-ISO capabilities. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 4K/60p is even better, because you’ll be able to use it for slow-motion shots. Micro Four Thirds is the first modern digital mirrorless camera system, making its debut in late 2008. In 2013, Panasonic began including sensor-based stabilization in its cameras, beginning with the Lumix DMC-GX7. There are a few key Micro Four Thirds cameras that rise above the rest–and that will be enough for anyone, no matter your budget, no matter your needs. Until the introduction of the OM-D E-M5 in February, 2012, none of the Olympus designs included a built-in EVF. Panasonic LUMIX G95 20.3 Megapixel Mirrorless Camera, 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 Micro Four Thirds Lens, 5-Axis Dual I.S. Learn more; Advantages of 4K. Therefore, 100% crops from the lenses do not usually represent the same level of pixel-level sharpness as they would on their native formats. That’s when autofocus really becomes critical: when you’re trying to track a fast-moving subject while firing off a series of shots. While lens manufacturers seldom publish lens mount specifications, the MFT mount has been reverse-engineered by enthusiasts, with CAD files available.[10]. And that’s what this article is all about. [citation needed], The throat diameter is about 38 mm, 6 mm less than that of the Four Thirds system. 12-32mm (24-64mm) lens and Tripod Grip kit. I will keep using my Nikon system for any type of wildlife photography, especially for birds in flight. As you’d expect from a niche professional body, the Olympus OM-D E-M1X is pretty expensive. What is equivalence and why should I care? Same with pretty much all astrophotographers, most architectural photographers, and even some street photographers. But if you’re going to be using your Micro Four Thirds body as a casual walkaround option, then build quality is going to matter far less. 20 megapixels, which is on par with every pro-level Micro Four Thirds sensor on the market.