Micro Four Thirds and Olympus

[offshore]

The Olympus rep came around yesterday with a gentleman from Japan that she introduced as a rep from product development. He showed us the new E30 DSLR then showed us a prototype Four Thirds camera that had a Leica like look and feel but with a very large LCD and no rangefinder. The prototype looked familiar (photokina?) and had an ugly covering on it. The product rep was very closed mouthed about it only emphasizing that it was a prototype and could possibly be introduced next year but wouldn't elaborate on when next year. When I told him that adapters for MFT to Leica M series lenses were already coming out of Japan he only raised his eyebrows. The prototype was about the size of the M8 and could be an interesting camera if you like using LCD's, especially if it is articulated which this one was not. At first I wasn't interested in FT but after seeing the field test results of the G1 on The Luminous Landscape it looks like it has possibilities especially if my M lenses could be adapted to it. Anyone else seen or know of this prototype?

[veraikon]

Was it looking like this archetype from photokina ? :
http://www.photoscala.de/grafik/2008...hotokina-7.jpg

[offshore]

Originally Posted by veraikon

Was it looking like this archetype from photokina ? :
http://www.photoscala.de/grafik/2008...hotokina-7.jpg

That's the one!

[luigi bertolotti]

I think it's not, as you say, "about the same size of M8"... the manikin at photokina looked definitely shorter both in length and height, I have the idea of 2 cm more or so than a Leica/Lumix P&S : for me, this is the charateristic that makes it an interesting tool... when maybe we'll see it on the shelfs.

[offshore]

Originally Posted by luigi bertolotti

I think it's not, as you say, "about the same size of M8"... the manikin at photokina looked definitely shorter both in length and height, I have the idea of 2 cm more or so than a Leica/Lumix P&S : for me, this is the charateristic that makes it an interesting tool... when maybe we'll see it on the shelfs.

The model I held was much larger than a Leica P&S. We sell all the Leica models except the R system and I compared it to them in the store. Perhaps the model I was shown looks the same as the photo but is a retooled design? About the same doesn't mean the same but the M8 came closest in size. It does not stand as tall as the M8 but was close to the same width and thickness.

[mike_j]

Cameraquest are expecting a Leica M to microFT adapter in December and this will work with Panasonic G1 and Oly MFT.

The manual, zoom assisted, focussing on the G1 electronic viewfinder is excellent, though I don't know if it works with all legacy lenses. It's actually easier than rangefinder.

I'm a bit dubious about the lack of viewfinder on the Oly version though.

Of course there is always that x2 crop factor

[mreddington]

See also HERE for some more news about a M to micro 4/3 adapter from the German firm Novoflex expected before Christmas.