[Leica] Re: 4/3 cameras

[leica at screengang.com (Didier Ludwig)]

Phil

The name 4/3 does not refer to the picture format ratio, but to the 
traditional Vidicon tube size, see http://tinyurl.com/2ub4x9 (german). Btw 
newer computer screens have mostly a larger ratio, like 16:9 or 3:2. 

I too believe more quality will be got out of smaller sensors in the future. 
The question is if the 4/3 system can survive until then. Olympus sells fast 
top-pro level lenses (f2/14-35, f2/35-100, f2/150mm, f2.8/300 and more) in 
the price category, or even higher, of the most expensive Canon and Nikon 
pro lenses - so the upper class four thirds cameras, like P-1 (project name 
of announced E-1 successor), L1 and Digilux-3, must be compared with the 
flagship of the competitors. And the actual rule is: bigger sensor = more 
quality, less noise. The mentioned 4/3 cameras are in the middle consumer 
level in terms of picture quality and speed. There's a antagonism of the 
professionality claim between the 4/3 optics and bodies.

Leica's future lies in the hands of Leica. They'll never be in the cheap 
sector and stay in their niche. The younger generation (which is probably 
more talented as we are, because photographing is much more common today and 
kids start much earlier to shoot) does less care about a red dot on a 
camera, though I have noticed a certain interest for exotic gear amongst my 
students. 

Didier


>I agree with Lawrence - the 4/3 is a shift in paradigm - I don't know if it 
>will survive, but who would have predicted that
>a) the 35 mmm format would,
>b) Leica would ever build SLRs,
>c) Leica would turn digital at all.
>
>Look at our computer screens - what is their format? There, is the answer 
>to many comments on the 4/3 format.
>
>To me, the remainder seems to be in the order of habits - some good ones I 
>must admit too - but any habit can be changed.
>
>The future of Leica, and of photography, lies in the hands of younger 
>generations, as talented as ours, but for the time being with a lower 
>purchasing power. They can get nice results out of cameras that are five 
>times less expensive than an M8 or R9DMR combo for instance  - do they get 
>results that are five times inferior?
>
>Yours
>Phileicangemix