A 43rumors reader design of ultra small MFT camer (not the real camera!).
Not only Olympus but also Panasonic will have an announcement soon. In October they will launch the ultra compact G camera. And the pricing of the new 42,5mm f/1.2 will be announced too. The lens should ship in December. I have no specs of the new Panasonic MFT camera yet. But I am really curious to see how the camera will look. And the BIG question in my mind is also…is a camera that small really what the mass is looking for? If you really want to go small maybe the Sony QX LensCamera is what people will buy…or not?
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122 Responses
maybe it’s a tough micro four thirds camera?
The 42.5 with the improved 1/8000 will be my default walk around. My life will be joy. Throw in a fast 7, 8, or 9, prime and I’ll be a happy bunny.
Same here. For me (and everyone will differ on this), the 20mm is too short and the 75mm is too long to function as my main walk-around lens. The 42.5 will be just right. I guess I prefer longer lenses in general for the type of shooting I do. I agree on the fast wide. A 7mm 1.8/2.0 would make my life complete.
Maybe a Smartphone with a m43 Mount. I´m just kidding…(I hope)
No need for smartphone with m43. The sensor in the iPhone is almost the same size as m43. The pictures are also on par with m43.
lol
Really? That’s great news. It means that in 2 years, IPhone 7 or 8 will have a FF sensor and you’ll be able to drop all your gear!
Can’t wait.
Hey Shenkie what exactly is the size of the sensor in the iPhone ?
As you appear a bit of an expert on all of this, how does the iPhone lens compare with a huge m43 camera lens ?
Shenkie is just desperate to get some attention and trolling is best way to get a lot of attention in shortest amount of time 🙂
LOL
Shenkie, how about changing hobby? Maybe horse riding? horses have it bigger…
A horse goes into a bar and sits down asking for a drink. The barkeeper asks, “Why the long face”
A white horse goes into a bar and asks for a drink.
Bartender says “I have a whisky named after you.”
Horse says “what, Dave?”
I know that one with a grasshopper.
A termite walks into a bar and says:
“Is the bar tender here?”
A pirate walks into a bar with a paper towel on his head. Bartender says “What’s up with the paper towel?” The pirate says, “Arrrrr…there’s a bounty on me head!”
A blind man walks into a bar and a table and a chair.
Mr and Mrs Bar have a daughter. Her name is Minnie. Minnie Bar.
All I can say to the diatribe above is, WOW!
They are more entertaining than Shenkie’s post. I so wish there was an Ignore User feature on the rumors sites, as ignoring the trolls is the best practice. Or everyone could head over to the Canon and Nikon sites and nag about how heavy FF is. 🙂
This is going to be TOO SMALL! (Sarcasm..)
I’m waiting for readers’ complaints, as every time a new camera is shown.
🙂 My first thought was, seriously, if that thing does not come bundled with a grip, people would freak out!
Hmmm…let’s give it a try. Here’s what the whiners, who never buy anything anyway, will say:
– no EVF, it’s a deal breaker for me.
– no FF, it’s a deal breaker for me.
– no hand grip, it’s a deal breaker for me.
– too small for my hands, it’s a deal breaker for me.
– why don’t they make this in all black? It’s a deal breaker for me.
– do they also have it in silver? It’s a deal breaker for me.
– no focus peaking, it’s a deal breaker for me.
– no tilting screen, it’s a deal breaker for me.
– a tilting screen only? It has to fully articulate or it’s a deal breaker for me.
– not enough buttons, it’ a deal breaker for me.
– too many function buttons, it’s a deal breaker for me.
– not weather sealed, it’ a deal breaker.
– no touch screen, it’s a deal breaker for me.
– does not have the video features of the GH3, it’s a deal breaker for me.
And my favorite: It’s $599? Why can’t Pany put in all the killer features that I want and sell it for $299?
No evidence probably would be a deal breaker for me. But I recognize that not everyone feels the same way.
Damn auto-correct. That was supposed to say ‘no EVF’.
I was utterly confused what evidence does an m43 camera give.
I for one think my gx1 is too big and too heavy. I would like a smaller one for hiking trips. I have spent $200 to save 3oz on a sleeping bag for backpacking. Smaller camera is an easy choice to save weight. For landscape, ultrawide lenses are needed, point and shoot cameras are not an option. There is definitely a market for hikers and travelers. If it is pocketable with a 20mm lens that would be great too. Gx1 is a bit too big for that.
They also need a compact ultrawide lens with pro image quality. A pancake 9mm f2.8 would be perfect.
Panasonic wants to explore all options. You never know what may click with the market and where. When you have a new, flexible technology on your hands it is not a bad idea to iterate dimensions, features and interfaces.
A tiny m4/3 body will not be to everyone’s taste. It will probably be beaten up here and elsewhere, but I can imagine that if designed with some style and priced reasonably it may become a favorite among Japanese young ladies for example.
in my opinion, at that size – with a mount bigger than the camera so as to speak – it is becoming absurd to have an interchangeable lens.
Such a camera would be better off with a built-in lens. I’m pretty sure this camera will not enjoy a huge success and a high-end compact camera would fare much better. With or without 43 sensor, because once the lens is not interchangeable, sensor size becomes irrelevant – only the output matters. Anyway – it is the mount that becomes the bottleneck to shrinking down – not the sensor.
This made me think of a lenscap-with-built-in-sensor (and shutter button and tiny LCD). Imagine to have one on each of the lenses you carry. Just take the lens out of your pocket and snap a picture without putting it on a camera. Obviously flawed since no decent photo-making tool. But then again, that’s what this GL camera looks like to me – a flawed photo-making tool – and as such has little to offer compared to compact cameras and smartphones.
In my opinion this camera is a dead end – and it should rather evolve into an LX with 43 sensor – which on the other hand is far from a deadend.
100% agree on your first paragraph.
Now the second one… Sorry but “No can do!”. Where would the SD card go? Internal fixed storage instead? Too limiting. And how would you control the camera without button real estate? Bigger touch screen? And the biggest problem of all: how would you power it?
Well, new Sony “toys” exist already. You always carry your smartphone with you, so you can hang one of the two lenses around your neck and have a walk around.
I would buy the Zeiss lens/sensor, but it does not save RAW.
Good point, even though in the end you don’t save any size.
You do however cut on a big redundancy as most of us carry smartphones.
Bruno, I would save size, having only my smartphone and a lens. Other cameras or camera bodies would stay at home. With other primes. But again from what I’ve seen, IQ is slightly better than that from a smartphone (I’m talking about the Sony lens). If only the rx100 lens/sensor could save in RAW, I would be interested in it.
It may be a nice entry level step in m43 system for users upgrading from P&S if the price isn’t too high: small camera, easy to use, but with a great interchangeable lenses system allowing the customer to upgrade it’s camera and keep the lenses later.
Other point: imagine nice video capabilities in a small package…
I can see a market for an ultra portable camera that is a take everywhere unit. It is definitely worth trying the concept on the market and determine the success.
Many companies are searching for a new product that strikes a level of desire and will regenerate the saturated market. Maybe this will be it, maybe it will not. It is definitely worth the attempt.
That’s what my Canon S100 is.
An interchangeable lens camera smaller than the GF5 doesn´t make any sense to me. I´m also not convinced of the Sony QX idea – oh yes, the lens is smaller than a camera, but you always need an extra smartphone to use it.
Another thing would be a compact camera with mft sensor. But would Pana call it “G”?
If you alteady have a smartphone, all you need is the camera/sensor.
With a 14mm or 20mm pancake lens a small m43 body would be great but with a standard 14-42mm zoom lens not so great.
this new Lumix G camera will compete with A3000.
I read somewhere that they were preparing new pancake zooms…
they should fix their pancake-zoom first. it is unusable due to shutter-shock. maybe with an electronic shutter the issues would be minimal, but as it is now, i can hardly use the x14-42.
i would also welcome some further pancake-primes. we have just the 14 and 20mm, what about a fast 35mm pancake?
As a second and third videocamera if the picturequality is ok with gh3, statick shots mm. Two of thees i the camerabag instead of gopros for extra angels. It will all come down to cost.
The only reason to go below GF-level that I can think of is the price tag. The GF6 seems far too expensive for me: The average step-up-from-compact user will more likely go for an older GF3 or so for ~100 Euro. The average enthusiast looking for a small body will be okay spending a lot more money and go for the GX7, anyway.
So, if you think of a GF6 with only minimum features (no tilting LCD, for example), a lot smaller, and a lot cheaper… that does not sound too bad, does it?
i think this new lumix G will have same size as LF1 without EVF of course.
WHO CARES about the tiny thimble camera with no VF?
The Noctichron on the other hand, is a different matter….BRING IT ON,…The sooner the better. You can see my Olympus 45 w/shade on eBay next week.
Considering the number of comments about ‘too large for m4/3 cameras’ over the last year, especially aimed at GH3 and E-M1, it looks like there are many people who care about such small cameras. That you aren’t one of them, well, could be, but why this arrogance of thinking you speak for the entire world? And if you insist on trying to speak for the entire world, why are you ignoring pretty clear and obvious voices?
(and no, I’m not waiting for this particular camera either, but thats really totally irrelevant)
….see you don’t care either. Awful lot of word to say….um…nothing…now isn’t it.
Incorrect, I care even if I’m not waiting for this particular camera.
Why? it makes the system attractive to a wider group of users, which may help its popularity and make it more interesting for Sigma et all to create 3rd party lenses for it.
Would you like to buy my Olympus 45mm f/1.8? (shade will be extra). 🙂
I already have one, black and with shade.
So who’s Anonymous – and is he/she replying to the comment from Anonymous or the one from Anonymous?
Stop talking to your self.
Would YOU like to purchase my lightly used Olympus 45mm f/1.8? (Shade is still extra!).
So will it be a very small premium, or a very small entry level? The name GXyyy suggested a premium camera. To differiante from the GF series, it should have a viewfinder. Question then is if you can make it so small and compact that it has an edge over GF6 and GX7, which are already small. If it is a super compact camera below GF, the same problem arises.
My bet is still on a super compact, premium camera with EVF.
Lenses have to be small
Very good idea – ultrasmall micro43.
There will be wide offer in micro43 system – from ultra-small, small, medium, to big as GH3.
But ultra-small needs wide range of pancake or small lenses.
Now we have 14/2.5, 17/2.8 (needs improvement due to low IQ), 20/1.7 and maybe 45/1.8 (small, but no pancake). There should be else 10/4 or 10/2.8, 12/2.8 and 25/1.8.
+1000
m43 is designed for small camera
Hmm.. Ultra m4/3 Compact Camera .
Seen like a smart move against RX100 & the rest .
Curious to see what kind of sensor inside it .
Shaped like the GX1 with a VF… all for $599.00.
One can always hope! LOL.
HA! They mocked that up with a 21mm 1.2 Pancake lens. I’ll take 4!!!
Wish GH5..
…one can always wish, too……
Good backup for EM-1 or GH3.
Good competition (with pancake) for RX100.
But more pancakes are necessary.
E-P5 w/VF4 is even better back-up! 🙂
1) very small, little bigger then Sony RX100 but with bigger sensor – very good competitor for all compacts
2) it should be cheap, kit with pancake (e.g. 14/2.5) won’t be more expensive then RX100
3) even if profit margin from this ultrasmall camera for Panasonic will be small – there is chance to earn more sales of more lenses
4) WiFi is necessary – it will be good companion for smartphones
5) Panasonic need small flash (like Olympus FL-300R) with WiFi remote control for this ultrasmall camera
6) cheaper pancake zoom and more pancake primes
I hope it comes in red to match my high heels.
Ultra compact… No thanks Panny, I already enjoyed problems with cropped mount. Never again.
I really hope the 42.5 is sub 1000$ I don’t have the 45 1.8 yet because I’m holding out for this lens. With the 40-150 oly coming too, I’ll be one broke guy b
The important issues are what colour(s) it comes in, and whether it has a lens hood and a little cloth pouch.
Everyone knows these are the most important issues, right?
That may be a sarcastic comment, but for a certain type of customer this is not too far off the truth ;).
A small camera like this is much more in the ethos of *Micro* 4/3 than the E-M1. And yet people still fall for the dSLR gestalt!
I read here of a Pro using two PLx pens for his pro work, we know that a Magnum war photographer used Oly P&S in the Biafra war, and yet we still fall for ‘Big is Beautiful’.
Except for dedicated shoots I use much more my E-PM1 than the E-M5, as refined as it might be. Digital after all is only a sensor and a lens.
Next spring I’ll try a GX7 and see how it suits my hands and my pockets. A bloated E-M1 is way out of my interest, and so SHG glass. Why would I want to fall again in the C&N predicament, or even a FF one?
The only answer I can can see for this waylaying of Micro 4/3 is *money*. People adore to show off their money over their bellies, especially in vulgar countries 🙂
I am pretty sure that there will be a minuscule % of Pros buying the E-M1, compared to dentists and money launderers.
As for me I prefer the camera to DISAPPEAR as much as possible 🙂
Your camera might well disappear if it’s left lying around unattended 😉
…excerpted from 1001 Ways to Convince Others you’re Right by Amalric… #546 insult an entire but unspecified country.
I see that you are getting the hint 🙂
Now what countries like to parade multi thousands FF dSLR on their beer belly? Is it Lichtenstein of New Guinea?
Let’s have your guess, after mature consideration, a real grey matter effort 🙂
There is no “Lichtenstein of New Guinea.” Also, it’s Liechtenstein with “ie.” Who’s now the cretin?
And hopefully you will disappear together with your camera into the Twilight Zone.
Speaking like an “expert”, you shouldn’t link to your flicker account… It kills the “myth” 🙂
Hahahahahaha!
In fact, to my surprise, the opposite is true. Since I have my Personal Troll Trainers my image counts have skyrocketed.
I tried to explain the power of Negative Publicity, but you wouldn’t listen. So when I detect some slack in the trollship, I know I must deliberately provoke them again.
And frankly it’s easy 🙂
Of course it’s easy. *you* are a provocation in essence 🙂
But as you often say about sensor size, quantity isn’t quality… that’s for “hits” and “published pictures” of course…
Modesty probably is the only thing you miss? 😉
LOL even my girlfriend said it.. I let her read some of his comments and she said: obviously it’s the only way for him to “attract” people looking at his terrible photos. Then he’s happy looking at those numbers. Sad thing is noone likes his pics. Poor guy, don’t feed him.
I laughed and realized that she is right.
The worst thing is, that now and then, rarely, he says something right, but I can’t take him seriously anymore.
(Not that he cares, not that I care, but it’s a little bit pathetic)
+1 probably his arrogance equals his ignorance
When he gets that swastika tattooed on his forehead he will attract more people.
Check the metrics before deciding. I was surprised to see that the GX7 is almost as big, and weighs the same as the E-M1!
The shape is also important. That is why I don’t want to buy a camera without having handled it.
At the Rome photo Fair I discovered that the Fuji X1 was much bigger than the E-M1, and that the latter was easy to hold, without pushing buttons by mistake. That had plagued me with the E-P2.
Thus the haptics too are important. I have no such problems with the E-PM1, but I use it in a simplified way. So having two cameras for different purposes, but sharing lenses, is v. convenient. Consider also that if you get a complex camera, you’ll invest a lot of time in understanding how it works, which is wasted on daily photography.
Am, I remember your negative judgement about Em5, being too big. You wrote it several times. THEN you finally held one in your hands and realized you were wrong.
This could be a lesson.
Still you’ll never learn.
As someone said: sad.
this is the kind of camera and the kind of development I was hoping for. small m43. I use the oly20 and 14mm a lot. it would be nice to mount them on a smaller body than my current epl5. let’s hope this development goes on! whoever wants bigger bodies, just mount some extra grip. my hands are really huge and I am happy with small stealth cameras I can carry all day.
When hiking in the mountains I take a GF3 + 14mm f2.5 + 45mm f1.8. Being lightweight but still delivering good enough quality for me, I’m very satisfied with this combo. But while rock climbing it is still too big for me. In these situations I take a tough P&S with me. Looks great to me I I can replace this one with a smaller m43 camera combined with a small pancake lens.
But how on earth can you live with that mediocre image quality compared to a 20kg FF cam+lenses????? 😉
Honestly, yours is a use case that is impossible to argue against, and thus one of the strongest advantages of m43. Yet, heaps of people (here and elsewhere) will ignore it nevertheless.
Nice. I pack an EPL2 + 20/1.7 + 9-18mm into a saddle/frame bag on my XC MTB when hitting the trails. I don’t need something this small (yet) but nice to know one would be available. I’m more interested on the GX7 to upgrade to.
How about with the body cap lens?
It should be cheap with 14/2.5 kit. If such kit will be cheap I will but one, as replacement.
I never thought they are going to make that thing, I can’t help myself but look away, may god help us!
Size matters to a degree. I like smaller, lighter …but with a premium build quality.
In the case of a new and smaller G series from Panasonic, the lenses almost defeat the idea of a small, light, cheaper camera. When I need small I go for my Oly XZ-1. If I am going to use a variety of lenses …then a bit bigger is a good thing …like in the new EM-1.
Besides what about having 2 cameras? Or your one track mind doesn’t allow for it?
Or do you live in a country where only one pair of pants and one underwear is allowed?
Is it Moldavia? I hear that even in Mongolia they are allowed more, although they might be made in leather… 🙂
I’m sure there’re other reasons, but what about:
* Maybe because not anyone has the budget to buy 2 m43 cameras+lenses?
* Maybe because many people already have a smartphone as a second “camera”?
My E-PM1 I got 6 months ago for 200 Reichmarks (LOL).
If you play the lagging technology game it’s v. easy to keep two cameras.for a song in m4/3. Being scalable is one of the main advantages of the system.
I bet the next premium lenses from Oly would have a 1.4 aperture. Not such lenses till 2015 though.
Such small but with interchabgable lense doesnt make sense! Why i would use this as compact while the lense is not, if ill use it with small lense like 14mm 2.8f then its better to be with fixed lense.
Put the Oly lens cap on it and you have a great spy camera.
I’ve just today told a friend that I would like to have the smallest M4/3 camera which could be made.
Sure, it makes less sense than a fixed one. But I just think it would be FUN to have a camera which could go from being a pocket camera to using interesting lenses.
Maybe I am out of the choir, but I like it… with my Lumix 8mm coud be a nice, small , just in case camera 🙂
This camera should be like a rear lens cap hopefully.
I can’t wait to slap my Canon 500 5/4 on there with adapter.
I can’t wait to slap my Pany 100-300mm lens on it. But that’s okay because I also have a tripod collar on the lens. It would look so funky sitting on the tripod.
Actually, my Oly 50-200mm SWD with adapter would look even better.
I can see this plus the 14mm f2.5 being a very compelling little package!!
Not Buying 🙂
Here we go. See my list above as to why it is a deal breaker. Pick one of the examples.
It sounds like a very interesting camera.
In reality, newer m4/3 cameras can be controlled using just one button, maybe a dial and the touch screen. it would be nice to see Panasonic test the waters in this way.
Add one of the rumored pancake zooms, a 20mm 1.7 and take off on a trip. Sounds good.
Would like to replace my E-PM1 with a newer small m43 camera. Really convenient for concerts and music festivals.
Hi
If the video is good on this thing (120fps 720p) and it has WIFI control then I am in for sure.
Berni
Because of the new Olympus I almost forgot about the Noctitron, thanks for reminding me!
I hope it has IBIS; then I can use the Sigma 200-500 f/2.8 with it.
who remember admin told a new gx will be announced in three monthes after release of gx7. Is it this cam?
When it comes to size, I love my PM2.
But, of course, a camera of same size, with flash, with good EVF, more keys/wheels, and a smaller backside screen (say 2″) , main use for showing settings – that would seem like an interesting concept to me.
no panny,i wish 4K sensor !!!