[CP+ FourThirds Promotion] More information! #CPplus #m43 How to apply? ->http://t.co/ktKzV0q3jO pic.twitter.com/hRDKFGwDWF
— FourThirdsSystem (@fourthirds43) February 2, 2015
The Four Thirds official Twitter account announced that one new company will soon join the Micro Four Thirds system! We have no clue yet who may joins…
185 Responses
It’s probably Tokina.
It’s definitely on the list: http://www.four-thirds.org/en/contact/group.html
Not sure if they were on the list previously, so no idea if that’s a new addition.
They joined a couple of years ago.
Let’s play an elimination game.
Canon – no. Too proud. They will get more seriously involved in mirrorless soon, but my guess is they will keep the EOS mount.
Nikon – probably not. They can’t really follow Canon’s plans (they lack compatible lenses) so they will either join Micro 4/3 (unlikely. They have had bad experience with smaller sensors) or just stay true to DSLRs in the next few years.
Fuji, Sony, Samsung – no way. They have their own systems.
Leica – maybe. Nobody can predict Leica’s moves.
Ricoh – likely. They need an entry point into the conventional mirrorless market (GRX and Pentax Q are very niche). Micro 4/3 might fit Pentax’s culture of ruggedness and small size.
Leica is already part of the MFT consortium. And they were probably from the very beginning.
The same goes for Fujifilm. They were involved from the very beginnings of Four Thirds, together with Olympus, Kodak and Sanyo.
Most likely, the new company isn’t a maker of consumer stills cameras, but another company that makes video cameras or industrial cameras, like so many of the recent additions to the consortium. Or possibly another lens maker.
Yes, Fujifilm & Olympus jointly designed the XD memory card & boy are they limited in speed & capacity! It’s just as well they dropped that & went with SD cards instead (Fuji cameras accepted both at one stage).
Aha, so that is Fujifilm’s contribution to the consortium. I always wondered why they were listed as a member.
Leica do have their own system/s as well so unlikely for them.
last join is JVC,
i guess Casio,LG, or electronic & computer company.
Casio, why not!
Tokina should already be on the list? They have that mirror tele. Kodak (some taiwanese company that licensed the trademark, Kodak is bankrupt 🙁 ) already announced a boring camera + kit lenses.
I wish it was Leica, but they were dumb enough to create they’re own aps-c mount. The Leica T system is a joke. The biggest marketing feature is a body that looks just like an aluminum extrusion but it’s really machined.
Tokina’s on the list (see Kenko Tokina)
JK Imaging, the Kodak licensee, is an American company. The production is outsourced to Asia Optical in Taiwan.
Both JK Imaging and Kodak are members of the consortium. Kodak was one of the first members back in the Four Thirds era.
Leica, too, has been a member for many years. They even cooperated with Panasonic on a Four Thirds DSLR
I have a Tokina 300mm f6.3, so apparently they’re already a member of the group.
my hopes are for Schneider-Kreuznach…
They are part of MFT for quite some time now: http://www.four-thirds.org/en/contact/group.html
Has Carl Zeiss done anything related to micro four thirds so far? Or are they going to?
they have some lense(s)
What lens/es? They didn’t do Touits for m43’s.
Cine lenses: http://www.four-thirds.org/en/microft/cine-sys.html
For CP+
Strange to see sigma is not on the list, they offer lenses with m43 mount
They are (alphabetical order): http://www.four-thirds.org/en/contact/group.html
I predict Nikon will join the m43 band wagon~
(Just jk~)
Nah, it’ll be Canon.
Here’s the plan: they’ll release an mft mirrorless camera with an APSc sensor and mft lenses designed for APSc sensor. The aim is obviously to kill existing market for 4/3 sensor, because we all know the vast superiority of APSc sensor…
(many trolls are hidden in this message).
Not “trolls” (a troll is a person) but it is a flaimbait.
Why use the m4/3 mount with an APS-C sensor and lenses? They might as well develop their EOS M line, which already use an APS-C sensor and lenses.
Pentax? Yashica? Bronica? MINOLTA!!! Ricoh? Sigma! YAY! Hm…Agfa? Contax?
Apple???
Sigma is already a member:
http://www.four-thirds.org/en/contact/group.html
MINOLTA = SONY (no way)
Konica Minolta still exists as an independent company, and they are still in the optical business. Sony acquired their camera division, not the entire company.
http://www.konicaminolta.com/
Not only that, Konica Minolta has a few patents for MFT lenses. One or two of which are curiously similar to actual Olympus lenses (allegedly). They do (or at least did when I checked some time ago) boast on their corporate website that they design and manufacture lenses for mirrorless cameras. They certainly don;t do that under their own brand. So, some of the Olympus lenses might actually be of their making. Or not. Maybe. Who knows 🙂
I wouldn’t be suprised. Allegedly, Sigma also ‘secretly’ makes lenses for others, as do Asia Optical.
Well, the You Beaut Oly (M.ZD) 75mm lens is said to be made by Sigma!
Pentax is not a company
Contax G Digital!
An announcement that there is to be an announcement. Shouldn’t this have been announced earlier, you know, to prepare us gently so we don’t al die of shock from the brutal suddenness of it all
That’s trendy lately. Just look at Ricoh. First, they announce at Photokina that they are working on some lenses. Later, at CES, they announce that they will announce what those lenses are later this year. At CP+, they will probably announce what those lenses are and will announce that they will later announce the availability and pricing. If Pentax users are lucky, maybe they’ll announce availability and pricing with one press release.
🙂
http://newcameranews.com/2015/01/31/national-rumor-service-nrs-identifies-anomaly-over-pentaxicans/
http://newcameranews.com/2014/12/05/rumored-rumor-of-an-olympus-rumor/
🙂 a rumor of a rumor!
Hasselblad~!!!
Mamiya !
PhaseONE~
Rollei ?
WOW! A “pseudo-medium format” camera with m4/3 mount, using 4/3 sensor!
(Why “pseudo-medium format” you ask? Because 44x33mm sensor isn’t filling smallest Medium Format size (56×41.5mm), and you need to get a “true” digital Medium Format sensor like Leaf Aptus-II 12 digital back to give a 53.7×40.3mm sensor, and yet it is little (negligent) smaller than 6×4.5 format just offering 60% of the surface of 6×6 etc.)
Medium format is anything larger than FF (small format), but smaller than large format. Just because there are certain film sizes, it doesn’t mean that a digital sensor must have one of those exact sizes. 44x33mm certainly is true medium format, because it falls between small and large format.
Actually juurikas is correct, the Small Format (35mm) covers everything up to that 6×4.5 medium format. There has been small format cameras on film era on larger than 35mm film. Thats why it is called “Small Format” because it covers different size of frames. And why “Full Frame” and “Half Frame” were popular phrases on film era because it was known you are shooting with 35mm film but different size frames. Even a m4/3 is a “Small Format” category sensor.
Sure, but the idea that sensors have to conform to old film sizes is ridiculous. In the digital era, medium format is anything larger than so called ‘Full frame’, but smaller than the large format digital scanning backs.
Rollei!!!!
JVC probably, They have an MFT mount, but they are not on the list…
JVC Kenwood joined already a year ago, and they are on the official member list:
http://www.four-thirds.org/en/contact/group.html
What ever company it is, all what I wish is that there would be coming a couple new high quality (Olympus Pro line level, or at least Panasonic 35-100 level) zoom objectives for focal length ranges of around 6-12mm and then 300-600mm. And then maybe a two bodies for smaller size of Panasonic GM5.
I really would like to see someone make a as small body as possible, the mount being the largest part, with just shutter button, power button and 2-2.5″ touch screen.
Sure it would be awkward to use with larger objectives, but Olympus 45mm f/1.8 + Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 or Olympus 17mm f/1.8 would make it crazy snapshooter. Or mount a Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 or Olympus 17mm f/2.8 and it would be so crazy true point’n’shoot camera. Throw there a hotshoe and AP2 for tiny flash (like Olympus FL-LM2) or mic input, Macro-light and its multi-functional camera, but kills purpose of being small (and battery) (So no…).
+1 for 300-600mm. M43 lacks long end beyond 300mm.
400 f5 would be cool at a price of 2 grand.
Zuiko 300mm f4 with 2x TC – just for you.
+10 A 300-600mm sounds good!
I’d love to see a high quality 100-400mm f4 (with integrated tripod collar) w/OIS!
It’s just a supporting company, don’t get too excited.I do hope Konica Minolta will get back into the business to spite sony. Probably contractual obligations to not compete with sony will expire soon.
Of course it’s a supporting company, they all are. Olympus was the initiator way back when they developed their Four Thirds system, and all companies who have joined later are supporting companies, including Panasonic. So not sure why it would matter.
Pentax should have joined m43 instead of going with their q-system. The Lumix Gm5 isn’t that much bigger than a Q-s1 and the existing aps-c K-lenses could have been put to use better.
Pentax were under Hoya when they released the K-01 and Q systems, under Ricoh though things may very well change.
I’ve always thought that Pentax would make the best M43 cameras if they joined. I love their controls, menus, ergonomics and overall quality. they know how to make a powerful, but simply and intuitively laid out camera. how I wish this could be so, but I would never see it happening for real. so many times they’ve said “our response to mirrorless is the Q.” I love my two Qs, but I still need more out of my gear. the Q is a whole bunch of fun, but it is limited.
I wish the official Four Thirds site would provide a little more information than just a list of the current 23 supporting companies. They could give us some information about each company, what it has done for FT/MFT so far, or what it plans to do (products in development etc.).
On my: “What have you done for ME” – list, 18 of those 23 companys havent come up with **it!
Some of them make industrial cameras, so probably never will do much for us consumers.
And some has patents, components etc.
Basically, it looks like this:
Stills cameras: Olympus, Panasonic, JK Imaging, Leica (only Four Thirds).
Video cameras: Blackmagic Design, JVC Kenwood, Panasonic.
Lenses: Carl Zeiss, Cosina, JK Imaging, Schneider-Kreuznach, Kenko Tokina, Kowa, Leica, Olympus, Panasonic, Sigma, Tamron.
Industrial and scientific cameras: Astrodesign, Kenko Professional Imaging, Komamura, Photron, SVS-VISTEK, ViewPLUS.
Old technology partners to Olympus during the Four Thirds era: Eastman Kodak, Fujifilm, Sanyo.
And I have no idea what Tomytec will bring to the party.
Tomytec?
Fabulous fashion accessories for the narcissistic hipster crowd.
How many of those have released any products yet? You can’t be in development mode forever, and still call yourself a supporting company.
Tomytec sells telescopes with cameras.
Please, let it be Sony…
Please, let it be Sony…
Please, let it be Sony…
It says that Carl Zeiss (aren’t they just ‘Zeiss’ now?) will be participating as a four thirds member at CP+, which would be new as well as Zeiss haven’t released anything m43’s yet.
The company name is still Carl Zeiss, but the brand name is just Zeiss. Anyway, they have been members for some time, even if they haven’t released any lenses yet. A supporting company doesn’t have to release products right away.
If you look here they seem to have some Cine lenses for the system
http://www.four-thirds.org/en/microft/cine-sys.html
Please, let it be Google…
Please, let it be Google…
Please, let it be Google…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JDdbwK9q1c
THAT’S THE MOST AWESOME IDEA I’VE EVER HEARD!
Please, let it be Gazprom…
No, they would just give us vapor ware.
Haha! Best comment today!
I hope it’s:
Leica
Google x Toshiba
Nikon
I hope its Olympus renewing their vows…
Only Sony & Fujifilm are most welcome , of course LEICA as well .
The rest , make sure they are creative & innovative , capable of contributing to m4/3 otherwise just kick them out .
Leica is already in.
Other than the Pany / Leica lenses, is Leica making any m43 camera bodies?
No, but they are members of the group, so they can make bodies if they want.
No, but it doesn’t seem mandatory: putting some efforts in developping lenses, rebranding cameras (with slightly different engines, it seems) seems enough.
Leica could have gone M43 instead of the T series but opted for their own proprietary thing, and presumably not to muddy the waters with their Panasonic partnership. It would have been interesting to have Leica even more in the mix.
Fujifilm and Leica are already members of the consortium.
Why would Yun let facts get in the way?
Besides, his only interest is in organic sensors.
What will Yun do if they never materialize?
The result could be tragic…
Yeah, those pesky facts are nothing but trouble! 😉
Compost even…
This could be telling and it may pull Yun out of his depression. The new member of the MFT Consortium is actually rumored to be Miracle Gro!
Judging from the posts here, many people don’t know who are already in.
As long as they contribute with a sensor revolution and global shutter, anyone is fine by me.
It could be Mattel?
No, their fingerprints are all over Nikon 1.
Apple.
Designing an interface worthy of the 21st Century.
Bid adieu to the current DOS-era interfaces.
Not enough resources ahead of iWatch. Wait 3 years.
It would cost more than a Hasselblad and every connector would be proprietary and the battery would be glued in.
They would also claim that they invented the format, patent it and then lock out all the other companies from using it. The camera would have no buttons or controls – shutter release would only be accessible from an iPhone 6+ or Air 2. It would have some gimmick, like Brenizer Method mode, but not proper aperture or shutter speed control. It would also not be compatible with any prior M4/3 lens, and every one or two years the mount would change and require an additional $900 adapter, so that a six year old body would require a ten foot chain of adapters you’d need to use a modern lens. Worst of all, all the Apple zealots who have been telling you that you don’t need a dedicated camera because you can just shoot with your iPad or iPhone would suddenly see the need to carry this device around with a backpack of adapters and explain how Apple just revolutionized the camera industry the way they did the phone industry.
Crap, almost forgot – it wouldn’t take an SD card. There would be an 8GB, 16GB and 32GB version in $500 increments. Once you fill up the camera, you throw it out and get a new one.
The worst thing is that you’re not wrong!
They won’t join m43 because Apple cannot share the mount with someone else.
That would be awesome. But Apple would not likely join an existing standard when they could create their own. And besides, the Leica T already looks like the Apple camera. What about Microsoft or Google?
Microsoft or Google? That’s double evil!
MS was the company that held back computing for 20 years?
Google? UGH
Like Leica T?
Casio is the only one of the camera makers (exceot for some low-budget brands), who hasn’t yet made any interchangeable lens cameras. Maybe they want a piece of the mirrorless ILC pie, too?
I’d love to see a Casio G-Shock body that can withstand a tumble down the Grand Canyon.
Rather than a company already making cameras or lenses could it be a tech company like Google or Amazon?
Google would make a really ugly, weird obtrusive body that has a feature set that nobody asked for or understands how to use, but provide the API in case you want to figure it out. It would only have off-device cloud storage and require you to be connected and log in to take a photo which would immediately post to G+, and then they’d pull the plug on the project about a month after they manufacture the first run.
Apple? Nokia? Microsoft? 😀
Apple – lolz! Like they’d join anything 😉
Jobs is gone, they will go full mainstream soon (they already did in various things).
In years to come, Apple will become “just another company”. I doubt they will go banckrupt or so, but unless they find another “Jobs”, then their glory will fade away.. (already is, if you check latest products, some stuff would be never released if Steve was alive).
Agreed, but I still don’t see them ever becoming part of a collaborative effort. Not playing nice with others is a core part of their DNA, and it takes a lot more than the death of a sociopathic cult leader to change that. They’d almost have to be acquired by someone (Samsung, I hope)
If Apple joined I’d sell all my M43 shiiiit. That would be a sign of the end.
Nokia would be a company coming from the bushes, as Nokia was world largest camera manufacturer and probably sold more cameras with Zeiss optics than anyone else has done.
But Nokia making a own m4/3 camera, with own IBIS that does 4k video would be a fatal blow against Olympus and Panasonic. As Nokia was full of geeks, that needed a hard guidance by a visionary (that Nokia didn’t never have) so they ended up manufacturing a B+ level products that had lots of potential but never getting “up there”.
Maybe Sony wants to enter the M43 sensor business and needs to join to be able to manufacture & sell that size of sensor.
The E-M5, E-M10, E-P5, E-PL5/6/7 and E-PM2 already use a Sony sensor. It was the first 16 MP 4/3″ sensor that Olympus used.
You learn something every day. I was not aware they were providing all those sensors.
It’s the same Sony sensor in all of those. Panasonic makes the one in E-M1, and of course the sensors in their own cameras.
Sony has been behind the scenes for some time.
I wonder if the E-7 and E-50 will be announced? They are long overdue, I think.
And kill E-M1 totally and slow down OM-D and m4/3 adaption rates? Just get E-M1 and be happy. Year ago there was video about Olympus talking about E-7 manufacturing and features. They just didn’t need to release it because E-M1.
Canon finally gets serious about mirrorless and joins M43?
That would be HUGE news, a sensation in the camera industry.
Would be very bold, but also smart. They could potentially sell a lot of glass
You mean Olympus could sell a lot of glass.
There was more of an opportunity to create a high end lens lineup a year ago. Since then, both Panny and Oly have put some focus on that segment. Olympus has a great lineup planned and some shipping. Canon could have come in and released fast, weather sealed “pro” targeted lenses and created a space for themselves. Instead, they vacillated on the EOSM, then did the SL1, now are rumored to be going back to the EOSM and claim to be getting “serious” about mirrorless. We’ll see. I’m skeptical.
M43 is going down and losing market share
So are DSLRs
Yet another company is going to jump onto the sinking ship?
I was thinking the same. 😉
it would be fun. A real long shot tho
Keep dreaming. No…freaking…..way. They’ve got bigger problems to deal with. Not peddly little sensors. Leave M43 to the PanyOly experts.
Unlikely, for sure, especially with a possible EOSM3 APSC coming for CP+.
But they’ve said that they are going to make a big push into mirrorless and would consider M43 previously. I think doing M43 would give them nice differentiation from their larger sensor DSLRs. As Canon has considerable expertise in creating lenses, going M43 would give them instant access to a decent sized base. And being Canon, one would think that they’d be confident enough to think that they could compete with Panasonic, Olympus and “Kodak.” If they truly could compete remains to be seen.
What is most likely is another EOSM with limited distribution and 3 native lenses. I’d rather see them do M43.
Another interesting option to me would be a FF, tiny body that uses native FF glass and a Sony sensor (like a Canon native A7). Not happening.
Four native lenses, actually. In addition to the kit zoom, there’s a telephoto zoom, a wideangle zoom and a prime lens.
I stand corrected. Thanks. I hear that the two original lenses are quite good. Do you own all 4?
No, I don’t own the 55-200mm, but I think the 22mm and 11-22mm are very good value for money. The kit zoom is nothing spectacular, but one of the better of its type, I think.
If only Canon would release a more capable body, then I think the system could be a real competitor to the other mirrorless systems.
For me, the lack of physical controls and no EVF or tilt screen were the deal breakers.
Even then, I was really tempted to purchased an EOSM after the autofocus improvement firmware and the prices fell.
Have you tried using the adapter with Canon glass? Canon’s non L primes are fast, small and incredibly inexpensive. Plastic, but good optics.
No, I haven’t tried the adapter. The EOS M isn’t my main camera (it’s an E-M5), but I just couldn’t resist buying it at the heavily discounted price!
Please not be G-Star Raw..
But…. I want *RAW*! 😉 G-star
Rollei! I want a dual-mount m4/3 rig
That would be cool. Aren’t they owned by Samsung or something now?
They were, but then were sold back to their internal management, purchased by a Danish investment group and split in two. One half went bankrupt, and the other half is still making expensive gear. Check out rolleiflex.us
Thanks for the link! Drool! And to think, I just threw out my last rolls of 120 film!
I could never handle film – didn’t have the patience or confidence needed. I’d love to try the Hy6 Mod 2 with a digital back and that 40mm lens…
I vote for Casio
They have experience with highspeed cameras with electronic shuter. This is very similar to the Nikon 1 system. (Casio EX-F1 for examle).
With this technology, they could add another different approach to the m4/3 environment.
That would be very cool!
So did Olympus have long experience with 4K and highspeed cameras. But they sold the high speed cameras and 4k is for medical and industry companies.
Look what the announcement says it supporting companies that are participating in the event, not just joining mft group.
But I did not know that Cosina was a member. Maybe there they can build a camera.
Flash
Cosina builds voightlanders
Yes, but their are no electronic in them, so I thought they did not need or bother to join. They made some real sweet film rangefinder cameras lately. In the past they oem a bunch of slrs for Nikon and Olympus among others.
Would love to see others make bodies, variety is the slice of life.
You still need to reverse engineer the lens mount, even if the lens has no electronics. The mount specifications are only shared with members of the consortium.
Another unknown company manufacturing industrial cameras probably .. Nothing interesting for photographers
Finally we will see IOS 8 on M43 cameras..
Sigma.
CaNikon are not going m43. The new EOS M is coming – dual pixel AF solves the poor focusing of the current models. Nikon is committed to the 1 system. Both companies want you to stay in their ecosystem – especially with lenses.
Sigma is already a member of the consortium.
Sigma’s not on the list?
And the answer is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1hEENpUrPc
JVC has been part of the group for long time already. Doesn’t people read the links posted?
Sigma is on the list. Cosina is the maker of “NOKTON” series.
All I know is it’s not Sigma.
No, because they are already members.
hmm there WAS an interview with canon exec’s around 6 months ago where they said they were looking at another mount – AND looking at even smaller camera systems.
joining m43’s would make a lot of sense if canon thought that was the way the market was going to trend.
http://photorumors.com/2014/09/20/canon-is-considering-a-new-mount-system/
Actually I would welcome Canon to m4/3 if they just would take it seriously and give their best for bodies and objectives.
They would not need at start more than one great body and 2-3 objectives. Add 2-3 new objectives and after 18-24 months upgrade the body.
they will probably “Kodak” it .. come out with a camera and a few kit lenses and see where things go.
I believe that Canon would not get anywhere if they would release anything like they have with EOS-M first release.
There is zero motivation for the dominant manufacturer to give credence to a money losing format. And I say this as a deeply invested micro 4/3 person.
Why legitimize the competition when you have market power but they do not? They would need you a lot more than you would need them.
Micro 4/3 has, what, maybe 5 or 7% or so of the interchangeable lens market?
Why Canon whould join another proprietary format (and with only two real camera vendors, micro 4/3 is proprietary) when it can introduce its own proprietary format and quickly shoot for that same 5-7% market share?
Because that dominant manufacturer is curently in the same position microsoft was in versus apple in 2004-5. Sony is apple in this scenario.
Based on the more recent story, I think Admin hinting that the new company joining the Micro Four Thirds Consortium is Metabones…
I think it’s Walmart.
Fisher-price?
Apple.
Yeah, I know, whishful thinking. It would end the camera menu mess once and for all.
What camera menu mess?
My oldest digital camera is a Nikon Coolpix 4500. The whole menu concept of my OM-D E-M1 look pretty much the same, just bigger.
IMO camera menus are in the state of mobile phone interfaces before the iPhone.
As long as this new company makes an E7 equivalent; something that oly should have made an option for the 4/3 crowd, I’ll be happy. I purchased a used e5 after getting the em1 and like the reflex much more than the evf. the Cross type Phase detect seems much more usable for anything that moves as well.
I really hope it’s Google and their Project Ara
Lensbaby?
Hasselblad!
Ricoh
S-O-N-Y.
I thought Kodak was one of the M 4/3 companies but they aren’t on the list.
Yes they are…under Eastman Kodak.
Just saying that it was not included on the announcement graphic that kicked off the thread.