MICRO FOUR THIRDS CAMERA

If you ask me which is the most exiting camera related news of the year, I will unhesitatingly say that it is Micro Four Thirds system. I know most of you might not heard about this because the system has just been announced in August 2008. So for your information I am giving below a brief description of Micro Four Thirds system .But before going in details first discuss about Four Thirds system ……………………Rajendra

Four-Thirds is a photographic system, similar in concept to Olumpus OM System for film photography. The name 'Four-Thirds' derives from the size and format of the image sensor used in the camera bodies. The system was developed by Olympus in partnership with Kodak and several other photographic companies have also signed up to it to produce lenses, cameras and accessories to the same standard. These companies include Panasionic, Sigma, Fuji and Leica

Unlike 35 mm film /Digital Cameras the Four-Thirds system uses a ratio of 4:3 for its image sensor — 35mm film has a ratio of 3:2 (whereby the long edge of the rectangular sensor is either 4/3rds or 3/2 the length of the shorter side). The actual size of the 4/3 sensor — specified by Olympus, and a design constant in the 4/3rds system white paper — is 18mm × 13.5mm, with an imaging area of 17.3mm × 13.0mm. This gives the image a diagonal length of 21.6mm; the smallest of the common APS-C sensors used has a diagonal of 24.88mm with dimensions of 20.7mm × 13.8 mm. The diagonal length of the 4/3rds sensor is roughly half that of a 35mm film negative.

Micro Four-Thirds
The Micro Four Thirds system uses the same sensor size (18 x 13.5 mm) of Four -Thirds but allows slimmer cameras by removing the mirror box and optical viewfinder.
Removing the mirror mechanism allows this shorter flange back distance, meaning lenses for the new mount can be considerably smaller than current Four Thirds designs. The format will require framing to be carried out using Live View on either the LCD monitor or an EVF.

Advantages and disadvantages of Micro Four-Thirds
Compared to existing compact cameras, which are equipped with non-interchangeable lenses and smaller image sensors, Micro Four Thirds is intended to offer a compact solution with interchangeable lenses and the larger sensor used by Four Thirds dSLRs. Micro Four Thirds cameras are smaller and lighter than Four Thirds and dSLRs, but larger and heavier than compacts.

Advantages of Micro Four Thirds over Four Thirds and dSLR cameras:
Smaller and lighter lenses. In particular the system, unlike Four Thirds, does not postulate telecentricity as a key design rule, so Micro Four Thirds lenses of the same Focal Length can be made significantly smaller and lighter than in Four Thirds system.

Advantages of Micro Four Thirds over compact cameras:
Choice of fast yet compact lenses.
Less digital Image Noise due to larger pixel area, extending the usable ISO speeds enabling cleaner shots in low-light conditions

Disadvantages of Micro Four Thirds compared to compact digital cameras:
· The larger sensor requires longer focal lengths and a wider image circle to achieve the
· Since the lens can be removed, there is an inherent risk of dust and other foreign particles finding their way onto the Image Sensor.

So you see that the Micro Four Thirds System enables users to enjoy the high image quality benefits of the Four Thirds System's 4/3-type image sensor in a much more compact camera body, and also take advantage of significantly more compact lenses, particularly in the wide-angle and high-power zoom range. The Four Thirds System offers compact, lightweight performance, and the new Micro Four Thirds System will take this even further by making it possible to develop ultra-compact interchangeable lens type digital camera systems unlike anything seen before. The new Micro Four Thirds System also incorporates a greater number of lens-mount electrical contacts, enabling support for new features and increased system functionality in the future. In addition, users will be able to mount their existing Four Thirds System lenses on Micro Four Thirds System bodies via an adapter.

Micro Four Thirds system companies
As of late 2008 only Olympus and Panasonic have a commitment to the Micro Four Thirds system.

Micro Four Thirds system cameras
The Panasonic Lumix DMC G1 is the first Micro Four Thirds System camera to be announced. The camera has an electronic viewfinder as well as a live-view LCD.

Olumpus has also announced a Micro Four Thirds System camera, but no specifics were available in late 2008.