September 18, 2013
Now that the E-M1 and GX7 are official and have been warmly received by reviewers (if not actually available), what do we need next from Olympus and Panasonic? We need the MFT system to expand rapidly and capture new users into the MFT universe. New adopters will improve the economies of scale for the companies in the consortium and provide a wider range of accessories for users.
The Micro Four-Thirds manufacturers have produced some marvelous cameras over the past two years: the E-M5, GH3, GX7 among others. Technology is improving rapidly in so many areas (sensor, EVFs, processing, etc.) that the tradeoffs inherent in a smaller sensor camera are now minuscule for most users.
Although some may disagree, I sense that the tide is turning for smaller sensor mirrorless cameras. Their acceptance among pros is increasing (e.g. see the recent conversion of Trey Ratcliff), and more enthusiasts are embracing the advantages of smaller, lighter cameras. As I’ve mentioned previously in many posts, the switching costs of changing camera brands is prohibitive for most users. This means that if the technology has indeed reached a tipping point and consumers are willing to consider changing from Canon and Nikon, manufacturers have a rare opportunity to lock-in a new group of consumers for many years. Currently, photographers switching to smaller format cameras have a plethora of choice: Sony, FujiFilm, Micro Four-Thirds, and others. Some might say that Canon and Nikon have a natural advantage if they move into mirrorless in a big way. While brand loyalty may help, consumers moving to smaller sensor cameras will need new lenses and accessories to maximize the utility of the format, even if they stick with the Big 2. The playing field has been substantially leveled. What will make the difference for many users? A system. Continue reading →
