The new Micro 4/3 standard - looks interesting

[johnastovall]

The new Micro 4/3 standard with it's 20mm flange to film plane could be interesting.

Many older RF lenses could be used in manual focus. How about an f/1.0 100mm?

[The Philos]

This is an interesting idea - I wonder what kind of focusing speed they'll be able to pull off.

[Daniel W.]

It could be the new "little camera for big boys" kind of thing, like a G9 but interchangeable. I saw the Oly 420 while I was shopping yesterday and dang, it's small... I was considering it just as a P&S kind of camera but a little more quality. The already established lens offerings are rather interesting too. (70-200/2, 180-500/2.8, 300/2 in 35mm equiv.)

If they can get the kind of glass Oly / Zuiko had in the OM series days...

[venchka]

Glass? you want glass for the 4/3 format? There are adapters around for just about every SLR lens mount ever made. There are new Olympus and Leitz lenses on the market for the 4/3 system. Lenses for 4/3 are no problem at all.

Alas, the bean counters are in control. Build and market to the lowest common denominator. You want a functioning rangefinder on a 4/3 body? HAH! You can't even find a passable viewfinder on non-SLR cameras today. Aunt Martha wants to hold her DigiMagiCam at arms length while trying to view the 3" LCD screen in bright sunlight. BAH! HUMBUG! You have to go back to cameras built in the 50s, 60s & 70s to find affordable, usefull rangefinders and or SLR viewfinders. That assumes you can't afford a camera that costs more than cars did not too many years ago. Let's face it. The bulk of affordable cameras aren't being made for photographers anymore. If camera companies cared about photographers, you could buy a Minolta Autocord or Yashicamat 124 for about the same price as a high end digital P&S.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by venchka

Glass? you want glass for the 4/3 format? There are adapters around for just about every SLR lens mount ever made. There are new Olympus and Leitz lenses on the market for the 4/3 system. Lenses for 4/3 are no problem at all.

Alas, the bean counters are in control. Build and market to the lowest common denominator. You want a functioning rangefinder on a 4/3 body? HAH! You can't even find a passable viewfinder on non-SLR cameras today. Aunt Martha wants to hold her DigiMagiCam at arms length while trying to view the 3" LCD screen in bright sunlight. BAH! HUMBUG! You have to go back to cameras built in the 50s, 60s & 70s to find affordable, usefull rangefinders and or SLR viewfinders. That assumes you can't afford a camera that costs more than cars did not too many years ago. Let's face it. The bulk of affordable cameras aren't being made for photographers anymore. If camera companies cared about photographers, you could buy a Minolta Autocord or Yashicamat 124 for about the same price as a high end digital P&S.

There are passable view finders for non-SLR's if they have a hot shoe or get a TEWE.

[venchka]

Hot shoe? I forgot about hot shoes. They died before viewfinders.

Yes indeed. What the photographers of this world need is a pocket sized digital camera with real camera features. Hot shoe. Decent viewfinder. Coupled rangefinder. Full manual operation if needed.

What do we get? Face and smile recognition and a TV screen. Go figure.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by venchka

Hot shoe? I forgot about hot shoes. They died before viewfinders.

Yes indeed. What the photographers of this world need is a pocket sized digital camera with real camera features. Hot shoe. Decent viewfinder. Coupled rangefinder. Full manual operation if needed.

What do we get? Face and smile recognition and a TV screen. Go figure.

My dream pocket digital camera is a digital version of the Kodak Retina IIA.

[Dobick]

Originally Posted by venchka

Hot shoe? I forgot about hot shoes. They died before viewfinders.

Yes indeed. What the photographers of this world need is a pocket sized digital camera with real camera features. Hot shoe. Decent viewfinder. Coupled rangefinder. Full manual operation if needed.

What do we get? Face and smile recognition and a TV screen. Go figure.

The g9 can be tweaked in a lot of ways to come real close to this ideal. The range finder is coupled, but it is too small to be of much value for anything other than crop areas. if the view was a bit larger, and the sensor maybe twice the size, it would be absolutely perfect. With those two additions, I would have quickly paid twice for what I picked mine up for.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by Dobick

The g9 can be tweaked in a lot of ways to come real close to this ideal. The range finder is coupled, but it is too small to be of much value for anything other than crop areas. if the view was a bit larger, and the sensor maybe twice the size, it would be absolutely perfect. With those two additions, I would have quickly paid twice for what I picked mine up for.

The G9 doesn't have a rangefinder. It has an optical view finder.

[venchka]

Stovall, you're killing me. The Retina was a gem. Lately I've been musing about a 120 (6x9 format) folder for long distance bike trips. A 6x9 folder & 1 or both Leicas and I'd be all set. Batteries not included. Batteries not required.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by venchka

Stovall, you're killing me. The Retina was a gem. Lately I've been musing about a 120 (6x9 format) folder for long distance bike trips. A 6x9 folder & 1 or both Leicas and I'd be all set. Batteries not included. Batteries not required.

Look for a fine Zeiss Super Ikonta C.

[Dobick]

Originally Posted by johnastovall

The G9 doesn't have a rangefinder. It has an optical view finder.

I stand corrected... I knew I was confused on that distinction

[venchka]

Thanks, John. That's on my wish list. Maybe Fuji will in fact manufacture the new 6x7 folder they have hinted at. I doubt that it will be affordable.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by venchka

Thanks, John. That's on my wish list. Maybe Fuji will in fact manufacture the new 6x7 folder they have hinted at. I doubt that it will be affordable.

If you are looking at 6x7 I would put the Makina-Plaubel 6 x 7 on that wish list. Wim Wenders used that and a Leica for his work in "Written in the West."