4/3rds is its own form factor

Sony Alpha 900...coming this Spring. Full frame.

Great responses all!<p>I still shoot film (only) when being paid <i> 6x7 & 35mm</i>. Otherwise, I use what I want for the venue I choose to shoot in.<p>When I chose to buy a DSLR, I chose 4/3rds in that I prefer to shoot PJ style and 4/3rds suit that very well.<p>For instance: I often mount my Canon FD 100-300mm S.C. (200-600mm EFL)-f/5.6 zoom for long distance shooting. I am then able to pick out items of architectural interest (<I>the figures at the top of the Flatiron Building for instance</I>), items which with ``ordinary`` zooms/primes, still do not leave a large enough ``footprint`` on the sensor which wouldn`t preclude cropping. Next, weight is a factor.<br>The gorgeous Pentax 250-600mm lens for instance is a bear both to own and carry.<br>With the FD 100-300mm, I`m in the same range for under $200 and less than 2 lbs.<br>I rarely see a bird I want to shoot, but the 100-300mm FD gets me there easily enough should I choose to shoot birds.<p>Another reason to own 4/3rds is shooting <I>genuine</I> Leica ``R`` lenses, say their 350mm f/4.5 ``R`` tele for example.<br> Or a Leica 80-200 zoom for another. <p>Further stretching the imaging envelope, I can shoot genuine Leica <I>4/3rds glass</I>; and what?s not to like about that? <p>As for zooms? Why not rent/own the Sigma ``<I>Bigma</I>`` Behemoth 300-800mm?<p>Some have inferred that shooting Leica lenses on an Olympus 4/3rds body isn?t the same as shooting Leica lenses on a Leica body. <br>Oh?<br> Their conclusion of course flies in the face of one of the oldest bromides in all of photography:<br> ``<I>it?s the lens stupid</I>``!

Ed said, "Better, what other form factor [than 4/3] can adapt to 13 other lens mounts with adapter, to include PENTAX screwmount, all Pentax "K" mounts and even Pentax 645 medium format lenses?" in the opening post to this thread.

 

I've searched high and low for adapters for make my Pentax K-mounts and Nikons to see if I can add them to my everyday camera bag. Right now, the Pentaxs just sit rarely seeing the light of day until I pull them out for routine cleaning. (I'm a stickler for ridiculously clean cameras and accessories--maybe the military background?)

 

Does anyone know where these adapters are? I'd really like to get my hands on some of these adapters.

Also, in response to Michael's comment on the Panasonic DMC-L1 (totally off the subject of Olympus and 4/3)... I hear you on these new Panasonics.

 

I bought the Panasonic LX2 for my wife's birthday (she doesn't know a thing about photography, but does know what she likes). I wish she would let me use it. She loves it so much, she even gave her beloved, more expensive Nikon point-and-shoot to one of her sisters-in-law (something to be said being that my wife is from brand-name crazy Japan).

 

I really like where Panasonic is going... and they're 4/3... If I had the money to switch, I'd be tempted. I may put my Nikon D200 up for sale to help raise the needed funds...

"Illka, if you came up in field where a square format,like Bronica and Hasselblad and Rollei offered a versatile and professional level format,then you might actually favor a squarish crop. Or choose what format suits the image you selected"

 

This is precisely what I do. I own four Hasselblads, three of which are square. I was only objecting to the common statement in 4/3 circles that always claim that 4/3 is actually much bigger because there is less cropping to a certain aspect ratio. Of course that is correct, but only applies to prints made in that aspect ratio. If you need to make a longer image, 4/3 is even more behind APS. And I do find myself quite often cropping my 4/3 images to longer aspect ratio. 24x36mm has been in use for close to 100 years now. It cannot be that bad. Maybe 4/3 is more suitable in USA where standard paper size is also more square than in the rest of the world where A standard is followed (eg A4=21x30cm).

<i>Ah-you miss the OP point: 4/3rds ``competes`` with nothing.</i>

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You're right. It's certainly proving to be no competition whatsoever for Canon or Nikon.

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<i>What other form factor has a 180-500mm f/2.8 zoom?</i>

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No form factor does, including 4/3. You run around emphasizing that 4/3 is its own format, then use 35mm film conversions when you talk about the lenses.

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If a quarter-frame camera is good enough for you, have at it.