This is still not a long range solution. No matter what lens you design
for it, the 'full-sized' SLR with a small sensor is bigger than it needs
to be. The register distance from film to lens mount and the size and
swing of the mirror are still too large to allow lenses really optimized
to the sensor size. Every thing below short tele has to be retrofocus
design. They may make some money off it, but it is strictly a time
filler move. In the long run, full size SLRs based on the 24x36mm format
will have full size sensors.
The truth is that pixel densities and sensitivity will continue to
increase and noise levels will continue to come down. Just as some feel
the Canon 1Ds already meets and in some way exceeds MF film, there will
be a sensor in the not distant future that outperforms 35mm film, at
least for most purposes, and is about a 1/4-1/3 the size. The ultimate
lower limit for sensor size will be partially determined by the problems
with sharpness problems, from diffraction limiting, with small apertures
on short focal length lenses. Sensor sensitivity adjustment and maybe
even internal ND filters with lenses with only a stop or 2 below wide
open may become part of the standard means of exposure adjustment.
Somebody is going to produce a SLR camera system with such a sensor and
a smaller mount with shorter register distance and smaller lenses. This
will bring back the rough size/weight character of the OM and other
small 35mm SLRs (which is about the minimum ergonomic size for this kind
of tool for human hands), but with smaller, lighter lenses. I believe
this is where the Oly 4/3 system is aimed. An existing 'full size'
mount is simply useless for this purpose, as it would seriously
compromise optimal camera design for the sensor format. My guess is that
this basic design will become the standard for 'prosumer' cameras and
'full size' SLRs will be a small, specialty market like MF today. Given
that scenario for the forseeable future, being the first manufacturer to
get the new form 'right' is significantly more important than rushing
something to market. Oly is doing fine in the P&S market. Why risk the
company on a new system until being reasonably sure that it is built
around a sensor size that will remain standard for some time so that
sensors with upgraded performance can be incorporated without wholesale
mechanical system redesign?
I hope Oly succeeds, but whoever does will likely supply my next camera
system. The Canon 1Ds is clearly a remarkable camera, but even if it
cost 1/5 of what it does, I would hesitate because of the sheer size and
weight.
I know people keep referring to the proposed system as 4/3", but I'm
sure I read an official release that said the 4/3 referred to
width/height ratio of the format, not actual sensor size. I'm betting a
good part of the reason for the delay in even a production prototype is
the rapid change in sensor technology, making it hard to even settle the
final sensor size, let alone lens design requirements optimized for type
of sensor.
Moose
Winsor Crosby wrote:
Pre-PMA 2003, 15:00 TOKYO: Nikon has today confirmed the details of
their first digital only lens, the Nikkor AF-S DX 12 - 24 mm F4.0.
This lens and the DX concept was first announced in December last
year. The DX lens line is designed to be used exclusively with
digital SLR's with a sensor size of 23.7 x 15.6 mm (a 1.5x FOV crop
factor), thus this lens could be used on the Nikon D1x, D1H or D100.
On these cameras it would provide an equivelant field of view range
of 18 -36 mm.
Evidently Nikon is taking the path that I thought Olympus should take.
First they issued a body that was compatible for current owners of
Nikon lens systems. Then the way they deal with the multiplication
effect by issuing new high profit lenses that deal with the wide angle
issue. I imagine that this new lens will get such good reviews that
Nikon lens owners will be frothing at the mouth to make the digital
plunge and to "upgrade" their old lenses with new "digital"
replacements. With one stroke Nikon has removed the main objection to
their more modestly price DSLRs, cemented loyalty with current owners,
created a market of upgrades, and probably captured customers from
other makes.
Nikon: smart; Olympus: dumb.
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