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Olympus / Panasonic announce Micro Four Thirds

Olympus and Panasonic have announced a new, mirrorless format / lens mount based on (and compatible with) Four Thirds. The Micro Four Thirds system uses the same sensor size (18 x 13.5 mm) but allows slimmer cameras by removing the mirror box and optical viewfinder. The new format has three key technical differences: (1) roughly half the flange back distance (distance from mount to the sensor), (2) a smaller diameter lens mount (6 mm smaller) and (3) two additional contact points for lens-to-body communication (now 11 points). 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. Existing Four Thirds lenses can be used on Micro Four Thirds cameras using an adapter. Neither company is as yet making product announcements (we expect some more news in this respect closer to Photokina).

Phil: This is without doubt the most exciting digital photography announcement this year. It's fair to say that this "extension / addition" to the Four Thirds standard is finally able to deliver on the original promise of that format; considerably smaller and lighter lenses and bodies. Olympus are however keen to stress that this in no way replaces Four Thirds which will continue with new Four Thirds bodies and lenses in the future.

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• Press Release
• Additional illustrations

Micro Four Thirds facts and features

• Same Four Thirds sensor size (18 x 13.5 mm)
• No mirror - so the cameras will not be SLRs
• Flange back distance half that of Four Thirds (20 versus 40 mm)
• Lens mount diameter 6 mm smaller (44 versus 50 mm)
• Contrast Detect AF is implied (passive would require an external sensor)
• Lens to body electrical contact points up to 11 from 9
• Lenses of same focal length and maximum aperture considerably smaller than Four Thirds
• Enables slim and compact lens-interchangeable digital cameras
• Lack of mirror well necessitate a high quality EVF (or non-viewfinder design)
• Current Four Thirds lenses can be used with an adapter
• Enables seamless switching between still and movie shooting

Micro Four Thirds illustration

Joint Olympus / Panasonic press release:

Olympus Imaging and Panasonic announce new
Micro Four Thirds System standard