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08/10/2007 08:34:32 AM · #1 |
I'm curious what the Olympus system does differently from other DSLRs.
Is it a 4/3 aspect ratio instead of 1.5, making it more like televisions and point and shoots?
How big is the sensor compared to Nikon or Canon sensors?
What are the effects of this approach vs. others?
Thanks!
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08/10/2007 08:59:16 AM · #2 |
Apparently it is a 4/3 ratio...or, in other words a 1.25:1...more square.
And the benefits seem to be:
"With the Four Thirds system no compromise has been made. It is solely dedicated to the needs of digital image capture and, as an open standard, it also paves the way to cross-manufacturer lens interchangeability. The use of a 4/3-type image sensor size has allowed the dimensions and weight of the lens to be reduced considerably, enhancing handling and mobility. The advantage is particularly clear to see in telephoto lenses. For example, a Four Thirds system 300mm telephoto lens will offer performance equivalent to a 600mm lens on a 35mm film SLR camera. And another benefit: it also impresses with great light gathering power." (from DPReview Article) |
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08/10/2007 09:52:46 AM · #3 |
Thanks, KaDi. I'd seen the news release at DPReview.com - note that it's not an article, but just the marketing release from Olympus itself.
I was wondering whether anyone could decipher the marketing and give the real facts.
I'm also surprised to hear it's a 1.25:1 ratio, which is 5/4, as opposed to 1.33:1.
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08/10/2007 09:54:42 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by levyj413:
I'm also surprised to hear it's a 1.25:1 ratio, which is 5/4, as opposed to 1.33:1. |
Oops! Well, you know me and math...shoulda pulled out the calculator.
:/ |
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08/10/2007 10:16:41 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by levyj413:
I'm curious what the Olympus system does differently from other DSLRs.
Is it a 4/3 aspect ratio instead of 1.5, making it more like televisions and point and shoots?
How big is the sensor compared to Nikon or Canon sensors?
What are the effects of this approach vs. others?
Thanks! |
They don't do anything differently so to speak. The 4/3rds mount system is just like the Canon EF, Nikon F, etc... It's the name of their mount system.
It is a 4:3 aspect ration, but the name also comes from the total imaging area on the sensor chip (4/3in).
Sensor is smaller than the Nikon and Canon sensor with a 2x crop. The Nikon sensor is 1.5x crop and the Canon is 1.6x/1.3x/1x crop depending on model. The crop is the size relative to a 35mm film frame.
Effects? You get a 2x crop which makes a long tele even longer. You also tend to get more noise out of a smaller sensor which means the Olympus has more noise than the Canon or Nikon. Another downside is the lack of 4/3rds lenses, although this seems to be changing rather quickly. Smaller sensor also means smaller body, smaller lenses, etc.
Message edited by author 2007-08-10 10:17:26.
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08/10/2007 10:37:52 AM · #6 |
Sadly, I have an Olympus and can contribute very little to this thread. (edit to add: because I do not really understand the technicals of how cameras work. I just use it and enjoy it. This is a good camera for my needs!)
The only thing I don't like so far is that this camera does not have many interchangeable lens choices because of the 4/3 system. I've seen some good Sigmas that I wanted to try but found out they don't work with this camera. :(
My next camera is going to be an expensive Canon!
Message edited by author 2007-08-10 10:38:28.
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08/10/2007 12:39:37 PM · #7 |
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08/10/2007 02:00:18 PM · #8 |
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08/10/2007 06:17:54 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by hyperfocal:
Originally posted by colorcarnival:
The only thing I don't like so far is that this camera does not have many interchangeable lens choices because of the 4/3 system. I've seen some good Sigmas that I wanted to try but found out they don't work with this camera. :(
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Your quite wrong. If there was ever a universal mount, it would be the 4/3rds (large bayonet mount with small back focus). I've been a Nikon user since the mid-eighties, but before the D200 came out I got a couple of 4/3rds cameras just so I could take advantage of all my older Nikon glass. The D40,70,80 series nikons will not meter with older glass, but the 4/3rds will. Besides Nikon there are thousands of lenses that will fit via inexpensive adapters. For example one of the best cheap fisheyes around is the Peleng 8mm f3.5 fisheye. But unlike most cameras that it will fit on like Nikon & Canons, the corners will not be cropped. The required M42 adapter can be found for less than $30 on eBay. |
Ummm...the 8mm lens will show a full 180 degrees on a FF camera, the full image circle fits on the sensor. the same 8mm lens will show a "barrel" on a 1.6 crop, where the straight sides are caused by the image circle being wider than the crop sensor. You can crop images from APS-C or FF (or 1.3x) to be the same as the 2.0x of the 4/3 system.
You can't get the 4/3s system to show the full image circle from an 8mm fisheye. |
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08/10/2007 06:23:09 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by hankk:
You can't get the 4/3s system to show the full image circle from an 8mm fisheye. |
Right.
I think hyperfocal meant that on a 4/3 camera there are no dark corners as with APS-C, so no need to crop further. The image circle covers the entire sensor, much like a 15mm fisheye on a 35mm cam. |
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