I then ran into the micro four-thirds cameras. This is a camera comparable to a DSLR however without the mirror system. This has a big influence on the size of the camera and since this was for me a big reason to look for another camera this was something I had to look into.
Background on the four-thirds system
The micro four-thirds system was announced in August 2008 by Olympus and Panasonic. So for me it is proven technology. The system will bring me the DSLR options and quality in a more compact camera.
Some of the pros in comparison to a compact camera:
- Changeable lenses which mostly feature a wider aperture then on compact cameras. Which allows more control over the depth-of-field and greater creative possibilities.
- A decent image sensor (Approximately 9 times the size of most compact cameras) which offers better image quality and more light sensitivity.
Of course I had certain requirements while looking for a four-thirds camera:
- Electronic viewfinder, since there is no mirror it does not support an optical viewfinder like you find on a DSLR. However in certain conditions one can not do without.
- Swivel display, I like this on my Canon 60D and it allows me to take shots which are otherwise (almost) impossible to make.
- Built-in flash unit.
- Hot-shoe for external flash unit.
- Comparable image resolution as my current camera (16 MPixels)
Based on my requirements I ended up with the Panasonic DMC-G3 (Here is a link to the review on the dpreview site). This is the camera I received last week and with which I am extremely happy since it matches all my requirements. I was a bit worried about the size of the camera in comparison to my hands, but this has not been a problem at all.
The weight of the camera with the 14-42mm lens attached and with a battery in the camera is 583 grams. Which is certainly not bad compared to the features on the camera, like the viewfinder and the swivel lcd.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 with 14-42mm and 45-200mm lens |
To show the size of the camera I placed my Canon 60D next to it |
The back of the cameras with the swivel LCDs (I forgot to clean the display on the G3 ...) |