Originally posted by Mark Ransom You know, this makes perfect sense. I've seen rumblings on the DPReview M4/3 forum that Panasonic has promised 8K video for the 2020 Olympics. That requires a 44 megapixel sensor, which is completely impractical in a 4/3 sensor but easy-peasy in FF.
You'e right, this does make sense, going with a bigger sensor than m43 is the only way to get better specs and even if 8K isn't necessary right now, developing a new system to last for several years dictates an 8K capable design. Panasonic also has no choice but to use a new (to them at least) mount and for video cameras the next big step up comes with 5 figure price tags, so it doesn't handicap them if there aren't budget lens choices available at introduction.
Panasonic is betting on mid-range video being its ace in the hole for the long term; you don't invest in a new mount for a new format with the processing requirements of a new high data-rate video format with the idea of coming out with something completely different in five years. I'm not sure there is enough of a market for a video-oriented camera system between the low end instant posting to Youtube equipment and the truly professional high data-rate systems, to keep Panasonic building cameras for another decade, but obviously someone at Panasonic believes there is.
---------- Post added 08-31-18 at 09:59 PM ----------
Originally posted by JPT It's is really interesting is so many companies standardizing on a such similar format at the same time.
Really the only standardizing is the size of the sensor, how and why Nikon, Canon and Panasonic are trying to gain business is different. Nikon is abandoning its existing mirrorless business and trying to find new customers with a new mount designed to require new lenses, to reverse a loss of overall market share; Canon is trying to complement its existing mirrorless business with a new format to protect and grow its current market leadership and Panasonic is introducing a new mount and format to keep ahead of obsolescence and protect its current market niche. As for Olympus, any big investment has to come with guaranteed customers, so unless they can supply larger than m43 lenses or camera components to another company, I really can't see them entering a new, relatively crowded market (which FF or MF would be). The days when a manufacturer has to have an offering for every market are long gone.
Canon and Nikon can move in and out of the mirrorless business as they see fit (and the changing market for MILCs dictates), Panasonic and Olympus need to find a niche in the mirrorless business that they can be major players in, to keep their production facilities operating, Sony needs to maximize its return to the parent corporation or be sold off to a Chinese company and Pentax needs to make a profit with its current resources so that their 2 days a year with the Ricoh Company CEO are entirely uneventful.