Apparently Panasonic leaving 4/3rds mount (not quite 100% confirmed yet)

[Raist3d]

Someone at dpreview posted a link to what a Panasonic representative said in an expo show. Looks like Panasonic may be leaving the 4/3rds mount.

This doesn't mean Panasonic would stop making sensors for Olympus, necessarily... I do think there's a big chance of seeing Kodak back. Also I wonder about Fuji... Fuji DLSR line seems to be on the brink of true extinction.. I can only imagine that they would make money if they did the sensor for Olympus....

Interesting, we'll find soon enough....

The German link:

Four-Thirds-Kameras: Rückzug von Panasonic ? | diefotoredaktion.de

- Raist

[sean_buerger]

Yah, I've seen that one. Just funny this happens, as I just bought their camera

Cheers, Sean.

[alert_bri]

Which camera did you buy Sean? the L10?

Cheers

Brian

[sean_buerger]

Yep. that's right. Got the L10. Very nice to use. Cheers, Sean.

[Raist3d]

for an official announcement - if any. It could have been a complete misunderstanding being blown out of proportion.

[sean_buerger]

So far, I'm not overly worried. I got my camera already

As long as Olympus stays with the standard for another camera generation, it would be quite reasonable for me. The Leica 25mm lens and the Olympus 50mm lens are enough reason to use the 4/3 system. They are both superior performers.

Just my opinion. Sean.

[Raist3d]

Originally Posted by sean_buerger

So far, I'm not overly worried. I got my camera already

As long as Olympus stays with the standard for another camera generation, it would be quite reasonable for me. The Leica 25mm lens and the Olympus 50mm lens are enough reason to use the 4/3 system. They are both superior performers.

Just my opinion. Sean.

Completely agree. Even if the rumor was true is not like your camera would stop working. I get a kick sometimes when some people get too upset about their camera being discontinued as if all of a sudden their capability as a photographer went down or something

[Raist3d]

Panasonic made a statement in which they say:

- The representative was not authorized to make any statement
- That the representative was misinformed
- That Panasonic abandoning 4/3rds was not correct
- That Panasonic will make an official statement soon about this, which will be published in that German magazine that first published the representative that allegedly said they would be exiting 4/3rds (this is the very magazine saying this now)
- Olympus says, they don't comment on moves of other manufacturers

So there we have it. Looks like Panasonic may be up to something but whatever that something is doesn't exclude 4/3rds and/or there was a complete misunderstanding.

- Raist

[toddbee]

I read that they are not leaving 4/3

[Raist3d]

That's sort of what I said Yeah, they aren't.

- Raist

[Jonathanp]

Very interesting.