UP THERE FOR THINKING
We need to talk about sensor size. The introduction of mirrorless camera systems from Canon, Nikon and Panasonic which use 35mm format sensors has reignited the debate about whether bigger is better. Of course, these brands – along with Sony and Leica – will tell you that it is and, in terms of the basic physics involved, they’re essentially right. However, it’s not so much the bigger sensor that delivers benefits, but the bigger pixels by virtue of having a higher signal-to-noise ratio.
In the real world of modern digital camera design there are other factors at play which will influence image quality, not the least being how the data derived from the sensor is processed. Nor is it true that having more pixels is a good thing because this can, in fact, mean that they’re smaller. So, as Olympus has already proven in the E-M1 Mark II, 20.4 effective megapixels from its Micro Four Thirds size sensor is capable of delivering more than sufficient image quality for a great many applications. Remember when we were happy with 12 MP or even just eight?
“OLYMPUS CLAIMS THE E-M1X SETS A ‘NEW BENCHMARK FOR RELIABILITY’ WHICH IS GOOD BECAUSE SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY, IN PARTICULAR, IS MUCH HARDER ON CAMERA GEAR THAN JUST ABOUT ANY OTHER PURSUIT.”
What is directly related to sensor size is depth-of-field which becomes inherently deeper as the imaging area gets smaller, but if, for example, you’re a sports or action photographer then you often want all the d-of-f that you can possibly get… because using fast shutter speeds generally means shooting at wider apertures. The key benefit of the smaller sensor size is, of course, a larger focal length magnification factor which allows for more compact lenses, as is compellingly illustrated by Panasonic’s DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm f4.0-6.3 ASPH Power OIS (equivalent to 200-800mm) or Olympus’s own M.Zuiko Digital 300mm f4.0 PRO (equivalent to 600mm), both of which can be comfortably used hand-held. So will the planned M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm f4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO which, when mated with a new 2.0x teleconverter, will deliver the equivalent of 2000mm.
Consequently, it’s not hard to see why Olympus has decided to go all out with the M43 format and exploit its potential for any area of photography where there’s a need for speed which can be complemented by the desirability of travelling light… or at least lighter. Rather than being dismayed by all the recent attention being focused on the full-35mm systems – including the one from its fellow co-conspirator in Micro Four Thirds cameras – Olympus sees it as a golden opportunity to become the format’s champion and promote it as OM-D’s big point of difference. It’s not clear whether Olympus was invited to join the L Mount Alliance – along with Panasonic, Leica and Sigma – but Toshiyuki Terada, who is GM of the company’s Global Marketing Department, says they weren’t interested anyway. Olympus very much sees its future in mirrorless cameras being dedicated to M43 and what it can achieve by building around the smaller sensor.
The E-M1X drives home the point not just in its physical design, but in the new technologies it incorporates and Olympus’s turbocharging of just about every key speed-related specification. The most significant aspect of the external design is the integration of the vertical handgrip which, by eliminating the coupling, maintains the overall integrity of the bodyshell, both in terms of strength and weather protection, and also allows for the installation of two battery packs (which are both supplied), giving a greatly extended shooting range of over 850 shots.The body covers are, of course, magnesium
