The Four Thirds system uses a 4:3 image aspect ratio, like compact digital cameras. 220 mm 2, is approximately 30% less than the APS-C sensors used in other manufacturers' DSLRs it is around 9 times larger than the 1/2.3" sensors typically used in compact digital cameras. The image sensor of Four Thirds and MFT measures 18 mm × 13.5 mm (22.5 mm diagonal), with an imaging area of 17.3 mm × 13.0 mm (21.6 mm diagonal), comparable to the frame size of 110 film. Both systems today provide focusing speeds to rival or even surpass many current DSLRs.ĭrawing showing the relative sizes of sensors used in most current digital cameras, relative to a 35mm film frame Although some current models, such as the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, feature a hybrid phase-detect/contrast detect system, Panasonic Lumix cameras have continued to use a contrast-based system called DFD (Depth from Defocus). To this day most Micro Four Thirds cameras continue to use a contrast-based focusing system. Original Micro Four Thirds cameras used a contrast-detection autofocus system, slower than the phase-detect autofocus that is standard on DSLRs. Resolutions and refresh speeds on these EVF displays were originally compared negatively to optical viewfinders, but today's EVF systems are faster, brighter and much higher resolution than the original displays. Micro Four Thirds cameras use an electronic viewfinder. The small lenses do not allow the noise depth-of-field tradeoffs of larger lenses in other systems. However, their sensors are smaller than full-frame or even APS-C systems. However, Micro Four Thirds cameras also tend to be slightly larger, heavier and more expensive than compact cameras.Ĭompared to most digital SLRs, the Micro Four Thirds system (body and lenses) is smaller and lighter. Different lenses yield greater creative possibilities. On top of this, a large number of other lenses (even from the analogue film era) can be fitted using an adapter. 5.7 Popularity with adapted/legacy lensesįor comparison of the original Four Thirds with competing DSLR system see Four Thirds system#Advantages, disadvantages and other considerationsĬompared to inexpensive digital compact cameras and many bridge cameras, MFT cameras have better, larger sensors, and interchangeable lenses.5.6 Disadvantages of Micro Four Thirds compared to compact digital cameras.5.5 Advantages of Micro Four Thirds over compact digital cameras.5.4 Disadvantages of Micro Four Thirds compared to DSLRs.5.3 Advantages of the electronic viewfinder.5.2 Advantages of Micro Four Thirds over DSLR cameras.5 Flange focal distance and crop factor.3.1 Viewfinders for a mirrorless camera.Still-camera lenses produced by Canon, Leica, Minolta, Nikon, Pentax and Zeiss have all been successfully adapted for MFT use - as well as lenses produced for cinema, e.g., PL mount or C mount. The short flange distance, when combined with an adapter of proper depth, allows MFT bodies to use almost any lens ever made for a camera with a flange distance larger than 19.25mm. Unlike Four Thirds, the MFT system design specification does not provide space for a mirror box and a pentaprism, which facilitates smaller body and lens designs via the shorter flange focal distance of 19.25mm. MFT shares the original image sensor size and specification with the Four Thirds system, designed for DSLRs. MFT lenses are produced by Cosina Voigtländer, DJI, Kowa, Kodak, Mitakon, Olympus, Panasonic, Samyang, Sharp, Sigma, SLR Magic, Tamron, Tokina, TTArtisan, Veydra, Xiaomi, Laowa, Yongnuo, Zonlai, Lensbaby, Kowa, Venus Optics and 7artisans amongst others. Camera bodies are available from Blackmagic, DJI, JVC, Kodak, Olympus, Panasonic, Sharp, and Xiaomi. The Micro Four Thirds system ( MFT or M4/3) ( マイクロフォーサーズシステム, Maikuro Fō Sāzu Shisutemu) is a standard released by Olympus and Panasonic in 2008, for the design and development of mirrorless interchangeable lens digital cameras, camcorders and lenses.