OM System Does Not Want To Move Away From MFT
OM System has once again made it clear that it has no plans to move away from Micro Four Thirds, despite having considered larger sensor formats in the past. During a recent interview on OM System's Japanese YouTube channel, COO and CTO Setsuya Kataoka and OM System Business Unit Head Eiji Shirota talked about why the company continues to focus on smaller sensors instead of developing APS-C or full-frame cameras. Interestingly, both confirmed that larger formats have come up in internal discussions several times over the years. Kataoka even admitted that he briefly considered expanding into APS-C or full-frame around 15 years ago. However, he eventually decided that it made more sense to concentrate on getting as much as possible out of Micro Four Thirds before moving on to something else.
According to Shirota, one of the biggest reasons for staying with Micro Four Thirds is the smaller size and weight of the cameras and lenses. He acknowledged that full-frame cameras have certain advantages when it comes to image quality, but also pointed out that these differences do not necessarily matter equally to every photographer. Both executives also talked quite a bit about weather sealing, durability and portability, which have been important parts of OM System's philosophy for years. They mentioned photographers working in pretty extreme conditions, including temperatures as low as -40°C, sandstorms in Mongolia and remote parts of the Amazon. In situations like these, having a smaller camera system that can handle difficult weather conditions can be more useful than simply having a larger sensor.
The interview also started some discussions among photographers online, and quite a few seem to agree that OM System should stay with Micro Four Thirds. Some argue that entering the already crowded APS-C or full-frame markets would not make much sense, especially when the company already has an established lens system. Others believe that faster processors, global shutter technology and more advanced computational photography could eventually help smaller sensors catch up in areas like dynamic range, noise and resolution. However, not everyone is convinced. Some people point out that Micro Four Thirds sensor development has been moving relatively slowly, while others have suggested that OM should consider medium format or even joining the L-Mount Alliance, although those ideas come with their own challenges. For now, OM System appears determined to keep developing Micro Four Thirds, with the goal of becoming the leading camera brand for outdoor photography.
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