Lots of Four-Thirds (4/3) news came out of the recently concluded Photokina Show in Cologne, Germany. Before we take a quick peek at the product it’s important to note that the show clearly illustrated the 4/3 system is gaining steam as member companies (Olympus, Kodak, Fuji, Leica, Panasonic, Sanyo, Sigma) made a strong showing of new product at the show, and the general feeling was the system is delivering on its promise to deliver compact, lightweight, high quality, digital-specific lenses for the DSLR market.
Many Photokina observers were claiming the new Leica Summilux 25mm f1.4 ASPH lens was, “the bright, normal lens the Four Thirds system has been waiting for.” Panasonic had this model at their both as well telling us it was “well-received.”
Sigma actually introduced three new Four Thirds lenses at Photokina, the 24mm f1.8 Macro, a 18-50mm f2.8 and a 135-400mm f4.5-5.6. The introduction of these three new lenses increases Sigma’s lens line-up for Four Thirds mount to a total of eleven models.
We were particularly impressed with the 135-400 as this one is particularly compact and lightweight. The introduction of the new SD-14 DSLR made this quite a show for Sigma.
Olympus also recently unveiled a mock-up of the yet unnamed E-1 successor (dare we call it the E-2?). The new model, we are told, will have a more traditional design than the E-1 as well as a much larger LDC.
While the newly released E-400 is not expected to be released in the North American market, it is worth noting that Olympus is billing the model as the “world’s smallest DSLR.” On the 4/3 front, Olympus also introduced a new kit lens with the 400, a 14-42mm f3.5-5.6, said to be the lightest Four Thirds lens to date. We can only assume something similar is planned for the U.S. market real soon.
Olympus also announced that they have updated their www.fourthirds.org Web site. The site now contains information about all lenses and cameras in the Four Thirds system as well as complete product specs.
