Hot on heels of PMA 2004: Four Thirds System gets three new members. Some prospects

One of key events at PMA 2004 that we couldn´t pass by was a number of announcements and messages dedicated to the Four Thirds (4/3) standard repeatedly mentioned in our news. If you remember, the Four Thirds System was first introduced in September 2002 and announced exactly a year ago at PMA 2003. Pity, but since the release of the first (and still the only) 4/3 digital camera, Olympus E-1, alongside a number of lenses for it, members of this consortium, including Olympus, Kodak, and Fujifilm, have been keeping silent (just Olympus made several minor announcements).

PMA 2004 in the first instance brought news on the new Four Thirds supporters, being Matsushita Electric Industrial, Sanyo Electric and Sigma Corporation. Perhaps, now Olympus E-System will find itself worthy successors.

FourThirds System was designed to advance the new generation of DSLR cameras. Sensors 4/3" diagonal (which the standard was obviously named after) implies the development of rather compact optical systems. Besides, Four Thirds System defines an open standard of lens mounting that grounds the future compatibility of Four Thirds System with various lenses from various manufacturers.

I can´t say that the Four Thirds standard itself is so open for examination, as even at the dedicated four-thirds.org website you won´t find detailed specs, if you, say, are willing to join the standard and release your own 4/3 product. Well, all I can say it´s a pity, because the idea is essentially nice, but such "closeness" might lead to a deplorable end.

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