The Four Thirds System is a standard created by Olympus and Eastman Kodak for digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) and mirrorless camera design and development.[1]
The system provides a standard that, with digital cameras and lenses available from multiple manufacturers, allows for the interchange of lenses and bodies from different manufacturers. U.S. patent 6,910,814 seems to cover the standard. Proponents describe it as an open standard, but companies may use it only under a non-disclosure agreement.[2]
Unlike older single-lens reflex (SLR) systems, Four Thirds was designed from the start to be entirely digital. Many lenses are extensively computerised, to the point that Olympus offers firmware updates for many of them. Lens design has been tailored to the requirements of digital sensors, most notably through telecentric designs. The size of the sensor is significantly smaller than for most DSLRs and this implies that lenses, especially telephoto lenses, can be smaller. For example, a Four Thirds lens with a 300 mm focal length would cover about the same angle of view as a 600 mm focal length lens for the 35 mm film standard, and is correspondingly more compact. Thus, the Four Thirds System has crop factor (focal length multiplier) of about 2, and while this enables longer focal length for greater magnification, it does not necessarily aid the manufacture of wide angle lenses.
The image sensor format, between those of larger SLRs and smaller point-and-shoot compact digital cameras, yields intermediate levels of cost, performance, and convenience.
The name of the system stems from the size of the image sensor used in the cameras, which is commonly referred to as a 4/3" type or 4/3 type sensor. The common inch-based sizing system is derived from vacuum image-sensing video camera tubes, which are now obsolete. The imaging area of a Four Thirds sensor is equal to that of a video camera tube of 4/3 inch diameter.[3]
The usual size of the sensor is 18 mm × 13.5 mm (22.5 mm diagonal), with an imaging area of 17.3 mm × 13.0 mm (21.63 mm diagonal).[3][4] The sensor's area is about 30–40% smaller than APS-C sensors used in most other DSLRs, but still around 9 times larger than the 1/2.5" sensors typically used in compact digital cameras. Incidentally, the imaging area of a Four Thirds sensor is almost identical to that of 110 film.
The emphasis on the 4:3 image aspect ratio sets Four Thirds apart from other DSLR systems, which usually adhere to the 3:2 aspect ratio of the traditional 35mm format. However, the standard only specifies the sensor diagonal, thus Four Thirds cameras using the standard 3:2 aspect ratio would be possible;[5] notably newer Panasonic Micro Four Thirds models even offer shooting at multiple aspect ratios while maintaining the same image diagonal. For instance, the Panasonic GH1 uses a multi-aspect sensor designed to maximize use of the image circle at 4:3, 3:2, and 16:9; each ratio having a diagonal of 22.5 mm.[6]
Sensor aspect ratio influences lens design. For example, many lenses designed by Olympus for the Four Thirds System contain internal rectangular baffles or permanently mounted "petal" lens hoods that optimise their operation for the 4:3 aspect ratio.[citation needed]
In an interview John Knaur, a Senior Product Manager at Olympus, stated that "The FourThirds refers to both the size of the imager and the aspect ratio of the sensor".[7] He also pointed out the similarities between 4:3 and the standard printing size of 8×10 as well as medium format 6×4.5 and 6×7 cameras, thus helping explain Olympus' rationale on choosing 4:3 rather than 3:2.
As of the 2006 Photo Marketing Association Annual Convention and Trade Show, the Four Thirds consortium consisted of the following companies:
This does not imply a commitment to end user products by each company. Historically, only Leica, Olympus, and Panasonic have produced bodies. Olympus and Leica/Panasonic have made dedicated Four Thirds lenses, and Sigma makes adapted versions of their "DC" lenses for APS-C format DSLRs. Kodak once sold sensors to Olympus for use in their Four Thirds bodies, but the newer Olympus Four Thirds cameras used Panasonic sensors.
The majority of Four Thirds System cameras and Four Thirds lenses are made by Olympus. Many Four Thirds cameras use "sensor-shift" in-body image stabilization, making the need for image stabilization technology in its lenses unnecessary. All Four Thirds cameras also incorporate an automatic sensor cleaning device, in which a thin glass filter in front of the sensor vibrates at 30 kHz, causing dust to fall off and adhere to a piece of sticky material below. Olympus' E-system camera bodies are noted for their inclusion of a wide range of firmware-level features and customization, good JPEG engine, and compact size. Because of the smaller format of Four Thirds, the viewfinders tend to be smaller than on comparable cameras.[13][14]
Manufacture of Four Thirds cameras came to an end after the introduction of the mirrorless Micro Four Thirds format. Discontinued models include:
The Four Thirds lens mount is specified to be a bayonet type with a flange focal distance of 38.67 mm.
There were 41 lenses made for the Four Thirds System standard, including two that were modified and re-released in approximately 2009 with improved mechanisms but otherwise identical optics.[a][15]
Before announcing that it would stop production of Four Thirds lenses in early 2017,[16] Olympus produced 24 lenses for the Four Thirds System under their "Zuiko Digital" brand. They are divided into three grades — Standard, High Grade and Super High Grade. High Grade lenses have faster maximum apertures, but are significantly more expensive and larger, and the Super High Grade zooms have constant maximum aperture over the full zoom range; all but the Standard grade are weather-sealed. Lenses within each grade cover the range from wide-angle to super telephoto.[17][18] The Zuiko Digital lenses are well regarded for their consistently good optics.[19] The following table lists all Zuiko Digital lenses available at the time Olympus stopped Four Thirds production:[20]
Wide angle | Standard | Telephoto | Super telephoto | Special-purpose | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Standard | 9–18 f/4–5.6 | 14–42 f/3.5–5.6 25 f/2.8 "pancake" |
40–150 f/4–5.6 | 70–300 f/4–5.6 macro | 35 f/3.5 macro 18–180 f/3.5-6.3 superzoom |
High Grade | 11–22 f/2.8–3.5 | 12–60 f/2.8–4 14–54 f/2.8–3.5 II |
50–200 f/2.8–3.5 SWD | 50 f/2 macro 8 f/3.5 fisheye | |
Super High Grade | 7–14 f/4 | 14–35 f/2 | 35–100 f/2 150 f/2 |
90–250 f/2.8 300 f/2.8 |
Olympus also made 1.4× and 2× teleconverters and an electronically coupled extension tube.
Sigma has adapted 13 lenses for the Four Thirds System, ranging from 10 mm to 800 mm, including several for which no equivalent exists: the fast primes (30 mm f/1.4 and 50 mm f/1.4) and extreme telephoto (300–800 mm f/5.6). As of 2014 all Sigma lenses for the Four Thirds System have been discontinued.
Leica has designed four lenses for the Four Thirds System: fast and slow normal zooms and a 14–150 mm super-zoom, all with Panasonic's image stabilization system, and an unstabilized f/1.4 25 mm prime. These are manufactured and sold by Panasonic.
An official list of available lenses can be found on Four-Thirds.org web site.[21]
As for the system itself, it was silently discontinued in favor of the Micro Four Thirds System.
Name | Mfr. | F.L. (mm) | Ap., Blades[b] | Splash / Dust[c] | OIS | Const. | Angle | Min. focus | Filter (mm) | Dims. (Φ×L) | Wgt. | Notes / Refs. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fisheye lenses | ||||||||||||
ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 8mm F3.5 Fisheye | Olympus | 8 | f/3.5–22, 7(C) | Yes | No | 10e/6g | 180° | 0.135 m (5.31 in) | — | 79 mm × 77 mm (3.11 in × 3.03 in) | 485 g (17.1 oz) | [24][25] |
Ultra wide angle lenses | ||||||||||||
ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 7-14mm F4.0 | Olympus | 7–14 | f/4–22, 7(C) | Yes | No | 18e/12g | 114–75° | 0.25 m (9.84 in) | — | 86.5 mm × 119.5 mm (3.41 in × 4.70 in) | 780 g (27.5 oz) | [26][27] |
ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 9-18mm F4.0-5.6 | Olympus | 9–18 | f/4~5.6–22, 7(C) | No | No | 13e/9g | 100–62° | 0.25 m (9.84 in) | 72 | 79.5 mm × 73 mm (3.13 in × 2.87 in) | 275 g (9.7 oz) | [26][28] |
Wide angle lenses | ||||||||||||
10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC HSM | Sigma | 10–20 | f/4~5.6–22, 6 | No | No | 14e/10g | 94.5–56.8° | 0.24 m (9.45 in) | 77 | 83.5 mm × 86.4 mm (3.29 in × 3.40 in) | 495 g (17.5 oz) | [26][29] |
ZUIKO DIGITAL 11-22mm F2.8-3.5 | Olympus | 11–22 | f/2.8~3.5–22, 7 | Yes | No | 12e/10g | 89–53° | 0.28 m (11.02 in) | 72 | 75 mm × 92.5 mm (2.95 in × 3.64 in) | 485 g (17.1 oz) | [26][30] |
Normal lenses | ||||||||||||
ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 SWD | Olympus | 12–60 | f/2.8~4–22, 7(C) | Yes | No | 14e/10g | 84–20° | 0.25 m (9.84 in) | 72 | 79.5 mm × 98.5 mm (3.13 in × 3.88 in) | 575 g (20.3 oz) | [31][32] |
ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-35mm F2.0 SWD | Olympus | 14–35 | f/2.0–22, 9(C) | Yes | No | 18e/17g | 75–34° | 0.35 m (13.78 in) | 77 | 86 mm × 123 mm (3.39 in × 4.84 in) | 900 g (31.7 oz) | [31][33] |
ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 | Olympus | 14–42 | f/3.5~5.6–22, 7(C) | No | No | 10e/8g | 75–29° | 0.25 m (9.84 in) | 58 | 65.5 mm × 61 mm (2.58 in × 2.40 in) | 190 g (6.7 oz) | [31][34] |
ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-45mm F3.5-5.6 | Olympus | 14–45 | f/3.5~5.6–22, 7 | No | No | 12e/10g | 75–27° | 0.38 m (14.96 in) | 58 | 71 mm × 86.5 mm (2.80 in × 3.41 in) | 285 g (10.1 oz) | [35][36] |
LEICA D VARIO-ELMARIT 14-50mm F2.8-3.5 ASPH. MEGA O.I.S. | Panasonic | 14–50 | f/2.8~3.5–22, 7 | No | Yes | 16e/12g | 75–24° | 0.29 m (11.42 in) | 72 | 78.1 mm × 97.4 mm (3.07 in × 3.83 in) | 490 g (17.3 oz) | [31][37] |
LEICA D VARIO-ELMAR 14-50mm F3.8-5.6 ASPH. MEGA O.I.S. | Panasonic | f/3.8~5.6–22, 7 | No | Yes | 15e/11g | 67 | 78 mm × 84.5 mm (3.07 in × 3.33 in) | 435 g (15.3 oz) | [31][38] | |||
ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-54mm F2.8-3.5 | Olympus | 14–54 | f/2.8~3.5–22, 7 | Yes | No | 15e/11g | 75–23° | 0.22 m (8.66 in) | 67 | 73.5 mm × 88.5 mm (2.89 in × 3.48 in) | 435 g (15.3 oz) | [35][39] |
ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-54mm F2.8-3.5 II | f/2.8~3.5–22, 7(C) | 74.5 mm × 88.5 mm (2.93 in × 3.48 in) | 440 g (15.5 oz) | [31][40] | ||||||||
ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 17.5-45mm F3.5-5.6 | Olympus | 17.5–45 | f/3.5~5.6–22, 7(C) | No | No | 7e/7g | 63–27° | 0.28 m (11.02 in) | 52 | 71 mm × 70 mm (2.80 in × 2.76 in) | 210 g (7.4 oz) | Kit lens with E-500[41] |
18-50mm F2.8 EX DC MACRO | Sigma | 18–50 | f/2.8–22, 7 | No | No | 15e/13g | 62–24° | 0.2 m (7.87 in) | 72 | 79 mm × 91.1 mm (3.11 in × 3.59 in) | 525 g (18.5 oz) | [31][42] |
18-50mm F3.5-5.6 DC | Sigma | f/3.5~5.6–22, 7 | No | No | 8e/8g | 0.25 m (9.84 in) | 58 | 67.5 mm × 67.8 mm (2.66 in × 2.67 in) | 270 g (9.5 oz) | [31][43] | ||
24mm F1.8 EX DG ASPHERICAL MACRO | Sigma | 24 | f/1.8–22, 9 | No | No | 10e/9g | 49° | 0.18 m (7.09 in) | 77 | 83.6 mm × 87.9 mm (3.29 in × 3.46 in) | 520 g (18.3 oz) | [24][44] |
LEICA D SUMMILUX 25mm F1.4 ASPH. | Panasonic | 25 | f/1.4–16, 7(C) | No | No | 10e/9g | 47° | 0.38 m (14.96 in) | 72 | 77.7 mm × 75 mm (3.06 in × 2.95 in) | 510 g (18.0 oz) | [24][45] |
ZUIKO DIGITAL 25mm F2.8 | Olympus | 25 | f/2.8–22, 7(C) | No | No | 5e/4g | 47° | 0.2 m (7.87 in) | 43 | 64 mm × 23.5 mm (2.52 in × 0.93 in) | 96 g (3.4 oz) | [24][46] |
30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM | Sigma | 30 | f/1.4–16, 8 | No | No | 7e/7g | 40° | 0.4 m (15.75 in) | 62 | 77.8 mm × 63.9 mm (3.06 in × 2.52 in) | 410 g (14.5 oz) | [24][47] |
Superzoom lenses | ||||||||||||
LEICA D VARIO-ELMAR 14-150mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH. MEGA O.I.S. | Panasonic | 14–150 | f/3.5~5.6–22, 7 | No | Yes | 15e/11g | 75–8.2° | 0.5 m (19.69 in) | 72 | 78.5 mm × 90.4 mm (3.09 in × 3.56 in) | 535 g (18.9 oz) | [31][48] |
ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 18-180mm F3.5-6.3 | Olympus | 18–180 | f/3.5~6.3–22, 7 | No | No | 15e/13g | 62–6.9° | 0.45 m (17.72 in) | 62 | 78 mm × 84.5 mm (3.07 in × 3.33 in) | 435 g (15.3 oz) | [31][49] |
Telephoto lenses | ||||||||||||
ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 35-100mm F2.0 | Olympus | 35–100 | f/2.0–22, 9(C) | Yes | No | 21e/18g | 62–6.9° | 1.4 m (55.12 in) | 77 | 96.5 mm × 213.5 mm (3.80 in × 8.41 in) | 1,650 g (58.2 oz) | [50][51] |
ZUIKO DIGITAL 40-150mm F3.5-4.5 | Olympus | 40–150 | f/3.5~4.5–22, 7(C) | No | No | 13e/10g | 62–6.9° | 1.5 m (59.06 in) | 58 | 77 mm × 107 mm (3.03 in × 4.21 in) | 425 g (15.0 oz) | [52][53] |
ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm F4-5.6 | f/4.0~5.6–22, 7(C) | 12e/9g | 1.4 m (55.12 in) | 65.5 mm × 72 mm (2.58 in × 2.83 in) | 220 g (7.8 oz) | [50][54] | ||||||
50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM | Sigma | 50 | f/1.4–16, 9 | No | No | 8e/6g | 62–6.9° | 0.45 m (17.72 in) | 77 | 84.5 mm × 73.7 mm (3.33 in × 2.90 in) | 530 g (18.7 oz) | [24][55] |
ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 50-200mm F2.8-3.5 | Olympus | 50–200 | f/2.8~3.5–22, 9 | Yes | No | 16e/15g | 24–6.2° | 1.2 m (47.24 in) | 67 | 83 mm × 157 mm (3.27 in × 6.18 in) | 920 g (32.5 oz) | [52][56] |
ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 50-200mm F2.8-3.5 SWD | f/2.8~3.5–22, 9(C) | 86.5 mm × 157 mm (3.41 in × 6.18 in) | 995 g (35.1 oz) | [50][57] | ||||||||
APO 50-500mm F4.0-6.3 EX DG HSM | Sigma | 50–500 | f/4.0~6.3–22, 9 | No | No | 20e/16g | 24–2.5° | 1.0–3.0 m (39.37–118.11 in) | 86 | 95 mm × 223.9 mm (3.74 in × 8.81 in) | 1,830 g (64.6 oz) | [52][58] |
55-200mm F4.0-5.6 DC | Sigma | 55–200 | f/4.0~5.6–22, 8 | No | No | 12e/9g | 23–6.2° | 1.1 m (43.31 in) | 55 | 71.5 mm × 92.5 mm (2.81 in × 3.64 in) | 330 g (11.6 oz) | [52][59] |
APO 70-200mm F2.8 II EX DG MACRO HSM | Sigma | 70–200 | f/2.8–22, 9 | No | No | 18e/15g | 18–6.2° | 1.0 m (39.37 in) | 77 | 86.5 mm × 189.8 mm (3.41 in × 7.47 in) | 1,385 g (48.9 oz) | [52][60] |
ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 70-300mm F4.0-5.6 | Olympus | 70–300 | f/4.0~5.6–22, 9(C) | No | No | 14e/10g | 18–4.1° | 0.96–1.2 m (37.80–47.24 in) | 58 | 80 mm × 127.5 mm (3.15 in × 5.02 in) | 615 g (21.7 oz) | [50][61] |
ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 90-250mm F2.8 | Olympus | 90–250 | f/2.8–22, 9(C) | Yes | No | 17e/12g | 14–5.0° | 2.5 m (98.43 in) | 105 | 124 mm × 276 mm (4.88 in × 10.87 in) | 3,270 g (115.3 oz) | [50][62] |
APO 135-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG | Sigma | 135–400 | f/4.5~5.6–22, 9 | No | No | 13e/11g | 9.2–3.1° | 2.0–2.2 m (78.74–86.61 in) | 77 | 83.5 mm × 189 mm (3.29 in × 7.44 in) | 1,280 g (45.2 oz) | [52][63] |
ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 150mm F2.0 | Olympus | 150 | f/2.0–22, 9(C) | Yes | No | 11e/9g | 8.2° | 1.4 m (55.12 in) | 82 | 100 mm × 150 mm (3.94 in × 5.91 in) | 1,465 g (51.7 oz) | [24][64] |
ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 300mm F2.8 | Olympus | 300 | f/2.8–22, 9 | Yes | No | 13e/11g | 4.1° | 2.4 m (94.49 in) | 43(D) | 127 mm × 285 mm (5.00 in × 11.22 in) | 3,290 g (116.1 oz) | [24][65] |
APO 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM | Sigma | 300–800 | f/5.6–32, 9 | No | No | 18e/16g | 4.1–1.6° | 6.0 m (236.22 in) | 46(R) | 156.5 mm × 549.4 mm (6.16 in × 21.63 in) | 5,915 g (208.6 oz) | [52][66] |
Macro lenses | ||||||||||||
ZUIKO DIGITAL 35mm F3.5 Macro | Olympus | 35 | f/3.5–22, 7(C) | No | No | 6e/6g | 34° | 0.146 m (5.75 in) | 52 | 71 mm × 53 mm (2.80 in × 2.09 in) | 165 g (5.8 oz) | [67][68] |
ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 50mm F2.0 Macro | Olympus | 50 | f/2.0–22, 7 | Yes | No | 11e/10g | 24° | 0.24 m (9.45 in) | 52 | 71 mm × 61.5 mm (2.80 in × 2.42 in) | 300 g (10.6 oz) | [67][69] |
MACRO 105mm F2.8 EX DG | Sigma | 105 | f/2.8–22, 8 | No | No | 11e/10g | 12° | 0.31 m (12.20 in) | 58 | 74 mm × 102.9 mm (2.91 in × 4.05 in) | 470 g (16.6 oz) | [67][70] |
APO MACRO 150mm F2.8 EX DG HSM | Sigma | 150 | f/2.8–22, 9 | No | No | 16e/12g | 8.2° | 0.38 m (14.96 in) | 72 | 79.6 mm × 142.4 mm (3.13 in × 5.61 in) | 920 g (32.5 oz) | [67][71] |
Teleconverters | ||||||||||||
ZUIKO DIGITAL 1.4× Teleconverter EC-14 | Olympus | 1.4× | 1.4× | No | No | 6e/5g | approx. ÷1.4 | ×1 | — | 68 mm × 22 mm (2.68 in × 0.87 in) | 170 g (6.0 oz) | [72][73] |
ZUIKO DIGITAL 2.0× Teleconverter EC-20 | Olympus | 2.0× | 2.0× | No | No | 7e/5g | approx. ÷2 | ×1 | — | 68 mm × 41 mm (2.68 in × 1.61 in) | 225 g (7.9 oz) | [72][74] |
In August 2008, Olympus and Panasonic introduced a new format, Micro Four Thirds.
The new system uses the same sensor, but removes the mirror box from the camera design. A live preview is shown on either the camera's main liquid-crystal display or via an electronic viewfinder, as in digital compact cameras. Autofocus may be accomplished via a contrast detection process using the main imager, again similar to digital compact cameras. Some Olympus and Panasonic manufactured camera bodies also feature phase detection auto focus built into the sensor. The goal of the new system was to allow for even smaller cameras, competing directly with higher-end point-and-shoot compact digital cameras and DSLRs. The smaller flange focal distance allows for more compact normal and wide angle lenses. It also facilitates the use, with an adapter, of lenses based on other mounting systems, including many manual focus lenses from the seventies and eighties.
In particular, Four Thirds lenses can be used on Micro Four Thirds bodies with an adapter; however, "all of the functions of the Micro Four Thirds System may not always be available."[75]
Details of the Four Thirds System standard are available to camera equipment manufacturers and industry organizations on an NDA basis. Full specifications cannot be provided to individuals or other educational/research entities.
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