> Russell wrote:
> > Olympus are building exchangeable lens cameras now which use
> > solely EVF and no optical path.
> > Referred to as "micro four thirds" format.

> The only Olympus micro four thirds I've heard of is the E-P1 (aka
> new Pen). =A0I have never heard it referred to as an SLR.

Four thirds ha been around a wee while.
Micro four thirds keeps the same basic lens format but changes the
lens mount to make the system smaller BUT makes it so it cannot
accomodate a mirror box etc. At least, that's what they say. A clever
designer could probably still work some magic with folded light paths.

Below is some variably relevant stuff on both systems.

Note the goodish SDK article which discusses whether it is still a
DSLR when the R part is removed.


  Russell

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 Good comparison of 4/3 and u4/3

           http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro_Four_Thirds_system

 4/3

         http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Thirds_system

______________________________________


This article puts the arguments reasonably succinctly.
Even if it ends up being somewhat confused about it all.

        http://www.steves-digicams.com/knowledge-center/micro-four-thirds-e=
volution-of-the-dslr.html

... Now the new Micro Four Thirds technology used by Olympus and
Panasonic is starting to blur the lines of what we call a dSLR
(digital single lens reflex) by removing the mirror(s) and prism that
add complexity to the dSLR and replacing them with digital components.
 Are these new "solid state" cameras still SLR cameras and what
benefits do they offer?  ...

...  The Olympus/Panasonic Micro Four Thirds system used in cameras
like the Panasonic G1 and upcoming E-series cameras from Olympus work
less like a dSLR and more like a compact camera in that there is no
mirror and no optical viewfinder where you can see through the lens.
Instead, there is an LCD on the back of the camera and a digital
viewfinder that works like an optical viewfinder on a traditional dSLR
except that what you see is a digitized image of what the camera sees
through the lens.  In a sense, the Micro Four Thirds system is like a
pocket camera with a digital viewfinder that you can put your eye
close to in order to see the viewfinder better in bright light.
Having all the features of a dSLR plus the digital viewfinder, it's a
compact camera that looks and feels like a dSLR to a large extent.  In
the end, whether you call it a dSLR or something else is up to you.
You could argue that point either way, but to me, the most important
thing is that the Micro Four Thirds system does make cameras that
look, operate, and feel like a dSLR with some useful advantages! ...

...  Though the Micro Four Thirds format is not limited to dSLR type
cameras  ...


... As of this writing, the only Micro Four Thirds dSLR available in
the U.S. is the Panasonic G1 ...

...  Well suited for dSLR video and lending itself to more compact
camera/lens sizes,  ...



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http://gizmodo.com/5282802/olympus-e+p1-is-the-micro-four-thirds-camera-wev=
e-been-waiting-for



http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/15/leaked-olympus-ep-1-micro-four-thirds-co=
mpact-has-us-hot-bother/

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