In the late 1970s, I sold cameras at a department store. Mostly, we sold Nikon, Minolta, and Olympus SLRs but also Fujica/FujiFilm, Pentax, and Canon. That order also shows the relative quantities sold. The Canon AE-1 was possibly the worst seller, and I really had to explain Shutter Priority auto exposure--and why the controls seemed to be the opposite of everything else we sold. (We also sold Medium Format, 110 Format film cameras and the odd, leftover 126 Format cameras. Polaroid and Kodak had instant cameras.)
Now, we're getting back to a time like that, when many camera makers have an entry in 135 Format. Nikon and Canon have been in 135 Format for a while now, and Pentax returned recently with the K-1, now at K-1 Mk II. Sony was the first with a 135 Format mirrorless line and they're on the third generation now.
In the last few weeks, Nikon and Canon introduced mirrorless 135 Format models. In my opinion, Nikon is closer to getting it right from the start. They're going to need a lot of firmware updates and they don't like to do that. Canon didn't stray far from home and they're going to need to re-do their system much more quickly than Nikon will simply because of the lens mount.
This week, Panasonic, Sigma, and Leica got together on the L-mount, already in use by Leica (SL, TL) in a 135 Format camera body.
This is news because Panasonic has been a small appliance and electronics company for years. They have come so far since those days, possibly due to their feud with Sony.
In any case, two 135 Format bodies, one high resolution (S1R), one low (S1), similar to Nikon's path. Having an SD Card slot along with an XQD slot is brilliant. The thing is--these are months off, probably available around spring. Specifications are subject to change without notice is the appropriate statement, isn't it?
The other part of their announcement is that Sigma is moving to 135 Format with their Foveon technology. I'm trying to keep an open mind, but they haven't been making much progress. When someone complains about their low light capabilities, someone has to yell "Hey, look, over there!"
The better part of this is that Sigma will finally have a worthy mount and can share a market, instead of cornering a market that few want. (There probably aren't that many Leica users, though.)
My only question is: where is Olympus? I don't have to ask about FujiFilm. They're not competing head-to-head. They have introduced another 50MP Medium Format model and documented that they are working on the rumored 100MP model. I'm not sure whether Pentax is a factor since they haven't had much luck with mirrorless, going the quirky path, but there is a new Irix 150mm f/2.8 macro lens with their mount that will be available. The K-1 Mk II and the update to the original seem to be decent, but better auto focus would make people want to buy them.
Olympus has rumored that they are working on a higher high-end camera body, which considering the price of the E-M1 Mk II, they need some much better technology for micro Four-Thirds. If they're heading to 135 Format, I'm thinking things will heat up.
Update 2019.01.12: Panasonic supposedly will launch their S1 and S1R bodies in March 2019. That's not particularly far away, and yet, we still don't have many details. It should be interesting to see what lenses Sigma has re-mounted by launch time. The latest Sigma lenses seem to be quite good and would help make the launch a success.
Nikon seems to be getting good press, even though they have some shortcomings, as with any first generation equipment. I can imagine that Panasonic will have odd troubles, but the bodies should be as good as can be made--the line starting with the GH3 should be proof of that. However, dust reduction and sensor-based image stabilization will be their biggest engineering feats, plus re-working their video routines.
Update 2019.03.31: Panasonic have opened up and their big mirrorless bodies and a few lenses are about to be sold. They look good, even though they are rather large and rather heavy. To me, having fully-functional camera bodies is a necessity to make the work flow more easily. The Panasonic GH4 never got in my way, just like the Olympus E-1 or E-5. The designers considered how it should work for quick and easy use. I also have the Panasonic GM5, which uses the same lenses and it's hardly the most ergonomic camera body but it does the job, especially since I can strap it to my wrist, work with the GH4, and grab the GM5 for other photos or video.
It will be interesting to see how Panasonic changes 135 Format and how Sony will respond, since they have had the mirrorless 135 Format market to themselves for a while.
Canon and Nikon are making a splash, but too many of their users have been told for too long that mirrorless bodies aren't professional bodies and can't do what the dSLR can do. IMO, Nikon still have the upper hand with a forward-thinking lens mount, compared to Sony or Canon. On the other hand, having third parties try to decode the lens mount is really incredibly stupid, no matter how many of your own brand lenses you sell, especially when native format lenses are few.
Sigma's Art line lenses will be available as 2019 continues. I suppose that this is a good thing but I suggest that they should have made some zoom lenses available, especially those from their Sports line. Shouldn't the 60-600mm lens be available? 135 Format needs longer lenses.
Update 2020.02.17: There is nothing really amazing happening at the moment, but Panasonic has three models in their S line, Canon has two, and Nikon has two.
Sigma created a very tiny L-mount model but they're having trouble creating a Foveon-technology-based sensor for 135 Format.
What I've seen is that no one has great technology but they all have something to contribute. Leica is the most expensive. Canon is the least expensive. Sony has been in the space for a few years and is suddenly needing to fix their user interface and generally sloppiness in their software. Panasonic has incredible hardware, as well as incredibly large hardware, but they need phase detection auto focus, no matter what they think.
Having worked with the GH4 so much, Panasonic's S1H looks a treat. However, I have so many video clips where the AF just goes away while the image processor is busy. Still, I would probably go with Panasonic, just knowing that I can depend on the software, and make sure that the AF problems are minimal.
Update 2024.10.19: Got the Panasonic S5 Mk II with Phase Detection Auto Focus, which is an L-mount body. Those Panasonic bodies from four years ago need to be replaced.
Canon and Nikon have expanded their mirrorless line up and de-emphasized their dSLRs. Fujifilm is still working in APS-C and Medium Format. Generations have been retired and they're still futzing with the auto focus.
I had hoped that Olympus would continue with Panasonic, going to 135 Format, but they're on life support, as OM Digital.
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