The TRUTH about the MICRO FOUR THIRDS System (M4/3 vs Full Frame) 

I want to address the phrase "half the size of full frame" mentioned in the video since some of you are commenting about it. First off, I should have been more clear and said, "the diagonal measurement is half the size of a full frame sensor." I naturally omitted it because when it comes to imaging, size typically refers to the dimensions, not the area. So a few of you are commenting about how the area of the m43 sensor is actually more like 25% the size of full frame, and you are correct, but that fact is kind of irrelevant when it comes to doing calculations. - m43 diagonal x 2 = full frame diagonal because it's half the size - m43 focal length x2 = equivalent full frame focal length - m43 aperture x2 = equivalent aperture of full frame for DoF - m43 ISO x 2^2 = equivalent noise levels on full frame (You multiply by crop factor squared because of the way SnR is compounded.) Basically we are talking halfs and doubles, because the important information is a multiple of 2. Yes the area is 4 times bigger on full frame, but that number isn't important to the calculations.

I'm 82 yrs old and in my time I went from view cameras to the gh5. Everytime I got a little older and weaker a new lighter system came about. In another 5 years I'll need something lighter bu for the gh5 which I'm still using professionally is just fine. Enjoyed your video.

I am an older computer engineer with all the traditional Engineering training. So math, sizes, and proportions are all intuitive to me. But even with this background I was blown away about how extremely helpful your screen resizing was. Great job! I really enjoyed it so I clicked your like button twice. Oh wait....

Another advantage of MFT is with in-body image stabilization. An MFT sensor is about 25% of the mass of a full-frame sensor, and consequently can be physically positioned much more accurately (using the same amount of battery power). IBIS handheld video on Lumix cameras is noticeably smoother than footage produced by Sony full-frame cameras. Battery life is also significantly longer on MFT cameras.

Gerald is becoming now the international authority adviser on filmmaking gear. You just listen and trust him instantly.

Dude I subscribed based on the effort you put into this video alone. It's nice to finally see a channel that isn't afraid of diving deep into the nerdy details of camera's.

probably the, clearest, most accurate, least amount of BS, presentation of micro 4/3 I've ever seen on YT. Especially liked real world comparison to other formats, such as full-frame Sonys. Well done! I subscribed. The other thing about Panasonic and m4/3 is that it forces Sony to continually up their game. I think it's taking them so long to release the a7Smk3 because they know they have to hit Panny's new benchmarks.

This guy's content is solid, he deserves just about 10 times more subscribers.

It’s 2019 and I just bought a GH5, my first 4/3 camera. Absolutely love this beast, especially for video. I’ve just started my journey with it, but I’m really blown away with all the video options and the image quality.

I switched to Micro 4/3 in March when I bought an OM-D E-M1 Mark II. That thing was a game changer. I had been a loyal Canon user for a decade, but my 6D was showing its age and I wanted a 24-70 lens. I basically said, “Why not?!” and sold off the Canon gear. The size and weight are perfect and the quality is just as sharp as anything I’ve ever seen. The stigma towards anything that’s not Full Frame is sickening once you see what these are capable of.

Nice math breakdown. Makes as much sense as the Farenheit scale!

I switched from a Canon 70D to an Olympus E-M5ii and absolutely love it. Having a toddler, I realised I was quickly tiring of carrying around my Canon (with a standard 2.8 constant zoom) around all day, and often it stayed in my bag which made the camera a bit pointless. With the E-M5ii I have so many options! I can whack on the 12-40 2.8 Pro zoom and add a larger grip and have a do-it-all camera, or I can pop on a prime, put another in my pocket and have a tiny camera that weight almost nothing! So many M4/3 lenses are amazingly sharp wide open, something you can't always say about the lenses on larger systems especially in the same price range. I must admit I have been tempted by Fuji recently, they have some excellent and affordable primes and their cameras just LOOK amazing as well. I think 2019 is going to be a big year for M4/3, and I think it needs to be to ensure they remain competitive.

By FAR the best explanation I have seen online on such a fundamental topic - thank you VERY much!

And that, my friends, is why 1" cameras don't have 1" size sensors. Very clear presentation btw.

I love some of the replies about this great video . When working professionally in photography we didn’t say let’s ditch the 35mm cameras because we now had medium format, or 5x4 s, as every camera has its uses, and strengths, and the size of the camera body and format, is certainly a large part of it . I did love the guy in the comments who said that we are getting obsessed with this ridiculous thing called bokeh, he’s right this is a “tech head “mentality not an art mentality. When people don’t know what to point their cameras at, they talk about Fxxxing gear ... a real bloke thing. Some fabulous comments, and a superb commentator Gerald Undone. He’s what is missing on YT !!

I know this video is old but it makes me sad to see the comments trying so hard to call you out for something or demanding you redo the video. This content is completely free, unbiased, and correct. I recognize how much effort you put into making these videos for us and I'm sure I speak for many when I say we appreciate you!

First video that I have seen of yours. Wow. Lighting is great. Audio is great. Animations are great (and relevant). Super concise while extremely informative. Thank you. Just effing thank you! Great work!

This was awesome! In terms of impact for me personally m43 changed everything. I've gone from chasing new new new new to actually concentrating on my photography and worrying about gear much less. And it's helped tremendously with video. Omg. ❤️

Your videos are always so informational and put together very well. I love the rudimentary examples. Keep up the good work. -Will

Thank you for a thorough , professional, relevant and impartial track of the micro four thirds advantages. Choosing the right camera to access the right lenses is problematic in terms of future proofing and I really appreciate good information from proven operators. Great delivery!

What attracted me to the m4/3 is that • it can be small and casual, • it can be robust and dedicatedly professional • 4:3 format is optically more efficient than 3:2 formats • lenses are smaller but optically less compromised than 3:2 counterparts • lenses need less glass surface, which means better price; thinner elements, which means better colour reproduction, better micro-contrast, less weight, faster AF. • magnification this system offers is sufficient for 99.5% of all enlargements. • future m4/3 sensors will only be better, but FF lenses will never be smaller, better or more affordable than their best m4/3 counterparts. • in terms of quality, m4/3 always gives more for the same money. In short, the m4/3 is the smartest digital camera system. Many FF systems will die out because they are redundant and uneconomical, but m4/3 will stay because it is unique. Thank you Olympus and Panasonic.

My GH5 kit is my go-to gear after shooting Nikon since 1980. The 4k video is amazing from this camera. Handheld surf photos with the 100-400mm without fatigue. The entire kit weighs in at 7 lbs (8mm-400mm) compared to 22 lbs for less than the equivalent of my Nikon FF system (16mm-300mm, 450mm APC). Might have to try the G9 mainly for stills. Sometimes the GH5 misses on night shots but, so did the Nikon D800 at times. Meaning noise. Very well done video explaining it all.

Even after four years, I found this video to be incredibly helpful. Thank you so much for sharing it! While I must admit that the mathematical concepts were a bit challenging for me to grasp, the rest of the content proved to be truly invaluable.

You are like an engineer trapped in a videographers body :)

One of the most impressive Vlogs I've ever watched. Editing 10/10 and amazed at how fast yet clear the delivery is!

Great video! I've been APSC since my first camera. I've always wondered what the appeal might be for people who go m43 instead. Now I think I see some of the points for sure!

Personally I love all the features that my G9 has and I purchased it a week ago and I have no regrets, till this day in early 2020 there is no camera that can do everything or more than the G9 in both video and photo to me, anyways great video Gerald 👌🏻

I spent the last decade hooked on Sony NEX / E-Mount aps-c mirrorless cameras. I have also dabbled with various other manufacturers aps-c DSLRs over the last few years, but recently discovered the joys of micro 4/3 cameras. I have fallen in love with my Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II. I use it more than my trusty old a6000. I love everything about it. I don't think micro 4/3 is going to disappear anytime soon.

Awesome video. You are a great explainer and editor.

Taking the plunge a few years ago with my first Panasonic/Lumix G7 I reconnected to my love of photography and shooting video. Added the GH5 to my kit and a ZS50 for my pocket camera. I recommend the micro four-thirds system to anyone who is thinking about photograpy and video. Thank you for a very well put together video.

This just got recommended to me in 2020. Sadly it's been about 1 week since the news Olympus is being sold. The day before that announcement I had purchased a Lumix g85 and several lenses. m4/3rds might be on its way out, but for me it will go out in a fiery blaze of glory. My main camera system is the Nikon d750. I've done a couple of professional events (large concerts, speaking engagement, parades, birthdays, weddings, one very interesting baby dedication, some portraits for families, and some nature photography competitions) and won some competitions for photography, but I don't consider myself "professional" as I so not seek out events, I normally get asked and only accept a few. All of that to say, my Lumix g85 has become my go to. Not only do I grab it when I leave the house, I use it with virtually no fatigue. A couple days ago I shot a thunderstorm and brought both my cameras and my g85 with the 14mm pancake lens sat in the rain and caught a beautiful time lapse. I also take my g85 hiking and any time I go out of the house for job business events. I'm not sure I'm quite ready to say I'd rely on it as a primary for a professional gig, but there's no way I'm going to about professional gig without it now. I will say the low light limitation has been a major weakness at times that I've had to compensate for (when I set up my time lapse of the thunderstorm I had to limit the ISO settings and use the mechanical shutter because I accidentally left it in auto ISO with no cap during a similar time lapse and the trees looked like playdough). All of that to say, I fear m4/3rds may be on its way out but my biggest regret is not getting into the format earlier

Thank you for this video. The graphics really help to explain the complicated stuff. Well done!

I love the benefits of the m43 system. All my shooting is outdoor and travel stuff for the large depth of field and slower auto-focus were never problems. The large depth of field is actually a benefit when doing hyper-focal shots because I can get the depth of field of a DSLR can but do it at a much smaller f/stop for much faster shutter speeds. I can handhold shots at my lens' "sweetspot" what most DSLR users will need a Tripod and f/22 for. Plus it's awesome being able to shrink down a camera setup to something that you can take backpacking with you.

I just found your channel, and this video. I have to tell you that this is, without a doubt, the best video I have ever watched regarding the attributes of micro four-thirds that make it unique from other common digital form factors. Bravo! Now to answer your question, after the world transitioned to digital imaging, I adopted the four-thirds system, owning both an E-330 and an E-30. The first was a unique but limited body and the second was an awesome camera that is still being used today. When Olympus abandoned four-thirds in favour of micro four-thirds, I switched to Canon. Yep, I was taken in my all the bigger is better nonsense, and I purchased what was then one of the highest rated APS-C cameras of the time - the 7D. What I got was quicker auto-focus, and that was about it frankly! I was now encumbered by a big, heavy camera with huge heavy lenses. Image quality was a little different but absolutely not better, and despite the weight of the beast, it was no more reliable than my earlier Olympus units. I was also sucked into buying "L" lenses, which was stupid given that they are designed for full frame cameras and are thus even heavier with no noticeable IQ benefits. In fact, with the exception of the 400mm f/4, which is an awesomely sharp lens, I can't say that any of the Canon glass I purchased impressed me. Virtually, all the Canon lenses I owned were prone to some degree of fringing at a minimum, while the 85mm f/1.4 was a fringing monster. It was an issue that I never really noticed with even my cheap Olympus lenses. Fast forward a couple of years, and I purchased an Olympus OM-D E-M1. Fast forward a couple more years and I own the 12-40 f/2.8, 7-14 f/2.8 and 40-150 f/2.8. I now have a complete kit of very fast, well built and awesomely sharp glass that is easier to carry than one Canon body and a single telephoto. To top it off, I have better dynamic range, better low light capabilities, and better mobility than I did with the Canon gear. The in built IS of even the first E-M1 is awesome! Even with the 40-150, I have no need to carry a tripod or monopod, making hikes into the back country way more enjoyable. Best of all, I just prefer the handling of Olympus cameras. Finally, lets talk about "IQ." Although we all use this term, it's really a very bad one. Photography is supposed to be a creative process supported by tools. "Image Quality" suggests standards, which is kind of counter to creativity, which at its best is looking for a non-standard approach. When talking about sensors, and cameras, and lenses, it would be much better to talk about "image character." Every tool will offer a character which can be exploited or ignored, as the case may be, by the user. My 7D did have a nice grain to the images that I rather liked. My EM-1 with the 40-150 can produce an exceptional bokeh for environmental portraits at a specific range that is unparalleled. While slow as a snail to focus, my old E-330 could, in good light, offer a richness of colour and tone than was exceptional. It's these nuanced attributes that people should be looking for. It's why, when I am shooting people in good light, my favourite camera is still a Pentax K1000 loaded with Kodak Portra film and a 100mm lens. It gives me a rounded three-dimensional result that no digital camera, no matter the make or model, or sensor, or post processing employed can match, in my opinion. So, why do I use Micro four-thirds? Primarily, I love the reliability, portability, handling, and lens line-up. It makes taking photos fun and predictable. Would I use something else? Of course. Would I carry something else, on long hikes into the forest? Other than my Pentax film kit, which is also surprisingly light and portable, probably not.

You really have a great way of explaining things! Thanks for the video!

Having used most formats from film to digital over a 45 year professional photographic career, now I'm retired I find myself using M43 exclusively, and wouldn't want to be without it now 😊

I just have to say, so refreshing to hear such a well spoken, articulate and erudite presentation. I even heard the correct use of adverbs! I'm a new subscriber just based on your language skills, let alone your mathematics. The video was also very informative.... side note. :) LOL

Wow! So impressive to see someone talks fluently with lots of informative facts and calculations..

What m43 enabled for me, is to actually have my camera with me, and not sitting home on a shelf. The G3 was such a small thing compared to a full-size DSLR that it allowed me to carry my camera with me always, and not just when I specifically went shooting.

Great vid. I'm a GX9 user and it's reinvigorated my art practice. Love how you explained the technics!

I learned a lot from this video so thank you very much for your efforts! I picked the G85 for my RU-vid creation camera after watching and reading many reviews and I'd say it was a good choice for me at the time. The only issue I really have with it is the autofocus. I am now torn when considering an upgrade. Should I stay with M43 or go full frame (or closer to full frame) for better AF and colour science like a Canon. So many options....

I've been using the MFT system ever since the GH2 was released, which was right around 2010 - 2011. I thought it was the best bang for the buck at the time. The bitrate hack excelled it even further and opened up possibilities and created hobbyist, enthusiast, and professional network groups, video creations, and opportunities for many filmmakers, including myself. Now, I'm here with my GH5 and still rocking the Four Thirds/MFT system on the BMPCC4K.

What a great clear and informative video. I started with the lumix g80/85 and now have the g9. I love them and use them on my channel. Thanks

simply the best, clearest, and concise explanation I have found. thanks!

I have been a nikon shooter and with age, it became harder and harder to carry my DSLR everywhere I go, then I found about the Pen F and fell in love with it. I got the tiny 45 for my portraits and the epicly awedome 25 1.2! Now I carry the camera everywhere I go and love every moment of it. Subbed! And I did press the like button 3 times!!! 😂

i like how you made the image change depending on how you explained it. much better to understand.. you got a sub :D

I just stumbled onto this video and haven't been messing around with my camera hobby in a long time but I've been interested in the subject matter. I thought he was very informative and explained everything so well.

Very informative. Keep up the good work!

I bought the olympus omd em-10 II about a year ago by accident, because i didn't know anything about cameras and variant of its sensor size. I get along with it great but always underconfident because almost a whole year i thought that M4/3 sensor is inferior. Your video made me feel awesome for owning a M4/3

How can someone say so many big words, but still be so easy to understand?!?! Great job on the explanation!

Incredible and well detailed explanations. Really appreciate the info dump

Your videos is amazingly useful man ! Thank you so much.

Great video! Although nothing in there was news to me (other than the mathematical journey to the name of the system), that was about and clear, accurate, and concise explanation of the system I have seen. About a year and a half ago I switched to Olympus and sold off a Canon 5DM3 and the trinity of L series zooms. I have been thrilled with the Olympus, I was instantly amazed at the image quality! While there are obvious realities involved in the M43 system, most of it can be offset through lens selection, proper technique, etc...

This was a great video and you gave a ton of information. Some of it I knew but a lot of it was new to me. I am a dedicated Panasonic shooter and have used the G7 g85 and gh5. If I have anything to say about it micro 4/3 is going to be around for a while cuz I'm going to keep buying the products.

Very well done and informative. Thank you, Gerald.

Outstanding video. Clear explanations covering so many topics. Thank you man

Traditionally, more depth of field for video use was not actually a disadvantage.

I used MFT for 4 years and it turned me into a true filmmaker. I’ll always have loved for the system, but the depth of field disadvantage became too much to handle as I work in product and fashion. Sold it last year for an a7sii and the 24-70 2.8GM, as I mostly work in video.

Love my GH5! Have tons to learn. This is an awesome video my friend!

Very clearly explained, much appreciated !

I like this video, the reason is that you used your imagination to really make people understand what you are saying by visually in a very novel way demonstrate what you are saying. As I used to be an instructor and teacher in the armed forces and I used to train thousands of people per year, using your imagination to really get that knowledge to sink into peoples minds when only have a short time to do it is challenging, thus I can say you nailed it on the head. Thank you, it makes for really good reference.

Bokeh is often described as "more" or "less", but actually if we want to get technical bokeh isn't the amount of depth (greater or shallower). Rather, bokeh is the term we use specifically to describe the "quality" of the out of focus parts. The blur qualities such as the light, shape/contour, fuzziness, etc. all describe the bokeh. So you wouldn't say "I want more bokeh", but rather you should say "I want more shallow depth of field" or if you're referring to bokeh correctly then you could say "I want better bokeh". However, with those semantics clarified I should note that describing bokeh as the 'amount' has become so common that it wouldn't be unreasonable to adjust the word and change the term to mean the amount of out of focusness in the image. AKA: Bokeh would be changed to represent "how shallow the depth of field is" rather than the specific qualities of that blur.

Great video, really informative, subscribed 👏

Thanks! That was very helpful! I’m using 4/3 and like it a lot but didn’t know the story behind!

Them math skills. SOLID. :-P This was extremely helpful. Technical, yet simplified. I have been concerned about the small censor. Thanks for the insights.

What attracted me to M4/3 was the amazing Olympus EM1 mkii and the amazing lenses they have.

best explanation video about miicro 4/3..I already new most of the things but I liked so much your way of explaining it that i saw the entire video and subscribed! well done!

Nicely done, thank you

Until your video, my knowledge of micro 4/3 was physical sensor size compared to aps-c and full frame. Learning the tech and origin of the system was interesting land informative. Appreciate your time, research and presentation. Thanks GU!

I always thought Micro Four Thirds got it's name from the fact that it's double the diagonal of a 2/3" CCD commonly found in broadcast television cameras.

Great video Gerald! Loving you videos man. Please keep them coming!

Gerald - I've been watching a few of your videos over the past couple of days as I try to get myself up to speed on the current landscape of video. I am totally blown away by the amount of knowledge and information you share on any topic you take on. I haven't found any other channel that explains this as well and in as much detail. Thanks for putting this out there!!!

Wow finally an explanation that made sense even with that advanced math in it. Well done sir, well done.

well said, I really hope Panasonic doesn’t see the Gh5 as their last flagship M4/3 camera. it’s cool that they’re doing full frame cameras now, but those cameras still can’t match the ability of the Gh5 Gh5s If we don’t start hearing rumours for the Gh6 soon I’ll be so upset. there’s still so much they can do in the m4/3 space.

Guess I'm not a math fan, because instead of being excited, I'm sitting here wondering if you ever get a date? ;) Your work here is awesome, entertaining, well-prepared, well-delivered, and fun. Thanks for brightening our days.

Thanks so much. Ur video is so so informative and easy to understand. Pls keep it going 👏👏👏

Great explanation. It's all very interesting for micro four thirds. I'm tempted to leave canon crop.

Oooh - the nerd in me is satisfied. Thanks for the explanation. As for the 4/3 & M4/3 system - I don't know anything else. I have had a go at a full frame camera but ultimately, the weight is outrageous. It's M4/3 for me.

this vid is still one of the best m43 videos. Thank you man for creating that!

Thanks for taking the time and effort to include all the graphics! That added a lot to your explanation.

I knew most of the information in this video except for the origin of the name micro four thirds, but your presentation was phenomenal, your explanations are extremely clear and everything about this was great, instantly subscribed !!

Loving it, 3:49 best part of the Video :D The rest is also interesting and helpful, I love my G7

Great video! I learned a lot.

That was awesome! Thank you!

Excellent stuff indeed! I haven't tried a 4/3 System yet and I'm a stills shooter who believes that (aside from some exceptions) the APS-C system is kind of the sweet spot format for general photography purposes...still from what I've been hearing and reading it seems that the 4/3 system is very powerful when it comes to videography. Again thanks for the really interesting details

Wow! Incredible presentation. I will watch it about three more times at half or 3/4 speed to let it all sink in. This is what I've been looking for. I've seen most of it before, but you packed it all into one tutorial and explained it better than anyone. By far. I have a GH4 and I do real estate video and photography with it professionally. I've never owned another camera with interchangeable lenses. My clients are satisfied with the quality and never ask about which sensor I use, but I can't help wondering if I should upgrade to full-frame to get overall better image quality. Watching this makes me think that I'm right where I should be and my next camera should probably be the G9. I don't really need much bokeh or shallow DOF for what I do. And I don't shoot at night or in low light (well, some windowless rooms can be a bit challenging, but not beyond the range of ISO 2000 or so). And I like the size, cost, weight advantages of M43. Subscribed. Thanks for posting!

Awesome video! Great explanations and animations...

Nicely made! Thanks a lot! CLEAR AND ENTERTAINING!!!

Pretty cool to see the actual meaning of 4/3, something I dont think I've seen explained anywhere else. I really like that it happens to actually be four third inches. Panasonic has definitely become a huge player in video, and that's great to keep m43 relevant. Very good overview of the system in general, there's too many large sensor snobs on the tube, so refreshing. I'm really interested in what Olympus has up their sleeve (if anything) to advance sensor tech. Rumors are swirling about 1Q19 for that

I own an OMD EM1 and a GX8 . MF3 is my choice for travel. Superb quality,weather resistant tough gear that gives me great photos. I am a hobby photographer that can’t justify the big bucks for full frame and certainly don’t want to pack suit cases of camera gear. Great blog!

I just gave a big fat like for you! Very well explained, exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!

Every time I watch one of your videos I learn something new and that’s not for a lack of watching other film related videos 😊

The increased depth of field of the m4/3 should not be viewed only as a disadvantage IMO. It can be advantageous in situations like landscapes with a foreground or group portraits. In both cases having more DOF is desirable and not so easy to achieve with FF, especially in lower light situations. For portraits, one can achieve nice bokeh by using lenses like the Olympus 75/1.8 or even (the much cheaper, but excellent) 45/1.8. Both lenses are tack sharp wide open.

Great explanation! damn I should've stay in my Math class.

Great video, glad I found your channel. M43 was my introduction to photography. It's affordable and compact- so I have a number of prime lenses and a camera I don't hesitate to bring with me anywhere. Many of my best shots have been serendipitous rather than planned, so just the fact that I take my camera with me almost everywhere has been a huge help.

First time visit! Love this video and completely geeked out! Loving my GH5 as well!

Best video on M4/3 I’ve ever seen. Honestly, the Nikon Z7 Mount aims to do something similar to what M4/3 with the path of light. No doubt output would be great, but the functionality of the camera is in awkward teenage years thanks to Nikon’s lack of vision. I hope M4/3 doesn’t die, I feel like it was a great system, though I’m in the Fuji camp.

I love my g9! I've been very impressed with the system and couldn't imagine going with another one

One of the best new channles on yt right now! Thanks a lot!

Best explanation about full frame vs micro 4/3 depth of field ever. Arguments can stop now :)