JamesMorgan
New Member
Canon have APSC bodies for use with their R mount. Likewise Nikon do the same with Z mount. Whilst both of these APSC options are not as functionally rich as their FF bodies, they do offer a way of extending reach for long telephoto shots. The R7 in particular seems to work well with the RF 100-500. The rumours around the R7ii suggest this could be much closer in functionality to the R5 and include a stacked sensor.
Panasonic doesn't really offer the same options. True they have a cropped sensor with m43, but there is no interchangability of lenses between the two systems and little option to produce an adapter.
They curently offer one body with 2 options - the S5ii with a FF sensor and L-mount, and the G9ii with a m43 sensor and mount. It doesn't seem too much of a stretch to provide an option with the G9ii internals and the L-mount externals. The advantages that I would see are:
a) The current 70-300 L-mount lens would become a great wildlife lens on a m43 size cropped sensor. It would have an equivalent focal length of 140-600, but also provide 1:1 macro capabilities. The Sigma 500mm f5.6 lens would become a lightweight 1000mm equivalent lens. As a L-mount user, if I want 600mm+ reach I am reliant on either the Sigma 150-600 or 60-600 lenses. However, these are both large and heavy options. If Panasonic really want to compete with Canon/Nikon/Sony as a wildlife system they will need to produce their own range of 600-800mm lenses. Offering a crop sensor body could minimise the need to do this.
b) Unlike Canon and Nikon, this would give Panasonic a top end cropped sensor body (using G9ii internals)
c) It avoids the need to produce very high MP bodies to get as many pixels on the subject. To match the G9ii would require an 100MP FF body and a much faster processor to match its sensor speed, AF and burst modes. This may be many years away from being technically possible and also expensive.
The disadvantages I can see are:
a) If anyone was to buy this type of body as their only camera they would ideally need a range of L-mount lenses with better focal lengths for landscape/portraits (eg a 12-60, 25mm prime etc). However, this doesn't seem to have stopped Canon who have a poor set of RF-S lenses.
b) In theory using FF lenses on a cropped sensor is overkill as most of the image circle is lost. You end up using a larger and heavier lens than you need. That said, OMDS seem to have adopted a strategy of simply putting a m43 mount on Sigma FF lenses (for the 100-400 and 150-600) so their lenses are the same weight as similar focal length FF lenses anyway. The Sigma 500mm L-mount lens is not much heavier than the OMDS 300mm f4 lens so again there doesn't appear to be a weight penalty.
Am I missing something obvious?
Panasonic doesn't really offer the same options. True they have a cropped sensor with m43, but there is no interchangability of lenses between the two systems and little option to produce an adapter.
They curently offer one body with 2 options - the S5ii with a FF sensor and L-mount, and the G9ii with a m43 sensor and mount. It doesn't seem too much of a stretch to provide an option with the G9ii internals and the L-mount externals. The advantages that I would see are:
a) The current 70-300 L-mount lens would become a great wildlife lens on a m43 size cropped sensor. It would have an equivalent focal length of 140-600, but also provide 1:1 macro capabilities. The Sigma 500mm f5.6 lens would become a lightweight 1000mm equivalent lens. As a L-mount user, if I want 600mm+ reach I am reliant on either the Sigma 150-600 or 60-600 lenses. However, these are both large and heavy options. If Panasonic really want to compete with Canon/Nikon/Sony as a wildlife system they will need to produce their own range of 600-800mm lenses. Offering a crop sensor body could minimise the need to do this.
b) Unlike Canon and Nikon, this would give Panasonic a top end cropped sensor body (using G9ii internals)
c) It avoids the need to produce very high MP bodies to get as many pixels on the subject. To match the G9ii would require an 100MP FF body and a much faster processor to match its sensor speed, AF and burst modes. This may be many years away from being technically possible and also expensive.
The disadvantages I can see are:
a) If anyone was to buy this type of body as their only camera they would ideally need a range of L-mount lenses with better focal lengths for landscape/portraits (eg a 12-60, 25mm prime etc). However, this doesn't seem to have stopped Canon who have a poor set of RF-S lenses.
b) In theory using FF lenses on a cropped sensor is overkill as most of the image circle is lost. You end up using a larger and heavier lens than you need. That said, OMDS seem to have adopted a strategy of simply putting a m43 mount on Sigma FF lenses (for the 100-400 and 150-600) so their lenses are the same weight as similar focal length FF lenses anyway. The Sigma 500mm L-mount lens is not much heavier than the OMDS 300mm f4 lens so again there doesn't appear to be a weight penalty.
Am I missing something obvious?
