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How come there is no 4/3 camcorders?

Judging from the price of the olympus pen E-p1, it seems possible to use the
same sensor to make an inexpensive prosumer camcorder with good low light
ability (due to the relatively large sensor) and interchangeable lense.

"james" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:_Vt3m.2209$(E-Mail Removed)...
> How come there is no 4/3 camcorders?
>
> Judging from the price of the olympus pen E-p1, it seems possible to use
> the same sensor to make an inexpensive prosumer camcorder with good low
> light ability (due to the relatively large sensor) and interchangeable
> lense.


My 2 pesos:

I'm guessing that the Micro 4/3rd format and APC sensor cameras including
the cheap consumer versions such as the Nikon D40, the Canon Rebels, etc.
have been deliberately crippled in their video functions to specifically
avoid any migration of the "prosumer" and professional videographers.

The new Canon T1i is frame rate limited to 1920 X 1080 at 20 fps. The new
Nikon D90 is time limited to a maximum 5 minute record time and can only do
720p.

Since interchangeable lenses and large sensors are, after all, the "Holy
Grail" for indy film makers, event photographers, and other pros, I can't
image Canon and others allowing these special features to flow down into the
consumer products very quickly.

Smarty

Smarty wrote:
> "james" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:_Vt3m.2209$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> How come there is no 4/3 camcorders?
>>
>> Judging from the price of the olympus pen E-p1, it seems possible
>> to use the same sensor to make an inexpensive prosumer camcorder
>> with good low light ability (due to the relatively large sensor)
>> and interchangeable lense.
>
>
> My 2 pesos:
>
> I'm guessing that the Micro 4/3rd format and APC sensor cameras
> including the cheap consumer versions such as the Nikon D40, the
> Canon Rebels, etc. have been deliberately crippled in their video
> functions to specifically avoid any migration of the "prosumer" and
> professional videographers.
>
> The new Canon T1i is frame rate limited to 1920 X 1080 at 20 fps. The
> new Nikon D90 is time limited to a maximum 5 minute record time and
> can only do 720p.
>
> Since interchangeable lenses and large sensors are, after all, the
> "Holy Grail" for indy film makers, event photographers, and other
> pros, I can't image Canon and others allowing these special features
> to flow down into the consumer products very quickly.
>
> Smarty
>

don't disagree, but other limiting factors for the moment that would
preclude 'pros' are probably abismal, or no sound, and very limited
recording media (time). that said, the bits of video i've seen from the
5d are quite spectacular - but limited. there's no zoom, limited focus
whilst recording, and as above, no usable audio. if the pros want bigger
and better chips, there's red, scarlet, etc., and more along their lines
in the pipeline...

"ushere" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:L0A3m.2499$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Smarty wrote:
>> "james" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:_Vt3m.2209$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> How come there is no 4/3 camcorders?
>>>
>>> Judging from the price of the olympus pen E-p1, it seems possible
>>> to use the same sensor to make an inexpensive prosumer camcorder
>>> with good low light ability (due to the relatively large sensor)
>>> and interchangeable lense.
>>
>>
>> My 2 pesos:
>>
>> I'm guessing that the Micro 4/3rd format and APC sensor cameras
>> including the cheap consumer versions such as the Nikon D40, the
>> Canon Rebels, etc. have been deliberately crippled in their video
>> functions to specifically avoid any migration of the "prosumer" and
>> professional videographers.
>>
>> The new Canon T1i is frame rate limited to 1920 X 1080 at 20 fps. The
>> new Nikon D90 is time limited to a maximum 5 minute record time and
>> can only do 720p.
>>
>> Since interchangeable lenses and large sensors are, after all, the
>> "Holy Grail" for indy film makers, event photographers, and other
>> pros, I can't image Canon and others allowing these special features
>> to flow down into the consumer products very quickly.
>>
>> Smarty
>>
>
> don't disagree, but other limiting factors for the moment that would
> preclude 'pros' are probably abismal, or no sound, and very limited
> recording media (time). that said, the bits of video i've seen from the
> 5d are quite spectacular - but limited. there's no zoom, limited focus
> whilst recording, and as above, no usable audio. if the pros want bigger
> and better chips, there's red, scarlet, etc., and more along their lines
> in the pipeline...


I agree, and the 'rolling shutter' and lack of other pro adjustments for
gamma, subtle color balance, and other important pro features will keep
these DSLRs in a separate product category for the foreseeable future IMHO.
On a brighter note, the cost of consumer camcorders continues to fall while
the quality has risen dramatically, so that pros and prosumers can often
"get away with" relatively modest consumer cameras for many situations. This
was not nearly as true just a few years ago, where most of the consumer
'mini-DV' camcorders recorded pretty inferior looking video compared to the
pro equipment.