FourThirdsKameras

FourThirdsKameras are digital cameras built around the Four Thirds System standard, an imaging format introduced in the early 2000s for interchangeable-lens cameras. They use a 4:3 aspect ratio sensor sized about 22.5 by 15.0 millimeters, offering about a 2× crop relative to 35mm film. The system emphasized DSLR-style bodies with compact lenses and a robust lens ecosystem.

The Four Thirds System was developed jointly by Olympus and Eastman Kodak, with Panasonic later joining in the development of lenses and cameras. The mount, known as the Four Thirds mount, exposes a flange focal distance of about 38.67 mm. Native Four Thirds lenses cover zooms and primes for various focal lengths, and some third-party manufacturers produced compatible glass.

Prominent FourThirds cameras included Olympus E-1, E-3, E-5, and Panasonic L1. In 2008 Olympus and Panasonic launched Micro Four Thirds, a mirrorless variant that shares sensor size but uses a different, shorter flange distance and mount. The new path led to a decline in development of Four Thirds DSLRs; by the mid-2010s several lines had ended, though many Four Thirds lenses remained in use with adapters and on Micro Four Thirds bodies. The Four Thirds system remains valued by collectors and for historic reference.

Legacy: The Four Thirds standard contributed to the evolution of mirrorless systems and lens design, and its lens catalog influenced later Micro Four Thirds offerings. It is considered a legacy format, superseded in mainstream production by Micro Four Thirds and other camera standards.