see also:

• Micro Four Thirds cameras
• Micro Four Thirds system
• a catalogue of Micro Four Thirds lenses
• see comparison with other mirrorless camera systems such as Sony, Samsung
• Micro Four Thirds vs entry-level dSLRs

• 1st full frame mirrorless with sensor based IS
• 24mp with great HD video
• would make a nice hand held manual focus camera for Canon or Nikon prime lenses
• USB 3.0

• sensor IS not as effective as the E-M1
• not yet available
• very few lenses optimised for CDAF
• large, heavy, expensive lenses
  • when used with the Sony 24-70mm f/4 lens which is almost twice the price of the Olympus 14-40mm f/2.8 lens, one gains 1 stop DOF control and around 0.5EV of high ISO performance, and similar resolution, but more vignetting
• only 25 CDAF points?
• only 5fps
• expensive $A1798 on pre-order Dec 2014

• 36mp full frame - best for studio or landscapes using a tripod
• more shallow depth of field (DOF) options

• no IS built-in
• no PDAF so C-AF not useful
• very few lenses optimised for CDAF
• no electronic first curtain
• large, heavy, expensive lenses
  • when used with the Sony 24-70mm f/4 lens which is almost twice the price of the Olympus 14-40mm f/2.8 lens, one gains 1 stop DOF control and similar high ISO performance, and some increased resolution if used on a tripod, but more vignetting
• only 25 CDAF points
• really need to use on tripod for maximum resolution
  • “the A7R is a very, very demanding beast to shoot in the field. The small size, relatively low mass and very loud/ rough shutter mechanism mean that you need higher than expected shutter speeds to yield perfect pixels; we’re talking 1/125 at an absolute minimum for the 55mm, and ideally 1/200+ for consistent results. Below 1/200 you may well see very faint double images; it’s as though something ‘jumps’ halfway through the exposure.”¹⁾
• no touch screen
• more expensive $A1564 discounted rate at Dec 2014

• great for high quality video, along with the Panasonic GH-4
• full frame sensor with class leading high ISO performance thanks to only 12mp - perhaps 2-3EV better than the others here
• sensitive live view allows visualisation of Milky Way for astroscapes
• more shallow depth of field (DOF) options
• 4K video but only with external recorder via a clean HDMI output
• 50Mbps XAVC S MP4 1080 HD video at 24p or 60p and 720 120p mode
• 'Picture Profile' system allows very flat SLog2 gamma
• zebra as well as peaking for video
• autoISO in Manual exposure mode
• buttons, dials and menus are identical to those found on the a7 and a7R

• very few lenses optimised for CDAF
• large, heavy, expensive lenses
  • when used with the Sony 24-70mm f/4 lens which is almost twice the price of the Olympus 14-40mm f/2.8 lens, one gains 1 stop DOF control and around 1-2EV of high ISO performance, but less resolution and more vignetting
• only 25 CDAF points
• not as much dynamic range at base ISO compared to a7 and a7R, and no where near as good as the Olympus OM-D cameras
• the 16mp Olympus OM-D cameras will generally give more perceived resolution
• burst rate only 5fps
• no built-in sensor shift IS
• poor shutter release - cannot easily detect half-press button
• no timelapse - need cumbersome app
• rear LCD only 0.92mdots and not a touch screen
• longest timed shutter only 30sec
• expensive $A1850 discounted Dec 2014

• http://www.dpreview.com/previews/panasonic-dmc-gh4-sony-alpha-7s

• nice styling and controls although rear controls average
• slightly larger DX sensor gives more DOF control
• very nicer large dual view EVF
• 36Mbps 1080 60p video but issues with image quality?
• C-AF tracking at 8fps
• split image manual focus aid as well as peaking

• no touch screen
• burst rate drops to 3fps with live view on
• mod. large/heavy/expensive lenses
• limited lens range
• no sensor based IS
• longest timed shutter only 30sec
• shortest shutter only 1/4000thsec
• flash sync a slow 1/180th sec
• exposure compensation only ±3EV
• expensive $A1337 discounted Dec 2014

• http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilm-x-t1

• most fun in using a camera out of the non-Olympus peers outlined here
• sensor based IS
• excellent dynamic range
• image stabilised magnified view MF
• touch screen adds to the fun scale - touch on a subject and near instant AF and capture
• Live Composite, Bulb and Timed modes
• 81 area CDAF
• extensive lens catalogue
• fastest flash sync at 1/250th-1/320th sec
• 10fps burst (only 6.5fps with C-AF tracking)
• shutter 1/8000th sec - 60sec then timed BULB available
• price discount makes it very affordable $A880 (discounted Dec 2014)
• “The E-M1 has three aces: firstly, its stabilizer is so good that you claw back most, if not all, of the high ISO advantage of the A7 and A7R for handheld shooting in low light. It also means that you don’t have stability issues – my ‘technical’ hit rate with the E-M1 is close to 100% because of this. You can shoot at pretty much any shutter speed with impunity. Ace number two is weather sealing: I’m sure you’ve all seen [what I did to the E-M1 in the shower]. The final, largest ace is the lens system: not only is the M4/3 lens system arguably the most mature mirrorless system with the greatest diversity of options – the lenses were all designed specifically for digital from the ground up. Even the kit lenses are pretty good, and the excellent glass – like the [60/2.8 and 75/1.8] is really special by any standards.”²⁾

• smaller sensor hence more high ISO noise and less depth of field (DOF) control
• average video but IS does make it excellent as a run and gun hand held video camera without stabilising rig needed
• poor thermal noise at long exposures