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New M43 Camera Incoming from Obscure Chinese Brand
14 Feb
Summary
- Songdian, a Chinese camera maker, is rumored to release a new Micro Four Thirds model.
- Panasonic's potential withdrawal from M43 has raised concerns about the system's future.
- Songdian's previous camera received poor reviews for image quality and autofocus.
The Micro Four Thirds (M43) camera system, facing uncertainty due to potential shifts from major players like Panasonic, may see new life with the rumored release of a camera from Chinese manufacturer Songdian. While Panasonic's Lumix G9 II and GH7 remain popular, news of discontinuing popular M43 lenses has fueled speculation about the system's future.
Songdian, a division of Shenzhen-based Sonida Technology Company, is reportedly joining the M43 alliance. Despite a decade and a half of operation, Songdian has largely focused on the domestic Chinese market and is not as prominent internationally as brands like Yongnuo or Viltrox.
Details about Songdian's upcoming M43 camera are scarce. However, the company has released a teaser image featuring the M43 logo. It remains to be seen whether Songdian will produce an interchangeable lens camera, which would offer access to a wide range of existing M43 optics, or a fixed-lens model similar to their previous Sonida DC202.
Reviews of Songdian's prior digital camera, the Sonida DC202, were largely negative, citing subpar image quality and exceptionally slow autofocus. This has led to skepticism about the potential impact of Songdian's entry on the M43 system, with some suggesting the primary immediate benefit may be for Sonida itself in terms of marketing.
