In a recent interview with Dpreview, Yosuke Yamane (Vice President of Panasonic’s Entertainment and Communication business and director of its imaging business unit) confirmed the company's commitment to the Micro Four Thirds format:
He emphasized that the size and portability of Micro Four Thirds lets it deliver things that full-frame systems can't. 'Micro Four Thirds is a compact and lightweight system that enables hand-held photography in combination with a telephoto lens, which is not possible with full-frame,' he said. 'And we believe it is an indispensable system for achieving a compact body that can be easily carried.''I think the need for small, lightweight cameras that can be carried around all the time like smartphones will increase, especially among the younger generation.'
That combination not only underpins its appeal to groups such as wildlife photographers, but could also give it a role as a gateway for younger users more used to smartphones, he suggested. 'One of our goals is to tell the story of the benefits of a dedicated camera to teens and people in their 20s. We need to tell them that there is a world that can’t be achieved with a smartphone.' But to achieve this, 'you need the portability the smartphone has,' he said. 'I think the need for small, lightweight cameras that can be carried around all the time like smartphones will increase, especially among the younger generation.'
He wouldn't be drawn on whether this might result in a return of the GM series, but said we weren't the only people expressing an interest in a small, capable camera. 'The press in Japan ask the same thing,' he said, 'but for full-frame.' (Dpreview)
Panasonic still committed to develop a “full Micro Four Thirds lineup”
Japanese website reports that Panasonic may also exit the camera business just like Olympus
