Tamron, Kenko Tokina sign up for Micro Four Thirds

A little over three years ago, Olympus and Panasonic announced their Micro Four Thirds standard, and in the process launched what's since become a compact system camera revolution. Today their standard received another shot in the arm, with the addition of three more companies to the Micro Four Thirds group.

The new arrivals include well-known third-party optics manufacturers Kenko Tokina and Tamron, as well as Astrodesign Inc., which offers a wide range of products including HDTV, 4K and 3D video gear. The Tokina and Tamron brands offer a wide variety of prime and zoom lenses, while Kenko provides film and digital cameras, teleconverters, conversion lenses, and a variety of other photo accessories.

As well as Olympus and Panasonic, existing Micro Four Thirds group companies include Cosina, Schneider Kreuznach, and Carl Zeiss, all of whom joined over the last couple of years. Sigma Corp.--among the first companies to join Olympus' earlier Four Thirds SLR camera standard--also now offers Micro Four Thirds products.