When 20 megapixels is really 50 megapixels. By Jim Chung.

Recently, both OM Digital Solutions (a consumer camera division spun off from Olympus’ core medical business) and Panasonic introduced exciting new micro four thirds (m43) camera bodies - the OM-1 and the GH6, respectively. This news confused many photographers who expected the m43 format to have gone extinct. The m43 sensor is significantly smaller than a full frame sized sensor (equivalent in size to a 35mm film negative) and the laws of physics dictate that smaller sensors deliver higher noise, greater depth of field and poor low light performance. It’s interesting that nobody was similarly critical when the 60% smaller APS sized sensor was introduced.
Both Olympus and Panasonic use creative solutions to address these shortcomings such as developing fast glass, class leading sensor stabilization, and computational photography. Critics point to the 20-25 MP sensors, (respectively OM and Panasonic) used in the new bodies and the 46 MP sensor in the new Nikon Z9. However i...