The future of photography?

I blogged on the Panasonic Lumix G1 a while back.

Scott Sherman has written an article that echoes the way I feel about it: [edited]

I love new technology, but I haven’t been able to get very excited about the new Micro Four Thirds format for digital cameras.

...the G1 has excellent image quality and takes much better pictures than a typical compact. But... the assortment of compatible dedicated lenses is still measly and the camera isn’t really that small (Olympus’s 420 full DSLR is actually lighter than the G1).

Still, the idea of a lighter, smaller DSLR-like camera is appealing. But, even as I write this, I’m thinking, really? Appealing to whom? Because the enthusiasts are always going to want a full DSLR.

Is the average person who just wants to photography family and friends really going to spend this much and learn the ins-and-outs of what lenses to use and why?

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Brett's 2p'orth: Except for professionals and a handful of enthusisasts, the future of photography is an iPhone with a decent-sized sensor and intuitive software. However, the big camera names won't want to dump their high profit-margin DSLR ensembles, and the mobile phone manufacturers still seem to be more obsessed with megapixels than real image quality.

My best hope is that Fuji (or some other high-end sensor maker) is even now in secret meetings with Mr Jobs planning a future incarnation of the iPhone that will bring the ability to capture beautiful images without having to carry around a phone AND a camera everywhere you go.
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