Other than seeing a smaller sensor as a negative feature, you show no appreciation for the fact that 4/3rds is a miniaturised DSLR system. It is designed to produce high, publishable quality images up to a size which is useful enough to users, but which is inevitably going to be smaller than a larger format.
The Canon G9 has a much smaller sensor, yet it is applauded for its great image quality. It can't possibly compete with larger format cameras, but the great image quality is justifiably accepted as within the context of a compact camera. Crucially, it is capable of producing high, publishable quality images up to a size which is useful to the user. This is why it is deservedly seen as a great camera to carry around all the time.
As a miniaturised DSLR system, 4/3rds cameras will never produce publishable quality up to the same size as larger format systems, but will produce publishable quality up to a thoroughly useable size while providing the user with all the benefits of a miniaturised system.
As I have said in another thread, my E-500 (which is now old in DSLR terms) provides me with images which appear in the company of those produced with larger format Nikon and Canon gear. As printed images in exhibitions and competitions, or projected images, IQ has never been an issue - not even once. While one can easily enough show the point at which the larger format overtakes the smaller format on IQ, it has little relevance in terms of real life useage, and for most people, what other useage is there beyond magazine/book/exhibiton/competition publication?
A more meaningful way to test cameras would be to first determine if they are capable of producing publishable quality images, and then to determine the size up to which publishable quality is maintained. That way, people can decide if the image size/format is sufficent for them. Instead of making cameras appear to fail against competition, this would more usefully tell people what they are suitable for, and what they are not suitable for.
By present methodology, a Canon G9 would fail against all current DSLRs. But to label it as somehow lesser and conclude that its small sensor was to blame would be seriously missing the point. Likewise with the 4/3rds miniaturised DSLR format.
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