Since 2008 when Panasonic came out the first mirco4/3 camera the G1, it has reinvent the digital photography again. The designer uses live view technology via sensor to LCD without the need of optical prism and mirror of the traditional DSLR/SLR.

The G1 design is simply a scale down design of a DSLR. So it did not appeal to me.Then in late 2009, a storm came when Olympus came out a flat body design (similar to the rangefinder of the old era) called the EP-1 m4/3 system. I was in love with photography again. However when it was launched, some bad reviews came in, especially hammering the slow autofocus speed. But do keep in mind they are comparing to a DSLR. Till today, I have to admit that these m4/3 or even the sony nex or samsung's NX mirrorless are not here to replace DSLR yet.

But that time Panasonic released the GF1 (same design concept of EP-1) with a much postive review of Auto focus and also release the large apertureand sharp 20mmf1.7. I immediately dump all my canon system and get the GF1.
With the GF-1, it help me to enjoy photography again. I made much more photographs than using a DSLR and it is more portable and fun to use. No one will notice me compare when I was using a DSLR.
However, in end of 2010, I decided to go back to DSLR mainly because I need a all-rounded camera that can handle fast action, macro and event.
The main problem with m4/3 or similar cameras is that the viewfinder and the flash port shared the same spot, so there are times when you need both together. The Panasonic 's G2/G1 or GH2 camera can do all. But I simply do not like the plastic body and design. Another problem with these system is that we may not be able to have a zoom lens with large aperture(f2.8) due to the limitation of size reduction in relationship with the small body. Mechanically, the zoom lens cannot be reduce in size with a large aperture design. The m4/3 has it's own fixed focal lens with large aperture (20mmf1.7, 17mm f2.8 or 14mmf2.5). No zoom lens is made with large aperture yet. Therefore with this in mind, I feel DSLR will still have a place for serious photographers who want large aperture zooms lens. So Canon/Nikon user who want 17-25mmf2.8 or 70-200mm f2.8, they will still be keeping their DSLR.

After selling my GF1 , I got a E-3 DSLR system with 11-22mm f2.8-3.5 and a cheap but sharp 40-150mm f3.5-4.5 lens. I love the colours and value for money lens from Olympus.However, after saving up and with the price falling in the used market, I recently sold off my Leica D-lux 4 compact to get a Ep-2 m4/3 again. This time with much lesson learned, I will use the EP-2 together with my E-3 DSLR. In the future, I may get a adapter to mount my 4/3 lens to the m4/3 camera.

Updated, May 2013- I am wrong in regards the large aperature lens on m4/3 zoom lens. Panasonic has came out the 12-35mm X f2.8 and 35-100mm f2.8 in 2012.