It isn't the smaller sensor size that is the issue altough that contributes. It is the poor sensor performance in low light. You can crop a 16 to 18mp 1.5x or 1.6 sensor to FT size and have a similar pixel density but high ISO, low light performance is still better. Time for Olympus to cut the ties with Panasonic for sensors, or for Panasonic to pull their finger out.