I’m undecided what to do about my gear. The obvious and immediate answer is “nothing,” as funds are tight and I would need to sell something to buy something, but that does leave several unresolved issues and itches that need to be scratched.
It doesn’t help that I currently run both Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds, effectively two systems. Rationalizing to just one system would definitely help; the problem is that each does something that the other doesn’t. My E-3 for example is virtually bomb proof in all weathers, focuses quickly and positively in low light as well as good light, has an articulated screen and handles superbly. Its big drawback, for me, is size and (particularly) weight. When I bought it that didn’t seem a problem but it’s amazing and worrying how much strength and fitness I’ve lost in a couple of years. For landscapes using a tripod and virtually working from the boot of the car it’s unbeatable but it severely limits me from walking any distance and is now out of the question for a casual walkabout. Even the short walk we did on the recent London meet would be very difficult with the E-3 and a couple of lenses. Using it handheld for a long period of time makes my arm ache and induces extra shake, although paradoxically for short periods its weight, bulk and inertia actually aid stability.
The E-PL1 is a welcome contrast if I need to walk any distance. Small, light and unobtrusive, it actually has a small but noticeable increase in image quality over the E-3. The big problem for me is handling, or more to the point slowness of operation due to so much button pushing. Even working slowly using a tripod is a pain because to change aperture or exposure compensation I have to exit from movable focus point mode first, make the change and then reinstate the focus point. A lot can happen to a moving sky and changing light in that time. Also, focusing in low light is not great and often involves a lot of hunting. And lastly, I have a very basic kit with just camera and Panasonic 14-45mm lens. In some ways that’s an advantage because it keeps the package very small and light but at time it would be nice to have the flexibility of an EVF and at least one fast lens.
By contrast I have four lenses for the E-3 and even if I could easily carry just two or three with the camera there wouldn’t be a problem. However, given my circumstances which can only get worse over time, realistically I have the option of running both systems or selling the E-3 and going completely mirrorless. The problem with this is I cannot sell either my 40-150mm or 70-300mm because my wife and daughter like to use them on their E-510 and E-500 respectively when we have an occasional trip to the zoo or bird sanctuary. Although these lenses could be used on my Pen with an adaptor they would really negate the size and weight advantage of the camera and I now have real trouble holding the 70-300mm steady enough even with IS.
So that leaves the E-3, 14-54mm and 9-18mm for potential sale. I would really like to keep the 9-18mm but that would involve buying an adaptor and the budget is already tight. I would expect to get around £300-£350 for the E-3 and perhaps £150-£180 for the 14-54mm MkI, a total of £530 at the most. If I’m patient and wait for the right second hand deal I might manage to get the VF2, 45mm f1.8 and FT to MFT adaptor, but I would still have to contend with the less than ideal handling of the E-PL1, which would then be my one and only camera.
Alternatively I could also sell the 9-18mm, which should raise another £280 approximately, and just forego having a superwide lens. 14-45mm covers 90% of situations anyway. That would also prevent the need to buy an adaptor and therefore might just be enough to buy a second hand E-P3 body, which I see are now selling for as little as £320 on ebay since the E-M5 became available. I must admit I am missing the E-P3 which I sold to raise funds not long ago; at the time it was a difficult choice between that and the E-3.
I suppose the bottom line is that I’m loathe to part with my E-3, but it is increasingly looking like the most practical option. Of course, an E-M5 would solve my problems very nicely but financially it’s out of the question. Mind you, I mustn’t complain as a short while ago I thought I might have to sell the lot!
Any thoughts on this dilemma or alternative suggestions would be appreciated.
I'd sell the 4/3 stuff and get some primes for the E-PL1 to speed it up. Or at least get the 14-42 II or 14-42 IIR kit lens from a 2nd and 3rd generation Pen as it will double the focusing speed of the E-PL1.
While the button pushing of the E-PL1 is a bit cumbersome, the reward, as you have noted, noticably sharper and crisper image quality compared to the 4/3rds and all the other Pens.
Indeed, my E-PL1 even beats my E-M5 for resolving detail in outdoor sunny weather so I continue to use the E-PL1 for most of my outdoor landscape work. I use the E-M5 for indoor work, for video, for shooting on cloudy days and for sports shooting, although the E-PL1 could handle some of that if I had some primes for it (I currently have only the kit lens)
These are some difficult questions to sort out. To try to help, it raises a couple more to my mind: if cost were no object, what would you buy? Given your considerations for size, weight, photographic subjects and conditions, what camera and lenses would be ideal? Maybe from there we can work out a plan for what would be best, now and for the future.
12MP seems to be the 'sweet' spot for resolving power in the Olympus stable. Nikon also said this about their cameras and unoficially still hold to that view, but they are there to sell cameras and the pixel race is one such tool to use in that quest.
They have all basically made a rod for their own backs as each increase in pixel count requires ever more processing which is becoming more noticeable on some cameras.
There's a point where going past these 'ideal' pixel counts starts to involve other factors which effect image quality, the suppression of noise and how its done being one.
My old 10mp E-510 has better resolving power than my Panny G3, Well it looks that way on the monitor. My Oly E-510 pics look a lot less processed than my G3 does. Don't get me wrong, they both take great pictures but there is some thing about the Panny pics that's missing in the Oly pics.
The most expensive cameras are not always the best cameras and there are many examples of this even amongst single makes where a high end camera produced slightly inferior picture quality to its entry level brother.
I'd sell the 4/3 stuff and get some primes for the E-PL1 to speed it up. Or at least get the 14-42 II or 14-42 IIR kit lens from a 2nd and 3rd generation Pen as it will double the focusing speed of the E-PL1.
While the button pushing of the E-PL1 is a bit cumbersome, the reward, as you have noted, noticably sharper and crisper image quality compared to the 4/3rds and all the other Pens.
Indeed, my E-PL1 even beats my E-M5 for resolving detail in outdoor sunny weather so I continue to use the E-PL1 for most of my outdoor landscape work. I use the E-M5 for indoor work, for video, for shooting on cloudy days and for sports shooting, although the E-PL1 could handle some of that if I had some primes for it (I currently have only the kit lens)
Speed of focus for the E-PL1 is actually not too bad with thr Panny 14-45mm. It's in low light that it struggles, sometimes with a fair amount of hunting before it lock on. However, I found the E-P3 with latest 14-42mm could struggle to focus in low light too. I suppose it's the button pushing of the E-PL1 which I find the most limiting.
These are some difficult questions to sort out. To try to help, it raises a couple more to my mind: if cost were no object, what would you buy? Given your considerations for size, weight, photographic subjects and conditions, what camera and lenses would be ideal? Maybe from there we can work out a plan for what would be best, now and for the future.
- Hal -
Well, I would have to try it first but provisionally I would chose the E-M5 and use it principally with my Panny 14-45mm, although the 12-50mm would be good for ocassions when I needed to use it in bad weather or for close focussing. I woulkd also have a 9-18mm, 40-150mm (both MFT lenses) and 45mm f1.8. Maybe also a 25mm f1.4 and 12mm f2 if money really was no object.
I would never carry that lot all at once, though, and more realistically the E-M5 with 14-45mm and 45mm f1.8 would cover most situations including landscapes, street, low light and diffused backgrounds. Following advice I've had elsewhere I've now decided to continue with what I've got for the time being, on the basis that my existing kit will not depreciate much more but the E-M5 will. In a years time I might find selling my existing kit will be enough to finance an E-M5 and it will also give me time to assess how my photography is changing to adapt to my circumstances, establish if I really can rediscover my enthusiasm and know with more certainty what camera and lenses will be best for my changing requirements.
12MP seems to be the 'sweet' spot for resolving power in the Olympus stable. Nikon also said this about their cameras and unoficially still hold to that view, but they are there to sell cameras and the pixel race is one such tool to use in that quest.
They have all basically made a rod for their own backs as each increase in pixel count requires ever more processing which is becoming more noticeable on some cameras.
There's a point where going past these 'ideal' pixel counts starts to involve other factors which effect image quality, the suppression of noise and how its done being one.
My old 10mp E-510 has better resolving power than my Panny G3, Well it looks that way on the monitor. My Oly E-510 pics look a lot less processed than my G3 does. Don't get me wrong, they both take great pictures but there is some thing about the Panny pics that's missing in the Oly pics.
The most expensive cameras are not always the best cameras and there are many examples of this even amongst single makes where a high end camera produced slightly inferior picture quality to its entry level brother.
Pete
I agree that 12mp is ample and probably the "sweet spot" of MFT. In theory all the improvements of the E-M5 could have been even better with "only" a 12mp sensor and I'm not sure if 16mp is a good thing or a bad thing. It would certainly fill up my already cluttered hard drive even quicker!
Olympus really had no choice but to move up to 16mp because their only other M4T rival Panasonic had [and it could be the same sensor]?. It will be interesting to see if Panasonic move even higher, but I cannot see where this would be an advantage, unlike APS-C where some increase in MP can give a camera the edge especially in crop enlargements and definition [never mind your PC's capacity]. M4T is in my opinion on the limit now and it would be far more sensible for Olympus and Panasonic to concentrate in other areas of picture processing. I for one would like to see the Fuji EXR technology introduced into the Olympus processing. Trouble is they are all paranoid about being left behind in the pixel race.
Peter
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I see your problem John and on a differant level I think more of us have a similar problem
I have the Ed which I love with several lenses and I also own an EP2. The Ep2 is convenient on long walks and an excellant camera all be it rather slower than the E5, I do have the adaptor to use the larrger lenses but the tend to slow the EP2 down a bit and are unwieldy. Do I wait for an E7? probably or do I change manufacturers, at the price of the soon to be released Nikon 8200 that is very tempting, It would cost in terms of Olympus investment etc. I do believe that the world as we knew it in camera terms is going through huge changes, and whether Olympus can keep up in view if their troubles seems probematical? As a niche market the price will not compete with the likes of Nicansony etc. After all in my case, its only a hobby and I don't have to rush or "Do I?' Anno Domino is catching up at an ever increasing speed.
It can be a bit of a dilemma, do you wait or do you jump or make do with what you already have. I have too many different systems and need to downsize to just one system.
I am seriously weighing up my options and am considering going in a completely new direction. That is the Fujifilm X-Pro1 and/or the new interchangeable lens version of the X100 due out later this year which will be a bit cheaper.
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