Taking a m4/3 camera on a night out.

Does anyone take their m4/3 camera out with them when they go clubbing? Any problems with the bouncers? I don't actually have one at the moment, and usually take out my S90, but I'm considering getting one. I love the nex5 especially with the APS-C sensor however the lack of a decent fast prime rules it out for me as I love available light photography and bokeh. I guess realistically that leaves the GF1!

Jolyon Gray said:

Does anyone take their m4/3 camera out with them when they go clubbing? Any problems with the bouncers? I don't actually have one at the moment, and usually take out my S90, but I'm considering getting one. I love the nex5 especially with the APS-C sensor however the lack of a decent fast prime rules it out for me as I love available light photography and bokeh. I guess realistically that leaves the GF1!

Click to expand...

A lot of clubs might have issue with any form of camera going on premises. But, you 'might' just get away with it. Best bet I would say, is the even slimmer GF2 and use the 20/1.7.

Easiest way to make sure you get in though, is take a female companion and get her to put it in her purse/handbag.

Is a great combo for your purpose, because it combines fast prime with IS in the camera.

You may also consider the GF2 with 20mm, which is a little smaller than the GF1 and the E-PL1. That can be handy on a night out.

Jolyon Gray said:

Does anyone take their m4/3 camera out with them when they go clubbing? Any problems with the bouncers? I don't actually have one at the moment, and usually take out my S90, but I'm considering getting one. I love the nex5 especially with the APS-C sensor however the lack of a decent fast prime rules it out for me as I love available light photography and bokeh. I guess realistically that leaves the GF1!

Click to expand...

--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bilgy_no1

I have the e=pl1 with panny 20 myself, and its a great low light combo. I will admit though that somestimes I wish the body itself wasnt quite so bulky. I often stick the body in one pocket and lens in the other when I'm leaving the house, but even with the pancake on its cumbersome in jacket pockets.

The smaller body of the gf2 is tempting to me. I don't think IS is a big deal for social situations, usually subject movement is the issue, not camera shake. In addition, I sometimes find the 40mm equivalent a little restrictive in small rooms or crowded bars/resturants where backing up is difficult, so the 14mm 2.5 would be nice.

I think my next move my be to sell my e-pl1, keep the 20 1.7, and buy a gf2 with 14 2.5. then, ill hold my breath for the rumored oly 50 2.0 and have a nice small prime kit: gf2, 14, 20, 50. I think this would be a really small, enjoyable kit which would be well suited for the type of shooting youre talking about!

Perhaps you can take a picture or two of those seated at your own table. But there might be trouble if you get bold.

Bouncers now know better than to make violent threats. Instead, they will delicately inform you that an important client ("il padrino"?) has informed them that the camera is a distraction and violation of privacy. Or they may say that the performers are very touchy about anyong "ripping" their performances. If that does not work, they will ask you to surrender your camera. If you object, be careful you don't suffer a "most unfortunate accident" on the way to the parking lot. Witnesses will attest it appeared you "had too much to drink" and dropped your camera in the path of a car or heavy-footed former boxer.

Bilgy_no1 said:

Is a great combo for your purpose, because it combines fast prime with IS in the camera.

You may also consider the GF2 with 20mm, which is a little smaller than the GF1 and the E-PL1. That can be handy on a night out.

Click to expand...

I can't see the advantage of IS on a 40mm equivalent lens shooting people; more so in a club atmosphere. That is unless you're going all 'Jabba-the-Hut freeze him in carbonite' on all your subjects.

Honestly, whats the point of getting "bold"? Going into a club, concert or whatever the case may be, its private property and they have every right to tell you they dont want photographs taken. I think it's a big uptight of those who do, but it's their choice, and giving them a hard time is uncalled for and asking for conflict.

I would think that these days, the flashbulbs going off would create a more glamorous, celebrity -style atmosphere that they would appreciate anyway, so you'd think lots of places wouldnt mind, but it all depends on the mood and environment they want to create. as businesspeople, it's their livelihood, and i think its well within reason for them to want to run it the way they see fit.

"Bold" photographers who push the limits just because they (baselessly) feel entitled make me quietly slip my camera back into my pocket in embarrasment.

timiano said:

Bilgy_no1 said:

Is a great combo for your purpose, because it combines fast prime with IS in the camera.

You may also consider the GF2 with 20mm, which is a little smaller than the GF1 and the E-PL1. That can be handy on a night out.

Click to expand...

I can't see the advantage of IS on a 40mm equivalent lens shooting people; more so in a club atmosphere. That is unless you're going all 'Jabba-the-Hut freeze him in carbonite' on all your subjects.

Click to expand...

True: the IS will not prevent subject movement. But still, I get some very slow shutter shots with the combo (1/6 sec), and sometimes a person holds still enough to get a good shot. Interesting effect: if the subjects do hold still, the dancing people in the background will look very dynamic (bit like second curtain flash)

--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bilgy_no1

From what I understand the general level of camera paranoia here in New Zealand isn't quite as bad as in some countries, but for what it's worth it seems to be very common practice for people to take compact cameras into clubs and bars here. One of the main reasons why I chose the GF1 is that it is just small enough to be perceived as a regular compact camera with the 20mm pancake on it.

I bought a small camera bag for it that's just big enough to hold the GF1+20mm. Sometimes bouncers will want to look in the camera bag to check for drugs, etc., but they don't seem to have a problem with the camera.

Make sure you get a protective filter for you lens if you're planning to use it in this sort of environment.

I replaced my d90 with a GF1, precisely because I wanted something to take with on nights out. No regrets so far.

Hasn't been an issue for me, yet, taking the GF1/20mm into clubs. Then again, I'm always accompanied by drop-dead gorgeous woman, and even a d90 was never an issue for me.

It helps to not have a big ugly strap on it. I just use a wrist strap, and keep it in a coat pocket.

The GF1 seems to have about the perfect balance of looks, where it looks like a bit more than your typical mickey mouse compact, but less than your typical distracting/attention grabbing/dorky DSLR.

The lens has been great for bar/club shots, and I haven't missed the image stabilization as much as I feared. Hopefully, the people in the club are actually moving, in which case the IBIS will be less beneficial.

timiano said:

I can't see the advantage of IS on a 40mm equivalent lens shooting people; more so in a club atmosphere. That is unless you're going all 'Jabba-the-Hut freeze him in carbonite' on all your subjects.

Click to expand...

This is a good point, and the main reason why I haven't missed IBIS on my GF1 as much as I thought I would.

But to play devil's advocate, sometimes a bit of subject blur against a frozen background can add some good movement/atmosphere to the shot. And I've had to discard more than a few shots due to camera shake that probably would've been good with a bit of IBIS.