Who here also uses another (dSLR) system?

Thanks for the replies everyone. Thats really interesting. Seems like most people still have another system, but rarely use it unless they need it for work.

I guess the areas of photography that I would like to explore a little more that I don't seem to see many people doing with mFT are things like star shots & astrophotography, HDR, and extreme macro (I don't remember the name, but I seem to remember reading that canon has the only lens that lets you magnify up to 6:1).

Having said that, I have a feeling that I would end up leaving a big FF camera at home more often than not due to the size/weight.

Basically I am really happy with my GH1, and now there are a lot of mFT lenses its a pretty solid system.

Just occasionally I wish I had a little more low light performance, and could push the RAW files further in post processing. But I guess we can't have everything

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

M43: GH2, 14, 20, 45-200.

Canon EOS: 5DII, 7D, 50D, Too many lenses.

M43 goes with me everyday in my car, walking around, family gatherings, travel (unless it's work).

Canon for work

Tom

http://www.kachadurian.com

Kiri,

My "principal" camera is a Nikon D700 and I use all primes but one (the 28-105) with it. I purchased and used the GF1, 20mm pancake and 14-45 zoom solely for a recent trip to Italy. Based on a previous experience, I simply didn't want to lug around the D700 and a couple of lenses in 85F heat over cobblestones and through what seems like endless museums and churches; I wanted to concentrate more of the holiday itself and the utility of the photography was paramount over the relative IQ of the two systems.

I was very pleased with being able to carry and use this smaller, lighter kit in Rome and Siena and I may keep it for informal parties, and that sort of thing; otherwise, I may sell the GF1, etc, and I suspect I'll not lose too much on it (after all, it's been personally imported from Europe).
--
Jim Mohundro

kiri said:

Thanks for the replies everyone. Thats really interesting. Seems like most people still have another system, but rarely use it unless they need it for work.

Click to expand...

Yes I initially bought a GF1 to use as a secondary more portable camera, but it is now my primary camera (I even reach for it before my DSLR when I'm at home for many shots). The DSLR is kind of a specialty camera for me now.

kiri said:

I guess the areas of photography that I would like to explore a little more that I don't seem to see many people doing with mFT are things like star shots & astrophotography, HDR, and extreme macro (I don't remember the name, but I seem to remember reading that canon has the only lens that lets you magnify up to 6:1).

Click to expand...

I don't have any astrophotography experience, but I don't know if DSLR cameras have any inherent advantages there... unless there is a big market for astrophotography accessories designed to work with popular DSLR cameras, or less amp noise for long exposures perhaps. There are not really any advantages to either system for HDR that I am aware of. I have shot HDR using both my GF1 and my Nikon DSLR and gotten excellent results with both. Now macro stuff is where I see one possible advantage to m4/3. I can put my Tamron 90mm f/2.8 1:1 macro on my GF1 and get either more working distance to achieve a 1:1 scale or I can get closer to the subject to go beyond 1:1 because of the smaller sensor's crop factor. If Canon has a 6:1 lens, it would be even more extreme on a smaller sensor camera. The only thing you lose is autofocus, but autofocus doesn't work well at macro levels anyway. You will want to use a tripod with a focusing rail and manual focus for extreme macro shots.

kiri said:

Having said that, I have a feeling that I would end up leaving a big FF camera at home more often than not due to the size/weight.

Basically I am really happy with my GH1, and now there are a lot of mFT lenses its a pretty solid system.

Just occasionally I wish I had a little more low light performance, and could push the RAW files further in post processing. But I guess we can't have everything

Click to expand...

There are trade-offs. You could always save up for a second camera. My ideal dual system would probably be m4/3 for most of my photos but upgrade my Nikon D200 to a full frame Nikon for specialty shooting. My D200 and GF1 are pretty close in terms of image quality. The D200 is about a stop better in terms of high ISO noise, and I can pull a little more dynamic range out of a D200 RAW file. What sets my D200 apart is mostly the ability to shoot with f/2.8 autofocus zooms.

Sean

I have a Canon 50D, which I now use primarily in 3 circumstances only, and all pretty much involve low light:

When shooting bands/artists at venues that I know won't give me a hassle about bringing in a larger "professional" camera (professional these days seems to be anything larger than a point and shoot--I've had some places not let me bring in my E-P3 if I had any lens other than the 20mm panny on it). For the most part I only see bands at smaller venues, and the lighting tends to be on the darker side, and the 4/3rds still can't compete with higher ISO's needed. I shoot primarily with a Canon 85mm 1.8 and Sigma 20mm 1.8

When shooting in really, really low light and happen to have my dslr handy. So this means around my house, vacations we drive to (and aren't far from where ever we are staying at the moment, and so on)

When I'm shooting something that I want the absolute, positively best photo I can get and need a longer focal length and larger aperture.

As you can see, for me, the only time the 4/3rds is optimum for me is in darker situations, and usually then only if a longer focal length is required. I'm hoping for some wide aperture primes to be coming down the pipe soon.

I have a samsung NX100 as well as my Olympus E-P3, which I'll be selling once the NX200 becomes available. Samsung has an 85mm 1.4 scheduled for release this month--so it's possible that camera may begin superseding the E-P3.

As it is, I prefer both the Olympus and Samsung for convenience, weight, and video whenever possible.

--
http://www.davedziemian.com

I use my K-5 when I MUST have weather-sealed.
I use m4/3 when I MUST have very small.

All other times I just switch between the K5, M8 and m4/3 (now EPM1) based on my mood that day. I just go for the camera I go for, not always with rhyme or reason. I tend to cover the same focal lengths with all systems, though the Pentax is probably the most complete (shoot primes-only on them all).

Amy
--



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kiri said:

Thanks for the replies everyone. Thats really interesting. Seems like most people still have another system, but rarely use it unless they need it for work.

I guess the areas of photography that I would like to explore a little more that I don't seem to see many people doing with mFT are things like star shots & astrophotography, HDR, and extreme macro (I don't remember the name, but I seem to remember reading that canon has the only lens that lets you magnify up to 6:1).

Having said that, I have a feeling that I would end up leaving a big FF camera at home more often than not due to the size/weight.

Basically I am really happy with my GH1, and now there are a lot of mFT lenses its a pretty solid system.

Just occasionally I wish I had a little more low light performance, and could push the RAW files further in post processing. But I guess we can't have everything

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

Click to expand...

would be "who has completely given up their DSLR's and settled for m4/3's ?". I see posts on an almost daily basis from people who are going this way, I myself am one of them and am very happy to have done so. I see very little in the way of a trade-off and feel I have gained more in terms of reduced size and weight, versatility and enjoyment of my hobby.
--
It's a known fact that where there's tea there's hope.
Tony
http://the-random-photographer.blogspot.com/

There's no m4/3 that can remotely come close to my D700 for high ISO or overall image quality.

I've been selling down my DSLR system lately because of how happy I am with my Nex and now my Oly mirrorless cameras. What I'll definitely keep though...

1. Nikon D100 x 2. Used at my job with an SB600 flash. Even after all these years it gets the job done.

2. Nikon F100. The one film camera I've never even considered selling. What I wish the D200 I'm currently selling had been in viewfinder and build.

3. A few Nikon mount lenses. Cheap 18-55 kit, 35mm 2.0 D, 85mm 1.8 D, Tamron 90mm Macro, 50mm 2.0 AIS, 50mm 1.2 AIS, 35mm 1.4 AIS, Nikon 120mm macro, and a few of my f1 or faster home converted macro lenses.
--
The worst vice is advice. - John Milton from The Devil's Advocate

Well ever since I bought my Argus C3 I have...............

just kidding........

I use a Canon 50D and L glass...am awaiting the Canon 5dMarkIII.

For personal shooting I am with the GH1 or EP2. Canon for semi pro portraiture, medical photography, critical concerts with low light. The Canon 135 F/2 is just a magical lens.

Canon 60D is my main camera. Use it for sports/fast action, low light, and really most everything I deem important.

My m4/3 "system" is just a GF1+20/1.7 ATM (and some vintage MF lenses). It is mostly just used for really good (hopefully) snapshots.

Both rigs are strictly for personal/amateur use. The only way I'm getting paid in relation to photography is if I take my wife up on her offer to pay me if I stop "making cameras and lenses show up at our house".

I have numerous compact P&S models, a G3 M43, and a few Nikon SLRs. Here are some of them.

I have just received my new GF2 at the weekend. I also have a Nikon D5000 and a D50. I walk alot and so wanted to travel lighter. So far the GF2 fits the bill, I have found it really easy to use, manual mode and manual focus is a breeze.

I also have a Nikon D90 with a handful of lenses. I carry it on photo oriented outings or long excursions. My EPL-1 is for every day use and light traveling, or when traveling i have to carry a heavy load of other things (food, supplies, etc).

It all comes down to what i want to carry, in what, for how long, and if i need a feature or performance margin i get in the DSLR i don't get with the Pen.

I currently use a Hasselblad Xpan and an EPL-1.

The xpan I mostly use for tripod based landscapes and the EPL-1 for pretty much everything else. I see them as essentially complementary. The Xpan has great lenses and I like the manual operation and the no stitching required pano format for slow moving landscapey stuff. Its relatively light (small lenses for what is essentially a 35mm/MF hybrid camera). If I was going on e.g. a month long camping and hiking trip round Iceland, which I have done a couple of times, it would be my main choice since its less battery dependent and built like a tank.

My old SLR system was a Minolta Dynax 7. However I basically sold all that gear post digital because I never found a DSLR that was the same size but packed the same functionality and was as intuitive to use. So outside the specific niche of the Xpan, the EPL-1 has become my main day to day camera athough at the moment I´ve only got the kit zoon....

I dont need ISO over 800 or continuous AF. Or AF at all really.

Just went to Joshua tree this weekend.

Took the 5d2 and T2i converted to infrared.

I also have a 7d I use for action.

However, 80% of the time these days I use m4/3.

The issues I have with my m4/3 gear are:

Autofocus
Battery life
IQ

Responsiveness (if you leave them on, they kill batteries, if you let them sleep they wake up after the shot is gone).
Can't get super shallow depth of field.

But if I'm using m4/3 80% of the time I've accepted those drawbacks.

I love the size of the gear.

BC

Yohan Pamudji said:

If you can swing it, using a FF system for a while is one of those things I wish more people could experience. It's not the perfect, ideal system--nothing is--but I think the experience would give you a broader picture of what's out there and what kind of compromises you're making and benefits you're gaining with m4/3 compared to DSLRs in general and FF DSLRs in particular. Given the right lenses, there's a "wow" factor that you can achieve with larger sensors that is fun to experience for yourself. Looking at charts and numbers comparing performance doesn't prepare one for the actual experience of shooting with FF.

Click to expand...

Well said. Couldn't agree more, since I have experienced exactly what you are talking about when I bought a FF DSLR. I also love my m43 system, but would never abandon FF.

Have got an E-5 and several pro lenses, such as 12-60 SWD, 50-200 SWD and 50 2.0. Following my first go with µFT in early 2009 (with a G1). I was rather disappointed and promised myself that I wouldn't make a second effort before they come up with a properly working C-AF - as my main subjects have been dogs in action, to date.

But since several months I'm suffering from serious back problems that seem to be chronic and so, I opted for making an early second µFT stint with an E-PL3.

And although the C-AF still is useles, I love this liitle gem and even more so since I purchased the Summilux 25 1.4 on Saturday and will receive my Zuiko 45 1.8, early this week. those two lenses are just fantastic and I'm looking forward to what I will be able to shoot, with them. So, I'm going to sell the 12-60, the FT 9-18 and possibly my beloved 50 2.0, too, to purchase the FT 14-54 II to be used on both the E-5 and E-PL3 - and the µZuiko 9-18.

I didn't expect it to happen so early but with the three fast primes (have got the 20 1.7 too), the 14-54 II and the Lumix 45-200 I'm a happy µFT camper and will use the E-5 for sports and action and in dreadful weather only. But for anything else, it's stricly µFT.

And what I particularly love about my red E-PL3: it makes street photography really easy. With such a cam, everybody thinks you are just one of those tourists, while pointing an E-5 on somebody always made the people pose or look annoyed.
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Why not - if there's enough space on the sofa...

What is a DSLR, I thought they were hunted to extinction?

I also use a Nikon system - Lots of lenses and a couple bodies. I tend to use it whenever I go out for the purpose of photographing, or when I know I'll want higher IQ or more versatility in lens options.

I tend to take my m4/3rds kit everywhere - it's my with family, or want to go hiking with light weight, or out and about system.

I did get an adapter to use my Nikkors with the micro four thirds system, as it gives me some more options there.

--
A poor photographer blames his tools.