Peter Nelson
Veteran Member
This thread is really for photographers who have never used a FF DSLR but do use m4/3 cameras. Note, that I am using only older manual focus lenses and not modern AF lenses in this comparason. With all the other different subjects in these forums I still think it's ok to compare actrual images from these two different systems. Because I own both I have more choices. That's a good thing!
Some posters in the other thread were asking me to make my own comparasons between my own gear and so this is exactly what I have done. I took more pictures today to compare my own gear Kodak SLR/n FF and m4/3 Olympus E-PL1 + VF-2. I did not use my Canon 1DsMkII with L primes like 85L f/1.2 or 24mm f/1.4 L maybe I should have. But I have been using the 1DsMkII for birding and I prefere the smaller and lighter Kodak for hand held photography. Perhaps I should also have included images taken using my Epson R-D1 digital rangefinder and Nikon D1H DSLR and Canon 50D and Pentax K1000. But that's beyond my original idea of comparing FF and m4/3. All images were taken at the minimum focusing distance.
All were hand held with ISO 160 for the Kodak and ISO 200 for the E-PL1. Please understand that I like both systems and that's why I own and use them both. I am trying to compare FF and m4/3 for some relaxed pictures of the same violet in my wife's garden. I am not trying to win any prize for excellence or enter any photo contests with these images. To do that I would need to make different decisions as to framing and perhaps even moving the flower pots around for a better view and perhaps wait for better lighting. That's called proper preperation. But these images are done in my normal causal methods for my own "fun" and personal photography. I used two cameras only. My Kodak SLR/n and Ai 50mm f/1.4 at f/1.4. Also I used my Olympus E-PL1 with VF-2 and 85mm f/2 Zorki lens, Nikon Ai 24mm f/2.8 and lastly Leica 50mm f/1.4 Summilux at f/1.4.
I will also include the image I posted in my other thread about FF and m4/3. That image was also hand held, base ISO of 160, Tv 1/90 using the same Nikon 50mmn Ai lens but at f/4.
In camera settings are with noise reduction and sharpening both set to off. I did sharpen to taste and also adjust the brightness to taste. BTW my tastes change all the time ;-) I did not do any noise reduction at all. This comparason was not done in an exact scientific method. Just to taste as I feel that's a good representation of my typical methods. I did use the Sunny 16 Rules for exposure with the Kodak, and then I also used the rear LCD for an idea as to what the exposure was like. That's how I use the Kodak normally anyway.
My favorite is still the first image from the other day using the Kodak FF DSLR and Nikon Ai 50mm f/1.4 lens set to f/4. That's because the subject violet is sharp, but still has OOF areas and bokeh and it contains more than just the subject flower in the field of view. I like that style. Maybe you do not.
I am sorry that the images do not all show exactly the same field of view. But all in all I like FF cameras. That kind of testing is what paid photographers do, like here on DPR.
First image is from my Kodak SLR/n using 50mm f/1.4 Ai lens at f/4 from the other thread. Note the conditions were dark and cloudy as a storm was just about to arrive. So the colors are daker:
Next is from today with Kodak SLR/n and 50mm f/1.4 at f/1.4. I overexposed this image when I changed the aperture from f/4 to f/1.4. But someone in the Kodak Talk forum suggested that I expose to the right (highlights anyway. I had to darken this image and I played around a litlle with the colors. You can notice the overexposed parts of the subject violet. I actually do not prefere overexposures, so if I really wanted to I would reshoot this and adjust the Tv because I have opened the Av.:
Next is from today with Olympus E-PL1 using Zorki 85mm f/2 at F/2. The 85mm provides a mold compression and also approx. 170mm field of view.:
Next is from today with Olympus E-PL1 using Nikon Ai 24mm f/2.8 at f/2.8. I do not seem to be able to get a narrow DOF from a 24mm f/2.8 lens on the E-PL1 and that was not a suprise. But I was able to match the field of view of my first image with the Kodak and 50mm prime. That's why I have included it.:
Last from today with Olympus E-PL1 using Leica Summilux first version from 1959 50mm f/1.4 at f/1.4. This has a mild compression effect and a somwhat narrow field of view. The f/1.4 does work but not as much as f/1.5 works on a FF. See the first image.
--
Life as an artist has had some unusual times to say the least.
visit my web site http://www.flickr.com/photos/artist_eyes/
Remember to click on 'All Sizes' for better viewing.
Artist Eyes
Some posters in the other thread were asking me to make my own comparasons between my own gear and so this is exactly what I have done. I took more pictures today to compare my own gear Kodak SLR/n FF and m4/3 Olympus E-PL1 + VF-2. I did not use my Canon 1DsMkII with L primes like 85L f/1.2 or 24mm f/1.4 L maybe I should have. But I have been using the 1DsMkII for birding and I prefere the smaller and lighter Kodak for hand held photography. Perhaps I should also have included images taken using my Epson R-D1 digital rangefinder and Nikon D1H DSLR and Canon 50D and Pentax K1000. But that's beyond my original idea of comparing FF and m4/3. All images were taken at the minimum focusing distance.
All were hand held with ISO 160 for the Kodak and ISO 200 for the E-PL1. Please understand that I like both systems and that's why I own and use them both. I am trying to compare FF and m4/3 for some relaxed pictures of the same violet in my wife's garden. I am not trying to win any prize for excellence or enter any photo contests with these images. To do that I would need to make different decisions as to framing and perhaps even moving the flower pots around for a better view and perhaps wait for better lighting. That's called proper preperation. But these images are done in my normal causal methods for my own "fun" and personal photography. I used two cameras only. My Kodak SLR/n and Ai 50mm f/1.4 at f/1.4. Also I used my Olympus E-PL1 with VF-2 and 85mm f/2 Zorki lens, Nikon Ai 24mm f/2.8 and lastly Leica 50mm f/1.4 Summilux at f/1.4.
I will also include the image I posted in my other thread about FF and m4/3. That image was also hand held, base ISO of 160, Tv 1/90 using the same Nikon 50mmn Ai lens but at f/4.
In camera settings are with noise reduction and sharpening both set to off. I did sharpen to taste and also adjust the brightness to taste. BTW my tastes change all the time ;-) I did not do any noise reduction at all. This comparason was not done in an exact scientific method. Just to taste as I feel that's a good representation of my typical methods. I did use the Sunny 16 Rules for exposure with the Kodak, and then I also used the rear LCD for an idea as to what the exposure was like. That's how I use the Kodak normally anyway.
My favorite is still the first image from the other day using the Kodak FF DSLR and Nikon Ai 50mm f/1.4 lens set to f/4. That's because the subject violet is sharp, but still has OOF areas and bokeh and it contains more than just the subject flower in the field of view. I like that style. Maybe you do not.
I am sorry that the images do not all show exactly the same field of view. But all in all I like FF cameras. That kind of testing is what paid photographers do, like here on DPR.
First image is from my Kodak SLR/n using 50mm f/1.4 Ai lens at f/4 from the other thread. Note the conditions were dark and cloudy as a storm was just about to arrive. So the colors are daker:
Next is from today with Kodak SLR/n and 50mm f/1.4 at f/1.4. I overexposed this image when I changed the aperture from f/4 to f/1.4. But someone in the Kodak Talk forum suggested that I expose to the right (highlights anyway. I had to darken this image and I played around a litlle with the colors. You can notice the overexposed parts of the subject violet. I actually do not prefere overexposures, so if I really wanted to I would reshoot this and adjust the Tv because I have opened the Av.:
Next is from today with Olympus E-PL1 using Zorki 85mm f/2 at F/2. The 85mm provides a mold compression and also approx. 170mm field of view.:
Next is from today with Olympus E-PL1 using Nikon Ai 24mm f/2.8 at f/2.8. I do not seem to be able to get a narrow DOF from a 24mm f/2.8 lens on the E-PL1 and that was not a suprise. But I was able to match the field of view of my first image with the Kodak and 50mm prime. That's why I have included it.:
Last from today with Olympus E-PL1 using Leica Summilux first version from 1959 50mm f/1.4 at f/1.4. This has a mild compression effect and a somwhat narrow field of view. The f/1.4 does work but not as much as f/1.5 works on a FF. See the first image.
--
Life as an artist has had some unusual times to say the least.
visit my web site http://www.flickr.com/photos/artist_eyes/
Remember to click on 'All Sizes' for better viewing.
Artist Eyes
Or consider the Canon 85/1.2 .... you need 43/0.6 on FF or 55/0.75 
