Reading mode: Light Dark

If you were to buy one system right now: nex or micro 4/3? What would you get?

Go to last post
T

The Photo Ninja

Senior Member
Messages
2,155
Reaction score
523
Location
Closed account, WA, US
My budget is $600. If you were to buy one system right now: nex or micro 4/3? What would you get? My plan is to ultimately get my kit down to one 35mm equivalent fast prime if that helps. One thing I liked about the nex that I have played with is that the facial autofocus works quite well. It's for snaps of my family.

My serious camera is a 5dIII
 
The Photo Ninja said:
The Photo Ninja wrote:

My budget is $600. If you were to buy one system right now: nex or micro 4/3? What would you get? My plan is to ultimately get my kit down to one 35mm equivalent fast prime if that helps. One thing I liked about the nex that I have played with is that the facial autofocus works quite well. It's for snaps of my family.

My serious camera is a 5dIII
Click to expand...
$600 won't even buy you a NEX body. And m4/3 cameras are "serious" cameras too.
 
Both Panasonic and Olympus are developing an already mature system in M43. You mentioned that you would like a 35mm equivalent in the system you will end up choosing. The Panasonic 20mm f1.7 is legendary for hight IQ and the Olympus 17mm f1.8 seems to be developing a set of enthusiastic fans as well.

Something that is often overlooked is how much larger the NEX lenses are compared to their M43 counterparts.

The new Olympus E-P5 is looking like it is built like a fine piece of jewelry in addition to being a nice step forward in M43 technology with built in wifi, focus peaking, and a viewfinder that is being raved about.

Dan
 
The Photo Ninja said:
The Photo Ninja wrote:

My budget is $600. If you were to buy one system right now: nex or micro 4/3? What would you get? My plan is to ultimately get my kit down to one 35mm equivalent fast prime if that helps. One thing I liked about the nex that I have played with is that the facial autofocus works quite well. It's for snaps of my family.

My serious camera is a 5dIII
Click to expand...
If you have your plan, follow it. Why the hell you asked for help?

P.S. M43 cameras have this feature that you called "facial autofocus" too, so nothing in particular
 
pinnacle said:
pinnacle wrote:

Both Panasonic and Olympus are developing an already mature system in M43. You mentioned that you would like a 35mm equivalent in the system you will end up choosing. The Panasonic 20mm f1.7 is legendary for hight IQ and the Olympus 17mm f1.8 seems to be developing a set of enthusiastic fans as well.

Something that is often overlooked is how much larger the NEX lenses are compared to their M43 counterparts.

The new Olympus E-P5 is looking like it is built like a fine piece of jewelry in addition to being a nice step forward in M43 technology with built in wifi, focus peaking, and a viewfinder that is being raved about.

Dan
Click to expand...
 
G6 looks good, but I like the smaller bodies otherwise I'd get a canon t5i or sl1.

evf is not important to me. top points, size, price, and focal length. total budget right now is 600.
 
walkaround said:
walkaround wrote:
walkaround said:
The Photo Ninja wrote:

My budget is $600. If you were to buy one system right now: nex or micro 4/3? What would you get? My plan is to ultimately get my kit down to one 35mm equivalent fast prime if that helps. One thing I liked about the nex that I have played with is that the facial autofocus works quite well. It's for snaps of my family.

My serious camera is a 5dIII
Click to expand...
$600 won't even buy you a NEX body. And m4/3 cameras are "serious" cameras too.
Click to expand...
The OMD (and hopefully, by extension, the EPL5 and EPM2) have pretty good facial recognition for AF too, though I haven't used the Nex enough to compare.

However, walkaround makes a good point: Your budget is a bit limiting. You can do that budget in m43, though I think it would be the 17 2.8 pancake, or... the 17 1.8 prime with a much cheaper one, like an EPL1.

I haven't seen any Nex bodies as cheap as some of the cheaper MFT bodies(of course, I don't search Nex as much, but a quick search found me used EPL1s at $100 and used Nex3s at ~$350). More importantly though, I don't see an E-series prime lens for 35mm in your budget. The only one I see actually is a $1000 Carl Zeiss.

Incidentally, if you're only looking for 35mm, you might want to check the single lens cameras aiming for that range, like:

Fuji X100 and X100S (X100 starting at $700 used)
Nikon A (28mm equiv, but you can crop if you'd like)
Ricoh GR (again 28mm equiv)
I'm sure there are others I don't know about.
 
Right...
 
You're asking this question on the Micro Four Thirds forum. I would kind of expect that most people who, after some consideration, committed to this system have not changed their minds.

I certainly fit that description. I have a (now old) Panasonic DMC-G10, and three lenses. Notice that the G10 is a miniature DSLR form factor. It is significantly smaller than the Sony alpha translucent lens series, which is what I compared it to. It has a good hand grip (for me) - unlike NEX. It has a good set of controls, so you don't have to dig into the menu pages as much as on NEX. Equivalent angle of view lenses are smaller than for NEX. It has a built in EVF, unlike NEX at that time and I think still today.

So, if I want a small DSLR like form factor, with an EVF and a good handgrip I certainly would not buy NEX. I am very pleased with the G10 and when I feel like updating it I'll take a look at the G6. Not NEX.
 
s_grins said:
s_grins wrote:
s_grins said:
The Photo Ninja wrote:

My budget is $600. If you were to buy one system right now: nex or micro 4/3? What would you get? My plan is to ultimately get my kit down to one 35mm equivalent fast prime if that helps. One thing I liked about the nex that I have played with is that the facial autofocus works quite well. It's for snaps of my family.

My serious camera is a 5dIII
Click to expand...
If you have your plan, follow it. Why the hell you asked for help?

P.S. M43 cameras have this feature that you called "facial autofocus" too, so nothing in particular
Click to expand...
 
1) better and more choices of lenses

2) smaller system overall (smaller lenses)

3) choice between Olympus and Panasonic (and third party lenses)

4) in body IS

5) 4:3 native format

6) add on tiltable EVF

7) almost complete set of lenses

8) weatherproof bodies and lenses

9) macro accessories + others

Cheers,
 
The Photo Ninja said:
The Photo Ninja wrote:

My budget is $600. If you were to buy one system right now: nex or micro 4/3? What would you get? My plan is to ultimately get my kit down to one 35mm equivalent fast prime if that helps. One thing I liked about the nex that I have played with is that the facial autofocus works quite well. It's for snaps of my family.

My serious camera is a 5dIII
Click to expand...
The one thing the micro four thirds has going for it is it's complete lens line up. With what you are after, either would be a good choice. The nex has the 20mm 2.8 pancake which seems to review well, is cheapish and would give you a nice little system and their low end cameras are quite good value.

Micro four thirds have the 17 1.8 (which I have and is lovely) and 20mm which people love and is cheapish.

I'd even consider the Canon M (heresy!), yes it's a nothing yawn camera but it has a 35mm equivalent and with an adapter will auto focus your other canon lenses.



I'd try all three and buy the one you like the feel of given that they are all good choices. But for the sake of answering your question get the NEX micro four thirds are rubbish (joking) ;).
 
[No message]
 
The Photo Ninja said:
The Photo Ninja wrote:

G6 looks good, but I like the smaller bodies otherwise I'd get a canon t5i or sl1.

evf is not important to me. top points, size, price, and focal length. total budget right now is 600.
Click to expand...
Get a pm2 with kit lens and sigma 19mm from henry's. They ship to the US. It should be the best with a fixed lens and your budget
 
Not me - but I was about to recommend the same exact combo, given current prices. This or a used Fuji X100. But lens quality wise, the GX1/20mm will win (and will beat or match the just about any combo out there).

If you want really portable, than go for the 14mm 2.5, which I do have (coupled with a GF5) which in my case is a top notch lens in a tiny package.

The Photo Ninja said:
The Photo Ninja wrote:

That looks like a pretty good option.
Click to expand...
 
dv312 said:
dv312 wrote:

1) better and more choices of lenses

2) smaller system overall (smaller lenses)

3) choice between Olympus and Panasonic (and third party lenses)

4) in body IS

5) 4:3 native format

6) add on tiltable EVF

7) almost complete set of lenses

8) weatherproof bodies and lenses

9) macro accessories + others

Cheers,
Click to expand...
_ the only caveat might be what the "Best" refurb / reconditioned body I could get.

Still using E-PL-1, second hand lenses and getting stellar results.

Differences with a newer camera are minimal; still "In Camera HDR" might be fun to play with.

 
I have the GX1 but with the 14mm. I really like the portability and the 14mm lens is cheap but great for wide angle. I do wish I had the 20mm lens in some instances but I tend to shoot wide anyway.

I must say, coming from a 60D DSLR I was surprised at how fast the GX1 focuses.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

MJ_Photo38
What Ifs and other alternate history theories
2 3 4
Replies
62
Views
36K
Todd Yes
T
MEDISN
  • User review User review
Micro FUN Thirds: OM-3
2
Replies
39
Views
59K
3Percent
3Percent
S
2x iii teleconverter for 5d iv, worth getting??
Replies
10
Views
16K
jjbinx
J
Phocal
  • User review User review
OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm f/2.8 IS PRO Initial/Ongoing Review
2 3 4
Replies
69
Views
147K
Hmm1000
H
matttelz
New sensor tech thread...tale of the Nex-3
Replies
13
Views
11K
UncleVanya
UncleVanya

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top