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New camera advice for m43 newbie

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Isca

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The search begins. I use a Canon 5D Mk2 for the more serious stuff but find it is quite cumbersome for taking out on daytrips and photographing the kids or parties etc.

I'm looking for something that is relatively compact, ideally has interchangeable lenses, a viewfinder that I can put my eye to (old habits die hard and I just don't like a screen unless I'm critical focussing using Liveview) and solid low light capabilities both with a flash as well as the ability to deal with high ISO noise. Maybe strong manual focus as well as I am still more comfortable manual focussing than auto.

I don't need it tomorrow so if a suggestion is to wait for something that is coming out shortly I can do that but any thoughts, advice, suggestions very very welcome. As I said, my search is just beginning so I'm trying to get up to speed on it.
 
Sounds like you need an Olympus E-M5. But what's your budget? The E-M5 pretty much fits what you're looking for. The E-M5 is like a tiny DSLR but with a electronic viewfinder. You might also want to look at the upcoming Panasonic GX7 which is a rangefinder style with a electronic viewfinder.
 
Isca said:
Isca wrote:

The search begins. I use a Canon 5D Mk2 for the more serious stuff but find it is quite cumbersome for taking out on daytrips and photographing the kids or parties etc.

I'm looking for something that is relatively compact, ideally has interchangeable lenses, a viewfinder that I can put my eye to (old habits die hard and I just don't like a screen unless I'm critical focussing using Liveview) and solid low light capabilities both with a flash as well as the ability to deal with high ISO noise. Maybe strong manual focus as well as I am still more comfortable manual focussing than auto.

I don't need it tomorrow so if a suggestion is to wait for something that is coming out shortly I can do that but any thoughts, advice, suggestions very very welcome. As I said, my search is just beginning so I'm trying to get up to speed on it.
Click to expand...
 
Panny GH3 and Oly E-M1 (also E-P5 with viewfinder)

Panny GX7, Oly E-M5

Panny G5, G6

In that order (though you can switch any on the same line).

Though, if you do mostly manual focusing, I would go with something that has focus peaking...which leaves

Panny GX7, Oly E-P5, Oly E-M1 and Panny G6.
Isca said:
Isca wrote:

The search begins. I use a Canon 5D Mk2 for the more serious stuff but find it is quite cumbersome for taking out on daytrips and photographing the kids or parties etc.

I'm looking for something that is relatively compact, ideally has interchangeable lenses, a viewfinder that I can put my eye to (old habits die hard and I just don't like a screen unless I'm critical focussing using Liveview) and solid low light capabilities both with a flash as well as the ability to deal with high ISO noise. Maybe strong manual focus as well as I am still more comfortable manual focussing than auto.

I don't need it tomorrow so if a suggestion is to wait for something that is coming out shortly I can do that but any thoughts, advice, suggestions very very welcome. As I said, my search is just beginning so I'm trying to get up to speed on it.

--
www.pbase.com/garethc/good_stuff
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--
Hubert
My non-digital gear: Agfa Isolette, Fed 2, Konica Auto S2, K1000, Yashica Electro 35 GX, Recesky
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2034/2457111090_00eafbf8a4_m.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/peppermonkey/
 
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Cant really say something about panasonic. Only use Olympus E-M5. Like the image stabilization.

I guess I would wait for a couple of months and buy the E-M5, because I think there might be some price-drop when the E-M1 comes out. If you can live without focus-peaking.

I just would look out to get something with an E-M5-like sensor, because it was a big leap forward. I am sure Panasonic has something equally good. Not sure though, which camera made the "leap" there.
 
Budget isn't a big deal, I'll be selling Leica gear to buy it so there will be plenty of money left over!

I was hoping to buy a long zoom and a couple of shorter primes.

I was looking at the new Panasonic GX7 (?) and a friend has the Olympus OM-D I think it is but I need a shortlist of maybe 5 cameras to look at.
 
You should consider the FujiFilm X-Pro1 or wait for the X-Pro2.

Maybe keep the Leica glass to use with it as Fuji have an adapter.
 
Olympus E-M1 (forthcoming, top of the line pro body)

Olympus E-M5 (much loved mini DSLR with IBIS)

Panasonic GH3 (DSLR style, no IBIS but numerous external controls & good ergonomics)

Panasonic GX7 (rangefinder style jack of all trades)

Olympus E-P5 (rangefinder style with clip-on viewfinder)
 
Those are the bodies. One can quibble with the order presented. Try them out. See how they fit in your hand and how comfortable they are. They all have about the same sensor quality except we don't know how the sensor in the GX7 measures yet - a new Panasonic one. Panasonic cameras generally rely on in-lens stabilization but the GX7 also has IBIS. WE don't know a lot about the EM1- it is just being introduced.

F.
 
Some of those Leitz lenses can be used on M4/3 with a converter. Just remember that the 35mm Leitz will become a 70mm M4/3. Actually, I wish that I had kept my 35 and 50 and 90 Leitz lenses because I would certainly enjoy using them on my Panasonic and Olympus M4/3 bodies. Welcome to the smaller world.
 
Since you're not in a hurry and have a decent budget, I think you should wait and see how the E-M1 turns out once it is released. It seems to have several improvements over the E-M5 - PDAF, 1/8000s exposure time, focus peaking, wifi, bigger viewfinder to name a few off the top of my head.
 
Any ideas when it's coming out, latest availability? I still have to sell camera gear so in no hurry but it would be nice if it was before the end of October.
 
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