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Used EM-5/12-50mm vs. new EM-10/14-42/14-150

Started Feb 7, 2014 | Discussions thread
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Michael Meissner
Michael Meissner Forum Pro • Posts: 28,013
Used EM-5/12-50mm vs. new EM-10/14-42/14-150

I've been thinking of adding to my camera collection, particularly before our May trip to Mouseland east (Walt Disney World).  Now, I don't have the budget for a new EM-1 and the 12-40mm lenses, and I don't really have the budget for a new EM-5 with the 12-50mm either.  However, the EM-10 body only would be doable ($700), as would going with a used EM-5 and used 12-50mm ($750 to $850).  In terms of Florida, it usually has rained part of the day when we've been there in the past (though we haven't been in May before), and it is very bright, so having an EVF would be helpful.

The other option is to go with a long zoom bridge camera (Fujifilm S-1 or Olympus SP-100) with an EVF.

As an E-1/E-3/E-5 owner with 4 HG lenses (11-22mm, 14-54mm mark 1, 50-200mm mark 1, 50mm), I appreciate weather sealing, particularly for a vacation camera, where you are away from your hotel for the whole day, and rain does occur.   However, it might be nice to downsize, so a EM-5 with the 12-50mm lens might be the ticket.  I've tended to buy new cameras, and get the extended warranty to get a cleaning at the end of 3 years, to get the camera back in shape, and that would not be an option in this case.  If I'm not going to go the full weather sealed route, going with an EM-5 and using my current lenses, doesn't make as much sense.

Another option is to go with the EM-10, and resign myself to using plastic bags for weather sealing.  Since the EM-10 uses the BLS batteries that my previous E-P2 and E-PM2 used, it would be a little more convenient.  The big selling port for the EM-10 compared to my current E-PM2 is the builtin EVF and the builtin flash (but I would lose the ability to use the SEMA-1).  I haven't played with the EM-10, and I did play with an EM-5 a year or two, but not recently.

As I mentioned, a completely different option is going with a long zoom bridge camera.  For a vacation camera, the bridge camera has a lot of appeal, in that you only have to carry one camera, a few batteries, and memory cards.  You don't need the camera bag with multiple cameras and lenses.  Sure, there are things you lose with a jack of all trades type of camera, but it does have advantages.  The Fujifilm S-1 pretty much ticks all of my boxes ($500), because it is weather sealed, and can do high zoom, assuming Fuji keeps to their schedule of mid-March for being available.  Sure, it won't be as good at low light/no flash, but I probably will continue to use my existing cameras in those cases.  The Olympus SP-100 also looks interesting, particularly at $400, but since it is isn't weather sealed, it is plastic bag time again.  I remember getting a Fuji many years ago, and I really hated the color tonality of the camera.  Given there are very few pictures available from the camera, it is sort of buying the unknown.

So refresh my memory.  How is the image quality on the 12-50mm compared to the 14-42mm lens?  Yeah, it is probably not a match for the 14-54mm, but how does it stack up against the other micro 4/3rds lenses?  I tend to not view images at 100%, but only look at them downsized for web or via prints.

For people that have tried the EM-10 and E-M5 or E-PM2, what new things does the EM-10 have that aren't in the EM-5 that you find yourself using?  I assume the builtin flash would not be usable with the 14-150mm lens, just like it isn't with the LM-FL1 on the E-PM2.  It would have more control on the camera body compared to the stripped down E-PM2.

In terms of the EVF, I find the VF-2 to be unusable due to my need to wear sunglasses.  When I tried the EM-5 when it was announced, I could use the EVF with sunglasses, though it was on the dark side.  Out of curiosity, has anybody tried the EM-10's EVF with polarized sunglasses?  Is it dark but usable, or completely unusable when shooting in landscape orientation?  Obviously for the bridge cameras, I would need to wait until they come out.

If you had the choice of buying new EM-10 or used EM-5, which would you go for and why?

 Michael Meissner's gear list:Michael Meissner's gear list
Olympus Stylus 1 Olympus TG-5 Olympus E-M5 III OM-1 Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm F4.0-5.6 +13 more
Olympus E-1 Olympus PEN E-P2 Olympus PEN E-PM2 Olympus Stylus SP-100
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