Spiridakis Michael wrote:
Kim Letkeman wrote:
Spiridakis Michael wrote:
jalywol wrote:
I was wondering how many other people out there have had what should be the "perfect" camera, but end up using something else for most of what they do?
As I am sure many readers know, I am an inveterate gearhead about M43 camera bodies. I've enjoyed the format since my first M43 (an EPL1) 3 1/2 years ago, but I've felt like I have been chasing technology to get the output I have wanted in a camera that I enjoy operating.
Each new technological advance has been welcome; first the improved focusing speeds, then better sensors...but of course, with each new change, something else that I liked about a particular camera body gets altered to something less desirable for my uses. It's always a tradeoff.....
However, what I seem to be discovering that in amongst all of this camera perfection/imperfection, there are some intangibles that seem to make me want to consistently reach for one camera over another.
Example: I immediately took to two cameras; one was the GF3 and one was the GH2. The GF3 felt wonderful in hand, but I ended up not using it much due to it having the old sensor, which frustrated me. I loved the GH2. It was just at the upper edge of the size I like, but still within it. Its down side was the greenish cast to its colors and difficult higher ISO performance. When the EM5 came out, I was tempted by it for a few minutes, but then realized that there were things about it that would make me nuts (the small focus box thing (which has since been fixed) for one...and the grip...) so I stayed with the GH2. Then when the GH3 came out, I bought one. I was a little worried about its size, but I thought it would be ok.
There were a lot of nice things about the GH3 (beautifully balanced camera in hand, solid build, excellent DR), but I found that after I had had it for a couple of months, I started not looking forward to taking it out and using it. It sat in the bag. I decided to buy a smaller cam instead, so I got a G5, and sold the GH3. G5 was a perfect size, but it felt so plastic-y to me, and the shutter shock was terrible...so that got sold. I figured I'd get a temporary M43 until the next gen of Panasonics and Olys came out, so I got an EPM2. I adjusted ok to it, but I missed having a bigger rear screen and more direct controls.
When the EM1 came out, I thought I had found the perfect combo. Great EVF, excellent performance, beautiful color rendition, IBIS, terrific build quality, and a nice grip. So, I bought one. It's a great camera. However, when I reach for the bag, it's not the one that goes with me now. I got a GM1 a few months ago as my second body, and even with its lack of direct controls, I was enjoying using it more than the EM1! So, I started thinking that maybe a slightly lighter, slightly smaller camera with the UI I preferred would make more sense...and I bought a GX7 to try. Of course, the first two GX7s I got were defective, so I figured that was that. However, a good buy on one came around and I got a third.
I've had the GX7 now for about three weeks...and the EM1 stays in the back up bag at home, and the GX7 goes with me. Even though the EM1 has a vastly superior viewfinder, and better IBIS, and the GX7 for sure has some quirks, I am just more comfortable using the GX7. It is FAR from a perfect camera, but in three weeks, it seems have been able to become more invisible in my hands than the EM1 has after six months of use. Even after carefully programming the buttons and dials on the EM1 to work the way I want, I still get tripped up by its operation......and this is after using the Oly menu system for over a year (between the EPM2 and the EM1). I think the Panasonic UI might just be too deeply ingrained in my brain at this point, perhaps....
I just think this whole thing is curious. I suppose it's not a bad thing in a way....the one thing that has gotten very clear after this last round of camera experimenting for me is that the IQ of the most recent sensored M43 bodies is remarkably close between them all. So, at least that factor in the equation of what camera to use is considerably reduced from earlier generation cameras. I just find it kind of strange that I am more comfortable with a camera with lots of quirks and a few significant flaws than a really solid and well thought out high level body.
Has anyone else had a similar experience?
Nice story... and so many details inconceivably mixed in a desperate try to convince yourself that all m43 bodies today produce the same icon... I think you will forget this taste of smoke after a wile that JK will produce this fake Kodak m43 bodies... Please... Do us the favor --- there are ONLY TWO companies in the market with the best IQ and a clear color signature... and you know them Fuji - Olympus...
Your comment must be based on some kind of amateurish assumption that JPEGs are the only output a camera is capable of, and more importantly that the rather over-processed Oly JPEGs set some kind of unassailable standard. (Fuji, I like ... but the system is limited and expensive and there remain operational issues that you no doubt don't care about.)
You Know very well that the rather advanced work that I use to do & post is based in RAW... I really don't know how is my EM5's EPL2's jpegs... but you already know very well that RAW caries the color signature of every company... RAW is not "de facto" the same thing Olympus has the color signature of Olympus and Lumix has the color signature of Lumix... And you know very well because you are not a newbie that there is a well hidden relationship between Kodak colors and Olympus...
Well hidden? You mean the fact that the old Oly bodies carried Kodak sensors? And that some people loved the color? Just like some people love the color on the Sony sensor? And some people love the color on whatever it is they own?
For me are just the same...
Guess what ... we are all on a learning curve and your condescending technobabble does not actually make a great substitute for cogency ...
and the basic difference from those of Fuji is the more pop rendition...
You mean that Fuji manage to emulate a better class of pop? Like the Beatles perhaps?
Seriously, "pop" comes from a combination of microcontrast in the lens and your processing, the latter of which swamps the former in a great big hurry.
And since you insist that you shoot and process RAW, then I suspect that you are confusing your specific settings for each camera with something the sensor is doing.
Not to say that there are not differences, but to say that Fuji has more "pop" in raw than Oly (let's say that this is what you meant because most people cannot parse what you write anyway) seems rather silly, since pumping contrast and saturation creates "pop" and that is something you have complete control of in your raw editor before you declare an image "done" ...
So your assertion makes no sense to me.
when both Olympus and Fuji carry extremely well all the fragile & delicate details...
Yes. And so does Panasonic. And so do almost all of the modern sensors. The lens and the processing tend to make the difference ... it is, as always, about money and skill, the latter trumping the former most of the time.
But these are very high senses for extremely sensitive eyes...
Yes, your eyes see detail much better than mine. Even when I zoom in to 1000%, the details remain hidden to me because you exist.
No doubt all are not capable to feel them
I would be extremely impressed to see a demonstration of "feeling" the ultra high level of details that a Fuji or Oly sensor can retain over and above other brands (and by the way, you do realize that the newest Oly uses a Panny sensor, right?) ...
Does this require that the person run fingers across the sensor after the image is captured? Kind of like braille?
Just curios.
specially when they concentrate only how well they feel a camera in their hands... as we are talking for hammer or a frying pan...
Yes ... I imagine that your ability to eek out vastly more detail and pop from Oly and Fuji sensors come from long years with hammers and frying pans.
Makes as much sense to me as anything you write ...
Seriously, your ability with fatuous bombast is laudable, but contemplate what it might be like to have an open mind.
Maybe you feel more comfortable with a toy GX7 but don't make us laugh because you can't work with an EM1.... LOL
That is one of the more desperate fanboisms I have seen in the past few months. It's actually kind of sad that you think the LOL on the end makes you look like some wise sage sitting up high and looking down on the proletariat.
When in fact it actually makes you sound like an adolescent.
Kim... do me the favor... really I return you all these personal ornaments as I don't have time to spend with you... LOL...
Yet you spent plenty of time on that reply ...
It is a rare combination ... elitist, hypocrite, and technobabble ninja ... walk tall.
