Help: I love M43 but on the edge

Dear EB, as I'm in a rush and these are so many responses to your thread, please excuse me if some good fellow members had already addressed your issue, or my 2 cents had already been mentioned therein.

eBrain wrote:

First post; hopefully someone can help without getting into MFT vs FF war

I am long time MFT user and heavily invested in MFT gear. To put things in perspective I started with Panasonic Lumix G5 couple years back, and bought GH4 couple months back to check the latest and greatest of MFT ecosystem before taking a decision. I currently own both bodies and following lenses to put things in perspective: Rokinon 7.5mm, Panasonic 25mm/F1.4, Panasonic 14-42mm Kit, Panasonic 35-100mm/F2.8, Panasonic 45-200mm, and over a dozen legacy primes (Canon FD, Minolta, SMC Takumar, etc)

As you may aware, each lens, each focal length had their respective strength or application. Yes you had 4 native M43 lenses (not that much, as a very cost-effective user during the years of upgrading, I too have 7 lenses already), it occurred to me that you might not have the best tools for your particular shooting interest only.

After shooting for couple years I have realized I like shooting events (indoors),

First, speed is the king.

Second, normally indoor shooting range would be much shorter than outdoor. Long tele would be out of the equation whereas short tele would only be good for portrait. For me, fast wild angle prime (like from 24mm eq or wilder for short range, 28/35mm eq upto 75mm for group photo/portrait etc) would be more appropriate.

You just have a 14-42 kit (f/3.5) which could barely do the job (not fast enough such that high ISO may hurt IQ). Your 25/1.4 is a standard having limited close shooting range as well as coverage. In fact, a 50mm eq nowadays had already been replaced by 35/28mm eq as a standard lens. In fact, under the much improved lenses production technique as well as design, distortion of 35/28mm eq would be very close to 40/50mm eq already for a wilder coverage.

For zoom, 12-35 f/2.8 would be a good starter and of course faster primes (like 14/2.5, 15/1.7, 20/1.7 and oly's 12/2, 17/1.8 or 17/2.8) would be better. Due to lacking of OIS, Oly's fast zoom is excluded. Says, get a new 12/2 might be more economy than changing the entire system and who know finally the bulk of FF might later change you back!

birds,

Sorry, Achilles heel of M43 yet. It is not impossible for GH4 but not as easy as most dslrs. It really depends on how importance would BIF to you. For racing car, ball games etc many fellow members had successfully using their M43 although they must have to work around with the limitation and have the proper technique.

and bokeh.

Fast lenses or longer teles (for tighter shot) might also produce nice bokeh (of course there is limitation due to deeper dof proprietary of M43). Your 35-100 and 25 could fit for the job. For better result a 45 f/1.8 or 75 f/1.8 might be considered as these are the traditional portrait focal range. It might also e a more cost effective approach.

It might me my skills but in my experience my MFT gear is severely laking quality pictures when it comes to above three categories.

Dont get me wrong; please! If there is something within MFT ecosystem costing an additional $2k brining quality pcitures within above 3 categories I am willing to go for it (please suggest lenses and body) but a question naturally comes to mind: why should I continue to invest in MFT? Just because it is light weight?

So here I am .. on the borderline .. thinking what if I sell all MFT gear. Should sell for $4k easily and buying a nice FF body with 3 or 4 lenses lenses for a tiotal of $6-8K should give me the ability to shoot in low light, birds, and bokeh. No?

MFT lovers please help me I seem to be losing interest in my equipment because it is not getting me what I would like to ... Maybe it is my skills or maybe it is my equipment? If it is equipment should I wait for better lenses/technology or move on to FF?

Thanks!

EB