Help: I love M43 but on the edge

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......

We could make more useful comments with some photos with EXIF data.

But some of your kit is not useful for your stated purpose - The G5 sensor is outdated and lacks dynamic range for what you want, the Rokinin 7.5mm is too slow for indoor events, the 14-42 is too slow - all these I would sell for sure.

My Suggestions:

For BI, sports and good dynamic range and IQ consider the EM1 - with the latest firmware 3.0 has 10fps with phase detect autofocus and fast tracking this has good chance of getting your BIF images, and has really good dynamic range and sharpness, and good IBIS for your legacy lenses. The EM1 also gives you access to all the Oly 4/3 lenses with reasonably fast autofocus and some pretty fast glass.

Sell the GH4 to pay for the EM1. GH4 is great for video, costs 80% more than EM-1 and you aren't into video.

You will probably want the the Oly 75-300 or Panny 100-300 instead of the 45-200, and you will later have the option to move to the Oly 300mm F4.

Consider getting a Metabones Speedbooster for your legacy lenses, I have a Canon FD 200mmF2.8, FD85mmF1.5 and FD50mm F1.4 - with FD-M43 speedbooster these become 140mm F2.0, 60mm F1.3 and 35mm F1.0. Pretty good deal for one Speedbooster, and the IQ is excellent.

Now for Bokeh and and indoor sports events , you may want more fast glass with autofocus. Panny 42.5mm F1.2 is blazing fast and excellent glass. Oly 75mm F1.8 is also stellar. Oly 45mm F1.8 is well thought of. But you may already have legacy lenses which will cover. The Oly 4/3 50mm F2 Macro is not expensive or large, and has been reviewed to give great IQ and focus performance on the EM1.

On the wide side, consider the 12-35/2.8 Panny or 12-40mm/F2.8 Oly as your zoom - considerably faster and better than the 14-42 kit zoom you have. A little short on background blur, but fast enough for event photograghy as long as its not sports AND dark

The Panny 15mm F1.7 is sharp, great for event photography and gives more blur and bokeh. Nice IQ and bokeh, good complement to the 25mm F1.4 you already have. If you want serious bokeh and blur in a wide angle, consider the Voigtlander 17mm F0.95.

For wide angle (to replace the Rokinon 7mm F3.5) consider the soon to be released Oly 7-14 F2.8, Oly 8mm F1.8 or Voigtlander Cosina 10.5mm F0.95. Any of these should do nicely as a superwide for event photography and low light. (will weigh more than the Rokinon but without as much distortion )

I have the EM1, Panny 12-35, 35-100, 100-300. Also the Oly 25 F1.8, 9-18, and the Panny 15 F1.7.

I am planning to sell the G5, 20mmF1.8, 14-42, Rokonon 7.5mm. Probably keep the GX7, 45-200 and the 14-45 for wilderness photography, I won't cry to hard if one falls out of the boat very handy size and reach.