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Considering making the jump...

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Brian Steele

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... away from Olympus.

I'm a long-time Olympus user (going back around 15 years or so - my first "good" digital camera being the C2100-UZ, which I still own!). However, the current crop of m43s from Oly just aren't doing enough for me to press the "buy" button. The issues I have are mainly due to (1) lack of PDAF in anything but the most expensive version (compare to the Canon and Sony mirrorless bodies), size (too small - my biggest issue with the E-PL5 is many times I find the focus point moved all the way to the right or the flash option changed because my thumb keeps accidentally hitting the bloody control buttons below the thumb grip, and I understand the EM5II isn't that much bigger, reliability (every Oly camera I've owned has been sent for repair at least once, and two have made the trip twice) and of course cost (they tend to be more expensive than other cameras of similar capability).

I'm considering either jumping across (to one of the Panasonic bodies), or out of m43 entirely (The Sony bodies have caught my eye), in which case I can probably fund a good portion of the jump by E-baying my existing cameras and lenses

Has anyone ever made this type of jump and subsequently rejected his decision?
 
Based on your gear list, get yourself a used EM-1 and call it a day. Save a bunch of money, frustration and more than likely have all the IQ you are looking for. Switching systems is just plain costly.
 
Gidday Brian

I have only one mFTs lens - the 12-50 macro - which I almost never use. It came with my E-M1 body for less than nothing.

All my FTs lenses work as well or better than they did on my FTs bodies.



I am as happy as an alcoholic at a free booze up ... :-D .

--
Regards, john from Melbourne, Australia.
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Please do not embed images from my web site without prior permission
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The Camera doth not make the Man (nor Woman) ...
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The E-M1 isn't all that expensive any more, is it?

As for the moving focus point, I had a similar problem with that on my E-M5: I kept moving it with my nose. Solved by turning off touch on the LCD.
 
...

--
.
.
Please do not embed images from my web site without prior permission
I consider this to be a breach of my copyright.
-- -- --
.
The Camera doth not make the Man (nor Woman) ...
Perhaps being kind to cats, dogs & children does ...
.
Galleries: http://canopuscomputing.com.au/gallery2/v/main-page/

C120644_small.jpg


Bird Control Officers on active service.
 
Last edited:
I have a Canon 60D which is a big heavy lump, and both the Oly M10 and Oly M1. If as it seems you are not interested in the small size of the OM-D cameras, I would without hesitation stick to a dslr, because in my view with the exception of video via an EVF, the dslr does everything better and cheaper.

Ken C
 
I wouldn't Ken ...

I'm sure you are of much the same view I am - we are all different, and it's great to have different choices that (hopefully) suit each and every one of us.

Some posters in these fora cannot stand that idea ...

BTW, last time I had a 60D in my hands, it felt like a very nice camera, which is exactly what I said to its owner ... :-)

--
Regards, john from Melbourne, Australia.
.
Please do not embed images from my web site without prior permission
I consider this to be a breach of my copyright.
-- -- --
.
The Camera doth not make the Man (nor Woman) ...
Perhaps being kind to cats, dogs & children does ...
.
Galleries: http://canopuscomputing.com.au/gallery2/v/main-page/



C120644_small.jpg





Bird Control Officers on active service.
 
I like the EPL5 for its IQ, some of its features and for its size. But controls like menu's and especially what you not, on the body, is bad. Which is to be expected on such a small cam I think. So I can live with it.

But even though the IQ is visibly better than on my GH2, if I had to chose one cam it would be easily GH2 because it handles so much better. GH4 is of course bigger but its handling is superb, its batterylife vastly superior too (to GH2 too). G7 won't give you all what GH4 has but it comes pretty close. So I'd suggest you try that one out. It almost certainly must handle better than EPl5.

GX8: while I found it slippery it again seems much much better than EPl5. Otoh: just 30 minute experience. I have read people pressing the button without intention, so may be it is not too different from that perspective.

Sony FF cams: of course they cost more. Good lenses cost even more and will be quite large. If you however can live with that IQ will be clearly superior. I think dpreview is overhyping them like hell, but in essence there is a reason why they do that still: these simply are fantastic cams so well worth a look I think.
 
I owned the EPL-5 and now own the GH4 & GX8. The menu is often cited as the reason that people own the Panasonics, but I prefer the handling and the IQ. If you want something smaller that will weigh you down a lot less, there is the GM5 . I also have one of those and am constantly amazed by what it can produce. No matter what body you choose, make sure that the ergonomics work for you.
 
Hi Brian,

if the E-M1 body (plus grip) is large enough for you then I suggest that it might be a good option.

As to it being the expensive flagship, it's probably still cheaper than selling your lenses and buying a whole new system.

Is the E-M1 PDAF good enough ? Most here seem to agree that it's now equal to or better than the E-5.

Peter
 
scottyinfrisco said:
Based on your gear list, get yourself a used EM-1 and call it a day. Save a bunch of money, frustration and more than likely have all the IQ you are looking for. Switching systems is just plain costly.
Click to expand...
That's a possibility. B&H have one at the moment for $700, rated as "8+" in condition. I will have to buy an adapter for it however in order to use my 4/3 lenses (in particular the 12-60, which I'm not ready to give up yet).

The bug in the ointment? SWMBO doesn't like it when I purchase 2nd hand stuff, particularly if it's "sight-unseen", i.e. purchased over the Internet.
 
Oly frequently runs 20% off their outlet store, and the E-M1 can be had for $580 USD with a 90 day warranty. Just a thought.
 
Ulric said:
The E-M1 isn't all that expensive any more, is it?

As for the moving focus point, I had a similar problem with that on my E-M5: I kept moving it with my nose. Solved by turning off touch on the LCD.
Click to expand...
I'm hoping to solve that particular problem (if it arises) by just turning the LCD so it faces into the camera. The EM5II offers that. Unfortunately the EM5 and the EM1 do not. And the EM5II does not offer PDAF, grr. Of course turning in the screen that way still doesn't save me from accidentally hitting the buttons on the control wheel.

Just to clarify my needs - about 80% of my photos these days are taken while I'm "on the run" on a hash. It would be nice for a camera to be on the same settings (EV and focus point in particular) I left it when I took the last picture, as those photographic moments tend to pass by very quickly.

I think I found a workaround for the "clumsy thumb" issue though. Apparently the control wheel can be turned off via the menu. While shooting on the run while hashing, I always shoot center-weighted, auto-ISO, with the focus point set at the center (I recompose my picture accordingly). I may also fiddle with the EV setting depending on the subject matter and the effect I'm looking for. So, I've shut the blessed control wheel off via the menu and reassigned the EV changes to the Fn button. Next hash is this coming weekend, which will give me an opportunity to test this config to see if it works out well.

This leaves just the PDAF issue... :)
 
scottyinfrisco said:
Oly frequently runs 20% off their outlet store, and the E-M1 can be had for $580 USD with a 90 day warranty. Just a thought.
Click to expand...
If you're referring to their web site, that's another thing that annoys me. It won't accept purchases from anyone who does not actually have a billing address in the US, even if you're paying by PayPal and sending to a shipping address in the US. I was recently offered a 20% discount on Oly stuff off their website because apparently the 18-180 lens I sent to them cannot be repaired, and I have no way of taking advantage of it, grrr...
 
Brian Steele said:
... away from Olympus.

I'm a long-time Olympus user (going back around 15 years or so - my first "good" digital camera being the C2100-UZ, which I still own!). However, the current crop of m43s from Oly just aren't doing enough for me to press the "buy" button. The issues I have are mainly due to (1) lack of PDAF in anything but the most expensive version (compare to the Canon and Sony mirrorless bodies), size (too small - my biggest issue with the E-PL5 is many times I find the focus point moved all the way to the right or the flash option changed because my thumb keeps accidentally hitting the bloody control buttons below the thumb grip, and I understand the EM5II isn't that much bigger, reliability (every Oly camera I've owned has been sent for repair at least once, and two have made the trip twice) and of course cost (they tend to be more expensive than other cameras of similar capability).

I'm considering either jumping across (to one of the Panasonic bodies), or out of m43 entirely (The Sony bodies have caught my eye), in which case I can probably fund a good portion of the jump by E-baying my existing cameras and lenses

Has anyone ever made this type of jump and subsequently rejected his decision?
Click to expand...
 
Brian Steele said:
scottyinfrisco said:
Oly frequently runs 20% off their outlet store, and the E-M1 can be had for $580 USD with a 90 day warranty. Just a thought.
Click to expand...
If you're referring to their web site, that's another thing that annoys me. It won't accept purchases from anyone who does not actually have a billing address in the US, even if you're paying by PayPal and sending to a shipping address in the US. I was recently offered a 20% discount on Oly stuff off their website because apparently the 18-180 lens I sent to them cannot be repaired, and I have no way of taking advantage of it, grrr...
Click to expand...
Ask a friend to purchase it for you ...
 
Looking at what you have, what you say you want, and what's out there (e.g. for PDAF), the EM1 seems a very good option.

However, don't let practicality stand in the way of change. There's nothing wrong with selling all of your Oly gear and moving to another system. These toys and tools exist for us; not vice versa.

I personally wouldn't suggest moving to another system without trying it first. Camera rental isn't that expensive, and can give you a week to play with something new to see if it checks all of the checkboxes that you have.

The new Sony bodies are certainly a technological tour de force. Some people seem to love them. Others wonder "WTF was Sony thinking?" and "Has anyone at Sony ever actually used a camera?" Either way, there's only two things to remember:

1) Whatever you buy today is obsolete tomorrow, so buying technology for technology's sake is always a mistake.

2) The rather important thing to keep in mind is whether or not it works for you. If it does, it's a bargain at almost any price, and if it doesn't, then it's too expensive even if someone gives it to you for free.
 
You need to get on "Flickr" and do a search on "E-M1", "GX8", "A7*"' or what ever; then see for yourself how other people rate their gears with their prized photos. That might be enough convincing for you to jump or not.
 
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