Disappointments and surprises of Olympus and MFT

Kharan wrote:

Hi everyone. I'm writing here because I find myself in a conundrum regarding my E-M1, and would like some input from other shooters. I've a fair bit of experience with cameras and photo equipment, but the E-M1 is my first "pro-level" camera. As such, I was expecting great things out of it, some of which it accomplished, and some others that it didn't. I love the build, the size, the control placement and versatility, the IBIS, and the picture quality in general. The EVF is fantastic. The WiFi sucks, and I'm kinda disappointed with it, as it is a feature I use. The JPEGs are terrible, to my taste (I really dislike the vaunted "Olympus color"), but the RAWs turn out pretty well, so I can't complain too much. But more importantly, its rear dial is failing, and getting worse by the day, and repairing it isn't an option (long story). Now, with all the other horror stories about strap lugs failing and EVFs getting blotched, I'm quite unsure whether to keep the camera or not. I really don't think I'll find a body that I'll like better on any system or platform, but I'm not willing to purchase another E-M1 to see if I luck out with it.

EVF getting blotched has been reported a while back, and only affected those with very high magnification on the dioptric adjustment, although there is no certainty that is a real problem. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Strap lugs are of concern, but I use them only when wearing the camera around my neck with the 12-40mm alone, no flash nor grip. The moment I'm shooting an event, where I grip the camera and put in the heavy flash in top of it, I hang the camera out of the tripod mount. Good think I use the Peak Design anchor system, that allows me to hook the camera up to multiple places, and not relegated to the strap lugs. I strongly suggest you do some research on alternative strap systems. I can recommend Peak Design with my eyes closed.

And as for the rear dial, mine is acting up a bit too, but a few quick spins with the camera off, make it work with no issues. As others have mentioned, it might need to be broken in.

Another big disappointment were the lenses. I invested a bit on a range of lenses for different purposes and needs. My two Panasonic lenses are terrific; the 12-32mm is stunningly good, small and light, and between it and my Olympus 12-60mm SWD there isn't a big difference (well, yes, in size!). I am kind of disappointed on the SWD, as I expected better performance out of a lens so large and heavy, and I know I have a good copy. It flares quite a bit, and I won't attach a lens hood to it for fear of having the front element pop off at some point. My copy of the Panasonic 25mm f/1.7 is simply outstanding - resolution, color and contrast are sublime, it works excellently in low light, and focuses very fast and accurately. For $99, it's a lens that is light years ahead of the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8.

I would sell the 12-60 and 12-32 and get an Olympus 12-40mm f:2.8 PRO. Is an outstanding lens. Period. In fact, once you start using it daily, you might find you reach out for your primes less and less.

On the other hand, my Olympus 14-140mm mk. I is poor. From 14 to 50mm it works fine, and I tested it against an Olympus 14-42mm R and a Panasonic 14-42mm mk. I to show that it worked within spec. At the long end, however, it's a disaster. It focuses unreliably, and is soft. I wouldn't care much about this if it weren't for the fact that I bought other lenses to cover the long end, where I personally do much of my photography, in the form of the Olympus 70-300mm FT and the 75-300mm MSC II. I plan to do a comparative review of these two lenses shortly, but my executive summary is this: the old 70-300mm is a very good lens optically, with 0.5x maximum magnification (1:1 repro on 35mm terms) that left me very impressed, but with the most vile focus drive ever spit upon photographers in history. I'm not joking - it's a POS in AF AND MF, since it's focus by wire, and works in an imprecise, slow, and noisy manner. On the other hand, the new 75-300mm MSC is very quick in operation, has a reasonable build quality, but is softer at the long end, doesn't compare in maximum magnification, and has a noticeably slower aperture. That Olympus replaced one terrible lens with another, and both being weak at opposite things, I cannot for the life of me fathom.

So, not to bore people anymore, my questions are two:

1) I want a fast-ish tele lens that isn't in the two current options (Panasonic 35-100mm and Olympus 40-150mm PRO), since they're too short, and I don't want to budget the TC as well for the Oly. I can't afford the 300mm f/4, and the Panasonic 100-400mm leaves me in almost the same situation aperture-wise. Has anyone had good experiences with the Canon 70-200mm f/4L and some smart adapter? Or maybe the 300mm f/4L IS, or the 200mm f/2.8L II? As long as any of those can AF faster than the Olympus 70-300mm I'll be happy.

Can't say about the Canon's. I used to have a 70-200 f:4 L a few years back (When I was using Canon DSLRs), and it was sublime, but I wouldn't trade an adapted lens for a native one. The Panny 35-100mm is simply put the best lens I own. The Oly PRO 40-150 might have been a better choice for me, but I can't stand the size and weight. And would have screwed up my camera bag organization completely.

2) Will the Panasonic 14-140mm II be a big difference over my Olympus 14-150mm? I really want a decent travel zoom. The Tamron 14-150mm also comes to mind.

Thanks a lot to those who read this wall of text.

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