10 months with MFT: likes/dislikes and where from here (pics)

deednets said:

Have now used MFT since August 2015 and have since had a hate/love relationship - if there is such a thing with photographic gear - with the MFT format.

At the moment I have a GX8 plus the 12-35/2.8 the 45/1.8 and the 75/1.8 Oly. The least used of this little combo is the 45/1.8. Not a bad lens as such but leaves me luke-warmish.

I took this combo to China in March/April this year and enjoyed using it, in Dehang I had a day of constant drizzle in the mountains and was glad that the GX8 was WS. Thought at the time that there was a lot to like about the MFT for the sheer size, easy enough to carry with you without breaking your back - and the bank!

But ... as capable as the GX8 is, I can't get my head around this somewhat pedestrian design. Can't put my finger on it but simply don't like using it as much as I would like (plus the WB seems to be "out" more often than I would wish it was).

The 12-35/2.8 OIS is a fantastic lens I thought, but again the design is an acquired taste the large letters on the lens 12-35 ... I mean really?? But the results are better than just ok, a fantastic lens. (monkey shot, excellent bokeh for a MFT zoom!!)



The lens I really like a lot is the 75/1.8 maybe reason enough to stay with MFT? Well made, fast focus, nice enough bokeh. No WS, but that didn't bother me at all, one lens to be used in the rain is enough for me.



I like the articulating EVF a lot too, really great for low angle shooting (children??)





So as long as I look at the MFT system as a replacement for my LX100 - a camera that I really liked, despite some quirks - I am safe. But I better not compare it to some other cameras that I am using alongside the MFT. That's cool, since I would compare my Golf to a racing car or a truck, it is what it is ...

I did a quick shoot this afternoon and showed the results to my partner on a 30" screen and asked her to pick her favourite shots. Only had an X-T1 paired with a 56/1.2 and an RX1r here but enough I thought for a quick comparison.

She picked some RX1r shots and a few X-T1 shots and thought that the colour of the GX8 was off and the results looked a bit "flat" when compared directly - except the shots taken with the 75/1.8. This didn't bother me as I use the GX8 for certain applications and the files are to be printed to a particular size (11" on 12" canvas high definition, high gloss photo book) and for that size the files are better than "good enough".

So there is the conundrum: I would like to sell the GX8 and maybe get a Pen-F, sell the 12-35/2.8 and get a 12/2.0. Sell the 45/1.8 and maybe get a 25?? The 45 is just like the old 85/1.8 Nikkor, not bad but somewhat uninteresting.

But the Pen-F has a smaller EVF and the EVF is not articulated. I know that I am in trouble as I am sure that I would like the Pen-F much better from a design point of view ... (guess I am not alone here??) I thought it would be fun to use the 75/1.8 on the Pen??

The simple solution would be to keep both, the GX8 plus the Pen-F but this doesn't fit the job description of simplification (just to throw another curve ball into the arena!)

Any opinions on this one would be appreciated, maybe by those who have not just heard about the cameras in question but maybe used them alongside.

A couple of photos taken with the GX8 in China, the format 1x1 is chose here because I find it more challenging, but mainly because the book is going to be in 1x1 format.







Thanks!

Deed

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MarkDavo said:

deednets said:

Have now used MFT since August 2015 and have since had a hate/love relationship - if there is such a thing with photographic gear - with the MFT format.

At the moment I have a GX8 plus the 12-35/2.8 the 45/1.8 and the 75/1.8 Oly. The least used of this little combo is the 45/1.8. Not a bad lens as such but leaves me luke-warmish.

I took this combo to China in March/April this year and enjoyed using it, in Dehang I had a day of constant drizzle in the mountains and was glad that the GX8 was WS. Thought at the time that there was a lot to like about the MFT for the sheer size, easy enough to carry with you without breaking your back - and the bank!

But ... as capable as the GX8 is, I can't get my head around this somewhat pedestrian design. Can't put my finger on it but simply don't like using it as much as I would like (plus the WB seems to be "out" more often than I would wish it was).

The 12-35/2.8 OIS is a fantastic lens I thought, but again the design is an acquired taste the large letters on the lens 12-35 ... I mean really?? But the results are better than just ok, a fantastic lens. (monkey shot, excellent bokeh for a MFT zoom!!)



The lens I really like a lot is the 75/1.8 maybe reason enough to stay with MFT? Well made, fast focus, nice enough bokeh. No WS, but that didn't bother me at all, one lens to be used in the rain is enough for me.



I like the articulating EVF a lot too, really great for low angle shooting (children??)





So as long as I look at the MFT system as a replacement for my LX100 - a camera that I really liked, despite some quirks - I am safe. But I better not compare it to some other cameras that I am using alongside the MFT. That's cool, since I would compare my Golf to a racing car or a truck, it is what it is ...

I did a quick shoot this afternoon and showed the results to my partner on a 30" screen and asked her to pick her favourite shots. Only had an X-T1 paired with a 56/1.2 and an RX1r here but enough I thought for a quick comparison.

She picked some RX1r shots and a few X-T1 shots and thought that the colour of the GX8 was off and the results looked a bit "flat" when compared directly - except the shots taken with the 75/1.8. This didn't bother me as I use the GX8 for certain applications and the files are to be printed to a particular size (11" on 12" canvas high definition, high gloss photo book) and for that size the files are better than "good enough".

So there is the conundrum: I would like to sell the GX8 and maybe get a Pen-F, sell the 12-35/2.8 and get a 12/2.0. Sell the 45/1.8 and maybe get a 25?? The 45 is just like the old 85/1.8 Nikkor, not bad but somewhat uninteresting.

But the Pen-F has a smaller EVF and the EVF is not articulated. I know that I am in trouble as I am sure that I would like the Pen-F much better from a design point of view ... (guess I am not alone here??) I thought it would be fun to use the 75/1.8 on the Pen??

The simple solution would be to keep both, the GX8 plus the Pen-F but this doesn't fit the job description of simplification (just to throw another curve ball into the arena!)

Any opinions on this one would be appreciated, maybe by those who have not just heard about the cameras in question but maybe used them alongside.

A couple of photos taken with the GX8 in China, the format 1x1 is chose here because I find it more challenging, but mainly because the book is going to be in 1x1 format.







Thanks!

Deed

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Gidday Deed,

As you live in the land of the "dark grey cloud" I recommend you keep the weather sealed body. Chose your lenses accordingly.

Cheers, Mark (ex Taranaki)

--
Always learning

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eques said:

If you want to stay with M43, you might get an EM5ii, if you like the looks better. Plus a 2,8/12-40?
Olympus is known for it's higher saturation and sharpening at default settings. The pictures you show could indeed do wth some PP.

Peter

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Julius said:

There are some excellent prices now on the Olympus E-M1, the price dropped to $899 for a new one.

I have the E-M1, the E-M5 II and also the GX8. The least I like is the GX8, I like the E-M1 the best, but the E-M5 II also an excellent choice.

The only reason I purchased the GX8 to have the Dual IS with my Leica 100-400mm lens. However as I can tell I can not see any advantage of the Dual IS vs using the lens on the Olympus E-M1 and E-M5 II, the lens IS is so good that I get tack sharp hand held shots with the Olympus + Leica 100-400 at 400mm 1/125sec. I do not think I need anything better than this so most likely I will sell the GX8 soon.

The Pen F would probably a good choice having 20MP sensor, however you have to pay the full price for quite a while before you could get any discount on the body.

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deednets said:

eques said:

If you want to stay with M43, you might get an EM5ii, if you like the looks better. Plus a 2,8/12-40?
Olympus is known for it's higher saturation and sharpening at default settings. The pictures you show could indeed do wth some PP.

Peter

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I am playing with the idea of getting the Pen-F simply because I like the brick design better than the DSLR style. Had a play with the E-M5II and like it, so might either revisit that one or get the Pen.

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Lights said:

Your photos are very good. I wouldn't worry so much about the looks of the lens or camera myself, unless the camera or lens interfered with usage. I own neither so can't speak of that area, There is a certain feel/look that cameras or lenses do have, and much of that depends on the person...even if they work well. To some it is more important, to some less...and sometimes it just takes getting used to. Using a comparison that you? used of a truck to a Ferrari. I drove a Ram/Hemi pickup the other day..it was very fast,,of course not a Ferrari, and certainly couldn't corner as well, but then neither could the Ferrari pull stumps out of the ground or drive over rough terrain. I would be hesitant taking a Leica into certain situations etc. more than a M4/3. (if I were rich enough to afford a Leica

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cangopluto said:

your results tell me that's not the gear, it's you behind it that matters. You'll get results whatever you choose.

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deednets said:

Not everything needs to make sense when it comes to design but enjoyment whilst operating a device helps. More so than sober functionality.

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deednets said:

Julius said:

There are some excellent prices now on the Olympus E-M1, the price dropped to $899 for a new one.

I have the E-M1, the E-M5 II and also the GX8. The least I like is the GX8, I like the E-M1 the best, but the E-M5 II also an excellent choice.

The only reason I purchased the GX8 to have the Dual IS with my Leica 100-400mm lens. However as I can tell I can not see any advantage of the Dual IS vs using the lens on the Olympus E-M1 and E-M5 II, the lens IS is so good that I get tack sharp hand held shots with the Olympus + Leica 100-400 at 400mm 1/125sec. I do not think I need anything better than this so most likely I will sell the GX8 soon.

The Pen F would probably a good choice having 20MP sensor, however you have to pay the full price for quite a while before you could get any discount on the body.

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Dillon Frazier said:

There is absolutely no type of "pop" or style from an RX1 or XT1 that cannot be achieved by the GX8 when you shoot RAW and process correctly. Learn post production skills before making the incorrect assumption that your pictures look the way they do strictly by the type of camera you use.

--
Dillon Frazier
Frazier Imagery

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