Going on safari! Micro 4/3 vs. 1"

Jmgs2m1 wrote:

Hi everyone, I will be going on a once-in-a-lifetime trip soon to South Africa, Botswana, Victoria Falls area, and Dubai and I'm trying to sort out the photo equipment I'd like to bring.

I've been shooting primarily with a Sony RX100iii, which I plan to bring as a secondary camera, but I am still trying to decide what to bring as my main camera. I've been eyeing the micro 4/3 system for a while (not just for this trip but for my hobby photography), but the release of the RX-10iii has made me consider it as a do it all travel camera.

The Sony RX-10iii would give a nice 24-600mm equivalent range. I will, however, be only at private game reserves and so perhaps I will not really need such a long telephoto range. This, along with the possible need for better dim light capability at dusk/dawn has instead made me consider an Olympus EM5mkii + Oly 40-150 f2.8 + 1.4x TC.

I think that's about the max size/weight I'd like to go, hence APS-C/FF is not really in the equation for me.

Do any of you have any advice with regards to these systems for a trip like this? Would there be a noticeable difference in low light capability/iso performance? Which would you choose? I'm already planning my next trip, which will be to New Zealand... whichever system I go with will be coming along on that trip too!

I will be posting this in both the micro 4/3 forum and Sony Cybershot forum... thanks for any advice you can offer!

I did the South Island of NZ with a GM1 a couple of years ago.  The camera and a few lenses take up little space and you can always get a larger backup M4/3 body later.

This was pre-GM5 launch and maybe the GM5 with evf might suit better.

All the great variety of M4/3 camera bodies use the same lenses so as far as lens use is concerned the M4/3 photogrpaher is spoiled for choice.