Trimming the m43 fat from my collection and expectations

Arizona Sunset wrote:

Well, folks, this year I drank a ton of m43 kool-aid, ripped apart the much lauded m43 lens catalog, and the newer cameras as well, and ultimate found a balance, a very delicate one that will work for me going forward. The end effect is that I'll have to keep a handful of expensive lenses, and sell a number of lenses and cameras that were either duplicates or not really my cup of tea. Thank you to everyone on this forum for the great dialog and discussion, and for the guidance toward the higher performing lenses and cameras. That's about what I figured would happen, however, I had to take the long road, and a lot of mediocre m43 glass in the interim, to figure that out.

I'm curious what you'll be running with going forward, and hawking, going into the holidays. What are you keeping, what are you selling?

For my intents and purposes, here are the winners and losers (family, travel, natural light, wildlife):

Winners:

• Camera: E-M1 (soon to be E-M1 II)
• Natural light*:* 25 1.2, 15 1.7
• Travel: 14-150 II
• General: 12-40 f2.8
• Wildlife: 300 f4, TC

Losers:

• Camera: GX8 (by a hair), GX85, GH4, G7
• Primes: 25 1.4, 45 1.8, 42.5 1.2 (simply replaced by the weather sealed 25 1.2), 75 1.8, 17 1.8
• Travel: 14-140 II, 14-140, 14-150
• General: 12-35 f2.8, 12-32 pancake
• Macro: 60 f2.8, 30 f2.8
• Wildlife: 100-400 (300 beats it at 400, sorry), 100-300, 75-300, 40-150 f2.8 + TC

In 2017, for what it's worth, I will depend on the E-M1 II to bridge the gap between my expectations for m43 CAF and SAF (which by the way, contrary to a lot of m43 forum feedback, was not really close to being met), as well as to provide higher IQ. I love the IBIS in the existing cameras, and cannot see myself stepping down to a lesser performing stabilization system any time soon. Overall, just excited for this camera to breathe some life into my system.

Let me know if you have any questions about the lenses I decided not to keep, and why. keepI'll be happy to provide context for the "losers", many of which were simply personal decisions. I have a lot of time, perhaps 20,000 images through m43 this year, forty hours of dedicated video, with family, kids, and nature, so the emphasis is in that direction.

Interesting read.

I like your logic and analysis. Getting rid of G.A.S. for 2017?

I would say you have acquired quite an impressive collection of cameras and lenses so far.

You are a professional photographer?

So, have you decided what camera(s) and lenses kit needed for shooting your assignments?

Good shooting in 2017. 👍

Lena