Suggestions on gear

jor23 wrote:

[heavily cropped above]

I think your quest boils down to that bit. Seems like you're looking for a small photo kit for everyday carry. You've had some nice compacts and some nice, smaller MFT bodies in your hands.

I see a few options, with little-to-no need to buy anything.

Carry one of the compacts and leave your MFT gear behind unless you believe there's a possibility for something out of the ordinary that day. Figure out which compact best meets your needs, and let the others go.

I do this already. RX100 is always with me.

If that's the case (compact always with you), a strategy that works for some is to keep a MFT on hand for use with shorter FLs, and a good compact for longer FLs. Great flexibility, and very quick changes between the two with the right carry system.

Carry your E-M1 solely with the 12-40. That's a balanced package, and your 40-150 would complement it well if you want something longer in the bag. It's a great lens that nearly covers the FL range of all of your primes. Unless there's a specific quality about those primes that gives them a significant edge over the 12-40, there's no need to carry any of them.

This is fine when sightseeing. Not great for walks in a park, or after dinner. Not great when you have to drag alone a 3yr old. I do this when i know there's gonna be some action shots, like swing, running, or biking.

What about this option doesn't work for you in those situations, especially if you already have a good compact with you?

Carry one of the smaller MFT bodies with the 12-40 (might be a little awkward & large) or some of your primes. Again, bring the little 40-150 along, if desired. If you want a WA, the Olympus 9-18 is quite small, and would fit well with some of your little primes. If you don't mind lens changes and want the smallest MFT ILC combo in your hands, primes are the only way to go.

sometimes, I feel I am not using my nice prime lenses enough. They are still much better than the RX100 or LX100.

It's worth considering that maybe you just don't need those primes if you're disinclined to use them. There's nothing wrong with dropping primes from your overall system, especially when you have a good lens (12-40) that can take their place in many situations.

Carry a small MFT body or E-M1 with one prime lens. Even the E-M1 becomes a small camera with a little lens mounted, and you have a few to choose from already. The "normal" 25mm lens would be a safe bet. I used to carry my E-PL1 + Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 and was happy with what that combination offered. If you decided that WA was more to your liking, the Olympus 9-18 would again be a good choice for a single lens, but only if brightness wasn't a major concern.

Another question that I don't believe was answered: how do you plan to carry whatever you decide on? Bags, clips, packs, etc. all can have an impact on what you may decide makes the right everyday kit for you.

I normally use a bag. I got a lowepro passport bag that i really like. it's like a diaper bag with camera insert. i can have my camera and stuff for my kid in it.

You might consider breaking your camera bag out from the general use bag. Doing so would give you more flexibility for going light when you don't need anything but the camera.

I prefer a compact toploader, like one of the Think Tank Digital Holster series for hiking. A DH 10 or 20 can accommodate a DSLR-style MFT body, with 2-3 smaller, pouched lenses in the bottom. The main disadvantage of carrying several lenses in a toploader is that accessing unmounted lenses can be a bit fiddly.

I also have a messenger style TT Retrospective 7 for carrying the photographic kitchen sink. I could use either bag with one of my backpacks, but the DH would be my preference, of course.

For reference, my new hiking kit is an E-M1, Olympus 12-100, and Panasonic 20mm carried in a TT Digital Holster 20, with an Olympus 9-18 tucked in a shoulder strap pouch. That's a much heavier kit than some would want to carry backpacking, but I've offset the weight by lightening up the rest of my gear.