Thinking of going m43

I know there is a "buying" forum, but most comments there will be Buy Canon, Buy Nikon, etc.

I have been lucky with camera gear. In all cases, I have sold for more than I have purchased it for. Maybe it is timing, maybe it is when I buy it at huge discounts. I am not sure.

I went to a local camera store. Never thought of going m43 before. I told them why I got rid of my old gear (bulky and heavy) and what I am planning on using it for. They showed me a Olympus m5 Mk ii. Its on "sale" with a 14-150mm lens for $1,000. That is in line with what I am looking to spend.

This is basically a family and travel camera. I am no longer shooting my daughter playing sports. Just a general, lighter, smaller camera to carry around. The other option I saw was a Panny GX85 for $600 and a G9 that is a little bit out of my range. I was not able to see the Panny cameras other than online.

Anyone have any advice to go m43 or should I be looking at Fuji and Sony (won't go Nikon or Canon)?
My own view is that mFT is tops as a carry-around system camera, It has great compactness and quality. However, you do pay something for the compactness, and the real question is whether that is of importance to you. If you don't do shallow DOF work, you're not too concerned with low-light performance and you don't want the ultimate in 'creamy smooth' tonality, mFT is very attractive. Since you want a 'family and travel' system, I'd think it would fit you to a T. I think as a system it's the best crop system around (though Fuji fans might disagree).
spoken like a true amateur.

Don
Says the man whose occupation is listed as "carpenter" and who has no website, no profile and no gear list.
look at my gallery. Edit: how many challenges have you entered ?

Don

--
Olympus EM5, EM5mk2 my toys.
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/9412035244
past toys. k100d, k10d,k7,fz5,fz150,500uz,canon G9, Olympus xz1
 
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I know there is a "buying" forum, but most comments there will be Buy Canon, Buy Nikon, etc.

I have been lucky with camera gear. In all cases, I have sold for more than I have purchased it for. Maybe it is timing, maybe it is when I buy it at huge discounts. I am not sure.

I went to a local camera store. Never thought of going m43 before. I told them why I got rid of my old gear (bulky and heavy) and what I am planning on using it for. They showed me a Olympus m5 Mk ii. Its on "sale" with a 14-150mm lens for $1,000. That is in line with what I am looking to spend.

This is basically a family and travel camera. I am no longer shooting my daughter playing sports. Just a general, lighter, smaller camera to carry around. The other option I saw was a Panny GX85 for $600 and a G9 that is a little bit out of my range. I was not able to see the Panny cameras other than online.

Anyone have any advice to go m43 or should I be looking at Fuji and Sony (won't go Nikon or Canon)?
My own view is that mFT is tops as a carry-around system camera, It has great compactness and quality. However, you do pay something for the compactness, and the real question is whether that is of importance to you. If you don't do shallow DOF work, you're not too concerned with low-light performance and you don't want the ultimate in 'creamy smooth' tonality, mFT is very attractive. Since you want a 'family and travel' system, I'd think it would fit you to a T. I think as a system it's the best crop system around (though Fuji fans might disagree).
spoken like a true amateur.

Don
The competition is hot with all the paranoia afflicting this forum at the moment, and choosing the winner was difficult but you win the NCV prize for the most stupid comment of the week with this one.

Tommy the Holocaust denier came a close second for sh*tting on an image thread I started with a purity of the M43 race post, but this one takes the buiscuit.

This is the second time you have won this prize against some very stiff competition, when you told us that part of an UNESCO world heritage site "was not right from a builders point of view" due to the fact that the walls of the very old buildings were a bit out of plumb.

Bob2’s comment pointed out precisely in a few words the strengths of M43 as well as the downsides.
Its all good fun isn't it, your having the most fun because you are shooting 2 formats.

Don
 
I know there is a "buying" forum, but most comments there will be Buy Canon, Buy Nikon, etc.

I have been lucky with camera gear. In all cases, I have sold for more than I have purchased it for. Maybe it is timing, maybe it is when I buy it at huge discounts. I am not sure.

I went to a local camera store. Never thought of going m43 before. I told them why I got rid of my old gear (bulky and heavy) and what I am planning on using it for. They showed me a Olympus m5 Mk ii. Its on "sale" with a 14-150mm lens for $1,000. That is in line with what I am looking to spend.

This is basically a family and travel camera. I am no longer shooting my daughter playing sports. Just a general, lighter, smaller camera to carry around. The other option I saw was a Panny GX85 for $600 and a G9 that is a little bit out of my range. I was not able to see the Panny cameras other than online.

Anyone have any advice to go m43 or should I be looking at Fuji and Sony (won't go Nikon or Canon)?
My own view is that mFT is tops as a carry-around system camera, It has great compactness and quality. However, you do pay something for the compactness, and the real question is whether that is of importance to you. If you don't do shallow DOF work, you're not too concerned with low-light performance and you don't want the ultimate in 'creamy smooth' tonality, mFT is very attractive. Since you want a 'family and travel' system, I'd think it would fit you to a T. I think as a system it's the best crop system around (though Fuji fans might disagree).
spoken like a true amateur.
Care to elaborate, or was that just a gratuitous insult for the sake of it?
My bad, ff does have creamier images :-)

em12 D5
Now you've just descended into inanity. If you had a sensible point, you'd be making it. It seems that you haven't.

'Creamy', BTW is not my term, it's NCV's. It's how he described the results from his D700 compared to his E-M5. I would have talked about SNR, but I though that was a littel esoteric for most. Seems that I didn't aim low enough.
I like the term "creamy". It gives the idea of what I see when I look at the images from this camera. SNR I am sure is more technically correct, but it does not give the idea of what you see when you look at these images.
Which is why I though it was a good term to use without going into the detail of SNR, even more difficult now that there is widespread confusion between DR and SNR (it's SNR that matters here). After all, that 'creaminess' is why some people shell out for MF kit. If it wasn't offering anything, no-one would be spending the money.

On the other hand, if you're on a lactose-free, low-fat diet, it's likely not what you want.
 
I know there is a "buying" forum, but most comments there will be Buy Canon, Buy Nikon, etc.

I have been lucky with camera gear. In all cases, I have sold for more than I have purchased it for. Maybe it is timing, maybe it is when I buy it at huge discounts. I am not sure.

I went to a local camera store. Never thought of going m43 before. I told them why I got rid of my old gear (bulky and heavy) and what I am planning on using it for. They showed me a Olympus m5 Mk ii. Its on "sale" with a 14-150mm lens for $1,000. That is in line with what I am looking to spend.

This is basically a family and travel camera. I am no longer shooting my daughter playing sports. Just a general, lighter, smaller camera to carry around. The other option I saw was a Panny GX85 for $600 and a G9 that is a little bit out of my range. I was not able to see the Panny cameras other than online.

Anyone have any advice to go m43 or should I be looking at Fuji and Sony (won't go Nikon or Canon)?
My own view is that mFT is tops as a carry-around system camera, It has great compactness and quality. However, you do pay something for the compactness, and the real question is whether that is of importance to you. If you don't do shallow DOF work, you're not too concerned with low-light performance and you don't want the ultimate in 'creamy smooth' tonality, mFT is very attractive. Since you want a 'family and travel' system, I'd think it would fit you to a T. I think as a system it's the best crop system around (though Fuji fans might disagree).
spoken like a true amateur.
Care to elaborate, or was that just a gratuitous insult for the sake of it?
My bad, ff does have creamier images :-)

em12 D5
Now you've just descended into inanity. If you had a sensible point, you'd be making it. It seems that you haven't.

'Creamy', BTW is not my term, it's NCV's. It's how he described the results from his D700 compared to his E-M5. I would have talked about SNR, but I though that was a littel esoteric for most. Seems that I didn't aim low enough.
I like the term "creamy". It gives the idea of what I see when I look at the images from this camera. SNR I am sure is more technically correct, but it does not give the idea of what you see when you look at these images.
Which is why I though it was a good term to use without going into the detail of SNR, even more difficult now that there is widespread confusion between DR and SNR (it's SNR that matters here). After all, that 'creaminess' is why some people shell out for MF kit. If it wasn't offering anything, no-one would be spending the money.

On the other hand, if you're on a lactose-free, low-fat diet, it's likely not what you want.
if your up to the challenge and post the best skin tone texture detail from FF im sure I will post one from a Samsung sensor that will blow it away.

Don
 
Thank you for the logical response and persuade me to nix that idea. I am looking at several options and have not committed to any system at the moment. I love the m43 size. If I go this route, I am leaning to the EM10-mk ii, EM50-mk ii, and the Panny GX85 with the two kit lenses. Better lens is a better package.
I got a GX80 (aka a GX85) as a portable addition to my FF system. Nowadays I find that I use it more than the FF, simply because I take it with me when I'd probably pass on the FF.

I definitely prefer the 'rangefinder' format than the faux SLR format, and although the GX80 is widely castigated for its poor viewfinder, I find it quite usable. My main problem with it, is being a right-eye shooter, if I'm not careful, my nose on the touch screen makes it focus where I don't want. You can turn off 'touch to focus', then manipulating the focus point becomes a bit laborious. Apart from that, it's been great.
 
I would plan to get a faster lens as well. The lens I saw in the store on the camera made it feel like a perfect size. On the outside of my budget, I could possibly swing a user em1 Mk ii. Olympus has it on special for $2k with the 12-40 f2.8 Pro lens. But that is on the extreme end of the budget.
That is what I use. It's an excellent combo!
 
I know there is a "buying" forum, but most comments there will be Buy Canon, Buy Nikon, etc.

I have been lucky with camera gear. In all cases, I have sold for more than I have purchased it for. Maybe it is timing, maybe it is when I buy it at huge discounts. I am not sure.

I went to a local camera store. Never thought of going m43 before. I told them why I got rid of my old gear (bulky and heavy) and what I am planning on using it for. They showed me a Olympus m5 Mk ii. Its on "sale" with a 14-150mm lens for $1,000. That is in line with what I am looking to spend.

This is basically a family and travel camera. I am no longer shooting my daughter playing sports. Just a general, lighter, smaller camera to carry around. The other option I saw was a Panny GX85 for $600 and a G9 that is a little bit out of my range. I was not able to see the Panny cameras other than online.

Anyone have any advice to go m43 or should I be looking at Fuji and Sony (won't go Nikon or Canon)?
My own view is that mFT is tops as a carry-around system camera, It has great compactness and quality. However, you do pay something for the compactness, and the real question is whether that is of importance to you. If you don't do shallow DOF work, you're not too concerned with low-light performance and you don't want the ultimate in 'creamy smooth' tonality, mFT is very attractive. Since you want a 'family and travel' system, I'd think it would fit you to a T. I think as a system it's the best crop system around (though Fuji fans might disagree).
spoken like a true amateur.
Care to elaborate, or was that just a gratuitous insult for the sake of it?
My bad, ff does have creamier images :-)

em12 D5
Now you've just descended into inanity. If you had a sensible point, you'd be making it. It seems that you haven't.

'Creamy', BTW is not my term, it's NCV's. It's how he described the results from his D700 compared to his E-M5. I would have talked about SNR, but I though that was a littel esoteric for most. Seems that I didn't aim low enough.
I like the term "creamy". It gives the idea of what I see when I look at the images from this camera. SNR I am sure is more technically correct, but it does not give the idea of what you see when you look at these images.
Which is why I though it was a good term to use without going into the detail of SNR, even more difficult now that there is widespread confusion between DR and SNR (it's SNR that matters here). After all, that 'creaminess' is why some people shell out for MF kit. If it wasn't offering anything, no-one would be spending the money.

On the other hand, if you're on a lactose-free, low-fat diet, it's likely not what you want.
if your up to the challenge and post the best skin tone texture detail from FF im sure I will post one from a Samsung sensor that will blow it away.

Don
If you're up to the challenge of having a sensible discussion that might be informative for people, rather than engaging in gratuitous insults and silly stunts, then it might be worthwhile. It's not straightforward, though, because capturing good 'skin tone texture detail' is dependent on all kinds of thing as well as equipment properties. There's a whole load of technique, lighting (I find that really critical), DOF choice, focus, lens quality, processing, etc, etc. So, to be sure one has 'the best skin tone texture detail' takes a bit of time and effort.

So, if you want, you start with the Samsung sensor image, and let's discuss. Rather than 'blow it away', I'll come back with a critical appraisal, and an honest assessment, with, hopefully, examples, of where my particular FF might or might not surpass it (other people might be more capable with their FF or have better FF). Also, please do ensure full EXIF is left on, because apart from the obvious, that also details all the processing and post-processing steps done. Not a lot of people know that, but it's a good way to spot fakery.
 
I know there is a "buying" forum, but most comments there will be Buy Canon, Buy Nikon, etc.

I have been lucky with camera gear. In all cases, I have sold for more than I have purchased it for. Maybe it is timing, maybe it is when I buy it at huge discounts. I am not sure.

I went to a local camera store. Never thought of going m43 before. I told them why I got rid of my old gear (bulky and heavy) and what I am planning on using it for. They showed me a Olympus m5 Mk ii. Its on "sale" with a 14-150mm lens for $1,000. That is in line with what I am looking to spend.

This is basically a family and travel camera. I am no longer shooting my daughter playing sports. Just a general, lighter, smaller camera to carry around. The other option I saw was a Panny GX85 for $600 and a G9 that is a little bit out of my range. I was not able to see the Panny cameras other than online.

Anyone have any advice to go m43 or should I be looking at Fuji and Sony (won't go Nikon or Canon)?
My own view is that mFT is tops as a carry-around system camera, It has great compactness and quality. However, you do pay something for the compactness, and the real question is whether that is of importance to you. If you don't do shallow DOF work, you're not too concerned with low-light performance and you don't want the ultimate in 'creamy smooth' tonality, mFT is very attractive. Since you want a 'family and travel' system, I'd think it would fit you to a T. I think as a system it's the best crop system around (though Fuji fans might disagree).
spoken like a true amateur.
Care to elaborate, or was that just a gratuitous insult for the sake of it?
My bad, ff does have creamier images :-)

em12 D5
Now you've just descended into inanity. If you had a sensible point, you'd be making it. It seems that you haven't.

'Creamy', BTW is not my term, it's NCV's. It's how he described the results from his D700 compared to his E-M5. I would have talked about SNR, but I though that was a littel esoteric for most. Seems that I didn't aim low enough.
I like the term "creamy". It gives the idea of what I see when I look at the images from this camera. SNR I am sure is more technically correct, but it does not give the idea of what you see when you look at these images.
Which is why I though it was a good term to use without going into the detail of SNR, even more difficult now that there is widespread confusion between DR and SNR (it's SNR that matters here). After all, that 'creaminess' is why some people shell out for MF kit. If it wasn't offering anything, no-one would be spending the money.

On the other hand, if you're on a lactose-free, low-fat diet, it's likely not what you want.
if your up to the challenge and post the best skin tone texture detail from FF im sure I will post one from a Samsung sensor that will blow it away.

Don
If you're up to the challenge of having a sensible discussion that might be informative for people, rather than engaging in gratuitous insults and silly stunts, then it might be worthwhile. It's not straightforward, though, because capturing good 'skin tone texture detail' is dependent on all kinds of thing as well as equipment properties. There's a whole load of technique, lighting (I find that really critical), DOF choice, focus, lens quality, processing, etc, etc. So, to be sure one has 'the best skin tone texture detail' takes a bit of time and effort.
So, if you want, you start with the Samsung sensor image, and let's discuss. Rather than 'blow it away', I'll come back with a critical appraisal, and an honest assessment, with, hopefully, examples, of where my particular FF might or might not surpass it (other people might be more capable with their FF or have better FF). Also, please do ensure full EXIF is left on, because apart from the obvious, that also details all the processing and post-processing steps done. Not a lot of people know that, but it's a good way to spot fakery.
You cant cheat skin tone texture detail. if you what to recommend a system you post images to prove your point ( like me)of the capability of a system or you tell the truth that's its more than just the camera like you did above. I find it fascinating that a lot of FF users always opt for the FF is better ;-)

Don
 
I know there is a "buying" forum, but most comments there will be Buy Canon, Buy Nikon, etc.

I have been lucky with camera gear. In all cases, I have sold for more than I have purchased it for. Maybe it is timing, maybe it is when I buy it at huge discounts. I am not sure.

I went to a local camera store. Never thought of going m43 before. I told them why I got rid of my old gear (bulky and heavy) and what I am planning on using it for. They showed me a Olympus m5 Mk ii. Its on "sale" with a 14-150mm lens for $1,000. That is in line with what I am looking to spend.

This is basically a family and travel camera. I am no longer shooting my daughter playing sports. Just a general, lighter, smaller camera to carry around. The other option I saw was a Panny GX85 for $600 and a G9 that is a little bit out of my range. I was not able to see the Panny cameras other than online.

Anyone have any advice to go m43 or should I be looking at Fuji and Sony (won't go Nikon or Canon)?
My own view is that mFT is tops as a carry-around system camera, It has great compactness and quality. However, you do pay something for the compactness, and the real question is whether that is of importance to you. If you don't do shallow DOF work, you're not too concerned with low-light performance and you don't want the ultimate in 'creamy smooth' tonality, mFT is very attractive. Since you want a 'family and travel' system, I'd think it would fit you to a T. I think as a system it's the best crop system around (though Fuji fans might disagree).
spoken like a true amateur.

Don
Says the man whose occupation is listed as "carpenter" and who has no website, no profile and no gear list.
look at my gallery. Edit: how many challenges have you entered ?

Don
Entering challenges doesn't make you a pro. Seems the true amateur here is you.

You're on my ignore list now, so blast away.

--
"No matter where you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Banzai
http://jacquescornell.photography
http://happening.photos
 
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I know there is a "buying" forum, but most comments there will be Buy Canon, Buy Nikon, etc.

I have been lucky with camera gear. In all cases, I have sold for more than I have purchased it for. Maybe it is timing, maybe it is when I buy it at huge discounts. I am not sure.

I went to a local camera store. Never thought of going m43 before. I told them why I got rid of my old gear (bulky and heavy) and what I am planning on using it for. They showed me a Olympus m5 Mk ii. Its on "sale" with a 14-150mm lens for $1,000. That is in line with what I am looking to spend.

This is basically a family and travel camera. I am no longer shooting my daughter playing sports. Just a general, lighter, smaller camera to carry around. The other option I saw was a Panny GX85 for $600 and a G9 that is a little bit out of my range. I was not able to see the Panny cameras other than online.

Anyone have any advice to go m43 or should I be looking at Fuji and Sony (won't go Nikon or Canon)?
My own view is that mFT is tops as a carry-around system camera, It has great compactness and quality. However, you do pay something for the compactness, and the real question is whether that is of importance to you. If you don't do shallow DOF work, you're not too concerned with low-light performance and you don't want the ultimate in 'creamy smooth' tonality, mFT is very attractive. Since you want a 'family and travel' system, I'd think it would fit you to a T. I think as a system it's the best crop system around (though Fuji fans might disagree).
spoken like a true amateur.

Don
Says the man whose occupation is listed as "carpenter" and who has no website, no profile and no gear list.
look at my gallery. Edit: how many challenges have you entered ?

Don
Entering challenges doesn't make you a pro. Seems the true amateur here is you.

You're on my ignore list now, so blast away.
at the moment im process 400 photos (sales), from a sunday photo shoot , how many are processing ?
 
Anyone have any advice to go m43 or should I be looking at Fuji and Sony (won't go Nikon or Canon)?
A Sony A7III + a few tiny prime will give amazing result as travel and family camera while keeping the size and cost very " manageable" in my opinion, there is a pretty significant difference in the Image quality between the Sony FF sensor and the MFT, I own both but if I can have one only for a vacation trip, it will definitely be the A7R II or A7R III not my OMD 10 II.
 
I know there is a "buying" forum, but most comments there will be Buy Canon, Buy Nikon, etc.

I have been lucky with camera gear. In all cases, I have sold for more than I have purchased it for. Maybe it is timing, maybe it is when I buy it at huge discounts. I am not sure.

I went to a local camera store. Never thought of going m43 before. I told them why I got rid of my old gear (bulky and heavy) and what I am planning on using it for. They showed me a Olympus m5 Mk ii. Its on "sale" with a 14-150mm lens for $1,000. That is in line with what I am looking to spend.

This is basically a family and travel camera. I am no longer shooting my daughter playing sports. Just a general, lighter, smaller camera to carry around. The other option I saw was a Panny GX85 for $600 and a G9 that is a little bit out of my range. I was not able to see the Panny cameras other than online.

Anyone have any advice to go m43 or should I be looking at Fuji and Sony (won't go Nikon or Canon)?
My own view is that mFT is tops as a carry-around system camera, It has great compactness and quality. However, you do pay something for the compactness, and the real question is whether that is of importance to you. If you don't do shallow DOF work, you're not too concerned with low-light performance and you don't want the ultimate in 'creamy smooth' tonality, mFT is very attractive. Since you want a 'family and travel' system, I'd think it would fit you to a T. I think as a system it's the best crop system around (though Fuji fans might disagree).
spoken like a true amateur.
Care to elaborate, or was that just a gratuitous insult for the sake of it?
My bad, ff does have creamier images :-)

em12 D5
Now you've just descended into inanity. If you had a sensible point, you'd be making it. It seems that you haven't.

'Creamy', BTW is not my term, it's NCV's. It's how he described the results from his D700 compared to his E-M5. I would have talked about SNR, but I though that was a littel esoteric for most. Seems that I didn't aim low enough.
I like the term "creamy". It gives the idea of what I see when I look at the images from this camera. SNR I am sure is more technically correct, but it does not give the idea of what you see when you look at these images.
Which is why I though it was a good term to use without going into the detail of SNR, even more difficult now that there is widespread confusion between DR and SNR (it's SNR that matters here). After all, that 'creaminess' is why some people shell out for MF kit. If it wasn't offering anything, no-one would be spending the money.

On the other hand, if you're on a lactose-free, low-fat diet, it's likely not what you want.
if your up to the challenge and post the best skin tone texture detail from FF im sure I will post one from a Samsung sensor that will blow it away.

Don
If you're up to the challenge of having a sensible discussion that might be informative for people, rather than engaging in gratuitous insults and silly stunts, then it might be worthwhile. It's not straightforward, though, because capturing good 'skin tone texture detail' is dependent on all kinds of thing as well as equipment properties. There's a whole load of technique, lighting (I find that really critical), DOF choice, focus, lens quality, processing, etc, etc. So, to be sure one has 'the best skin tone texture detail' takes a bit of time and effort.

So, if you want, you start with the Samsung sensor image, and let's discuss. Rather than 'blow it away', I'll come back with a critical appraisal, and an honest assessment, with, hopefully, examples, of where my particular FF might or might not surpass it (other people might be more capable with their FF or have better FF). Also, please do ensure full EXIF is left on, because apart from the obvious, that also details all the processing and post-processing steps done. Not a lot of people know that, but it's a good way to spot fakery.
You cant cheat skin tone texture detail.
What you meant is you can't cheat it. I certainly can. Want some tips?
if you what to recommend a system you post images to prove your point ( like me)of the capability of a system or you tell the truth that's its more than just the camera like you did above.

I find it fascinating that a lot of FF users always opt for the FF is better ;-)
So, that would be a 'no', then. I've never said anything other than it's more than just the system, which is why your challenge is likely to be some effort, and not worth doing unless you're willing to do it seriously. As for recommending a system, I did. I recommended mFT, or maybe you were so keen to read what I wrote the way you wanted, you missed that.

--
Ride easy, William.
Bob
 
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Anyone have any advice to go m43 or should I be looking at Fuji and Sony (won't go Nikon or Canon)?
A Sony A7III + a few tiny prime will give amazing result as travel and family camera while keeping the size and cost very " manageable" in my opinion, there is a pretty significant difference in the Image quality between the Sony FF sensor and the MFT, I own both but if I can have one only for a vacation trip, it will definitely be the A7R II or A7R III not my OMD 10 II.
The thing is, an a7III with "a few tiny primes" (presumably f2.8 primes), nets you only 1/2 stop more light and 4 more megapixels than, say a GX9 with f1.7 primes, and at substantially greater cost. In my view, the only reasons to go 35mm format is to use f1.4 primes for a full 2-stop noise benefit and/or to get more than twice the megapixels with a 42MP sensor.

Also, the a7III's EVF is disturbingly tear-y, and the touchpad AF is unusably glitchy.
 
I would plan to get a faster lens as well. The lens I saw in the store on the camera made it feel like a perfect size. On the outside of my budget, I could possibly swing a user em1 Mk ii. Olympus has it on special for $2k with the 12-40 f2.8 Pro lens. But that is on the extreme end of the budget.
That E-M<5 II/14-150 is a great all around travel kit. Small, weather sealed, good reach and good IQ. The only place it will let you down a bit is in very low light situations. Add a small prime like a 25mm 1.8 for museums, etc and you are good to go.

An alternative is what I use, which is the Pen F with the 12-100 f/4 Pro. The 12-100 has the Sync Image Stabilization that will work in conjunction with your E-M5 II and allow hand holding at slow shutter speeds for that museum stuff...thus eliminating the need for the 25mm 1.8. But, you are about doubling your kit price because of the cost of that lens.
 
The 12-100 is a little heavy for me, especially for travel, so I stuck with the 14-150 and added the 17 f/1.8 for exactly the same purpose. 17 is a more useful FL for me than 25.
 
I would plan to get a faster lens as well. The lens I saw in the store on the camera made it feel like a perfect size. On the outside of my budget, I could possibly swing a user em1 Mk ii. Olympus has it on special for $2k with the 12-40 f2.8 Pro lens. But that is on the extreme end of the budget.
That E-M<5 II/14-150 is a great all around travel kit. Small, weather sealed, good reach and good IQ. The only place it will let you down a bit is in very low light situations. Add a small prime like a 25mm 1.8 for museums, etc and you are good to go.
I use the Panasonic equivalent: GX85 and 14-140, with a 20/1.7 for low light. These are not weather-sealed, but I don't shoot in pouring rain, and I have no trouble shooting in falling snow (with care). I also have a $4 rain sleeve just in case.
 
I know there is a "buying" forum, but most comments there will be Buy Canon, Buy Nikon, etc.

I have been lucky with camera gear. In all cases, I have sold for more than I have purchased it for. Maybe it is timing, maybe it is when I buy it at huge discounts. I am not sure.

I went to a local camera store. Never thought of going m43 before. I told them why I got rid of my old gear (bulky and heavy) and what I am planning on using it for. They showed me a Olympus m5 Mk ii. Its on "sale" with a 14-150mm lens for $1,000. That is in line with what I am looking to spend.

This is basically a family and travel camera. I am no longer shooting my daughter playing sports. Just a general, lighter, smaller camera to carry around. The other option I saw was a Panny GX85 for $600 and a G9 that is a little bit out of my range. I was not able to see the Panny cameras other than online.

Anyone have any advice to go m43 or should I be looking at Fuji and Sony (won't go Nikon or Canon)?
If you go m43 I'd recommend G9 way. It beats E-M5 II in every aspects. At this stage e-m5 ii is camera with 2012 sensor, lacking AF, poor movie capabilities, way inferior viewfinder etc.

Alternative;y check fuji camp, maybe x-t20 is of interest. Fuji has expensive lenses though, so only if you have budget.
 
The 12-100 is a little heavy for me, especially for travel, so I stuck with the 14-150 and added the 17 f/1.8 for exactly the same purpose. 17 is a more useful FL for me than 25.
The 12-100 is not nearly as weight-friendly as the 14-150, that's for sure. I was reluctant to try it on the Pen F for this reason, but once I used it, the combination of the sync IS and the super detail of the lens took my Pen F to a whole other level. So, now I often put up with the inconvenience of the larger lens.
 

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