Positive m4/3s

I think we're fortunate to have seen M43. Launched at a time that "high volume low cost" crop and full frame sensors were booming but were so baron of features. Here was an affordable interchangeable lens system packed to the rafters with features and technologies not seen in even flagship format bodies before. In a small package made to THE highest standards, with glass to match. The M43 alliance was bold and delivered.

Which other system makes it possible to hand held 1200 mm?

The camera (Olympus M1 mark iii) is a joy to use and with so many possibilities I plan to explore the comming years.

I think the killer advantage is excellent IBIS combined with small size lenses of very high quality give you a light and very mobile system that can give proffesional quality if you have the skills.

--
Sverre

Thanks Bernard and Raist.

Peter Del

Trevor Carpenter said:

This thread is for saying anything positive about m4/3s cameras. Aside from m4/3s anything positive about the camera industry is allowed. Anything negative and we'll despatch Big Ron and the boys to persuade you that negativity is a very bad thing.

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I've said before that I took up m4/3 in 2008 because it was supported by 2 companies, and I wouldn't be locked into only one. It's paid off and I even still use my G1 (though now a bit sticky!). What has 'locked me in' - in a nice way - is the range of lenses I have; frankly I'm happy with what I've got. (Though you lot keep tempting me!!!)

Mike

Started with a G5 plus kit lens, and it all just made sense to me so after a couple of years I went all in.

The fairly modest kit that I have meets all my current needs, and I know there is everything I could need out there should my interests change.

cameron2 said:

Bernard de Clairvaux said:

I really don't love Canon as a company.

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They are hard to love.

But I've met with the execs there. They're really good people trying to do a good job.

cameron2 said:

At times they truly rest on their laurels.

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Only in comparison. This is a super competitive market. They are working hard, but it always seems that 10 other companies are out-competing them.

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At times they are cautious and protective of what they already produce.

cameron2 said:

It's hard to dislike Canon. They seem to move at a snail's pace, but blink a few times and it's hard to figure out how they got so far ...

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I agree with you there. They tend to make up ground quickly when they need to.

Best Regards,

Bernard

cba_melbourne said:

jalywol said:

......When I want to go truly tiny, I have the GM5 w/12-32mm and 35-100mm mini lenses, in one itsy bitsy bag....

And, for very high quality, I can attach the 12-35mm f2.8 to either camera; it small enough to be inconspicuous when used on the GM5 and yet also complements the GX8 perfectly.

It's all good.

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That is what makes m43 so great for me. You can have a tiny tiny GM1 with the 14mm, something in between like the Pen-F, and something really huge like the the G9 or EM1X. And share all lenses you have, tiny or huge, between them. I may be wrong, but I feel no other current mount system spans such a wide envelope of sizes and weights.

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CBA,

You hit the nail on the head. It's a system with choices. Different ones for different situations.

All the lenses fit all of the cameras large and small. All good.

Best Regards,

Bernard

So while the internet goes absolutely mental about canon's R5 and R6 overheating issues and being smacked hard by that cripple hammer I decided to give my G9 a bit of a torture test....

30 degrees centigrade on a boat with no canopy in direct sunlight. Parked up next to a colony of white-fronted bee-eaters. Shooting a mixture of 180fps 1080 slow motion, 50p 4K 8 bit video and electronic shutter high speed bursts. I went on for two hours. Constant. The camera wasn't switched off once.

I didn't even get a warning sign. Nothing. The limitations were:

- my internal temperature

- card space

- No beer and a setting sun.

Another positive: I bought a panasonic 100-300ii and it arrived in Zambia (not quite next day Amazon delivery here!), at which point a friend who was in town collected it and then promptly forgot to drop it off with another friend who is coming for a visit. So it's now sitting in the wilds in a straight line about 120kms from me but also about five and a half hours drive on shocking roads and we are all not sure how to get it here.... So it's all kind of positive in that at least the lens is in the right country!

G Dickson said:

So while the internet goes absolutely mental about canon's R5 and R6 overheating issues and being smacked hard by that cripple hammer I decided to give my G9 a bit of a torture test....

30 degrees centigrade on a boat with no canopy in direct sunlight. Parked up next to a colony of white-fronted bee-eaters. Shooting a mixture of 180fps 1080 slow motion, 50p 4K 8 bit video and electronic shutter high speed bursts. I went on for two hours. Constant. The camera wasn't switched off once.

I didn't even get a warning sign. Nothing. The limitations were:

- my internal temperature

- card space

- No beer and a setting sun.

Another positive: I bought a panasonic 100-300ii and it arrived in Zambia (not quite next day Amazon delivery here!), at which point a friend who was in town collected it and then promptly forgot to drop it off with another friend who is coming for a visit. So it's now sitting in the wilds in a straight line about 120kms from me but also about five and a half hours drive on shocking roads and we are all not sure how to get it here.... So it's all kind of positive in that at least the lens is in the right country!

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I remember the thread! How frustrating - hope you get it before the rains start in a couple of months or so

88 replies in one day, and they say M4/3 is dying. I don't get it, it doesn't look like it's dying to me.

I have really been enjoying my MFT gear. I started with the original E-M5 and found it added the fun back into photography. I then added the original E-M1 and just love the ergonomics. Then replaced the E-M5 with the E-M5.2 and just more refined camera and more fun. Then replaced the E-M1, which became my "workhorse" camera with the E-M1.2. Just love the improvements, it has better image quality, better performance and better ergonomics. Then got a great deal on a slightly used Pen F. What a special camera and a lot of fun to use. Then added an E-M1X and just love the ergonomics and performance. The C-AF really worked great once I got it tuned for my usage. It had became my wildlife camera and really replaced my E-M1.2. I then traded in the E-M1.2 and got the E-M1.3. I really love this camera and I am now using it most of the time, except when doing wildlife photography then it is the E-M1X. Just got back from a mini-vacation and I got to do hand-held Milky-way photos using the E-M1.3 and the 17/1.2 lens The Starry Sky AF is amazing. The IBIS allowed me to hand-hold up to 5 seconds. This was I was sitting around a campfire and after drinking a beer. Then the next night I got the camera on my tripod and took live composite photos of my wife playing around with two Poi Balls. Then during the day I had the compact 12-45/4.0 lens on the E-M1.3. Just the prefect compact size that don't compromise on ergonomics. Just amazing technology in the cameras and great lenses. Here is a straight out of camera jpeg photos that I wfi from the camera to my phone and posted each day to Facebook and a Flickr album at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/david_l_black/albums/72157715577593683

Ruairi said:

It's a fun system with systems within the system.

Allows me to earn some money using the pro stuff, but also choose from the more compact lenses and bodies to enjoy snapping away on holiday, or wherever. All with enough headroom to make edits, large prints, and pass stock QC checks.


Isle of Wight. My luggage was already full, but somehow fit a GM5 + 12-32 + 35-100 + 45mm 1.8


1/2000th not fast enough as this bird was so near, likely between 60 and 70mph. A testament to the C-AF of the E-M1iii methinks.


Taken walking home after picking up groceries. Camera on sling + backpack full of shopping + 2 non-disposable bags full.


Injured parakeet we rescued - photo taken as we needed to share its condition and progress with an expert. Yeah the lens was filthy, and the image is unedited, but it did the job.


Walk round a park to get coffee, why not bring a long telephoto lens along? Definitely printing this.


Who'd know the neighbourhood fox could yawn so wide if my camera wasn't quick to hand, and let me keep my distance?


Wife thought I was exaggerating how hideous the spider in the living room was until I shared this. Nonchalant macro taken after a long night at the pub.


Getting up close courtesy again of the 300mm f4. That lens...

M43 is pretty damn-near irreplaceable IMHO.

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OMG; I don't see how anyone could possibly make a more eloquent case for m43 than you did with these pictures and their subtitles. I feel the same way. I have the same GM5 system that you do when I want to go small and light but switch to my GX85 with its 12-35mm lens (and maybe a PL 15mm + Panny 45-175mm thrown in) for my serious heavyweight shootings! Thanks for your graphic testimony! I enjoyed it.

Regards,

Bernard

Trevor Carpenter said:

50 posts. Thanks to everyone who has joined in my little game. It has been really uplifting to hear from everybody who really appreciate what they have got rather than what they haven't got.

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Yes, thanks for starting this Trevor. I was getting really depressed by all the gloom.

I don't know if Olympus monitor this site, but if they do, then they might come to the conclusion that there's no point in carrying on. Hopefully this thread will in part address the balance. MFT is a much-loved format.

Mike

When I got an epl-3 back in the day I thought that this was the photography path I wanted to follow

I got an ep5 and an PenF and the image quality, ease of use, features and cheap and small (sometimes) lenses sealed the deal.

I find m4/3 is perfect for me to have to travel with or use with family and friend gatherings and be able to send out high quality pics that 90% of them look at on their phone or tablet

I use m4/3 for my personal hobby picture projects, and I make books that are regularly 12x12, 10x8, inches, and I see zero reason why a much larger print would not look great as well.

M4/3 has given me the ability to simply focus on taking great pictures rather than constantly chase or wish I had better equipment.

I love the lack of hassle with having larger equipment when hiking in the woods or when travelling with family or friends— my god I cringe thinking of being ‘that guy’ who takes a camera with a huge travel zoom lens out when visiting a city. Pen F and 45mm with 14mm f2.5 in pocket (or whatever) can not draw attention when at a Paris cafe or wherever

Iso 200 apparently has very very fine grain noise, particularly compared to the base iso of large sensors, but to me that is a laughable ‘concern’

I have printed up to 12800 and 10000 iso with minor noise reduction and I think the images are just fine. I always think how dark the environment actually is when the camera needs to shoot at such high ISO’s with fast lenses— pretty damn dark!



For me there is also so much untapped potential with live composite as well

Since 1971 I have owned Olympus cameras beginning w/ the OM-1/ 55mm f/1.2 lens. I only regret is I didn't keep it.

Fit and finish-check, ergonomics-check, reliability-check, build quality-check, excellent image quality-check, somewhat complicated menu-uncheck...but life isn't perfect.

Jim

Bernard said:

OMG; I don't see how anyone could possibly make a more eloquent case for m43 than you did with these pictures and their subtitles. I feel the same way. I have the same GM5 system that you do when I want to go small and light but switch to my GX85 with its 12-35mm lens (and maybe a PL 15mm + Panny 45-175mm thrown in) for my serious heavyweight shootings! Thanks for your graphic testimony! I enjoyed it.

Regards,

Bernard

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Thanks Bernard. I had to fight the urge to ramble on and on. Feel like I omitted more than I included - stop motion features, in-camera bracketing, video, price, and so on.

Even your heavyweight kit would likely only take up the same luggage space as a thick pair of socks. Long live m43!




An egg-cellent system for creativity



--
Just birds
Flickr

I'm sure this was already covered, but chiming in anyway, I LOVE (1) the smaller more compact size and weight of many of the bodies and especially most of the lenses, and (2) the reach you get for wildlife! Especially at the size and price of many of the lenses out there.

I still plan to eventually get rid of my EM1-M2 for an EM1-M3 for the additional features and (to my eye) better OOC Jpegs.

I absolutely love my EM10-M3. Went to the mountains about a year ago with my Nikon Z6, EM1-2 and EM10-M3. By far the most photo's were taken with my Oly m4/3 gear than the Nikon. Photographing Elk at a distance and the wild life the EM1-M2 fit the bill with the 75-300. But most of all, the EM10-M3 went everywhere with me (kinda like my iPhone) and as a result I used it more than the other two.

I truly love and enjoy my Fuji and Nikon stuff as well. And around the house, they probably get most use (not having to lug them around), but when I'm out and about, m4/3 (to me, for me) is perfect.

As always and understandably, YMMV!

Bob

For past 12 years had various Panasonic super zooms (FZ18, FZ60, FZ200) for casual birding/nature walks. I lurked on this m4/3 site for a number of years thinking I should try something. Wanted lower noise/better detail when the inevitable cropping was required with small song birds. I always have 8X42 binoculars when birding and didn't want to add too much weight/bulk with a camera.

So last fall got a E-M10 II body along with Oly 40-150 4/5.6. Soon got the Oly 75-300 4.8/6.7 zoom. I am quite happy with the improved image quality. Then I got the little Panasonic 12-32 3.5/5.6 zoom. Will add one of the wider 1.7/1.8 primes in the future. Don't see me ever needing a larger format for my photography hobby.

Dave

I started m43 in 2009 trading my Canon APS-C kit for a compact and useful Blue G1 and 14-45 kit lens. The 20/1.7, 45-200, and GF1 came along in quick succession, followed by a series of Olympus and Panasonic bodies and lenses over the years. m43 has been a part of hundreds of business trips, countless events, and every part of my family life. I've found m43 to be a sweet spot for quality and portability, going places and offering me possibilities a larger kit might not have.

On business trips there's not generally much room for kit, but in unfamiliar places the GM1/GM5 have proven to be convenient and inconspicuous partners in the image-making process. Likewise, closer to home at fairs, restaurants, and gatherings m43 kit has been low-key and un-intimidating to fellows, friends, and family.

Eleven years after taking a chance on that G1 I still have a G (now a G9), I'm still excited to use it and I still keep it or one of my GMs handy to grab whenever I head out the door, even if it's just to go to the mailbox or a local store.

ETA: I used to commute on two-wheels daily, and still ride on weekends, and there's always a m43 camera in my tank bag, even it all it captures is wherever I stopped for a water break.

Ruairi said:

An egg-cellent system for creativity

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...and you certainly make egg-cellent use of it with a cool video clip sandwiched between your stills and well-cut too!