I have a D800 but I never use it anymore

I have been a solid Nikon shooter before this camera. I have used 4 Nikon cameras the last of which was a Nikon D800. I cannot say this camera gives the same pixel resolution as the D800 but when you put a good lens on it it is close enough.

This also is my 4th micro 4/3 camera. I have started with GF1 (GX1, GX7) and now E-M1. I was always ok with the 16mp. The previous Nikon I had was a D700 and that was a 12mp camera, and I have even printed many 1m x 1.5m prints, and had really nice resaults with it, so 16mp is enough for my style of shooting.

The problem I had with my previous m4/3 cameras was that I did not find the dynamic range good enough. That all changed when I upgraded to GX7 and a good lens (35-100 f2.8 panasonic)

Even though the attached files are from GX7 they are very simmilar to E-M1 and they are the best ones that show what I mean by dynamic range from m4/3 cameras are more than good enough.

When I was these images and realized m4/3 can replace my Nikon gear (For me and my style of shooting) than I decided to get the E-M1.

E-M1 is the first m4/3 camera I own that is weather sealed and built much more like a pro DSLR than a rangefinder. I also do not shoot videos that much and I like the 5 axis IBIS.

I can honestly say that E-M1 and GX7 can focus faster than D800 for single focus subjects. And it nearly never misses focus. One night I borrowed a friends Canon 6D and was really frustrated that it could not focus in low light. than I realized that I was spoiled by the increadible focusing speed of m4/3.

It is a different point with the continuous focusing. It is not as good. but you learn to use single focus even in fast moving subjects. since single focus is so fast you can focus and shoot a subject with single focus.

As of my writing Olympus announced a software update V3. it says that the continuous shooting with autofocus will increase to 9fps from the 6.5fps. Also they have designed it so that only the phase detection focus points will be used in continious shooting. so we will see how it performs.

that is my take on m4/3 and Olympus E-M1

http://bariti.smugmug.com/Travel/Turkey/G%C3%B6lyaz%C4%B1-2014/i-LqgGWD2/A

http://bariti.smugmug.com/Travel/Turkey/G%C3%B6lyaz%C4%B1-2014/i-GQbsqGv/A

http://bariti.smugmug.com/Travel/Turkey/G%C3%B6lyaz%C4%B1-2014/i-zfjSsx4/A

I 've shot with the D800 extensively but never owned one due to its weight and size

Instead I bought a D600 and the Df

Sold both , the D600 due to its oil issue

The Df for it sit at home idle most of the time

My MFT is the more used gear and now will be the only system

I'd rather invest in MFT lenses than supporting 2 systems

The IQ difference is not big enough for me to justify keeping both

Once in a while I miss the battery capacity, and the shallow DOF of Nikon primes but an extra battery, and the Oly 75mm can alleviate some of that miss

I'm looking forward to using my newly acquired 40-150mm f2.8 (from FF release funds)

DSLRs are now passe for me , no need to look back

Using the bright EVF + histogram is more fulfilling experience to me than the OVF which requires constant chimping

Cheers,

dv312 wrote:

I 've shot with the D800 extensively but never owned one due to its weight and size

Instead I bought a D600 and the Df

Sold both , the D600 due to its oil issue

The Df for it sit at home idle most of the time

My MFT is the more used gear and now will be the only system

I'd rather invest in MFT lenses than supporting 2 systems

The IQ difference is not big enough for me to justify keeping both

Once in a while I miss the battery capacity, and the shallow DOF of Nikon primes but an extra battery, and the Oly 75mm can alleviate some of that miss

I'm looking forward to using my newly acquired 40-150mm f2.8 (from FF release funds)

DSLRs are now passe for me , no need to look back

Using the bright EVF + histogram is more fulfilling experience to me than the OVF which requires constant chimping

Cheers,

I agree on that the M43 are lighter, but as to IQ and AF they are inferior to a modern Nikon FF

Looking at the bang for the buck, the m43 cameras are hard to beat.

As soon as I got my GX7 (was using a GH-2/G5) my D800 got much less use.  Especially after I got the 75/1.8 and 42.5/1.2PL.  For everyday use, and even some more rigorous semi-pro uses, my m43 gear has been great.

What do I still use the D800 for?

- Poor weather shooting (rain, cold, dust, snow, etc.)

- Any kind of AF tracking (which I rarely do)

- Low light/high ISO stuff

- Dedicated landscape outings

I recently (as in last weekend) shot a play with a D800 and GX7.  The D800 did the stage work with my 70-200/4VR and the GX7 did the behind the scenes/back stage images with the 42.5/1.2 and 75/1.8.  The GX7 did an excellent job with fast focus quick moment grabs.  Silent shutter was huge to have.  Yes the images were a bit noisy at ISO 1600 or ISO 3200, but the focus was pretty accurate - much better than my D800 could ever do.

The EM1 would be almost perfect for me if it had an all-electronic shutter, a feature which I use a lot.