Olly OM-D E-M10 Good idea?

Gelbvieh wrote:

I shoot mainly nature and wildlife and love my Canon 5D MkIII and 100-400 MkII but for some time now I have been toying with the idea of a lighter setup as a second camera and one to take with me when tramping and trips into town, etc. The Canon would still be my main wildlife setup but when exploring somewhere new I often don't want to carry that. I have a Canon GX7 but miss the longer reach that I am so used too and I find the IQ of the photos a bit hit and miss (bad photographer).

So I've been contemplating the Olympus E-M10 and pairing it with the Olympus 40-150mm Pro f/2.8 and 1.4x convertor. Now whilst I really would like the 12-40mm Pro f/2.8 I can't justify the cost, I was saving for a 7D MkII, but thought about the Panasonic 14mm f/2.5.

So views. Am I mad? Should I stick with what I have and keep my folding for the 7D MkII or go for a second lighter system? How do these two lenses stack up? Bear in mind that I am used to good quality photos that are tack sharp.

Thanks Gelbvieh

I have an E-M10; I think it's an excellent camera and not cheap as some posters have said. It's a shame that Olympus keeps marketing it as entry-level because the images it produces are just as good as what you will get from the E-M1 or the E-M5 Mk II. I have the 12-40mm f/2.8, which is also excellent and I use the optional EGC-1 grip on the E-M10 with that lens. The 40-150mm f/2.8 is even bigger and heavier, so I would definitely recommend the grip with that lens.

If your budget allows for it, you might want to consider the new E-M5 Mk II, because like the 40-150mm f/2.8 and the 12-40mm f/2.8, if you ever add it to your kit, the E-M5 Mk II is dust and splash proof. That may be of value for your type of shooting.

I know, its totally subjective, but I find the E-M10's $30 grip to be just dandy. I lugged it with the Oly 12-40 on a 12 mile hike the other day with my brother. Just had it in my hand the entire time. I do agree that the E-M10 can feel a bit too small without it, but with it I find it to be more than acceptable even with larger lenses such as the 12-40... and I have fairly large hands.