M4/3 to 1", now back to M4/3

A little story to tell. I've been into photography for quite a few years, I'm 67. I started the digital world with an Olympus E10 about 18 years ago. Only including DSLR's, I then went to Nikon starting with the D100, simply amazing at the time, and still not bad! I couldn't get enough, they had me hooked. D200, D300s, D7000, D7100, and lets not talk about lenses... Then came along M4/3. I think I started with a GX7, then E-M5 II and E-M1 II, and a lot of lenses. I sold all my Nikon gear. I still don't regret that move. But while I was enjoying M4/3 along came Sony with their 1" super zoom RX10 series. I thought, why not try one of these for travel, I picked up an RX10 III. It seemed wonderful, not much different than M4/3 and 24-600mm all-in-one. I started selling my M4/3 lenses that overlapped 24-600 and only keeping primes and Macro. I then moved to an RX10 IV with phase focus, again a great travel camera. My E-M1 II has mostly been sitting idle. I recently picked up my E-M1 II and shot a few photos. You know what, the E-M1 II really feels special to hold and use, much nicer quality wise and so much nice to use than the RX10's. I forgot just how nice the M4/3 format is. I'm very sorry I sold my 12-40, 12-100, 7-14, and 100-400. I'm starting to rebuild. I have an 8-18 showing up today (I tried one of these when they first came out in June 2017 and it was very soft in the left side, hope this one will be good). For a second lens I can't decide on 12-40 or 12-100, I liked them both.

Sorry this was so long, just revealing some of my mistakes.

I guess this photography thing is mostly trial and error.  I sold my 12-40 Olympus ( a fine lens) and purchased a 12-100.  What an amazing lens!  Hanging above my fireplace is a 24 inch by 36 print taken with this lens one morning at Lake Quinualt in Washington State.  Hand held and sharp as a tack!

A lot of us have been down a similar path.  While I still have some Nikon gear, I sold off my D700 a couple of years ago to fund more m4/3rds gear and when I look back at my favorite pics from the past decade, the vast majority are still from the D700.  The color profiles from the D2X that Nikon had available on line for download to the D700 were really nice.  But the reality was that I didn't use the D700 enough (due to weight) to justify keeping it, and I really should sell off the rest of my Nikon gear, as I just use Sony and m4/3rds now.

Good luck in building up your system again.

Tom B. wrote:

A little story to tell. I've been into photography for quite a few years, I'm 67. I started the digital world with an Olympus E10 about 18 years ago. Only including DSLR's, I then went to Nikon starting with the D100, simply amazing at the time, and still not bad! I couldn't get enough, they had me hooked. D200, D300s, D7000, D7100, and lets not talk about lenses... Then came along M4/3. I think I started with a GX7, then E-M5 II and E-M1 II, and a lot of lenses. I sold all my Nikon gear. I still don't regret that move. But while I was enjoying M4/3 along came Sony with their 1" super zoom RX10 series. I thought, why not try one of these for travel, I picked up an RX10 III. It seemed wonderful, not much different than M4/3 and 24-600mm all-in-one. I started selling my M4/3 lenses that overlapped 24-600 and only keeping primes and Macro. I then moved to an RX10 IV with phase focus, again a great travel camera. My E-M1 II has mostly been sitting idle. I recently picked up my E-M1 II and shot a few photos. You know what, the E-M1 II really feels special to hold and use, much nicer quality wise and so much nice to use than the RX10's. I forgot just how nice the M4/3 format is. I'm very sorry I sold my 12-40, 12-100, 7-14, and 100-400. I'm starting to rebuild. I have an 8-18 showing up today (I tried one of these when they first came out in June 2017 and it was very soft in the left side, hope this one will be good). For a second lens I can't decide on 12-40 or 12-100, I liked them both.

Sorry this was so long, just revealing some of my mistakes.

I rotate my inventory at a much slower pace, so my unused gear accumulates.

Please comment more on your experience with RX10 III vs RX10 IV. Is the latter one noticeably better?

Tommi K1 wrote:

Colin Smith1 wrote:

I guess this photography thing is mostly trial and error. I sold my 12-40 Olympus ( a fine lens) and purchased a 12-100. What an amazing lens! Hanging above my fireplace is a 24 inch by 36 print taken with this lens one morning at Lake Quinualt in Washington State. Hand held and sharp as a tack!

Just remember to write next to it a warning label that reminds you that it would have been four times better if taken with a common advice here at 1041 so often repeated...

Or maybe it just remind yourself that your standards are so low...

Geez!! Get a life!

Tom B. wrote:

A little story to tell. I've been into photography for quite a few years, I'm 67. I started the digital world with an Olympus E10 about 18 years ago. Only including DSLR's, I then went to Nikon starting with the D100, simply amazing at the time, and still not bad! I couldn't get enough, they had me hooked. D200, D300s, D7000, D7100, and lets not talk about lenses... Then came along M4/3. I think I started with a GX7, then E-M5 II and E-M1 II, and a lot of lenses. I sold all my Nikon gear. I still don't regret that move. But while I was enjoying M4/3 along came Sony with their 1" super zoom RX10 series. I thought, why not try one of these for travel, I picked up an RX10 III. It seemed wonderful, not much different than M4/3 and 24-600mm all-in-one. I started selling my M4/3 lenses that overlapped 24-600 and only keeping primes and Macro. I then moved to an RX10 IV with phase focus, again a great travel camera. My E-M1 II has mostly been sitting idle. I recently picked up my E-M1 II and shot a few photos. You know what, the E-M1 II really feels special to hold and use, much nicer quality wise and so much nice to use than the RX10's. I forgot just how nice the M4/3 format is. I'm very sorry I sold my 12-40, 12-100, 7-14, and 100-400. I'm starting to rebuild. I have an 8-18 showing up today (I tried one of these when they first came out in June 2017 and it was very soft in the left side, hope this one will be good). For a second lens I can't decide on 12-40 or 12-100, I liked them both.

Sorry this was so long, just revealing some of my mistakes.

Beside Olympus Gears, I still have Fujifilm X100F, Sony RX10. They are all wonderful. I would choose Fujifilm X100F over PEN-F with 17 F1.8 for only one body with a prime, and choose Sone RX-10 for shooting videos.

Blessings,

Edward

Colin Smith1 wrote:

Tommi K1 wrote:

Colin Smith1 wrote:

I guess this photography thing is mostly trial and error. I sold my 12-40 Olympus ( a fine lens) and purchased a 12-100. What an amazing lens! Hanging above my fireplace is a 24 inch by 36 print taken with this lens one morning at Lake Quinualt in Washington State. Hand held and sharp as a tack!

Just remember to write next to it a warning label that reminds you that it would have been four times better if taken with a common advice here at 1041 so often repeated...

Or maybe it just remind yourself that your standards are so low...

Geez!! Get a life!

He was joking

buratino wrote:

Please comment more on your experience with RX10 III vs RX10 IV. Is the latter one noticeably better?

For me, since I do not do action photography much, I experienced no difference between the RX10 III and RX10 IV. Most of my shooting is static or slow moving, and for this the focusing on the RX10 III was just fine. I upgrade just because it's the latest and greatest, but foolish on my part sometimes.

I'm just amazed by how much people are willing to spend on photographic gear that they don't really need.

Tom B. wrote:

A little story to tell. I've been into photography for quite a few years, I'm 67. I started the digital world with an Olympus E10 about 18 years ago. Only including DSLR's, I then went to Nikon starting with the D100, simply amazing at the time, and still not bad! I couldn't get enough, they had me hooked. D200, D300s, D7000, D7100, and lets not talk about lenses... Then came along M4/3. I think I started with a GX7, then E-M5 II and E-M1 II, and a lot of lenses. I sold all my Nikon gear. I still don't regret that move. But while I was enjoying M4/3 along came Sony with their 1" super zoom RX10 series. I thought, why not try one of these for travel, I picked up an RX10 III. It seemed wonderful, not much different than M4/3 and 24-600mm all-in-one. I started selling my M4/3 lenses that overlapped 24-600 and only keeping primes and Macro. I then moved to an RX10 IV with phase focus, again a great travel camera. My E-M1 II has mostly been sitting idle. I recently picked up my E-M1 II and shot a few photos. You know what, the E-M1 II really feels special to hold and use, much nicer quality wise and so much nice to use than the RX10's. I forgot just how nice the M4/3 format is. I'm very sorry I sold my 12-40, 12-100, 7-14, and 100-400. I'm starting to rebuild. I have an 8-18 showing up today (I tried one of these when they first came out in June 2017 and it was very soft in the left side, hope this one will be good). For a second lens I can't decide on 12-40 or 12-100, I liked them both.

Sorry this was so long, just revealing some of my mistakes.

Don't feel bad, i have had an even crazier road. Started with a Sony A33. Bought a Pentax K5IIs after that, then it died. Then bought my first GX7 (loved it) but was a bit down on the C-AF. Sold it for a D7000, then added a 70D. Sold both and jumped back to Pentax with a K3 if i remember. C-AF on it was garbage, sold it and bought a Sony A77II.

Had all kinds of AF issues so returned it, bought a D800 and D300. AF issues on those (it was actually my lens but i blamed the bodies) and after selling, bought a GX8. Sold it and before i was done i had owned another GX7, a D7000 on two more occasions and two different D700 bodies.

Most recently i had the 2nd D700, EM1 and GX850, first time i had 3 bodies at once. Today i got rid of my Nikon as i decided i don't want to keep up two systems. From my A33 to now was about 7 years. All that said, i try to see it as experience, i had fun, i learned a lot and now i know better what suits me. No mistakes if you learned something.

nevada5 wrote:

You should do what you like so long as you can afford it. Many of us have left and returned.

Sorry this was so long, just revealing some of my mistakes.

Long post = no problem. Lack of paragraphs, hmmmm.

Agreed, and paragraphs are needed.

Thanks

timo wrote:

I'm just amazed by how much people are willing to spend on photographic gear that they don't really need.

Yes, agreed. Sometimes hard to understand, and I'm speaking for myself. It's a whole different aspect of the hobby, and quite enjoyable most of the time. The internet has made this part of the hobby doable. You are almost like your own reviewer. In my original post I made mention of my mistakes by selling off some of my M4/3 gear, maybe calling it mistakes is a little harsh. In my case it's what made it possible for me to try out another format for myself, and really see for myself what I like and dislike.

Most call it G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome), and it's real! Fortunately I've had very good luck on eBay. I never buy without selling first. And, I never buy and return to the store just for the sake of trying out, unless of course the product is faulty. I always sell as used and just like new condition, which is the truth. In fact, I just sold my RX10 IV yesterday for a very good price, which will more than pay for a new 12-100 arriving tomorrow.

ssa6185 wrote:

How do you find the image quality with 1 inch vs micro four thirds? At times I've thought about selling my gx85 for a lx100 but love the Olympus 45 1.8 for portraits

I find them very close in quality in normal lighting situations. When light starts to dim I find M4/3 is cleaner in the shadows.

There is no substitute for fast primes, the 45 1.8 is nice! Nothing wrong with the LX100 but try not to sell your M4/3, you will miss it down the road.

Tom B. wrote:

ssa6185 wrote:

How do you find the image quality with 1 inch vs micro four thirds? At times I've thought about selling my gx85 for a lx100 but love the Olympus 45 1.8 for portraits

I find them very close in quality in normal lighting situations. When light starts to dim I find M4/3 is cleaner in the shadows.

There is no substitute for fast primes, the 45 1.8 is nice! Nothing wrong with the LX100 but try not to sell your M4/3, you will miss it down the road.

I sold my RX100 mark 1 after I got GM1 (later replaced with GF7) with 12-32. 12-32 was a better optics. I was not bothered by differences based on the sensor sizes. I do have GX85 as well, and it makes a great pair with GF7. My GF7 - in combination with 12-40 and 42.5/1.7 - saved a trip to St. Petersburg, Russia when GX85 failed after a 2-foot drop in a Lowepro bag.