Time to reduce my crazy collection cameras, which will go and why?

So for whatever reason....today I have the following cameras:-

- Sony A7 MKII with 28-70mm kit lens, 28mm, f2, 35mm f2.8

- Olympus EPL9, Pen F, EM1 II, EM10 II & III with many lenses

- Panasonic GX8, GH4, G9, GF5, LX100, GH1 with several lenses

- Fuji XT10, XT20, X20 with 35mm f1.4, 18-55mm f2.8-f3.5

I stopped using Canon many years back, could not stand the soft image results and noise reduction smeared images and the slapping mirror any longer.....

I am in the process reducing......I have tried them all in the past 6-8 months. I enjoy stills photography plus video work. I love to keep the G9 but like the GH4 video capability, its an awesome camera to discover video and to sharpen your video skills.

I will need to keep a good stills camera. The Pen F is one of the most amazing digital cameras ever made so I will keep it. I know my Olympus cameras very well so my current preference is with my EM1 MKII.

So I am looking at keeping 3 bodies, the GH4, the Pen F and the EM1 MKII......

Why not any of the other:-

- Sony A7 IIfull frame camera. It's a great camera and compares well with this group, its very slow starting up and does not have 4K. IQ is great, love the smooth, high impact color full frame look....  At this point full frame did not excite me to the point that I see that much of an improvement that I will change to a FF camera.....

- Fuji cameras they great cameras, interesting look and way of operation. In my opinion the only manufacturer outside MFT to really developed a great set of true mirrorless lenses, they small, great quality truly an achievement Fuji..... Why not go to Fuji or the new XT3? Well again Fuji did not convince me that its that much of an improvement that I should let go of my MFT gear and fully change over to Fuji......

- Panasonic (G9)  Fantastic cameras and lenses....well done Panasonic. Truly Olympus and Panasonic is pushing each other to deliver excellence....... I know my EM1 II so much better and I did not see that much of a benefit to let it go and to learn the G9 to the same depth as my EM1 II..... Even if I could keep the G9 it will be a waist......each time I go out I take my Olympus camera.......

So finally......I was extremely privileged to have had the chance to try and test so many different cameras. No matter what the tech heads on this forum say, the differences in real life did not convince me enough to change brands or sensor formats...... When I was young....the older folk always said....get yourself a great lens, it will make the biggest difference - I think this is still true......practice, build on your existing system and master your camera. For someone specializing in one or the other discipline it could be a benefit to use one format over another.....for an advanced or general photographer I see no value in changing away from the MFT format.....if your money is burning a hole in your pocket, go get a nice f1.2 or Leica lens......

Most important ignore the doom mob on this forum.......its only talk with NO value at all.... See there is a HUGE difference using and trying equipment versus talking and talking and theorizing only..... Take one simple example, ergonomics:-

The EM1 MKII and the G9 is amazing products. Taking them up is like fitting a clove, everything is just right. Even the very old GH4 is a masterpiece. Next pick up the A7 MKII or the Fuji XT20....these are probably the worst ever cameras in the hand, the Fuji shutter requires you finger to stretch back in an unnatural position, the A7 hand fingers position has no natural fit PLUS the body has no height so you pinky and half ring finger has no place to go....really a terrible design.

So not only has Olympus & Panasonic outstanding ergonomics and grip, IBIS, IQ, DR....these cameras are just amazing...... and keep on surprising.....truly an amazing result by Olympus and Panasonic.....

Best

Siegfried

PS. I will do one final test this week - I want to see the ISO hoax for myself - watch the space and my blog for results......

Here are my own recommendation. I prefer Small Camera + FF combo over an compromised APS-C. Since you already have invest in both, I would keep them over your Fuji camera collections: a FF + M43 = Combo made in Heaven

Here are M43 camera I would keep:

• Olympus EPL9: Ultimate small camera that capture the Essence of portable M43
• Olympus PEN-F: just discontinued, it will become a collector's camera that you can sell for profit later down the road. These 2 camera rounds out my M43

I would keep a Single FF camera for these reasons:

• Sony A7 (GenII) with 28-70 + 28/2. Get rid of 35mm f/2.8 (useless)
• A7-II KILLED M43 in lowlight high iso clarity.
• A7-II + FE 28mm F/2.0 = Ultimate LowLight Killer.
• there are NO M43 equivalent of 14mm F/1.0 to match
• You won't get much selling A7-II anyways, so keep it
• Keep a FF camera also prevent future GAS attack. Now that you have a FF camera, you're really care for Canon RP or Nikon Z system. If you sold your Sony, you will be in the yet another GAS attack for a FF mirrorless

So these are the (3) camera that I would keep with (1) honorable mention:

• Panasonic G9: Currently the King of Video due to its superior 4K and superior AF Tracking over Gh5 that struggle to keep focus. G9 is also a king of Action: 60fps + 20fps burst + No Blackout EVF. G9 is better than Olympus Em1X for less money

If you don't need Pen-F for collection, then here are my Minimal 3 that'll cover all my needs:

• 1. Olympus E-PL9 = Small M43 for Traveling
• 1. Panasonic G9 = Big M43 for Action, 4K Video, etc...
• 1. Sony A7-II FF = Lowlight Portraits, landscape dynamic range

I am jealous of your wonderful Toy Collection: so many camera; so little TIME to play with them.

Now with mirrorless you could go with a Canon RP. Excellent value and what a lens selection you have with a free adapter thrown in.

It's probably all you need and yep, you do have far too many cameras.

So free it all up and go Canon RP. More capable than what most of us will ever need and you can save a lot of money and put that into stunning Canon lenses.

Danny.

VideoPic wrote:

So for whatever reason....today I have the following cameras:-

- Sony A7 MKII with 28-70mm kit lens, 28mm, f2, 35mm f2.8

- Olympus EPL9, Pen F, EM1 II, EM10 II & III with many lenses

- Panasonic GX8, GH4, G9, GF5, LX100, GH1 with several lenses

- Fuji XT10, XT20, X20 with 35mm f1.4, 18-55mm f2.8-f3.5

Personally, I use my PenF for times when I need a small and discrete package.

The EM1 will compliment it well for a more general use camera, and staying with M43 means you have one set of lenses to maintain. G9 or EM1? Since you have both, you will know better which one of the two is best for you. I cannot see reason to keep both. I cannot see reason to keep the other bodies if you already have a PenF and EM1/G9.

Full Frame: Personally I kept my Nikon as I was already invested with many Nikon lenses, and there are times when the bigger sensor delivers. For that reason, I would say there's good reason to keep your Sony and prime lenses.  Since the Fuji sits in between, I do not think it worth to keep.

007peter wrote:

• Olympus PEN-F: just discontinued, it will become a collector's camera that you can sell for profit later down the road.

Please take note that this rumor was spread by a clickbait site on the bases that the japanese olympus online shop listed the black PEN-F as out of production.  The silver PEN-F  is still listed as in stock.

I think you got everything about right except the Pen-F is going to me as you clearly don't need it:-)

nzmacro wrote:

Now with mirrorless you could go with a Canon RP. Excellent value and what a lens selection you have with a free adapter thrown in.

It's probably all you need and yep, you do have far too many cameras.

So free it all up and go Canon RP. More capable than what most of us will ever need and you can save a lot of money and put that into stunning Canon lenses.

Danny.

hmm, I don’t think the adapter is free.

Here in Aus Canon lists the body only $150 less than the body+adapter bundle.

Peter

Messier Object wrote:

nzmacro wrote:

Now with mirrorless you could go with a Canon RP. Excellent value and what a lens selection you have with a free adapter thrown in.

It's probably all you need and yep, you do have far too many cameras.

So free it all up and go Canon RP. More capable than what most of us will ever need and you can save a lot of money and put that into stunning Canon lenses.

Danny.

hmm, I don’t think the adapter is free.

Here in Aus Canon lists the body only $150 less than the body+adapter bundle.

Peter

Yeah you are right Pete. I just checked and the adapter only comes with the kit EF 24-105mm F3.5-5.6. So it won't be free here either. Going to be interesting to see shots from that camera.

All the best Pete and yep, you are right.

Danny.

Such a beautiful manicured hands...

Just sell it.....

to me.

Please.