So finally saying goodbye to m4/3 (sad)

Sorry but that's not a goodbye my friend. You still have a full kit! This thread illustrates just how good M43 is. It's hard to reallllllly say goodbye.

Look at me. I've sold my E-P5 4 times and keep coming back! I've had A7, A7II, A7RII, Nikon and Canon DSLR gear and I've tried all the new toys. I still can't kick the M43 habit completely. I often prefer it. I don't know what it is, but it's more than IQ...

Not to mention the IQ is stellar. I'm about to try some Nikon Z gear, but the Olympus won't be going anywhere...no...freaking...way. I've learned my lesson. Price, IQ, Olympus color, amazing range of lenses all mostly small and high quality....not to mention Olympus lens build which I definitely put way above Sony's GM lenses. I don't get that thrill will Sony gear. I get an Olympus lens in the mail and I'm stoked.

So yes, you'll be back. I mean, you're already back? You'll be back for more? Haha...I don't know man, happy shooting.

MinAZ wrote:

jalywol wrote:

carlgorski wrote:

KEH gives you a fraction of what it is worth.\

Depends on the lens or body. For about half of my recent M43 gear, I got quotes from them that were comparable to what I would have gotten on Ebay. The other half was lower, but I was pleasantly surprised that as much of the gear was that close to the Ebay averages, actually.

Of course, if you have a low demand item, it will not get a good offer price, and you will do better Ebaying it or selling privately.

-J

Basically KEH offers you the price you would get off ebay less all fees including paypal and ebay fees, shipping cost, and then a couple of percent off, so usually its a bit off what you would get on ebay. But the advantage is you don't have to list, pack, and ship yourself, they handle the logistics and fees, and most importantly, you don't have to deal with people canceling their bid because their baby sister accidentally bid on your item last minute, the bid on the wrong item, or they return you item because there was an extra ding or dent they felt you didn't disclose, or they claim they never received your item left at the door, or they weren't home to accept delivery, relisting items that didn't sell... you get the idea. You only have to deal with bad buyers on Ebay once or twice before you appreciate the service KEH provides.

Our local chain, which has shops in several places, including outside the EU has a similar policy. You must be a customer of theirs, so you don't get any cash, just an IOU (= rebate on next purchase). Often you get more for lenses in demand, while sometimes kit lenses fetch very little, or nothing.

Years back I sold off all my Pentax stuff, keeping my first body and a lens.

Now I have Nikon, but I would like to get a Z body as well.

My wife sold a lot of her m43 stuff years ago, getting more than she had paid for some of it, while I have gotten about the same as I've paid for some, not least for stuff bought in Canada and the US, and later sold here.

Five years after my big sale, and about the same time since my wife sold off all her Olympus zooms, plus some old bodies, and now have Panasonic zooms from 8 to 400 (roughly), plus a couple of primes (Olympus 12, 60 & 75; Sigma 30; Samyang 8.5; Panasonic 25, 42.5).

We photograph mainly birds and our grandchildren, at the moment.

For small sensors, like Nikon 1, or m43, excessive noise is the main issue, while with FF the cumbersome long lenses is an issue, especially if you shoot a lot of wildlife.

An FF with IBIS would be great, though!

dinoSnake wrote:

RED i wrote:

MinAZ wrote:

but that, let's face it, the files coming out from the full frame are just easier to edit (this was the smoking gun in the end).

LOL, you should probably learn to expose properly first.

Pleased to see that, after all these years, the m43 forum remains the same: a snobby, righteous 'It's user error!' post can always be found inside a thread that does not blatantly praise m43 as if its the second coming.

Sad to hear!

That was the great thing with getting a Nikon 1, and absolutely fantastic group here at DPReview!

As good as Pentax Forums!

MinAZ wrote:

It's been a long journey, from 4/3 to m4/3 and owning various cameras and lenses from both manufacturers, and now finally, it is time to say goodbye. In the end, I will say this: I got many great images from m4/3, it is a very decent system for those whose needs it fits, and Olympus in particular has some very nice glass. There are a few advantages unique to m4/3. But ultimately, shooting m4/3 and full frame side by side for several years, I can no longer deny that I feel more confident with the full frame system. Its not that I usually can't take the photo with Olympus, but that, let's face it, the files coming out from the full frame are just easier to edit (this was the smoking gun in the end).

So I have sold all my gear except for a few things that I am keeping just for fun/travel/wildlife photography: the OMD-EM1 Mark II (still like this one for the IBIS, and high-res mode), the PEN E-PL6 (for fun and when I travel), a couple of pro lenses for wildlife and travel, a bunch of the fun lenses, and I decided to keep the speedlites because you really don't get that much for selling them. But I've gotten rid of all the rest.

So did I make the right decision? I don't know for sure. But I have been using both systems extensively, and as the age of Full Frame mirrorless is ascendant (and the bodies become almost as compact as the EM1 line), I just cannot justify owning both anymore.

Gee I'm all choked up reading your post.  Not to be snarky but when I left Pentax for M4/3 I didn't post a farewell to the system on DP.  In fact I felt no emotions at all so it made me feel rather cold and empty inside seeing this post.  Perhaps I should go into therapy as I never feel anything when switching brands say of batteries or light bulbs.  I'm an avid cyclist but didn't feel anything switching from Giant to Specialized!  Thank you for making me realize that the products we own deserve to be publicly recognized for the service they provide.  When switching brands one should feel the need to tell others of the sadness they feel at having to make such a decision.

I have to now find a blog for toasters as I'm switching from KitchenAid to Hamilton Beach.  That toaster was in our lives for 10 years faithfully toasting our bread, bagels, and frozen waffles.  I should have known to call for help when one of the slots just wouldn't work anymore.  Instead I coldly went to the store and bought the Hamilton Beach unboxing it right in front of the KitchenAid.  I ruthlessly unplugged the KitchenAid and tossed it in the trash.  Feeling no guilt we are now even enjoying using the Hamilton Beach Toaster Oven.  Anyway this is making me tear up so I've got to go to the toaster blog to confess my total ignorance and hope in some way make up for my complete blindness!   I'll let everyone know I switched from a KitchenAid four slice toaster to a Hamilton Beach toaster oven and now feel that same sadness you feel switching brands!  Perhaps that is redemption thank you for opening my eyes!

Velocity of Sound wrote:

(snip)

Having realized that I've gone years without touching some of my lenses, like you I'll be downsizing in the near future. It's a painful endeavor. I hope you're a bit happier now - there is some joy to be had in being more of a minimalist!

I went through that some time back, long after I had sold my Pentax stuff, partly to finance a new Nikon camera. Lenses that are relatively cheap (when you buy them new) rarely fetch a decent price but used quality lenses often fetch a good price, thus are the ones to buy used, if you imagine you might sell it at a later date.

So now, after ten years, I mainly have so-called quality lenses, most of them bought new (oh, happy days!). The not as sharp are the first to go, as are those that are difficult to handle, or just not you.

Now I am retired and have to think twice, before buying (or selling) anything!

I nowadays have more primes than before.  I also have a lot of telephoto lenses (zooms and primes), but those are not for everyone.

I think selling the lenses one does not use, and have one backup body (at least) is wise.

It is easy to become attached to brands, especially if it is the first step into something totally new.

I am pretty sure everyone remembers their first mobile phone, their first DSLR (I kept mine), but for the rest who cares, but compulsory hoarders.

I switched from Pentax to Nikon, with no regrets, rather the reverse.

MinAZ wrote:

So I have sold all my gear except for a few things that I am keeping just for fun/travel/wildlife photography: the OMD-EM1 Mark II (still like this one for the IBIS, and high-res mode), the PEN E-PL6 (for fun and when I travel), a couple of pro lenses for wildlife and travel, a bunch of the fun lenses, and I decided to keep the speedlites because you really don't get that much for selling them. But I've gotten rid of all the rest.

THAT is saying goodbye? What you keep is 2-3 times what I have/need.

Gnine wrote:

bluehighwayman wrote:

Perhaps I should go into therapy as I never feel anything when switching brands say of batteries or light bulbs. I'm an avid cyclist but didn't feel anything switching from Giant to Specialized! Thank you for making me realize that the products we own deserve to be publicly recognized for the service they provide. When switching brands one should feel the need to tell others of the sadness they feel at having to make such a decision.

I reckon you're safe. The symptoms described seem to be predominantly found in electronic device users. Mobile phone aficionados seem quite prone, but I think camera geeks seem to be the worst affected. Apple igeeks are probably not too far down the scale either. As you've already noted, bicycle, and motorcycle riders seem largely unaffected, but I have noticed some of this behaviour creeping in lately. I think due to the rise of interwebz discussion forums, as a lot more of the technical details are now being debated, due to the popularity of electronic control systems being incorporated into what were once simple, basic devices, that relied on input from a skilled user or operator. A sign of the times hey.

A lot of HD guys would never place their bums on anything but an HD, and many of them will kill you if you dent their rides!

NCV wrote:

HRC2016 wrote:

MinAZ wrote:

So I have sold all my gear except for a few things that I am keeping just for fun/travel/wildlife photography: the OMD-EM1 Mark II (still like this one for the IBIS, and high-res mode), the PEN E-PL6 (for fun and when I travel), a couple of pro lenses for wildlife and travel, a bunch of the fun lenses, and I decided to keep the speedlites because you really don't get that much for selling them. But I've gotten rid of all the rest.

Sounds like someone wasted a lot of money because of GAS.

Bye.

Why do some individuals on this forum chose to be so unpleasent when expressing their opinions on the choices of others?

Lots of us have a gear cupboard with stuff we do not use anymore.

Because he's retaining a pro setup and therefore not really saying "goodbye".

So this comes across less as a farewell but more of a sly justification for the FF expenditure.

Using the "sad" emotion indicating an exit while still retaining a pro setup is a false premise and untruthful.

MinAZ wrote:

Velocity of Sound wrote:

MinAZ wrote:

I had my wife help me unload the boxes of gear from our minivan, and as she handed me the last box she asked "You sure?" I said "Yes". She said "We took some great photos with these didn't we" I said "Yes".

While I count myself among those who were initially scratching their heads over how this was "goodbye," I commiserate with the sense of sorrow over parting from gear. Particularly for pieces you've had for a long time or used heavily, it almost feels like losing a part of yourself, or an old friend. Sure, they're just objects, but they were at your side (or on your back in a bag) during certain events and travels, and they were involved in capturing memories that you can see and share with others. That makes them pretty special.

Or maybe I'm just sentimental like that. There was one lens I bought off of eBay where the seller said it was his grandfather's, and sometimes I'd just find myself looking at that lens and wondering what parts of the world it might have been taken to, and what scenes it had been pointed out. Maybe it's that lenses are the mechanical equivalent to eyes, and eyes are meaningful in so many ways to us.

Having realized that I've gone years without touching some of my lenses, like you I'll be downsizing in the near future. It's a painful endeavor. I hope you're a bit happier now - there is some joy to be had in being more of a minimalist!

There was this one camera I bought off E-bay, a Nikon F100. The seller called me after I won the bid, saying he wanted to make sure I was a true enthusiast and that it was going to a good home. Apparently he was a photojournalist and that camera had been with him almost his entire career. He told me of the stories he had and said that he hated parting with it but he was happy it found a new owner who would appreciate it. Needless to say, I still have (and use) that camera to this day.

I have been a photographer since the 70"s and over that period of time I have owned many cameras from most brands and I have to say that the Nikon F100 is my all time favourite. Just holding it in my hands was an absolute delight never mind the fantastic output from it

MinAZ wrote:

It's been a long journey, from 4/3 to m4/3 and owning various cameras and lenses from both manufacturers, and now finally, it is time to say goodbye. In the end, I will say this: I got many great images from m4/3, it is a very decent system for those whose needs it fits, and Olympus in particular has some very nice glass. There are a few advantages unique to m4/3. But ultimately, shooting m4/3 and full frame side by side for several years, I can no longer deny that I feel more confident with the full frame system. Its not that I usually can't take the photo with Olympus, but that, let's face it, the files coming out from the full frame are just easier to edit (this was the smoking gun in the end).

So I have sold all my gear except for a few things that I am keeping just for fun/travel/wildlife photography: the OMD-EM1 Mark II (still like this one for the IBIS, and high-res mode), the PEN E-PL6 (for fun and when I travel), a couple of pro lenses for wildlife and travel, a bunch of the fun lenses, and I decided to keep the speedlites because you really don't get that much for selling them. But I've gotten rid of all the rest.

So what exactly did you get rid of???? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Seriously there are people here who are only in m43 with just one m43 body, so abandoning a system but keeping two bodies with several lenses and flashes is a bit controversial.

So did I make the right decision? I don't know for sure. But I have been using both systems extensively, and as the age of Full Frame mirrorless is ascendant (and the bodies become almost as compact as the EM1 line), I just cannot justify owning both anymore.

vinrouge0 wrote:

MinAZ wrote:

Velocity of Sound wrote:

MinAZ wrote:

I had my wife help me unload the boxes of gear from our minivan, and as she handed me the last box she asked "You sure?" I said "Yes". She said "We took some great photos with these didn't we" I said "Yes".

While I count myself among those who were initially scratching their heads over how this was "goodbye," I commiserate with the sense of sorrow over parting from gear. Particularly for pieces you've had for a long time or used heavily, it almost feels like losing a part of yourself, or an old friend. Sure, they're just objects, but they were at your side (or on your back in a bag) during certain events and travels, and they were involved in capturing memories that you can see and share with others. That makes them pretty special.

Or maybe I'm just sentimental like that. There was one lens I bought off of eBay where the seller said it was his grandfather's, and sometimes I'd just find myself looking at that lens and wondering what parts of the world it might have been taken to, and what scenes it had been pointed out. Maybe it's that lenses are the mechanical equivalent to eyes, and eyes are meaningful in so many ways to us.

Having realized that I've gone years without touching some of my lenses, like you I'll be downsizing in the near future. It's a painful endeavor. I hope you're a bit happier now - there is some joy to be had in being more of a minimalist!

There was this one camera I bought off E-bay, a Nikon F100. The seller called me after I won the bid, saying he wanted to make sure I was a true enthusiast and that it was going to a good home. Apparently he was a photojournalist and that camera had been with him almost his entire career. He told me of the stories he had and said that he hated parting with it but he was happy it found a new owner who would appreciate it. Needless to say, I still have (and use) that camera to this day.

I have been a photographer since the 70"s and over that period of time I have owned many cameras from most brands and I have to say that the Nikon F100 is my all time favourite. Just holding it in my hands was an absolute delight never mind the fantastic output from it

Not used any Nikon F younger than the F itself!

Which is your most loved digital then?!

bluehighwayman wrote:

MinAZ wrote:

It's been a long journey, from 4/3 to m4/3 and owning various cameras and lenses from both manufacturers, and now finally, it is time to say goodbye. In the end, I will say this: I got many great images from m4/3, it is a very decent system for those whose needs it fits, and Olympus in particular has some very nice glass. There are a few advantages unique to m4/3. But ultimately, shooting m4/3 and full frame side by side for several years, I can no longer deny that I feel more confident with the full frame system. Its not that I usually can't take the photo with Olympus, but that, let's face it, the files coming out from the full frame are just easier to edit (this was the smoking gun in the end).

So I have sold all my gear except for a few things that I am keeping just for fun/travel/wildlife photography: the OMD-EM1 Mark II (still like this one for the IBIS, and high-res mode), the PEN E-PL6 (for fun and when I travel), a couple of pro lenses for wildlife and travel, a bunch of the fun lenses, and I decided to keep the speedlites because you really don't get that much for selling them. But I've gotten rid of all the rest.

So did I make the right decision? I don't know for sure. But I have been using both systems extensively, and as the age of Full Frame mirrorless is ascendant (and the bodies become almost as compact as the EM1 line), I just cannot justify owning both anymore.

Gee I'm all choked up reading your post. Not to be snarky but when I left Pentax for M4/3 I didn't post a farewell to the system on DP. In fact I felt no emotions at all so it made me feel rather cold and empty inside seeing this post. Perhaps I should go into therapy as I never feel anything when switching brands say of batteries or light bulbs. I'm an avid cyclist but didn't feel anything switching from Giant to Specialized! Thank you for making me realize that the products we own deserve to be publicly recognized for the service they provide. When switching brands one should feel the need to tell others of the sadness they feel at having to make such a decision.

I have to now find a blog for toasters as I'm switching from KitchenAid to Hamilton Beach. That toaster was in our lives for 10 years faithfully toasting our bread, bagels, and frozen waffles. I should have known to call for help when one of the slots just wouldn't work anymore. Instead I coldly went to the store and bought the Hamilton Beach unboxing it right in front of the KitchenAid. I ruthlessly unplugged the KitchenAid and tossed it in the trash. Feeling no guilt we are now even enjoying using the Hamilton Beach Toaster Oven. Anyway this is making me tear up so I've got to go to the toaster blog to confess my total ignorance and hope in some way make up for my complete blindness! I'll let everyone know I switched from a KitchenAid four slice toaster to a Hamilton Beach toaster oven and now feel that same sadness you feel switching brands! Perhaps that is redemption thank you for opening my eyes!

I would take the contrary view - that the camera is such an integral extension of the creative process that if you don't feel an emotional attachment to it, something has short-circuited your interaction with it.

I still regularly use a Leica M3 and an M7 because I like working with these cameras. I just wish that someone made the digital equivalent with a 42 mega pixel BSI sensor with IBIS and a viewfinder with better eye relief.

I just got a GX8 and am starting to feel the same kind of connection with it. It's a great camera with some egregious flaws showing that Panasonic doesn't know much about still photography, but I like working with it in spite of those flaws.

Well, from the number of responses, this looks to be an effective way to get attention. Will you no longer participate in this forum?