Older gear in 2020

Thanks to Mattias Burling on YouTube I have recently become interested in older cameras that are still considered to be relevant in 2020.

These might be cult classics or cameras with older sensors that were known to output images with that certain chemistry you can't define.

With that in mind, which older M43 cameras do you consider to still be relevant today?

By relevant I mean cameras you would still recommend if people can get them. Cameras that are cheap on the used market but still great performers making them bargains.

For example I know one camera Mattias mentions is the Olympus Ep5..

Still, and probably remains, the smallest M43 cameras to be produced. Tiny but lacking in build quality, albeit, missing some functionality because of its small size. Still, it's 16mp sensor is comparable to modern M43 in IQ.

If you want the smallest of the small, these are still the ultimate portable M43 cameras. I would recommend the two without hesitation (as long as it's not TOOOOOO small for you).

CassR wrote:

Thanks to Mattias Burling on YouTube I have recently become interested in older cameras that are still considered to be relevant in 2020.

These might be cult classics or cameras with older sensors that were known to output images with that certain chemistry you can't define.

With that in mind, which older M43 cameras do you consider to still be relevant today?

By relevant I mean cameras you would still recommend if people can get them. Cameras that are cheap on the used market but still great performers making them bargains.

For example I know one camera Mattias mentions is the Olympus Ep5..

I still have 2x E-M1.1
Still going strong

peppermonkey wrote:

Still, and probably remains, the smallest M43 cameras to be produced. Tiny but lacking in build quality, albeit, missing some functionality because of its small size. Still, it's 16mp sensor is comparable to modern M43 in IQ.

Did you mean "but not lacking in build quality"? Just saving ya some grief before the GM faithful pick up their pitchforks.

If you want the smallest of the small, these are still the ultimate portable M43 cameras. I would recommend the two without hesitation (as long as it's not TOOOOOO small for you).

I need to get around to selling my GM1, my GX850 all but replaced it and does a few things better for a very minimal size penalty (still significantly smaller than an E-PL or anything but the GMs)... Even the GX850 is becoming scarce tho, I think Best Buy still carries it but other big stores don't. Both of 'em can definitely be found far cheaper than the GM5, since the unique proposition of the EVF on that one and lack of an equivalent replacement has made used prices skyrocket.

I gotta thank Tom our mod for turning me unto these small bodies... When they first came out I thought they were kinda pointless since I'd still need a bag when using it with anything but a pancake, but I've found so many uses for them both as a second body and as my main one. My only significant complaint about the GX850 (underrated IMO) is that like the GM bodies it drops to e-shutter and 10-bit readout with manual lenses (since Pana doesn't let you use EFC with those and these bodies lack a physical first curtain).

It makes it less than optimal for my Laowa 7.5/2 and Bower fisheye, but I still use them on it, just gotta be more careful to nail exposure.

Hi. I have an Olympus E-P5 (2 of them, if I'm honest) that I like and use. I picked up them both off Fleabay, brand new in boxes, for very small money.

Don't know if they count at older, but I think my favorite m4/3 body is the Olympus E-M10ii. Again, I have 2 of those. ( I use my bodies in two's so I don't have to do the mental shift on controls).

I also have a Panasonic LX7, with viewfinder, that I won't sell ever. Fast lens, compact size, and good picture quality from the 10mp sensor.

Alan

There is no point buying an old camera. If you want to save money, just buy the latest, brand new camera on sale and use it for as long as possible like I did. There is nothing much to save from buying an old and outdated camera that is closer to the end of its life. I bought C-7070WZ brand new for $540 CAD and I used it for 14 years, and I will use E-M1 II for 14 years, if not more. It more fun to use a new camera yourself instead of other people using it.

The Olympus E-M1 II and 12-100mm F4 costed me $1600 CAD and $1450 CAD brand new on Boxing Day. I don't think I would have saved much if anything from getting a used E-M1 mk1 and then replacing it five years later with another used body. Even if there was savings, it probably wouldn't be enough to offset the lower resolution, dynamic range, 1.5 stops lower IS, single card slot, lack of manufacturer warranty, etc.

CassR wrote:

With that in mind, which older M43 cameras do you consider to still be relevant today?

I own a GX7 (2013) and GX9 (2018).

The GX9 has some advantages, like the newer 20mp sensor and useful features like auto-ISO in manual, but was hardly a massive leap forward that rendered its 5 years older predecessor completely obsolete.

In some ways, e.g. ergonomics and flash sync speed, the GX7 actually has an advantage. It uses the same EVF as the latest model and the 16mp sensor are still perfectly fine.

In a lot of ways the 7 year old GX7 is still an upgrade from current bottom of the range m4/3 gear like the GX850.

Still have a PM1 and a PM2. Not much on a way of physical controls but good for use as a quality walk around pocket P&S with a small lens and cost nearly nothing. An attachable EVF is handy. Strong build but not weatherproof. Nice jpgs. You can shoot RAW. Not hard to change settings in software but not as fast with physical controls.

Both under $100, you can probably find a PM1 for $20. 12MP good enough for 13X19 prints. I have some printed from 8MP images that look good on a wall.

SteveY80 wrote:

CassR wrote:

With that in mind, which older M43 cameras do you consider to still be relevant today?

I own a GX7 (2013) and GX9 (2018).

The GX9 has some advantages, like the newer 20mp sensor and useful features like auto-ISO in manual, but was hardly a massive leap forward that rendered its 5 years older predecessor completely obsolete.

In some ways, e.g. ergonomics and flash sync speed, the GX7 actually has an advantage. It uses the same EVF as the latest model and the 16mp sensor are still perfectly fine.

+1

In a lot of ways the 7 year old GX7 is still an upgrade from current bottom of the range m4/3 gear like the GX850.

I got a GX7 in 2015 and loved it from the the beginning because of it's very comfortable grip and good results.

However, after 1.5years of use, the rear wheel stopped working. I had it repaired and now the again it doesn't react any more, or, worse, works the other way round: yesterday I wanted to turn back exposure control from -2/3 to 0 and got -2 1/3 instead...

So, if you want one, you might face repairs in the near future.

Peter

I got a GX8 last summer for €300.

It is the first model with a 20MP sensor, good IBIS, good grip and Fuji-like physical controls. Very nice results I get with it, too!

Peter

CassR wrote:

Thanks to Mattias Burling on YouTube I have recently become interested in older cameras that are still considered to be relevant in 2020.

These might be cult classics or cameras with older sensors that were known to output images with that certain chemistry you can't define.

With that in mind, which older M43 cameras do you consider to still be relevant today?

By relevant I mean cameras you would still recommend if people can get them.

So far, this is a perfect description of the GM5 camera. And the GM1 as well.

Cameras that are cheap on the used market but still great performers making them bargains.

Now that is the caveat. The GM5 is extremely sought after. No other m43 camera maintains its value as well as the GM5. And by a long stretch. It is the smallest m43 camera with viewfinder ever made. If there is a collectable m43 camera, this is it. If there is an m43 cult camera, this is it.

The GM1 however, fits all your above descriptions. It is the smallest m43 camera ever made. It lacks a viewfinder though.

The only other candidate that comes to mind is the Pen-F. But it is still a current camera, still widely available new. In a few years from now, the Pen-F will fit your description too. Or maybe it already does, depends what you define as "older gear".

Cameras that are cheap on the used market but still great performers making them bargains.

Now, that is asking too much. You get what you pay for. True for new gear, true for used gear. If a used older camera is still a great performer, it will be sought after. If it is sought after, it may be reasonably cheap compared to a new camera, but it won't qualify as bargain. Unless the seller does not know what it is worth, or unless it has a defect and you have the skills to fix it, or unless its in a badly worn condition and you do not care about.

I've spilled mulled wine over my GX7 in 2016. Took it out yesterday and still works like a champ :). But I don't go around claiming that the GX-7 is mulled wine-proof :).

On a more general note, all used cameras come with the risk of a catastrophic breakdown, and the older they are the greater the risk. (unless they are some fully manual camera made back in the days "when iron was iron, plastic was iron, men were men and the sheep were a wee bit afraid")

With that in mind, which older M43 cameras do you consider to still be relevant today?

For Panasonic, the GX-7 and anything that came after it.

For Olympus, the E-M1 and anything that came after it.

Basically those are the two "cut-off" points for m43, the moments when the two manufacturers got their act togheter.

The 12MP cameras I would avoid like the plague as they weren't really competititve even when they were launched.

16MP cameras before those two are still figuring out what they should be and how a m43 should perform.

After the two cameras mentioned above, the only one I would have doubts about would be the G7 as it was a bit of a miss by Panasonic and the G80 that came after it was a much improved camera.

StefanSC wrote:

I've spilled mulled wine over my GX7 in 2016. Took it out yesterday and still works like a champ :). But I don't go around claiming that the GX-7 is mulled wine-proof :).

On a more general note, all used cameras come with the risk of a catastrophic breakdown, and the older they are the greater the risk. (unless they are some fully manual camera made back in the days "when iron was iron, plastic was iron, men were men and the sheep were a wee bit afraid")

Hmm, some (one) brand new camera comes to my mind, with an even greater risk of a catastrophic breakdown.....

I still have and use a black EP5 - put the 15mm on it and it's my minimal kit camera.

Love the styling, I much prefer the 'rangefinder' look to the 'slr' look.

I'd love a new version with the innards of the EM5 3, a built in  viewfinder and weather proofing.

My first MFT was a G2. It was and still is the most comfortable camera to hold I have handled, at the time I was very pleased with performance and results. I moved on to my Olympus e-m10 which I still use and would not part with. It does everything I need and produces very consistent image quality.