Older gear in 2020

GM1 because of its size - this has never been replicated

GX8 because its still the best RF type M43 and only ever Pro one (the GX9 is a GX90)

EM1-II (if it can be classed as older) because its as good as an EM1X for 99% of ppl

EM5 Mk1 because it`s cheap, lovely and has the best IQ if all the 16Mp M43 cams in RAW (along with the other ones that use that Sony sensor - EP5, EM10 /1and 2, EM-5-2 and Pan GH3 )

PEN-F because its soooo damn stylish

G5 - as a second body because they`re almost free yet you get a Genuine BLC12E (GX8/G7, FZ1000, FZ2000, G6 etc) battery and external charger with them worth more than the camera, its the only pre-G80 model I`ve seen other than the ugly G6 which for some bizarre reason doesn`t suffer shutter shock (or less than the G1-G3, GH1/2 and especially G7) , its hardly any bigger than a GF, has a good grip, a touchscreen which Sony users would kill for, AF is amazingly fast in Single AF and bang on accurate and the first cam to use the second gen 16Mp Panny sensor which was the point where noise at both ends of the ISO range and Dynamic range is pretty OK (first with usable ISO3200 IMO) .. far better ergonomics than the EM5 IMO and even the Field sequential EVF has really good optics in front of it - the G5 even does Full Electronic shutter (but its pretty slow scanning) .......

Quite a camera which can be had for £50-£80 depending on where and when you buy it or the condition ............. the biggie is the External charger and Battery which are worth £50 alone if you have a camera which uses the BLC12/12E and with a home made shim to wedge smaller batts in will charge anything from small GM batteries to GX80 ones too .

OK, I love the others mentioned and as an only M43 unless desperately short if cash, I`d choose one of them but for the £50 it can be had for, the G5 gets my vote, IQ wise its way better than any of the 12Mp sensor cams or the older 16Mp Panasonics and IMO handles better than any older olympus this side of an EM1

Tiny yet full featured, half the size of a G9 ..... love the front rocker dial, big grip, responsive twisty touchscreen and sturdy hotshoe, even has Custom modes on the mode dial

I’d had my PL 1 less than a month when I took those.

The first two shots were using a Canon Fast Fifty on an adapter.

Everybody needs a PL-1 to play with.  It’s really the only camera you would ever need.  The PL-1 defined “Olympus colors”.

peppermonkey wrote:

Still, and probably remains, the smallest M43 cameras to be produced. Tiny but

not lacking - I hope you meant

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 have GM1 and GM5 and they are both very good. Indeed, I usually describe the GM1 as the Faberge Egg of cameras, a jewel of a camera.

Older could mean several upgrades behind e.g. Panasonic G6 versus the current G90. Another way is by price, after a couple of years a camera can be bought brand new at circa 50 to 60% of its original price. So, for me, the  Panasonics G9 and G80.

Compacts, the LX7 and FZ330.

My Lumix GX8 and Nikon D700

Both relevant and true value for the money asked for them, today.

I would still happily recommend any of my gear. The oldest m43 I have is a Lumix g5, which is still a good camera. The only lens I own that I wouldn't recommend is the 45 -200 Panasonic kit lens, mine was never particularly good.

Even going down in size to enthusiast compact cameras, I would still recommend to a beginner something like an xz1, or a Canon s95 if it was something they could get relatively inexpensively. They've got great manual controls and really make you slow down and think about your photography.

PEN version of EM5.3, like a rangefinder style would be cool.

I sold my G3 a few years ago to a friend who loves it. I miss it. Handles great. Wonderful camera.

EZGritz wrote:

PEN version of EM5.3, like a rangefinder style would be cool.

But with the build of the EP5 and PEN-F .. in fact a PEN-F2 would be a great platform for a quality build for the em5-3s innards

doady wrote:

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.

That may be a good approach for you and some others, but it isn't an approach I'd take.  I greatly enjoy learning different camera bodies.  While I have some fairly recent bodies such as the EM1ii and X-T30, I also seek out older bodies that have dropped a good bit in price.  I paid $200 for an refurbished EPL7 in 2015.  I paid $235 for a new EP5 on closeout a few years ago.  Both are very good cameras, with image quality essentially equal to the new 16 mp bodies still being sold by Olympus and Panasonic.  If it gets to a point that I'm no longer using a body at all, then I give it to a family member or friend.

Impulses wrote:

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 notlacking in build quality"? Just saving ya some grief before the GM faithful pick up their pitchforks.

Bahaha, yes, just read it and immediately groaned inwards asking myself how I messed that one up

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.

Actually, the 10 bit readout hasn't bothered me at all so far. Actually, totally forgot about it. Probably because of the lenses I use with it mostly (20mm, 12-32mm, 15mm).

Yes, the GX850 and its selfie screen does interest me. Might get one (or newer model) one day. Currently I'm totally happy with my GM1 though.

Been wanting the Laowa but I still love my Rokinon (i.e. your Bower) and recently picked to the Oly 9-18mm so the Laowa will have to wait... Or to clarify, my better half would kill me if I get the Laowa right now

windmillgolfer wrote:

peppermonkey wrote:

Still, and probably remains, the smallest M43 cameras to be produced. Tiny but

not lacking - I hope you meant

Hehe, yup.

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 have GM1 and GM5 and they are both very good. Indeed, I usually describe the GM1 as the Faberge Egg of cameras, a jewel of a camera.

-- hide signature --

Stuart
Latest uploads
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dieselgolfer/
G80 images
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dieselgolfer/albums/72157669344521949
FZ2000 images https://www.flickr.com/photos/dieselgolfer/albums/72157698581763842
FZ330 images https://www.flickr.com/photos/dieselgolfer/albums/72157659823425652
TZ60 images https://www.flickr.com/photos/dieselgolfer/albums/72157642261079494
Aurora Borealis https://www.flickr.com/photos/dieselgolfer/albums/72157663549812064

Definitely the GM1.  I've used mine while driving in a rough riding 4WD pickup with the 45-150 OIS lens and 95% of the photos are good at full tele.  I'm also a viewfinder hater.

The Panasonic GM5, Olympus E620, Nikon d90 - all good, all still used.

Peace.

John

Guy Parsons wrote:

alan scott wrote:

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.

Two E-P5 and I swap over about every 6 months to even out the wear, usually is seen as below with the 12-40/2.8

Nothing since then has raised any interest for me, I simply add another lens now and then.

Old Faithful and the New Interloper. Absolutely love the EP5, just got the PEN-F.

I agree with you Guy about the EP5, a phenomenal camera that suits me so well. Will have to see if the F brings anything to the party (apart from its sheer beautiful presence!)

Favourite lens by a country mile is the Olympus 45mm f1.8.