we have so much camera churn going on LOL

so the GX1 i bought from keh turned out to be defective. they were cool and set up an exchange for an E-PM2 - since this was to be my smaller, lighter camera, that works for me. the GX1 is on its way back to keh via fedex

i decided i wanted an E-M10 ii, and after my husband decided he really wanted an E-M5 ii and a kit lens. i set up a trade at MPB. we're packing up my canon 77D and cheap lenses, his pentax K20D and even cheaper lens plus an old G15, and fedex is to pick it all up tuesday morning.

he also wanted a smaller camera but one that was quite inexpensive, so he has a $62 (tax included) E-PL2 en route from MPB due to arrive this week.

oh, our rented E-M5ii is en route back to lensrentals, and the G100 i rented will be on its way tuesday morning.

i've never had so many cameras coming and going at the same time - it's madness

Why?

Why can't you make do with just one camera and stick with it?

Do you think that all this camera musical chairs is going to make you a better photographer?

Tedolph

tedolf wrote:

Why?

Why can't you make do with just one camera and stick with it?

Do you think that all this camera musical chairs is going to make you a better photographer?

Tedolph

Perhaps because they want something that better fits to their (changed) needs? Because the best way to figure out what gives you the best for your needs and feels best in hand is actually trying out various options?

tedolf wrote:

Why?

Why can't you make do with just one camera and stick with it?

Do you think that all this camera musical chairs is going to make you a better photographer?

Tedolph

the short answer is no, i don't think different gear makes one a better photographer.

the long answers -

i have wrist and shoulder damage that means i can't handle heavier cameras.  the canon i'm trading is too heavy for me to handle - especially with better quality lenses.  the E-M5 ii was originally my rental to see how my wrist did with it.  it was manageable, but definitely not for periods of more than 30 minutes at a time.

on days when my wrist already hurts, i'll be able to handle the E-PM2.  on days when it's not hurting, i can put on a wrist brade and use the E-M10 ii.

i also REALLY wanted IBIS.  i have shaky hands, the the oly IBIS is more effective than my panny and canon stabilized lenses.

my husband loved the EVF and IBIS of the E-M5 ii.  he's an awesome photographer, been shooting since the 1980s, and he isn't trying to change gear to improve.  his pentax IBIS is very much less effective than the E-M5 ii's IBIS, and the EVF on his smaller pentax isn't very good when used with glasses, so framing is a pain.  he found framing much less hassle on the E-M45 ii.  he also got a kick out of how much smaller and lighter the olympus is than the pentax, but he wouldn't have changed cameras or systems over that.

olrett wrote:

Perhaps because they want something that better fits to their (changed) needs? Because the best way to figure out what gives you the best for your needs and feels best in hand is actually trying out various options?

exactly!  that's why i rent whenever possible.

Sounds like fun if you enjoy that kind of thing.

The only MFT camera I have is an E-M10II, and it's such a good little camera.

patticake wrote:

so the GX1 i bought from keh turned out to be defective. they were cool and set up an exchange for an E-PM2 - since this was to be my smaller, lighter camera, that works for me. the GX1 is on its way back to keh via fedex

i decided i wanted an E-M10 ii, and after my husband decided he really wanted an E-M5 ii and a kit lens. i set up a trade at MPB. we're packing up my canon 77D and cheap lenses, his pentax K20D and even cheaper lens plus an old G15, and fedex is to pick it all up tuesday morning.

he also wanted a smaller camera but one that was quite inexpensive, so he has a $62 (tax included) E-PL2 en route from MPB due to arrive this week.

oh, our rented E-M5ii is en route back to lensrentals, and the G100 i rented will be on its way tuesday morning.

i've never had so many cameras coming and going at the same time - it's madness

The PL-2 was the fourth MFT Olympus and the shortest lived, only a few months in spring 2011.

For a brief time the PL-1s sold as a lesser priced camera beside it.

There were some upgrades, a 1/4000 shutter, the 14-42 II kit lens, faster autofocus, the first model with tone curve, a little better view screen, compact camera styling, little things, I think, but nice.  It still had a pop up flash.

Today it’s likely the least expensive Olympus MFT on the market.  Some users complained about the shutter.  Mine works fine.

Mine cost $50 as new (100 clicks) from Robert’s Camera with a six month warranty, postpaid.

Three cheers for the PL2!

The cheapest Olympus MFT is a wonderful little camera.

Atho wrote:

If you liked the EM5 ii and wanted to lose some more weight check out the EM10 ii which is essentially the same camera sans weather resistance and high res

that's the one i'm getting!  it's part of my trade with MPB 

and thanks - that's how it seemed to me, but i couldn't get my hands on one to try out.

tedolf wrote:

Why?

Why can't you make do with just one camera and stick with it?

Do you think that all this camera musical chairs is going to make you a better photographer?

Tedolph

Why ask why?

I just sold 4 lenses, one i will miss, to acquire a sony gm 50 1.2 which i am really enjoying.

at the same time i was considering selling my non ir converted OM-D EM1 ii but took it out for a final spin and decided to keep it for the features that Sony do not put into their cameras like focus bracketing, live composite, pro capture etc. also loved the jpg colors all over again(shoot raw on the sony).

Although new kit will not 'make you a better photog' it often provides the stimulus to get back out there and have fun again.

enjoy your change

yardcoyote wrote:

Sounds like fun if you enjoy that kind of thing.

The only MFT camera I have is an E-M10II, and it's such a good little camera.

actually i found all the getting quotes, printing, boxing, shipping labels and stuff a little exhausting...

cool - it seems very good for my needs.

Humansvillian wrote:

patticake wrote:

so the GX1 i bought from keh turned out to be defective. they were cool and set up an exchange for an E-PM2 - since this was to be my smaller, lighter camera, that works for me. the GX1 is on its way back to keh via fedex

i decided i wanted an E-M10 ii, and after my husband decided he really wanted an E-M5 ii and a kit lens. i set up a trade at MPB. we're packing up my canon 77D and cheap lenses, his pentax K20D and even cheaper lens plus an old G15, and fedex is to pick it all up tuesday morning.

he also wanted a smaller camera but one that was quite inexpensive, so he has a $62 (tax included) E-PL2 en route from MPB due to arrive this week.

oh, our rented E-M5ii is en route back to lensrentals, and the G100 i rented will be on its way tuesday morning.

i've never had so many cameras coming and going at the same time - it's madness

The PL-2 was the fourth MFT Olympus and the shortest lived, only a few months in spring 2011.

For a brief time the PL-1s sold as a lesser priced camera beside it.

There were some upgrades, a 1/4000 shutter, the 14-42 II kit lens, faster autofocus, the first model with tone curve, a little better view screen, compact camera styling, little things, I think, but nice. It still had a pop up flash.

Today it’s likely the least expensive Olympus MFT on the market. Some users complained about the shutter. Mine works fine.

Mine cost $50 as new (100 clicks) from Robert’s Camera with a six month warranty, postpaid.

Three cheers for the PL2!

The cheapest Olympus MFT is a wonderful little camera.

And those Olympus colors!

tedolf wrote:

Why?

Why can't you make do with just one camera and stick with it?

Do you think that all this camera musical chairs is going to make you a better photographer?

Tedolph

I see two photographers looking to adopt M43 and choosing bodies in both a DSLR style and a smaller range finder style. In my experience, that is very, very common. So are their reasons for adopting M43 in the first place. Based on this thread and at least one other, it seems like they did their research and settled on options that will work for them.

Regarding your 'musical chairs' comment, its almost like you didn't even read the post. One return was a rental and another was defective.

olrett wrote:

tedolf wrote:

Why?

Why can't you make do with just one camera and stick with it?

Do you think that all this camera musical chairs is going to make you a better photographer?

Tedolph

Perhaps because they want something that better fits to their (changed) needs?

Why would their needs change?

Please explain.

Because the best way to figure out what gives you the best for your needs and feels best in hand is actually trying out various options?

Seems to me that you should figure out what you need before you go shopping.

Tedolph

shinndigg wrote:

tedolf wrote:

Why?

Why can't you make do with just one camera and stick with it?

Do you think that all this camera musical chairs is going to make you a better photographer?

Tedolph

Why ask why?

Because Enquiring minds want to know!

Tedolph

tedolf wrote:

Seems to me that you should figure out what you need before you go shopping.

Tedolph

when ergonomics are the issue, the only way to be sure a camera works for you is to have it in hand.  and sometimes an EVF doesn't work out well for glasses wearers (which we both are).

i love researching things, but some people go buy something - a camera, guitar, lens, computer, monitor, bass guitar, amplifier, power tool or something else - without doing any research.  they decide in stores by trying only.  that wouldn't work for me, but it works out for a lot of people.

patticake wrote:

tedolf wrote:

Seems to me that you should figure out what you need before you go shopping.

Tedolph

when ergonomics are the issue, the only way to be sure a camera works for you is to have it in hand. and sometimes an EVF doesn't work out well for glasses wearers (which we both are).

i love researching things, but some people go buy something - a camera, guitar, lens, computer, monitor, bass guitar, amplifier, power tool or something else - without doing any research. they decide in stores by trying only. that wouldn't work for me, but it works out for a lot of people.

Your husband just ordered what is the least regarded Olympus MFT camera ever made.  I dig out my Pl-2 and compared it with my PL-1 and the cool retro gear factor of the PL-1 just smashes the poor PL-2.  Hard to believe Olympus thought the PL-2 was an upscale offering, but so be it.

The cheapest $50 PL-2 on the market is a stunningly capable camera.

My wife and I could not go see a movie (back before the plaque) at an independent theatre and eat pop corn and do a drive through for fifty bucks.

Ive read where the first generation IBIS imparted shake.

Ive not actually seen it, but you can turn it off.

I find it good for about three stops.

And if you give the poor old $50 PL-2 decent light, it’s stunning.

For fifty bucks, you can buy a camera that likely equals the best 35mm film camera ever made, in decent light.

What a cheap thrill!