2 kits - heavy and light

I am pleased to read that many people here have two m43 kits.

I carry a 'heavy kit' which will contain best quality (usually fast) glass dedicated to the subject which i intend to shoot that day.

IE. For sports it's usually the Olympus 40-150 f2.8 and em1-mk2. Nature usually the pl100-400 + em1-mk2. And for Astro/Landscape it'll be the Olympus 7-14 f2.8 or 12-40 f2.8.

But use a lightweight kit when just generally 'out and about'.

This normally comprised of one camera body and the Panasonic 14-140 MK2. If I think I may need wider the Olympus 9-18 is put in my pocket. And on the rare occasions when I think I may need to shoot longer  - but not feeling up to carrying the pl100-400 - then I'll take the Olympus 75-300 MK2.

Camera wise with the'light weight kit' it'll vary. If photography not critical and distance to walk is long or demanding, it'll be the tiny Panasonic GX7.  If better quality needed it'll be the superb Panasonic gx8. However if I don't mind the extra 300+GM's I'll take the Olympus Em1-Mk2.

When using a light kit there is little difference between the gx8 and em1-mk2 results. And I prefer the flip evf of the gx8. However I do get in s muddle at critical moments by frequently using 2 very different cameras, so try to stick to the Em1-Mk2 if possible.

This is the big caveat: when I get home and look at the images after taking a 'light kit', I  always curse I didn't feel able to carry the pro gear     So I am strongly considering on my next birthday adding an Olympus 12-100 pro to my collection.

I want to point out here to those who may feel less fortunate, that I was not wealthy. My collection of m43 lenses and cameras have been built up gradually over a 12 year period.  Most of which unfortunately I could not afford to buy upon their release date, so had to wait for price drops. And many of the lenses were purchased 2nd hand.

How many of you have a 'heavy' and 'light' 2 kit system?

i just take the gear that will do the job i want it to do, the lightness and compactness really isn't that important to me anymore

Adrian Harris wrote:

I am pleased to read that many people here have two m43 kits.

I carry a 'heavy kit' which will contain best quality (usually fast) glass dedicated to the subject which i intend to shoot that day.

IE. For sports it's usually the Olympus 40-150 f2.8 and em1-mk2. Nature usually the pl100-400 + em1-mk2. And for Astro/Landscape it'll be the Olympus 7-14 f2.8 or 12-40 f2.8.

But use a lightweight kit when just generally 'out and about'.

This normally comprised of one camera body and the Panasonic 14-140 MK2. If I think I may need wider the Olympus 9-18 is put in my pocket. And on the rare occasions when I think I may need to shoot longer - but not feeling up to carrying the pl100-400 - then I'll take the Olympus 75-300 MK2.

Camera wise with the'light weight kit' it'll vary. If photography not critical and distance to walk is long or demanding, it'll be the tiny Panasonic GX7. If better quality needed it'll be the superb Panasonic gx8. However if I don't mind the extra 300+GM's I'll take the Olympus Em1-Mk2.

When using a light kit there is little difference between the gx8 and em1-mk2 results. And I prefer the flip evf of the gx8. However I do get in s muddle at critical moments by frequently using 2 very different cameras, so try to stick to the Em1-Mk2 if possible.

This is the big caveat: when I get home and look at the images after taking a 'light kit', I always curse I didn't feel able to carry the pro gear So I am strongly considering on my next birthday adding an Olympus 12-100 pro to my collection.

I want to point out here to those who may feel less fortunate, that I was not wealthy. My collection of m43 lenses and cameras have been built up gradually over a 12 year period. Most of which unfortunately I could not afford to buy upon their release date, so had to wait for price drops. And many of the lenses were purchased 2nd hand.

How many of you have a 'heavy' and 'light' 2 kit system?

My lightweight kit has been the E-M1 II, and now also the Mk III, with the 12-100mm f/4.

My heavyweight kit for general photography is my Canon FF DSLR and EF lenses.

My  birding kit is Canon APS-C and with EF300mm f/2.8 and EF100-400mm, plus the E-M1 II/III with ZD300mm f/2.8. I also use the Canon lenses with a Metabones

Plenty of choice, pros and cons 

Peter

GX9 with 12-45 is my light wandering around town/city outfit.

When i'm not walking miles its either E-M1 ii or G9 with 12-100 and 8-18. Wouldn't call these heavy, but need a bigger bag.

I take the kit I think I need for what I'm going to do, which can include a tripod, square filter holder and filters, off-camera flash and commander, big lenses (24mm TSE II, Samyang 135/2) etc.  I tend to shoot landscapes and on the wide side, so most of my kit is reasonably light.

For shooting at normal FLs, I have 3 kits.

The beauty of MFT is that you can mix and match.

Andrew

Light/ Compact for trips by air: GF7 + G80 or GX80, with 12-32mm, 15mm or 20mm f1.7, plus 14-140mm or PL 12-60mm if Astro intended. Trip to Tenerife coming up, hoping for Milky Way, so will take 8-18mm f2.8-4. 8-18mm also for architecture, with 14-140mm on second body for group tours to Italy/Spain - there’s no time for lens changes.

Every day, walkabout: G80 14-140mm.

Wildlife/ Nature: G9 with 100-400mm, plus G80 with 14-140mm.

Sold GM5 and bought GX80 for IBIS, better EVF and tilting touchscreen. GF7+GX80 bodies for Landscape/ Architecture/Astro trips. I find G80 style body much better for wildlife, so GF7+G80 bodies for mobile subject matter. GF7 plus 8-18mm on Manfrotto Pixie 2 tripod for interior architecture.

Having a range of bodies and lens is great but it can take me sometime to finally decide on the body/ lens combos to take on a trip abroad. I use Lowepro Toploader zoom cases in the UK. When travelling abroad, cameras with mounted lens are housed in Op/Tech neoprene cases, spare lenses in neoprene pouches; all in small general purpose backpack and carried onboard.

If carrying a camera just in case, especially if light is bright/good, I’ll take the tiny TZ60 24-720mm pocket rocket.

glassoholic wrote:

Adrian Harris wrote:

I am pleased to read that many people here have two m43 kits.

I carry a 'heavy kit' which will contain best quality (usually fast) glass dedicated to the subject which i intend to shoot that day.

IE. For sports it's usually the Olympus 40-150 f2.8 and em1-mk2. Nature usually the pl100-400 + em1-mk2. And for Astro/Landscape it'll be the Olympus 7-14 f2.8 or 12-40 f2.8.

But use a lightweight kit when just generally 'out and about'.

This normally comprised of one camera body and the Panasonic 14-140 MK2. If I think I may need wider the Olympus 9-18 is put in my pocket. And on the rare occasions when I think I may need to shoot longer - but not feeling up to carrying the pl100-400 - then I'll take the Olympus 75-300 MK2.

Camera wise with the'light weight kit' it'll vary. If photography not critical and distance to walk is long or demanding, it'll be the tiny Panasonic GX7. If better quality needed it'll be the superb Panasonic gx8. However if I don't mind the extra 300+GM's I'll take the Olympus Em1-Mk2.

When using a light kit there is little difference between the gx8 and em1-mk2 results. And I prefer the flip evf of the gx8. However I do get in s muddle at critical moments by frequently using 2 very different cameras, so try to stick to the Em1-Mk2 if possible.

This is the big caveat: when I get home and look at the images after taking a 'light kit', I always curse I didn't feel able to carry the pro gear So I am strongly considering on my next birthday adding an Olympus 12-100 pro to my collection.

I want to point out here to those who may feel less fortunate, that I was not wealthy. My collection of m43 lenses and cameras have been built up gradually over a 12 year period. Most of which unfortunately I could not afford to buy upon their release date, so had to wait for price drops. And many of the lenses were purchased 2nd hand.

How many of you have a 'heavy' and 'light' 2 kit system?

I treat my photo projects to the same choice of "light" or "heavy" depending on requirements. I have realised though that the 12-100 always wants to crash either party. The only time now that I take an alternative in the 12 to 100 range is if more background separation is a priority.

It is a very tempting lens.  I keep feeling that it's a bit heavier than I want for handheld shooting.  Maybe a good deal with an OM1 kit would push me over the edge.

Andrew

A light outfit will have my GM5 attached to something. My medium kit has the GX8 attached to something. I do not have anything remotely heavy at all, whether it's a camera body or a lens.

My regular kit is my em1mk2 with pro glass 12-40 &40-150. If I'm going somewhere really wet or dusty, I'll bring the mk1 instead with the slow but indestructible Olympus 12-50 and lumix 35-100F2.8 if I need tele.

But for a small kit I bring only a Lumix ZS100 or RX100m5. Fits in a pocket and no need to change lenses....

If I'm going somewhere where I'll be mostly indoors, like a museum in a city, I'll take an m43 body with the 12-40 pro and bring the ZS100 or RX100m5 for telephoto needs. That way I have a fast lens and larger sensor for darker indoor shots, and a smaller, longer zoom for outdoor shooting. Conversely, if I'm hiking somewhere, I might bring m43 with the 40-150f2.8, and take a Canon GX7 for wide angle shots. Both these options save a lot of space and lens swapping..... and still give me at least f2.8 for low light.

I mix and match based on what I am doing and what I expect to photograph.

My wildlife kit is the E-M1X with the 150-400/4.5 lens and the 12-40/2.8 and 40-250/2.8.

My general photo kit where photography is important it is the E-M1.3 and the 8-25/4.0, 12-40/2.8 and the 40-150/2.8.

My light weight walk about kit is the E-M1.3 with the 8-25/4.0, 12-100/4.0 and couple of fast primes.

My family outing kit is the Pen F with the 12-45/4.0 and couple of fast primes.

In the near future I will add the 40-150/4.0 to the mix and expect the 8-25/4.0 and 40-150/4.0 plus the 20/1.4 and a longer fast prime to become my walk about kit with the OM-1.
It is great to have so many excellent choices and be able to pack so much into a n easy to carry bag.

How many of you have a 'heavy' and 'light' 2 kit system?

I used to carry around a GM1 with either a 14/2.5, 17/1.8 or the 9/8 pancake lens literally everywhere I went, with my E-M1 and Pro Lenses being reserved for "serious" shooting. But at a certain point, the convenience of being able to shoot, process and post from my smartphone trumped the quality/lens flexibility benefits I got from my MFT gear - so I stopped carrying it. And of course now with the newer smartphones I also have great lens flexibility, HDR, etc so I see no reason to have a "light" kit for casual shooting.

That said, I do sometimes second-guess selling off my PEN-F, 17/1.8 and 45/1.8. the experience of shooting is certainly different with that kind of setup.

Sam Bennett
Instagram: @swiftbennett

Not really two separate kits for me, rather several options to combine according to the expected opportunities.

My usual combination is e-m1.2 + 300/4 with or without either TC, but when hiking light the 40-150/2.8 + MC20 provides good flexibility and quality in a reasonably lightweight package.

The e-m10.2 with a selection of the smaller lenses is always enjoyable and easy to carry when wildlife is not expected (the camera with 9 BCL + 12-32 + 45/1.8 fit in a tiny shoulder bag...)

glassoholic wrote:

ahaslett wrote:

glassoholic wrote:

Adrian Harris wrote:

I am pleased to read that many people here have two m43 kits.

I carry a 'heavy kit' which will contain best quality (usually fast) glass dedicated to the subject which i intend to shoot that day.

IE. For sports it's usually the Olympus 40-150 f2.8 and em1-mk2. Nature usually the pl100-400 + em1-mk2. And for Astro/Landscape it'll be the Olympus 7-14 f2.8 or 12-40 f2.8.

But use a lightweight kit when just generally 'out and about'.

This normally comprised of one camera body and the Panasonic 14-140 MK2. If I think I may need wider the Olympus 9-18 is put in my pocket. And on the rare occasions when I think I may need to shoot longer - but not feeling up to carrying the pl100-400 - then I'll take the Olympus 75-300 MK2.

Camera wise with the'light weight kit' it'll vary. If photography not critical and distance to walk is long or demanding, it'll be the tiny Panasonic GX7. If better quality needed it'll be the superb Panasonic gx8. However if I don't mind the extra 300+GM's I'll take the Olympus Em1-Mk2.

When using a light kit there is little difference between the gx8 and em1-mk2 results. And I prefer the flip evf of the gx8. However I do get in s muddle at critical moments by frequently using 2 very different cameras, so try to stick to the Em1-Mk2 if possible.

This is the big caveat: when I get home and look at the images after taking a 'light kit', I always curse I didn't feel able to carry the pro gear So I am strongly considering on my next birthday adding an Olympus 12-100 pro to my collection.

I want to point out here to those who may feel less fortunate, that I was not wealthy. My collection of m43 lenses and cameras have been built up gradually over a 12 year period. Most of which unfortunately I could not afford to buy upon their release date, so had to wait for price drops. And many of the lenses were purchased 2nd hand.

How many of you have a 'heavy' and 'light' 2 kit system?

I treat my photo projects to the same choice of "light" or "heavy" depending on requirements. I have realised though that the 12-100 always wants to crash either party. The only time now that I take an alternative in the 12 to 100 range is if more background separation is a priority.

It is a very tempting lens. I keep feeling that it's a bit heavier than I want for handheld shooting. Maybe a good deal with an OM1 kit would push me over the edge.

Andrew

It is really good. It saves me so much time as I shoot an entire wedding wide open open and sharpness and focus is exemplary. The only time it comes off is indoors and after sunset. For some reason, probably a really good AF and Dual IS, as well as the obvious optics, it delivers every time.

Oh dear!