Camera/lens combination for telephoto landscapes

[Boss of Sony]

Hi, sold my camera a while back and have not been taking photos for a year or two.

I will be moving to a new place with phenomenal photography opportunities, so thought I would get a camera again. I'm mainly interested in landscapes, mostly with telephoto lenses. I previously used GX85 with Olympus 75-300 (underrated lens), which was a pretty nifty setup, but the EVF was near useless to me.

I would be looking getting something slightly better than that setup, without breaking the bank. Prefer in the <AU$2500 price range. Is there some setup that would fit in that price range? For example, Olympus 100-400mm with a mid-range body.

Have M43 sensors significantly improved in the past few years? Or should I look at budget full-frame/APS-C models with a budget telephoto lens for better IQ? Or a Sony RX10IV for portability?

Thanks

 

[Will Rose]

You should consider the Olympus 75mm f/1.8

It has arguably perhaps the most beautiful rendering of any MFT lens; very special. And the fast aperture will let you shoot low light landscapes while keeping the ISO low.

Not an inexpensive lens, but a lot cheaper than the 100-400.

 

[Skeeterbytes]

I'd concentrate on a body with HHHR--newer models are quicker and deliver more keepers.

A lightweight landscape tele might be the 40-150/4. You can have a very compact kit, as it collapses for storage. Also compatible with focus stacking in Oly/OM bodies.

Much less reach than your old 75-300,, but long reach is often used more for wildlife.

Lots of choices at least.

Happy shopping,

Rick

 

[Randall_p]

EM1 iii + 8-25 or 40-150 f4’s

hhhr body and I use both lenses frequently for landscapes

good luck and looking forward to photos from your new home base.

peace

 

[richj20]

Prefer in the <AU$2500 price range. Is there some setup that would fit in that price range? For example, Olympus 100-400mm with a mid-range body.

I vote for that focal length. When I traveled years ago to the Southern Sierras, I used my PL 100-400 for landscapes. Some examples, not to suggest brand, but just showing using that range:


107mm


300mm


400mm

 

[yslee2]

A lightweight landscape tele might be the 40-150/4. You can have a very compact kit, as it collapses for storage. Also compatible with focus stacking in Oly/OM bodies.

Hah, same lens as I was thinking of, 300mm equivalent is about there for a lot of general telephoto landscape photos.

My other suggestion is to take a virtual "tour" of the area using something like Photopills to estimate the FoV you'll need, which will then dictate your focal length (and thus lens choices).

 

[john isaacs]

Hi, sold my camera a while back and have not been taking photos for a year or two.

I will be moving to a new place with phenomenal photography opportunities, so thought I would get a camera again. I'm mainly interested in landscapes, mostly with telephoto lenses. I previously used GX85 with Olympus 75-300 (underrated lens), which was a pretty nifty setup, but the EVF was near useless to me.

I would be looking getting something slightly better than that setup, without breaking the bank. Prefer in the <AU$2500 price range. Is there some setup that would fit in that price range? For example, Olympus 100-400mm with a mid-range body.

Have M43 sensors significantly improved in the past few years? Or should I look at budget full-frame/APS-C models with a budget telephoto lens for better IQ? Or a Sony RX10IV for portability?

Thanks

AU$2500 is about US$1650. That's not much money, especially if you are thinking new.

You can get the OMS 75-300ii for US$550,

You can get the OMS OM-5 (original) for US$900.

That doesn't leave enough for a standard lens (only US$200).

If you go used, then you can get the following:

• OMS 12-45/4 for US$450
• OMS OM-5 for US$750
• OMS 75-300ii for US$375

With a little left over for some spare batteries because these are tiny little things.

You could save more with a used Olympus E-M5iii for US$700, but I would stick with the OM-5 for it's feature set. I wouldn't get a 16mp body, and I would get a body with High Resolution mode.

 

[johnCam]

Skeeterbytes and Randall_p mentioned the 40-150 f4. If you need more reach, the 70-300 is good lens at a reasonable price, but… somewhere along the way the way, maybe you could get the 40-150 f4. It a small, light and sharp lens that is a joy to use. It is often on sale too.

 

[David5833]

I don't know what you have to pay in OZ for an OM-5ii, but I'd certainly look into that, maybe see if there is a bundle with a lens that you would like...I recommend the 12-45 f/4 Pro lens. If you were in the States it would be in your budget. If you decide that you really want a longer telephoto for landscape you could always get a used 75-300 if you were happy with it in the past.

 

[UrbaneHobbit]

If you are saying that the 75-300 is underrated and that you’re looking at the Olympus 100-400, then I am hearing you loud and clear. One combination you might enjoy and which could fit your budget: the Panasonic G100 and the Panasonic Leica 100-400, which can be found used. The G100 has a few champions in here, and a modern 20MP sensor No IBIS, but at long focal lengths the OIS in the PL 100-400 would have more impact on steadiness anyway. That lens has many fans for its optical performance and compactness. (The Olympus 100-400 is a very good lens, but not exactly svelte.)

Note that both products have had fairly mild revisions, meaning that you should be able to find used v1 examples for lower prices.

 

[john isaacs]

If you are saying that the 75-300 is underrated and that you’re looking at the Olympus 100-400, then I am hearing you loud and clear. One combination you might enjoy and which could fit your budget: the Panasonic G100 and the Panasonic Leica 100-400, which can be found used. The G100 has a few champions in here, and a modern 20MP sensor No IBIS, but at long focal lengths the OIS in the PL 100-400 would have more impact on steadiness anyway. That lens has many fans for its optical performance and compactness. (The Olympus 100-400 is a very good lens, but not exactly svelte.)

Note that both products have had fairly mild revisions, meaning that you should be able to find used v1 examples for lower prices.

Except with the v1 version one needs to be careful about zoom stiffness. My first copy was terrible, my second copy is good. So buying a PL 100-400 v1 should be done from a source that will refund or exchange without issue if needed.

 

[jalywol]

In Panasonic, with a budget, I would get the G95 or G97 (same camera with some minor updates on the G97), and either the Panasonic 100-300mm or OM 75-300mm

If you can find one of the PL 100-400mm in your budget, that would be better than either of the above lenses, but I think it might be kind of pricey where you are, unfortunately. Similarly, the OM 100-400 might be out of the budget, as well.

I use the G95 with both the OM 75-300mm the PL 100-400mm. I've used the Panasonic 100-300mm pretty extensively in the past.

Both the 100-300mm and 75-100mm are good, consumer grade, lenses. With both you have to be a little careful with bright-edged subjects as both will bloom a bit, and both are better stopped down some. I like both lenses, and think they do very well at a reasonable price.

The PL 100-400mm, as well as the OM 100-400mm, are better lenses. But, they are much more expensive where you are, so that might put them out of budgetary consideration.

With Panasonic bodies, the Dual IS II on the camera with either Panasonic lens is really terrific for stabilization. The IBIS in the G95/97 is quite good on its own, so it works very well with the 75-300mm, with a little care to let the shot settle a bit after the half shutter press, before finishing the shot. The Panasonic lenses will be faster to stabilize, however, as you would expect.

In terms of sharpness overall? The less expensive lenses are all going to be a bit softer out at full tele, so stopping down just a bit will be useful. The more expensive lenses are generally better overall in that department, but there is some variation between copies (of both brands) so if you do buy one of those, see if you can test your copy out first.

In terms of differences between the 16MP M43 you had before to the 20MP in either of the G bodies I recommended? There's a big difference, especially for landscape type work. You will notice it.

So, relatively lots of choices. I do like the G95/97 for this purpose, though, as it does everything right yet stays at a reasonable price point, so that's what I would recommend.

-J