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m4/3 travel kit?

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rafke

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Currently I own a Nikon D5000 + 16-85mm lens. While I'm perfectly happy with the IQ, during my last trip I wished I had a smaller camera with me, especially in the cities. Since adding a P&S does in fact means more gear to bring, I'm strongly considering a E-PL1/2 or GF1/2 with a pancake and a zoom lens. This way I can put the pancake for the cities and occasions with low light and the zoom lens for general use.
Can anyone give me an idea of the IQ of the m4/3 for my shooting style?
  • I shoot mostly in aperture priority mode, I guess I can quite easily change the f-number on these cams?
If a m4/3 setup will suit me, any recommendations for a specific camera/lenses are very welcome. My budget however cannot be stretched too much beyond what I will get for my D5000 + 16-85mmm.

Many thanks in advance,
Raf
 
The PENs are also my favorites, mainly due to the IBIS. This means I'll have a wider choice of lenses to chose from if I want IS? Or am I wrong in this.
 
A nice light kit is the EPL2 with 14-150 and 20 1.7 and a Crumpler 4 million dollar bag.
 
I recently did a family/work trip with the EPL1, 20mm pancake and kit zoom. Worked great! 20mm f1.7 for when the light was low, and the kit zoom for general, good light times.

If I go to see family or friends, it's m43 body, 20mm, plus a tele (45-200 or PL45). For trips to national parks, I bring all my lenses.

--
SLOtographer

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand." -- Albert Einstein
 
For your budget, I would suggest the E-PL1 14-150 kit which retails for ~$800 and add the Panny 20mm (for F1.7), and the EVF when you have the money. That's a great zoom range, and low light capability for ~$1150, and you can add an EVF down the road.

I built by travel kit one step at a time, when the deals were available and have an E-PL1, 9-18, 14-150, and 20mm with the EVF. You could also go down this road and get and E-PL2 and sell the kit lens, and buy the 14-150 outright as it is now onsale for $500.

IQ wise, I doubt you'll notice a difference unless you go looking for it, and want to find something.
 
rafke said:
Currently I own a Nikon D5000 + 16-85mm lens. While I'm perfectly happy with the IQ, during my last trip I wished I had a smaller camera with me, especially in the cities. Since adding a P&S does in fact means more gear to bring, I'm strongly considering a E-PL1/2 or GF1/2 with a pancake and a zoom lens. This way I can put the pancake for the cities and occasions with low light and the zoom lens for general use.
Can anyone give me an idea of the IQ of the m4/3 for my shooting style?
  • I shoot mostly in aperture priority mode, I guess I can quite easily change the f-number on these cams?
If a m4/3 setup will suit me, any recommendations for a specific camera/lenses are very welcome. My budget however cannot be stretched too much beyond what I will get for my D5000 + 16-85mmm.

Many thanks in advance,
Raf
Click to expand...
I use a DSLR for my main photography and usually for travel but in 2010, I used a GF1 for a trip to Istanbul with a 20mm and a 14-45mm zoom lens.

You can read up on my experience with the GF1 with image samples for the lenses, including a 100-300mm lens that I bought this year.

It is the GF1 diary link in my articles page on my website!

Cheers

Richard

--
Richard Lawrence
Web: http://www.lawrencephotographic.com/
http://www.lawrencephotographic.com/blog.htm
http://www.lawrencephotographic.com/articles.htm
 
rafke said:
The PENs are also my favorites, mainly due to the IBIS. This means I'll have a wider choice of lenses to chose from if I want IS? Or am I wrong in this.
Click to expand...
No, you are right as stabilization can even be used on manual focus lenses adapted for use n the Pen.
 
rafke said:
Currently I own a Nikon D5000 + 16-85mm lens. While I'm perfectly happy with the IQ, during my last trip I wished I had a smaller camera with me, especially in the cities. Since adding a P&S does in fact means more gear to bring, I'm strongly considering a E-PL1/2 or GF1/2 with a pancake and a zoom lens. This way I can put the pancake for the cities and occasions with low light and the zoom lens for general use.
Can anyone give me an idea of the IQ of the m4/3 for my shooting style?
  • I shoot mostly in aperture priority mode, I guess I can quite easily change the f-number on these cams?
If a m4/3 setup will suit me, any recommendations for a specific camera/lenses are very welcome. My budget however cannot be stretched too much beyond what I will get for my D5000 + 16-85mmm.
Click to expand...
This last piece is going to be your biggest limitation if those proceeds represent a close to finite amount you can spend. Have you looked at what those items typically bring in an online auction? The D5000 has now been replaced and there are probably lots of them now being sold and replaced with the new models by users, so maximizing the sales price could be difficult.

that said, I'm guessing it's going to be something in the possible neighborhood of what the E-PL1 and two kit-lens 14-42 (version1) and micro 40-150 is selling for at B&H, which is $550.
 
rafke said:
Can anyone give me an idea of the IQ of the m4/3 for my shooting style?
Click to expand...
I see several examples of mixed light and shadow there, and you'll sometimes feel the pinch of the lower DR from µ4/3 in such scenes. On the other hand most of the shots I saw use large DOF and are in broad daylight, so the high ISO and DOF disadvantages of µ4/3 are non-issues.

It will certainly be a step down, but you're only going to be hit by one of the 3 major weaknesses of the 4/3 sensor in your style of shooting. Just be very careful when mixing light and shadow, you may have to tweak exposure to blow out highlights / crush shadows from time to time.
rafke said:
  • I shoot mostly in aperture priority mode, I guess I can quite easily change the f-number on these cams?
Click to expand...
I shoot almost exclusively in A mode on the E-P2 which has a dedicated dial in the expected location. Ergonomically I think you should avoid the PL* series, since they only have buttons and that stupid dial around the "OK" button. Not nearly as easy to use in A mode.
rafke said:
If a m4/3 setup will suit me, any recommendations for a specific camera/lenses are very welcome. My budget however cannot be stretched too much beyond what I will get for my D5000 + 16-85mmm.
Click to expand...
GF2, probably, since it at least has a thumb dial. Regarding lenses, the 20mm pancake is a must, although that probably blows your budget. You'd probably need to start with the GF2 + kit zoom first and buy the 20mm later.
 
These setups will be nice indeed but will break my budget... Have to check if i can get the 20mm before my next trip then.
 
Good points, thanks, i'll check the limits of the m4/3's dynamic range. I can still find some GF-1's with the 20mm for €499 here...
 
rafke said:
Currently I own a Nikon D5000 + 16-85mm lens. While I'm perfectly happy with the IQ, during my last trip I wished I had a smaller camera with me, especially in the cities. Since adding a P&S does in fact means more gear to bring, I'm strongly considering a E-PL1/2 or GF1/2 with a pancake and a zoom lens. This way I can put the pancake for the cities and occasions with low light and the zoom lens for general use.
Click to expand...
GF1 w/ 14-45mm and 20mm. Done.
 
jeffharris said:
rafke said:
Currently I own a Nikon D5000 + 16-85mm lens. While I'm perfectly happy with the IQ, during my last trip I wished I had a smaller camera with me, especially in the cities. Since adding a P&S does in fact means more gear to bring, I'm strongly considering a E-PL1/2 or GF1/2 with a pancake and a zoom lens. This way I can put the pancake for the cities and occasions with low light and the zoom lens for general use.
Click to expand...
GF1 w/ 14-45mm and 20mm. Done.
Click to expand...
I agree there, that combo or the e-pl1 with 14-42 and 20mm are the best starting kits.

The GF1 route would give you better controls, and a better quality kit lens, the e-pl1 would give you better jpeg colors and less high iso noise in jpeg, and a smaller kit lens.

Both, though, are very reasonable, and you should be able to get a body and 2 lenses for somewhere around $750. If you want a wide angle or tele zoom lens, add those to your preference.

Good luck!
 
Thanks for the helpful advices, meanwhile I've made a swap deal with a Nikon user for his GF-1 + 14-45 and some extra money which will soon be spend to the 20mm when it becomes more available. Looking forward to it.
 
rafke said:
Thanks for the helpful advices, meanwhile I've made a swap deal with a Nikon user for his GF-1 + 14-45 and some extra money which will soon be spend to the 20mm when it becomes more available. Looking forward to it.
Click to expand...
Good choice! I think you'll be very happy- both are great lenses with very different purposes, and can give you great results.
 
I'd keep the kit you already have, mainly because you already know it well, and the (probably not great) resale value of those items in the used market. A m43 kit of one body and a couple of lenses is not cheaper than the equivalent entry level dslr kit, so bear that in mind. Switching systems is a big decision in the long run, so i'd advise you to think about it well. As you'll see, many m43 users have both an m43 kit and a bigger (APS-C or FF) dslr as well...
 
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