I Ditched Full Frame for Micro Four Thirds... Was it A Mistake?
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- Опубліковано 23 чер 2024
- A few months back I sold all of my full frame Canon cameras and lenses and bought into an Olympus micro four thirds system. In this video I talk about my journey and experience so far.
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My name is Chris and I am a landscape photographer from East Yorkshire focussing on coastal long exposures using my micro four thirds Olympus cameras.
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Chris I am a tad older than you and had shot Canon gear for over 40+ years. I watched as the evolution from film to digital came about. Like you I could pick up any Canon and shoot it with my eyes shut. Getting older I realized all the gear I was carrying. The expense of the equipment kept going up. The 70-200 had so many variations and price had gone thru the roof. I am an outdoor action, wildlife, landscape type and was really having issues with my keeper rate on occasion. I had bought an Olympus C5050 when the digital age was just beginning. A whole 5mg point and shoot style camera. It peaked my interest but back then digital was in its infancy. Fast forward years later. I belong to several photography clubs. I guess about 10 years ago some showed up with the Olympus brand. They didn't say anything as they were presenting their photos. People were very impressed and they finally asked and when they told them it was the "new" (back then)Olympus micro four thirds camera, they were amazed. Long story short, I started making the transition maybe 8 years ago. Since then I have been to Africa on safari for 3 weeks and a European river cruise, using nothing but Olympus gear. I have had great results and no regrets about leaving Canon. I still think Canon makes excellent cameras but, for the price and size Olympus is hard to beat in my estimation. It has been I guess around 8 years now and I am currently waiting for delivery of the OM-1. I have shot the EM1 Mk3 for quite some time now. and waited to see the results from the new OM-1 before upgrading. For what I do the upgrade is worth it. The most important take away from your video that I impress upon people constantly is that the mirrorless micro four thirds format has brought the fun back into my photography. After 50 years of photography that says a lot. The Olympus brand now OM solutions has one of the best all around cameras on the market as far as I am concerned . You have so many possibilities without breaking the bank or your back. Great review and like your thought on the camera.
Thank you for the input Ron. Great story to read and it seems your experience all then years ago is now mirroring myself somewhat. I just need to invest in some other lenses as I’m a little limited at the moment but the cameras themselves are such good value for money!
@@ChrisBaitson Do not under estimate the small primes vs the Pro primes. I have a good selection of Olympus lens. As you know each situation has its own set of circumstances and challenges. Even though I have some Pro lens, the small relatively inexpensive primes do extremely well. Despite currently going from the EM1Mk3 to the newer OM-1, I still have my EM5 Mk2 and often use it as my walk around camera with a small prime on it, or sometimes I will put the 14-150 II on it and take it with me on my bike rides as a general shoot camera. I found that bringing the fun back into my photography has caused me to explore more and be more opened minded to try and experiment, thus I think improving my photography. I put the camera down for awhile because I just wasn't motivated and that is okay. I have other interests also but, taking that break gave me a fresh start. Didn't quit completely just felt I was obsessed with trying to capture that illusive unattainable shot. I always tell people, don't try and copy another photographers work, you need to find what captures your interest and that in turn will show in your photography. Keep it up, you're just expressing I think what a lot of photographers feel but will not admit it. It gives me satisfaction when I inspire my fellow photographers in our clubs to find their own way.
Very interesting video and read indeed! Olympus only shooter here, it was my first “real” digital camera system since I started about 9 years ago. Started with e-m10, added some small primes, later a good range of pro glass, e-m5 III and now om-1. The om-1 with 12-100 f/4 and 20 f/1.4 is my weather sealed pro walk-around kit now, could not be happier. It even still fits into my old little bag. But guess what? Picked up an old pen mini e-pm1 and vf-4 viewfinder for quite cheap recently. Gorgeous little camera and pairs so well with the small 1.8 primes, I use it nearly more often then the om-1 now. I just throw it into my bag when I go to work. The best camera is the one you like to carry around most and even this old 12mp entry level beauty delivers fantastic quality when I manage to nail the shot. Less resolution? 12mp is still plenty if you get the composition right in camera. Less dynamic range? Does not matter much if you manage to nail the exposure. Noise in low light? AI from DxO, Topaz and now even OM workspace are truly game changers regarding that. But now I finally gave in and go to full frame as well, but with film and the 50 years old full manual original om-1. Back to the basics, I want to become a better photographer and too much wiggle room in post and modern gizmos are not helpful for that either.
I've come full circle with my photography. I use micro 4/3 bodies, vintage lenses, and shoot in jpeg and I've never enjoyed my photography more ☺️
So long as you capture the RAW image, and are happy to post process, I am always impressed with the quality of the final image and especially printed on A3 sized photopaper.
A good state of mind that changes from frantic racing to the very latest model... Photography is above all a pleasure and the ergonomics of the camera contribute a lot to it, not the money you put into it. Buying the football world cup final camera to photograph your dog is just a little bit ridiculous... This is especially the delight of brands that make photography a luxury hobby.
Your point about buying a camera that is overkill for the situations it’s used in is a good one. Too many people worry about gear, myself included at one point, and as soon as you eliminate it things become an awful lot more fun.
"invest in yourself" and saying how the gear isn't important is the absolute most realest advice I think ever photographer needs to understand
I have just changed from Nikon D6 and D850 with a selection of lenses from 14-24mm up to 500mm f4. I do not regret the change. Like you, I like to walk and travel and the Olympus gear I have changed to - Om-1 and the new OM-1 Mk ii. As you mention it has made my life at 71 so much easier. Nice video.
As I say to anyone that asks me, there really aren't any bad cameras these days they are all good. Where M43 shines is in size, weight and portability with excellent (all be it not the best) image quality. When I shoot with my M43 setup over my full frame setup I'm very rarely disappointed with my M43 images. I definitely agree that shooting m43 is generally a much more fun experience than shooting with bigger heavier systems especially if your out all day/evening taking photos.
Yeah the size and weight are a big contributor for me! There are times I miss the Canon gear but I never miss the bulk!
Absolutely more enjoyable with MFT. I do have the larger GH6 but don't mind. I've never owned a full frame.
Thank you Chris. Great video, and even better positive thoughts. This is so much on par with when I bought my Olympus E-M10 MKII. I got very well meant advice from a lot of people but no one mentioned Olympus. I focused though on what I wanted and needed. The camera has been fulfilling just about every wish I had and I never looked back.
Thanks for your thoughts Chris. I think 'invest in yourself is good advice. I have an entry level Olympus EM 10 mark 2 and I keep thinking I should change it for something better but you have helped me realise that as I am shooting for myself and enjoying my photography I don't need any other camera. I just need to keep getting out and enjoy using what I have. Keep your videos going, you have a very unique approach and hopefully you'll reach that 10k!
Thank you Mary I appreciate that! I’m a firm believer in self investment over investing in gear. It’s taken me some time to realise it, and once you take the worry around the gear away, things become so much more fun. Thanks for the support!
That’s a great little camera and makes fantastic images 😊👍🏻
The EM 10 mark 2 is what made me fall in love with photography. It was years before I "upgraded" and I went to the EM5 mark 2. If you ever decide to, go for that model. It has amazing weather sealing and some pretty cool features!
As a µ4/3 user myself, It is such a great and capable system. I have found that I can easily go broke with all the option of lenses that are available enough to make the journey that much more interesting…
🤔
The prices of full-frame cameras, lenses are insane - too expensive. They're too big and too heavy. The micro four thirds sensor is smaller than full frame, but it produces good enough quality photos and videos, especially in video, that it's hard to tell the difference by eye. Good choice. 😍
Honest assessment regarding format ! Thank you !!
Chris,a very good vlog,It contains a great deal of common sense with regards to camera gear and self awareness. I look foreward to many more in a similar style.Thank you.
Thank you Terry I appreciate that mate.
Thanks . Makes sense to me.. I have switched to mft 13 years ago and never looked back. I just bought the new G9ii that is packed with all the advanced features and capabilities that I need as a hybrid photographer, focusing on stills.
I often shoot landscapes with my Sony RX100 which is a 1 inch sensor and I love the results. But what I can say is get the camera you really want and don't worry about anything else.
Lovely pictures mate!
Thanks man I appreciate that 🤘🏻
Chris I love your channel, great advice .I love getting out walking and just being outside find it great stress relief I see so much when I'm out and that's why I'm getting into photography 📸 your advice is a great inspiration
Thank you
Photography is a great excuse to get outside for me! Glad I’m helping you out!
Good approach, I found M4/3 worked for me about 5 years ago. Never given a moment’s thought to a larger sensor system since. The compact size and weight is perfect for my mountain stuff. 😊👍🏻
Nice to see you explaining the reasons we use MFT the fun factor it makes you want to use the camera great video Chris keep it up 👍🏻
Thanks Glen, appreciate you watching!
I was initially a Canon shooter and then moved onto Sony, however like you I was getting fed up with lumping the extra weight around and on an 8 hour shoot my arms were ready to drop off. So after many hours of research and having a long term loan camera from Olympus I was sold. Great on the arms and even better on the wallet. Great channel, subscribed 👍🏻
Hey Chris! I started watching your channel after I bought myself a 5D Mark III and watched your video about it. Your journey from FF to M4/3 has definitely been jarring as a viewer, but I'm glad you're more comfortable as a photographer, I honestly see that you're edits and processing has gotten a bit better, you seem much more comfortable. Funny that you said you hated Fujifilm cameras, because that is what I'm considering upgrading to (or downgrading in your pov)! I shoot film, I have an original Olympus OM-1 that started my film journey and Canon EF film cameras, so having a complementary and more flexible system that complements that experience is extremely appealing to me, not mention that Fujifilm cameras have gotten significantly better over the past few years in all their features while remaining way more affordable than Canon, Sony, and Nikon.
Gear matters in the way that if the gear inspires you to go out and use it, so I think everyone who actively watches your channel is happy you've found your new home with Olympus and M 4/3. Keep experimenting, you're doing phenomenal.
My son just graduated college, and I was his photographer. For his formal shots, I used my FF Canon 5D IV. However, I used a very old Sony RX 10 (original Mark I with a 1" sensor) for portability when I took the ceremony shots. It worked out great. In fact, a lot of the Sony shots were at ISO 6400. They were grainy but looked pretty good after processing them with DxO Photolab 6 DeepPrime. The right tool for the job... I prefer small cameras to giant ones when I have to be mobile. In other situations, I like my big Canon because it has a great control structure.
Agree with you on the Canon quality. When you hold one in your hand you know they’re built to last. My old 1DMK3 would break the floor if I dropped it, it was that well built, but at the same time they just got too heavy to carry and took the fun away for me.
Another brilliant video that completely and accurately mirrors my own experience with my full frame Nikon gear.
Won't bore you with my story but to say there's a photographer Martin Castein on UA-cam who was lent a Olympus EP1 and took it out on a street session loved it, so I got one then moved up though two more models to an OM1 mark2 with 12-100
Pro lens and a few others .
I agree with every word you said
Brilliant thank you
I always enjoy watching your videos, yes find a camera that suits you…great advice. You have shown over the past months that it doesn’t have to be the the shiniest , latest , huge megapixel camera that you need to take good images.
Thank you Alan. I’m glad the point of my channel is starting to get across. I think the latest and greatest are overkill for a lot of people and too many folks get drawn in on gear.
Great review, just found your channel. I’ve had the E-m1 ii since 2018 with the 12-40mm and 40-150mm f2.8s and had a full Fuji setup as well. I just sold all my Fuji gear and bought the OM-1 with grip and love it and have enough cash left to buy the the 300mm f4 as well as the 20mm……
I got bored with big heavy Canon cameras. The weight, and something "sterile" about the colours. I got old. My back went. My knees were going. Eventually I got bored with lugging it around and not using it. I swapped to M4/3rds. Given enough light and very sharp lenses, (the resolving of the Voigtlanders APO's,) the resulting images are as good as anything I ever got out of a 5Dii. For most of my work, taking pictures for technical manuals, it doesn't matter. But from time to time I am expected to do "people pictures" in some bad indoor light, and it struggles. (No Olympus is not great with red at high ISO's.) So yes I have to faff around with things teetering on light stands. But the point is, it gets used. Very often what matters is how the camera feels in the hand. If you are bored, and you are tired, and the camera is too heavy to spend any longer on your knees in the mud, that is going to waste your pictures far more obviously than a bit of sensor noise.
To me with modern digital sensors the meaning of formats have kind of shifted to the point that the place full frame filled in the film era is now taken over by crop sensors and full frame has kind of taken the spot of medium format film. 35mm was pretty much the baseline for good quality, the smallest viable format to still deliver good prints and magnifications and that is exactly what crop sensors deliver now. Medium format was for the people wanting a bit more, bigger prints, more room to crop in while in the dark room, the maximum quality you can reasonably achieve, at the cost of bigger, heavier and more expensive gear. This is basically how you could describe full frame digital cameras today, isn't it?
For the first time in a long while, I took my two camera systems out at the same time. I had the macro for my canon 6D, and it was going to be a macro kind of day. It didn’t take long for the Olympus though t o come our bc I could not physically handle the canon out in the woodlands, even though all I had was the 8-25mm lens with me. Not at all what might be considered appropriate for mushrooms. But I had so much fun! I didn’t care. It was about just seeing what I could with the lighter more flexible gear. I think I’m sell the canon! You are so right Chris Baitson. Invest in yourself and what will work for you and not what should.
I used to have the Canon 6D and I loved the thing but you’re right, they’re a little bulky. Grab yourself the Olympus 60mm 2.8 macro lens. It’s absolutely spot on and weighs nothing!
Another cracking video again Chris. When i got back into photography, i was using just my phone for about a year. It was getting me out in a morning, walking alone the beach photographing the sunrises. Absolutely brilliant for my mental health when covid was about. The ultimate question is , what is it about photography and what do you want from it?
Hi Chris
I have really enjoyed watching you discover Micro Four Thirds and it has been interesting to see your enthusiasm and excitement for your new cameras and lenses.
I am coming from the other direction, in that I am already a Micro Four Thirds shooter and have been considering upgrading to Full Frame recently. However, I am always put off by the size, weight and cost of the equivalent lenses that I would need to replace what I already have.
I often go out after work for a walk with my wife to get some exercise and fresh air and like to take a camera. Even though I have a Panasonic G9 and some larger zooms, I find it much more enjoyable to take out my little Panasonic GX9 with the excellent PL 15/1.7, PL 25/1.4 and the Oly 60mm macro or the tiny Panasonic 35-100/4-5.6 zoom for that extra reach. You should try the Panasonic 35-100/4-5.6, it really is amazing how sharp it is for such a small kit zoom. I can easily fit the GX9 and 3-4 lenses in a small shoulder bag which weighs about the same as my G9 with the PL12-60/2.8/4 zoom.
Instead of focusing on my equipment I have decided to focus on becoming a better photographer. I believe that if you gave an average camera to an excellent photographer they would still be able to take amazing photos. However, if you gave an excellent camera to an average photographer, you would still only get average photos.
I look forward to seeing your Micro Four Thirds journey and hope you continue to enjoy your photography.
Kind regards
Paul
Very nice video. I have FF, APSc, and M43 cameras. By far I enjoy using my EM10Mii and GX85 over the other bodies.
Yes, that does make sense and I can't agree more! I switched from full frame (Canon) to the Olympus OM-D E-M10 MarkII (fits within my budget) and are happy Lassie! Should have done this years ago. Feels as being a compleet photographing set again, the camera and I 😀
I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself! It sounds like you’ve had a similar journey to myself!
I swapped from canon 5d to em1 and the weight difference was a game changer. The menu system and overall use of the Olympus was very different to canon but once I familiarised myself with it I certainly won't be going back to FF. I love how light it is, the performance for my hobby photography is plenty and the images it produces are great. I also bought the grip which adds a bit of weight but makes it even more stable when hand holding, the only downside is the grip holds only one battery.
Great video. Well done 👍
Thanks Richard.
I've recently got back into photography after a few years. I realised that although I loved it, lugging gear around is just a pain. I've watched a few of your videos, and Dave's too, amongst others - which have been really helpful. Now, I have an Olympus EM10 Mk2 and a 17mm F1.8 lens on the way and the plan is to just get out there and fall in love with taking photos again. Thanks for your help.
Glad the content has helped. Dave is a good guy and a great photographer and honestly, he’s thought me a lot without realising it. My EM10 Mark ii was a nice camera. Until I broke the IBIS while fixing the screen 🤬
You’ll love that lens, it’s so good 😊👍🏻
I bought my E-M10 MKII almost five years ago. Meanwhile I also have the Pen-f and the OM-1 (and a lot older stuff) but the E-M10 MKII is still my most used camera because it is so compact. It has its ;imtations but it still produces great image quality. Especially if you make it your own. So, I am sure you will have great fun with it.
@@Bigfarmer8 thanks - good to hear. I suspect I'll have a good few years before any limitations with the camera start to bug me. It's mostly the pick-upability that drew me to this particular model. 😊
I have moved from an EM-10 to an EM-5 and now an OM-1. Love the features of them all, the OM-1 gave me a wow, but at the end of the day its my photography skills that have to improve.
I have half an eye on the OM-1 I won’t lie. It just needs to fall in price a little.
Really liking your images and presentation. Used Pentax for around 10 yrs and loved it, every control exacly where it was needed and excellent colours. Found more than enough lenses,some Pentax ones absolutely excellent with enough 3rd party of decent quality to fill any gaps. Alas due to ilness had to find something smaller and a little less weight to carry around so same as you tried an Olympus om-d e m10 mk2 and loved it but the hardest part was finding my way around the menu,which was a dream to do with Pentax. However following you with an M5 mk2 and ending up with M1 mk2 with a selection of lenses the small zooms seem to punch above their weight and the primes i find excellent. Hope you carry on as yourself and Dave Griff show me and others what is possible with this equipment. Just need the skill to come up a level by a fair amount, :}}
Hi Chris, did the same thing , i have tried nikon apsc & ff / canon ff / fuji & came back to micro 4/3 for more or less the same reasons , lighter to carry , does what i want & features in abundance , ibs 80mp pro cap , the list goes on , happy chappy :)
I really need to try out the high resolution shooting mode on the EM1 Mark ii to be fair. There’s a lot of the modes I’ve not touched yet which I really should look into.
Great video. New sub here, came across your channel while watching spurn point videos.
You make great points regarding gear. I have the most basic entry level DSLR, a canon 1300d that i got when i started this wonderful hobby.
Im more than happy with it, got several lenses for different types of photography and have never thought of upgrading because im happy with the results. Plus im not planning on making money from photography, just enjoy the learning and the process.
Brill images in this video too.👍
You could make money using a 1300D, don’t let the term “pro camera” put you off making a side hustle. I’ve sold prints with all kinds of cameras and the people buying them don’t know, nor probably care, what was used. If you have the drive and passion for it why not have a go?
I have the Olympus OMD E-M1ii and I found dynamic range is very good at ISO 200 and ISO 400. After ISO 400 its going to take a hit when you get into tricky lighting. But most of the time when your in tricky lighting there is a lot of light and shadows so a low ISO is what you want to use anyway unless you have some crazy fast action and you need a high shutter speed.
Slapp on a f1.2 lens to a speedbooster ultra x0.64
And you got yourself f0.8 lens, thats plenty fast for low light shooting at 400 ISO.
Want something more extreme? f1.0 or 0.95 on the same speedbooster gonna yield one more stop of light for you.
I use a lumix gx-8 mft, had it about 7-8 years and love the mft format. Camera is lovely to use, lenses are compact enough to fit it my coat pocket. Overall I think the balance/compromise on mft against full frame are worth it. I’ve never once felt it lacking in quality, feature, dynamic range. I also love the range finder style of my gx-8. I’m actually expanding my mft lenses rather than wanted to chop it in for full frame.
Hi Chris, I'm new to your channel, I've gone one step further (or several), I now shoot on vintage digital cameras, my favourites being the Sony dsc R1, the Olympus C8080 and the Sony dsc F828. These cameras all have superb high end fixed zoom lenses. I used to think I needed the latest and greatest cameras.
I realised I was getting anxious, my photography wasn't fun. Till one day, I, like you, changed. After reading a DP Review on the Sony R1 (now ancient) I bought one. I was blown away from the image quality, (the R1 has a high end fixed Leica Tessar zoom lens), I've learned to use it, and I love it. Yes I've changed systems too, no regrets. My Canon dslr has gone to sleep, Subscribed.
Regards Rob.
Thanks for the input Rob. You’re not the first to mention the Sony R1 in the comments on this video as it happens and I won’t lie, it has me intrigued. I think it’s all a case of finding what works for yourself isn’t it!
@@ChrisBaitson thanks for your reply Chris. The Sony R1, well, of course it's not the fastest kid on the block, only eight megapixels, but the lens (as well as the design of the camera) make it special, sporting an APS-C Sensor too. The R1 is in demand however, finding one in good condition has become difficult, I got mine a couple of years ago in mint condition, with batteries, Sony mains unit, which can charge the battery in camera, but no lens hood though. Batteries and external charger are a plenty too. Body ergonomics are near perfect. The R1 is unique and I enjoy using mine, the Leica Tessar zoom lens is the icing on the cake for the R1.
Regards Rob.
Hi, Chris.
Amen.
I am photographing with a Lumix G9 and love it.
The images are great and working with the camera is enjoyable.
Photographing must be fun.
And with my micro 4/3, it is fun for me.
Antoine.
I just adapted to the MFT system from Nikon and Ricoh GR, and I am thrilled with the system. I love the quality of the images, and they are so much fun to use. I wish I would have switched sooner.
I feel you there. I spent too long worrying about one brand of camera without ever exploring anything else.
Nice video and, coming from Canon to OM, I largely agree. But it is a very rare circumstance where full frame can "blow away" M43, as you said. 99% of the time the output is impossible to distinguish between the two systems. As you say with dynamic range differences, overall image quality is very similar with the skill of the photographer being the largest variable to image quality.
Totally agree. I have previously owned Canon and Nikon FF cameras and, these days, still use a Lumix GH4. The GH4 is still a great all-round stills & video camera (12.5 stops for stills, 12 stops for video), with very good 4K video recording! Plus, with the mirrorless body, I can use a whole host of vintage glass! And i also still have an E-PL2, which is great because I can use all the same adaptors and lenses as I do with the GH4. and it can just be chucked in a bum bag for casual use every day..
Such a pleasure too see a fellow cod head on here! Do you do any workshops? Would love to learn from you as I’ve just picked up a g9 m43
Thanks Chris! I love my GX9 and have a GX800 in the pocket of jacket always. I made the best pictures with the GX800 just because I have it always with me. Cheers! Gotta love MFTs 😂👍🏻
I still have 4 Canon crop sensor bodies - 700d, 7d, 7d II and M5.
Also, an E-M1 mk1. I bought the E-M1 for £250 with battery grip, flash and 4 batteries. Why? to use with my growing collection of Vintage Lenses (12 at last count). IBIS is a game-changer, but couldn't justify the cost of an R body, so OLYMPUS.
Problem now is, I want an E-M1x.
I own several vintage lenses, I should make some content with them really, and the IBIS and focus peaking makes them such a joy to use doesn’t it.
I often recommend newbies mft as a system because it gives them a good basis to grow and explore in any direction. Youve got both expensive and cheap lenses in every class (going from 6mm all the way to 400mm and further), cameras from tiny entry level inexpensive cams to cine grade cams intended for rigging and drones even. It's a truly beautifully fleshed out system, and even now the most fleshed out mirrorless system out there (And yes, even more fleshed out than sony imo).
Some good points raised in your video. I've shot mft since the Panasonic GF-1 and own both Olympus and Panasonic cameras and have been influenced by the videos of David Thorpe (RIP) who I feel had the right attitude towards gear : "it does what I want". I also use Ricoh Griii. Camera companies want us to keep upgrading to the latest and greatest and they really love it if and when we change systems. To support their goals there are a raft of UA-camrs producing videos telling us why camera x is better than y.
From time to time I look at other systems but so far I can see no compelling reason to make a change. You mention resolution but I have to ask how much does anyone need? Its worth remembering that to double the resolution of 20 Mpixels a 80 Mpixel sensor is required along with lenses of suitable high quality. Also I have found that great looking A3 sized prints can be produced from just 7.5 Mpixels (Canon Pro10s printing at approx 200 ppi).
Detractors of micro four thirds often cite image noise as a massive issue and while there is an element of truth I overcome it by using fast prime lenses. The fast primes also overcome the non issue for me of mft having a greater depth of field than large sensor systems.
I would recommend the following walk about system: a safari style shirt with two chest pockets, an Em5 mk whatever, Panasonic 14mm f2.5, Panasonic 20mm f1,7 and the Olympus 45mm f1.8. One lens on the EM5, a lens in each of the shirt pockets. Your back will thank you. Enjoy.
No comment required really, totally agree with everything you say!
Thanks for watching. I appreciate the comment mate.
I replaced my Lumix GX9 with an EM5 Mk3. I did it for the high res mode, (I mostly use it for negative scanning), and with one eye on the weather sealing (for holidays). I've been surprised with how much I actually like the camera though. Ergonomically, the Oly's are really nice. All the buttons and dials are comfy, there's enough of them, and they are all in just the right places. The menus are a bit bonkers, but it does seem to be very adaptable.
Agree with you on the menu system. The EM1 I have is a little more user friendly but the EM5 is completely alien in the menu systems still.
I love the wide depth of field I get with my Panasonic. I’m not a pro or a portrait photographer and my gear is very forgiving and fun to use. What more do I need?
I still shoot video with a GH4 and it's 2023 but I absolutely love the vivid color profile of that camera for the nature videos I do. The camera has some noise at base iso but I actually love it because it looks a bit more organic to my eye. I always tell people to check out the HBO series Chernobyl, lots of noise in that show and I loved it
There is nothing wrong with MFT. But if people insist on comparing it to £5000+ full frame bodies, then yes it lacks resolution and some dynamic range ( shadows only ). I have an Em5MKii, an Em1 MKii, A D800 and D810, and Canon 5D MKii. If I start pixel peeping and comparing the MFTs to the 36 MP full frame Nikons with over 14 EV of dynamic range, then yes they fall short, but where they win is in usability. The best camera is the one that you have in your hand and carry with you, not the one that stays in the bag. The second point that most photographers of today seem not to understand, is that not every subject photographed can withstand massive enlargements. This is something we learned a very long time ago in the film era. More often than not a contact print made from an 8X10 or 11X14 negative was much more pleasing to the eye than a 5X enlargement. The same is true of the digital files of today. Even if photographers made prints of their files, how often would you print above A3 size? Think about it. So why the need for such high MP count? Influence Of Advertising, perhaps?
I think camera companies have to push bigger and bigger numbers in terms of resolution and FPS because the technology seems to be slowing down in pace now. Maybe a plateau moment for camera tech?
@@ChrisBaitson Quite right. They need selling points( talking points ) for their new cameras. There is nothing that could not be photographed as efectively with 20MP as with 45 or even 60 MP. Do I need to see the world around me in microscopic detail? No, I certainly do not. These high MP sensors are the equivalent of 8X10 and 11X14 cameras of a few decades ago. They were mostly used in advertisng. The average Joe, or even Ansel Adams were quite satisfied with their 4X5 and 6X6s. Now these products are available at a price, and if people have the money then they are most welcome to purchase them, but it does not make them better photographers. I have quoted Ansel Adams before who once said that there was nothing worse than a sharp photograph of a fuzzy concept. It makes sense to me.
Moved from film to APS-C, FF, APS-C (Fuji) which recently died, and now back to film and....MFT (Olympus E-M1) with vintage lenses. Image quality never really changed in my mind as it is about the image itself. Yes you get better oof depth with FF, and technically a few other things. However my 16MP pixels are larger per pixel then a 50MP FF, hence each pixel is able to collect more light, though will loose out in some finer detail. DR is pretty close between most formats (flagship models), and all systems have extremely good lenses. So again, for me it is about (capturing) the image...and as i am getting older portability and weight; so MFT will be it for me, together with my Canon 7 rangefinder and Minolta SRT 101 (Rokkor lenses). Thank you for sharing your thoughts, and happy snapping!
I went the other way a year ago. Sold my EM1x and EM1.2. Three pro lenses and a few 1.8 primes. Bought the Nikon D850. Miss my Olympus but they sold off so for it it was time to go elsewhere. And wow love these image files long battery life and AF
I’ve heard good things bout the Nikon D850 to be fair, by all accounts it’s a great camera that gives fantastic image quality. I’ve never actually used a Nikon myself though.
Nicely done and Lovely photos! Btw what are you recording video on?
He’s using an EM5.2
Eric is right!
Hi I was very interested in your views on the micro 4/3. I was a Nikon D7000 user which I found a very good camera with a 17 / 50 and a 70 /300 lens but the gear was heavy and it started to stay at home for that reason. As a Nikon user I traded in for the Nikon Zfc with a 18 /140 lens and the quality is as good as I could wish for, I take this camera out now far more than I was taking my other set up out, I now have an interest back in my photography. I might add that there are more features on the Zfc than the older D7000 so in many respects it is an upgrade. Thanks for this video and others of yours which I have watched.
Thanks for watching and giving your views Kevin. I’m not not familiar with Nikon cameras I’m afraid, I’ve never actually used one in all honesty, I do know that they upped their game when they switched to the Z mount. It’s something I was to try one day but buying into a new system is always pricey isn’t it.
i respect anyone with the mentality you've allowed yourself to embrace, it's definitely noble in this day and age where the latest and greatest get showered in clicks. i'm always someone that actively looks for photos taken with gear that might be "worse" but makes me happier to see utilized in beautiful ways. consider me subscribed
Thanks man I appreciate that. My channel was always based around older gear, with the Canon cameras at first, I wanted to go in a different direction to everyone else. I saw no point in competing with bigger channels for the latest and greatest and in doing so I’ve found things that I might never have considered and had a blast doing it. I appreciate the sub!
@@ChrisBaitson you're very welcome, keep on keeping on
Love my 3 little Olympus cameras plus my GH5 for videos. More portable, easier life.
I might have a look at some of the LUMIX cameras. Any recommendations?
@@ChrisBaitson G9 with updated firmware is an amazing camera…find it a bit large (slightly bigger than the EM1’s, but amazing video and photos. That said, other than some extra video tools can’t imagine much better than what you have. Great value!
@@ChrisBaitson For photography I don't think you would see any massive improvements from what you have got. However for video the general view is that Lumix is better. GH5 is videocentric but still takes great photos. The only drawback is the autofocus can be hit and miss but other things like the stabilisation and colour science outweigh that. The GH6 is getting great reviews but I shouldn't think there would be many used models about yet.
I remember doing my research before jumping into macro photography. The issue with FF gear was, obviously, size, weight and cost. I bought my M-10 mk2 (40k shutter count, has focus bracketing) + arguably the best macro mft lens Oly 60mm, two batteries, flash and diffuser, paid for all (used) about 600eur (630$). Entire setup weights < 600g!!! (camera + body) and I don't even need a bag to comfortably hunt some random bug in the forest. Just pockets in the hoodie are enough to carry all the stuff. And images are fantastic, sharp, detailed. Do I need more? If asked what to improve, I could not answer easily. One thing I would like is weather sealing, which is an issue when it rains. Compactness is something I don't believe FF will ever beat, and it directly correlates with joy of photography, at least for me.
I've been shooting with mFT for 12 years and recently with the L-mount. In fact, the 35mm camera is first used in more difficult light situations, but for hiking and for the telephoto range: mFT. Thanks to DxO and the like, noise is no longer an issue.
A lot of folks mention the DxO software. I might have to try that out.
Both DxO PureRaw and the latest version of LrC or Topaz - the denoising really takes the photo to a new level. Pretty impressive.
I have been travelling with Olympus for a very long time and now own focal lengths from 7-150 mm. Partly pro-lenses.
But what I'm currently struggling with is the low-light capability of the sensor, not for night shots but for daytime shots. Maybe it's more the dynamic range.
I tend to expose around +2/6 aperture so that the shadows don't get too dark. Surprisingly, I can save a lot in the sky. Yes, I can also brighten the shadows, but there is hardly any gradation left in this area.
To see whether FF delivers better here, I downloaded NEF files (Nikon) and here the brightened shadows are still finely resolved.
If I now compare weight and price with a focal length range of approx. 35-200 (FF), the differences are negligible. However, I use the Pro lenses 17, 25 and 40-150 from Olympus because they get the best out of the sensor. With Nikon I use 35 and 50 of the S class and 70-180/2.8. The two S lenses are in no way inferior to the Pro lenses from Olympus. One aperture worse, but still better bokeh due to the sensor. The 70-180 is not quite comparable with the Pro from Olympus.
I'm so comfortable to take a MFT body and lens in urban crowd streets for street photography. It really keep me low profile form the people.
For sure the size of the cameras is a great advantage when shooting street photography!
DR had to do with blown out highlights I was told. It is not true. If a camera blows out the image in the highlights is a different thing. Nikon D5000 does not blow out the highlights at all. But the Fuji X-T100 does. Turns out it has to do with how the camera is adjusted to a grey card. Do I understand it? No
White balance does have some effect on exposure yes but that’s not the cause of blown out highlights. Dynamic range is a cameras ability to expose for every tone in the scene. Imagine a black and white image, the more shades of grey the camera can produce the more dynamic range has.
i miss Olympus for its colors, lens sharpness and style, its advanced features.
I used to have the EM5mkII, but the bad ergonomics (button placement, size/weight ratio), the autofocus in low light, and the battery life :/ (yes i had the grid and the extra battery, but it wasn't great). At the time i could afford a EM1mkII, so i went bad to a second hand dslr.
I would say the main reason I love MFT is size and weight, no point buying a 60mp camera and a load of lenses that weigh a ton and you never take them out because they give you a hernia! I can fit my MFT camera in my man-bag, even take a couple of spare lenses and still not know I have them with me. My first digital work Camera was a Nikon D1h and I'm sure that was only 2mp, so the new Pano g9ii I've ordered is light years ahead of that. As ever, what amateur photographers always seem to want to do is substitute knowledge and skill with kit. As for MFT, well I love that saying, the best camera is the one you have with you, and the pointless days of me lugging round heavy cameras, tripods and bags have thankfully long gone.
I'm 66 years old, don't change pmy equipment often. At least 40 years using Nikon FM most of the time with just 2 lenses. 35mm and a 80-200 zoom then varios aftermarket flash units. This would do travel and amateur studio. Ony used 3 bodies in all that time 1 Stolen 1 broke, one still have. Reliable kit, pretty weather proof. When I finally went Electronic I went Olympus OM E5. Why? The body is about the same size as the Nikon FM from the 1970s. It has proper dials that you turn. Then the lenses it blows your mind at minimal cost. The 14-42mm kit lens packs down to nearly the same size as a Nokon 50mm. So in my old Nikon travel kit bag will go a 40-150mm AND a 7.5mm Fish eye. If on Safari a 75--300 gets added in. Now all apart from the fish eye are Olympus originals, not pro versions. To be honest the genuine Japanese camera makers (Nikon, Canon, Olympus....) do not sell a bad lens by the time it has worked it's way through on my TV, I couldn't tell the difference between a kit and a pro lens. One big disappointment I bought the Genuine Olympus Cobra st-yle flash unit fabulous bit of kit, cost more than the base camera. It went wrong after 6 months. They said I wasn't charging it frequently enough. So you don't use it and it stops working because of that.... Well it got thrown against the wall and I bought a METZ Flash. Amazing powerful bit of kit.
I don't own any system currently but the idea of those strange and _not too expensive_ lenses you can attach with adaptors to m43 has Lots of appeal.
And the lx100 really appeals too
Micro 4/3 hat einfach etwas besonderes und ist nicht nur klein und leicht sondern hat viele interessante features wie stacking, hochauflösende Aufnahmen, eine super Stabilisierung und und und...
My full frame Canon might have a larger sensor, but I find my Olympus more reliable in general. The in camera image stabilization makes all the difference particularly for video.
Im lucky enough to have M43, FF and GFX, I always grab a EM1X for family sports or wildlife, but if Im in the studio or trying to create a masterpiece its worth having more resolution and bigger pixels, theres no winner really or substitute for having several options
I don't use M43. I mostly shoot on an fuji x-t5 and an om-10 (35mm). At the end of the day, just use what's fun. Even the om-10 with some ultramax gives me good enough image quality lol. The fuji is a bit overkill but I love it too. I think if I were to start over, I'd probably go with an OM-5 instead, just for the lightweight and the better weather sealing. It's all good though.
wise words mate
I think M43 is ideal system for non professional photographers or as a second body for fun. Small (some bigger), light and a lot of lenses you can buy new or used and great IBIS. And also some great computantional features. I bought E-M10 Mark IV in january and really like it with 25 1.8 and 12-45 4 Pro. Only I'm thikning about some midclass body like E-M5 Mark III because weather sealing and some features...
That’s just mean.
Micro Four Thirds is as professional as any other format, especially in the right hands. The technology is basically the same, the talent behind is not…
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Agree, full frame so unnecessary for most people. I am still enjoying my APSC camera although am eyeing the MFT simply for lens size. The APSC lenses are still so big by comparison.
I have an Em1 Mark III with a bunch of Pro lenses. I sell my work on line and in galleries and no one has ever said of that's a great pic but it wasn't shot with a FF camera!
I regularly take better wildlife shots with my G9 and 100-400 lens than my friends who drag lenses around which are the size of dustbins,
M43 cameras get addicting 🎉🎉🎉🎉
They’re also a lot cheaper. I can see a collection in coming.
Great video. I will say, however, that having just sold my R5 and RF lenses to buy a used Lumix G9, the 10-25/1.7, and the 100-400/4-6.3, I don't think the difference in image quality is THAT huge. I think getting the exposure and composition correct is, perhaps, more important on the smaller sensor because the ability to retrieve shadows and highlights isn't as great as it is on the big Canon/Sony/Nikon sensors.
I moved from full frame to M43 several years ago. Then I took a break from photography and sold everything. I then came back and bought in to full frame and here we are once again, looking at M43 thinking about how wonderful it was to carry smaller, lighter kit around.
I also look back at my images over the last 20+ years and you know, those M43 images were pretty good, even though they came from older systems like the GH4, EM1, and EM10-II. I look at my Canon & Nikon full frame images and really they weren't that much better. My only wish was that M43 was actually M32 since I prefer that 3x2 aspect ratio. Oh well....
3:2 aspect ratio is easily done as you can select it in camera, you're raw files will be cropped but when you open the file, lightroom will show the cropped area as it's still there, so nothing lost :)
@@thomasanderson5929 Yes, of course, and you can tell it to use many other aspect ratios in camera too, as well as crop in Lightroom. Nothing lost? Well, yes, some resolution, but I can live with that. I'm getting used to 4x3 again now anyway.
Mind me asking, what full-frame system did you have? Was it mirrorless?
I had the Canon RP & a Canon 5D Mark iii
Yes.
No. Maybe. I don’t know.
I ditched MFT to go back to the new Fujifilm line up, picked up an XH-2 but also reangaged with an X-T4 plus some new primes... That's me done, staying with Fujifilm.
The best way to describe M43 is "95% of photographic capabilities at 50% of the size, weight and price"
Delacroix said, "Give me a stick and I will give you a drawing."
You can David flowers look like brothers.
I’m showing him this comment 😂
Sup Bro👊
Enjoyed the video. Out of interest wat is your dislike of Fuji cameras?
I had an old XE1 and I just did not get along with it. That and I just picked a brand out of thin air.
Thank you for a great video. My 1st micro four thirds camera was the Lumix G80 and i was amazed at how good it was and how much better than my old Nikon D90.
The more recent (2015 or later) MFT cameras and lenses are massively better than the early ones.
I now have a mix of full frame Sony and Olympus cameras. The Sony is only used when I need the better tracking auto focus and more detail. The Olympus cameras are used for everything else and often help me produce better images.
Thanks for the comment Andy. One gripe I do have with the Olympus cameras, well the EM5 Mark ii at least, is the AF tracking ability. I do find it loses me more often than it should as evidenced in one or two videos. For static subjects however I’ve never had a problem.
No one uses tracking on olympus because it doesn’t work well. I use c-af instead.
I have to for the video side of things.
To be fair I'm taking action photos of my black Labrador assistance dog so she's not the easiest subject for a camera to track. With the same rubbish photographer (me) the G80 would get 1 picture in focus each session and it may not be usable. My E-M1 mkii will get about 50% in focus and about 30% usable. The Sony A7iii gets over 70% in focus and mostly are usable.
For single point focus the E-M1 is much faster, more accurate and focuses better in poor lighting. It's also nicer to use and hold.
Did the same and take so many more photos as i have it all the time.
Yeah they are great for portability aren’t they!
I see too many people get into photography and only consider fullframe. After some time they realize the camera is too big to carry around when they travel and feel that photography is not for them. Don’t know how many people’s interests in photography is destroyed by “Photography must use full frame” mindset.
Nowadays mFT is technically good enough for nearly every purpose. As sensor technology has progressed, processors too, and also RAW- converters. You will probably not see a difference in the printed end product compared to full frime, as every blind test has proved.
Am considering getting a FF, however the only ones I can afford are older with dated technology and lower specs than my M4/3 bodies. And as I never print photos, M4/3 is ok for me. In a time where most people view pictures taken with a smartphone/Iphone on a computer or smartphone/Iphone, not sure it's worth splashing out the €£$ I woffle
MFT is just early format rebranded , tweaked , Marketed as something new . If you were to use a camera from the 70s 80s you'll notice similarities ( imo ) whilst only major overall difference is Digital captures
why not both?
Do you still own/use the Canon 7D?
I don’t, I sold it to get the EM1
Landscape, wildlife, and street photography are some areas where MFT shines. Nobody likes hauling a ton of gear while on a pleasant outdoor walk.
I'm sure you've already realised but from around 2 mins in the camera decided to focus on the tree stump instead of your face :-)
dynamic range is bad.. I can almost obviously see it on shadows and highlights from the pictures! But advantages of m43 are lighter
No, you can’t.
@@ChrisBaitson yes,, you can. There is someone who did that comparison from APSC to medium format. You will see it in highlights and shadows.
@@snowhite1qazse4 Chris' point is that only when you look at reviews or side by sides can you tell. Chances are, if you took two same pictures which were properly exposed, you wouldn't be able to tell that much difference. It's the nature of the mind to compare. Read the Tao Te Ching and you will realise that everything in life is always comparison and contrast, not absolute. The camera industry and tech 'influencers' constantly nit-picking and comparing has caused people to constantly switch systems and gear looking for 'the best' when they should just get what works for them and go and practice their craft instead.
@@snowhite1qazse4 Also if you look at an image, and the composition, framing, story, thoughts and feelings that the photo convey to you doesn't do anything and all you can focus on is the technical details, then it might just be a bad photo. Never have I seen a good photograph which made me go 'wow', then found out what camera it was taken with and changed my mind.
@AirMetalMedia exactly what you said. Im not talking about composition, good or bad pictures. Im just being technical about the camera sensor size physics and not about photography in general , and youre right im comparing side by side bec. If really theres no difference in sensor size why should we invent apcs, ff or even mf, might just stick to m43.
The reality is, that the majority of µ4/3 users are people who were previously long time FF users, and some APS-C users too…
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