Do any of the M4/3 fit my bill?

[texchappy]

I have all but decided if I stay digital to get a Leica X2 (probably later this year). But looking at pics on the Steve Huff site have made me wonder. So I'm asking to see if any of the m4/3 cameras have what I'm looking for.

1. Easy/Quick setting of aperture (like the wheel on the Leica would be great).
2. Easy/Quick setting of shutter speed (ditto).
3. Good method of autofocus.
4. Good alternative to LCD framing (ovf/evf).
5. Light weight (should be where m4/3 shines right)
6. Great IQ.
7. Great build quality.

So, is there a recommendation out there for me?

 

[dreilly]

Seems like you are describing the O-MD E-M5.

Two control wheels on top, function dependent on mode but can control aperture and shutter speed. Very fast AF, can shoot off of the touchscreen LCD, very nice EVF. Lightweight. Great IQ, best in m43 at the moment. Weatherproof. Complex camera but once set up, extremely simple and "get out of the way".

 

[rogue_designer]

Not m4/3, but the Sony Nex 7 ticks all those boxes.

 

[fotomeow]

Not m4/3, but the Sony Nex 7 ticks all those boxes.

+1. I have the Nex 7 with the Zeiss 24/1.8 lens = 36mm/1.8 after crop factor is calculated. Its an awesome set up. Great IQ, fast autofocus, light, and the ergo is good with the dials available for pretty quick adjustments (you dont need to go into a digital menu).

 

[progie]

Olympus Omd e5 sounds like the deal for you if you want 4/3.

I'm an xpro fanboy though!(best IQ in mirrorless)

 

[texchappy]

What's attracting me to M4/3 are the PannyLeic and Olympus lenses over what's available for the Fuji and Sony systems. Seems like the big advantage of these over the X2 I have been looking at is the interchangeable lenses. Price would be about the same with a couple of the premium lenses.

Watched a couple of videos of the OM-D E-M5 and the one concern I have is the manual focus ability. Is there any focus aid (ala range finder)?

 

[dreilly]

Yes, you can set the camera to AF with full time MF, and also set it to magnify the image when you start turning the MF focus ring on the lens. Works very well, though it is different than the focus peaking system on the Nex.

The lenses are much more compact for m4/3. The Panny 20mm f1.7 gives you a 40mm FOV...pretty similar to the 24mm on the Nex, and it's way, way, way smaller. I had a Nex 5N...nice little camera, but Oly and Panny have a long head start on them in the lens department.

 

[texchappy]

Saw this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPbvV78bf0A&feature=player_embedded#!

and it's moving me a little farther from the X2 to the Oly.

 

[texchappy]

Thought of this. What kind of filters are available for the M 4/3 cameras? What are the variety of front sizes on these lenses?

 

[heed]

Most are 52mm or 55mm; I use a step-up ring and just have one good polarizer.

Also, I just have to say that I LOVE the way the two adjustment dials on the OM-D feel. they are both milled metal (Al I think) and are so much nicer feeling than my EOS body's. More like my old Voightlander.

 

[heed]

Also, being able to take any ancient lens and make it useful again, adding IS and the zoom focus assist is just so...cool.

Keep in mind though: it's not a rangefinder. If you want a digital rangefinder you need a M9, RD-1, or maybe one of the Fuji's.

My main beef is it takes a wider aperture to get the same shallow depth of field that you're used to on film or 35mm sensor.

 

[texchappy]

Addendum question:
How many of the M Zuiko or other M4/3 lenses are metal barreled?

 

[DNG]

Addendum question:
How many of the M Zuiko or other M4/3 lenses are metal barreled?

12mm, 75mm,, not sure on the 45mm f/1.8,

Why is this so important? Today's high-breed plastics are very durable!

M4/3 has much better line up of native lenses than Sony (not Zei$$) and much better performance in the IQ department for consumer grade lenses.. Sorry Sony, your not a lens designer, yet...at least not up to the resolution standard that your sensors can deliver.

Between Panasonic and Olympus:
12mm,14mm,17mm,20mm,25mm,45mm,45mm Macro,75mm
7-18,9-18,14-42,14-140,12-35,35-100(2012-13),45-200,45-175,100-300 (2),
Light Yellow = f/2 or faster
there are others also: Nokton 25mm f/.95 (MF), S/K 14mm f/2 (AF), Sigma 19mm and 30mm, and Tamron will have a 14-45 or so f/2.8 soon in m4/3 native mount.

 

[bugmenot]

NEX-7 checks off just about every one of your requirements. OM-D, not so much. Save your money on the X2 and get a NEX-7 with either the 24mm Zeiss and 50mm Sony glass, and the Sigma 30mm ...

You are also far better off with the manual focusing aid (focus peaking) of the NEX bodies offer. For your information, the sensor inside the X2 is the same as the NEX-5N, Nikon D7000, Pentax K-5 and Sony A57 and A37. NEX-5N also has a particularly weak AA-filter, allowing for very sharp images given the right lens, such as the ones I mentioned.

12mm, 75mm,, not sure on the 45mm f/1.8,

Why is this so important? Today's high-breed plastics are very durable!

M4/3 has much better line up of native lenses than Sony (not Zei$$) and much better performance in the IQ department for consumer grade lenses.. Sorry Sony, your not a lens designer, yet...at least not up to the resolution standard that your sensors can deliver.

Between Panasonic and Olympus:
12mm,14mm,17mm,20mm,25mm,45mm,45mm Macro,75mm
7-18,9-18,14-42,14-140,12-35,35-100(2012-13),45-200,45-175,100-300 (2),
Light Yellow = f/2 or faster
there are others also: Nokton 25mm f/.95 (MF), S/K 14mm f/2 (AF), Sigma 19mm and 30mm, and Tamron will have a 14-45 or so f/2.8 soon in m4/3 native mount.

Those lenses are quite expensive (m4/3 lenses in general are), and other than the telephoto range lenses, equal quality or better can be found for the E-mount. I would say the NEX system is a better choice, especially given the future growth, but quite mature at this point in time as well. The OP wanted to go with the X2, meaning a single lens would have been good for him. He did not indicate that he wanted to invest thousands of dollars into a full system, and even if he wanted to do that, the NEX camera accept and work better with manual glass, and have currently a good lineup for a two year old system that will only improve given the massive size of Sony and their pockets.

 

[Johnmcd]

Watched a couple of videos of the OM-D E-M5 and the one concern I have is the manual focus ability. Is there any focus aid (ala range finder)?

I find that the EVF is equivalent to a good matte screen on an old SLR. I have not needed to go magnify at all. I have posted a few images in other posts, all without using magnify option. Very happy in that regard as it was one of the main reasons for its purchase.

 

[DNG]

In APC-S Price Compare for the high speed lenses, m4/3 is is in the same price range, and a little lower. In consumer prices on consumer primes and zooms, not so bad expect the 100-300s.. at $900.00. The E-M5 has 12.8 EV from ISO 200-1250, and drops to a low of 10.8 EV at ISO 1600.
I know plenty of folks hold onto APS_C because of the past investment already acquired. understood. BUT, he is starting w/o any lenses, so, why not show all that is currently available. Yes, the Nex7 has a fantastic sensor (With ZEI$$ glass, not so much with G glass.

I know of a Wedding Photographer who has a Nex7 with ZEI$$ and Sony Consumer glass, and she knows how to do a proper IQ test, She, hates the consumer glass, it sucks, and can not resolve to the sensors potential. In fact, they are not as good as they could be from Sony, except for Sonyfanboys, everyone else acknowledges this. Greatest sensor.. YES, but Sony needs to up the IQ on the consumer lenses.
Sony, banks on "Non-Photography" buffs to buy the bulk of their cameras in the NEX line because of the "Sony Branding" and provide a very expensive line for the those who want their Zei$$ glass on their "Sony"
PLUS, I answered ONE Q, What Lenses are metal barrels from P or O
And wanted to make the point, that the E-M5 can hold up in IQ Noise, and DR to any APS-C Camera, even a few FF DSLRs. It's not your Parents m4/3 anymore.

 

[texchappy]

Not sure why I asked about metal lenses except that it was mentioned in a review I saw of the f2/12mm M. Zuiko. Was surprised any lenses are made with metal these days but I guess I haven't even broken the really cheap feeling kit lenses I have from Nikon.

I'll look at the Sony's to be fair but what draws me to the M4/3 is the Oly glass - the images I've seen are amongst the best out there.

 

[DNG]

What's attracting me to M4/3 are the PannyLeic and Olympus lenses over what's available for the Fuji and Sony systems. Seems like the big advantage of these over the X2 I have been looking at is the interchangeable lenses. Price would be about the same with a couple of the premium lenses.

Watched a couple of videos of the OM-D E-M5 and the one concern I have is the manual focus ability. Is there any focus aid (ala range finder)?

I find that the EVF is equivalent to a good matte screen on an old SLR. I have not needed to go magnify at all. I have posted a few images in other posts, all without using magnify option. Very happy in that regard as it was one of the main reasons for its purchase.

I find using the 5x at times, though more for my need for a new eye glass prescription for distance. It is quite easy at normal magnification. I think it may be a year or 2 before we see more Focus-Peeking type aids in EVF.. a Digital Split Image RF patch would be assume though.

You should look at the Sony, NEX-7 and Olympus OMD -E-M5 at least.. and the Fuji XPro that has many adapters now, but not a lot of native lenses yet... Hope Fuji develops some zooms also next year.

 

[texchappy]

Looked at the NEX 7. It definitely has some interesting features and seem some nice shots out of it. However, the good glass for it seems as much or higher than the M4/3 and the Zeiss branded lenses for it seem to be really high.

 

[rogue_designer]

Yes - I personally have been using manual focus glass from other systems on it (already had my M glass, and a bunch of Canon FD mount) - and only rarely the Sony glass.

Sigma does make several well regarded E mount lenses for it too.