Give us an update: which M 4/3 camera is "best" these days?

raid

raid

Dad Photographer
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Specifically, which M 4/3would you recommend based on overall quality (and cost)?
a. $300 or less
b. $600 or less
c. no cost limit


I have the E-P2 and E-PL1, which are now maybe $100 cameras.
Thanks.
 
Function-wise: Oly E-M5 ii with pro lenses
Portable-wise: Pana GM5 with pancake lenses
Look-wise: Oly PEN F

They are all capable of taking good photos.
 
I have just got myself a Olympus OM D Em 5 which can be picked up pretty inexpensively these days (~$500) especially as mine came complete with the accessory battery grip which adds greatly to its handling. I have not tried anything later in the M4/3 line but have to say I am pretty impressed with it overall. Its built and handles like a baby DSLR but almost handles like a full sized one, especially with the grip). Although I think that its images are extremely good they are still not up to my D700 (which is to be expected) but it is still a pleasant surprise and a lot of reviewers claim them to be on par with APS C cameras (I cant give an opinion on that yet).

One small gripe is that in common with another Olympus I have its firmware is decidely quirky and now and hten does odd things for no discernible reason. For example I like to use the camera in AF mode with MF enabled (which allows the user to fine tune critical focus merely by twisting the focus ring). But for some reason the camera keeps switching from this to MF mode every now and then. I cant yet find out why it does this and its not for any obvious reason like bumping a button. I have looked for this. There are a few other quirks too - tonight in dim conditions in my study I was testing its low light performance and found that as I bought the camera to my eye it was firing the shutter.

Again no obvious reason (LCD touch screen mode was turned off). when I took the camera into brightly lit are it stopped doing this. Other than these weird artifacts its good value as a 2nd hand camera which really performs in the image department.

My lenses are either pro legacy lenses with adapters or the following: Olympus 60mm macro f2.8 (excellent general use lens as well as macro), Olympus 45mm f1.8, Sigma 30mm f2.8, Panasonic/Leica four thirds 25mm f1.4 with four thirds to M4/3 adapter. The latter is big but handles well with the accessory grip mounted. As does the Panasonic/Leica 14-50mm f2.8 - 3.5 from the Panasonic L1 (with of course the same adapter) which I use from time to time. It is akin to a pro lens and can be relied on to turn in great results. All are excellent lenses. The one lens I will one day get is the 75mm f1.8 for this camera. Its rated as top notch by all.

I have the E PL 2 with an accessory finder that works well too (probably $150 for the camera plus $100 for the finder). It also occasionally has a firmware conniption too. I have found with both cameras that its absolutely necessary to turn off noise reduction which is far too aggressive even on low in my view. I handle this in post if its needed and a far better outcome can be assured.
 
i would check out the panny gm5 because it has an excellent sensor, on board evf, is very compact, is inexpensive, and will work with pannys m4/3 lenses that have aperture rings. as you have 2 ep series cameras, the om series requires a big 'feel' and operational adjustment, while the gm5 does not.
 
I have both original EM5 and EM5-II with 12-40 2.8 lens, and I can say that - especially the latter - is absolutely superb. Completely happy with selling my heavy Nikon crap and moving over. Brilliant cameras. When combined with the travel pancake, EM5-II becomes a travelling photographer's dream (mind you I don't do pixel peeping but I take photographs instead).

Panny GM5 is sexy, too. :)
 
an interesting choice which falls in the no cost limit category is the new panasonic-gx85. it's essentially a gx7 reboot, with no AA filter and a special monochrome mode. it's interesting that it's based off of the gx7 rather than the gx8, which has been out a while and is the successor to the gx7.
 
I'll have to look into the GX85.

I have the GX7 and with the 20/1.7 II I can't think of a better Lumix m4/3 camera. Really reminds me of the L1. The original GF-1 was a great camera as was the GH-2. I couldn't get past the Oly look so never tried them.
 
same for me, the gx7 is my favorite m43. i was disappointed that the gx8 is larger so i was happy to see the gx85 released. as far as i can tell the sensor is the same one as in the gx7 but without the AA filter - too bad they didn't upgrade it to the gx8 sensor. but it has new 5-axis IS and 4k video too, nice upgrades from the gx7.
 
I've tried several different cameras since m4/3 first appeared, but my current favorite is the Lumix GX-7. I also still shoot with my original GF-1. I tried the first Olympus OM-D but did not like the menu system.
 
raid said:
Specifically, which M 4/3would you recommend based on overall quality (and cost)?
a. $300 or less
b. $600 or less
c. no cost limit


I have the E-P2 and E-PL1, which are now maybe $100 cameras.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

$300 EM5 hands down, i shot one for almost a year and it is an amazing camera especially for the price
 
Personally, after shooting m4/3 exclusively for about 5 years, when I moved up to the Fuji XE-1 and APS-C sensor, my Panasonic began gathering dust. I hardly EVER use m4/3 now. Everything I did with it, I can do better with the XE-1, and the crop factor doesn't make my legacy lenses so long they are like telescopes. I like cine lenses on m4/3, but otherwise, I'd just get a good APS-C.
 
goamules said:
Personally, after shooting m4/3 exclusively for about 5 years, when I moved up to the Fuji XE-1 and APS-C sensor, my Panasonic began gathering dust. I hardly EVER use m4/3 now. Everything I did with it, I can do better with the XE-1, and the crop factor doesn't make my legacy lenses so long they are like telescopes. I like cine lenses on m4/3, but otherwise, I'd just get a good APS-C.
Click to expand...

the Fuji X-E1 is just too slow, AF is somewhat unreliable. perhaps if you like MF lenses it works better.

i use my GX7 most of the time these days, although i sacrifice *some* image quality, i really like the more responsive performance and slightly deeper DOF. i can also handhold the GX7 much better than the fuji cameras which helps with the image quality as well by using lower ISOs.
 
It's strange how we all differ in our shooting style and our approach to the right equipment to use. I tried the Fuji gear and hated it. I loved the rangefinder styling but found using the cameras to be tedious and slow. I have friends that use Fuji and absolutely love it. I am sure that a lot of it has to do with what you shoot.
 
I bought a Lumix GX1 when Amazon was selling them new for $250, and it was and is a great bargain.

Although more expensive, I also like the Olympus Pen series. I think you get great images from the E-PL1, although the AF is very slow. The E-P5 shares the same AF as the recent OMD models, and is lightening fast w/ the latest m4/3 lenses and not too shabby with older lenses. I'll take an E-P5 with the Zuiko 17/2.8 over a Fuji X100* any day, even though the Fuji produces some beautiful images.
 
I have an A7II that I use now, but only because of the image quality.
If it wasn't for that I would grab my Olympus any day of the week.
I always carry an E-PL7 with me in my car, coupled with the VF4 viewfinder. Everything works like a charm, the AF is fast, the battery lasts like 3-4 times the one on the Sony, the menus and operating the camera is intuitive, plenty of good quality lenses at fair prices, for every taste and need.
After working with Nikons, Fujis , Leica and now Sony, one thing is for sure: I will always have a m43 camera around, they just work, no questions asked.
I prefer Olympus because of the in-body stabilisation.

I would have preferred a single system to invest in but I have given up on that, it seems now like a pipe dream. You just can't have the best IQ in a small sensor and you can't have a compact system with a big sensor. So, I'll take both, and use them depending on the situation.
 
I used to shoot with E-P2, after I returned to Nikon due to image quality and lens selection (things that have been fixed in m4/3 camp nowdays, at least it feels like it).

Currently I do use one m4/3 camera and I love it, it's Panasonic LX100. It seems to be about perfect combination of image quality, portability and amazing lens performance. Besides I love the wide 24mm equivalent on 16:9 mode :)

But it's not for everyone. For me it's the companion of choice when traveling with film gear. When carrying dslr gear on top of LF / MF film gear would be bit too much.
 
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