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

[JoeV]

Let's not forget video. I just picked up a used GH3 from KEH. What a great camera that is! Solid build quality. Big batteries. My only gripe is the LCD & EVF are slightly lower res than my G5. But since I have no interest in 4k video, the GH3 was top-o-the-line of 1080P in its day.

~Joe

 

[JP Owens]

Another GH3 fan. Solid camera, good stills, top-notch 1080p video (very sharp). If you stick with ISO 1600 or below, it's a hard camera to beat.

 

[emmef2]

around 300 you can find the E-M10 or with some luck the E-P5
around 600 I would go for an E-M10 II
over 600 the new panasonic 80/85 looks very good

 

[Godfrey]

I still have the Olympus E-M1 I bought in 2013 and the E-PL7 I bought in 2014. The E-M1 is a superb piece of equipment, the most delightful pro-grade miniature camera ever made IMO, and I'm very reluctant to sell it. I don't use the E-PL7 very much ... It performs beautifully but I find it almost has too many features.

I haven't kept up with all the latest because I'm shooting mostly with Leica SL and M-P these days. These work fine for me.

 

[Bille]

The Pen E-P series (PEN-F lately) is still the most beautiful. If I want a "hump" I can shoot any DSLR.

 

[Jdi]

I went through this not too long ago. Never pulled the trigger but here's some impressions.

Top pick based on practicality and functionality: EM5-II
Cute, sweet, excellent files within it limits: GM5
Drop dead gorgeous, best ergos for me: Pen-F

Decided to remain with Fuji.

 

[xyz3450]

I'll endorse others remarks, and say the EM5-II. Many features such as IBIS are very useful. Image quality from the sensor is much the same as the original EM-5, though.

Glass available on sale frequently. The primes such as the 25mm 1.8 and 45mm 1.8 are well thought of. They are small and light and well balanced on the camera. The 12-40mm pro is extremely good, constant aperture of 2.8. Replaces a suite of primes. It, too, is very well regarded. I find it slightly front heavy on the EM-5 II, but not excessively so.

I can't speak personally to other cameras, but for size the Pana GM5 gets good review. And there are a couple of zoom lenses for it, that although slow, are said to make it an ideal travel system.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

The only camera I was able to find with 4/3 sensor and picture quality is Lumix LX100.
It has Leica lens for quality over all.

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonic-lumix-dmc-lx100

It is in c new, b used.

 

[FrozenInTime]

I'm just back from a vacation to Scotland - took a GX80 and Leica M-A.
The GX80 was such a blast to use I shot 2000 images and 4k video clips with it ; the M-A only 20 shots total.

The EVF is small, but the red focus peaking and white zebra warning make focus and exposure so easy - that and the RF style ergonomics are a great step up from my OMD E-M5.
( Used only the 15/1.7 and 25/1.4 lenses )

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Really loving the Pen-F. I think pretty much all the m4/3 cameras have been pretty good, though. The Pen-F is the only one, I think—one of the only cameras, period—that lets you close the screen completely, something I really love both aesthetically and ergonomically, and in terms of shooting technique.

 

[kuzano]

the Fuji X-E1 is just too slow

The run of firmwares on the Fuji XPro 1 and the X-E1 solved that problem and added focus peaking for those legacy lens users. My X-E1 with the latest firmware 2.6x has almost all the same features as the X-E2s and the XT10. It also focuses very much faster than when new.

And easily bought used for $200.

I too am using Fuji. I am thinking about picking up another EM5, to replace the one I sold, although I like the idea of the sensor shift High Resolution feature.

In the meantime, I am focus peaking on my X-E1.

 

[kuzano]

Glass available on sale frequently. The primes such as the 25mm 1.8 and 45mm 1.8 are well thought of. They are small and light and well balanced on the camera. The 12-40mm pro is extremely good, constant aperture of 2.8. Replaces a suite of primes. It, too, is very well regarded. I find it slightly front heavy on the EM-5 II, but not excessively so.

I can't speak personally to other cameras, but for size the Pana GM5 gets good review. And there are a couple of zoom lenses for it, that although slow, are said to make it an ideal travel system.

Bodies as well, plus kits and refurbs. Hardly a week goes by when I don't get a special price email on both lenses, bodies and accessories from GetOlympus.com

 

[traveler_101]

I currently shoot with an E-P5. It is a beautiful, well made and surprisingly solid little camera. Has a bit of heft to it. Very nice quality.

Lenses - I shoot with a 17/1.8 on it much of the time. The 25/1.8 is actually a better lens and I use that form time to time. Have a 40-150 zoom as well - used on occasion. All auto focus quickly. 45/1.8 is an excellent lens and a great walk around for a change of pace. Will acquire soon. These lenses are reasonably priced.

The beef from many quarters against the Pen series is the lack of a built in viewfinder. But the E-P5 has a tilting screen and with the 17 and 25 that is pretty much what i use. With the 5-axis stabilisation you can get away with shooting the camera from the belly or hip. It has touch screen - shoot directly from the screen. Thought i'd never use it, but I do sometimes. I have a auxiliary electronic finder also that can be attached when needed. Put it in your shirt pocket and attach if needed. Remove before putting camera away in your bag.

Money. Two years ago, I paid $440 for this camera new; it originally retailed for well over twice that price. I don't like to pay a lot of money for electronic cameras - they are constantly changing - and I also have rangefinders to maintain and film costs to worry about.

If money were no object I'd go for the recently released Pen-F. Not as nice looking as the E-P5, but it has real nice built-in finder (reportedly) and allows you more control over your .jpgs - film "simulations" for b&w and colour, which are not as good as film but it does give you variation.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I believe that, now, the best (m)4/3 camera is the one in your hands. Provided that it's completely operational, of course.

 

[raid]

This is good for me, Gabriel. I like using my (outdated) Olympus E-P2 and E-PL1 cameras with Leica and Zeiss lenses. The built-in IS and 10x magnified focusing aid are great for photography.

 

[jarski]

PEN-F is really sexy camera, liked it even better than Fuji XPro2 when fondling both recently in a camera store.

(no doubt both take great photos also 😱 )

 

[Bille]

PEN-F is really sexy camera, liked it even better than Fuji XPro2 when fondling both recently in a camera store.

(no doubt both take great photos also 😱 )

You have to hold the Pen-F to understand how great it is. I really liked the chunky dials. Downside, it´s well over 1000 € new currently.

 

[robert blu]

Pen F is super sexy, I only tried one in a shops few minutes, and I think with the new Oly 25 f 1,2 (should be announced at the Photokina) I imagine it should be a great small camera!
Now, the money...
robert

 

[Bingley]

I currently shoot with an E-P5. It is a beautiful, well made and surprisingly solid little camera. Has a bit of heft to it. Very nice quality.

Lenses - I shoot with a 17/1.8 on it much of the time. The 25/1.8 is actually a better lens and I use that form time to time. Have a 40-150 zoom as well - used on occasion. All auto focus quickly. 45/1.8 is an excellent lens and a great walk around for a change of pace. Will acquire soon. These lenses are reasonably priced.

The beef from many quarters against the Pen series is the lack of a built in viewfinder. But the E-P5 has a tilting screen and with the 17 and 25 that is pretty much what i use. With the 5-axis stabilisation you can get away with shooting the camera from the belly or hip. It has touch screen - shoot directly from the screen. Thought i'd never use it, but I do sometimes. I have a auxiliary electronic finder also that can be attached when needed. Put it in your shirt pocket and attach if needed. Remove before putting camera away in your bag. ...

If money were no object I'd go for the recently released Pen-F. Not as nice looking as the E-P5, but it has real nice built-in finder (reportedly) and allows you more control over your .jpgs - film "simulations" for b&w and colour, which are not as good as film but it does give you variation.

Agree on both counts. I've been using the E-P5 for a little over a year now, and think it's a great camera. I don't miss a vf; the tilting screen allows me to look down while shooting, which attracts less attention, and the screen is usable in bright sunlight. The AF is lightening fast with the most recent lenses, and still pretty decent with older native lenses. I've grown very fond of the little 17/2.8 lens. The E-P5 and 17/2.8 more than satisfies any desire I may have had to get a Fuji X100*. The IQ overall is very, very good. I also have the 45/1.8, which is stunningly good and very compact.

I've been tempting by the Pen F, and would probably rank that now as "the best" m4/3d camera given my preference for a rangefinder style, but I'm not yet convinced it's that much of an improvement over the E-P5.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Tell you what: to my surprise I actually constantly use the film dial on the front of the Pen-F, the one that's supposed to look like a slow speed dial. I usually shoot monochrome jpegs with some fake film grain. Love the results.