Leica M8 & M9 ... and Olympus Pen-F digital?

[raid]

I have a Leica M8 & M9, plus Olympus E-P2 and E-PL1 M 4/3 camera that I use quite often and that I like using.

Here is my question: is it a good move to add an Olympus M 4/3 camera based on its qualities and cost? How could you compare images from M8 or M9 with images with a 20MP M 4/3 camera?

The Pen-F digital can be bought used for $800 and new for $1000.

Thanks.

 

[raid]

I have few M 4/3 lenses. My only really good M 4/3 lens may be the Panasonic Lux 25mm/1.4, which is a superb lens. I like to use SLR lenses such as the Zeiss 50/1.4 on the M 4/3 cameras. Do I have to buy top lenses to get the most out of the Pen-F digital?

 

[B-9]

I use Nikkor lenses on my GH3 and only have two native m43 lenses the 14/2.5 and the 50/1.7 (Edit! 25/1.7)

I purchased the 24/2.8, 35/2.8, and 50/1.8 Nikkors from the money I got selling my 35/1.4 and then proceeded to cine mod those lenses (follow focus gears are not cheap!)

I use them with a Speedbooster/Focal Reducer and im getting great results shooting video.


I lust for the 12/1.4 and 42.5/1.2 LeicaLumix lenses but honestly even my "pro" GH3 has a horrible EVF. I really cant stand looking through the thing for more than a moment. So minimal stills shooting for me using that camera and my trio of adapter nikkors are plenty good enough with and without the booster to prove those luxury lenses unnecessary.

I too have been looking at the Pen F to solve this dilemma... but alas is this just another rabbits hole to dive down? I look forward to seeing what you come up with and following this thread for info.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I have M-E and sold M8, because I have Canon 500D for crop. I have Lumix P&S with Leica for pocket and cold temperatures where iPhone craps out within minutes .
But just week ago I accidentally re-discovered Pen F and it is really astonishing for results in high ISO department.

Image comparison... I print from M-E, iPhone and Lumix, film scans. It looks different, but for the rest it is totally irrelevant. The rest cares for sharp and colorful images. It is achievable with the iPhone now.
If you check on big screen, you'll always see what M8/9 files are different. It is large sized CCD sensors. Not very common type. But Pen F could give you no shame ISO 10000 image for the same big screen.

 

[raid]

I like using smaller camera bodies with less weight. Maybe the Pen-F digital is "my camera"?

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Panasonic GX8 is the same for 748$ new.

 

[maitani]

raid, i'd have a look at a used Leica T(L), should be obtainable at around 800 used, 1,5 crop and very good 16mp sensor. i use mine regularly for almost 2 years now, and it's an ideal walkaround camera very capable in higher iso too compared to m8/9, superb built and a very good 'digital back' if you stretch to the TL2 you get 4k video and impressive hi-iso on top. personally the penF is overloaded with buttons imo, the very good uncluttered design of the T is and antidote to it. also should you want to ad the very good visoflex of leica mid-term it's superior to the m43 offerings.
you could keep using the great 25 summilux on your existing m43 cameras, and use the T to adapt manual focus glass.

 

[raid]

Thanks for the tips. I will check out the GX8 and the Leica T.

 

[Emile de Leon]

I like the look and the concept of the Pen F...but never handled one in person..and don't know if I would want to spend 1K on it..
I would probably just get the Sony A7s instead..for the extremely high iso and good vid quality..and..its very small too..
Or maybe there is a demo CL kickin around at some dealer..that might be cool...for a couple of K..

 

[raid]

I will look online for some good material on the Sony A7s.
Do you mean a new digital CL (demo)?

Thanks.

 

[robert blu]

Hi Raid, a friend of mine bought the Pen F last spring (which I suggested him to buy!) and it's a beautiful small camera. I didn't buy one because I didn't like the idea to buy a new set of lenses but you already have. For what I see no problem with the quality of images for what concerns sharpness, high iso and similar. AF is very fast, my friend also shoots at jazz concert with high iso and difficult light and is very satisifed.

The only downside is if you desire/need a strong out of focus area in portraits which can anyway achieved using for instance the Only 45 an excellent small lens and can give in the right hands very good portraits.

Before going in a different direction a waited to see the Old 25/1,2 which is an excellent lens but in my opinion too large and heavy specially on a small camera like the Pen F, you know we cannot have everything in the same small package!

robert

 

[raid]

Hi Robert. I have the 17/4 ("34mm") , 25/1.4 ("50mm") , and a zoom which may be 14-42.5 ("28mm-85mm") in M 4/3 mount. Telephoto lenses are easily obtained with adapters for SLR lenses.

The old Zeiss 50/1.4 has very nice looking OOF rendering for portraits with any M 4/3 camera. A high quality wide angle lens for M 4/3 would be needed maybe. It could be bought used from someone who leaves the M 4/3 system behind.

How about your Leica T?

Thanks!

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Raid, IMHO and with my true respect to Robert. It is not downside at all.
It is big plus in family pictures. Fast lens to get enough light and also enough DOF to have family in focus. Not the single eyelash portrait with the rest in bokeh 🙂

 

[robert blu]

Raid, IMHO and with my true respect to Robert. It is not downside at all.
It is big plus in family pictures. Fast lens to get enough light and also enough DOF to have family in focus. Not the single eyelash portrait with the rest in bokeh 🙂

Yes, you are correct it is not a downside. It is a downside only if you are looking for that "super-bokeh" which most of times is not absolutely necessary! I agree with you about the family pictures and knowing Raid style I think it will work!
robert

 

[Emile de Leon]

I will look online for some good material on the Sony A7s.
Do you mean a new digital CL (demo)?

A7s is more expensive at 2K..but..that 100,000 iso..is a game changer..
The A7S2 is $400- more..but bigger and a better cam..400,000 iso.
The CL digital..looks to be a Leica Barnak style happy snap cam..people either luv it..or hate it..
Got voted the worse camera for 2017 though...by these guys..lol...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JljuqkmF6D8
But somehow..people are digging it too..

 

[Gregm61]

I have a Leica M8 & M9, plus Olympus E-P2 and E-PL1 M 4/3 camera that I use quite often and that I like using.

Here is my question: is it a good move to add an Olympus M 4/3 camera based on its qualities and cost? How could you compare images from M8 or M9 with images with a 20MP M 4/3 camera?

The Pen-F digital can be bought used for $800 and new for $1000.

Thanks.

I still have all my primes (I never sell lenses) from back when I primarily shot with a Pen E-P3, the Zuiko 12mm f2, Panasonic 25/1.4, Zuiko 45mm f1.8 and 75mm f1.8.

The Pen F with that set would be pretty darn powerful, but today my micro shooting is with an E-M1 Mark II and a set of Zuiko Pro zooms, which I use interchangeably with a Leica M262 outfit that includes a 75mm f2 APO Summicron, 21mm f3.4 Super Elmar and (as of today....geez, one seriously awesome lens) the 35mm f1.4 Summilux FLE.

There's no real comparison in terms of shooting style. If you are in the mid-set that you want to use a real rangefinder with a set of lens where it's super easy to just set it to infinity or zone focus and fire away and zero dealing with AF/Metering/exposure modes, no AF digital camera is a good substitute, be it a Pen or an OM-D body. Size is the only thing the Pen and Leica have in common. Two totally different user experiences.

On just an image to image basis, there's not all that much difference today between a (now) older M8 or M9 (I still use an M9-P on occasion) and the current generation 20MP micro four-thirds bodies. 20 MP micro four-thirds bodies are two generations newer than the 12MP cameras Olympus and Panasonic were selling back when the M9 was new, but for me, no micro four-thirds camera is a substitute if I wake up one day and want to use the M262.

 

[f16sunshine]

What is the need in your kit?
Is there something lacking in the 3 cameras you have?
The M8/9 are not great for low light use. Maybe make a choice based on that need.
I'm not a fan of m4/3. In your position, buying a new body for one native lens seems like a trap.

Personally I would seek out an X100F or Sony RX1 or even the Leica Q if the budget can stretch. AF, low light beasts!
Leave your current Pen for doubling lens focal lengths during daylight use.

Focus on a camera that fills in where the M8/9 fall short.
The Pens is cute and the latest model would do much better than the M8/9 in low light but!... I have a personal bias against the m4/3 and love for digital fixed lens leaf shutter cameras 🙂
2c

 

[Axel]

Yes...
and remember the size of the fourthirds bodies is nothing special when it comes to the need of a small camera.
Look at the real difference between a Pen F and a A7S.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Sony is EVF SLR, Pen F is EVF RF. Sony is digital aternative for those who can't handle true RF. OP is using two real RF cameras. Sony has wierd selection of native lenses. And they aren't small. Especially Zeiss made primes. But OP has one lens for Pen F already, if I'm not mistaken and it is top of the line lens.

 

[Huss]

Sony is EVF SLR, Pen F is EVF RF.

The Sony is not an SLR, it is an EVF like the Pen F. And the Pen F is not an RF, just an EVF like the Sony.
One is styled to look like an SLR, the other is styled to look like a RF, but they both are EVF mirrorless cameras.