1750Shooter
Established
I need a digital camera for a project. I didn't want the size of a DSLR, so I tried a Lumix LX-5 - too small for my hands. Just returned (thanks, Amazon!) an Olympus E-PL2 - autofocus wouldn't lock on anything smaller than a VW. I've got a budget of around $1K, don't REALLY need interchangable lenses... What can you guys recommend? BTW, my background is Nikon SLRs. Nks for any advise.
Bruce
Bruce
plummerl
Well-known
Would imagine that project requirements would help narrow the decision. For instance, what would you need for the end results???
kuzano
Veteran
Have you rejected the Oly Pen altogether...
Have you rejected the Oly Pen altogether...
With that kind of budget, I would opt for the new E-PL5, because it has the 16+ megapixel sensor in the EM5, The 12-50 lens, and if enough left over the accessory VF2 Electronic Viewfinder.
That's what I'm buying. I have been shooting 4/3 since the first two Oly DSLR's, E-1 and Evolt E-300. Have owned and used other digitals during that time. However, I have always had an Olympus Digital 4/3 or m4/3 in the bag.
Considering all the lenses available from Olympus and Panasonic, in primes and zooms, no other manufacturer can match the range and quality in mirrorless. Add to that the fact that there are adaptors for almost all the legacy lenses you can imagine. Being first in the mirrorless market does give one an edge in the market place.
Your experience with the E-PL2 is unusual in my experience. I've been using as a primary camera, the E-PL1 because it is the sharpest OOC jpeg camera I have ever used. I will keep it around as I move to the E-PL5. I've looked at all the other mirrorless offerings and see nothing that comes close to the Olympus and possibly Panasonic micro 4/3. The new 16 Mp sensor and process engine is getting excellent reviews on IQ and High ISO performance, as well as fastest autofocus on the planet.
I should have mentioned that having used OLY 4/3 covering well over a dozen examples... Never a problem.
Have you rejected the Oly Pen altogether...
With that kind of budget, I would opt for the new E-PL5, because it has the 16+ megapixel sensor in the EM5, The 12-50 lens, and if enough left over the accessory VF2 Electronic Viewfinder.
That's what I'm buying. I have been shooting 4/3 since the first two Oly DSLR's, E-1 and Evolt E-300. Have owned and used other digitals during that time. However, I have always had an Olympus Digital 4/3 or m4/3 in the bag.
Considering all the lenses available from Olympus and Panasonic, in primes and zooms, no other manufacturer can match the range and quality in mirrorless. Add to that the fact that there are adaptors for almost all the legacy lenses you can imagine. Being first in the mirrorless market does give one an edge in the market place.
Your experience with the E-PL2 is unusual in my experience. I've been using as a primary camera, the E-PL1 because it is the sharpest OOC jpeg camera I have ever used. I will keep it around as I move to the E-PL5. I've looked at all the other mirrorless offerings and see nothing that comes close to the Olympus and possibly Panasonic micro 4/3. The new 16 Mp sensor and process engine is getting excellent reviews on IQ and High ISO performance, as well as fastest autofocus on the planet.
I should have mentioned that having used OLY 4/3 covering well over a dozen examples... Never a problem.
1750Shooter
Established
Sorry, the project is providing photos of custom motorcycle paint for a digital publisher. I was wondering about the Fuji X100?
JoeV
Thin Air, Bright Sun
I would go for an interchangeable lens system, such as micro-4/3, because you can then choose from a wide variety of lenses that offer features like sub-f/2 apertures and, by adapting manual focus film camera lenses, short telephoto capability with macro focus. I really like the Lumix 20mm-f/1.7 lens, it has an angle of view equivalent to a 40mm. A sub-$50 lens adapter means your favorite old film camera lenses can be put to good use for no additional cost.
For motorcycle paint photos, you might want short telephoto capability like adapting a 50mm f.l. lens that yields the equivalent angle of view of a 100mm, and such a lens with macro will still work for close-ups, the cost of which is only the adapter, if you already have these older lenses.
Of course, there are a great selection of autofocus lenses to choose from in the micro-4/3 lineup, the best of any mirrorless format.
For lighting such projects flash has been the traditional way of doing it, keeping in mind that with micro-4/3 your sync speed is limited to a max of 1/160s. Not a problem in a studio setting, however many people are starting to discover LED light panels work well with the new mirrorless systems because you can also use them to shoot video, and you can preview the lighting effect live before exposure.
I wouldn't buy a camera for just one project, but would consider buying into a system that offers many lens options and bodies to choose from, like micro-4/3. The X100 is a good camera, but it isn't a system camera.
-Joe
For motorcycle paint photos, you might want short telephoto capability like adapting a 50mm f.l. lens that yields the equivalent angle of view of a 100mm, and such a lens with macro will still work for close-ups, the cost of which is only the adapter, if you already have these older lenses.
Of course, there are a great selection of autofocus lenses to choose from in the micro-4/3 lineup, the best of any mirrorless format.
For lighting such projects flash has been the traditional way of doing it, keeping in mind that with micro-4/3 your sync speed is limited to a max of 1/160s. Not a problem in a studio setting, however many people are starting to discover LED light panels work well with the new mirrorless systems because you can also use them to shoot video, and you can preview the lighting effect live before exposure.
I wouldn't buy a camera for just one project, but would consider buying into a system that offers many lens options and bodies to choose from, like micro-4/3. The X100 is a good camera, but it isn't a system camera.
-Joe
willie_901
Veteran
I would suggest you buy a nice used DSLR and a really good macro lens. You might be able to rent the lens. If you don't need huge prints, then even the 10 MP of a D200 would get the job done.