what do you really think of m4/3?

[robert blu]

Thanks Archiver for suggestion, I agree 12 and 25 primes should be the correct combo (when I use my FM2 I very oft use a 50 and a 20) and eventually for portraits one of my M 35 (which will become a moderate tele) or the 45.
Now, just wait the camera arrives on the italian market!
robert

 

[raid]

I hope that you will get a good deal in Italy, Robert.

 

[Bingley]

Regarding AF speed, my Oly E-P5, which has the same AF as the more recent OMD models, is lightening fast with the most recent Zuiko lenses, like the 25/1.8 and the 45/1.8. It's still pretty fast with older lenses like the Zuiko 17/2.8 or Pany 20/1.7, but occasionally the AF hunts and you miss a shot. The fast AF is one reason I've stuck with Oly m4/3 and not gone to the Fuji X100 cameras.

 

[jsrockit]

What do I really think? I hate it... but what matters is what actual users think. 😉

 

[Archiver]

@xixi_gelly - I have the Oly E-M5, the Panasonic GH3, GH4, and GM1, as well as the original Fuji X100 with fully updated firmware. I also have a Canon 30D and 5D Mark II.

The E-M5 is very close to the AF speed of the Canon 30D. It's not as fast as the 5D II, although it is close enough to make very little difference. The E-M5 can focus in situations that the Canons find difficult, like very low light places with lowish contrast. I can never get the 30D or 5D II to focus properly in a very dark street, for example. The mirrorless cameras boost their sensitivity to make the scene brighter internally, and focus from that image.

If you are dissatisfied with the focus speed of the X100S, I have read that the X100T is faster. At the same time, I am more than satisfied with the E-M5 and other m43 cameras for most street shooting. Some of the Oly primes, like the 12/2 and 17/1.8, have a very well implemented manual focus ring, which allows you to zone focus easily, too.

 

[xixi_gelly]

@Archiver ...many thanks for the 5D II comparison. There have been some instances when low light AF has gotten in the way leading to missed shots but it's acceptable.

@Bingley ...happy to hear the AF is quick relative to the Fujis. I've been thinking permanently fixing an Oly 17mm 1.8 on the body as an alternative to the X100 series and hoping it'll be much quicker. Not too fussed about missing out on the better image quality the Fuji APS-C could deliver - a moot point if the shutter won't fire when I click!

Thanks to both your opinions. Anyone else opt for a M4/3 over Fuji?

@xixi_gelly - I have the Oly E-M5, the Panasonic GH3, GH4, and GM1, as well as the original Fuji X100 with fully updated firmware. I also have a Canon 30D and 5D Mark II.

The E-M5 is very close to the AF speed of the Canon 30D. It's not as fast as the 5D II, although it is close enough to make very little difference. The E-M5 can focus in situations that the Canons find difficult, like very low light places with lowish contrast. I can never get the 30D or 5D II to focus properly in a very dark street, for example. The mirrorless cameras boost their sensitivity to make the scene brighter internally, and focus from that image.

If you are dissatisfied with the focus speed of the X100S, I have read that the X100T is faster. At the same time, I am more than satisfied with the E-M5 and other m43 cameras for most street shooting. Some of the Oly primes, like the 12/2 and 17/1.8, have a very well implemented manual focus ring, which allows you to zone focus easily, too.

 

[wojtek]

I've had Fuji X100, the first, original one. Even after all firmware updates it was slow as a mule; I became frustrated with it and sold it. EM5 (again, the first, original one) is super-fast. In fact, I think it's the faster-focusing camera I've had, certainly faster than my Nikon D610, for example. We're talking single-AF mode, I am not interested in servo and I have no need for it so didn't check.

When I think about it, EM5 is my all-time favourite, beaten only by the creme de la creme, ha ha, which is Olympus XA. 🙂

 

[Archiver]

@xixi_gelly - you're welcome. 🙂 As far as fixing the Oly 17/1.8 on the E-M5, that is a combination I often use, and the results are very nice. The 17/1.8 is sharper wide open than the X100/S/T, and while it doesn't have the close macro focus of the Fuji, it still focuses very close. You won't get quite the same shallowness of DoF from the Oly 17/1.8, but that is fine if you are shooting street, generally.

I also put the 17/1.8 on the GM1, and I like the way that sensor does colour more than the E-M5. Your preferences may be different, though.

Olympus face detection is very fast and accurate, and I always thought of face detection as a lazy person's gimmick until I tried the E-M5. It's pretty darn good, if that helps your decision.

 

[Contarama]

I think it is fun...

E-P3 and Makinon 200/4.5

 

[robert blu]

I'm still doing my homework's about m 4/3...that Pen is beautiful....🙂

Just found this and this, maybe interesting for someone...

robert

 

[xyz3450]

I'm still doing my homework's about m 4/3...that Pen is beautiful....🙂

Just found this and this, maybe interesting for someone...

robert

I like the m43s, especially as a small, light, travel go everywhere kind of camera.....

Olympus's EM5-II has weather sealing. Although it is an SLR design, so may not be to everyone's tastes. It does feel pretty solid though. With the olympus primes it is nicely balanced (e.g. the 25mm 18). I've used it with the 12-40mm pro, which turns out to be a good substitute for the primes if you don't mind the bigger form factor. Its still a lot more convenient to carry around relative to a digital SLR....

The links you cite suggest that buying the latest camera body might not be necessary for image quality. Given the depreciation on new camera bodies, unless you need, say, the Pen body right now there might well be some deals to be had towards the end of the year.....

 

[ASA 32]

I like my Panasonic m4/3 GH3. I have a couple of the Panasonic "Leica" prime lenses for it, and also a good collection of Canon FD lenses. For what I do, I'm happy with them. I don't have any other digital gear, having sold my Canon DSLR and lenses.

 

[FrozenInTime]

My interest has faded - no weather sealed primes :-(
The tipping point was the 17/1.8 :
If it had a bit higher IQ and been weather sealed, I would have remained enthusiastic.

 

[raid]

I really am quite satisfied with the image quality from my E-PL1 and E-P2 with some quality lenses. I switch back and forth each weekend between the M 4/3 duo and the M8/M9 duo. For landscape photography, I would most likely prefer using a MF camera to better capture tonality richness with slow film.

 

[Brian Atherton]

I dislike the 4:3 format. For me it's 3:2 or square.

That said I've never used a 4:3 format camera. The quality of images I seen look nice: punchy and sharp. Each to their own.

 

[sojournerphoto]

I failed to bond with 3 M4/3 bodies including, finally, a GX7. All made nice images, but I didn't really enjoy using them - I think this was a combination of the EVF's, manual focus I didn't enjoy or find easy enough and constantly cropping to 3:2 or 1:1.

I've just bought an XP2, which has the OVF I like in my rf's. It also focuses quickly and has well implemented manual focus support. As such it's heading in a very good direction.

Like Raid, I would rather shoot landscape on medium format film really.

 

[maggieo]

I shoot my OM-Ds in 3:2 format, FWIW. The E-M5 mkII is a great performer, especially with the Pana/Leica 25 Summilux and the Oly 45 1.8.

Summilux:


Whale Tail, Maui, February 12, 2016 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

Oly 45:


Drought-Stricken Waterfall, Maui, Hawaii, February 13, 2016 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

 

[sojournerphoto]

I shoot my OM-Ds in 3:2 format, FWIW. The E-M5 mkII is a great performer, especially with the Pana/Leica 25 Summilux and the Oly 45 1.8.

Summilux:


Whale Tail, Maui, February 12, 2016 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

Oly 45:


Drought-Stricken Waterfall, Maui, Hawaii, February 13, 2016 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

I really liked the 45, just didn't bond with the evf's.

The photographer was a particularly good performer to grab the first shot! Bravo.

 

[maggieo]

I really liked the 45, just didn't bond with the evf's.

The photographer was a particularly good performer to grab the first shot! Bravo.

Thank you! It was a magical day on the water, for certain.

I also like how the E-M5 mkII works with my 1980's Nikkor 105/2.5. The EVF makes focusing it easier than the first gen of the OM-D.

The 105 on the MkII:


Lilac Buds, March10, 2016 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

 

[gilgsn]

On the fence.

On the fence.

Hello,

I am still on the fence about Micro-4/3. I had an Olympus OM-D E-M5 with the kit lens, and while not as good quality wise as my X100S, it was good enough. Of course I did not try any good prime lenses, so I might be missing something. Same goes with the GM5 I just got. Very small and handy but the 12-32mm kit lens is very disappointing. Some call it pretty sharp, and that may be true at f5.6, but go to f16/f22 and the pictures are unusable. I plan on getting the Panasonic Leica 15mm hoping it will solve the quality problem.

P1000102-2 by Gil ., on Flickr. GM5 and 12-32mm.


Dozer by Gil ., on Flickr. OM-D E-M5 with 14-42? kit lens.

I think the M4/3 sensor size is at the edge of acceptable quality, for me at least, and does not tolerate bad lenses. I will play with it a bit more with better optics. So far, while I am not overly disappointed, I am not impressed either. Had my X100S not crapped out after 5K shots I would have waited and bought another one... We'll see.

BTW if someone could tell me how to both lock AF and exposure on the GM5 with the shutter button, that'd be great, because I can't find any way to do it, it only locks AF, and yes, I have read the manual...

Gil.