Mirrorless ILC Photography and Gear Thread

Olympus launched the OM-D E-M10. It is not an "upgrade" to the E-M5 but an low level OM-D, make the 5 the mid level and 1 the top tier camera.

It's smaller than the 5 and only has 3-axis rather than 5-axis IBIS, and loses weather sealing but other than that it would make a great super compact travel camera.

 

D7100 & 35mm f/1.8, X-T1 & 35mm f/1.4, OM-D E-M10 & 45mm f/1.8 (same size as new 25mm f/1.8)
All 50mm equivalents:

 

I received an update from Olympus a few days ago and was reading a little about it. Pre orders available on B&H. $699 for body.

 

GAH!!! I thought I was ready to pull the trigger on the EM-1 as soon as my tax return drops, but now I'm not sure what to do!

 

The scoop is pretty much speed vs IQ.

The Olympus will give you faster AF speed.

The Fujifilm will give you better low light/high ISO noise performance and IQ.

Also the Olympus has smaller lenses

BUT the Fuji has some awesome FAST primes like the 56mm f/1.2

So basically you have an IQ machine or a speed machine.

Personally, the way Fuji treats their customer and offers constant updates I know that they're autofocus speed can keep getting faster and faster.
The Olympus on the other hand, it's sensor isn't getting any bigger ha

I haven't tested the Fuji yet but I can tell you I LOVED everything about the OM-D E-M1 except for one thing, the noise at high ISO wasn't too great. If you plan on shooting in good light most of the time you'll be fine.
I for one am sold on Fuji on a lot of levels and just have to test them first before I make my final decision. Retro controls, low light capability that is in Full Frame territory, good updated and support, INNOVATIVE sensor technology rather than exactly what everyone else is doing, and epic PRIMES (I am 100% a Prime lens guy) all of these reasons and more make me want to switch to Fuji. The only thing I'm waiting on is my test model to show up so I can get hands on experience before making a final decision.

I guarantee you the E-M1 would have been enough for me and will likely be enough for you, however the files just never jumped out at me as anything special. They were ridiculously sharp at low ISO, but they never had much depth or dynamic range and the noise in low light was a bit much for me personally. IMO the Fuji is what the Nikon Df, Sony A7 and Olympus E-M1 should have been. On paper they really hit the nail on the head "for me" so we shall see if that stands true in hands.

I really did love that Olympus though, man. It's not like you'd be making a "wrong" choice either way. You just have to weigh your needs.

Speed and small lenses or IQ and low light. Both are pretty phenomenal.

 

Honestly the unlimited money / perfect set up for me would be:

Fuji X-T1, 14mm 2.8, 35mm 1.4, and 56mm 1.2 as my "big" workhorse,

and then

Oly E-M10, 14mm 2.5, 25mm 1.8, and 45mm 1.8 as my "tiny" fun camera.


BUT, alas, I am not overly wealthy . . . ha

 

Also, for those of you who shoot micro 4:3, here is the new Olympus 25mm f/1.8 next to their existing 45mm f/1.8 lens.



From what I've read it is pretty much on par with the 45mm, some saying it offers a little better contrast.


It would make the PERFECT travel combo with the 12mm f/2, 25mm f/1.8 and 45mm f/1.8 like so:

 

I've been shooting primarily film the last two weeks except for my weekly challenge entry and it takes a week per roll and another week to send them off to be processed and scanned to a disc ha so I have nothing to share either.

Why can't life be an endless adventure worth photographing, eh? Haha

 

What lenses are you shooting with Hagen?

The 35mm 1.8 and 10-18 appealed to me when I was considering a NEX-6. Just curious.

 

I've read great things about the Sigma 19 and 30, especially for how much less expensive they are than the native lenses. You have the 55-210 in mind or have they come out with something else? I haven't followed Sony in a little while?

 

Keep an eye out here soon. Feb will be the month of discounts and deals since a bunch of new stuff is being released. You may be able to get a good discount.

 

Word. I spend little to nothing when I can so when I want something I don't feel so bad "wasting" money haha

You sure do get work done with just that 30mm equivalent prime. Just goes to show what you can do with what you've got.

I've often said that being "limited" is an advantage in some cases, especially with art. If I just have my 50mm equivalent prime and a camera that doesn't do a couple things I want I suddenly have to get real creative and outside my box in order to make a shot happen ha

hopefully we can all get some more photos in here soon. I've been really busy but I have an idea for this symmetry challenge.

 

Are there any old buildings or architecture there? Typically a downtown area, capitol building, court house, library . . . something has to have some history ha

 

Ah, yeah you'll have to reach out of the typical for this one. That wide lens close to a face with a lot of character could make for a cool symmetrical photo. Hmm, I don't know the area ha I have a few ideas for here but don't know if I'll have time or daylight for it. Wyoming isn't exactly known to be architecture/building central ha outside the box it is. Probably better that way.

 

Well, I went and did it. Found a pretty good deal on an Oly OM-D E-M1 and pulled the trigger!

The body has only 150 actuations, and includes the 12-40mm f2.8 Pro weather sealed lens. Paid $2,100 shipped. Realistically, I couldn't wait for the Fuji, and after playing with an E-M1 at a local shop, I decided it was time to stop balking and bite the bullet.

I'm sure it will be plenty of camera for my needs, and although I typically shot primes with my Canon setup, I wanted a weather sealed walkaround lens to start off with. Part of the reason my DSLR setup was cumbersome was that I found myself missing shots while I changed lenses. Not to mention carrying 50 pounds of glass is quite the task when camping, snowboarding, etc. I'm sure I'll add a fast prime like the Panasonic/Leica 25mm f1.4, and definitely the Rokinon 7.5mm fisheye shortly, as well as a telephoto for shooting surfing.

I'm crazy excited to get my hands on it and start filling up the SD cards!

 

Awesome, man. I was able to use 6 of the lenses when I borrowed it and am a major research nerd haha so let me know of you need anything lens related.

The Pana/Leica 25mm 1.4 was probably my most used lens because I love the 50mm focal length but if price and size are a concern don't rule out the new Olympus 25mm 1.8 since it is smaller and less expensive. That and the 45mm 1.8 would be my bread and butter. The 45 was ridiculously sharp. Many of the portraits on my Flickr were taken with the 45. It's a literal must have IMO haha

 

Also writing papers and studying . . . Ode to Joy.

 

For all you Sony lovers out there, the new Sony Alpha A6000 launched just about an hour ago. New 24mp sensor with it's phase detect points spread all over the sensor instead of just the middle. (rumor is possible that the Fuji X200 may be using the same sensor).

Seems to be a hair smaller than the NEX-6/7 that it replaces and has some pretty nice AF upgrades, etc but not really a necessary upgrade by any means. If anyone was just getting into Sony APS-C system this looks like the best bet though. (Always wait and save money ). In my opinion I'd take this over the A7/A7R for better feature set and AF alone.

Here's a few articles on it:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/sony-a6000/sony-a6000A.HTM

http://www.theverge.com/2014/2/11/5...0-mirrorless-camera-faster-better-and-smaller

http://www.thephoblographer.com/2014/02/11/first-impressions-sony-a6000/

 

Did I mention the thing is only 6freaking50 to preorder. When price drops in a few months it will easily be the most affordable and best Sony IMO ha I don't know how the entry price is so cheap but it will get sales for sure when comparing the the Fuji X-T1 (1,300) and Olympus OM-D E-M1 (1,400). You could get a Sony A6000 and a couple lenses for those prices.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...lce6000_b_alpha_a6000_mirrorless_digital.html