Comments on: Moving to Micro Four-Thirds https://mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2011/10/moving-to-micro-four-thirds A running commentary of occasionally interesting things — from Mike Davidson. Thu, 26 May 2016 06:34:25 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 By: Humaira https://mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2011/10/moving-to-micro-four-thirds#comment-88086 Mon, 12 Nov 2012 11:53:26 +0000 https://mikeindustries.com/blog/?p=10542#comment-88086 Hi Mike,
I was looking at purchasing my first ever DSLR as a hobbie, until your last article on DSLRs linked me to this article.
My budget is around $800. Are you able to give me some advice on which camera you think would be best for this price range. I really want something that will be great quality at night with no flash.

Your help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Humaira

]]> By: A Rookie Guide to Digital SLR Cameras | Mike Industries https://mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2011/10/moving-to-micro-four-thirds#comment-82499 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:26:22 +0000 https://mikeindustries.com/blog/?p=10542#comment-82499 […] to Micro 4/3rds cameras — which I believe to be a better alternative to most DSLRS — here.Like this entry? You can follow me on Twitter here, subscribe via email here, or get the RSS feed […]

]]> By: Chris https://mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2011/10/moving-to-micro-four-thirds#comment-81021 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 10:56:11 +0000 https://mikeindustries.com/blog/?p=10542#comment-81021 hi Mike, Totally agree. Have been thinking of doing the same. Fed up of carrying huge bulky camera and lenses around. Just need to speak to the bank manager now.

]]> By: Steve https://mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2011/10/moving-to-micro-four-thirds#comment-81015 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 08:24:31 +0000 https://mikeindustries.com/blog/?p=10542#comment-81015 I recently switched from a DSLR camera to a Micro Four Thirds camera. At first I wanted to buy the Panasonic GF1, but it was so hard to get. In the end I bought Panasonic GF3 with the 14mm pancake lens. The camera is small but capable.

I wrote a short story about it here. http://steverandytantra.com/thoughts/my-photography-style

And a photo I took with it. http://steverandytantra.com/photos/an-airplane-window

]]> By: Mike D. https://mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2011/10/moving-to-micro-four-thirds#comment-81009 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:53:39 +0000 https://mikeindustries.com/blog/?p=10542#comment-81009 Daniel: That looks like a really nice lens. Expensive at $599 and quite a bit larger than the f/1.7 pancake, but lookin’ good. I might set up an eBay alert for one :)

]]> By: Daniel J. Wilson https://mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2011/10/moving-to-micro-four-thirds#comment-81008 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 23:17:23 +0000 https://mikeindustries.com/blog/?p=10542#comment-81008 I opted for a Micro Four-Thirds (GF2) over a DSLR for the portability.

Mike, there is a f/1.4 MFT lens: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/768816-REG/Panasonic_H_X025_Leica_DG_Summilux_25.html

]]> By: Mike D. https://mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2011/10/moving-to-micro-four-thirds#comment-81007 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 21:54:45 +0000 https://mikeindustries.com/blog/?p=10542#comment-81007 Aaron: I agree that the APS-C DSLRs still perform marginally better than M43. My conclusion was just that those gains aren’t worth the extra size and weight to me. An Olympus E-PL3 weighs 265 grams and is 37mm thick. A Canon Rebel is 570 grams and 80mm thick. So basically, one is more than twice the size and weight of the other… which to me, is a big deal.

With the full-frame comparison, I’ll take your word on the differences there. I do agree there are APS-C cameras (like the Nikon D5100, for instance) which perform excellently in low-light. So much so that the difference between it and a full-framer may not be worth the price.

]]> By: Aaron Alfano https://mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2011/10/moving-to-micro-four-thirds#comment-81006 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 21:47:01 +0000 https://mikeindustries.com/blog/?p=10542#comment-81006 I disagree with your conclusions about APS-C sensor DSLRs. Starting at around $600 new, you can get a compact APS-C DSLR with a built in optical viewfinder that will almost certainly have faster autofocus and better low light performance than ANY M43 camera, as well as a much larger selection of lenses. Yes, they are bigger, but they aren’t that much heavier if you choose something like the Canon Rebel or Nikon D40/D60/D3000/D3100 series.

The only thing you give up by choosing an APS-C sensor DSLR over a full frame model is low light performance and the nice big viewfinder. Otherwise, the performance is the same and the cost is a fraction of a full frame model.

]]> By: Mike D. https://mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2011/10/moving-to-micro-four-thirds#comment-81004 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:50:16 +0000 https://mikeindustries.com/blog/?p=10542#comment-81004 Here’s a sample shot I took while driving a boat. Hand held, 200mm zoom, and the boat was rocking all over the place. I still can’t believe how sharp it turned out.

]]> By: Mike D. https://mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2011/10/moving-to-micro-four-thirds#comment-81003 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:48:15 +0000 https://mikeindustries.com/blog/?p=10542#comment-81003 Scott: Yeah, I thought about the Sony. I like it. I just really like the idea of interchangeable lenses across brands though. I think if there’s anything that would make me switch systems at this point, it would be a huge advance in low-light capabilities. I really do miss the f/1.4 quite a bit.

Aaron: I think the only time I notice a sacrifice in quality is in very low-light situations. There is just no beating that f/1.4 lens. It pains me that I don’t have quite that capability anymore, but the fact that I’m actually willing and able to take a real camera with me on more occasions now makes up for it.

]]> By: Tracy https://mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2011/10/moving-to-micro-four-thirds#comment-81002 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:26:41 +0000 https://mikeindustries.com/blog/?p=10542#comment-81002 Very nice review. I recently had a small “accident” with my D90, and decided to buy an M43 instead of paying to have the D90 fixed (at least right away). I chose the Olympus E-PL2. I chose Olympus over Panasonic because of the built in image stabilization. I chose the E-PL2 over the E-PL3 because of price. (I had to justify the cost to my husband. *grin*). However, since then I have purchased the viewfinder (I live in sunny AZ) and the Panny 20mm. Now, how can I convince him I need a longer zoom? I love this camera! I haven’t missed my D90 or my Canon S90 P&S yet, and everyone who sees it wants one of their own.

]]> By: Aaron Pressman https://mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2011/10/moving-to-micro-four-thirds#comment-81001 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:24:29 +0000 https://mikeindustries.com/blog/?p=10542#comment-81001 Mike, Very interesting post. I was wondering if you have actually used the camera much and compared the picture quality to your old D-SLR? I considered making a similar move from an aging Canon APS-C camera a few years ago and the reviews of most 4/3 cameras seemed to indicate a noticeable loss of picture quality, speed and flexibility to shoot in all conditions. Like here for example http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/PanasonicGF1/page33.asp
Wondering about your experiences in the field with the new camera. Thanks.
-Aaron

]]> By: Scott G. Lewis https://mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2011/10/moving-to-micro-four-thirds#comment-81000 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:21:48 +0000 https://mikeindustries.com/blog/?p=10542#comment-81000 Have you thought of the new Sony NEX line? The lenses are a bit bigger, although the pancake is still pretty svelte. The body itself is no bigger than the EP-3 and it has a full(er) APS-C sensor.

]]> By: Mark https://mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2011/10/moving-to-micro-four-thirds#comment-80999 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:34:42 +0000 https://mikeindustries.com/blog/?p=10542#comment-80999 Good writeup. I did the same thing myself: sold the DSLR kit on eBay and picked up an E-P2 on clearance when the E-P3 was released. I’m using it with the 14/2.5 from Panasonic, although it was a toss-up between that one and the 20/1.7. It would be nice to see a built-in viewfinder, but I’m finding that using the LCD can pretty freeing in terms of composition. One thing that I’ve found is that shooting video with these m4/3rds cameras is a whole lot less cumbersome than on a DSLR.

]]> By: Luciano https://mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2011/10/moving-to-micro-four-thirds#comment-80975 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 08:04:56 +0000 https://mikeindustries.com/blog/?p=10542#comment-80975 Awesome choice! I have a GF1 myself, I had a hard time trying to choose between that and the Olympus PL1. Currently there is a firmware hack on the internet that allows manual movie modes (the factory default is automatic only) and many quality improvements.

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