The GetDPI Photography Forum

Great to see you here. Join our insightful photographic forum today and start tapping into a huge wealth of photographic knowledge. Completing our simple registration process will allow you to gain access to exclusive content, add your own topics and posts, share your work and connect with other members through your own private inbox! And don’t forget to say hi!

Olympus OM-D discussion

Jorgen Udvang

Subscriber Member
Hi Brian
These look pretty good, don't they . . . actually, I'd say they look rather spectacular
+1

This probably means that I sell all my Nikon gear except the F6 and a few primes. I have the OM-D on order and it's scheduled for late this month. I do need that Panasonic 35-100 though.
 

retow

Member
Very impressive indeed, to my eye at the 5N level. Coupled with the mft 12, 25, 45 premium primes, the OM-D looks like a compact power package. Unlike with the new Fuji, I feel some serious GAS attack brewing up.
 

Brian Mosley

New member
I have to say, the dpreview studio comparison was shockingly good for the E-M5. Can't wait to see the thing being used in the real world.

Cheers

Brian
 

biglouis

Well-known member
If I buy another m43rds body, or indeed if I stay in the m43rds camp any longer my most required feature is good results at iso1600-3200.

I've really started to get serious about bird photography. You can see some results in the 100-300 thread.

The biggest thing that lets me down at present is need the for fast aperture and a correspondingly high iso. Up to iso800 on the GH-2 results are good to acceptable. Above iso800 depending on light the results are acceptable to poor.

Looking at the Dpreview samples at iso3200 I'd say that EM-5 in comparison to the Pentax K-5 is not overwhelming when it comes to detail (imagine trying to resolve feathers on a bird) but still and improvement on the GH-2. However, not that much of an improvement and indeed all 3 cameras are marginal - which actually makes me feel good about remaining in the m43rds camp (i.e. the benefits of a move may only be marginal unless I go up to a D700/800 and some kind of completely unfeasible monster lens).

What I am saying is that I think I'll wait and see what Panasonic does to maintain its lead when it introduces its next generation camera. Or until I see some convincing high-iso EM-5 bird shots on Flickr or here.

If the next Panasonic camera is not that much better, I may feel like selling all my m43rds kit and going with Pentax or Nikon with an APS-C sensor - which would mean having to say goodbye to some very good lenses (like the 25/1.4 and 45/2.8).

Just my two cents.

Louis
 

Brian Mosley

New member
I guess it will also be interesting, from a birder's point of view to see how the new IBIS compares with OIS... and of course, you could consider longer legacy glass and get stabilisation there for free.

Only good for when you're shooting handheld, of course.

Cheers

Brian
 

Terry

New member
While lower megapixels, I would not rule out the Nikon 1 with adapter and a 70-200 VRII. The VR is spectacular, the lens is a great performer (optics), and you are shooting 2 stops faster. If you want longer reach there are relatively inexpensive lenses that go to 300mm (810mm) or you can lose a stop or so with a teleconverter.

Not sure if you are doing everything hand held, use a gimbal but I did find a really good custom tripod collar for the Panny 100-300 and the 70-200 has one standard.
 

Jorgen Udvang

Subscriber Member
This points to the only major weakness of m4/3 at the moment; large aperture, long lenses. A 150mm f/2.8 and a 300mm f/4 would be nice.

While lower megapixels, I would not rule out the Nikon 1 with adapter and a 70-200 VRII. The VR is spectacular, the lens is a great performer (optics), and you are shooting 2 stops faster. If you want longer reach there are relatively inexpensive lenses that go to 300mm (810mm) or you can lose a stop or so with a teleconverter.

Not sure if you are doing everything hand held, use a gimbal but I did find a really good custom tripod collar for the Panny 100-300 and the 70-200 has one standard.
 

biglouis

Well-known member
Thanks for all the ideas, guys.

I either shoot handheld, or with my monopod. Not doing anything with a tripod.

Terry, never thought about the Nikon 1 with the 70-200VR. That is an awesome idea - although I remain to be convinced about the quality of the Nikon 1 images. Must check that out.

Godfrey, and of course, good point about IBIS. That is an advantage I never thought of. Especially with legacy glass.

Jorgen, a wider aperture is not necessarily an advantage, imho. In fact I would love to shoot at a minimum >=f8 (more detail) and >=1/1000 (freeze action). Except on the sunniest days you need a high iso to get to these type of apertures and speeds. What I wouldn't mind is if Sigma introduced the 50-500 or 150-500 for m43rds. That would be very nice indeed.

LouisB
 

Terry

New member
This points to the only major weakness of m4/3 at the moment; large aperture, long lenses. A 150mm f/2.8 and a 300mm f/4 would be nice.
Yes. All Panny needs is a 300mm f4 and a 1.4x TC

I used ETC mode for smaller jpegs when I needed more reach in Kenya. I would have liked the reach in RAW without major cropping.
 

Jorgen Udvang

Subscriber Member
Jorgen, a wider aperture is not necessarily an advantage, imho. In fact I would love to shoot at a minimum >=f8 (more detail) and >=1/1000 (freeze action). Except on the sunniest days you need a high iso to get to these type of apertures and speeds. What I wouldn't mind is if Sigma introduced the 50-500 or 150-500 for m43rds. That would be very nice indeed.

LouisB
I would modify that to say "A wider aperture isn't necessarily an advantage always." But sometimes, it gets dark or I need a shallower DOF. Then it's great to have the option.

Actually, the need for a 150mm could be solved if Sigma made a m4/3 version of the 50-150/2.8, but so far, the new version isn't even available in other mounts.
 

biglouis

Well-known member
Jorgen, I agree. I wish Sigma would jump on the m43rds wagon properly. I always liked their lenses on Nikon kit. Well made, good IQ and good value. Maybe there are strong technical reasons why they cannot adapt them to m43rds?

LouisB
 

Jorgen Udvang

Subscriber Member
Jorgen, I agree. I wish Sigma would jump on the m43rds wagon properly. I always liked their lenses on Nikon kit. Well made, good IQ and good value. Maybe there are strong technical reasons why they cannot adapt them to m43rds?

LouisB
There might be problems with the AF, but on 4/3, some of their lenses work great. I have the 50/1.4 in 4/3 mount, and it's a great portrait lens for that format.
 

Brian Mosley

New member
No, I think the X-Pro 1 is out of the question - I've got too much invested in 4/3rds and m4/3rds glass... and the E-M5 sensor looks to be a reasonable step up.

Cheers

Brian
Oh Dear,

I had a chance to play with the X-Pro 1 yesterday... it may not entirely be out of the question :facesmack:

Feels like an upgraded X100 with interchangeable lenses, a beautiful camera to hold and use.

I'll be checking out the samples around the web with more interest... I'm still a bit worried about some smeary samples I've seen with pre-production bodies and lenses. The sensor deserves the best glass possible.

In fact, I suppose this reinforces my desire to see a successor to the X100 with the new Fuji sensor - no qualms about the quality of that lens.

Cheers

Brian
 

Tesselator

New member
I used it and wasn't really impressed. I felt it was a RF Poser's fashion camera. it does take pretty nice pics tho. :p

Also from further up I don't think I could ever call the build quality of Sigma lenses "good". Unless maybe I was comparing it to a Holga or something. Some of them have pretty good optical properties in spite of their build quality. In almost all cases Tamron and Tokina are better tho - still talking about IQ. I think Cosina is probably the best company around these days who are dealing with µ4/3. They made many of the Zeiss, Voigtlander and other famous lenses we all love so much and which actually do have a decent build quality. If I wanted to pay out for a 200mm or 300mm prime (or even a zoom) I would hope it would be one from them. Hopefully something in Superachromat or Apochromatic of speeds 2.5 or more. I recently tried the Cosina/Voigtlander APO Lanthar 125/2.5 Macro (1:1) and it was like using an entirely different camera. It was as if my GH1 had suddenly become a $3k pro body. I was amazed! It beat out every other Zeiss, all other Nikkors, Rokkors, Minoltas, Lumixes, Canons, Zuikos, Tamrons, Tokinas, and Sigmas I've ever tried. And I've tried most or the more famous ones. It was a clear smack-down, no questions! That's what we need. Another 200 or 300 from Sigma would likely only be a duplication of the extremely poor Lumix we already have. I want something nice!

With Cosina already making a few µ4/3 lenses in the Voigtlander family I would hope for a long lens from them - not Sigma.
 

shadzee

New member
Indeed. I've tried the Voigtlander APO Lanthar 125/2.5 Macro on a Pentax body, and it was out of this world ;-) I remember it was around $500 when they introduced a K-Mount version, and once they stopped making them, the price jumped three folds.
 

Jonas

Active member
Bif, the price of the CV125/2.5 is very much dependent on what mount is.

A Nikkor F-mount version is very desirable as it can be used with about any camera. The EF-mount is popular (pricey that is) as it is chipped and works as a native Canon lens. Some other mounts like the C/Y and OM usually goes for a little less. The PK-mount version is great for Pentax users but not as cool for anyone with a Canon or Nikon.

For us Nex, µ4/3 and/or 4/3 users they are all usable and it makes sense looking for anything but the EF mount version - something that may save us some money.

It is worth that much? For some perhaps. If the F-mount price, in your link, would be the only way to get the lens I would much rather buy the 100mm Elmarit or try the Sigma and benefit from some automation, or buy a Mamiya perhaps.
 

cjlacz

Member
Just got a call from Yodobashi and I can pick up my OM-D tomorrow morning when they open. This is the first camera/lens I've picked up new in such long time I'm kind of excited. Anything you'd like me to check out?
 

ggibson

Well-known member
I've rarely seen the OM-D pictured with other m4/3 lenses attached. Would you mind taking a few camera porn shots while your battery is charging? :D

Also, let us know your impressions of the touchscreen once you get it up and running.
 
Top