jonoslack
Active member
Hi There
Just a little pre-amble.
Each september we go to Crete for a fortnight - these were my pictures from last year:
Pictures of Crete
taken with a Leica M8 (or was it two ).
This year I would like to take an SLR, so I was trying to decide whether to take the D700 or the E3. Worth mentioning that we do lots of walking, and I like to carry all the kit with me . . . . and it's hot!
I wanted to try and carry from 14-300mm (equivalent) with me, plus a reasonable close up facility, which would have meant either:
D700 / 14-24 / 24-70 / 70-300 + 105 macro (none of the other lenses are really close enough)
or
E3 / 7-14 / 12-60 / 50-200 . . I could take the 50 macro, but probably don't need it as the 12-60 is okay for the stuff I do.
The Nikon kit was too heavy, and as a lot of people had sung the praises of the humble 18-35 (£350) I thought I'd have a go with that instead of the big 14-24 . . so I bought one . . this was cheap plastic lens number 1.
I took it out for a 'test run' . . . and the edges and corners were dreadful - even stopped down a bit, so that was a write off - basically I decided to take the E3 kit - smaller, lighter and weatherproof . . . not that the Nikon gear ISN'T weatherproof, but that if it leaks, then that's tough . . . if the Olympus gear leaks . . .then they fix it!
I was then left with the problem of what to do with the 18-35 nikkor hmmm - I could have had a credit note, but, on a whim, I exchanged it for:
Zuiko 70-300 (enter cheap plastic lens number 2).
2 spare batteries
1 skylight filter for son
1 new high speed card reader.
I don't really do a great deal of telephoto, and I thought the light and cheap Olympus might be fun . . . WOW is it fun!
Of course, to some extent you get what you pay for - it isn't a miracle, and I've got sharper lenses, but, sharp as it is, it's sharp to the corners, it makes as a great bug catcher! It took it out for a couple of hours this afternoon, and obviously there is some learning,
The point of this tale?
Well; there are lots of splendid things about a full frame camera (low light, pp options, we all know the answers).
However 4/3 design means that even cheap and cheerful lenses can come up with the goods , whereas full frame really does put a strain on anything but the very best, heaviest and most expensive lenses.
here are some first attempts with the REALLY cheap and plastic Olympus 70-300 . . . remember, that the equivalent is 140-600!!!:
this means that you are getting a useable IS 600mm f5.6 lens for . . erm . . £275! Added to which it focuses down to 1metre . . . bonkers!
all the best (and apologies if you think this is a silly post)
--
Jono Slack
http://www.slack.co.uk
Just a little pre-amble.
Each september we go to Crete for a fortnight - these were my pictures from last year:
Pictures of Crete
taken with a Leica M8 (or was it two ).
This year I would like to take an SLR, so I was trying to decide whether to take the D700 or the E3. Worth mentioning that we do lots of walking, and I like to carry all the kit with me . . . . and it's hot!
I wanted to try and carry from 14-300mm (equivalent) with me, plus a reasonable close up facility, which would have meant either:
D700 / 14-24 / 24-70 / 70-300 + 105 macro (none of the other lenses are really close enough)
or
E3 / 7-14 / 12-60 / 50-200 . . I could take the 50 macro, but probably don't need it as the 12-60 is okay for the stuff I do.
The Nikon kit was too heavy, and as a lot of people had sung the praises of the humble 18-35 (£350) I thought I'd have a go with that instead of the big 14-24 . . so I bought one . . this was cheap plastic lens number 1.
I took it out for a 'test run' . . . and the edges and corners were dreadful - even stopped down a bit, so that was a write off - basically I decided to take the E3 kit - smaller, lighter and weatherproof . . . not that the Nikon gear ISN'T weatherproof, but that if it leaks, then that's tough . . . if the Olympus gear leaks . . .then they fix it!
I was then left with the problem of what to do with the 18-35 nikkor hmmm - I could have had a credit note, but, on a whim, I exchanged it for:
Zuiko 70-300 (enter cheap plastic lens number 2).
2 spare batteries
1 skylight filter for son
1 new high speed card reader.
I don't really do a great deal of telephoto, and I thought the light and cheap Olympus might be fun . . . WOW is it fun!
Of course, to some extent you get what you pay for - it isn't a miracle, and I've got sharper lenses, but, sharp as it is, it's sharp to the corners, it makes as a great bug catcher! It took it out for a couple of hours this afternoon, and obviously there is some learning,
The point of this tale?
Well; there are lots of splendid things about a full frame camera (low light, pp options, we all know the answers).
However 4/3 design means that even cheap and cheerful lenses can come up with the goods , whereas full frame really does put a strain on anything but the very best, heaviest and most expensive lenses.
here are some first attempts with the REALLY cheap and plastic Olympus 70-300 . . . remember, that the equivalent is 140-600!!!:
this means that you are getting a useable IS 600mm f5.6 lens for . . erm . . £275! Added to which it focuses down to 1metre . . . bonkers!
all the best (and apologies if you think this is a silly post)
--
Jono Slack
http://www.slack.co.uk