Any regrets after switching from DSLR to full M4/3 system?

[N-user]

if i may chip in my views.

i started off with a Canon 7D, had it for 2 years plus before i began to feel the bulk of the DSLR. weight was not the major issue, it was more of the size of the gears. there were times when i just want to bring a small camera out for dinner or leisure walk but i only had the 7D which means i need to lug a big bag along too.

then i turned my eye to the Olympus OM-D. it was a big mistake because i totally fell in love with it. :sweat: got it straight off and i must say it IS A JOY TO USE! the files that came out from the E-M5 can certainly go head to head with the 7D. going high ISO, i can say that at 3200, the E-M5 knock the socks off the 7D. the only reason why i kept the 7D was due to the fast PDAF and the brilliant 10-22 + 17-55 i had. the 17-55 was largely used to chase down my 2 years old niece and 10-22 for weekly landscapes work. the performance of the E-M5 was too close to that of the 7D(less the AF), putting form factor into the equation, no prize for guessing which camera got to see more action.

due to the pros of each system, i knew that i wanted to have a FF + m43 setup. so to widen the differences between both cameras, i sold the 7D for the awesome 5DMK3. truly a magnificent machine is the MK3, super fast + accurate AF and great high ISO performance up to 12800.

so now, i paired the 5DMK3 with the 16-35L II for landscapes stuffs, the 70-200L for portrait use and the 40 STM for small-ish walkabout setup. the E-M5 is mated to the Pany 20/f1.7 and Oly 45/f1.8, mainly for portrait and leisure usage.

it really boils down to what you want from your gears, by managing your expectations, it will be easier for you to come to a decision. if you can't, then buy both, like me!

And to think I thought I cured the itch for FF and you have to come here and talk about the setup that I wanted.... :embrass::sweat:

But agree that with OMD, the performance is so close to APSC DSLR, that one probably need to get a FF see a wider diff....... hmmm....

My ideal setup if I do go FF+M43 will be 12-35 + 35-100 for the OMD for general walk around and leisure shot and 35/50/85mm prime for portrait...... :lovegrin:

But now there is a GH3.....

 

[Agrivar]

And to think I thought I cured the itch for FF and you have to come here and talk about the setup that I wanted.... :embrass::sweat:

But agree that with OMD, the performance is so close to APSC DSLR, that one probably need to get a FF see a wider diff....... hmmm....

My ideal setup if I do go FF+M43 will be 12-35 + 35-100 for the OMD for general walk around and leisure shot and 35/5/85mm prime for portrait...... :lovegrin:

But now there is a GH3.....

Agree with the bros.. m4/3 is so close now to APS-C that no point going APS-C. The ideal kit seems to be m4/3 + FF (if you want the PDAF and thin DOF + best in class low light capability). But that means 2 systems which means more $$..

 

[N-user]

Bro, saw that you have the EPL5 and GH3.... hows the GH3 AF speed and ai servo speed?? OMD is not so good with the ai servo speed, wondering if GH3 is any better??

 

[jtan4]

It's a resounding NO for me. No regrets!! I used to have a Canon 7D with the whole array of L lens. When I travel for photography trips, the stuff I carry weighs so much!! I'm a petite female, 1.55m and I'm not muscular or anything. Imagine me carrying around the Think Tank Shapeshifter, it's like the bag carrying me rather than me carrying the bag.

Moreover, as I get older, because of all the typing I do at work, I started to have problems with my wrist and fingers. Carrying a DSLR with a L lens attached to it for almost the whole day made my wrist hurt..

Weight was always an issue for me... but I never thought that m4/3 system would be good enough to replace my dslr. So I tolerated and waited until the technology gets better.

When the OMD came out, I read all the reviews about it... All seemed to be good. But I still had my reservations. My hubby, on impulse, bought me my OMD because he was sick and tired of me alway reading the reviews and always wondering if it was good enough to replace. His logic was "buy it, use it and try it. If no good, then sell it..."

I started using it.. and once I got the hang of it.. my DSLR never left my dry cabinet. =) I went for a photography trip with the OMD, and use that trip as a test trip. It turned out to be an excellent trip in that I was able to take the photographs which I would normally take with my DSLR and the weight was just fantastic!!

After that trip, I sold all my Canon gear and became a full fledged m4/3 owner! =)

 

[Agrivar]

Bro, saw that you have the EPL5 and GH3.... hows the GH3 AF speed and ai servo speed?? OMD is not so good with the ai servo speed, wondering if GH3 is any better??

For stills or video? For Stills i think both are instantaneous. Just that the GH3 has slightly better AF in low light. It doesnt hunt as much. I think the EPL5/OMD EM5 (i rented one for a few days) hunts more in very dim lighting. But the difference is so slight you really have to test many many times side by side to feel it. I'm too lazy to do any scientific timing : )
For video, GH3 is spot on and faster..
Here's one for GH2 vs EM5. The GH3 is maybe 20% faster in AF

[video=youtube_share;zto_IOEPPl8]http://youtu.be/zto_IOEPPl8[/video]

 

[Agrivar]

Here is GH3 AF with the 12-35. Pretty much instantaneous

[video=youtube_share;LVAVA3eRUzk]http://youtu.be/LVAVA3eRUzk[/video]

 

[N-user]

Thank bro for the explanation.... looking more at Still...... not so much into Video... but like I say earlier.... GH3 might change all that.... ..... that is if I not bitten and murdered by FF bug yet.... :embrass:

 

[N-user]

His logic was "buy it, use it and try it. If no good, then sell it..."

I like your hubby logic...

 

[vengels]

chip in with my 2cents..

like the TS i was also using a DSLR before my daughter was born..
then realized that it was too heavy with milk bottles and all the barang barang so i decided to switch to m4/3..
but last year i switched to Fuji X-E1 with the 35mm lens and i really really enjoy this set-up.. :thumbsup:

IMO with TS's style of shooting and budget of 1K i personally think going to the BnS would be a good choice..
i have a soft spot for m4/3 cameras so i am always in the m4/3 forum and m4/3 BnS forum.. so when an opportunity to buy a cheap E-PM1 came i jumped at it.. paired with the excellent 20mm pancake it is really a very portable setup which delivers very good IQ.. and the total cost was around $600.. still with spare cash to buy another excellent len.. the 45mm F1.8..

personally i will not buy another DSLR..
partly because i mainly use primes and even the Nikon 5200 with 35mm F1.8 will be a giant when compared to my E-PM1 with 20mm..
some argue that DSLR AF faster and IQ better..
but m4/3 and even Fuji X-E1 AF fast enough for my usage which is quite similar to TS's intended use..

 

[N-user]

actually realise many bro are not into photography, usually is when they have a bb and u see them going out to get a dslr just to capture the moments.... but after a while, some will just stop and sell cause mainly due to the size and weight....but with advancement of m43 etc, its a godsend for this group of people....they will take more, bring out more and probably wont sell it off so fast.....

 

[Oly5050]

I switched from DSLR to my current m43 setup in 2011. Main reason for switching is due to the compactness and efficacy of the system. With only a small camera bag, I can fit my E-P3 with 20mm f/1.7 lens mounted, 45mm f/1.8 lens, blower, and wallet.

No doubt, a DSLR probably yields better IQ. But in terms of normal usage or as an enthusiast, owning an m43 system will suffice. I must admit, though, that I have thoughts of buying a DSLR again; but then... the weight bogs me down (pun unintended). External flash/UWA lens/fast zoom lens/prime lens/tripod... very heavy leh.

It's not a given that dslr will give better iq.

 

[Blitzkriegh]

Thank you for all your inputs. After careful thoughts and numerous research on reviews in the internet... ive gotten myself an OmD from fellow CSer.

 

[wackykid]

for me... i totally never use DSLR because i'm a sucker for smaller devices when i'm on the move (i go for smaller phones too) ... cos i know if i buy DSLR it'll become a white elephant and i'll totally regret it...

hence i went straight to m4/3... no regrets...


regards,
wacky

 

[Agrivar]

Thank you for all your inputs. After careful thoughts and numerous research on reviews in the internet... ive gotten myself an OmD from fellow CSer.

You might want to read this. Good quick setup guide.

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/9115179666/user-guide-getting-the-most-out-of-the-olympus-e-m5

 

[kitaro9202]

i got both sometime lazy bring dslr go out bring m43 go take photo

 

[jackaroo77]

hi all, been trying to research on if EPL5 can use back Canon dslr third-party lens like Sigma. I believe need to get an adaptor but will it lose AF?

Or is it advisable to get those lens for m4/3 mount? I only know Nex is possible with adaptor and still hav AF.

 

[wonglp]

hi all, been trying to research on if EPL5 can use back Canon dslr third-party lens like Sigma. I believe need to get an adaptor but will it lose AF?

Or is it advisable to get those lens for m4/3 mount? I only know Nex is possible with adaptor and still hav AF.

There's sigma m43 mount lenses like 19/2.8 & 30/2.8, no adapter required and has full control. There's no AF for other 3rd party lenses that I know, only metabones makes for ef-nex but not m43. Even so, I doubt the AF is fast on nex. Ebay adaptors you will lose AF, aperture control and exif. Kipon had some rumors of it a while back but don't think available yet.

 

[Agrivar]

hi all, been trying to research on if EPL5 can use back Canon dslr third-party lens like Sigma. I believe need to get an adaptor but will it lose AF?

Or is it advisable to get those lens for m4/3 mount? I only know Nex is possible with adaptor and still hav AF.

There are quite a few on eBay with built in aperture control on the adapter. But only ef lenses not efs. And MF

 

[Blitzkriegh]

Hey Guys, after 2weeks playing with my OMD and utilizing the kit lens, prime lenses... I can confidently answer back my question which I posted last month...

I have no regrets in switching from DSLR to M43 system.

The quality is superb and was blown away with IQ which sometimes you can only achieve in "L" or FX lenses

 

[Agrivar]

Hey Guys, after 2weeks playing with my OMD and utilizing the kit lens, prime lenses... I can confidently answer back my question which I posted last month...

I have no regrets in switching from DSLR to M43 system.

The quality is superb and was blown away with IQ which sometimes you can only achieve in "L" or FX lenses

Congrats on your discovery journey !