I am back after 18 days of Japan and using my Silver OM-D almost every single day in Japan!!!
Been real close and intimate with this very excellent camera and I absolutely love it! I think my wife was on holiday with me also, but I can't really remember.
Too tired to post pictures yet, but some quick comments to share:
1. The OM-D is fantastic! I can't say this enough, it is FANTASTIC! I absolutely LOVE this camera!
2. Paired with the Pana-Leica 25/1.4, this is a super combo! If there were laws that allow you to marry a camera and lens, I'd marry this combo right away and make babies with it. It is super sharp, beautiful bokeh, fast focus, works well at night.... what can I say but I DO?
3. I also had the Panasonic 7-14, and this proved to be the perfect lens to complement the 25/1.4 on holiday. The very wide angle of this lens is terrific for taking pics of landscapes, buildings etc. In fact I found myself often taking the same things with both lenses, just to have a different kind of perspective.
4. Saw some people slamming the 12-50 lens. Well, when you're on holiday, visiting DisneyLand and it starts to rain, then you'll know just how valuable a weather-proof system is. Yes, I've used my camera in rain, ice, snow, hot sun, sand..... whatever you could throw at it. It was a breeze! I got no fogging of the VF, but maybe because it was not hot and humid? I've put it on the snow on Mt Tateyama, placed it precariously on the surface of the water on Lake Fuji, shot in the pouring rain.... all without having to care that my camera would spoil.
Some little points to note, not really complaints but observations about this camera:
1. Get a spare battery! Especially if on holiday, you WILL need it! 1 battery doesn't last a whole day, no matter how prudent you are with usage. Even using only the EVF and turning off the camera often, 1 battery doesn't last. Lucky I was in Japan, so I could pop into Yodobashi camera and get a spare on my 2nd day there. Not cheap though, around $100.
2. Although the camera with 12-50 can be used in the rain, the lens does retain the water droplets, hence giving distortion. (if you know what I mean, not sure how to describe this) Someone should make some kind of a coating that makes the water run-off the lens. I'm not sure if a hood will help, but I did buy a hood from Yodobashi a few days ago just in case.
3. The 2 lugs at the sides of the camera do pose a bit of a problem. Especially with the included camera strap, they often got in the way when I tried to put my eye to the EVF.
4. I find that the auto-switch feature of the EVF was a bit too sensitive. In the end I turned it off and switched between LCD and EVF manually.
That's it for now, will post more observations and pictures later.
Please take my comments with a pinch of salt, I'm not a pro...... heck, I don't even think I qualify as an amateur. I'm just a normal guy who wanted a good camera for my important Japan trip and got a great and almost perfect camera for that role.
Edited:
Oh yah, before I forget, special mention goes out for my Billingham Hadley Pro bag and my Sirui T-025 Tripod. The Hadley Pro is an excellent bag that proved super useful whether on the streets of Tokyo or the snow of Mount Tateyama or even in the rain. The Sirui? What can I say? A full-sized tripod that you can carry in your coat pocket has got to be the most useful tripod of all time.
