Which to choose! Micro4/3 or DSLR

[vitasoya]

I am planning to get a camera this year end. I am considering either a EOS 550D or the OLYMPUS EP3.
I've read the sticky on which cam to buy, but my real question is :

Should I buy a DSLR or just invest a MICRO 4/3


Things that make me ponder
1) would I put it aside after few months?

2) is it safe to travel with it? It's so big

3) Would I spend on lens, accessories, bags, dry cabinet, etc.

4) Micro 4/3 cameras drop alot.

Would appreciate your help and advise.

Thanks.

 

[SkyStrike]

1) would I put it aside after few months?
It's totally up to how you want to keep your interest in this hobby. So, god knows :dunno:

2) is it safe to travel with it? It's so big
See where you travel lor...

3) Would I spend on lens, accessories, bags, dry cabinet, etc.
I will recommend at least a dry cabinet. But eventually you MAY get alot of other stuffs (bags/lens), thou I know of people who are happy with kit lens already.

4) Micro 4/3 cameras drop alot.
??? price or literally drop on floor?

Please refer to words in blue..

 

[donut88]

Do u mind the weight of Dslr? It can be heavy to carry ard.

 

[zeehamzah]

I am planning to get a camera this year end. I am considering either a EOS 550D or the OLYMPUS EP3.
I've read the sticky on which cam to buy, but my real question is :

Should I buy a DSLR or just invest a MICRO 4/3

Things that make me ponder
1) would I put it aside after few months?

2) is it safe to travel with it? It's so big

3) Would I spend on lens, accessories, bags, dry cabinet, etc.

4) Micro 4/3 cameras drop alot.

Would appreciate your help and advise.

Thanks.

Hi, After you've read the stickies, I think the fina, decision is still up to you.

answers for your question (IMO)
1) this is entirely up to your own decision. You have to see how and what you use it for. even if you buy a normal camera, is it even possible will you put it aside after months of usage.

2) again, this is up to you too. even with the smallest camera, the bad guys would still be able to snatch it from you.

3)again... this is up to you again. if you find a need to invest then go ahead, but my advice will be, use your kit lens (lens that come together) to its fullest potential. practice on your lightings, composition etc. remember, the camera is your tool, what important is the person behind it..

anyway all the above are just my opinion.

 

[wedoodle]

I am planning to get a camera this year end. I am considering either a EOS 550D or the OLYMPUS EP3.
I've read the sticky on which cam to buy, but my real question is :

Should I buy a DSLR or just invest a MICRO 4/3


Things that make me ponder
1) would I put it aside after few months?

Depends on your enthusiasm is still there.

2) is it safe to travel with it? It's so big

Its a common item these days.

3) Would I spend on lens, accessories, bags, dry cabinet, etc.

Dry cabinet/bags/accessories/tripods are a one time expenditure (most likely). U will tend to spend more on lens for different exposure/focal lengh.

4) Micro 4/3 cameras drop alot.

It will drop eventually whether is the price or the physical camera.

 

[AnsQ]

I am planning to get a camera this year end. I am considering either a EOS 550D or the OLYMPUS EP3.
I've read the sticky on which cam to buy, but my real question is :

Should I buy a DSLR or just invest a MICRO 4/3


Things that make me ponder
1) would I put it aside after few months?

2) is it safe to travel with it? It's so big

3) Would I spend on lens, accessories, bags, dry cabinet, etc.

4) Micro 4/3 cameras drop alot.

Would appreciate your help and advise.

Thanks.

1) I think....only you yourself will know this answer....think about the reasons why you want to get a dSLR in the first place....then think about whether these reasons will sustain or inhibit your usage of it after a few months....i would suggest you think carefully the pros and cons before committing to a decision....

2) It's safe to travel with....as long as you take proper care of it....

3) You should....but since it is your own money....no one will know whether you will want to spend or not better than yourself....

4) Not sure about this....

 

[rhino123]

I am planning to get a camera this year end. I am considering either a EOS 550D or the OLYMPUS EP3.
I've read the sticky on which cam to buy, but my real question is :

Should I buy a DSLR or just invest a MICRO 4/3


Things that make me ponder
1) would I put it aside after few months?

2) is it safe to travel with it? It's so big

3) Would I spend on lens, accessories, bags, dry cabinet, etc.

4) Micro 4/3 cameras drop alot.

Would appreciate your help and advise.

Thanks.

Most of the questions asked... was a mystery to all of us here.

1) would I put it aside after few months?
Ans: How in the world do you expect anyone of us to know? If we tell you you will still be shooting lots of photos in a few months and it turn out that you have lost interest for whatever reasons, so how?

2) is it safe to travel with it? It's so big
Ans: it is not the size of the cam. A diamond ring is small, was it safe to travel in dark alleyways? I have seen people with Leica M9 travelling all over the world without any issues at all. It all depend on yourself and how to protect your property.

3) Would I spend on lens, accessories, bags, dry cabinet, etc.
Ans: Again... how in the world do we know? I have seen people with kit lenses and thats it... and I have seen people with cabinets full of lenses, accessories and stuffs. It all depend on what you want to shoot and if your current lens limits you in anyway.

4) Micro 4/3 cameras drop alot.
Ans: Older generation micro 4/3 cameras are cheaper for very obvious reasons. And newer one like the EP3 are not exactly that cheap either. For that type of price, you can get a budget DSLR easily (note: Canon, Pentax, Sony and Nikon all offer budget DSLRs that cost the same or cheaper as compare to newer generation Micro4/3).

And if you mean literally dropping it to the ground... don't. Even with a D3s or a 1D... don't ever drop your cam.

 

[DoorKeeper]

Hi vitasoya, I went with Micro 4/3 and am enjoying having a small-ish camera everywhere I go. In my car, on holidays, in my normal backpack. The picture quality is excellent for casual users like me and I am starting to experiment with different lenses that have M43 adapters.

 

[Deadly]

Hi vitasoya, I went with Micro 4/3 and am enjoying having a small-ish camera everywhere I go. In my car, on holidays, in my normal backpack. The picture quality is excellent for casual users like me and I am starting to experiment with different lenses that have M43 adapters.

DoorKeeper, what gear did you buy? I'm going to M43 too. Looking at Sony NEX 5N, Nikon V1 or the Panny GX1.

 

[rhino123]

DoorKeeper, what gear did you buy? I'm going to M43 too. Looking at Sony NEX 5N, Nikon V1 or the Panny GX1.

Just to get it right... Sony NEX 5N and Nikon V1 is not M43... Sony NEX 5N is APS-C mirrorless camera and Nikon V1 had a smaller sensor as compared to the m43.

All three - Panasonic GX1, Sony NEX 5N and Nikon V1 are mirrorless cameras and all the three of them have different sized sensor... of which Nikon's offering is the smallest size sensor, next was Panasonics' m43 sensor and finally Sony NEX 5N which had the largest sensor among the three.

 

[Deadly]

Just to get it right... Sony NEX 5N and Nikon V1 is not M43... Sony NEX 5N is APS-C mirrorless camera and Nikon V1 had a smaller sensor as compared to the m43.

All three - Panasonic GX1, Sony NEX 5N and Nikon V1 are mirrorless cameras and all the three of them have different sized sensor... of which Nikon's offering is the smallest size sensor, next was Panasonics' m43 sensor and finally Sony NEX 5N which had the largest sensor among the three.

Thanks for your correction. Shows that I'm still a noob on this. What you advise I go for if I'm looking for an upgrade from Point & Shoot? Panny GX1?

 

[rhino123]

Thanks for your correction. Shows that I'm still a noob on this. What you advise I go for if I'm looking for an upgrade from Point & Shoot? Panny GX1?

Depending on what you would want to shoot and your budget.

All the three listed mirrorless are good cameras... Sony NEX 5N theoretically had the best noise control in high ISO due to the fact that it had the largest sensor in the batch. However IQ is one thing (very important though), but you would need to look into the following too,

1) features (frame rates, video mode, etc)
2) Ergonomic (button placement, grip or lack of grip design, menu user interface, etc)
3) Weigh
4) budget
5) What is the type of photography you want to go into, landscape, wildlife, sport, lowlight, etc

BTW... I don't think the GX1 is out yet (not sure though).

 

[Deadly]

Depending on what you would want to shoot and your budget.

All the three listed mirrorless are good cameras... Sony NEX 5N theoretically had the best noise control in high ISO due to the fact that it had the largest sensor in the batch. However IQ is one thing (very important though), but you would need to look into the following too,

1) features (frame rates, video mode, etc)
2) Ergonomic (button placement, grip or lack of grip design, menu user interface, etc)
3) Weigh
4) budget
5) What is the type of photography you want to go into, landscape, wildlife, sport, lowlight, etc

BTW... I don't think the GX1 is out yet (not sure though).

GX1 akan datang only. Thanks for your comment. May instead buy a 2nd hand one to play with first. Will look around BnS first.

 

[rhino123]

GX1 akan datang only. Thanks for your comment. May instead buy a 2nd hand one to play with first. Will look around BnS first.

Actually... no need to buy first. Go down to Courts and Harvey Norman, ask the salesperson to show you your shortlisted cameras and tested it there... pay no heed to what the salesmen and women there say in these superstores though, but take note of the prices (they are normally suggested retail prices). Shortlist a couple of these cameras that you feel best about... then go down to the reputable stores and buy from them or go to BnS and check price if really want second hand.

 

[An drew]

Since you ask the question this way, the answer is m4/3.

 

[Nobodyknow]

So after test out all camera go where to buy??

 

[rhino123]

So after test out all camera go where to buy??

Look at our priceguide section, there is a list of shops in each sub-section. This list of shops are the more reputable ones that many of us had been visiting for our photography needs.

Also... please call them, write emails, etc and request for a quotation first before going down to buy the product that you want. That is to prevent getting the goods that are more expensive than another shop... then come back to the forum and complain (we have been seeing, reading and hearing lots of these stories).

 

[ijnek]

i used to hv a dslr d90 with lenses , grips n flash.
bring them out on a trip is tough(big backpack etc), especially when i hv to look after 2 kids...

recently change to m4/3 and lovin it so far for the small size and ease of bring everything around.

the best camera is the 1 that you hv to take pics.
otherwise, it would b useless.

enjoy

 

[snapcroc]

if you are starting out, I would suggest to get M4/3 camera. Biggest deterrent to a newbie is the size and complexity of a dslr. If you like the idea of interchangeable lenses kit, perhaps you can later graduate to a DSLR kit.