Tim Ashton wrote:
Many thanks Rasmus for your most comprehensive response. what you said pretty much confirms what i have learnt. Bottom line is a hell of a lot of camera and lenses for ones dollar along with an amazing stabilsiation system.
Re my shakes, the good news is they are 99% certain it isnt Parkinsons so with that news you smile, jump in the air and click your heels
My current Nikon is a D7000 which is an APSc 16Mp sensor. Despite the theoretical limitations sugesting otherwise I have found that I can print to A1 (approx 84 x 60 cms) if I nail exposure and focus. I guess I will be able to get similar or near with the Olympus although when I check on DX0 mark it suggests I might be stretching. Time will tell when I part company with my Nikon gear but the smaller bodies and lenses mean i will have it with me more often and as we all know, the best camera is the one you have with you.
Glad to see Bobby Tan still shooting M4/3. I remember his work well when he was shooting Canon (I think). Galenpas (MIke S) I see is another refugee I recognise from another life too.
All I have to do is convince my wife that the change will not cost anything. The amateur photographers perennial problem
Glassartist, I don't know how I could forget about the super control panel! Thanks!
Bobby, I had no idea of that! Is it just flipping the switch? No need to make the settings in the menus?
Tim, that is great news!!
As far as sizes go, I will see if I can try and send in a shot for a large print this coming week, just not sure what shot yet though.
I wouldn't worry about it too much though, specially not theoretical limitations, screw theoretical limitations!
I have one "very" large print on my wall nad it's 100 cm high and 70 cm wide which is a bit more then A1. It was shot with a Nikon D80 10mp APS-C when the D80 was new in 2006/2007 and a Sigma 10-20mm lens. It looks great on the wall, there are no issues with neither noise or pixels. The D80 was never famous for having a great sensor (neither was it bad) but it was OK. I have no doubt I can print big as big and bigger with my E-M1.
The costs of course comes down to what you have and what you want but it should be quite easy changing without too much cost I think
The Oly 9-18 is great value, and if filters are important to you then just go for it. Try to buy it used. That way you won't lose so much if decide to sell it to get one of the 7-14 options instead. Big difference between 14mm and 18mm.
I have the 7-14 PRO but, to me, it's not much better than the Lumix version that I had before. They both have flare issues but the Lumix suffers from the "purple blob" problems too when you shoot with the sun in the frame.
If I have to start over I will go with the Lumix because it's significantly smaller and lighter (and it's really a good looking lens) and it's sharp wide open.
Best thing you can do is visit a store that has all 3 lenses so you can handle them and check the size and weight, as all 3 lenses are physically very different. Or you can try buying 2 of them (used copies) to play with them for awhile - this is probably cheaper than renting them.
Oh, do check the reviews on Photozone, DXO and elsewhere for their reviews and ratings.
Wilbus wrote:
Was just about to say it Bobby! I love that shot Thomas!
Btw, I was just sitting and comparing wide angle zooms. I really don't know which way to go. I would like the Oly 7-14 most of all but considering there is no real smooth way of using filters on it, and the fact that I mainly intend to use it as a landscape and "outside" architectural lens with long shutter times it kind it looses some of its appeal.
Does the Pana accept filters? Is it good enough to warrant the still high price? (although not as high price of the Oly)
The other way would be the Oly 9-18 but I'm not sure I am gonna be happy with any zoom lens outside the Olympus Pro series anymore The Pro lenses have really made me look to high build quality.
I know Diego is working wonders with the 9-18 and still seem to use it more then the 7-14...
Diego, what are your thoughts? ...Show more →
I really liked the 7-14, but I couldn't deal with the purple blobs when I got my OM-D. It flat out ruined images in many cases. I switched to the 9-18, which wasn't as good as the 7-14, but was still quite good. Now I don't have a m4/3 UWA, but if I were to spend the money on one, I'd probably get the Oly 7-14, which I found to be phenomenal.
Back to images...a quick shot from yesterday with the Olympus 8mm f/1.8 fisheye. This is really an exceptional fisheye (though I'll be honest...it's always hard to review them, because it's a lens that generally should be used somewhat sparingly, but when I review, I shoot almost exclusively with that lens...with a fisheye that can be quite a challenge.) This is at f/1.8, out of camera JPEG. I usually don't use the JPEGs, but in this case, I preferred what the camera rendered to any of my edits of the RAW.
Yes, though I doubt I'll have them at the same time, so a comparison will likely be difficult. The last month has seen an avalanche of mirrorless releases, so I'll have my docket full for a while. Not sure when I'll get to specific things. On my list to review are the 100-400 and Oly 300, the Fuji X-Pro 2, the Fuji 100-400, the Sony a6300, all three Sony GM lenses, etc. The Loxia 21 is next on the list after the 8mm fisheye..it arrives Tuesday.
Thanks! A head-to-head between the GM 85 and Batis 85 would be amazing too.
Jman13 wrote:
Yes, though I doubt I'll have them at the same time, so a comparison will likely be difficult. The last month has seen an avalanche of mirrorless releases, so I'll have my docket full for a while. Not sure when I'll get to specific things. On my list to review are the 100-400 and Oly 300, the Fuji X-Pro 2, the Fuji 100-400, the Sony a6300, all three Sony GM lenses, etc. The Loxia 21 is next on the list after the 8mm fisheye..it arrives Tuesday.
Wilbus wrote:
Was just about to say it Bobby! I love that shot Thomas!
Btw, I was just sitting and comparing wide angle zooms. I really don't know which way to go. I would like the Oly 7-14 most of all but considering there is no real smooth way of using filters on it, and the fact that I mainly intend to use it as a landscape and "outside" architectural lens with long shutter times it kind it looses some of its appeal.
I debated this same issue because of the lack of a good filter system for the Oly 7-14. Looked at 5 or 6 options but then one of the members on the MU-43 forum linked me to a adapter out of Singapore by PhotoSphere SG. It uses a round fitted doughnut of high density foam glued to a aluminum Haida filter adapter ring to slip on the end of the lens. It does not fall off and in fact offers extra protection to the lens if you leave the foam part on. They include a 86mm lens cap for that purpose. The metal Haida adapter itself if very well done and Haida has lots of 100mm filters, but you can use any 4" by 4", 4" by 5" or 4" by 6" filter in the Haida adapter. And it does not vignette at 7mm with 2 filters attached, assuming you put the donut ring on exactly as needed. I have only had it for 5 weeks but so far it is just excellent and I am happy with it. Most other systems use 150mm adapters and filters, so this one is quite a bit smaller and perfect for M4/3. Below is a link to the flicker account of the forum member who first used this; there are lots of closeups of the adapter and filters.
If you can stand shooting at 5.6 or 8 the 9-18 is stellar and small. I love mine and do not want the size of the larger lenses. I do have 2 pro olympus lenses the 12-40 and 40-150 so the 3 make the perfect travel pack for me. I use a ND and polarizing filter on it and appreciate the small filters.
SpecFoto wrote:
I debated this same issue because of the lack of a good filter system for the Oly 7-14. Looked at 5 or 6 options but then one of the members on the MU-43 forum linked me to a adapter out of Singapore by PhotoSphere SG. It uses a round fitted doughnut of high density foam glued to a aluminum Haida filter adapter ring to slip on the end of the lens. It does not fall off and in fact offers extra protection to the lens if you leave the foam part on. They include a 86mm lens cap for that purpose. The metal Haida adapter itself if very well done and Haida has lots of 100mm filters, but you can use any 4" by 4", 4" by 5" or 4" by 6" filter in the Haida adapter. And it does not vignette at 7mm with 2 filters attached, assuming you put the donut ring on exactly as needed. I have only had it for 5 weeks but so far it is just excellent and I am happy with it. Most other systems use 150mm adapters and filters, so this one is quite a bit smaller and perfect for M4/3. Below is a link to the flicker account of the forum member who first used this; there are lots of closeups of the adapter and filters.
Wilbus wrote:
Was just about to say it Bobby! I love that shot Thomas!
Btw, I was just sitting and comparing wide angle zooms. I really don't know which way to go. I would like the Oly 7-14 most of all but considering there is no real smooth way of using filters on it, and the fact that I mainly intend to use it as a landscape and "outside" architectural lens with long shutter times it kind it looses some of its appeal.
Does the Pana accept filters? Is it good enough to warrant the still high price? (although not as high price of the Oly)
The other way would be the Oly 9-18 but I'm not sure I am gonna be happy with any zoom lens outside the Olympus Pro series anymore The Pro lenses have really made me look to high build quality.
I know Diego is working wonders with the 9-18 and still seem to use it more then the 7-14...
Diego, what are your thoughts? ...Show more →
Thank you both! I highly recommend the Panny 7-14 as the lens seems razor sharp (this is my second copy). I realize that it is winter time, but if you don't shoot right into the sun, the purple blob issue is not a big deal. Of course come summer and I may change my mind.
Explain your intentions to Olympus and they may let you have the lens for an extended period of time!
Jman13 wrote:
Yes, though I doubt I'll have them at the same time, so a comparison will likely be difficult. The last month has seen an avalanche of mirrorless releases, so I'll have my docket full for a while. Not sure when I'll get to specific things. On my list to review are the 100-400 and Oly 300, the Fuji X-Pro 2, the Fuji 100-400, the Sony a6300, all three Sony GM lenses, etc. The Loxia 21 is next on the list after the 8mm fisheye..it arrives Tuesday.
Come on, there must be something to shoot over there at winter!
well, the reason I mentioned spring is that she will be going on a trip that involves a lot of walking, and does not want the d700 + lenses to torment her. Until then, it will be mostly short trips or shooting from areas near a car.
Trying to decide if I want to switch back to m43 (yet again) -- but this time with the EM5 II because as a landscape guy, i like the *idea* of high resolution mode.
I know the drawbacks of the mode, but do any of you find yourself ever actually using the mode?
The Pro lenses have really made me look to high build quality. 
