p.6 #1 · "Best" Mirrorless Camera with Viewfinder?
Good luck with that! Let me know when you find the one
The Leica M9. Meh. I'm not poo poooing on anyone who owns that camera as I will always have an affinity for Leica products, I just think there are cameras for WAYYYY cheaper that will do the same thing
p.6 #2 · "Best" Mirrorless Camera with Viewfinder?
canerino wrote:
HOLY HELL!
You guys are amazing. I have to give you all a HUGE thanks for your input here (even the bickering )!
To answer a few specific questions:
1) Price. Well, this would be a third camera really dedicated to personal family photography (which I take ver seriously and hold dear to my heart). With that said, I cant go crazy! I think I'd cap myself at $1500ish (and would like to be close to $1K).
2) I definitely want a viewfinder. I am obviously use to that of an SLR, but I have used rangefinders in the past (Leica M6s). I was impressed with the electric viewfinder of the V1, so I'm not ruling that out.
3) I would AF 99% of the time. I have no interest in manual focus. With that said, I only need the camera to focus once, not track moving subjects.
4) I have no interest in adapting lenses to fit my camera. So if I opt for micro 4/3, I'd be using micro 4/3 lenses...sony would be sony, etc.
5) Size of camera is kind of important. I never minded DSLRs until I started to lug them around for 12 hours. I was really happy with the overall size of the Nikon V1 (sorry to keep mentioning it, but its my only experience). I liked my Leicas when I had them...so something in that size would be preferential.
6) I would like to fill one big card for the reason of focusing on the making of the images rather than the entire process. I'm finding too often that I'm 'too close' to the images when I shoot, upload, edit. I'd like to separate 'myself' a bit more from the moments before viewing the images. I was really inspired by Gary Winnogrand. He shot hundreds...even thousands of rolls of film that he didnt even develop for years. That has to be cool as hell! Same with the most recent 'famous' street photographer, Vivian Maier. The owner of her images still has thousands of images he hasnt even scanned yet. How incredible!
7) I'd most likely get a single lens in the 24-35mm equiv, f/2ish (not DOF) range and call it a day. I dont shoot my family stuff much longer than 50mm, so that would really suffice.
8) As Brian mentioned in the thread, the idea of DOF on a micro system is actually great for me! My personal photography involves a lot of context. I dont want blurry backgrounds. So MORE DOF with the light gathering of an f/2 lens is really appealing to me.
9) Image quality is obviously important, but I dont really fret over 'tack sharpness' or 'bokeh quality'. If a lens is reasonably sharp, I'm generally pretty happy. My focus tends to be more on content, composition, light, timing. If I do those four things, sharpness wont matter much.
10) The Leica M9. Meh. I'm not poo poooing on anyone who owns that camera as I will always have an affinity for Leica products, I just think there are cameras for WAYYYY cheaper that will do the same thing. With that said, if money were no object, I'd probably own one because I like the way it feels.
After reading every post in this thread and talking to some photographers who I really admire, I am leaning toward the Olympus OM-D with maybe the 12mm or the 14mm pancake...then maybe the 25mm "Leica" down the road.
Thanks again all! Please keep posting! I love reading! ...Show more →
Given all that, it still sounds like the OM-D or Fuji X100. The OM-D with a good prime is a bit overpriced at the moment imo as you can pick up the X100 for close to a $500 savings comparatively. $900ish vs $1400/$1500!
p.6 #4 · "Best" Mirrorless Camera with Viewfinder?
Bifurcator wrote:
Unless he foregoes AF and adapts. j/k (but actually true)
AF with current X100 firmware is fine, particularly after you learn how to use the camera (keeping in mind the limits of all contrast detect systems contained in most mirrorless systems).
p.6 #5 · "Best" Mirrorless Camera with Viewfinder?
vovkinson wrote:
Good luck with that! Let me know when you find the one
The Leica M9. Meh. I'm not poo poooing on anyone who owns that camera as I will always have an affinity for Leica products, I just think there are cameras for WAYYYY cheaper that will do the same thing
p.6 #7 · "Best" Mirrorless Camera with Viewfinder?
I normally shoot with a 1Ds3 and a 5D2, but I have bought an EM-5 because of a recent injury. I was a little sceptical of the MFT's capabilities going in, but have been very surprised with the IQ of the sensor and the IQ of the Olympus and Panasonic lenses. The Olympus delivers extremely good RAW files. In fact as good as my 1Ds3. At ISO 800 or 1600 I think the EM-5 is better than the Canon. In terms of AF, I take a lot of kids' portraits and I find that the Olympus is a much easier camera to use because of its facial recognition and because at f1.4 I get double the DOF. So, in low-light conditions shooting portraits is considerably easier. The fact that it locks onto eyes is a real bonus. I haven't really had the chance to shoot street with it yet, but I think its going to deliver excellent results. Here is a shot I took at ISO 800 with no sharpening or noise reduction. I shot with the Oly 45mm at f1.8
p.6 #8 · "Best" Mirrorless Camera with Viewfinder?
vovkinson wrote:
Good luck with that! Let me know when you find the one
The Leica M9. Meh. I'm not poo poooing on anyone who owns that camera as I will always have an affinity for Leica products, I just think there are cameras for WAYYYY cheaper that will do the same thing
Which 35mm camera can I put the best optics in the world (from an MTF/CA/colour perspective) on and see the outer 30% of the image circle for less money?
Not to mention the full-frame digital rangefinder experience.
p.6 #9 · "Best" Mirrorless Camera with Viewfinder?
Tariq Gibran wrote:
Given all that, it still sounds like the OM-D or Fuji X100. The OM-D with a good prime is a bit overpriced at the moment imo as you can pick up the X100 for close to a $500 savings comparatively. $900ish vs $1400/$1500!
Yeah, if we had an extra $900 to spare, I'd pick up an X100 today. That camera is as good as it gets right now for compact personal work in the 35mm equivalent focal length.
p.6 #10 · "Best" Mirrorless Camera with Viewfinder?
tobicus wrote:
Yeah, if we had an extra $900 to spare, I'd pick up an X100 today. That camera is as good as it gets FOR $900 right now for compact personal work in the 35mm equivalent focal length.
p.6 #11 · "Best" Mirrorless Camera with Viewfinder?
tobicus wrote:
Yeah, if we had an extra $900 to spare, I'd pick up an X100 today. That camera is as good as it gets right now for compact personal work in the 35mm equivalent focal length.
Agree. There really is NO competition at ANY price if you need a virtually silent (leaf shutter), stealthy camera with a relatively fast F2 35mm equiv. lens on APS or larger format + finder at it's size. It sort of offers the Gestalt of what Leica used to be when real photographers used them.
p.6 #12 · "Best" Mirrorless Camera with Viewfinder?
@thrice,
FYI @canerino has already two cameras that "will do the same" as M9 and "WAYYYY cheaper".
I guess he got two copies of beta version of M10 as a result of his affinity to leica
thrice wrote:
Which 35mm camera can I put the best optics in the world (from an MTF/CA/colour perspective) on and see the outer 30% of the image circle for less money?
Not to mention the full-frame digital rangefinder experience.
p.6 #14 · "Best" Mirrorless Camera with Viewfinder?
FlyPenFly wrote:
You know, personally I'd rather have an X2 than a X100... even at double.
Why? What advantage would it offer? AF is said to be similar and it lacks the amazing Hybrid Optical/EVF. I have yet to see anything which indicates IQ is better as well. I guess if you just like the rendering of the lens or the look of the camera?
p.6 #17 · "Best" Mirrorless Camera with Viewfinder?
vovkinson wrote:
@thrice,
FYI @canerino has already two cameras that "will do the same" as M9 and "WAYYYY cheaper".
I guess he got two copies of beta version of M10 as a result of his affinity to leica
Your words are compelling! I'm now considering the vaunted M9!
Can you show me some of your images where you've effectively utilized the worlds best optics, stealthy size, and silen shutter?
p.6 #18 · "Best" Mirrorless Camera with Viewfinder?
The M9 is OK...it's just that it's a FF body for M lenses, which are stunning. I couldn't go that route personally because the MFD limitations on rangefinders would drive me nuts.
BTW, I'm not saying that it's not an impeccably built solid machine, as it obviously is. Just, as a digital camera, it really isn't anything special from a sensor and features standpoint (not that it needs to be, really). It's main feature and why it's a good photographic tool, though, is almost entirely down to the lenses.
p.6 #19 · "Best" Mirrorless Camera with Viewfinder?
@canerino,
I can show you my images taken by M9 but I don't shoot as much as the guys from the link below.
Some guys like Ron, Luka, Charles make the M9 shine. https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/920070
canerino wrote:
Your words are compelling! I'm now considering the vaunted M9!
Can you show me some of your images where you've effectively utilized the worlds best optics, stealthy size, and silen shutter?
p.6 #20 · "Best" Mirrorless Camera with Viewfinder?
All joking aside, anyone who shoots a mirrorless option should be glad the M digital exists as it does set a very high standard in many areas for the other players to aim for.
j/k (but actually true)
