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Archive 2021 · My Sony a1 arrived first. Should I Keep the Olympus 150-400 ?

DigitalBill
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · My Sony a1 arrived first. Should I Keep the Olympus 150-400 ?

In the six months from the time I ordered the 150-400, I received my Sony Alpha 1 and 200-600 lens. This will be my main bird photography rig.

The other day, the 150-400 was delivered. My main Olympus body is the EM-1 III. It works extremely well with the 150-400. I love the Olympus system, and have several other lenses.

Here's the dilemma I can't seem to resolve -- whether to sell the 150-400, which is essentially brand new, or keep it for the long haul and the time weight may matter more than it does now.

I don't want or need two different high-end bird photography systems.

Faced with this, what would be your decision -- and why ?

TIA for any thoughts.

May 29, 2021 at 12:04 PM

GrandNagus50
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · My Sony a1 arrived first. Should I Keep the Olympus 150-400 ?

If it were me I would keep them both and have both a full-size rig and a compact rig. That is what I already do, i.e., I shoot Nikon AND Olympus.

I guess whether or not the price paid for the Olympus lens is "a lot of money" is a matter of frame of reference. It seems like a lot of money to me. So if you really don't wish to have two different systems and you really don't think you will use the Olympus zoom all that much, there is a LOT you could do with the money from selling it (or returning it).

That said, hey, do you want to sell your 150-400mm? I am one of those people waiting endlessly in line for one :-). You undoubtedly could sell the lens for more than the price you paid, if you are thinking in pure "business" terms. I guess even saying that sounds coldly transactional and I don't mean to be flip here; I guess the thought occurs to me because so many people are lusting after that lens.

May 29, 2021 at 06:16 PM

johnvanr
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · My Sony a1 arrived first. Should I Keep the Olympus 150-400 ?

Interesting dilemma. I don't have the A1, but I used to have an A9 and the 200-600mm and I have the EM-1 III and used to have the 300mm f/4 lens. I now have a Canon R5, a 600mm f/4 IS II and the Canon RF 100-500mm. Also shot for a while with the Nikon D500 and the 500mm PF lens. And I'm slowly becoming less interested in bird photography, plus I really liked the flexibility the smaller lenses gave me despite the superior quality and aperture of the Canon 600mm f/4. So, I'll discount the 600mm monster.

What you then is a superior camera with high resolution and a lesser but still excellent in your Sony kit compared to what I assume is a superior lens but a lesser camera with lower resolution in the Olympus kit.

I don't know the 150-400mm lens from practical use, but I found the Sony 200-600mm just a bit too large and heavy to comfortable walk around with for a long time. The Nikon 500PF was much better in that regard and the Canon 100-500mm is better too, but is too slow in my opinion.

I've never been happy with Olympus for tracking birds, so if you do that a lot, it's easy: stick with Sony. If you don't, it really comes down to pixels per duck. The Olympus lens is probably better and has more reach, but the Sony will perform better in low light and makes up for the reach with its resolution. You could shoot similar scenarios with both and compare.

In my case, I was planning to sell my 600mm (still am, actually) and stick with my Canon R5 and 100-500mm and also get the Olympus 100-400mm, but after renting the latter lens I found it my provide more reach than the Canon but in the end after cropping the Canon, the results are similar and the Canon R5 is just the better camera for that kind of work, just like the A1 is.

Btw, I wouldn't keep an expensive lens waiting until you want something lighter. Just buy it later.

May 29, 2021 at 06:24 PM

monzalg
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · My Sony a1 arrived first. Should I Keep the Olympus 150-400 ?

I envy your dilemma. Doing the math the Olympus gets an equivalent of 800mm at F4.5 or 1000mm at F5.6. The Sony is 600mm F6.3 but cropped to 1000mm it still has 18MP so not much difference there. I imagine the Olympus has better stabilization and is sharper but the A1 has better AF and tolerates higher iso.

I have an E-M1.2 with the 300mm F4 so I'm probably biased to lighter weight and Olympus ergonomics. I'd give the Olympus setup a good test and run the images through some of the new de-noise software if needed. Interested to hear your opinion on how the images compare.

May 29, 2021 at 11:44 PM

BruceRH
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · My Sony a1 arrived first. Should I Keep the Olympus 150-400 ?

Big or Bigger, that’s the question. I have the A7Riv/200-600 combination and the Olympus EM1 MKiii/300 or 100-400 combination. While I love the images from the higher MP Sony I prefer the handling of the Olympus combination. I would love to try the 150-400 since a zoom is more convenient than a prime and from what it looks like, the image quality of the 150-400 is just as good as the 300/f4. Everything is a compromise so you have to settle what is more important to you.

The A1 sounds like a fantastic body but I am not sure I can justify the price/performance increase vs the A7Riv. There is always something better down the road but honestly, I think it is best to use what is most comfortable to use. When I show images to others, they have no idea what was used, the final image is what speaks and IMO, both systems are more than capable of producing stellar images. If I could only have one system, it would be MFT because of the size. I’m thankful I can use both!

May 30, 2021 at 10:05 AM

DigitalBill
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · My Sony a1 arrived first. Should I Keep the Olympus 150-400 ?

This is a quick note of thanks for all the thoughtful comments so far. Everyone's take on my dilemma has been enlightening, and validating of my own personal experience for the most part, as I weigh whether to keep the 150-400.

While both rigs are revolutionary in their own right, the Sony a1 best fits my passion for owls in flight in low light near the edges of dusk and dawn. Its AF power in challenging light and its high ISO tolerance gives it the edge, thus I'm keeping it. I never thought any gear could surpass my D500 and 500 PF combo, but the Alpha 1 did.

If only the Olympus 150-400 were native to the Sony E Mount. Now THAT would be a kit for the ages.

May 30, 2021 at 10:33 AM

DigitalBill
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · My Sony a1 arrived first. Should I Keep the Olympus 150-400 ?

Both systems can produce excellent images, as we know.

Here are four quick examples ... a hawk lifting with prey, shot with the Sony a1 well after sunset. Most people would say it was dark outside. I had been watching it when light was better and was about to leave when a blur entered my peripheral vision. I instinctively whipped around the a1 (with a 100-400 lens and 1.4 TC) and shot a burst literally from the hip. 1/640, F/8, ISO 12,800. Most all the sequential images were in sharp focus on the eye. I can confidently say that none of my former rigs, which include the very best from Canon, Nikon and Olympus, would have reliably captured those images. The a1's AF power and high ISO chops are unmatched, at least in my experience. I was shooting a loaner a1 on a magazine project, and decided that evening when I saw on the computer what it captured, to buy my own. FYI, I sold my D500 and 500PF to help fund it. And that's saying something !

And a hawk with the a1 hand held with the 100-400 and 1.4 TC. Dynamic range was impressive.

Also here is an American Goldfinch shot yesterday with the Olympus EM-1 III -- including the 150-400. A brightly lit bird in a dark setting was its own challenge, though nothing like a hawk in the dark, so to speak.

To the OP, I'm adding a Hummingbird shot today with the Olympus.

Both cropped and processed in Lightroom and Photoshop, with noise reduction applied as needed. I'm not saying the images are 'perfect,' but they're what I got in typical use of both systems.

Edited on Jun 01, 2021 at 08:44 PM · View previous versions

Jun 01, 2021 at 10:55 AM

Imagemaster
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · My Sony a1 arrived first. Should I Keep the Olympus 150-400 ?

monzalg wrote:
I envy your dilemma. Doing the math the Olympus gets an equivalent of 800mm at F4.5 or 1000mm at F5.6. The Sony is 600mm F6.3 but cropped to 1000mm it still has 18MP so not much difference there. I imagine the Olympus has better stabilization and is sharper but the A1 has better AF and tolerates higher iso.

Imagining the Olympus has better stabilization and is sharper is just that, imagination. And mathematics is not all that makes for the best images. Just saying.

Jun 01, 2021 at 11:38 AM

rileym21
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · My Sony a1 arrived first. Should I Keep the Olympus 150-400 ?

I have the Em1iii and I’m jealous of your dilemma. I’m considering the switch to sony, but for video reasons. Anyway, my post has no purpose other than to say I’m jealous and add to my post count so I can send PM’s for an item for sale.

Cheers to your dilemma, it sound like a win no matter what!

Jun 01, 2021 at 06:35 PM

Robin Smith
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · My Sony a1 arrived first. Should I Keep the Olympus 150-400 ?

Well this rather baffles me, but then I don't really understand why people order two sets of equipment to do the same thing. Personally I would sell whatever I don't need, but I would not keep both. Too many choices leads to indecision and constant mental torment (which kit should I take today? I exaggerate, but it saps the spirit).

One way to look at it is there will likely always be a Sony, whereas there may not be an Olympus system 10 years from now. On the other hand in 10 years time you will be older and much less willing to lug around the Sony system. Equally in 10 years time the whole landscape will probably have changed again, and it will be quaint to be even thinking about these lenses, when there will be something "newer and better". We can't really advise you, you set yourself up for this when you ordered the Sony.

Jun 02, 2021 at 10:10 AM


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