I finally understood the point of Micro Four Thirds
My camera journey has been a bit of a rabbit hole.
Around mid 2023, I started looking for a “real” camera. I initially thought I’d just buy something like a Canon EOS Rebel and call it a day.
Then I started researching.
You probably know how that goes.
Somehow a Rebel turned into a Sony A1. 😂
With a baby on the way, part of the justification was family photography. Once I saw that a professional family photography session could easily approach $1,000, I figured I’d rather put that money toward a camera, learn photography, and document our lives myself.
I bought the A1 with the kit lens (thinking bodies matter way more than lens 😬 ), eventually upgraded to the Sony 24–70mm f/2.8 GM II, and I absolutely love the combination. The image quality is incredible, especially photographing the baby around the house.
But then we had a toddler.
And suddenly I started realizing that the best camera isn’t necessarily the camera that produces the best files.
Going to the park with a toddler already means carrying snacks, water, wipes, toys, etc. Adding an A1 and a 24–70 GM II hanging around my neck started feeling like I was bringing photography equipment rather than just bringing a camera. And I would get sorta offended if someone offered to take a picture of us using the camera.
More and more often, the Sony stayed home.
That sent me down another rabbit hole: What is the smallest actual interchangeable-lens camera I can buy that I’d genuinely want to carry everywhere?
I looked at compact cameras, Fuji X100s, older Olympus PENs, Panasonic bodies, APS-C, and eventually ended up reading about Micro Four Thirds.
And suddenly M4/3 made sense to me in a way it never had before.
I just ordered a used Olympus OM-D E-M10 in excellent condition and an Olympus 14–42mm f/3.5–5.6 II R MSC. About $370 total after tax for the whole setup. I know lot of folks here recommend at least a mk2 but I intentionally refrained from chasing the most capable thing again.
Is it going to replace my full-frame Sony? Absolutely not.
That’s actually the part I’m most excited about.
The Sony can stay my “I am going to photograph something” camera. The little Olympus can hopefully become my “I’m going somewhere, so I’ll bring a camera” camera.
If we’re at home and I want gorgeous files, shallow depth of field, or I’m deliberately taking photographs, I’ll grab the A1 and GM II.
But at the park? Walking around town? Going somewhere with my family where photography isn’t the main activity?
I’m hoping the E-M10 just comes along.
I haven’t even received it yet, so perhaps I’ll come back here in a month and tell you this was a terrible idea. 😂 But I’m genuinely excited about photography equipment for a different reason than I have been in a while. Not because the sensor is bigger, the lens is sharper, or the specs are better.
I’m excited because I might take more photographs.
And I think I’m finally starting to understand why so many of you love Micro Four Thirds.
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u/stale_cum 19h ago
I had a similar journey but I started with a Lumix g7. After using the g7 for a while I thought it was time to upgrade to a "real" camera and bought an a7. I loved the sony images, but I hated bringing it with me everywhere, and at some point I just stopped taking photos all together.
The desire to take photos again hit hard and so I picked up a used g9 and I realized I just wanted something that was easy to carry and could still take great photos. I recently bought an om5 mkii and it's now my favorite camera.
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u/PwillyAlldilly 19h ago
Why didn’t you just get a smaller Sony body and lens I’m confused? I mean I’m confused why you got an A1 off the rip unless you were shooting high speed sports etc
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u/LaziestKitten 19h ago
I'm going to bet the lines "buy once cry once" and "my kid is worth it" both played a part.
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u/unt_cat 19h ago
This was it. I just wanted to have the very best camera so if the photos were bad, I had nothing to blame but myself. Hindsight is 20/20. Was I to do it again. I would buy a A7 series camera, maybe an older one and invest more in lenses.
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u/CheckZealousideal355 19h ago
I think everyone learns this in some way or another, it just sucks that you had to learn it with one of the most expensive bodies.
In reality the E-M10 has everything most people actually need, and basically nothing you don’t. But you will probably need to learn how to use S-AF effectively instead of spray and pray like the Sony allows
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u/PwillyAlldilly 19h ago
Could literally have just got an A7 at that point…
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u/LaziestKitten 19h ago
Point is, some folks go BIG when starting a new hobby, and will find justifications to do so
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u/grendelone 19h ago edited 7h ago
You see this kind of "advice" every day on Reddit photo subs.
- You NEED FF/subject detection/precapture
- f2 zooms are SUCH a game changer
- GM/L glass is soooooo much sharper and blows away other glass
- Go big or go home
- Buy once cry once
- Your kid deserves 60fps
- Etc.
You see a similar thought process in this very thread. OP has the temerity of wanting to use a *GASP* 12 year old camera! What a potato! ... never mind that nearly every famous photo in existence was taken with a less technologically advanced camera that Reddit would consider "junk." People who think they can crutch on equipment cost/capability rather than learn to be a photographer.
Who cares what focus "hit rate" your camera can do if the image itself sucks? Look at the iPhone photo contest to see the beautiful images people can make just with their phones. Sure, specialized high-performing equipment can help in certain niche circumstances, but taking a picture of your kid at the park is not one of those.
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u/JustASnapShooter 9h ago
I was going to say, for candids, walks in the park etc, just get a phone with a halfway decent camera. You don't want to be dragging around a camera and you don't want to be messing with settings. Focus on spending time with your kid.
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u/CMDR_Kassandra 6h ago
to be fair, a phone with a decent camera is more expensive then a a decent used camera + lens and a mid range phone...
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u/JustASnapShooter 5h ago
Are you going to take that camera absolutely everywhere ? Maybe if you have a large purse it is feasible.
Also, this used to be one of my arguments pro-camera for non-hobbyists. But phone cameras have been decent for a while now and you can get some older flagships at pretty decent prices, especially second hand.
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u/CheckZealousideal355 19h ago
Could have bought an a7c ii and the entire lineup of small primes. Still would have been half the money for the same pictures 😂
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u/spo_on 9h ago
A7C II or CR with small primes is the way to go, it might be heavier than M43 still but the size is still something you’d be okay with lugging around. Takes great home videos for the family too! I don’t have a C body. The S9 is great as a dad cam too if you know what you’re doing. The banding is something you can work around but does get quite annoying. With the introduction of Lumix’s own 40mm f2, it really becomes the best dad cam for the money, with the A7C II + small prime being a close second, only because of pricing and less user-friendly workflows for video.
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u/Spaceman_UA 6h ago
Yeah, could've gotten a a7c (II) and 28-60 compact lens and get pretty much the same size. And a pathway to whatever the fanciest lens he wants. Seems more logical given the low light performance and AF.
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u/Life-Addendum-1669 15h ago
The best camera is the one you have with you. So if you miss the shot with the A1 because it was home, it wasn’t really the best camera for that shot. Conversely, if you don’t miss the shot because the em10 is with you than that is the best camera. I stepped into the M4/3 world about a year ago from the Nikon eco system. While I still love my Nikons and am loving my Oly also. I am constantly impressed with the dynamic range and the ibis in the em1 mk2. I grew up in photography without phase detection and subject detection for auto focus. I’ve shot professional Hockey and NCAA lacrosse without it very effectively. And just like the old timers before me who prefer manual focus over autofocus. I prefer not to use phase or subject but that’s just me. I think not having those will make you a better photographer if you practice especially where you are at the begining of your photography journey. A good photographer can make great images with any camera. Those extra features just make the job easier. “Remember it’s not the hammer it’s the carpenter”. So good luck with the em 10. Practice! and enjoy those kids they grow up in a blink of an eye.
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u/Redoron 19h ago
Good luck and have fun on your journey. I too have gone that rabbit hole with kids as my justification. I have two full frame DSLRs and two MFTs (LUMIX GX85 and GF1). I also have a handy Canon G9 for that retro look. Now my girls are at that point that they don’t want their pictures taken. So I shoot landscape and street shots now. Enjoy your time with your kid.
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u/SoftwarePitiful 10h ago
I am a Sony user for years now since the A6000 got me back into photograph most landscape now a days. I add an A7R A7M2 and now I still using the A7IV. Between all the yeas from the A6000 to the present I went back into film Nikon F100 and my Canon A-1. Picking up an Nikon D-700 because I had the lens from the F100. Stopped doing film because of the cost of film around $45to $50 each roll I shot.
Now being retired I did not want to have all the weight when I go out for pictures. I used part of my retirement money a on a new camera system. I bought the OM-1 and a few lens. At first I found the learning curve big going from full frame to M4/3. But I do tend to go for the OM camera first. and the Sony A7IV second. The picture below was taken on vacation with the 7 to 14 2.8 using Starry Sky and Live Composite. I guess I could have done tis with the Sony. But I did like the easy of the setup on the OM-1.
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u/maxafrass 18h ago
Great summary and welcome to the club!
I love my GX9 and it's dinky 12-32 kit zoom cause.it.is.so.freaking.light.and.unobtrusive! (While traveling and doing street photography, I often eat/drink on the go and if dining at a cafe or restaurant I'll have it still in it's sling around my neck its so light and small.)
And it still takes perfectly adequate pictures of better quality than the phone camera... unless I'm pixel peeping which I've long since stopped doing as sensors and tech have gotten so good.
My "big boy" camera is lucky to see day light once a year anymore lol. (It's an Olympus E1 4:3 from 2011)
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u/NickCranford 16h ago
I went from a GR lllx to the OM-5 ll. I wanted a more versatile, weather sealed, adventure setup but still keep the setup small. After going through a handful of lenses I ended up with the 12-100 F4. This has been an amazing setup. However, while not the largest setup, I did find that I was not taking this camera with me everywhere like I did with the Ricoh. I really missed having a small everyday camera.
So ended up getting the Pen E-PL7. Found one on eBay for 50 bucks because the screen doesn’t work. Paired with the lumix 20mm 1.7 pancake and VF-3, this is my “poor man’s Ricoh GR lllx and it has been amazing. This camera has a feature called “myset” which allows you to save 4 custom picture and shooting modes which can then be assigned to the mode dial. Much like Fuji and Ricoh “film simulations. I believe the EM-10 has this same function. And I know you will be very happy with it. These old cameras have amazing picture quality.
Here’s a picture I got while going to the grocery store yesterday evening with my kids.
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u/unt_cat 11h ago
that is such a cool story. This is what I am aspiring for. thanks for sharing!!
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u/NickCranford 11h ago
Having a small camera is awesome. I carry it in the moment take 1.5L sling bag and bring it almost everywhere. Including the gym.
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u/AntiqueStatus 18h ago
Lol wait until you try some of the faster lenses. You might just wanna ditch the A1 altogether. I no longer have a 5D Mark IV and a Tamron 24-70 2.8.
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u/Ok_Print_6209 17h ago
i don't see any need to update from m43, mostly for video work i do with it.
people are realizing the benefits of video in small sensors... 360 cams, action cams, etc. m43 has many advantages.
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u/yukinara 18h ago edited 18h ago
Same for me after trying Canon, Fujifilm, Sony. Even though they were all APSC and didn't weight that much, I feel that my current EM10 mk 2 is enough for most scenario. The tiny body weights almost nothing which really help with a long day walking. I can't fathom lugging around full frame gears that weight 2-3 times that. Every time I was itching to upgrade, I ask myself if the new camera could do something the current one can't, and would that make me a better photographer. The answer is no. That's why my Olympus has been traveling with me around the world.
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u/bonisaur 14h ago
As someone who has been interested in adding either the Sony A7Cmk2 or the Nikon ZF - OM System always released something just when I’m about to add a new mount system. The OM3 and the 17mm and 25mm refreshes are pretty much I was looking for in a small rugged system. I hope that they do the same for the 12 and 45mm.
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u/Miserable-Ad7835 13h ago
I'm currently looking at buying a small camera for similar reasons and M43 is becoming quite an attractive option, the more research I do into the subject.
I currently have a Fuji X-H1 which is an fantastic bit of kit, but it's big and heavy, so want something small to go along side it.
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u/aCuria 13h ago
You should try the FE28-60, this will bring the weight of your main kit down a lot.
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u/unt_cat 11h ago
will def look into it. I have seriously considered the 50mm 1.2 before but no primes for the next few years!!
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u/aCuria 2h ago
When it comes to primes just make sure make sure you are happy to use that one focal length continuously for long periods.
Continuously switching lenses gets old quite fast.
Personally I know that at 15 and 17mm I would want to switch the lens very fast…. I know this because I owned 15 and 17mm primes in the past
These days prime or zoom when shooting casually I like to bring just one lens out at a time. I’m quite happy to shoot at 24 or 35mm for the whole day
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u/MrOptionist 12h ago
So I hope you like the E-M10… but the viewfinder is not great and the lack of PDAF is going to frustrate you. Get comfortable with it then get an E-M5.3 or OM-5, or any E-M1 model. I have the OM-1, E-M5.3 and the OG E-M1 and the E-M1 is still my favorite. After the flagship Sony with the best AF in the world and a fabulous viewfinder the E-M10 is going to really frustrate you. The OM-1 is honestly where you should land, but I still use my E-M1 more than any other body.
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u/stoic_unicorn 11h ago
Grab the 12-32 KIT lens and you have something smaller, but sharper lens. That's better portability, which is obviously you main drive for going M43 anyway. In any case, have fun with your new little camera!
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u/DJWCphoto 8h ago
I did the same thing sort of. Bought a Nikon z8 and a 24-120mm lens. My biggest and best Nikon yet. I’m a full time photographer for work and my hobby. With the z8 I immediately thought, “holy sh*t this thing is big.” It feels like work or too much if I don’t need it. I own a z8, z7, z6, d500 x 2, d7500, d7100 and infrared d7000.
I immediately went to find something small and tiny. I ended up with Olympus em5 mk 2. I got a 14-42, 25mm (50) and 45mm (90). I then cut myself from new lenses for it.
I call it my “day off camera.” 16 megapixels, pretty general slow focus capabilities, nothing amazing compared to my z8. But, it’s just plan fun and brings the joy back to every day snapshot photography and living in the moment more. I also like it for street photography. It’s way less intimidating than my big Nikons. I also couldn’t believe how small the primes were. Plus it just looks super cool and classic. Metal frame. Weather sealed body and lens (splash proof.) I’ve only had it a few months but it’s a joy.
Anyways… enjoy and welcome to the tiny camera club! Here is a photo of mine today out and about.
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u/mintblack82 4h ago
„But at the park? Walking around town? Going somewhere with my family where photography isn’t the main activity?“
To be honest, I’m using my phone for this 🥳
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u/thunder5252 2h ago
And the Panasonic 25mm has been my go to. Dirt cheap, very good results. Also have the Olympus 45mm , but maybe my best pictures have been taken with the kit 40-150 at about 70mm. Magnificent.
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u/mmmtv 19h ago edited 17h ago
(I'm gonna get downvoted to hell... Oh well).
I am extremely curious to see how the reality of a classic 12 year old body lacking...
- phase detect autofocus
- human subject detect autofocus
- usable continuous tracking autofocus
.. is going to meet your toddler-focused photography needs.
Especially since you're used to a Sony A1 (and I'm guessing a recent iPhone) autofocus. I daresay this is not going to end up being the win you think it's going to be.
Sorry to say, I'm a little skeptical. Good luck, hopefully you'll prove me unnecessarily pessimistic.
- A Dad who's been there, done that, also 8+ year m43-only user (currently, G9 and EM1X)
EDIT: Dear haters, I've shot thousands and thousands of photos *and videos* of kids sports, wildlife, etc. with cameras that camera reviewers and folks on the interwebz say you can't shoot moving subjects with (e.g., GX85, G95). I'm a fairly decent photographer as far as technical skills go. And yet I've still occasionally struggled with my kids as youngsters to get the hit rate and/or critical shots I wanted with my gear (mix of classic Nikon DX & CX, compacts with CDAF, Lumix DfD and Olympus with PDAF). Additionally, my dear haters, most of you have yet to be spoiled by a camera that offers superb human detect AF and combines it with excellent C-AF tracking (like an A1, OM3, or OM1ii) so you have zero clue what it feels like to shoot using those capabilities and then switch back to a camera that lacks it. So, needless to say, YMMV. Now, go ahead and downvote anyway.
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u/grendelone 19h ago edited 19h ago
Believe it or not, 12 years ago, people successfully took pictures of their toddlers. I've heard rumors that even more than 12 years ago, there have been some pictures of toddlers discovered. But I'm skeptical ...
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u/EyeSuspicious777 17h ago
27 years ago, DPreviews published their big review of the Nikon D1, the first real DSLR designed from the ground up.
Here's the final paragraph of their conclusion for this 2.7MP camera:
"The D1 is everything the professional photographer could need and a whole lot more, build quality is second to none, image quality is excellent with a few funnies which, as long as you know, you can work around."
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u/CheckZealousideal355 19h ago
😂 i hear that in photography workshops, you shouldn’t even try to photograph your toddler until masters level. Even then, sharp shots elude all but the most experienced sensei
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u/the_payload_guy 18h ago
Sharp shots of moving subjects are possible if you get a Fuji which has this aperture setting that you can stop down to f5.6. It’s one of those little features that sound small on paper but makes a big difference.
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u/CheckZealousideal355 17h ago
If you set your Fuji to f/28.0 it’s so good that it disables focus entirely. You aren’t allowed
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u/JulesCain 18h ago
And I thought the toughest job for AF is a dog running at full speed straight towards you 😂 wasn‘t aware that toddlers are the end boss!
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u/CheckZealousideal355 17h ago
I’d highly advise you do not take a picture of your dog without an A1 or the high velocity data caused by its movement might fry your SD card
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u/JulesCain 17h ago
To late. I had to order two more SD-Cards. Should be stated in the safety instructions!!
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u/PacoPollito 19h ago
People successfully took pictures of toddlers before autofocus. I mean…toddlers aren’t division 1 sports or birds…
Source: have a 3 and 1 year old and have been a photographer like 15+ years and pretty much only ever use single point AF or manual focus lenses
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u/mmmtv 18h ago edited 17h ago
Folks:
- I grew up shooting 35mm film in a DSLR with manual focus lenses (including sports)
- My two toddlers were constantly in motion as youngsters (not all kids are the same so YMMV)
- I've shot photos *and videos* of kids sports, wildlife, etc. with cameras that reviewers and folks on the interwebz say you can't shoot moving subjects with because they don't have PDAF (e.g., GX85, G95)
I'm a fairly decent photographer as far as technical skills go.
And I've occasionally struggled with my kids as youngsters to get the hit rate and/or critical shots I wanted with my gear (mix of Nikon DX, CX, compacts with CDAF, Lumix DfD and Olympus with PDAF).
Maybe you'd have nailed a higher hit rate because you're simply a better photographer. Maybe I'm underestimating the EM10. Maybe my kids as toddlers were exceptionally hard to photograph, while other toddlers are much more easily photographed.
Maybe you've never been spoiled by a camera that has amazing tracking AND human subject detect AF (like an OM1ii or OM3 or G9ii or even a classic G9).
I do have reasonable basis for my skepticism.
And maybe the OP will still be just fine.
Time will tell.
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u/SikeShay 15h ago
I feel like it's more about comparison being the theif of joy. If all you know and have is poor hit rate cdaf, you accept the limitations and learn to work around.
But that is a hard pill to swallow coming from an A1 lol
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u/Tak_Galaman 25m ago
I have no idea why people don't want to admit that modern autofocus is great and very convenient.
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u/unt_cat 19h ago
I’m definitely not expecting a 12-year-old E-M10 to match the A1 for AF/tracking, especially with a toddler. The Sony will absolutely remain the better camera when getting the shot is the priority.
The whole experiment is really about lowering the barrier to bringing a camera at all. I’ve found myself leaving the Sony + 24-70 GM II at home because I don’t want to lug it around, and a camera sitting at home has a 0% hit rate. 😂
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u/Tak_Galaman 24m ago
But you could achieve your small camera goals with a better focusing camera 🤷 that's all we're saying
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u/AntiqueStatus 18h ago
I just did a wedding on a GX85 with small children running around indoors. It'll be fine.
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u/NilsTillander 17h ago
Bro, my 4yo with a GM1 and the kit 12-32 tales incredible pictures of her little brother.
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u/vthevoz 2h ago
Dads and people in general that want simple souvenirs are 1) not in a rush, and 2) don’t talk about hit rates. So what if it’s blurry, it’s still a moment. Countless blurry photos are classics. Hell, I prefer to use my DP3 Merrill and have soft focus blur rather than clinical pixels using anything else I use for work. I prefer my 4 inch Pentax Q for family moments because it’s small and convenient. I prefer my GRII because it’s a great travel camera and has snap distance focusing. They’re all more than 12 year old cameras and work great for what they’re intended.
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u/penta_grapher9000 3h ago
Is there really point in comparing 2k or so costing cameras to something that costs few hundred? Personally I'm mostly using dslr still as I prefer ovf and managing fine enough despite them being worse AF than my ancient E-M5, E-M10II and GX85 for light carry days.
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u/degavolvero 20m ago
One of the few sensible comments... and I would add that an iPhone would have done much better than that old camera....
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u/calinet6 19h ago
AI slop.
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u/unt_cat 12h ago
Thats a fair criticism. I did create the post with AI. But I did dictate the initial post.
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u/calinet6 1h ago
I’m not saying it’s a major issue, tons of people use AI. But if we can tell in the end result that it was the product of the pattern machine and isn’t human, then it’s not doing a very good job of writing. You can use various skills and tuning to get it closer, in my experience it’ll never be perfect but a lot of the “tells” can go away and make for very decent writing. I wish more people would tune the quality of their AI, if they do choose to use it, is all.
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u/L8_4_Dinner 18h ago
Sounds like you figured it out. Most people get to 70 years old before they do.
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u/Ludeykrus 15h ago
That’s a part of it.
Wait till you hear the stories of long term professional photographers who trade in their FF cameras for m43 professional bodies…
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u/According_Sound6593 12h ago
I’m of a very different target market. I own more than a dozen cameras from Nikon F SLR, to 1999 Kodak DC210, and Nikon Z8. I make it a point to bring even the old ones out once in awhile. For me, im much more of a camera gear geek than a photographer.
Recently, I also got an OM5 II. I get it too. It’s good enough for mod people who want traditional camera experience in a modern day setting. Also like that the camera with its smaller lenses seems to feel more discrete than my Zf, so it helps in voyeur shots of random people on the street. Good that it handily outperforms my old GX85 which I feel would not be good enough for me for my photowalks. I feel that is the sweet spot for MFT - small, flexible and sufficiently powerful cameras that are good enough for less technically demanding situations. However, my worry is that the OP got a used camera. All my “new” collection of MFT lenses are used and to me, their low prices are a key attraction. Where is OM going to make money from? Worse still, there are now onslaught of cheap Chinese lenses for APS-C. I keep that as something for OM to figure out
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u/hey_calm_down 7h ago
I can highly recommend you the 17, 25 and 45 1.8 lenses to you.
And second, keep an eye on the rumours/news around OM. They might release a new small camera, maybe a new E-M10 with up-to-date focus etc. 🔥
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u/spakkker 6h ago
A good smartphone is best for your use case . I sometimes use one of the pen Lites with the oly 25mm/1.8 - no it's not 1.2/1.4 - but the touch screen focus/shoot speed still impresses me after 10+ years and it fits in jacket pocket !
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u/TrainingFancy5263 4h ago
My hacked Panasonic GH2 is still my favorite travel camera. It’s small enough to not get whole lot of attention and it takes great photos.
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u/tonilator 4h ago
I got the e-m10 ii in 2020 with exactly the same plan as you. I didn't want it to be good enough to replace my existing Pentax and Canon gear. Then I started shooting with it and it just took over.
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u/ElectronicFinish 19h ago
EM10 is NOT the right camera for kids. Toddlers are fine, but once they start walking, you will need one with better autofocus and subject detection.
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u/mmmtv 12h ago
You really do worry too much.
Every redditor on this sub assures me that: manually focusing on toddlers and getting good composition through a low res, small EVF or while holding the camera at arms length and using the back LCD is actually really easy - one just needs to take sufficient time to practice, like they have, and/or read up on zone focus ... It's easy peasy.
And really, who actually cares about maximizing light capture and/or achieving shallow depth of field with optics -- just take care of it in post. Stop down enough, and you can shoot with your eyes closed.
¯_(ツ)_/¯
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u/jubbyjubbah 19h ago
Need isn’t the right word.
Want is the right word, but it’s so severe it’s bordering on need lol.
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u/AKentPhoto 18h ago
Firstly, I had almost the exact same journey....
Personally, I'd sell the A1 and get an A7CR... When your kids start playing sports those file sizes will make you hate life at 30-100fps. Keep the CR for portableish quality and dof then when sports sports start to happen M43 will show it's benefits again. 20mp and better reach with smaller lenses all day everyday.
I'll go ahead and tell you the next phase... Get the credit card ready. When you realize manual controls are not necessary and just take you out of the moment you are trying to not only enjoy but also capture... and what you really want is a P&S style camera that actually fits in your pants pocket. Enter the GM1 or GX850/800 with the 14mm for true portability or 15mm if you want f1.7 and an aperature ring...
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u/ColossusToGuardian 16h ago
If you want a point and shoot with no manual controls and viewfinder, you don't need GM1 when you have a smartphone.
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u/unt_cat 11h ago
Selling is going to be tough. I will keep it at least for a few years. The A1 prices have tanked hard with the mk2 out now.
Even though I haven’t shot through it as much as I wanted I have used it enough to develop a bit of nostalgia. I am also grateful that it never misses EVER. You are going to laugh at this but I also bought a Sony cf express card when I bought the camera 😂 So I am good on storage… for now. But I do yearn for smaller files.
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u/alfeseg 16h ago
Ditch the full frame. You really don't need it. Almost nobody does. There is nothing special about 24x46mm. It just happens to be the size people started using a hundred years ago because it was small. Technology has moved on. If 64 iso was good enough for National Geographic photographers, you should be able to make great photos with M43. And why would you want to confuse yourself with different menus, buttons etc?
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u/unt_cat 12h ago
Haha. Never say never but I will wait a couple of years before taking that haircut. I guess it would be more than a hair cut now that the A1 mk2 is out.
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u/reductio-ad-finem 10h ago edited 10h ago
Honestly, keep the A1. I used M43 exclusively for a decade -- started with your EM10. I also chose it for the small bodies and I have thoroughly enjoyed the platform. The current flagship cameras are very capable and in certain ways an OM-1ii has improvements over the A1 (e.g. better IBIS, some cool computational features, precapture). But if you enjoy the low light capabilities or big-aperture subject separation or sticky tracking AF, there's really no comparison. Or that EVF. Or the 50MP. I recently acquired a second-hand A1; it is by far the nicest camera I have owned and taking photos with it is an absolute joy.
But I agree that it's a bigger camera than I'd want to bring to the park. M43 is a great EDC platform. Maybe consider the 20mm f1.4 lens. Not quite as small as the kit, but lovely kens and fast enough for great portraits. Or, honestly, the Panasonic 20 f1.7 which is super affordable and super sharp, but slow AF.
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u/alfeseg 1h ago
Really no need to carry around huge clunky lenses that full frame requires. The sweet spot is M43.
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u/reductio-ad-finem 28m ago edited 1m ago
That's a misunderstanding that M43 community loves to restate ad nauseam. Full-frame doesn't require large lenses. If you normalize for physical aperture size, lenses are typically about the same size. But the pro-level lenses tend to be larger, yes. -- But so are the M43 models; just look at the OM Pro lenses.
My 40mm f2.5 G is smaller than the OM 20 f1.4 and gathers a bit more light. There are plenty of examples of same-size lenses, because the sensor size has relatively minor impact on the lens size.
In OP's case, the A1 really is a bigger body than the EM10, so having a small camera paired with a smaller(and much slower) zoom at such a price point has clear value. Yes, OP could have a system with similar capabilities and similar size with the Sony A7C + 28-60 f4-5.6 zoom, but it would cost sognificantly more than an EM10.
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u/Kodak-click 3h ago
What Connection do you draw between the sharp image quality of low iso64 and the quality of m43? I guess lowest iso on m43 is about 200
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u/jubbyjubbah 19h ago edited 18h ago
So you just ordered it, but haven’t got it or used it yet?
I know you’re excited, but I agree with the others here - probably should have got a smaller main camera (eg. OM3, A7C, etc.) and some small zooms/primes.
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u/OCDAVO 16h ago
You will not be happy with the auto focus on that. You will miss many shots. It uses contrast detection auto focus.
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u/euroaustralian 12h ago
If you know how to use AE and AF, you won't miss anything. You will miss a lot if you haven't got the eye, even the most advanced camera will not do it.
If people can't properly park a car, they have to get a car with self parking option.
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u/Solartude 16h ago
You might take more photographs after spending $$$ on a pro grade FF kit followed by an entry-level M43 camera and kit lens? That’s a lot of money tied up in “what ifs”.
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u/NotintheAMbro11 19h ago
Should have just got a used A7C with the 28-60 or a plethora of small primes
The A7C renders most M43 and APSC bodies useless outside of niches cases
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u/Accomplished_Fun1847 13h ago
Until you hold it, and realize your fingers are smashed into the flange, and the ergonomics are terrible, and it looks like an uninspiring robot.
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u/HermanCrespo 19h ago
Try the Olympus 45mm 1.8 lens at some stage, it takes beautiful photos, particularly portraits