Why I (Still) Use Micro Four Thirds
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- Опубликовано: 12 июл 2024
- I bought my first Micro Four Thirds gear 8 years ago. Since then I've used nothing else. With the big hitters like Nikon and Canon - even maybe Panasonic - jumping on the bandwagon now with full frame mirrorless models, has Micro Four Thirds had its day?
UPDATE! I say in the video that I have put a link to an interesting comparison between FF and Micro Four Thirds print performance - RUclips won't let me do that, I find. The link is to The School of Photography - • Full Frame vs Micro 4:...
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David will never be missed enough. It's been years since this video, he's not with us anymore, but this is still one of the best videos on the topic.
Oh damn, no way :( what happened
What a nice guy doing a nice job even from beyond the grave. I miss him.
Couldn't agree more David, someone on RUclips finally talking sense!!
But David always DOES talk sense 🤗
A great overview of M-43 and convincing argument why it's ideal for many photographers......me included 👍
Very true David, although I've just moved to FF and sold my M43s. The advantages you stated regarding size, weight and quality are there but still.. I took a FujiX70 (fixed lens) for that light setup on the go, but neither the Sony A73 seems like a heavy beast, not with the 35mm Samyang f2.8 on. I need the FF for the portraiture and video work (if I need to justify the change) and the autofocus abilities are far better than on my old GX8 that I loved so much.. Oh well, I might "be back" some fine day..
Gosh this is fresh air during times of full frame fever... I just hope the prices of MFT lenses go down
Go to FredMiranda.com and find some good second-hand lenses at reasonable prices.
There are (too) many "spec lovers" in photography world. M4/3 is for the creation lovers.
Lol buying a camera doesn't make you creative
@@sachinmajotra9665 but being able to carry it everywhere comfortably and actually using the camera does
@@sachinmajotra9665 I find my budgeting becomes very creative when I find desirable equipment ;)
its not like apsc cameras which cost the same as m4/3 weighs a ton.@@alexiscastro1822
On that note i rather take wide angle photos with my cell phone and serious photography with full frame
Really like the video content, and agree with it. Your voice is outstanding for narration. So low key, yet informative. Please keep the videos coming.
Yes, Yes, Yes thanks for remember us that the system is a ideal system for many photographers!! I love this video.
Wouldn't change a word! Well done sir, well done.
I've been watching your channel since very long time. Thanks to your smashing videos I decided to switch from full frame to m43... My backs are sending big thanks to you!
I watch a lot (too many!) photography reviews on RUclips and your's are my favorite. Informative, succinct, calm, and nicely paced with just a touch of humor. Thanks for making them for us.
I love to know they are enjoyed - thank you, Matthew.
Top class as usual. Very well summarised.
I have a Panasonic G1 (also a full Canon system) and I have basically given up on Canon, despite being great gear.
Panasonic only for me now. Small, compact, lightweight and for a rubbish hobbyist like me, plenty good enough.
Lovely work.
Thanks.
No one on the internet can touch your commentary, David! I look forward to every one of your videos.
Excellent video from a true photography enthusiast channel. Not a commercialized one that tries to control the conversation and be the arbiter of tastes and Sony sales in the photography world. (Northrups *cough cough)
Totally agree David Thorpe. My Nikon FX has Gone. GX 8 and 3 primes. Wow my back and knee's also like it.
I agree completely. Great video, you hit the nail on the head, portability with great quality. I never wanted a big camera because I felt I would not take it out if it was a hassle. If I didn't take the camera out, what would be the point!
Glad you weighed in on this David. You have made some great points. I started shooting MFT 5 years ago, and built up a small arsenal of nice primes, a good zoom (12-40 2.8) and a few bodies. In 2016 I was frustrated by the AF tracking for sports in MFT and bought a Fuji X-T2 and 50-140 2.8. That pretty well solved my tracking issues. Then along came the EM1ii and the G9. I probably could have stuck with MFT exclusively if i would have waited. Oh well, I am still keeping my best MFT glass and a couple of bodies. MFT will continue to be my carry around and travel cameras, as well as being used for long form video (no record limit). Having said that - desert island only one camera - Fuji X-T3 hands down.
Spot on comments! I've been contemplating going full frame mirrorless for my hobbyist needs and then realized that I was an idiot! I love everything you said. You have an AMAZING gift of explaining difficult subjects in such an easy to understand way! Thank you Mr. Thorpe.
To be honest, I've got into the full frame craze myself recently and was eye balling a used Sony.
Thank you! for releasing a video that saved me the trouble and money :)
it is a real pleasure to watch your reviews. They're always thoughtful and concise, and I have no regrets about time spent.
Very pleasing to hear that, Mark and especially nice that you take the trouble to tell me. Thanks!
Well said David. I've been doing photography for over 50 years, starting with an Instamatic and the old chesnut of bigger is better has never gone away. What has never gone away too is that different cameras suit the different photographic genre better. So what is critical is for the photographer to chose the right system for their needs. I have never had a problem with noise, bokeh (I hate it for landscape) or format with my Olympus and Panasonic cameras. I shoot no more than ISO 400 since I take full advantage of the IBIS systems (not available on even the Fuji XT3 or FF Nikons and Canons) and the f1.7/f1/8 lenses available. I also use a Nikon D750, but that is strictly for portraiture, macro or some landscape, but I use my MFT cameras 90% of the time. I simply enjoy using them!
Thanks - yes, the right camera for your needs. All are a compromise between various elements and you take the same view that I do, horses for courses. I suppose the crunch comes when choosing one camera to do everything. The fact that you, having the choice, use the Micro Four Thirds 90% of the time is very telling of what choice you'd likely make if one had to go. In point of fact, if you go for a set of Micro Four Thirds f/1.2 lenses in order to get as close to FF as possible, you probably would spend more money than on doing it your way. Interesting comment. thanks.
Its so refreshing David for someone to be truthful and stick with his format. The big manufacturers are trying to stitch us all up and get us to spend even more money. No way!!!!
Thanks for sticking up for the format in this video. I agree completely.
Greetings from Malaysia! I have been using m4/3 for about 3 months after buying a secondhand EM5 Mk1 with less than 2000 shutter counts, with my lens arsenal comprising of Lumix 20mm 1.7 & 42.5mm 1.7 + M.Zuiko 14-150mm f4-5.6 II, I’ve been very happy for using them as travel & portrait + bokeh shooting kit. The whole kit weighed less than 1KG, and I love just how small the EM5 is. M4/3 is definitely the way to go for beginners & amateurs in photography! Thanks David for your wonderful presentation! I’ve been watching all your videos regarding M4/3 since starting out with my first Olympus!
The usual common sense we have come to expect from you David; an excellent review of all the reasons I switched to M43 because I realised that I was leaving a Nikon DSLR at home and relying on a Lumix LX3 most of the time.
Nick Leon Hi Nick. I found myself doing the exact same thing. It seems like I am more inclined to take my camera out with me .
The perfect response to Northop’s latest anti m43’s video!
... who cares about what he says...?
Except it isn't. Because Tony's point wasn't that MFT had no use case - in fact he acknowledges that he himself uses MFT all the time for video. Tony's main point is that there just aren't enough such people out there, to make long-term development of MFT profitable. For various reasons, the camera market is shrinking as consumers and most prosumers are sticking with smartphones, and at the same time most professional photographers are going with or sticking with larger sensors. That leaves "enthusiasts" and a thin slice of the pro market to fight over, and that is simply not enough to justify R&D for the long term.
Which is why Panasonic have gone FF, and why Olympus' imaging division is bleeding money - their latest Q1 earnings report is just cringe-worthy.
but who needs to care about his video????
@Rajasekharan Vichattu Micro contrast is missing. When Dynamic Range is expanded beyond the color bit depth could handle.
Kinda why Panasonic stuck with its ancient 16MP sensor until 2016.
Wish MFT would receive a 14-Bit sensor rather than more megapixels
neaorin, people have been saying that about m4/3 for 10 years. They keep getting proved wrong, and Panasonic haven’t “gone full frame” just because they release one full frame camera.
yousir hit the nail on the head. Like you and the gf1, Oly's E-PL3 was my "catalyst" camera of sorts. I still shoot with it today because it's so practical to carry around. I don't miss lugging 2 DSLR's, 2 massive primes, a constant aperture streetsweeper, and a big honking manfrotto tripod to stabilize it all half-way 'round the world every year to do festival photography when my e-m10 II and 3 tiny primes exceed my and my client's expectations. I never once considered going back to Nikon with their Z6 announcement precisely because of the size. I can forgo the perceptions of absolute image quality because I don't print billboards and I and many seasoned photographers know there's to composition than obliterating backgrounds. I suspect this was an inadvertent response to a fellow RUclipsr :cough: Tony Northrup :cough: who to me is nothing more than a charlatan pundit. That kind of content is nothing but subterfuge and just genuinely bad for photography. You are definitely one of the good ones though. I watch your MFT vids and think, "this man gets it."
Thanks Renato. My perspective on Micro Four Thirds is pretty straightforward - it does everything I need and I enjoy using it. I don't see the new FF cameras enhancing my enjoyment (the opposite, in fact) and the things they do better - massive prints, even shallower depth of field I don't need. I'm not partisan, if they suited my needs better, I'd think about buying in. Is Micro Four Thirds dying? I certainly hope not and I see no signs of it. Probably he biggest thing that goes against Micro Four Thirds is that you need to think through want you actually want and need for your photography. For so many people, the first thought that pops up in their minds is Nikon or Canon, simply because they are the only 'proper' cameras they have heard of. People are aware there may be something more suitable for them but they know they can't be wrong with a big name. Brand identity like that is so powerful.
I enjoy your story and thoughts as always. Keep it up, David!
Ha! Couldn't have said it better myself David. Love waking up to your videos.
An excellent video as always, David, and a great summation of what makes m4/3 so appealing. The single drawback for me - and ultimately the reason I got out of the system - was noise at relatively low ISOs compared to APS-C and full-frame cameras. When shooting in adequate light, all is well, but as someone who enjoys nighttime and existing light photography, it was ultimately a dealbreaker. That said, I sure to miss the ability to carry an entire kit in a tiny bag (or in coat pockets), and I miss Oly’s remarkable IBIS. Keep up the good work - I always look forward to your latest videos!
Great photographs have great lighting, I don’t understand the fascination of shooting in extreme low light. If your lighting is inadequate and you have to rely on the camera, then i don’t expect much in the image. Good lighting is key.
@@gregoryvarano8002 Astro photography when you don't want to use shutter speeds that are super long to avoid star trails. Bigger sensor w/ fast glass is always better in that situation.
@@SeanWashPhoto fast glass will cost you steeply with full frame, not so much with micro 4/3rds. Example, Olympus Pro series 17mm, 25mm and 45mmF1.2 cost $1400 Canadian and are stellar a fraction of the cost and size of a full frame version. Infact a 85mm f1.2 USM from Canon comes in at $2500 Canadian! Sensor size doesn't really matter as much as using fast sharp glass. The Idea is to shoot at the lowest ISO possible, with glass as fast as F1.2. Your shooting at a far lower ISO than using a full frame with F2.8 or F1.8 glass.
Glad to see you posting, David, I quite enjoyed this video :)
The real question is - who would give any of David's videos a thumbs down? Unlike some other tubers seem to use their channel to generate affiliate link throughs rather than produce this kind of quality, reasoned work. Good job
Very well thought out points. I picked up the Lumix GX8 a few years back with most of what you went over in mind. IQ is great for what I do and the system is so much easier to pack around than my old Cannon SLR or Yashica TLR cameras were. Back when everyone I knew was dropping their SLRs for DSLRs I remember thinking that the real promise of digital was going to be super functional but way more compact camera systems with bodies akin to old school range finders. When I first saw the Lumix GX8 I knew it had finally arrived.
M43 is for who loves photography, FF is fo who loves cameras. Great video., I like your calm speaking. I'm sticking with m43 too because i feel i can take better pictures with it.
You nailed it, David!
I've never viewed my images on an iPad--I don't even own one--but the "slides on a light table" analogy tells me I should. My M43 prints never have disappointed me or my clients.
Guess MFT is not dead after all :)
@Maikuro FourThree ;)
Who said MFT would be dead? APS-C would probably go first if anything. MFT will last as long as FF, since they'll be figuring out how to put a med or full sensor into a portable consumer product within the next 10 years (My best educated guess will be that photos will only improve marginally in IQ, similar to the past 40 years) when factoring in prints, common usage/viewability, and so on... Options are always great. .
@Daniel Spaniel - Assuming static progress, you could be correct. However, history has demonstrated that technological advancement favors miniaturization. The greatest advancements are occurring in computational photography, which requires the movement of data. It's easier to move smaller amounts of data rather than larger thus requiring less expensive data pipelines. One could argue that these advancements will affect and benefit all format sizes, and that would be very correct. However, it will be easier and more cost effective to develop and implement these advancements over the next decade on a smaller scale. The big guys in the industry have dealt their hands, and it's to move upward. They are planning on fewer total cameras and lenses, which means they must derive a higher margin on fewer units sold. Increasing prices will squeeze out all but the most well-healed leaving a relatively large, but shrinking enthusiast market to go after. If m43 is to fail, it won't be because of it's size. It will be because Olympus and Panasonic fail to seize the incredible gap in the market that will be opening up. Those that want a better photographic experience with superior quality to what cell phones offer, but cannot or refuse to afford high-ticket larger format cameras.
Brilliant. Watching this video was so comforting... especially...after I have ordered my 5th MFT lens since I bought the camera in July.
I absolutely agree. M43 is is the perfect sensor for travel. I’ve taken my gh5 with native lenses to places i could’ve never taken a full frame camera.
Superb video as usual and your message delivered so eloquently and succinctly. Bravo. I too will never look for a replacement to my mft outfit.
You’re a poet Mr. Thorpe, a true representative for us M43 users, always deep with words, and make all the sense in the world
I like yourself am a professional photographer, who isn’t having any longer to support a studio .
So you perfectly express my rationale over micro four thirds.
All of my professional friends and colleagues use m43 for the same reasons as us.
As I’ve said on many forums, the mentality is akin to the idea of having to shoot sport on a 5x4 ?
To what end ?
M43 gives equal quality in most cases to 35 mm film, and we didn’t throw away our 35mm film cameras
In exchange of medium format or large format in the film era, for obvious reasons, that is they are all tools for different jobs !
The thing that concerns me is that I would have thought this was obvious and didn’t require going over endlessly, but it does.
So thanks for clarifying this again so beautifully, as I do love your videos.
Probably because unlike many commentators out there, you to have earned a living working In the business.
brilliant as always Mr Thorpe
Glad to see you're still at this David. Not watched your videos in a while but having a catch up session. Still a happy owner of my old Panasonic GX1. I may upgrade one day. ;-) How I have missed your gentle narration in your videos. Always a pleasure to watch!
My neighbour across the road still uses a GX1, with the accessory EVF. He 's happy with it and sees no reason to change as yet. Thanks for the kind words - I have considered wearing a back to front baseball cap and starting off "Hi Guys!" and waving the camera about while showing no pictures taken with it - but I decided against it!
excellently put good sir! i had a oly e-pl6 and some primes followed by the em10ii and then just now ordered their mind-boggling em1ii +12-40pro combo for $2k
Thank you for yet another excellent and informative video, keep up!
Glad to see not everyone is beating up on MFT, I really like my E-M5II and have no plans to ditch it.
Thanks for all your excellent videos. After finding you when I switched to MFT I have since watch all your new videos, as well as a huge portion of you back catalogue!
You do such an excellent job!
The video I personally hope to see from you is a review of the Olympus 75mm f1.8. I've heard a lot of adoration of it's sharpness, but am excited to hear your level headed real world take on the lens and its quality/usability.
Just got my 1st M 4/3 camera, a Pen-F, and I'm blown away by the quality of the images. It will take a while to master the menus but 1 day of concentrated study and I can use the camera well enough for most my needs. Glad I found your Chanel, you have another subscriber.
I just got the same camera and love it!!
Good to hear that Mark - you might find my book on the Pen F menu handy - amzn.to/2IzLJrm
From the olders days with 5D from Canon directly into the Em1, then D750 from Nikon to D810 from that to u43 and a short love affair with the Fuji XT systems, onto Sony 7R2 to Sony 7R3 and now deciding going back to u43 simply because it's a indescribable joy to shoot, the IQ is 'good enough', the few weaknesses?, there are plenty workarounds. Insane good lenses. many optimal designs, without non aside none above.... I am ready to come back home in the u43 world. My elderly body will kiss me for that choice.
I'll be back :)
Think further one day we find an organic sensor inside beside the global shutter. You think I could be happier? Guess not. C'mon Oly and Pana... you are there extremely soon.
Gerner Christensen Very well put.
This is your bi-annual reminder to "be back"
Thank you so much for this video. I have been AGONIZING over a new camera purchase.
I currently have a Nikon D3200 which has served me well but I've been eyeing that G7!
Love the size and weight but I'm stuck on the big sensor.
You have addressed my concerns and I thank you.
Now to wait for a sweet Black Friday sale at B&H!
Nice video. I started on m43 about five years ago, with a Pen Mini I bought to replace a dead P&S camera. I kept going, and as my system improved, my Canon full frame system remained home more often. It finally went up on eBay last spring.
I bought a G7 a few years ago with the kit lens because of your videos and the camera has truly become my workhorse. I never did get another m4/3 camera until a good deal came up just last week for a used GX8 body only. A decent deal for 460 USD. Gonna try doing some street next week with it! Thanks for the video, David!
A shoulder injury has forced me to ditch my Canon FF and APS-C cameras and lenses. I bought into M4/3 several years ago and now I 'm enjoying the lighter lenses and cameras. I'm planning to pick up the Olympus 40 -150. I rented it and it paired well with my Olympus EM1. Long live M4/3!
It's interesting to note that the original 36mm x 24mm format was invented by Oskar Barnack, a master mechanical working for the Ernst Leitz Optical Company, because he had back problems and wanted a smaller camera. And if you look at those old 1920s-1950s Leicas, they're pretty small. I have a Canon IVsb, and it's about the size of my Olympus Pen F. And I have a 50mm f/2.0 lens for the Leica mount that's more or less the size of my Olympus 45mm f/1.8. And yet, my Canon full frame system was a good 25lbs for typical pack... not much lighter than medium format gear from the 1960s and 1970s. The added weight of batteries, more complex lens designs, etc. have made full frame cameras a compromise -- what do I not take with me. The m43 format is better than the film I used to shoot... that's all that really matters. I know my camera well enough to know if I need to shoot 2, 4, 200 shots to deliver the image I'm after. The specifics of the camera don't change that all that much. The size and the speed of the camera do.
Agree with you David! Great content...
Thank you David for summarize us the benefit of Micro Four Third sensor format. MFT make sense for everyday photographers and So-call Full Frame (24X36mm) sensor make discussions without end over photo forums. More and more I hope to see serious Web photo reviewers such as you or Mike Johnston (TOP) make the point that compact cameras are an asset for availability and creativity in photography.
I love the sweet spot that m43 is! Big zoom with a small and light package. Thanks for the great breakdown!
Glad you liked it!
I have a Sony full frame, recently had a Canon 5DSr, and I also have a Panasonic G9, and an Olympus EM5 mk2. The Sony is better than the Canon imho, because it offers the advantages of mirror less, and has a better sensor with wider dynamic range (and I was a Canon fan for 41 years). But the G9 and EM52 still play an important role in my photography for all the reasons outlined in David's great analysis. I often pick up the MFT gear because the small size and low weight, and clever technology, deliver what I need to print at A3. I only have the Sony because I'm a pixel peeper and it is the better camera for detailed saturated landscapes. Ignore Northrup, he just chases the clicks.
Dude you're rich
@@fernandotaborda Actually no, just retired and no longer worrying about the mortgage payments 😉
I think you do Tony at least a slight injustice. I think he actually believes in his arguments and does not see where they are rather personal - I would never opt for a monstrous 600 mm FF lens (that would cost more than a small car) if a small and (comparatively) affordable 300 mm MFT lens would let me do the shot as well. He's more of a tech nerd than a real-life photographer in this regard.
I agree, I think Tony is a genuine guy and I enjoy his content. I also think he's wrong about M43.
Well i am very happy with my Sony a6300 with better or very similar IQ to MFT as said in the video. In my opinion along with the Sigma 30mm f1.4, it's one of the best compact systems with huge capabilities while still being very portable... i said go with your gut on this one! 😎
Great review, I've been following your videos ever since I jumped into the Olympus micro four-thirds a year or two ago. At my age ...make that going on 72... I don't care to always lug around huge equipment anymore. Having said that I still have my Nikon d810 and some of the better lenses for landscape and maybe some night photography. I do a corporate client shoot once a month and always use my micro four thirds system. And like you an avid bicycle Rider I have a kit with me at all times with three lenses, getting me from 16 to 600 mm, carried in a small sling backpack with easy access. I bought a used Panasonic Lumix gx7 for a couple hundred bucks recently and is my walkabout camera and love its size and portability. I sold (this will probably horrify Nikon shooters) my D500 and Tamron 150-600 G2 and replaced it with the Olympus EM1 Mark II and 40 to 150 pro lens with teleconverter and then purchased the panel Leica 100 to 400. The image quality and tracking of the Olympics system is good enough for me and the weight savings and portability is astounding.
With the recent development in the last couple of months with artificial intelligent noise reduction and upsizing programs some of the biggest beefs against the micro four thirds system have lost some of their bite.
This vid is so very well put together. Sold me on 4 thirds
Old age and the inability to lug around my DSLR system made me change to Micro 4/3. Now I have a stunning GX80 plus a few lenses that match up to my DSLR range of lenses. Picture quality is as good as my Canon ever was , perhaps even better. The thing is I can carry my entire Lumix system in a small bag without getting weary. Plus I'm having to learn a new system and that's great for my mind.
As usual a very interesting video with good reasoning.
I bought my first GF1 8 years ago and a new one this spring. The GX7 was bought 2 years ago.
I only use primes and a mint Jupiter 3, 50mm f1,5, of 1951 vintage as my favorite. Will never leave mft.
Regards Ulf
Loved your reference to The Who - Maximum R&B. My favorite band. “Long live rock, I need it every night ....”
I’m still using the EM10 Mk 1 and it’s still solid even though I’m fighting the constant urge to upgrade. I’m sold on the relative sizes of M4/3 lenses as well.
Legend. Amazing as always.
Hi David. I really enjoyed this video and I just wanted to say that I have learned so very much. Thanks again from Bill here in Palm Coast,Florida
Thanks a lot, Bill. Glad you found it helpful!
Excellent, intelligent and knowledgeable, as we have come to expect!
What can I say - thanks!
Another wonderfully sensible video, David. I do very much enjoy the form factor and features of my G80. It's like a Swiss army knife! - Great stills, video, time lapse, and I've even started doing Astrophotography with it as my primary astro camera. Some of the features of the Panasonic are excellent for astro, the starlight AF mode to name but one. I also don't feel conspicuous taking m43 camera and lenses out with me. I'm seriously considering changing the name of my channel to something like M43 Astro as I always seem to be singing the praises of micro four thirds.
My favorite camera of the ones I own is an Olympus OM2n. I have two of them today with about 8 lenses. I have also owned an Olympus XA and Olympus Stylus Infinity. When I went to buy a good digital back in 2012 the first place I looked for a camera was Olympus. The OMD EM5 was new at the time. I ended up getting a Nikon D3200 at the time because the OMD was out of stock and we were leaving for a vacation. But also a big part of that decision was the fact that the Nikon D3200 was the same size and weight as the OMD and maybe 60% of the price. And the Nikon had a bigger sensor with more mega pixels. The lenses for the Nikon crop sensor were small and light and not expensive. Plus they worked very well. The camera was far less attractive to look at than the OMD but worked very well. I still have the Olympus OM2n's. I use them all the time. I picked the Oly to shoot the first roll of the new Kodak Ektachrome with.
A key characteristic of all four of the Olympus cameras I have ever owned is that they were all 35mm full frame. I am still waiting for Olympus to offer a full frame digital. My Olympus OM2n is evidence that Oly can make very good full frame lenses that are small and light. The Leica M10 proves small and light film lenses work just fine with digital. So Olympus, where is my full frame digital camera about the size of my OM2n's? Make one and I will buy it.
It may be possible to get sufficient quality out of a micro four thirds sensor that you need/want, but it is much easier to get high quality files from a 35mm full frame sensor. I recently bought a Sony A7iii and Sony Zeiss 55mm f1.8. It is only slightly larger and heavier than my Olympus OM2n with 50mm lens. I am about to buy the Sony Zeiss 35mm f2.8 or the Sony 28mm f2 lens that are very small lenses about the size of my Olympus OM lenses of similar mm. Even though I can get very good pictures from my small sensor iPhone X and my Sony compact HX 80 it is not possible to get photos that are as good as those from the Sony full frame.
Frankly the Sony is not as nice a camera as my OM2n. It does not look as good or nearly as much of a joy to operate. But after you learn the controls it works fine. So I am still waiting for Olympus to come out with a full frame sensor camera that would get me to switch back to my favorite camera brand. The same as I did in 1980. I sold a Nikon FM to get my original OM2n that I still have. Then after making a OM2n sized full frame digital Olympus should work to making an XA size pocket full frame. I would buy one of those too.
Great review - I'm myself a M4/3 devotee. The format has it's fans and has endured for a reason.
Nice video, thanks for sharing your opinions.
I switched from Sony full-frame to MFT for about two years by now, and so far with some notable exceptions (low-light) it’s served me well.
What I’d love to see is new smaller bodies (GX9 form factor) with flagship features (mainly good evf), improved AF-C, and anti-distortion electronic shutter like Sony A9. I’m sure these are all feasible. Also, updated weather-sealed versions of the small prime lenses we already have
Still the most versatile, compact camera standard. Great video as always!👍
Naturally, I agree! Thanks, Andrea. I like your Saigon traffic video. There are people crossing the road there 😱
👍
Champagne and caviar... :D Your wonderfully pleasant speaking voice is perfect for slipping in the sick burns!
I enjoyed the video too. I'm not a m43 shooter, but in this age of specs and gear lust I have great respect for any photographer who simply understands their needs and uses what fits them best, rather than lugging around something excessive because they feel they're supposed to.
A good thought - and thanks!
Excellently done as usual.
Great! Exactly why I'll never leave m43 while i can!
Hi David
Best overview yet of mf43 benefits and drawbacks. Like yourself I started with panasonic g1, gf1, g5 etc moving on to the excellent stabilised bodies of the9 gx7, gx85 and g80. Similarly with lenses I have lots if m43 primes but most of the time I find myself shooting with old canon fd primes and zooms with focal reducer. I find that this gives me the most flexibility in my shooting albeit at the cost of manual shooting. Look forward to more reviews from you.
Nice arguments for M4/3, David. I actually went from a Nikon DSLR to the Lumix G1 with the awesome, sharp Panasonic 20 f/1.7 pancake several years back. While I was pleased with the ergonomics of the body and especially the Sharpness of that lens, when I had a 12”x18” custom print made, I was a bit disappointed with the resulting print, in terms of Sharpness and detail retention. So, I did more research and settled on the APS-C Fujifilm X-System, and haven’t looked back! I can now print quite sharp and detailed 24”x36” posters. Enjoy whatever system you have! Thanks again!
Great video. Same here! It's a keeper.
Great video as always, having left micro four thirds for a flirt with Sony full frame , SOny APS-C and then Fuji APS-C where do I find myself having sold my GH4 and GM1 a year later? Well I just bought a GH5 and a GM1....along with my favourite micro four thirds lenses again. GH5 for my video work, GM1 is my fun photography camera that stays in my coat. I think a cheap GX7/GX80 is on the cards eventually.
So why did I come back to micro four thirds after about 1000 full frame cameras launched recently? Well for my money the GH5 is still the best video camera I can get for my personal work/some paid stuff (not to mention a good photo camera if i give it a chance), and having bought a 45mm olympus, 20mm panasonic, 12-35mm panasonic again, and a cheap 40-150 olympus for very occasional tele work, it seemed a shame not to have a portable camera for holidays and day to day, so I couldn't resisted a like new GM1 for £100! (although i was tempted to try the slightly bigger and newer GX800, but ultimately i wanted as small as possible and it wasn't as...sexy?).
Glad I made the switch back, I used my GH4 a lot for video and GM1 a lot for photos according to light room, and I think at the end of the day it's the camera you use thats important, not the one with a longer spec sheet.
Your story sounds familiar. Only that I didn't sell my (not that elaborate) MFT stuff, but gave it to a friend in need - this way it hurt less when buying (some of) it again. ;)
Loved the caviar comment. Nice analysis balanced with considerable wit.
Excellent as usual!!!
As ever, a good post though as likely 95% of current 'photography' is done on smartphones, Micro 4/3 is a 'giant format' ! Your comment about where things are being viewed, on smartphones, tablets and the web is just so right. In fact it reminds me of the story of the chairman of Black & Decker who announced one year that research had shown that nobody wanted to buy their drills, apparently they just wanted holes ! The majority of people just want to capture their own memories and moments not produce exhibition sized prints.
I used a Lumix G7 and then a G80 for two years alongside my DSLR gear and whilst I thought them great as video cameras, neither was satisfying to me as stills cameras. That Olympus or even the upcoming (back then), G9 might solve that was likely, but what made me decide to trade my 4/3rds gear in was simply that I didn't want to spend the cash to duplicate the high quality lenses that I already had in my DSLR system with equivalent high quality 4/3rds glass which is available from both Panasonic and Olympus.
However the experience had convinced me of the usefulness of having a highly portable "system camera" for those travel/informal instances when you didn't want to be lugging all the heavy gear. My solution was a Canon M6 and although you can mount EF lenses on it via an adapter, that is an unwieldly nonsense which as you are saying in effect, a lightweight FF mirrorless body is irrelevant without the full size and heavy glass to go with it. Because Canon have neglected the M series of lenses, I was able to pick up almost a full set cheaply second hand and "native glass" is always better.
I hate the fanboy stuff, you would be hard put to buy any truly awful camera today but anyway, photography should be about pictures and images rather than gear. Sure the DSLRs days are likely numbered simply to cheapen the cost of production but being almost 73, do I care, will it matter to me personally, I suspect not. I recently traded my 5D MkII for a 5Ds (second hand of course !) but the thing that has given me most entertainment of late are the wet film SLRs I picked up, one from the 70s, one from the 80s and one from the 90s, sometimes what goes around, comes round again :)
"The majority of people just want to capture their own memories and moments not produce exhibition sized prints."
I guess this is pretty much the summary of the M4/3 vs APSC vs FF vs medium format vs .... debate. If you are a pro who likes massive 'fine art' prints, yeah go for medium format. Or large format. But for those enthusiasts, smaller sensor like APSC or M/43 is enough. Lighter and more affordable.
What's the point of owning a digital medium format camera if you only publish your photos on Instagram? :)
Great video! Really liked all your points
Nice bit of stop frame animation there, David. You’ll be Noggin the Nog next!
Thanks David !
David I really enjoy your reviews almost as much as my G9 :-)
I just bought my first M43rd this week and a 20mm prime lens to support the cause!
Love live good quality photos, practicality, and healthy backs and shoulders!!
You summed it all up in that last one sentence there!
Yep, it's great being able to take my GH5 and the 100-400mm lens on my bike without killing my back.
Some few years back your videos helped me decide to go mirror less for my first interchangeable lens camera. Since then I toyed for just a short while with getting a full frame camera, but so far I've seen no real need for that.
Since the day I started using my camera, my photography cup has been 4/3 full.
Thanks for all your helpful videos.
It's very pleasing to hear that - thanks for telling me.
@@DavidThorpeMFT You're very welcome. ((-:
For me as long as I take my little epl5 and zuiko 45 mm 1,8 to concerts, weddings, birthdays and holiday and after people see the pictures say: wow what camera was that, it means they didn't even see me taking the picture, but in the end is good enough for them, I will stay with micro four thirds (and when I have the money, buy a Fuji GFX ;-)
Nicely put. I do still use FF but m43 as well. One of my regular clients is only 10 mins from me on my bike, So I sling a small bag with an OM-D M5 and the 12-40 Pro zoom over my shoulder and I'm off!
So true!! When comparing camera systems many reviewers are quite happy about the size of the new mirror less full frame bodies, but they tend to forget the weight and size of the needed lenses. If Oly and Panasonic are smart they try to step up their computational image processing to counter the attack of the smartphones AND to be able to hold their stand vs the FF competition. We really need good HDR RAWS out of cam, for example.
A great video as always, David. Perhaps the sky isn't falling after all.
I don't feel Micro Four Thirds is really being threatened by the new cameras. Sony has had its superb FF models out for years but that hasn't stopped Micro Four Thirds developing. The fact remains that the smaller sensor retains more than good enough IQ while keeping the lens sizes much smaller than bigger sensor systems plus enabling a wider choice of body sizes. It just hits a sweet spot.
What I think would be the greatest threat would be development of smaller sensor, say 8x6mm that equalled Micro Four Thirds IQ. That would enable pocket sized cameras and a vast array of lens possibilities. On the other hand, there is a limit to how much light a lens can gather, and depth of focus control would become next to impossible other than in software. Such a sensor development isn't on the cards in the foreseeable future but even if it comes about could be used to bring Micro Four Thirds up to FF image quality. Having said all this, what do I know?
David, That you saw the need to make this video simply proves that there is one sucker born every minute, in Barnum's words. Your analysis is absolutely correct, and is the reason that none of us drive around in a horse and wagon, toting a camera as large as Matthew Brady's. He did the same work you did in the "70s, 100 years earlier. The history of photography has always been one of moving to smaller and lighter gear to get acceptable results. What your Leicas (and mine) did in the period from 1949 to 1990, is what an Oly E-M1 II does today. Now, I will admit that the Oly lenses do not render quite the same as the Leica glass does, but we can use that glass with adapters, or (as I do) by using Fuji X series gear.
The leather vintage bag rules! :) 06:31. Interesting overview as usual!
Thanks, Gianpaolo!
Nice insight to the MFT system. It seems to get better and better as time goes on.
Yes, it's nicely mature now with lots of choices and combinations of compatible accessories.
I changed to the M-43 system earlier this year, selling all my Canon DSLR (5D MII and som red rings) equipment which I really didn't need. Traveling was terrible as the equipment used all of my carry on luggage on flights. October in Hongkong at 32 degrees and 95 % humidity the DSLR with two lenses killed me... Now, with the GX80 and the Pana-Leica 12-60 and Olympus 17mm, I have all I need for traveling and beyond, at a reasonable price and compact, easy to carry around.
I sat down with myself and thought about the most important thing - What do I REALLY need. So I left the "arms race" of the DSLR people (more equipment, bigger lenses, more red rings) and found my place.
I like your reviews. They were part of helping me to chose my equipment.
It's great to read that my reviews helped. For you, as for me, Micro Four Thirds brings back the fun of photography.
Another truly excellent summation, DT. And this is not only because I made the same step away from full-frame DSLRs (Nikon and Canon) many years ago, and for the same reasons you give here. For me, the most salient point was your one about µ4/3rds DOF: if you are shooting portraits with FF, ƒ1.4 will most likely only have one eye in focus-when I was a commercial portrait photographer, the apertures of 2.8-4 were most used with full frame. Judicial spacing of subject to background still allows a soft OOF rendering with µ4/3rds, if you know what you are doing, too. For portraits using µ4/3rds, I like the slower falloff of the in-focus areas, actually, and subject-background spacing takes care of the 'three-dimensional' look we like to see.
In another video you mentioned the Oly 12-40/2.8 Pro zoom: this lives on my G85, where the more substantial grip offsets the extra weight very nicely. And only very rarely do I stop it down. Thank you!
P.S.: looking at the comments below, I freely acknowledge that FF has better dynamic range and handles low light better before the images fall apart, but speaking as an ex-film photographer who was limited to ASA 1600 B&W for shooting dance and theatre, I can say it can be done! Excellent images will be made in spite of the limitations of the equipment. And (last comment) looking over the last 50 years of photography, the better specs we have now probably do make better images technically, but make no real difference to artistically great images where, usually, the content triumphs over the medium.
Thanks, Kit. The shallow depth thing has become a bit of a fetish, not to say a circus trick. It's good as a way for focusing attention where you want it but one eye in focus and the rest out is not much of a look for a portrait :-) I concur completely with with your last remarks, too. I have never heard anyone complain about the technical quality of the work of Cartier-Bresson or any of the film greats. To do so would miss the point of what makes them great.
@@DavidThorpeMFT Two thumbs up!
Excellent stuff, David. I wholeheartedly agree re size. I've been using the a6500 recently. Sigma 16mm f1.4. Sony 18-105 f4 and Sony 35mm f1.8 (a tiny gem comparable to the Olympus 45mm). It's the only aps-c kit that has the similar convenience of micro 4/3. The upside is the incredible autofocus for out-and-about video. This paired with my GH5 for more structured work knocks spots off the cumbersome full-frame cameras I've used. Regards.
Hey DT, I relish your articulate presentation and the substance of said presentation. I have a full frame Sony A7RIII, however I am "most at home" with the older, smaller, handier, lighter, less megapixel A 6000. The smaller familiar size is comforting in so many ways. Just saying that to say, your professed fondness for the Miro Four Thirds is absolutely relatable.
Love the pet pictures with the 45mm, I do the same with my dog ... and my kids when they stop running around ... but pets are more cooperative I found.