My Micro Four Thirds Photography Experiment
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- Опубликовано: 31 июл 2024
- #microfourthirds #landscapephotography #panasoniclumix
Six weeks ago I decided to buy a Panasonic GH5 Mark ii with a view to seeing if the micro four thirds format was suitable to use exclusively for my own landscape photography. In this video I discuss my experiences (and images) from my six week micro four thirds experiment - and make the final decision regarding the future of me and micro fours thirds.
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If you are interested in joining me on a landscape or macro photography workshop in Northumberland or the English Lake District, please follow the link below to find out about my private photography tuition sessions (online tuition is also available):
www.jasonfriend.co.uk/photogr...
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Gear used for these video (These are affiliate links so I may receive a small commission which help funds these videos - however it won't cost you a penny extra!)
Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 (my landscape photography camera) - amzn.to/3RpxyHg
Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 ii (my video and main work camera) - amzn.to/46ewM6Q
Panasonic Lumix G100 (my everyday carry camera) - amzn.to/45Soktu
Panasonic 24-105mm Lens (my workhorse lens) - amzn.to/3JQWLbw
Panasonic 16-35 Lens (when I need to be wide!) - amzn.to/3JPyYZu
Panasonic 14-28 Lens (when I need to be even wider!) - amzn.to/4480wR5
Panasonic 70-300 Lens (for when I need a bit more zoom!) - amzn.to/3CEruE7
Panasonic 20-60 (great lens for everyday use) - amzn.to/3ZXgFqO
DJI Mavic 3 Drone (for aerial photos & video) - amzn.to/3C0fFHs
DJI Osmo Pocket 2 (my handheld camera for vlogging) - amzn.to/3NH03zG
I sold all my full frame gear, a Nikon Z5, several lenses, and invested in the MFT system. I managed to get the Panasonic G9, Olympus Em5 III, and several lenses. I seriously love the system.
Obviously there are some downsides to it, the ISO performance is clearly not as good as on a full frame system, but I don't need high ISO values anyway, and in the few cases I do there's great noise reduction in the editing software programs today.
Particularly the size is amazing. When I need to go small I can. I always have the Olympus with me, with the 12-45mm f4 and Pana-Leica 15mm f1.7. For other shoots I take the G9 with me, when it doesn't matter that the camera is a bit larger.
The images are great. I know when to get around the demanding situations, so I'm not so concerned with the lower dynamic range performance or lower pixel numbers.
It's frustrating that the system has gotten such a bad rep, considering how much it offers to a much more affordable price range compared to full frame and even APS-C systems. I really feel that you can get everything you want with MFT, without having to break the bank. Particularly for those of us, who are doing this as a hobby, even if on a serious level.
Thanks for the video and sharing your thoughts and experiences.
One good thing about the downer everyone has on MFT is the prices if used gear. I left oly a while back but decided I’d like to have one camera just for the light weight and small size of the system. Picked up a low count EM5 (mark 1) plus the 12-50 lens for around equivalent of just over £120. Fells great to have that option available again, especially for hiking/climbing/ski touring where small size and low weight makes a huge difference. It’s not better or worse, it’s just different.
Having gone from a full frame Nikon D700 with - Nikkor pro lenses to Micro Four Thirds, portability was my biggest gain. Some mention the cameras are as large as full frame cameras. The benefit is in the lenses which are smaller than the equivalent full frame focal length and for the most part, sharper. My entire kit, covering a wider focal length than my full frame kit fits into a bag less than half the size.
I just had a similar experience. I bought a OM5 with the 12-45 pro, the 15mm Panaleica and the 45 1.8 Pana to test against my Sony A7R2. At first I was a bit dissapointed by the IQ. But then I took it everywhere I went. I even don't take a bag anymore. It just lives in a pocket or on my shoulder. It is so effortless. What fascinates me is the weight with the Panaleica. Feels like nothing.
You just summarized all of my favorite things about m43. If you enjoy photography and want to shoot multiple disciplines on any given outing then there's just no beating it. I disliked having to pick and choose with FF. I am an on call engineer and have to have my laptop with my all the time. I just keep my photo gear in my laptop bag and can do whatever I want anytime. I too love the size of the Olympus and prefer it over the Panasonic bodies. I have the E-M1 Mk II.
Hello Jason, comments from Canada. I have the G9, my first digital camera bought in January 2020. Bodies nowadays are all small MFT, APSC, or FF. G9 is a great camera especially for stills. You're right on the large size and weight of the lenses. I like the G9 body size though, even though its larger because its has great ergonomics and with 4/3 lenses is a very easy carry. Personally I like something to hold on to. Regarding your photos. Dont beat yourself up. You have some beautiful pics. I think you might just need a bit of work on the processing side. Happy New Year.
Try olympus body’s as they are smaller and lighter and have excellent image stabilisation
I shoot a Sony A7iii as my main FF system for travel and portraits, but also have a small M43 setup for when I want to travel light. I started with the Panasonic GX80, but moved to a G80 as I prefer a 'SLR' shape. I have a variety of non pro lenses which all fit in a tiny bag. Exposure metering and stabilisation is good and AF adequate for my needs. It is all fun to use, of course the IQ doesn't match the FF results when you look closely, but when I mix travel results from FF and M43 on a computer screen or TV, nobody notices :-)
I just started my second (amateur) year with M43, and I'm still enjoying it immensely. I have an OM-1 and several lenses including the 40-150 you mentioned, which I find to be versatile. And sharp. Though I love the portability of my camera, I enjoy more the feeling that whatever I want it to do, it can. Too often, commentators make reference to its portability as a single defining feature of the system. I do a fair amount of landscape photography, and I often shoot in high-res mode (an OMS ambassador recommended it in a clip, because it increases dynamic range). To me, the results are very pleasing, though I'm not a professional looking to sell my images. I bracket my exposures. Just in relation to the extension tubes, the 60mm macro is astonishingly compact and light at 180 grams.
Size and cost are what attracted me to M43. I hope it stays that way.
Just found you and subscribed.
Great video, you've summed up exactly the journey I went through at the start of the year moving from full frame Sony to Olympus for landscape.
For me the size, weight and stability benefits far out weight the loss of the full frame sensor.
For me with landscape photography as long as you put a bit of thought in during the shoot, the micro 4/3 system loses nothing to full frame image quality.
My back is thanking me every day for this decision!
I have to say it’s refreshing to hear some honest perspectives from a m43 user, it seems so many videos are just saying that m43 is better than other formats in every way and anyone who doesn’t use it has been brainwashed. I use m43 and FF (and medium format film) and there’s definitely extra dynamic range from the full frame cameras, it was one of the first differences I noticed, you can take blacks and just pull the details back like it’s nothing. But as you said, if you understand and work within the limitations, m43 is a very versatile system.
it is about having fun as much as anything
Exactly!
Recently I wanted to switch to a new camera system. I am coming from Sony SLT65/77/77II APS-C cameras with a whole array of lenses. However I could not get a 24-200mm zoom for it, which I came to appreciate having used the Sony RX10M1 and RX100M6 cameras. Especially the RX100M6/M7 is a real gem, slips in any pocket and has a 20 Mpix 1inch sensor, even with digital viewfinder (a must for me). As I used to have Olympus cameras in the past (OM-2n film camera), I was keen to jump to M43. However comparing OM-1+12-100mm f/4 + 7-14mm f/2.8mm and Nikon full frame Z5 + 24-200mm/f4-6.3 + 14-30mm f/4, I noticed that OM-system did not give weight, size or price advantages here (a slight weight/size/price advantage with OM-5 however). Of course the Zuiko lenses are brighter, but full frame allowes cranking up the ISO instead and regarding depth of field the Zuiko lenses are actually f/8 and f/5.6 compared to full frame. So I decided to go for the Nikon Z5 after all. I realize that these OM-system cameras have several advantages over the Z5 regarding autofocus/subject recognition, high frame rates etc., but I am just comparing weight/size/price here, as I am mostly a landscape photographer so these features don't bring much to me. Regarding a small take anywhere camera, I will use the Sony RX100M6.
I've been shooting MFT systems for almost ten years, I came from full-frame Nikon. I have the GH5, and an older Olympus OM-5, and you make some great points. I love the small size of the OM-5, and the OM-1, as well. But the GH5 is the much better camera for video. Great video, thanks for sharing.
I went from 4/3 to M4/3 in 2020 when I bought the EM1 MkII. I still haven't used all the features and everything about it says quality. I recently swapped out the 12-40 & 40-150 F/2.8 lenses for the 12-100 F/4 and 40-150 R.
I'll have to look at your more recent videos to see if you are still happy with it :)
I wasn’t happy with the OM-5 (I did a video about that)… currently I’ve got an old EPL1 which I use for family stuff and I’m trying to find a decent GX9 at a justifiable cost (which isn’t an easy thing to do).
Funnily enough though I am hearing good things about the EM1 MKiii so I have totally disregarded the idea of getting one.
In hindsight, I should have never sold my GH5 MK2 to get the OM-5. That camera was built like a tank and had great image quality.
@@JasonFriendPhotography Give the MkII a go. You can pick them up cheap at MPB and it's not a huge investment to see if it gives you what you need. I honestly think it will. I would lend you mine but its the only digital camera I own outside my phone.
Size is becoming more important to me as I go along in my travels. If I didn't have the Sony a6000, I'd most certainly get the Olympus. As it is, I find myself using my even smaller RX100 and cell phone quite a bit of the time as they are great on-the-run cameras. But if I'm going out by myself just to shoot, they don't give near the satisfaction of use a regular MFT or APSC camera does.
I have just made the switch from Nikon full frame. So far no regrets- nice video.
I would also add that the advantage of hand-held pixel shift shooting for me is not so much greater detail but no noise in low light. Another, great fearure of the new micro 4/3 cameras.
Hello I just started following you as it is micro four thirds content. It is nice to hear you coming tonthe same conclusions about micro four thirds. I do find the 12-40 f2.8 lens is on a different level of quality results along with some of the f1.7 and f1.8 lens I own.
Agreed. The 12-40 f2.8 is a joy to use. Also the inexpensive 25mm f1.7 is incredibly good. No need for better.
Nice summary! I quite like the OM5, but I’m thinking the G9ii may offer the best option for mft. I would say it is a bit too large, but many find that it fits well for them. Likely as good for photography as an OM1 (which is a bit smaller and more rugged), but has great video tools too, probably more than most folks would need.
I think the G9ii will be a far better camera tbh... but it's large... the same size as the Panasonic S5 ii (physically identical). The 0M-5 is lovely but its small size can work against it (touch fiddly to use at times). Personally I wonder if the OM-1 is the perfect size v features... However, all three cameras will produce lovely images and that's ultimately what counts!
Thanks. Am an S5 shooter and following you. Love your 4:57 simple setup. Keep making vids. Have a G9 and plan to use those tubes on it.
Thanks for the comment! Funnily enough I was out with my S5 this week (love that camera)… how do you find the G9? I’ve always been quite intrigued by it…
Got it from B&H @ a very good price.
Looking forward to see what you'll be able to get out of the system. I'm going the same route with an "older" Olympus OMD-1 Mark III.
Funnily enough I am on the lookout for an OM-D 1 Mark 3 (or even 2)
The EM-5, OM-5 series are great cameras. Combine them with small manual focus/manual aperture prime lenses with low (F1.4, 1.8, 2) F numbers to keep the ISO down, and you have a small light weight system you can take anywhere.
I'm glad you came to the logical conclusion the MFT does indeed represent the best compromise (and photography always involves compromise) in currently available camera systems. I (and many others) have been quite happy with prints from the G9* (which I got shortly after its inception--I'll probably get the G9 II) and I'd challenge anyone to create noticeably "better" prints from a larger-sensor camera. There are very few situations where it would make a detectable (much less significant) difference having larger and/or more pixels (certainly not enough to justify lugging around much larger, heavier lenses, especially at the long end). What a great luxury it is to easily carry 12-800mm EFL (122° ~ 3° AoV, including the Oly 60mm Macro and an f/0.95 "normal") pro-grade glass in a tiny sling pack that doesn't get in my way when climbing or crawling through brush (and I rarely carry a tripod). I also much prefer a 4:3 aspect ratio to 3:2 (especially for vertical shots).
*I actually find Oly/OM bodies (as well as Sony E-Mount) too small for comfort, and the G9 is slightly less cumbersome than the GH5 (and the most comfortable camera I've ever held).
Having done the APS-C -> FF -> M43 -> FF -> M43 dance (and I'm now sticking with M43) I find myself agreeing completely with you.
Be a bit more careful in camera, less pushing in post, lean on noise removal software and you get results that are so high quality the tradeoff is worth it.
The big moment for me was when I was on my 2nd FF camera (I did Sony, hated it, then did Canon but found the same problems as I had the first time I did FF back in the day with Nikon, which is that it was too heavy and large) I bought my wife her first camera, an Olympus Pen with some kit zooms and a couple of 1.8 primes and unlike my FF we took it everywhere with us and got so many photos we otherwise would have missed. And the image quality and colors were lovely. I also enjoyed using it and photography was fun and creative again.
I sold my Canon gear and bought an OM-1 with a couple of 2.8 Pro zooms and while I generally wouldn't advise that if it's your only camera, I still take it out 3 times more than I did my FF gear according to my image library, as with a standard zoom it's 1Kg with lens vs 1.6Kg with lens as my Canon was (granted that that had 25mm more reach but was 1 stop slower albeit with 1 stop shallower DoF).
When watching your complaint about the Panasonic body size I said out loud "should have gone with an OM-5 and some f/4's" and lo and behold...
Your setup is the optimum for m43 IMHO and what I would have gone with if only had the one camera available to me.
Since I've gotten in to the mf3 system I rarely use tripods because of IBIS
Ive also stopped using filters because i can hand hold while bracketing
Both are a pain in the ass to use 😂📷👍
Ps I'm also pleased with the results and enjoying my photography more and anything up to A3 prints out well
I couldn't be without a polarising filter!
Nice choice and great thoughts shared, thank you. I enjoy my EM5 Mark 3, almost the same camera, almost got a GH6 but the size kept me with the EM5 similar to your thoughts. Be careful if you decide to carry it mounted with a capture clip on a pack though, the bottom plate I hear also on the OM5 is not rated to really hold a lot of weight and might snap the bottom plate.
Jeez… I never knew about the bottom plate issue - that’s a bit of a large worry 😳
I do know OM1 doesnt have that issue, but its a bit pricier - the EM5.2 did not have the issue, but thats going back a few generations - for now when hiking with the same f4 you 12-45, I keep it in a pouch, wrist strap or neck strap - none of which are preferred, but good enough for now for piece of mind@@JasonFriendPhotography
Thanks for the heads up. I’m quite gutted by this (especially as I did consider the OM1).
I believe RUclipsr, Henry Turner, had an issue with the bottom plate breaking on his OM-5. I have taken that into consideration and will be very careful, even restrictive, with mine. I also have the 40-150 F4 Pro, (alongside 12-40 F2.8) which is a fantastic lens and very light for a solid feeling lens.
Yes, i did see that but i think he’s camera took a bashing when it fell (the lens was in a bad way). However, it was a bit worrying just how bad the damage was to the bottom by the tripod mount.
Worrying none the less
I use both systems : m43 and FF/ nikon z system ... a perfect combination.
Does sound like a perfect combination
the GH is the M43 camera with the worst DR ... it's a video rig and for stills you should get something like the OM-1
I would suggest because the color science is better. You should try to Olympus camera has a lot to do about what you're talking about. A good pairing with that camera will be the 12 to 40 for landscapes. Even the 7 to 14 is excellent
I shoot the OM-1, for wildlife and macro. It can't be beat for macro when paired with the 90mm f3.5. It is incredible for birds in flight and bee/insect photography with the 300 f4 and 1.4 teleconverter. 840mm fullframe equivalent with a 1.4m close focus distance and class leading IBIS Just the best for butterflys insects, flowers, etc.
So many tricks up its sleeve and supper fast fps. Also, it has fantastic high ISO capability with keepers up to ISO 12800 with the noise reduction in OM Workspace or noise AI in Light room etc. High ISO no problem.
However, I do shoot landscape with a Nikon Z 7 and Z glass.
Great videos. I too have gone and tried every camera format there is..... I have used my olympus om-d e-m5 mark iii for quite a while now. The size is right it is light. The price of lens and cameras can be really good, specially on the used market. And I personally don't see much difference in my image quality to be perfectly honest. I don't get Panasonic cameras being so big, or the f1.2 lens olympus make. Expensive, heavy. It defeats the point of micro four third. It's all about the balance lens/camera size and excellent image quality overall.
High iso not as good? Possibly. But then I can shoot my lens wide open and get more depth of field, so I gain more stops, and don't need to raise my iso as much. And the ibis always work superbly too......
I find the om1 raws very similar to quality of the ones from S5. Maybe you can give that body a try
What kind of extension tube are you using? Love your video.
Thanks… I’m using some Meike tubes (and they were super cheap!)
Just a thought, but some of your experiences may be due to camera model or raw file image. You might have had a different experience with a different Panasonic or Olympus camera.
I think you've hit on it. The problem is really the modern gear and computer. Everyone has gotten a bit sloppy because they can spend two hours later fixing an image in software. 40 years ago access to a darkroom was rare for most people, me being non-pro, so we had to get it in-camera on the first go with several shots and manually bracketing. Now it's simple to take 800 pictures and delete 787 of them. They don't have to get contact sheets printed and then go back to order the shots with the most potential out of the three rolls of film you used that day, and then wait again for the call that those could be picked up. Whatever the camera/lens was capable of plus a few filters was it.
I spent a few months looking into MFT and got a Lumix GX85 because I also saw the bodies growing larger which defeats the original purpose. And of course no real innovations with cameras for years now (like cell phones) so they're giving us camera's that are biased for video and whatever else they think the marketing department can sell as the new shiny thing. I'd love a new PEN F or even an upgrade to the PEN PL line, small and simple. I no longer want the SLR hump and been a long time since I've wanted to carry around a heavy pack, missing more good shots than I took because I'm fiddling with the gear.
Here's the thing Jason...your statement that it takes more time to process images with micro 4/3rds is moot. You always need to take the time to get the image (landscape) right in camera no matter what camera you're using! Why spend 50 clicks in software to make an image it's best. The OM-5 is a superb "well built" tool for a grand price. I use camera by Sony, Canon, Fuji and Nikon for my pro work. Olympus/ OM Systems is still my favorite, especially for landscapes, streets and nature.
I think what I’m trying to say is that you don’t have as much room for error with M43… Now, in full agree that we should always try our best to get everything as close as possible in camera - im a great believer in this - but sometimes you have to react quickly (think breaking light through clouds) and I just feel that with some other systems you have more ‘wiggle’ room. But I do hope that I didn’t sound overly negative because it wasn’t really my intention
You picked up the wrong Olympus. OM-1 is awesome! Get a used OM-1. I love mine.
I’m starting to wonder this!
Jason, I've shot every major brand. Tried M4/3 several years ago and quickly left. ISO was horrid. Too small in the hand. Shots looked flat?. Picked up the OM-1 a few months ago. Way better experience. ISO is much better. And the 12-100 f/4 lens on the OM-1 is terrific. I picked up both used. Highly recommended.
Enjoyed watching your video on M43 as I now use this system and ditched my FF system to reduce size and weight.
I noticed that you are now trying out the OM-5 so would like to give you a kind warning if you decide to use Peak Design Capture clip with it it may crack the plastic baseplate and end up with it falling to the floor as it's not great with any load at the angles the weight is distributed with the clip. A few have reported damage on the forums and if you look for Henry Turner videos he also had a failure as can be seen below -
ruclips.net/video/7mmJRzGqsK4/видео.html
Don't get me wrong the OM-5 is a fantastic little camera and I do use mine for hand held photography but if you do use a tripod and capture clip, I would recommend the Olympus E-M1 III (or OM-1) as it's only a little heavier and larger but it's built for heavier duty use with all the features (plus more) of the OM0-5.
…sorry too much talking and hardly any action? Got too bored in the end I’m afraid 😟
Sorry about that… this video was different to every other one I’ve done as it was a bit of a recap tbh
Don't apologise. I've seen much worse from so called pros on RUclips