Another one of the James Popsys quotes that will go up on the "Wall of Wisdom": "Image quality has very little correlation with the quality of an image" Right up there together with "Make pictures *about* something, not *of* something" Valid points!
I've been shooting professionally with a full frame system for years. I recently retired and thoughts fill my mind of more travel and more adventures on foot and by bicycle. I've recently explored Micro Four Thirds cameras and, having acquired three and a few lenses, I'm rethinking how I'll be shooting on the go. That I can carry these tiny cameras and lenses not really feel bogged down is a revelation. The image quality is nearly indistinguishable from my big boy cameras and, without an client's art director pixel-peeping at 300%, I'm free to shoot and share my photos with impunity.
Nice! I've got my GH4 in 2023 and fell in love with it. "I'm free to shoot and share my photos with impunity." this (specially if you worked for clients) is pure gold.
These micro four thirds used cameras cost the same as a used full frame camera. I was thinking these would be smaller, lighter and importantly CHEAPER. I wanted to learn photography. So I got a used Sony A7s2. Then lens I got with it was damaged. I thought buying a zoom lens would help me practice diversely with different focal lengths. Bought the Tamron 24-70 f2.8. The thing is I don't keep my camera with me. I should have got a fixed focal length lens (which would have also been smaller) and a smaller camera so that I can keep this handy with me always. I need to practice more and more. The setup I have currently I just don't carry with me. Keeping in mind I want to click pictures in low light during evening and night after office, please share some suggestions for a body and lens to have with me everyday.
that's only true if your buyer also has a mental illness for collecting boxes. I used to have this problem of keeping boxes for everything expensive I bought but then one day I looked around in my flat and realized that I looked like a giant tool with product boxes adorning the tops of my kitchen cabinets. I now have a new rule; the box stays in the entry foyer for the 2-3 days that I need to make sure the product is 100% functional. If it is, the box along with all non-essential booklets and accessories are going in the garbage bin where they belong. I feel freed.
@@Uninfluenceable This is true, though when you keep a box you are more likely to sell the item faster as potential buyers perceive that you take care of your stuff better than those without the original box.
@@Uninfluenceable The box does add value to second-hand purchases for most buyers, in my experience. All other things being equal it might even sway a decision. If only as added assurance that it will be better packed for shipping, buyers do often prefer it.
I have tried it several times and bitterly regretted it. The problem: I have enough space in the house and sort out only those boxes whose contents are sold or buried.
I like m4/3, apsc and full frame. So I think if they can keep innovating m4/3 gear and keep it a decent size smaller then full frame etc then there will always be a market for it. I’m not a professional but just love photography and using a 150-600mm full frame lens on my apsc camera is exhausting on long hikes even when you hike a lot. So I got a m4/3 kit and it was great for those situations. I’m happy with the image quality.
The hardest part of photography is finding a unique and fascinating subject that will compel an audience. Second hardest is the light to show said subject at its best. The choice of camera to capture it on is the least difficult aspect of the quest. I reckon people mostly change their camera based on boredom and the pursuit of novelty. Which is fine as long as they don't confuse it with improving their photography.
Borderlands Well, sometimes upgrading CAN be a good thing for your photography... I recently upgraded from Olympus OM-D E-M5 to Olympus OM-D E-M5 mark III, and it has in fact helped my photography... I’ve taken images handheld with poor support with 2 seconds of exposure, and they were pin sharp! There are other benefits as well, of course. I don’t mean that every upgrade is warranted from a quality perspective - but sometimes it is.
It’s incremental technological improvements now plus with the state of the economy it’s best to concentrate on taking photos rather than buying new gear.
Hello James. I just bought the G9. Still learning the little beauty. Sold my Canon 2.8L zooms, my EF teles. Keeping the tilt shift and macros and the 24 1.4. I bought Metabones speedbooster to use them on the G9. But I am mostly using Panasonic and Olympus lenses and loving the kit. I love being able to carry my gear without an assistant to carry half of it. I kept the 1Dx for low light with my few remaining EF primes. The RUclips idiocy about MFT not being good enough is ridiculous. It is the mark of amateurs to claim that MFT is crap because the sensor is too small, but fall over themselves to rave about the Sony ZV1 with its even smaller sensor.
I do keep all my boxes, sometimes it drives my wife crazy. And I’m not a photographer but I definitely agree that the MFT cameras are brilliant, I just bought my second GH5 because it’s so easy to get an amazing image out of it.
You should keep the boxes. Especially electronic device boxes. Wheny ou got tired fo your phone, camera etc and decide to upgrade you can sell the old one for a much better price if you have the original box.
James, great summary! Less than year ago, I took a leap of faith ;) by switching from FF to m43. Just sold ALL my FF gear and got m43. Besides all compactness and lightweight I noticed something different. My photography style changed. Amazing In Body IS gave me more freedom without hauling tripod at evenings and letting me shot from various angles vs pre-positioned tripod settings. Extended DOF at same F-Stop compare to FF when I shot landscape is a huge bonus for me. When I need a bokeh - there are plenty super fast primes for m43. In general, I thinks lens selections for m43 is capable to satisfy any requirements. If we take Olympus PRO lines and Panasonic Leica lenses - they are all provide amazing image quality. BTW, I would like to say - Thank you! Because , by producing interesting and non-traditional 'reviews' video which look more like wisdom, personal experience sharing , you are partially responsible for my switch.
I’ve been shooting micro 4/3 for over two years now. That coupled with learning light room has helped this old analog photographer get into the digital age, which serendipitously, has helped my Analog photography. After years of looking around large lenses and cameras, My micro 4/3 set of lenses weighs less than half the weight my old camera set did. But my capability in photography has more than doubled by my estimation. Roll on m43! I mostly shoot Olympus with a sprinkling of Panasonic lenses thrown in. Thanks for the video James!
These micro four thirds used cameras cost the same as a used full frame camera. I was thinking these would be smaller, lighter and importantly CHEAPER. I wanted to learn photography. So I got a used Sony A7s2. Then lens I got with it was damaged. I thought buying a zoom lens would help me practice diversely with different focal lengths. Bought the Tamron 24-70 f2.8. The thing is I don't keep my camera with me. I should have got a fixed focal length lens (which would have also been smaller) and a smaller camera so that I can keep this handy with me always. I need to practice more and more. The setup I have currently I just don't carry with me. Keeping in mind I want to click pictures in low light during evening and night after office, please share some suggestions for a body and lens to have with me everyday.
I’m 70 years old. Years ago I was hired to shoot 2nd camera for a wedding photographer who was very well-known at the time. We were both shooting the latest Nikon digital cameras - the D100. This was, I believe in October or November 2002. These cameras were expensive - $2,000! And they boasted a whopping 6MP sensor and had a frame rate of 3FPS. We made 16X20 prints from the images taken with these cameras. So I chuckle a bit when people talk about “20MP being enough”. How things change
Prior to discovering (and then binge watching) your channel I was looking towards full frame for my next system. I actually convinced my brother to send me an old olympus (he never throws anything away) he sent me an e-m5 mk1 with a 25mm lens to use alongside my dslr. It took a while to get used to the buttons, but now I'm determined that migrating to m43 is the right move for me. It's easy to get carried away with specs that aren't all that important. Actually wanting to carry the camera around is important to me. Keep up the good work, looking forward to the book
I agree! The proof is demonstrated in all those amateur-forums where wannabe prof. photographers dispute about technical subtlenesses which are absolutely irrevelant for the quality of their aesthetically mediocre or even failed images.
@@ericlarsen1721 you talking about VIDEO, for video m4/3 is a great sensor size and used by many videographers, but for photography full frame (and modern Apsc) is the standard for professional photographers: magazine covers, presidential photos, product, architecture, etc
@@aliarenas6856 Who says? Plenty of "professionals have magazine covers shot with m4;3. "Guilio sciorio" (an early m4;3 adopter)built a career on micro four thirds olympus and Lumix. He has an "old"(2013 ish?) (insightful) YT vide on on "shooting for screens" :2013 ish, looking back it was true in all respects ruclips.net/video/RfbPKsZwzC8/видео.html
"Image quality has very little correlation with the quality of an image". Yes, David Thorpe has said, "Image quality is what you fall back on when the photo is no good".
I really like Jame's videos. He (unlike some) never takes himself too seriously isn't caught up in having to have the latest and greatest, and genuinely seems like a nice chap with a very funny sense of humor.
James, M4/3 was what got me back into photography (as a hobby) when I'd lost all enthusiasm for it. This was just over 5 years ago and thankfully I'm still enthusiastic about it, partly because as one comment said, the M4/3 community are, by and large a very friendly bunch, but also I have enjoyed experimenting with some of mine and my dad's old SLR lenses on my original GX7 and recently bought GX9, as well as the great lenses designed for M4/3. I've probably said this before, but one of the things I really love about your vids/vlogs is that you just offer great advice based on personal experience and what has worked for you. There's none of this "oh well to be a pro, or to get top pics you need this, and you have to do that, and it must end up looking like this." Simple but good advice, surrounded by humour, which we can take or leave! Top stuff!! Cheers... as always
It’s true! I had never thought about this before but the truth is because m4/3 is more niche or often comes from a different place than professional photograhy but rather passion for gear and performance m4/3 community is so generous with their knowledge… wich tbf in creative fields of often not so common…
With the exception of medium format, I can’t remember liking the image because it was m43/apsc/full frame. A good image is a good image. You are right on point, majority of the viewers looking at images or RUclips on their small screens.
Just wanted to add to the "your videos helped me buy a MFT camera“ comments too. When I first considered an upgrade from my Canon G7XM2, narrowed everything down to the Nikon Z50 and Lumix G95 because of their price range. Your videos helped sway me to the MFT system and I've got to say, for someone with not a lot of cash, the MFT system isn't only light and comprehensive, it's also relatively affordable for newbies. I've been enjoying my G95 since and can see myself sticking with panasonic simply because of their excellent ergos. Thanks James, much love from Malaysia. Stay safe.
I switched to the G9 after the 2019 photography show and watching your channel, it’s given me many hours and some cracking photos, so from me a big thank you, from my wife who I’ve begged to invest in lenses she’d like to hit you with her frying pans that I bought her for Christmas as a thank you. Keep up the good work
After more than 50 years of Canon, Nikon, and others, I moved to the G9 about the same time you did. Best camera I’ve ever had. It does everything I want it to do. Enjoy your vids very much, always entertaining and informative, thanks
For what I take, I don't think the Mark III is sufficiently different to the Mark II. However, I can see the attraction to upgrade if the improvements fit your requirements better than mine. The only thing I might possibly find of use is the Starry Sky AF, but as I live in a highly light-polluted area with a propensity for cloudy skies, I'm probably going to miss out a couple of nights a year.
@@alistairmcturk4085 I have the MkII and love it.. I may look at the MkIV in the future but it depends on what it adds.. considering every new camera released also gives us a firmware upgrade
I changed from a Sony a1 because of the weight I could no longer carry the heavy camera and lens I have severe arthritis in my lower back I so I had little choice I now own an Olympus OM-D M1 MARK III it was the best decision I ever made now I can carry my camera anywhere it takes amazing photos just as good as any of my photos taken with the Sony A1
Really love how you said "it's a biased review, i completely love this camera". Thumbs up from me for this. On another note, I also keep my boxes, just do a yearly clearing of the oldest ones, min 4 years old.
Started with Canon, moved to Sony, and in 2016 I picked up a G85. Over 76,000 images later, I still love this camera. It has been the most reliable imaging tool I've ever used and in a variety of situations.
7:28 Late to the party, but I'd say that a photographer "sees" his camera primarily with his hands, so if the ergonomics are great, that's a good-looking camera by that definition.
I switched to micro four thirds about a year ago and am loving it. Went to a Moto GP race last year and the guy next to me was shooting a full frame Canon with a giant 600mm lens. He asked about my little lens. His eyes got a little wide when I told him it was 300mm but 600mm equivalent.
I bought a Lumix G85 before I started watching your channel based on my own criteria. I've used it for about six months now and find it to be a solid, capable camera and great value for cost. As far as boxes go: I'll keep larger, reusable boxes flattened for storage. All packing material goes almost immediately.
I went from Canon APS-C to a G9 about 2 years ago... Wow! I was in love with the size and weight, the feel and performance... It was wonderful to take 1 second handheld exposures at ISO 400 and for the image to look better than my Canon at ISO 200. Now I have a G85, G9 and a Sony A7rIII (complete with monster 200 - 600 lens) and find myself barely using the G9 - even during daytime shots, there is a fairly big difference in quality when you have fine details present. That said, I still love my G9 and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. So much fun to use and if you do street, attracts much less attention!
60% vision/creativity 30% luck 5% lens 4% edit 1% camera Don’t fool yourself into getting the latest and greatest to make everything easier for yourself. It will make you feel disconnected from the process if you don’t do most of the work in a composition. Don’t cheapen the title of being a photographer by using everything you can imagine to aide your work. If your camera is completely broken then obviously you need something new. But the old saying holds true, “the best camera is the one you have”. Stay positive!
I recently bought an Olympus OMD em10 Makr ii, to be honest, just out of curiosity, but believe me, it has become my favorite camera ever! And I have Sony, Canon, and Nikon cameras. I just can't understand why m43 doesn't have a bigger market share, the cameras are amazing AND the image quality too!
Five years ago I went to a Panasonic event were I could try their different M4/3 cameras and lenses. I tried the G85 with the 12-60mm and it was wonderful. Now any camera can take great photos in good light, so I tried taking photos in poor light and shooting video while walking. The results surprised me, I didn't expect the camera to work as well as it did. However, I wasn't ready to put $1,200 on a G85. Still part of me wished I had purchased it. There's was a feel to the camera I really liked. Time passed and I spotted a new G95, with 12-60 lens, with a 128G memory card, with a case, and with a UV Filter for $699. It was a deal I couldn't pass up. I now have the camera and I love it.
I'm using Micro Four Thirds since 2012 for the same reasons as you mentioned (smaller, lighter, quality more than good enough in most circumstances). My system is Olympus OM-D. That's another advantage of MFT: I could use the G9 body - parts of another system - without the need of buying new expensive new glass / bodies. Indeed I'm using a Panasonic LEICA DG SUMMILUX. Another advantage: High quality lenses are cheaper compared to full frame pendants. The other reason to use a larger sensor besides very low light photography is the need of a very shallow depth of field (insane bokeh).
I had a Lumix G7 as my first real camera. I sold it and bought a Sony A7R2. I do enjoy pixel peeping and I do dabble in photography where it’s very dark. But as far as the actual camera and user experience I really miss my G7. Thing was amazing.
With regards to astrophotography, micro four thirds sensors are some of the most popular ones used in dedicated astro cameras made by ZWO and others. The Sony IMX294 is a fairly popular one-shot colour sensor (same one as the GH5S if I remember correctly), and the ASI 1600 (regular, Pro, and GT) uses the Panasonic MN34230 sensor. Once stacking comes into play, sensor size is nowhere near as important as other factors. But that requires a tracking mount, and a lot more post-processing as you're effectively creating composite images at that point (doubly so if you're using tracking and stacking photos of the milky way, as you'll have to stitch in a non-blurred background afterwards). While we don't get anywhere near as many lovely toys as Canon does for camera control (they've been quite open towards the astrophotography community, so most of their cameras can be tethered to astrophotography software) we do have a huge benefit/perk in our arsenal with that 2x crop factor (compared to full frame) - you can see further into the night sky with the same telescope, which makes smaller, portable telescopes rather feasible for a decent amount of deep sky objects.
Dont forget to mention the cooling aids these cameras have.. the crop factor im astrophotography is not as important if you in the end are not capturing the same photons, magnification is only relevant if the aperture follows..
Fast forward to 2023, i literally just sold all my Canon cameras and switch to the G9. I had a Eos rp and R6 mark ii, got couple lenses. But guess what? I dont regret switching to the m43 system. I was surprised by the g9, the size, image quality, IBS it's just a wonderful camera.
I've been using mft and FF system for years i love my fullframe camera for just 1 reason : lowlight capabilities for shooting at moving object with acceptable noise on the final images. other than that I'd love my olympus mft for the rest 9 reasons . FF 1/10 mft 9/10
I realise it is late in the day to be responding to a three year old video, but felt as a M43 user since 2011 that I should. Back then I sold my Canon 30D and my {precious} Sigma macro lens to buy the Panasonic Lumix G3 {the red one!} with its 14-42 kit lens. The reason for this was since I had broken my right pinkie {really badly because it now lives in its own pocket universe}, I could not deal with the weight of my Canon equipment any more. Since then, my family have helped me build up my lens collection as well as buying me a GM1 for Christmas in 2014 and a G9 as a belated birthday gift in March 2021. I do totally agree with you on the whole light shutter thing, it's nuts! Apart from that, I love the camera to pieces and actually find it's not that bad for Milky Way and Aurora shooting as the editing software these days is so good at tackling noise issues and so on. My daughter shoots full frame Canon and after having the 5D M3 for eleven years, she bought the mirrorless R6 M2 last year for a trip to Japan. It's incredibly light for a full frame. I have thought about changing, but I simply couldn't afford fast FF lenses, so I have decided to stick with M43. With a trip to Crete in September and a return to Iceland in November, hopefully I will get some more practice in on shooting at night. Fingers crossed for clear skies! Looking forward to watching more of your entertaining and informative videos.
In just the last few years M4/3 has seen great street and travel cameras in the GX9 and E-M5iii, professional grade stills/hybrid cameras in the G9, E-M1X and E-M1iii and pro video cameras in the BMPCC4K, GH5S and Z Cam. Not to mention the glass. Great system.
Loving your take on things. Great videos. I'm a M43 convert who just got fed up lugging FF gear about. Just sold my entire Canon FF outfit after being a devotee for more than 40years. Lets hope I don't regret it!
I only recently switched from ultra heavy Nikon gear (aps-c) to the smallest M43 made so far (the GM5; bought it used). I absolutely love being able to walk around and take photos without a heavy bag of stuff. The images are great! I’ll never revert. Full frame is not for me either. Thanks for the great video!
I agree completely, James! I've been shooting Micro Four Thirds since the Olympus E-P1. Now I own arguably the most attractive camera on the market--the Olympus E-M5 Mk III.
Three gripes with the G9. 1. No Live View Composite like Olympus & the lesser G90, go figure. 2. Can’t rename custom modes 3. For some reason Multi Exposure can’t be put on a button. That’s it... Love it! 😁 Also love the chunky feel. Cheers James, stay sane.
In 2019 I have invested in M43 equipment (after having been a Nikon user for many years) and couldn't be happier with that investment. First I was looking for a small camera for when I wanted to travel really light. I bought a Lumix LX100 II and when I saw the first pictures coming out of that camera I was really pleasantly surprised. A few months later I decided to invest in Olympus and bought the EM-1 MII with a few Pro lenses. Sorry for Nikon, but that equipment has become my backup equipment since then. I have used the M43 equipment also for concert shoots and it hasn't let me down. Performs really well. And last Saturday (June 20 2020) a first real shoot since the start of the lockdown here in the Netherlands, landscapes with a model, and of course I have used my M43 (Olympus) equipment. Had a blast!
Hi James, you were the final barrier crasher for me. I bought a G9 and I am enjoying it a lot! I like the way you reasoned out why you switched to M43, and I love your humor. Thank you!
I rock a GH5 all the time, it’s actually heavier than the G9, but that’s from the cooling system for the sensor so it has unlimited record time at max video quality. LUMIX focuses on features and image quality, not on megapixels. My camera has features that buddies that spent twice as much or more are jealous of, like the in body 5 axis IS that talks to the IS in their lenses, or the auto pan feature that uses the full 4K sensor to shoot a buttery smooth pan in 1080p, then 6k photo mode for live events! It’s hard to beat a LUMIX!
I love the light pressure shutter on my G9. I find I get much less camera shake when I shoot hand held. When I watch other people with the usual shutter pressure cameras, I can almost see the facial tension and sliight camera movement downward when they press the shutter. Thank goodness for fast lenses and fast shutter speeds and in body stabilization.
I only came across your channel after converting from SLR to the G7 at Christmas and the thing that delights me more than anything is that you do not get hung up on a bit of kit, rather focussing (sic) on the image quality, results and practical aspects of photography. I have been an amateur for 40 years with modest kit and there is nothing more annoying that people who consistently compare kit and moan about it. Take pictures (and video) and learn! I love it.
The more I think about it, the more I agree. 8K is driving discussion of the R5 so it's great PR. But unless you're a pro videographer, who the F needs it? Give me the R6.
The only upgrade I could really benefit from is better dynamic range and that's all. I'll probably still shoot in 1080p because it's enough for me and the workflow is so much faster.
What's needed in the full frame mirrorless space in my mind, is smaller slower glass. Whole lineups of f2-2.8 primes that'll actually allow for a pocketable loadout that isn't just the old 40 mill pancake - the bodies are there and perfectly capable for that application, but the glass is far from it still.
@@JohnDrummondPhoto as a 20 year canon shooter, I couldnt agree more. 8k is completely pointless other than being to put that on a box and charging another $500 to ppl who fall for it. But the downside of it is, I want all the other specs that comes with it. So I'm hoping the r6 has 1080/120p or 4k/60 and ibis and I'll be happy.
I probably gonna suprise you but I absolutely love the shutter button! As a pianist for over 20 years and entomologist too I developed great sensitivity in my fingers so I can handle the button pretty well. But most important, when pressing it you apply almost no force to the camera so I ending up with shutter speed about 1/10 and even lower handheld without the need of burst shooting. By applying no pressure to the camera every single shit is still if held without moving. I personal ly believe the shutter button is the greatest win of the camera, as well as the great grip and controllers position!
I kept my boxes.When I sold all my Canon gear I got better trade in prices with the box and all the bits and manuals. I switched to an OMD EM1mkII - smaller body and very much smaller and lighter lenses- no regrets whatsoever.
I kind of agree with the megapixels thing, I’d love to see an a7s style full frame from Canon where more effort is put into trying to improve dynamic range and signal to noise ratio while keeping the megapixels moderate around 24 or so. I take a lot of Milky Way landscape pictures but I don’t care much about Hydrogen alpha sensitivity.
Well said. I got tired of bulky camera equipment, although it made great images, I was just tired of carrying around a heavy bag. Got the GX8 and then the GX9, no looking back.
Well, as a micro 4/3 shooter, I naturally like this kind of vlogs. I still shoot with Olympus OMD EM1. Yes, quite an old one, 16 mp only, and still with some effort I managed to produce sharp 1,5 m long prints. But to be honest, I think resolution is an issue, noise in poor conditions is an issue, and even sharpness in some cases is an issue that is better handled in full frame cameras.
I moved from the Fuji X system a year ago to the M43 and the Panasonic G9, and haven’t looked back. I love everything about the M43 system. Size, weight and the sheer amount of lenses that can be used!
I absolutely love the way it looks James and I also love the light shutter as you shake less when using long lenses which as a fellow tripod hater it's a good thing!
When you think of the long term prospects of M43, consider what’s going on in smart phones. What if I had a M43 sensor with the same performance per pixel? What if you employed some of the smart phone technologies in M43?
I wish they did stuff like that on MFT actually. Massive oversampling to improve low light performance, possibly AI to "mask" the poor bokeh, as long as it's done well. At that point, the question would rather be, why bother with a bigger camera?
@@mtbboy1993 I gave up on Sony because the 2.8 lenses are way too heavy to carry all the time, and the menu system sucks. At least the a9 had a few more dials but still, too heavy. I'm 58 years old and a shoot may last 20 hours!
I have the Lumix G80 and I love it. I am going for the G9 very soon, lenses I have plenty, maybe not the fastest but they do what I need. I'm not bothered about M4/3 dying, the gear I have will last me for what remains of my life (70 years old and going strong.) Basically owning a m4/3 system revitalised my love of photography and I do not miss the full frame system I sold off.
I want to thank you...you’re an inspiration. For quite awhile I was envious of many of the landscape photographers who shoot with full frame cameras. I shoot with a crop sensor and was feeling, well, less of a photographer for doing so. Then I look at the art you create with your 4/3’s. Thank you for saving me thousands that I can now spend on counseling to deal with my feelings of inadequacy. 😄
I come from a corporate video background and one of the things that you learn very quickly is how to mix footage taken from different sources (often older sources) and still have a good quality production. I don’t think people realise how much footage they see which is labelled as full HD, 4K or ultra HD where the source was actually much smaller. Because, whatever it says on the box is how the final video was produced, not how it was captured. So, you get these interesting instances of films (for example, the latest Marvel movie) which people go to see in glorious 4K which were actually produced at 2k... all because of budget. Often, the reason behind this is because of special effects. Imagine rendering anything inside a computer as a business. The time it takes the computer to do the work is something you have to charge for. It just cost twice as much to produce something in 4K as it would in 2K. When I started to vlog I actually recorded everything in native 4K. The idea being that, no matter what, I would have the best quality video that I could possibly get. Recently, because I don’t do a lot of zooming into my images, I’ve actually started capturing all of my footage in 1080 p. When I finally render the videos, I save them out as 4K files, but natively the video is 1080p. You can do this because, unlike the change between ST and HD, the pixel ratio between 2K and 4K is 1:1, so you don’t get that weird ghosting affect like you would do when transferring older video. Unless you pixel peep this stuff (and let’s face it, most people don’t when they’re watching a RUclips video) you would never notice the difference. But, there is a real world use for native 4K and 8K capturing, especially in film. What many filmmakers are doing now (especially if they’re on a tight budget) are filming in native 8K and are then able to reframe their shots when they edit the film without losing any quality. Not that important for RUclips, sometimes important when the final image is going to be displayed on a 10 foot canvas.
Great video! I love the car analogy of building faster and faster instead of safer/better--brilliant! The obsession with megapixels and now 8K video is pure marketing, and 99% of photographer do not need them.
To anyone who is itching to "upgrade" to FF: You are about to make an expensive and heavy mistake. Listen to someone who did exactly that and save yourselves the pain.
Yep I tried Sony FF because everyone was screaming it over micro four loser but I found my old Olympus EM5 mk1 took better photos, and was 10 times more reliable at getting the shot too!! Never mind my G9.
I think a sony is lighter, or about the same, than this camera. Then is up to what lens you use, you might get to comparable weight if you want to obtain the same dof.
That's simply not true. Yes, FF gets expensive and heavy if you go overkill. But the MFT pro lenses also got heavier and more and more expensive. Personally I love Fuji, since I love the famous Fuji colours and the wonderful bodies/ lenses. Yet the Sony system is the most convenient. You can attach nearly all lenses, thus there is a huge and still growing market for getting new or used lenses on a budget. Plus you can keep it lightweight if you want.
For me I couldn’t do micro 4/3 but I did move “down” to a Fujifilm apsc system and a lot of the points still hold up. Never been happier with a system.
I expected a bit more points general for MFT instead of another "why i absolutely love my G9" video. Liked it anyway. I love my G9 to the moon :D cheers james.
My G9 changed my life. It was the first camera I actually loved and it redefined what I expected from my cameras. And for those .0001% of times I need a bigger sensor I use my A6400 because APS-C it awesome to.
Great to see you James, by the way, I too, keep all the boxes my stuff comes in, you just never know do you!! My wife thinks I'm a bit of a nut, but I've had occasion when a box was, well, making selling stuff I no longer needed easier, I think, anyway, I'm not a four thirds user, APSC will do for me, and I've just purchased a Sony R1, cause of the lens on the thing, its clunky to use but the images it gives me are just wonderful, anyway catch ya later, don't get too stir crazy, stay safe.
It is, no question. It's when you start comparing lenses that things get interesting. Just one example, FWIW - the Sony loses two stops at the long end in this comparison. It also only goes as wide as 28mm, whereas the Lumix goes down to 12mm (24mm equivalent). The Lumix camera is larger and the lens is about the same size. Overall, which would you choose? camerasize.com/compact/#725.626,777.396,ha,t
@@Biosynchro 35mm f/2.8 on m43 is equivalent to 70m f/5.6 on the Sony (same angle of view and physical aperture size). The Lumix is wider, but the Sony is faster at its wide end, so I'd probably choose the Sony for its more compact body.
James is the only bloke on you tube who speaks any sense these days. I went to micro four thirds from full frame nikon and Leica and never looked back. Just sold my lumix G9 (2nd I've owned) as it's too much camera for me, I'll never use all its features so why pay extra when I'm not interested in video or high burst rates. I've gone back to the Panasonic gx80 (4th I've owned) its more than enough camera for me with a tiny wide prime lens, and it fits in my jacket pocket. Selling my big pro lenses and g9 pro body has freed up thousands of £££ that I can put towards trips👍
"It is a completely biased video!" - I think this is exactly why most people who are following you are following you and like to watch your videos. If this makes any sense. (Oh, and because you don't smile very often!). Well, no sheep in this video, but you can't have it all … ;-)
I keep boxes of everything over that price range as well. Its just aesthetically pleasing to me. Even if i dont sell it its nice to know i can put it back together perfectly
I'm a hobbyist but I take portraits with my G85/G80 and honestly I'm super happy with them. The Olympus 45 1.8 is just great for the price and renders beautifully, people really shouldn't knock the system for not being able to easily get single eyelash-thin focus.
Not the original poster, but my must-have lens is the 12-35mm f/2.8, and it's my general purpose lens if I know I'll be shooting into the evening or indoors. For daytime/travel when I just want to carry one lens, the 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 is very versatile, but it suffers when the sun goes down. The prime I use the most is the 42.5mm f/1.7. It's great for portraits, animals, and landscapes, but tight for a lot of other indoor use. The 25mm f/1.7 is a great lens, but with the 12-35mm usually on my camera, I don't use it all that often. I have a few other specialty lenses (superzoom, fisheye, macro), but they aren't "must-have."
I've been a full time micro 4/3rds user since 2012 and never had any problems. I'm not a working pro but I have done a couple of photo jobs with these cameras (a couple of parties and such) and the customers were very happy with the photos. In 2014 I got a GH3 and at the start of '18 went up to a G9 (the 12-60 Leica kit). I keep the boxes in a cupboard in the kitchen and on top of the cupboard... for when I need to sell anything of course :)
I changed to Olympus 4/3 in 2013 from APSC and never looked back. Image quality just as good, IBIS excellent, good fast lenses, smaller & lighter kit. As you say only area is high ISO, but even then if exposed properly and focused well with good lens it can surprise. Thanks for the video in your usual style. Stay safe. Sorry for you in UK you seem to be having a harder time than we are in Australia.
Yes! Olympus em10 Mkii, then EM1 mkii. Desert backpacking, wilderness canoe trips, water balloon fights with grandkids (completely soaked), macro, and nature photography. My Nikon 750 is lonely, occasionally comes out at night, as you suggested. Really enjoy the channel. Thanks!
12 minutes of my life wasted as I still don't know what you actually learnt in 2 years using mft. You rave about the camera, well great. But what did you learn to make better use if the nft system? Else change the header.
Does anyone else have more boxes than things?
James Popsys a box store.
I do the exact same! Great video dude 👍
I keep boxes. SomedayI'll sell the gear "in he box". :)
Absolutely - I have a massive old chest that doubles as a coffee table that I store them in!
I also keep boxes for stuff that has cost a lot. Camera, Mac, monitor, tv, etc etc. The loft is basically full of cardboard.
Another one of the James Popsys quotes that will go up on the "Wall of Wisdom":
"Image quality has very little correlation with the quality of an image"
Right up there together with
"Make pictures *about* something, not *of* something"
Valid points!
yup- im not looking for image quality, but a quality image
There was a goof one at the beginning: for photographers who use cameras....
Spot on.
@@rybolov Don't call me out on my cybernetic eyes! xD
Fotomakerij - Bart Burkels I was going to say the same thing, brilliant quote, love it.
I've been shooting professionally with a full frame system for years. I recently retired and thoughts fill my mind of more travel and more adventures on foot and by bicycle. I've recently explored Micro Four Thirds cameras and, having acquired three and a few lenses, I'm rethinking how I'll be shooting on the go. That I can carry these tiny cameras and lenses not really feel bogged down is a revelation. The image quality is nearly indistinguishable from my big boy cameras and, without an client's art director pixel-peeping at 300%, I'm free to shoot and share my photos with impunity.
Thanks for sharing! I just got my first M43 two weeks ago. The tiny lenses are a dream.
Nice! I've got my GH4 in 2023 and fell in love with it. "I'm free to shoot and share my photos with impunity." this (specially if you worked for clients) is pure gold.
These micro four thirds used cameras cost the same as a used full frame camera. I was thinking these would be smaller, lighter and importantly CHEAPER.
I wanted to learn photography. So I got a used Sony A7s2. Then lens I got with it was damaged. I thought buying a zoom lens would help me practice diversely with different focal lengths. Bought the Tamron 24-70 f2.8. The thing is I don't keep my camera with me. I should have got a fixed focal length lens (which would have also been smaller) and a smaller camera so that I can keep this handy with me always. I need to practice more and more. The setup I have currently I just don't carry with me.
Keeping in mind I want to click pictures in low light during evening and night after office, please share some suggestions for a body and lens to have with me everyday.
A set of _three_ micro 4/3 cameras is heavier than a DSLR though.
@@Elisha_the_bald_headed_prophet Who brings 3 sets of m4/3 though?
Keeping boxes for expensive items is a good idea, helps retain value in case you decide to sell.
that's only true if your buyer also has a mental illness for collecting boxes. I used to have this problem of keeping boxes for everything expensive I bought but then one day I looked around in my flat and realized that I looked like a giant tool with product boxes adorning the tops of my kitchen cabinets. I now have a new rule; the box stays in the entry foyer for the 2-3 days that I need to make sure the product is 100% functional. If it is, the box along with all non-essential booklets and accessories are going in the garbage bin where they belong. I feel freed.
@@Uninfluenceable This is true, though when you keep a box you are more likely to sell the item faster as potential buyers perceive that you take care of your stuff better than those without the original box.
@@Uninfluenceable The box does add value to second-hand purchases for most buyers, in my experience. All other things being equal it might even sway a decision. If only as added assurance that it will be better packed for shipping, buyers do often prefer it.
In some countries you can only return a product if it is contained in the original box, in case it is faulty and you want a refund.
I have tried it several times and bitterly regretted it. The problem: I have enough space in the house and sort out only those boxes whose contents are sold or buried.
I like m4/3, apsc and full frame. So I think if they can keep innovating m4/3 gear and keep it a decent size smaller then full frame etc then there will always be a market for it. I’m not a professional but just love photography and using a 150-600mm full frame lens on my apsc camera is exhausting on long hikes even when you hike a lot. So I got a m4/3 kit and it was great for those situations. I’m happy with the image quality.
The hardest part of photography is finding a unique and fascinating subject that will compel an audience. Second hardest is the light to show said subject at its best. The choice of camera to capture it on is the least difficult aspect of the quest.
I reckon people mostly change their camera based on boredom and the pursuit of novelty. Which is fine as long as they don't confuse it with improving their photography.
Well said :)
Borderlands Well, sometimes upgrading CAN be a good thing for your photography... I recently upgraded from Olympus OM-D E-M5 to Olympus OM-D E-M5 mark III, and it has in fact helped my photography... I’ve taken images handheld with poor support with 2 seconds of exposure, and they were pin sharp! There are other benefits as well, of course. I don’t mean that every upgrade is warranted from a quality perspective - but sometimes it is.
I think you're probably right on the money. Cheers.
It’s incremental technological improvements now plus with the state of the economy it’s best to concentrate on taking photos rather than buying new gear.
Or if ur a certain dad, u just buy and sell cameras to do reviews and dont even know how to take pictures or edit them 🤣
Hello James. I just bought the G9. Still learning the little beauty. Sold my Canon 2.8L zooms, my EF teles. Keeping the tilt shift and macros and the 24 1.4. I bought Metabones speedbooster to use them on the G9. But I am mostly using Panasonic and Olympus lenses and loving the kit. I love being able to carry my gear without an assistant to carry half of it. I kept the 1Dx for low light with my few remaining EF primes. The RUclips idiocy about MFT not being good enough is ridiculous. It is the mark of amateurs to claim that MFT is crap because the sensor is too small, but fall over themselves to rave about the Sony ZV1 with its even smaller sensor.
I do keep all my boxes, sometimes it drives my wife crazy. And I’m not a photographer but I definitely agree that the MFT cameras are brilliant, I just bought my second GH5 because it’s so easy to get an amazing image out of it.
Hey mister Gary.
It helps they're dirt cheap these days too. A lot of camera for the money.
@@peterlemke3468 Not dirt cheap.
You should keep the boxes. Especially electronic device boxes. Wheny ou got tired fo your phone, camera etc and decide to upgrade you can sell the old one for a much better price if you have the original box.
James, great summary! Less than year ago, I took a leap of faith ;) by switching from FF to m43. Just sold ALL my FF gear and got m43. Besides all compactness and lightweight I noticed something different. My photography style changed. Amazing In Body IS gave me more freedom without hauling tripod at evenings and letting me shot from various angles vs pre-positioned tripod settings. Extended DOF at same F-Stop compare to FF when I shot landscape is a huge bonus for me. When I need a bokeh - there are plenty super fast primes for m43. In general, I thinks lens selections for m43 is capable to satisfy any requirements. If we take Olympus PRO lines and Panasonic Leica lenses - they are all provide amazing image quality.
BTW, I would like to say - Thank you! Because , by producing interesting and non-traditional 'reviews' video which look more like wisdom, personal experience sharing , you are partially responsible for my switch.
Great to hear! Thanks Mike :)
I’ve been shooting micro 4/3 for over two years now. That coupled with learning light room has helped this old analog photographer get into the digital age, which serendipitously, has helped my Analog photography. After years of looking around large lenses and cameras, My micro 4/3 set of lenses weighs less than half the weight my old camera set did. But my capability in photography has more than doubled by my estimation. Roll on m43! I mostly shoot Olympus with a sprinkling of Panasonic lenses thrown in. Thanks for the video James!
These micro four thirds used cameras cost the same as a used full frame camera. I was thinking these would be smaller, lighter and importantly CHEAPER.
I wanted to learn photography. So I got a used Sony A7s2. Then lens I got with it was damaged. I thought buying a zoom lens would help me practice diversely with different focal lengths. Bought the Tamron 24-70 f2.8. The thing is I don't keep my camera with me. I should have got a fixed focal length lens (which would have also been smaller) and a smaller camera so that I can keep this handy with me always. I need to practice more and more. The setup I have currently I just don't carry with me.
Keeping in mind I want to click pictures in low light during evening and night after office, please share some suggestions for a body and lens to have with me everyday.
I’m 70 years old. Years ago I was hired to shoot 2nd camera for a wedding photographer who was very well-known at the time. We were both shooting the latest Nikon digital cameras - the D100. This was, I believe in October or November 2002. These cameras were expensive - $2,000! And they boasted a whopping 6MP sensor and had a frame rate of 3FPS. We made 16X20 prints from the images taken with these cameras. So I chuckle a bit when people talk about “20MP being enough”. How things change
Prior to discovering (and then binge watching) your channel I was looking towards full frame for my next system. I actually convinced my brother to send me an old olympus (he never throws anything away) he sent me an e-m5 mk1 with a 25mm lens to use alongside my dslr. It took a while to get used to the buttons, but now I'm determined that migrating to m43 is the right move for me. It's easy to get carried away with specs that aren't all that important. Actually wanting to carry the camera around is important to me.
Keep up the good work, looking forward to the book
The only folks asking if MFT is "professional" are non-professionals.
Right, ENG cameras have even smaller sensors.
@@lmcoolk12 Good point. Add to that the fact that 90% of RUclips videos are shot on MFT. The top channels are making millions.
I agree! The proof is demonstrated in all those amateur-forums where wannabe prof. photographers dispute about technical subtlenesses which are absolutely irrevelant for the quality of their aesthetically mediocre or even failed images.
@@ericlarsen1721 you talking about VIDEO, for video m4/3 is a great sensor size and used by many videographers, but for photography full frame (and modern Apsc) is the standard for professional photographers: magazine covers, presidential photos, product, architecture, etc
@@aliarenas6856 Who says? Plenty of "professionals have magazine covers shot with m4;3. "Guilio sciorio" (an early m4;3 adopter)built a career on micro four thirds olympus and Lumix. He has an "old"(2013 ish?) (insightful) YT vide on on "shooting for screens" :2013 ish, looking back it was true in all respects ruclips.net/video/RfbPKsZwzC8/видео.html
"Image quality has very little correlation with the quality of an image". Yes, David Thorpe has said, "Image quality is what you fall back on when the photo is no good".
I really like Jame's videos. He (unlike some) never takes himself too seriously isn't caught up in having to have the latest and greatest, and genuinely seems like a nice chap with a very funny sense of humor.
He's OK for not being a Geordie........
When selling the equipment on having the original box gives you more credibility and it generally shows you look after things so good practise.
I love my G9. A while ago I sold it and went full frame mirrorless but have changed back to my G9 and don’t regret it at all.
ralph1307 I did the exact same thing.
James, M4/3 was what got me back into photography (as a hobby) when I'd lost all enthusiasm for it. This was just over 5 years ago and thankfully I'm still enthusiastic about it, partly because as one comment said, the M4/3 community are, by and large a very friendly bunch, but also I have enjoyed experimenting with some of mine and my dad's old SLR lenses on my original GX7 and recently bought GX9, as well as the great lenses designed for M4/3. I've probably said this before, but one of the things I really love about your vids/vlogs is that you just offer great advice based on personal experience and what has worked for you. There's none of this "oh well to be a pro, or to get top pics you need this, and you have to do that, and it must end up looking like this." Simple but good advice, surrounded by humour, which we can take or leave! Top stuff!! Cheers... as always
It’s true! I had never thought about this before but the truth is because m4/3 is more niche or often comes from a different place than professional photograhy but rather passion for gear and performance m4/3 community is so generous with their knowledge… wich tbf in creative fields of often not so common…
With the exception of medium format, I can’t remember liking the image because it was m43/apsc/full frame. A good image is a good image.
You are right on point, majority of the viewers looking at images or RUclips on their small screens.
Just wanted to add to the "your videos helped me buy a MFT camera“ comments too. When I first considered an upgrade from my Canon G7XM2, narrowed everything down to the Nikon Z50 and Lumix G95 because of their price range. Your videos helped sway me to the MFT system and I've got to say, for someone with not a lot of cash, the MFT system isn't only light and comprehensive, it's also relatively affordable for newbies. I've been enjoying my G95 since and can see myself sticking with panasonic simply because of their excellent ergos. Thanks James, much love from Malaysia. Stay safe.
I switched to the G9 after the 2019 photography show and watching your channel, it’s given me many hours and some cracking photos, so from me a big thank you, from my wife who I’ve begged to invest in lenses she’d like to hit you with her frying pans that I bought her for Christmas as a thank you. Keep up the good work
Bro I keep boxes for everything it just drives the resell value up haha
Bro
rudy?? Wouldn't expect to see you here!
unsubbed
You are the reason for buying a M4/3 system and Im more than happy with my decision!!
Same!!
Same here g95 been eyeing the g9
After more than 50 years of Canon, Nikon, and others, I moved to the G9 about the same time you did. Best camera I’ve ever had. It does everything I want it to do.
Enjoy your vids very much, always entertaining and informative, thanks
When all this is over I’ve decided to celebrate by upgrading to an Olympus EM1mark III.
Me too!....
Unless..... the Olympus EM1 Mark IV is out by then............ LOL
For what I take, I don't think the Mark III is sufficiently different to the Mark II. However, I can see the attraction to upgrade if the improvements fit your requirements better than mine. The only thing I might possibly find of use is the Starry Sky AF, but as I live in a highly light-polluted area with a propensity for cloudy skies, I'm probably going to miss out a couple of nights a year.
@@alistairmcturk4085 I have the MkII and love it.. I may look at the MkIV in the future but it depends on what it adds.. considering every new camera released also gives us a firmware upgrade
My dream, too!
I changed from a Sony a1 because of the weight I could no longer carry the heavy camera and lens I have severe arthritis in my lower back I so I had little choice I now own an Olympus OM-D M1 MARK III it was the best decision I ever made now I can carry my camera anywhere it takes amazing photos just as good as any of my photos taken with the Sony A1
Really love how you said "it's a biased review, i completely love this camera". Thumbs up from me for this.
On another note, I also keep my boxes, just do a yearly clearing of the oldest ones, min 4 years old.
Started with Canon, moved to Sony, and in 2016 I picked up a G85. Over 76,000 images later, I still love this camera. It has been the most reliable imaging tool I've ever used and in a variety of situations.
Same here. I started with Canon, Sony, Pentax and bought a Panasonic G85 with an Olympus Lens and i am loving the imaging coming from it.
I love my G9. The 4k 60fps is just so lovely and smooth. Amazing. And the pics are beautiful as well with good lens.
7:28 Late to the party, but I'd say that a photographer "sees" his camera primarily with his hands, so if the ergonomics are great, that's a good-looking camera by that definition.
I switched to micro four thirds about a year ago and am loving it. Went to a Moto GP race last year and the guy next to me was shooting a full frame Canon with a giant 600mm lens. He asked about my little lens. His eyes got a little wide when I told him it was 300mm but 600mm equivalent.
I bought a Lumix G85 before I started watching your channel based on my own criteria.
I've used it for about six months now and find it to be a solid, capable camera and great value for cost.
As far as boxes go: I'll keep larger, reusable boxes flattened for storage. All packing material goes almost immediately.
I went from Canon APS-C to a G9 about 2 years ago... Wow! I was in love with the size and weight, the feel and performance... It was wonderful to take 1 second handheld exposures at ISO 400 and for the image to look better than my Canon at ISO 200. Now I have a G85, G9 and a Sony A7rIII (complete with monster 200 - 600 lens) and find myself barely using the G9 - even during daytime shots, there is a fairly big difference in quality when you have fine details present.
That said, I still love my G9 and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. So much fun to use and if you do street, attracts much less attention!
60% vision/creativity
30% luck
5% lens
4% edit
1% camera
Don’t fool yourself into getting the latest and greatest to make everything easier for yourself. It will make you feel disconnected from the process if you don’t do most of the work in a composition. Don’t cheapen the title of being a photographer by using everything you can imagine to aide your work. If your camera is completely broken then obviously you need something new. But the old saying holds true, “the best camera is the one you have”. Stay positive!
I recently bought an Olympus OMD em10 Makr ii, to be honest, just out of curiosity, but believe me, it has become my favorite camera ever! And I have Sony, Canon, and Nikon cameras. I just can't understand why m43 doesn't have a bigger market share, the cameras are amazing AND the image quality too!
because culture says bigger numbers is better
Five years ago I went to a Panasonic event were I could try their different M4/3 cameras and lenses. I tried the G85 with the 12-60mm and it was wonderful. Now any camera can take great photos in good light, so I tried taking photos in poor light and shooting video while walking. The results surprised me, I didn't expect the camera to work as well as it did. However, I wasn't ready to put $1,200 on a G85. Still part of me wished I had purchased it. There's was a feel to the camera I really liked.
Time passed and I spotted a new G95, with 12-60 lens, with a 128G memory card, with a case, and with a UV Filter for $699. It was a deal I couldn't pass up. I now have the camera and I love it.
I'm using Micro Four Thirds since 2012 for the same reasons as you mentioned (smaller, lighter, quality more than good enough in most circumstances). My system is Olympus OM-D. That's another advantage of MFT: I could use the G9 body - parts of another system - without the need of buying new expensive new glass / bodies. Indeed I'm using a Panasonic LEICA DG SUMMILUX. Another advantage: High quality lenses are cheaper compared to full frame pendants.
The other reason to use a larger sensor besides very low light photography is the need of a very shallow depth of field (insane bokeh).
I had a Lumix G7 as my first real camera. I sold it and bought a Sony A7R2. I do enjoy pixel peeping and I do dabble in photography where it’s very dark.
But as far as the actual camera and user experience I really miss my G7. Thing was amazing.
Here I am years later. I’ve got an A7R5 and 9 FF lenses. Watching this video…debating getting a g9 lol
With regards to astrophotography, micro four thirds sensors are some of the most popular ones used in dedicated astro cameras made by ZWO and others. The Sony IMX294 is a fairly popular one-shot colour sensor (same one as the GH5S if I remember correctly), and the ASI 1600 (regular, Pro, and GT) uses the Panasonic MN34230 sensor. Once stacking comes into play, sensor size is nowhere near as important as other factors. But that requires a tracking mount, and a lot more post-processing as you're effectively creating composite images at that point (doubly so if you're using tracking and stacking photos of the milky way, as you'll have to stitch in a non-blurred background afterwards).
While we don't get anywhere near as many lovely toys as Canon does for camera control (they've been quite open towards the astrophotography community, so most of their cameras can be tethered to astrophotography software) we do have a huge benefit/perk in our arsenal with that 2x crop factor (compared to full frame) - you can see further into the night sky with the same telescope, which makes smaller, portable telescopes rather feasible for a decent amount of deep sky objects.
Dont forget to mention the cooling aids these cameras have.. the crop factor im astrophotography is not as important if you in the end are not capturing the same photons, magnification is only relevant if the aperture follows..
Fast forward to 2023, i literally just sold all my Canon cameras and switch to the G9. I had a Eos rp and R6 mark ii, got couple lenses. But guess what? I dont regret switching to the m43 system. I was surprised by the g9, the size, image quality, IBS it's just a wonderful camera.
I've been using mft and FF system for years
i love my fullframe camera for just 1 reason : lowlight capabilities for shooting at moving object with acceptable noise on the final images.
other than that I'd love my olympus mft for the rest 9 reasons
.
FF 1/10
mft 9/10
I realise it is late in the day to be responding to a three year old video, but felt as a M43 user since 2011 that I should. Back then I sold my Canon 30D and my {precious} Sigma macro lens to buy the Panasonic Lumix G3 {the red one!} with its 14-42 kit lens. The reason for this was since I had broken my right pinkie {really badly because it now lives in its own pocket universe}, I could not deal with the weight of my Canon equipment any more. Since then, my family have helped me build up my lens collection as well as buying me a GM1 for Christmas in 2014 and a G9 as a belated birthday gift in March 2021. I do totally agree with you on the whole light shutter thing, it's nuts! Apart from that, I love the camera to pieces and actually find it's not that bad for Milky Way and Aurora shooting as the editing software these days is so good at tackling noise issues and so on.
My daughter shoots full frame Canon and after having the 5D M3 for eleven years, she bought the mirrorless R6 M2 last year for a trip to Japan. It's incredibly light for a full frame. I have thought about changing, but I simply couldn't afford fast FF lenses, so I have decided to stick with M43. With a trip to Crete in September and a return to Iceland in November, hopefully I will get some more practice in on shooting at night. Fingers crossed for clear skies!
Looking forward to watching more of your entertaining and informative videos.
In just the last few years M4/3 has seen great street and travel cameras in the GX9 and E-M5iii, professional grade stills/hybrid cameras in the G9, E-M1X and E-M1iii and pro video cameras in the BMPCC4K, GH5S and Z Cam. Not to mention the glass. Great system.
Loving your take on things. Great videos. I'm a M43 convert who just got fed up lugging FF gear about. Just sold my entire Canon FF outfit after being a devotee for more than 40years. Lets hope I don't regret it!
I only recently switched from ultra heavy Nikon gear (aps-c) to the smallest M43 made so far (the GM5; bought it used). I absolutely love being able to walk around and take photos without a heavy bag of stuff. The images are great! I’ll never revert. Full frame is not for me either. Thanks for the great video!
This has to be one of the most sensible photography videos on RUclips.
I recently decided to use 2 systems: Full frame for weddings and events and 4/3ds for everything else work and fun 🤘🏼
I agree completely, James! I've been shooting Micro Four Thirds since the Olympus E-P1. Now I own arguably the most attractive camera on the market--the Olympus E-M5 Mk III.
Still new to the photo scene so I'll be sticking with APS-C for the time being, but it's good to hear that it's not all about full frame!
Three gripes with the G9. 1. No Live View Composite like Olympus & the lesser G90, go figure. 2. Can’t rename custom modes 3. For some reason Multi Exposure can’t be put on a button. That’s it... Love it! 😁 Also love the chunky feel. Cheers James, stay sane.
In 2019 I have invested in M43 equipment (after having been a Nikon user for many years) and couldn't be happier with that investment. First I was looking for a small camera for when I wanted to travel really light. I bought a Lumix LX100 II and when I saw the first pictures coming out of that camera I was really pleasantly surprised. A few months later I decided to invest in Olympus and bought the EM-1 MII with a few Pro lenses. Sorry for Nikon, but that equipment has become my backup equipment since then. I have used the M43 equipment also for concert shoots and it hasn't let me down. Performs really well. And last Saturday (June 20 2020) a first real shoot since the start of the lockdown here in the Netherlands, landscapes with a model, and of course I have used my M43 (Olympus) equipment. Had a blast!
Hi James, you were the final barrier crasher for me. I bought a G9 and I am enjoying it a lot! I like the way you reasoned out why you switched to M43, and I love your humor. Thank you!
I rock a GH5 all the time, it’s actually heavier than the G9, but that’s from the cooling system for the sensor so it has unlimited record time at max video quality. LUMIX focuses on features and image quality, not on megapixels. My camera has features that buddies that spent twice as much or more are jealous of, like the in body 5 axis IS that talks to the IS in their lenses, or the auto pan feature that uses the full 4K sensor to shoot a buttery smooth pan in 1080p, then 6k photo mode for live events! It’s hard to beat a LUMIX!
I've had the G9 for just about two months and I haven't even scratched the surface of understanding the depth of its capabilities. Just astonishing.
I love the light pressure shutter on my G9. I find I get much less camera shake when I shoot hand held. When I watch other people with the usual shutter pressure cameras, I can almost see the facial tension and sliight camera movement downward when they press the shutter. Thank goodness for fast lenses and fast shutter speeds and in body stabilization.
I only came across your channel after converting from SLR to the G7 at Christmas and the thing that delights me more than anything is that you do not get hung up on a bit of kit, rather focussing (sic) on the image quality, results and practical aspects of photography. I have been an amateur for 40 years with modest kit and there is nothing more annoying that people who consistently compare kit and moan about it. Take pictures (and video) and learn! I love it.
That's exactly why I'm looking forward to the Canon R6 it has 20MP and I think that's perfect. And It's going to be quite a lot cheaper than the R5.
The more I think about it, the more I agree. 8K is driving discussion of the R5 so it's great PR. But unless you're a pro videographer, who the F needs it? Give me the R6.
The only upgrade I could really benefit from is better dynamic range and that's all. I'll probably still shoot in 1080p because it's enough for me and the workflow is so much faster.
What's needed in the full frame mirrorless space in my mind, is smaller slower glass. Whole lineups of f2-2.8 primes that'll actually allow for a pocketable loadout that isn't just the old 40 mill pancake - the bodies are there and perfectly capable for that application, but the glass is far from it still.
@@JohnDrummondPhoto as a 20 year canon shooter, I couldnt agree more. 8k is completely pointless other than being to put that on a box and charging another $500 to ppl who fall for it. But the downside of it is, I want all the other specs that comes with it. So I'm hoping the r6 has 1080/120p or 4k/60 and ibis and I'll be happy.
@@JennyDarukat I think they purposely do that so they get you hooked and make u want to buy that full frame body and lenses that cost 3x as much.
I probably gonna suprise you but I absolutely love the shutter button! As a pianist for over 20 years and entomologist too I developed great sensitivity in my fingers so I can handle the button pretty well. But most important, when pressing it you apply almost no force to the camera so I ending up with shutter speed about 1/10 and even lower handheld without the need of burst shooting. By applying no pressure to the camera every single shit is still if held without moving. I personal ly believe the shutter button is the greatest win of the camera, as well as the great grip and controllers position!
Always keep the boxes as well - where else can I store the tiny USB cable and manual otherwise.
Haha, good point!
I kept my boxes.When I sold all my Canon gear I got better trade in prices with the box and all the bits and manuals. I switched to an OMD EM1mkII - smaller body and very much smaller and lighter lenses- no regrets whatsoever.
I seem to have another problem as I keep the foreign power cords too. You never know when you’ll need 4 American versions.
@@rogman27 and much smaller boxes to store too lol
Been an Olympus user for 3 years and love every minute. Agree with everything you say.... (I love how my camera looks!)
I kind of agree with the megapixels thing, I’d love to see an a7s style full frame from Canon where more effort is put into trying to improve dynamic range and signal to noise ratio while keeping the megapixels moderate around 24 or so. I take a lot of Milky Way landscape pictures but I don’t care much about Hydrogen alpha sensitivity.
I got into MFT because of Mathiu Stern strange lens videos. I like my Lumix G7 more than I expected. So much capability for so little money.
M43 images are usually better quality than most people realize. At least up to ISO 3200.
Well said. I got tired of bulky camera equipment, although it made great images, I was just tired of carrying around a heavy bag. Got the GX8 and then the GX9, no looking back.
Well, as a micro 4/3 shooter, I naturally like this kind of vlogs. I still shoot with Olympus OMD EM1. Yes, quite an old one, 16 mp only, and still with some effort I managed to produce sharp 1,5 m long prints. But to be honest, I think resolution is an issue, noise in poor conditions is an issue, and even sharpness in some cases is an issue that is better handled in full frame cameras.
You should try the newer 4/3 cameras with the 20mpx sensor. Big difference.
I moved from the Fuji X system a year ago to the M43 and the Panasonic G9, and haven’t looked back. I love everything about the M43 system. Size, weight and the sheer amount of lenses that can be used!
I absolutely love the way it looks James and I also love the light shutter as you shake less when using long lenses which as a fellow tripod hater it's a good thing!
My favorite camera. Its future proof. At it's most recent sale price this is a no brainers in 2020. Love this camera.
When you think of the long term prospects of M43, consider what’s going on in smart phones. What if I had a M43 sensor with the same performance per pixel? What if you employed some of the smart phone technologies in M43?
I wish they did stuff like that on MFT actually. Massive oversampling to improve low light performance, possibly AI to "mask" the poor bokeh, as long as it's done well.
At that point, the question would rather be, why bother with a bigger camera?
M4/3 will never die...... it’s probably the best size system out there. I do quite a bit of astrophotography with the Laowa 7.5mm f2 and it’s awesome!
I've given up on Sony altogether. I'm waiting for the G9 successor.
Why did you give up on Sony I am curious, I am currently researching potential contenders for new camera. So I want to know the good and bad.
For photos Sony is pretty good, for video only the new one is good
I couldn't tolerate Sony's poor menu system & it's lack of integrated flip out touchscreen. My G9 is easy & fun to use.
@@mtbboy1993 I gave up on Sony because the 2.8 lenses are way too heavy to carry all the time, and the menu system sucks. At least the a9 had a few more dials but still, too heavy. I'm 58 years old and a shoot may last 20 hours!
Will there be a G9 successor?
I have the Lumix G80 and I love it. I am going for the G9 very soon, lenses I have plenty, maybe not the fastest but they do what I need. I'm not bothered about M4/3 dying, the gear I have will last me for what remains of my life (70 years old and going strong.) Basically owning a m4/3 system revitalised my love of photography and I do not miss the full frame system I sold off.
My boxes are all hidden in the loft for safety, my own safety that is. They are evidence of how much expensive stuff I have bought 😬
I want to thank you...you’re an inspiration. For quite awhile I was envious of many of the landscape photographers who shoot with full frame cameras. I shoot with a crop sensor and was feeling, well, less of a photographer for doing so. Then I look at the art you create with your 4/3’s. Thank you for saving me thousands that I can now spend on counseling to deal with my feelings of inadequacy. 😄
I'm STILL making love with my GH5. Literal. Love. Making.
😂😂
This sounds so wrong...
Good discussion. I've been on M43 for 5 years now with Olympus equipment. I used Olympus OM film cameras back in the late 70's-90's and loved them.
I come from a corporate video background and one of the things that you learn very quickly is how to mix footage taken from different sources (often older sources) and still have a good quality production.
I don’t think people realise how much footage they see which is labelled as full HD, 4K or ultra HD where the source was actually much smaller.
Because, whatever it says on the box is how the final video was produced, not how it was captured.
So, you get these interesting instances of films (for example, the latest Marvel movie) which people go to see in glorious 4K which were actually produced at 2k... all because of budget.
Often, the reason behind this is because of special effects. Imagine rendering anything inside a computer as a business. The time it takes the computer to do the work is something you have to charge for. It just cost twice as much to produce something in 4K as it would in 2K.
When I started to vlog I actually recorded everything in native 4K. The idea being that, no matter what, I would have the best quality video that I could possibly get.
Recently, because I don’t do a lot of zooming into my images, I’ve actually started capturing all of my footage in 1080 p. When I finally render the videos, I save them out as 4K files, but natively the video is 1080p.
You can do this because, unlike the change between ST and HD, the pixel ratio between 2K and 4K is 1:1, so you don’t get that weird ghosting affect like you would do when transferring older video.
Unless you pixel peep this stuff (and let’s face it, most people don’t when they’re watching a RUclips video) you would never notice the difference.
But, there is a real world use for native 4K and 8K capturing, especially in film.
What many filmmakers are doing now (especially if they’re on a tight budget) are filming in native 8K and are then able to reframe their shots when they edit the film without losing any quality.
Not that important for RUclips, sometimes important when the final image is going to be displayed on a 10 foot canvas.
Steve Mellor Photo Vlogger Thank you for sharing this!
Also... I am somewhat starved of conversation as well 😂
Great video! I love the car analogy of building faster and faster instead of safer/better--brilliant! The obsession with megapixels and now 8K video is pure marketing, and 99% of photographer do not need them.
To anyone who is itching to "upgrade" to FF: You are about to make an expensive and heavy mistake. Listen to someone who did exactly that and save yourselves the pain.
Yep I tried Sony FF because everyone was screaming it over micro four loser but I found my old Olympus EM5 mk1 took better photos, and was 10 times more reliable at getting the shot too!! Never mind my G9.
Full frame sure is nice.. but also a whole lot of back and shoulder pain, often commitment to taking a backpack, and a lot less photos taken.
Well sometimes FF is the way to go. For example pro sports or journalism get alot easier with a 1dx or d6.
I think a sony is lighter, or about the same, than this camera. Then is up to what lens you use, you might get to comparable weight if you want to obtain the same dof.
That's simply not true. Yes, FF gets expensive and heavy if you go overkill. But the MFT pro lenses also got heavier and more and more expensive. Personally I love Fuji, since I love the famous Fuji colours and the wonderful bodies/ lenses. Yet the Sony system is the most convenient. You can attach nearly all lenses, thus there is a huge and still growing market for getting new or used lenses on a budget. Plus you can keep it lightweight if you want.
For me I couldn’t do micro 4/3 but I did move “down” to a Fujifilm apsc system and a lot of the points still hold up. Never been happier with a system.
APS-C is the happy spot.
I expected a bit more points general for MFT instead of another "why i absolutely love my G9" video. Liked it anyway. I love my G9 to the moon :D cheers james.
My G9 changed my life. It was the first camera I actually loved and it redefined what I expected from my cameras. And for those .0001% of times I need a bigger sensor I use my A6400 because APS-C it awesome to.
Great to see you James, by the way, I too, keep all the boxes my stuff comes in, you just never know do you!! My wife thinks I'm a bit of a nut, but I've had occasion when a box was, well, making selling stuff I no longer needed easier, I think, anyway, I'm not a four thirds user, APSC will do for me, and I've just purchased a Sony R1, cause of the lens on the thing, its clunky to use but the images it gives me are just wonderful, anyway catch ya later, don't get too stir crazy, stay safe.
I love the light shutter. Once you get used to it, of course.
That looks roughly the same size a full frame Sony a7iii and larger than the Sony a6400.
It is, no question. It's when you start comparing lenses that things get interesting. Just one example, FWIW - the Sony loses two stops at the long end in this comparison. It also only goes as wide as 28mm, whereas the Lumix goes down to 12mm (24mm equivalent). The Lumix camera is larger and the lens is about the same size. Overall, which would you choose?
camerasize.com/compact/#725.626,777.396,ha,t
until you fit pro lens
@@Biosynchro 35mm f/2.8 on m43 is equivalent to 70m f/5.6 on the Sony (same angle of view and physical aperture size). The Lumix is wider, but the Sony is faster at its wide end, so I'd probably choose the Sony for its more compact body.
James is the only bloke on you tube who speaks any sense these days. I went to micro four thirds from full frame nikon and Leica and never looked back. Just sold my lumix G9 (2nd I've owned) as it's too much camera for me, I'll never use all its features so why pay extra when I'm not interested in video or high burst rates. I've gone back to the Panasonic gx80 (4th I've owned) its more than enough camera for me with a tiny wide prime lens, and it fits in my jacket pocket. Selling my big pro lenses and g9 pro body has freed up thousands of £££ that I can put towards trips👍
"It is a completely biased video!" - I think this is exactly why most people who are following you are following you and like to watch your videos. If this makes any sense. (Oh, and because you don't smile very often!). Well, no sheep in this video, but you can't have it all … ;-)
I was waiting for the sheep. Imagine my disappointment.
I love this kind of review. Everything is not just high specs , popularity, and/or equipment.
Well if looks dont matter guess you haven't shot with a Fuji😎
Justin Hobbs, you’re right, Fuji’s are pretty ugly.
I keep boxes of everything over that price range as well. Its just aesthetically pleasing to me. Even if i dont sell it its nice to know i can put it back together perfectly
Really enjoyed this James, know of anyone doing portrait work in the GH5?
I use a G9 for portraits having swapped from Canon 2years ago. Love it
I’m doing portrait work with my G85. I use my Olympus 75mm 1.8 lens with it, and the results are always stunning.
I'm a hobbyist but I take portraits with my G85/G80 and honestly I'm super happy with them. The Olympus 45 1.8 is just great for the price and renders beautifully, people really shouldn't knock the system for not being able to easily get single eyelash-thin focus.
I do
Haaaaaa I keep all the boxes too and especially the G9 it's a peach. Made my life so much better :)
I've been shooting on a GH5 for two years now. Can you please recommend me some must-have lenses.
Not the original poster, but my must-have lens is the 12-35mm f/2.8, and it's my general purpose lens if I know I'll be shooting into the evening or indoors. For daytime/travel when I just want to carry one lens, the 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 is very versatile, but it suffers when the sun goes down. The prime I use the most is the 42.5mm f/1.7. It's great for portraits, animals, and landscapes, but tight for a lot of other indoor use. The 25mm f/1.7 is a great lens, but with the 12-35mm usually on my camera, I don't use it all that often. I have a few other specialty lenses (superzoom, fisheye, macro), but they aren't "must-have."
I've been a full time micro 4/3rds user since 2012 and never had any problems. I'm not a working pro but I have done a couple of photo jobs with these cameras (a couple of parties and such) and the customers were very happy with the photos. In 2014 I got a GH3 and at the start of '18 went up to a G9 (the 12-60 Leica kit).
I keep the boxes in a cupboard in the kitchen and on top of the cupboard... for when I need to sell anything of course :)
"I got this two years ago" - It's been two years already since the G9 came out, what?!
I changed to Olympus 4/3 in 2013 from APSC and never looked back. Image quality just as good, IBIS excellent, good fast lenses, smaller & lighter kit. As you say only area is high ISO, but even then if exposed properly and focused well with good lens it can surprise. Thanks for the video in your usual style. Stay safe. Sorry for you in UK you seem to be having a harder time than we are in Australia.
Sony sell out 😂 gotta please those algorithms!
Yes! Olympus em10 Mkii, then EM1 mkii. Desert backpacking, wilderness canoe trips, water balloon fights with grandkids (completely soaked), macro, and nature photography. My Nikon 750 is lonely, occasionally comes out at night, as you suggested. Really enjoy the channel. Thanks!
12 minutes of my life wasted as I still don't know what you actually learnt in 2 years using mft. You rave about the camera, well great. But what did you learn to make better use if the nft system? Else change the header.
MFT may not be best in low light but it's better than the full frame camera you left at home because it's too heavy!