2 years

[Carpy2001]

WOW, just been awarded the 2 year trophy points lol. That time has flown by quick.

I think it is time for decisions to be made. After 2 years of using my camera's, firstly the Lumix G5 (which got smashed), then the Olympus EM10ii and Em1 mk1 (which were gifted to me, as replacement for the dead G5), and still using the 14-42 and 45 -150 kit lenses along with the vintage Pentax 50mm f1.7 and extension tubes for close up shots.

I have to ask myself what have I learned?, (apart from I love photography) probably not a lot, and what is the way forward?.

I havent been out with the camera for quite a long time, due to wife's illness, that has left me with just our small garden and the Bee's, flowers etc that are around.

I like the Olympus EM1 mk1, but find the menu's to be a bit difficult to remember where things are sometimes, but some of that is old age lol. Also I have been getting a black screen on the camera from time to time, although turning it off and then on again seems to fix it.

I find the Olympus EM10 ii is a bit small for me even with the grip added, but the grip then has to be removed to access the sd card, which for me is a bit of a pain as I may only take 4-5 images then remove the card and transfer the files to my PC, the replace the card and the grip. I might do this several times a day lol.

The Panasonic G5 (if I remember correctly) had an easier menu to navigate, or did it just have less available options ??.

Anyway what to do??, do I let every thing go?. Replacing or upgrading, even the cheapest prime lens, is to much cost for me, as for upgrading any camera for the next model up, is an absolute no, again due to cost.

Do I just carry on with what I have, and constantly have the what do I do if this breaks or that stops working, how do I fix it or find another, going around in my head all the time lol.

Anyway like I said decisions decisions, I can see pro's and con's to both sides, but trading it all in for some kind of upgrade is (to me) not the answer. Trading in what I have for a newer body or better lens still leaves the question, how do I replace thing as or when they stop working lol. If only photography was not so expensive and M43 is probably the cheapest.

Thanks for letting me post this, it is just the workings of an older mans mind lol.

 

[Tulipone]

In many ways, you are similar to myself. I have been taking pictures all my life and always desire better kit even though my abilities do not deserve it nor will the images likely improve. I have relatively few images that I am really really proud of, lots that are entirely fine and an awful lot that I have kept that have very few redeeming features.

I sold all my kit a few months ago - full frame and my advancing years meant that the weight was getting to be an issue and especially the 150-600 was just far too heavy for me. I decided to find something lighter.

I am now stuck in a loop. I can afford, within reason, whatever I want - but justifying the cost is difficult because my photography talents are limited and I know that I should be buying the cheapest kit or secondhand - but I just don’t want that.

Sooner or later I'm going to buy a Fuji XT-5 and life in my head would be far easier if I just got on with pushing the go button and starting the buyer remorse again. Why do we do this to ourselves?

 

[tijuana taxi]

I sold my Canon FF gear ages ago, much too heavy to cart around and bought the then new Fujifilm X-E1 and 18-55 lens.
Progressed to the X-E2 and XT-1 when they came out, but ideally wanted something with in body stabilisation (IBIS).
Around that time Fuji stated they wouldn't and couldn't for various reasons make a camera with IBIS
(then later on and too late for me they did with the X-H1, thanks for that Fuji).
That caused me to rethink and I sold my by then fairly extensive Fuji set up, 10-24, 18-55, 14mm, 23mm etc etc.

My daughter was at the time using M4/3 and her little E-M5 ii with IBIS was producing good results.
Decided that was the next step for me and it was where the Fuji sell up cash was going
Started out with an E-M1 ii before finally settling on a Panasonic G9 and E-M5 iii
Been using these for a few years now, for my mainly travel, architecture and urban transport subjects they are ideal.
Olympus Pro lenses such as the 12-40/2.8 are excellent as is the small 12-45/4 and even tinier Panasonic 9/1.7.
The 20mp sensor gives a good A3 print at 300dpi and the excellent stabilisation allows for slow handheld photos.

I also own the larger heavier 12-100/4, it is a bit weighty, but with a FF equivalent of 24-200 its invaluable for a one lens solution.
Its sharp end to end wide open and when used with my Olympus body can give up to 6.5 stops of dual stabilisation.
I can mange about 1 sec exposures and have seen those with a steadier hold go to 4 sec, incredible really.

Even the higher iso noise issues often associated with M4/3 have been largely negated now with the new noise reduction software.
Using DxO PureRaw I get clean sharp images even in low light situations, so another reason for my satisfaction.
I have no desire to ever change again and its very nice to be content with what you already have.
One other point is the confidence to know that all things being equal you should come home with something decent.
That can't be overstated when visiting places you will likely never go to again.

 

[Plain Nev]

As you are familiar with Olympus, I'd say stick with it. The menus are apparently much improved now.

 

[tijuana taxi]

As you are familiar with Olympus, I'd say stick with it. The menus are apparently much improved now.

They are improved in the OM-1 i & ii also in the OM-5 ii
Panasonic menus are much easier to navigate than the previous Olympus models and the OM-5 i

 

[Carpy2001]

As you are familiar with Olympus, I'd say stick with it. The menus are apparently much improved now.

They are improved in the OM-1 i & ii also in the OM-5 ii
Panasonic menus are much easier to navigate than the previous Olympus models and the OM-5 i

Thanks for the info, but as I stated in my original post, I cannot afford to upgrade from what I have now EM1mk1 and the 2 kit lenses.
Both used bodies EM1 ii or similar (never mind an OM body) and used lenses (even the 45mm f1.8 which people call cheap) are now out of my reach.
I just got absolute grief off the wife for buying a set of Meike extension tubes (£28)off Amazon, as they were to expensive (I bought them while she was in hospital) lol.
So not sure what to do now, keep going with what I have, after that, I have no idea.

 

[realspeed]

I post this on another thread but thought it worth putting on here as well'

I was in the same situation as you a couple of years back. I was a Nikon fan, but weight made me think about MFT cameras and lenses,.so I part exchanged the lot. Everyone has their own ideas as to which make and model to get. For me it was Pansonic as a make of choice and the G9 camera, although not the smallest of MFT cameras the price was reasonable. Now well within your price budget new or used.
However the Panasonic G9ii although costing a little more is well worth going for (which I now own as well). Specs can be found on the interweb or on youtube so no point in putting them on here.
As I said I camera from a Nikon DSLR camera range and going over to Panasonic made me realise how out of date even my Nikon D810 was..
Many prefer the Olympus brand but as I have no hands on experience with that make I won't comment.
As your requirement are for a camera for walking and cycling, Like others I would suggest an MFT camera is the way to go. Lighter camera and lens weight and all MFT lenses are interchangable between makes ,so you not limited in that respect.

of course there are many things to consider apart from cost such as start up times - camera buffer amount- phase detection - battery life - image stablisation- dual card slots -to name but a few, which makes choosing the right camera more difficult