Looking at upgrading my ageing kit...APS-C to MFT?

[woof woof]

Well done

I hope you enjoy your new kit and get many years of happy use and many lovely pictures to enjoy

 

[snerkler]

I'm going through a bit of a transitional phase at the moment (I'm talking cameras here, btw! ). I currently have a Canon 40D, which I've owned from new, along with a Canon 17-55 f2.8 IS, a Tamron 28-75 f2.8 and a Canon 70-200 f4L (though the majority of my photographs are with the 17-55). It's a good setup which has served me pretty well over the years.

However, recently I've found I've been leaving it at home more and more and just using the camera on my phone (Google Pixel 8) when I'm out and about. I suspect there are two main reasons for this: firstly, I'm simply getting older and/or lazier and lugging a hulking great 40D + lens(es) around is becoming more and more of a challenge. And secondly, when I first got the 40D (way back in 2008!), the cameras available on phones were a bit naff...so the pics taken were not great (and often were pretty bad!). Camera phones today, however, are massively improved and so the difference in quality between the images they can produce and the images from my 40D is much less noticeable. In fact, due to all the in-phone processing that's done on them, they can often appear considerably better straight off the bat.

So the extra effort and inconvenience of lugging a DSLR around often doesn't feel like it produces results that make it worthwhile by comparison. Obviously with PP and tweaking the 40D pics can be enhanced a lot, plus the ability to utilise a proper optical zoom lens leaves the phone in the dust.

The issue I have with using my phone is that I don't think I quite click into photographer mode in the same way as when I'm holding a "proper" camera. That probably sounds a bit weird, but I think what I mean is that I tend to think more about a photograph, how it's composed, what the light is doing, etc, etc when I'm using my 40D...which can (but by no means always will!) lead to a better image.

I love taking pictures on a camera, but I feel like I've just drifted away from that a bit, which I regret and want to try and reverse. So I'm considering what would be the best way forward. The phone is great for certain things - nights out, family snaps, etc - but I would like to get back into using my camera more.

I'm not a serial upgrader, but having had my current setup for >17 years, I think it's time for a refresh. Which then obviously leads to the question...what do I get?

I originally had a 20D before my 40D so I've been with Canon for years, but I'm by no means looking to stay with Canon simply because that's what I've always had. Obviously if I did stay with them, I'd have the advantage of already owning Canon glass so wouldn't need to refresh that.

One of the main things I want is a camera that doesn't add a lot of bulk/inconvenience when I'm travelling. Whilst I enjoy having a stab at pretty much any genre (wildlife, urban, people, sport), the majority of my photography is landscapes so I would usually be carrying it in a small backpack.

One of the cameras that has caught my eye recently is the OM-5. I know that switching to this would mean refreshing lenses as well, but there are some compelling reasons, the biggest of which (for me at least) are:

• size/weight
• IBIS
• built-in ND filters
• weather sealing

I know various manufacturers offer IBIS these days (though I believe the OM IBIS is up amongst the best in the business), but the built-in ND filters is a massive plus - I love taking water pictures so this would be a real game-changer for me. As would the weather sealing - the number of times I've had to try and improvise with a plastic bag as a rain cover when an unexpected downpour has struck! Not a pretty sight! It's also fabulously small and compact and so would help overcome the issue of my age-induced laziness

I know it's "only" 20MP (comparatively low compared to some cameras these days), but having looked at quite a lot of sample images, I really can't see it as being an issue - plus my 40D is only 10MP, so it would still be a big upgrade. I also believe it doesn't have the same AI AF detection that's offered by some other manufacturers, but tbh that's not really something that I've ever really been that interested in.

Obviously it would mean switching from APS-C to MFT and that's one of the questions I have - does anyone have any experience of making this switch? Did it work for you? Do you have any regrets?

My other concern ("concern" is probably too strong a word tbh...consideration?) is regarding the performance of MFT sensors when it comes to image noise and depth of field. There seem to be rumours around that MFT sensors produce less depth of field and more noise...but is that true in a real-world sense (and by that I mean in terms of any noticeable issues for the majority of pictures taken)? I realise it depends on the type of photography you're doing, but again I'm wondering if MFT would actually be noticeably different to APS-C?

If anyone has any experience of MFT, or specifically making the switch from APS-C, or if you're the owner of an OM-5, I'd really appreciate hearing your thoughts.

Thanks

I've not gone through all of the posts but here's my thoughts.

The M4/3 system is superb, there are certain situations where you're hard pressed to tell the difference between M4/3 and FF let alone APS-C vs M4/3.

The Olympus system is superb, they have some great functionality and great build all in a package that looks great. The Pro lenses are some of the nicest I've used, they feel real quality and have great zoom and focus rings, I wish more lenses were built like this.

Now for the negatives, often there is a lack of 3D rendering compared to FF but I don't think you will notice this compared to APS-C. Dynamic range isn't as high as the best FF, but for the most part high enough, and of course you can bracket, and the Olympus has better DR than the 40D. Likewise with noise handling. The big one for me, and why I choose FF over M4/3 is the lack of shallow DOF, however if you're primarily a landscape shooter then this won't matter to you.

I summary I don't think you'll be disappointed in the slightest moving from APS-C to M4/3, especially moving from an old APS-C to a new M4/3. It wouldn't surprise me if you find the OM5 beter than the 40D as the Olympus has better dynamic range and noise handling, better AF etc etc.

 

[realspeed]

slicendice​

I am now buying my lenses direct from Japan and saving on average £400. In Japan a lens is marked "near mint or Mint" they are as good as new. Import charges are around £140 on a japanese advetised lens @ £600/700

ones I have bought this way. What you don't get is the box and instruction paperwork


and saved a fortune. you get no warranty but taking out camera insurance covers that anyway.

I was in my local camera repair shop yeaterday and the owner was saying more and more people were buying from Japan .

 

[snerkler]

Well, I took the plunge...!!

Had a play with both the OM-5 and the OM-1 Mark II and in the end decided on the OM-1 Mark II. The OM-5 was very small and compact, but if felt like the OM-1 just fit me a bit better, plus it had some extra stuff that the OM-5 didn't.

It's a bit of a hit financially, but if it lasts as long as my 40D then I shouldn't need to be splashing out too much for a while (well, not on camera bodies anway...lenses is a different matter! ).

Just got to wait for it to be delivered now...

I missed this before I posted earlier. The OM-1 II would be my choice too but I didn't want to spend your money for you

 

[slicendice]

It's arrived!

First question...how many dead pixels is it acceptable to get in the EVF on a new cam? Looks like there are 2 on this one Well...I'm not sure if they're "dead" or "hot"? Either way, there are 2 green dots in the EVF

 

[snerkler]

It's arrived!

First question...how many dead pixels is it acceptable to get in the EVF on a new cam? Looks like there are 2 on this one Well...I'm not sure if they're "dead" or "hot"? Either way, there are 2 green dots in the EVF

Are they just on the EVF or do they show on the LCD too? Usually dead pixels appear on the sensor in which case they should appear on both LCD and EVF and they can be mapped out, some cameras map them out automatically so as a user you never know. I would probably accept 1 or 2 an map them out, but everyone has their own tolerances.

If it's the EVF only then this suggest an issue with the EVF in which case I don't know how you'd 'cure' that. I'd likely be more inclined to return it if it was purely the EVF as it would annoy me if they couldn't be mapped out.

 

[slicendice]

It looks like they're just on the EVF

Noticed something else too, but think I might start a new thread

 

[snerkler]

It looks like they're just on the EVF

Noticed something else too, but think I might start a new thread

Oh dear, sorry to hear that. I forgot to mention before, if the pixels are green they're not dead they're stuck. Dead pixels are black.

 

[woof woof]

Some cameras do a periodic map, or at least I think they do but this might just be the sensor and not the evf. It might be worth checking the clock, advancing it a month and turning it off and on again. Or there could be something in the menu. It's at least worth 5 minutes to give it a try, And there's the option of sending it back and getting another.

Good luck.