Cheers. Yeah its one thing that has annoyed me a little with swapping pany for olympus. Im an old canon shooter so the L lenses were just better glass and AF. Features weren't gimped. It feels like Oly treat that 100-400 as what Canon would call an S lens (like an entry level one). Bit odd when its in straight comparison to the pany 100-400 which as far as i know doesnt have any features removed.
P6020380-RS by Dave in Wales, on Flickr
.... I was introduced to A.J.Johnstone by HDEW and have used them a few times - Warranty repair, Insurance damage, Maintenance of both Canon and Olympus products. All with 100% satisfaction and the same goes for one of my best friends who shoots Canon and was introduced to them by me. Someone I know who works for OMDS also speaks very highly of them and being Scottish he knows some of the techies there personally, who are mostly photographers themselves.
www.ajjohnstone.net
.... I was one of the first photographers in the UK to have the ED 100-400mm and shot thousands of images with it before replacing it with the ED 150-400mm TC Pro in August 2021 and I have shot thousands with that lens too, both on the E-M1X and new OM-1. The difference in user satisfaction is like between eating chalk and cheese!
www.flickr.com
.... Based on using AJ Johnstone multiple times myself and also my buddy doing the same with his Canon 5D-4 and L lenses, I am surprised and disappointed to hear that. But I guess that no-one is perfect
.... Lovely shots of lovely birds.
My feeling is m43 is not a “proper” system . Compared to canon , Nikon , Sony. I use m43 because it does what I need it to . But if any of the “proper” systems brought out what I need then I would switch back in a nano second. (Saying that my OM-1 has arrived this morning). For me a m43 lens should never be massively more expensive than a “proper” system pro range (ie the 100-500mm L) lens and secondly a zoom should not be that price as the quality can’t ever match a prime L lens..... I was one of the first photographers in the UK to have the ED 100-400mm and shot thousands of images with it before replacing it with the ED 150-400mm TC Pro in August 2021 and I have shot thousands with that lens too, both on the E-M1X and new OM-1. The difference in user satisfaction is like between eating chalk and cheese!
Before Olympus I also shot Canon - 1DX-2, EOS-R, 5D-4, 7D-2 etc and only with Canon L lenses including the EF 500mm F/4L II. So I am going to say that I know what I am talking about when I suggest that you are both very mistaken if you think that the ED 100-150mm TC Pro isn't worth its price. What you really mean is that either you can't afford it at the moment or don't want to spend £6K on a lens < Fair enough but that has nothing to do with the quality of this lens.
Take a look at the results with it by professionals. And even check out my Flickr Album just to see its versatility as a practical lens (obviously subject to what subjects you guys choose to shoot).
OLYMPUS 150-400mm TC Pro
A very small selection of my best efforts with the Olympus flagship supertelephoto zoom lens
I rest my case
what a totally stupid statement to make , having used most of what you call "proper" systems over the years (circa 60+) I cant find anything that makes MFT inferior in any way .. all camera systems vary each is good at certain sections in its own way ,some will have better AF others better DR but usually at the expense of other items .. there is no such thing as the perfect camera/lens solution or we would all be using it .
Like I said that’s just my opinion not a statement of fact . Sayings it’s stupid is a bit harsh tbh.
now that’s a better statement ,I agree a 3k top end price would be more realistic
.... Rather than say "more realistic" I think it would be fairer to say "more affordable".
.... It's overpriced for your budget of £3K but that is quite different from being overpriced in the lens market.
.... I respect that this is your opinion but I it appears to be based on rather fixed and out of date ideas.
THE PHOTOGRAPHER MAKES THE PHOTOGRAPH by Robin Procter, on Flickr
Like I said, the “proper” systems don’t have a camera that does what I want it to do in a oner. I have no budget to speak of but I won’t over pay for something I don’t think is worth it. I’m not paying prime prices for a zoom lens when the quality can not be as good. It might match the 300mm pro but does that one match a canon L ?.... Rather than say "more realistic" I think it would be fairer to say "more affordable".
But when price comparisons against the lens equivalents offered by what our learned friend @peat calls "proper cameras" (Canon, Nikon, Sony, full-frame) are made, then the £6K of the Olympus lens is extremely good value for money and has several major advantages over them too.
Back in the day when I was a professional Art Director I worked with a variety of international professional photographers, many who were specialists in their fields, and most used to think that 35mm cameras weren't "proper cameras" because they used larger formats - Hasselblad up to 10x12 plate cameras.
.... It's overpriced for your budget of £3K but that is quite different from being overpriced in the lens market.
.... I respect that this is your opinion but I it appears to be based on rather fixed and out of date ideas.
Whereas it was true over 10 years ago that no zoom lens could match a prime, this is no longer the case due to advances in technology. For example, the Olympus ED 300mm F/4 Pro is established as a very sharp lens and the ED 150-400mm TC Pro matches it, and that's not just my opinion.
Being an ex Canon shooter I know much more about them than Nikon or Sony and the Canon L lenses are stunning, especially the latest RF mount L lenses. The Canon EOS mirrorless bodies are excellent too, so what's stopping you "switching back in a nano second"?
I hope you are not disappointed with your new OM-1 and will be mounting it on some Olympus / OM Systems PRO lenses to realise the full potential of the m4/3 format. If OMDS produced a full-frame camera body I reckon the likes of Canon would have some very serious competition indeed regarding image quality excellence.
I think we will at least agree with each other that there is no such thing as the perfect camera nor the perfect lens
I don’t think this is format wars as I am the only one saying something negative about m43 but I use m43 and have done for about 4 years now.
Err? So how would you describe the recent posts on this thread,
..... You keep using the term "proper" about camera systems as if anything other than full-frame Canons etc are merely toys - It's derogatory language and such a sweeping statement that it makes your opinions difficult to respect.
.... I think you probably already know from previous posts that Patrick Lichfield was both a friend and co-director of my company. I remember him getting the original OM-1 and then phoning me to say I must come to the studio to see it. He loved it but of course used other cameras as well - Horses for Courses.
.... Absolutely!
Errm,
.... And Olympus/OMDS have been able to do this largely due to their looong established excellence with lenses and optics in the world of microscopes.
Possibly because there was no internet back then Dave LOL
.... I am the same in that what primarily matters to me is whether I like my results and whether my gear enables me to get the shot I want or not.
GREEN WOODPECKER'S TAIL TRIPOD! by Robin Procter, on Flickr
GREEN WOODPECKER by Robin Procter, on Flickr
Click image to see sharper viewing on flickr.
Wren by Ajophotog, on Flickr
Tasty Mayfly Lunch by Ajophotog, on Flickr
