Olympus OM-D E-M5, E-M1, E-M10 - Mk1, Mk2 & Mk3 Owners Thread

[the black fox]

another reed bunting shot straight into the light amazed it even came out at all 300mm f4+1.4tc
contre jour by jeff cohen, on Flickr

 

[the black fox]

moorhen stepping carefully
one small step for moorhenkind by jeff cohen, on Flickr

 

[trevorbray]

moorhen stepping carefully
one small step for moorhenkind by jeff cohen, on Flickr

Nice one Jeff. Great colours on the bird

 

[the black fox]

get a grip on things .just bought one of these fantastic grips for my 300mm F4 lens . it gives a comfortable grip and helps if your resting the camera in a hide etc . saves the tripod foot from getting marked to .hand made in oak .
available to fit 300mm f4/ 100-400 zuiko / 150-400 pro lens
available from ( secretsignwriter@g.mail.com) price on application
I have no connection with him but super service u.k based

 

[mazdaman]

get a grip on things .just bought one of these fantastic grips for my 300mm F4 lens . it gives a comfortable grip and helps if your resting the camera in a hide etc . saves the tripod foot from getting marked to .hand made in oak .
available to fit 300mm f4/ 100-400 zuiko / 150-400 pro lens
available from ( secretsignwriter@g.mail.com) price on application
I have no connection with him but super service u.k based

Hi Jeff totally agree got one on the 150-400 excellent quality and does make a noticeable difference

 

[Stephen L]

On a dog-walk yesterday. OM5 with 12-40 Pro

Hillside by Stephen Lee, on Flickr

 

[the black fox]

willow warbler from yesterday
willow warbler ? by jeff cohen, on Flickr

cast a giant shadow by jeff cohen, on Flickr

sunbathing by jeff cohen, on Flickr

 

[the black fox]

little grebe or dabchick
swimming by jeff cohen, on Flickr

 

[the black fox]

insanely sharp juvenile jackdaw peering out of the nest .. M1X+300mm f4
wheres me mum ! by jeff cohen, on Flickr

 

[da_nige]

Good morning all,

I’m looking for a bit of advice. I have been a Canon user for 22 years and I’m now at the stage where I am not shooting as much and when I am its no longer me on my own on trips i.e. the trips are multi faceted rather than just for photography.

I mainly shoot wildlife but also do some landscape too. I currently have a 1DXII and 500mm f4 IS as my main wildlife body/lens combo and I use an RP for general stuff.

The lens is no longer supported by Canon and with Canon moving to the RF mount my concern is that if something does go awry with the 500 I can’t afford to replace it and in time all of my other EF glass will be deemed by Canon as obsolete.

I’ve been doing some research into m43 and Olympus in particular. I am attracted to the compactness of the 300mm and I’m seriously considering selling my Canon kit and switching to Olympus. I’m not 100% sure yet so my plan is to get an E-M1X (I have big hands) and 300mm initially and if I am happy with the system then add a 12-40 and 40-150 over time then upgrade the body to whatever is available in a few years if I feel I need to.

Has anyone done anything similar and have any regrets?

Are there any good, cheaper lenses from 14-150/200mm for me to consider to tide me over before I make the full switch to the Pro lenses?

Many thanks to all. I’ve been following this thread for a few weeks and the quality of what I am seeing produced is pushing me to make the switch. I know that the quality is down to the photographer but some of my concerns about increased depth of field etc have been put to bed.

Neil

 

[the black fox]

LOL yes theres tons of lens options from both olympus and panasonic just remember to double up those focal lengths as its a 2x crop factor . i.e the shot above was taken with a M1X and 300mmf4 so on FF thats = to 600mm at f4 and is totally handholdable . not used a tripod or monopod in 4 years . compared to canon or nikon the light weight and i.b.i.s is mind bending .

prices are also way below the cost of full frame lenses ,advances in noise reduction software the latest being LR/PS also take away the main thing that stopped people changing in the past.

price wise a low shutter count M1X used with warranty from a dealer will set you back circa £700 or less and lenses a lot less my 100-400 which has served me well is currently on here for £850 and is i.s to the best bet is to search e.bay for used MFT lenses and take it from there ..just be careful as some people list four thirds lenses in there to .but even thats not a problem as with a readily available adaptor they perform as good as MFT ones and at a quarter of the price

 

[mazdaman]

Good morning all,

I’m looking for a bit of advice. I have been a Canon user for 22 years and I’m now at the stage where I am not shooting as much and when I am its no longer me on my own on trips i.e. the trips are multi faceted rather than just for photography.

I mainly shoot wildlife but also do some landscape too. I currently have a 1DXII and 500mm f4 IS as my main wildlife body/lens combo and I use an RP for general stuff.

The lens is no longer supported by Canon and with Canon moving to the RF mount my concern is that if something does go awry with the 500 I can’t afford to replace it and in time all of my other EF glass will be deemed by Canon as obsolete.

I’ve been doing some research into m43 and Olympus in particular. I am attracted to the compactness of the 300mm and I’m seriously considering selling my Canon kit and switching to Olympus. I’m not 100% sure yet so my plan is to get an E-M1X (I have big hands) and 300mm initially and if I am happy with the system then add a 12-40 and 40-150 over time then upgrade the body to whatever is available in a few years if I feel I need to.

Has anyone done anything similar and have any regrets?

Are there any good, cheaper lenses from 14-150/200mm for me to consider to tide me over before I make the full switch to the Pro lenses?

Many thanks to all. I’ve been following this thread for a few weeks and the quality of what I am seeing produced is pushing me to make the switch. I know that the quality is down to the photographer but some of my concerns about increased depth of field etc have been put to bed.

Neil

Was a Canon shooter for over 35 years moved to Olympus 3 years ago havnt looked back Jeff@blackfox has replied nothing to add to his comments the lenses particularly the pro lenses are stunning plus Panasonic also offer a great range of lenses Make the jump I doubt if you will regret it

 

[da_nige]

I'll be honest - Jeff is one of the main reasons for considering doing it. Seeing his photos has made me want to do it and get out more.

At the moment I use the 500 with a 1.4 TC on full frame so 700mm. I know the 300 will give me effective focal length of 600mm in a much smaller package. I'm thinking for Otters and Mountain Hare it'll be much easier.

 

[Box Brownie]

Echoing above ....

I was a Canon user from 1989 to 2016, when I switched to Olympus.....selling the last of my Canon kit IIRC in 2018

Superb kit but be ready to handle noise and for that I found & find DxO PhotoLab excellent.

HTH

 

[da_nige]

Thanks for the input so far. Lovely to get such quick and positive responses.

Having used a 10D then 20D etc all the way up to the 1DXII I'm used to noise and accept that that is one of the pitfalls of the smaller sensor but also something that can be dealt with as you say using DxO or Topaz

 

[the black fox]

all mine are edited with a older version of topaz de.noise . I believe the latest LR update is better but I need a new i.mac to get it

 

[Box Brownie]

A couple of threads here worth(?) looking at.

EM1.2 in Antarctica (Long, 13 Photos): Micro Four Thirds Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

Expert news, reviews and videos of the latest digital cameras, lenses, accessories, and phones. Get answers to your questions in our photography forums.

www.dpreview.com

Birds with OM1 and Olympus 300mm F4: Micro Four Thirds Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

Expert news, reviews and videos of the latest digital cameras, lenses, accessories, and phones. Get answers to your questions in our photography forums.

www.dpreview.com

 

[nc_killie]

Good morning all,

I’m looking for a bit of advice. I have been a Canon user for 22 years and I’m now at the stage where I am not shooting as much and when I am its no longer me on my own on trips i.e. the trips are multi faceted rather than just for photography.

I mainly shoot wildlife but also do some landscape too. I currently have a 1DXII and 500mm f4 IS as my main wildlife body/lens combo and I use an RP for general stuff.

The lens is no longer supported by Canon and with Canon moving to the RF mount my concern is that if something does go awry with the 500 I can’t afford to replace it and in time all of my other EF glass will be deemed by Canon as obsolete.

I’ve been doing some research into m43 and Olympus in particular. I am attracted to the compactness of the 300mm and I’m seriously considering selling my Canon kit and switching to Olympus. I’m not 100% sure yet so my plan is to get an E-M1X (I have big hands) and 300mm initially and if I am happy with the system then add a 12-40 and 40-150 over time then upgrade the body to whatever is available in a few years if I feel I need to.

Has anyone done anything similar and have any regrets?

Are there any good, cheaper lenses from 14-150/200mm for me to consider to tide me over before I make the full switch to the Pro lenses?

Many thanks to all. I’ve been following this thread for a few weeks and the quality of what I am seeing produced is pushing me to make the switch. I know that the quality is down to the photographer but some of my concerns about increased depth of field etc have been put to bed.

Neil

I was in a similar situation to you (Canon 500mm and 1DX plus other stuff) and like the previous posts made the switch to Olympus. I have no regrets and I am getting my interest back - I used to require a pack horse to take my equipment but now it is easy to carry about all day and does not intrude if you are just 'going for a walk.
I have some of the gear (100-400, 300, 40-150 plus bodies) that you mention and am based not too far away of you want to try it (PM me) .
Good luck

 

[the black fox]

willow warbler ,love how sharp the 300mm f4 is
willow warbler in the willow by jeff cohen, on Flickr

 

[RedRobin]

Good morning all,

I’m looking for a bit of advice. I have been a Canon user for 22 years and I’m now at the stage where I am not shooting as much and when I am its no longer me on my own on trips i.e. the trips are multi faceted rather than just for photography.

I mainly shoot wildlife but also do some landscape too. I currently have a 1DXII and 500mm f4 IS as my main wildlife body/lens combo and I use an RP for general stuff.

.... I was the same as you, primarily shooting wildlife on Canon 1DX-2 + EF 500mm F/4L II etc and sold all my Canon gear and bought a E-M1X plus 40-150mm F/2.8 Pro and 300mm F/4 Pro in late 2019.

I sold one of my two E-M1X bodies and am considering selling the remaining one and have had an OM-1 since March 2022 and the 150-400mm TC Pro (excellent and absolutely worth the money!!!) for nearly 3 years now.

Check out my Flickr Albums for examples.

 

[RedRobin]

get a grip on things .just bought one of these fantastic grips for my 300mm F4 lens . it gives a comfortable grip and helps if your resting the camera in a hide etc . saves the tripod foot from getting marked to .hand made in oak .
available to fit 300mm f4/ 100-400 zuiko / 150-400 pro lens
available from ( secretsignwriter@g.mail.com) price on application
I have no connection with him but super service u.k based

.... Really? You surprise me. A small bean bag is surely an easier solution than a lump of oak wood.

I find the lens foot on the 40-150mm F/2.8 Pro to be a bit too short and so I have a Wimberley 86mm A-S plate always attached which offers much better grip and handle. I never use camera body neck straps and always remove the lugs on the body.

Hi Jeff totally agree got one on the 150-400 excellent quality and does make a noticeable difference

.... That surprises me even more because the 150-400mm has got such an excellent lens foot handle.

Surely you guys aren't worried about a bit of surface wear and tear on the underside of a lens foot?

 

[the black fox]

Robin you can’t hand hold a M1X +300 f4 +a 1.4 or 2x tc holding a bean bag .. .. trust me I have the mki version of these grips and the mkii ( illustrated ) and they are really comfortable to hold and being real wood ideal for winter use keeping your hands warm as a bonus . I have seen photos of a mkiii which will be suitable for tripod foot carrying but it’s under development ..
personally I would rather have one of the fitted which weighs a couple of oz’s than lug around a bean bag which are usually unwieldy and heavy . I haven’t used a monopod or tripod in nearly four years all shots are hand held so anything that helps comfort wise is also a bonus

 

[RedRobin]

Robin you can’t hand hold a M1X +300 f4 +a 1.4 or 2x tc holding a bean bag .. .. trust me I have the mki version of these grips and the mkii ( illustrated ) and they are really comfortable to hold and being real wood ideal for winter use keeping your hands warm as a bonus . I have seen photos of a mkiii which will be suitable for tripod foot carrying but it’s under development ..
personally I would rather have one of the fitted which weighs a couple of oz’s than lug around a bean bag which are usually unwieldy and heavy . I haven’t used a monopod or tripod in nearly four years all shots are hand held so anything that helps comfort wise is also a bonus

.... Possibly my slight misunderstanding of how you use it. My small bean bag (made for me by a fwend) is about 6x3 inches x 1 inch thick with a loop and it can clip onto me. Personally I don't find a lens foot on any of my lenses uncomfortable in the palm of my hand regardless of the TC mounted. But I often use a monopod with Arca-Swiss clamp if I want extra steadiness.

 

[the black fox]

robin posing nicely
branch line by jeff cohen, on Flickr

 

[Stephen L]

Something different from me - in the Bluebell woods the other evening, in the rain. OM5 and 12-100

ICM by Stephen Lee, on Flickr

 

[moggi1964]

Like brush strokes. I like that.

 

[Micro-four-thirds]

I like it, but it’s making my eyes go funny haha. Very creative idea.

 

[RedRobin]

Something different from me - in the Bluebell woods the other evening, in the rain. OM5 and 12-100

ICM by Stephen Lee, on Flickr

.... Very arty and very ICM. ICM is quite a popular style.

 

[Stephen L]

.... Very arty and very ICM. ICM is quite a popular style.

Thanks Robin. It's the first time I've tried it (deliberately ).

 

[Box Brownie]

Something different from me - in the Bluebell woods the other evening, in the rain. OM5 and 12-100

ICM by Stephen Lee, on Flickr

All photography has the potential for experimentation and I can see the "art" here but I am unsure whether the 'pincushion' effect in the sides adds or detracts from the overall look & feel of it ???

PS there was a period when "zoom burst" was popular but I have not seen any examples for some time

 

[Stephen L]

All photography has the potential for experimentation and I can see the "art" here but I am unsure whether the 'pincushion' effect in the sides adds or detracts from the overall look & feel of it ???

Understood. In hindsight this could have been avoided by me raising the camera in parallel to the tree instead of swinging it up. Next time …

 

[RedRobin]

All photography has the potential for experimentation and I can see the "art" here but I am unsure whether the 'pincushion' effect in the sides adds or detracts from the overall look & feel of it ???

PS there was a period when "zoom burst" was popular but I have not seen any examples for some time

.... Surely if an image is ICM and consequently a piece of art rather than a record, it doesn't matter if pincushion and/or similar aspects are visible or not. I didn't even look for such things when viewing Stephen's image - It's not necessary to do so because you need to simply view an art image as it is whatever it is and regardless of how it has been achieved.

But I am not sure that the brethren of Talk Photography are generally very open to the abstract arty side.

RADICAL DELTIC RADIAL by Robin Procter, on Flickr

 

[alfbranch]

All photography has the potential for experimentation and I can see the "art" here but I am unsure whether the 'pincushion' effect in the sides adds or detracts from the overall look & feel of it ???

PS there was a period when "zoom burst" was popular but I have not seen any examples for some time

It not pincushion is curved movement as in pivoting the camera rather than vertical movement

See more here

Show us your ICM shots

Kinclaven Bluebell ICM's _DSC0543_DxO by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr _DSC0558_DxO by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr _DSC0621_DxO by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr _DSC0624_DxO by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr _DSC0632_DxO by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr _DSC0716_DxO by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr...

www.talkphotography.co.uk

 

[droj]

if an image is ICM and consequently a piece of art

That's a bit far out, Robin! Most icm images are just bits of casual whimsy. Or is that what you class art as?

 

[alfbranch]

That's a bit far out, Robin! Most icm images are just bits of casual whimsy. Or is that what you class art as?

Define art!

 

[droj]

Define art!

Something done with a broad brush ... ;-)

 

[the black fox]

Make of it as you wish , I remember using lots of fancy cokin filters back in the days of film . Weird effects sometimes , zoom filters, multi facet ones etc , hyper graduated ones to

 

[Box Brownie]

.... Surely if an image is ICM and consequently a piece of art rather than a record, it doesn't matter if pincushion and/or similar aspects are visible or not. I didn't even look for such things when viewing Stephen's image - It's not necessary to do so because you need to simply view an art image as it is whatever it is and regardless of how it has been achieved.

But I am not sure that the brethren of Talk Photography are generally very open to the abstract arty side.

RADICAL DELTIC RADIAL by Robin Procter, on Flickr

Art is always in the eye of the beholder and I could see the art(istry) though whether the pincushion like curves added anything or not for me is moot.

It not pincushion is curved movement as in pivoting the camera rather than vertical movement

See more here

Show us your ICM shots

Kinclaven Bluebell ICM's _DSC0543_DxO by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr _DSC0558_DxO by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr _DSC0621_DxO by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr _DSC0624_DxO by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr _DSC0632_DxO by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr _DSC0716_DxO by Stephen Taylor, on Flickr...

www.talkphotography.co.uk

Perhaps I should have said 'pincushion like' but I take your point as they say everyday is a school day

 

[RedRobin]

That's a bit far out, Robin! Most icm images are just bits of casual whimsy. Or is that what you class art as?

.... Not so. There is a very established community of ICM photographers worldwide that specialise in ICM as a valid artform which isn't "just bits of casual whimsy".

COMPLETE GUIDE TO ICM INTENTIONAL CAMERA MOVEMENT: TECHNIQUE AND ARTISTIC INTERPRETATION

Intentional Camera Movement ICM is a creative way of working with long exposure photography and it implies deliberately moving the camera during an exposure

www.juliaannagospodarou.com

Art has many forms and interpretations but is essentially / fundamentally always creative expression.

The camera is just a tool for expression.

 

[alfbranch]

I have used the His res mode on my camera to shoot ICM

At the lake by Alf Branch, on Flickr

Beach walks by Alf Branch, on Flickr

Along the road by Alf Branch, on Flickr

Wasdale shiver by Alf Branch, on Flickr