Stumped on Which CSC/Four Thirds Kit?

Curve-ball, if you like more of a grip/mini dslr style, then look at the Panasonic G80 and add the 12-40 2.8
 
The only thing putting me off the em1 is the price of a used one compared to a new em5ii from Hdew, there's only about 40 quid between them.
I didn't realise grey EM5-II's were so cheap these days tbh.
 
The only thing putting me off the em1 is the price of a used one compared to a new em5ii from Hdew, there's only about 40 quid between them.

If you buy used from a 'proper' reseller like MBP or SRS Microsystems you get a warranty anyway so I don't think there is much risk IMO. In fact none of my M43 gear was bought new and it all works great!
 
If you buy used from a 'proper' reseller like MBP or SRS Microsystems you get a warranty anyway so I don't think there is much risk IMO. In fact none of my M43 gear was bought new and it all works great!
We all like shiny new things though ;)
 
We all like shiny new things though ;)

Haha I'm the opposite! If I get a camera that's a little bashed up & has some character (but still working correctly of course) I worry less about keeping it pristine and am more likely to use it in situations I might otherwise not!
 
Haha I'm the opposite! If I get a camera that's a little bashed up & has some character (but still working correctly of course) I worry less about keeping it pristine and am more likely to use it in situations I might otherwise not!
Lol, there is that argument I guess. I cry when I scuff my shiny new gear :runaway:
 
Haha I'm the opposite! If I get a camera that's a little bashed up & has some character (but still working correctly of course) I worry less about keeping it pristine and am more likely to use it in situations I might otherwise not!

I would say that's pretty much me. The only reason I'm more likely to buy new this time is I'm planning to hold onto the gear for a long time rather than upgrade/resell/whatever.
 
Well, so much for Olympus. I tried a couple in store and didn't like them at all! I'm really disappointed I don't like them too, seeing how much I love some of their film gear and how good some m4/3 lenses appear to be. I tried a few bodies of other brands and boringly came back to Canon DSLRs. I really wanted to try something different and it didn't work. Oh well - I'm just glad I didn't buy without trying.
 
Well, so much for Olympus. I tried a couple in store and didn't like them at all! I'm really disappointed I don't like them too, seeing how much I love some of their film gear and how good some m4/3 lenses appear to be. I tried a few bodies of other brands and boringly came back to Canon DSLRs. I really wanted to try something different and it didn't work. Oh well - I'm just glad I didn't buy without trying.
That's interesting, what specifically didn't you like about Olympus? I'm not a fanboy, moved almost totally away from Olympus now;)
 
Well, so much for Olympus. I tried a couple in store and didn't like them at all! I'm really disappointed I don't like them too, seeing how much I love some of their film gear and how good some m4/3 lenses appear to be. I tried a few bodies of other brands and boringly came back to Canon DSLRs. I really wanted to try something different and it didn't work. Oh well - I'm just glad I didn't buy without trying.
That's why it's so important to try these things out first rather than just going on recommendations etc. I'm sure some of it will be purely a lack of familiarity, but if you disliked them that much they're just probably not for you unfortunately.
 
That's interesting, what specifically didn't you like about Olympus? I'm not a fanboy, moved almost totally away from Olympus now;)

Firstly I should state that it probably has something to do with me being so fond of my OM2n, the design of which (for me) is almost perfect - it's simple, intuitive and everything is 'where it should be'. I'm probably guilty of getting too attached to the idea that the new OMDs would be similar.

The digital Olys seem completely the opposite; they just don't seem remotely intuitive and to me seem overly complicated to work with. The 12 - 40 seemed unbalanced on the body and was bigger/heavier than I thought (as was suggested earlier in the thread). The bodies seem much more suited to small primes, but primes aren't really what I'm after other than a macro lens.

I was also interested in the 60mm macro with seemed great (good build quality etc and the image quality is meant to be good too), but it had the feeling of holding a toilet roll tube!

Don't get me wrong, they're very nice cameras/lenses, well built, great image quality (they look nice too) etc. etc. but just didn't suit me. I started playing with a 600D and remembered just how comfortable Canon's were, I could find my way round the buttons in the dark and never use a menu.
 
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Firstly I should state that it probably has something to do with me being so fond of my OM2n, the design of which (for me) is almost perfect - it's simple, intuitive and everything is 'where it should be'. I'm probably guilty of getting too attached to the idea that the new OMDs would be similar.

The digital Olys seem completely the opposite; they just don't seem remotely intuitive and to me seem overly complicated to work with. The 12 - 40 seemed unbalanced on the body and was bigger/heavier than I thought (as was suggested earlier in the thread). The bodies seem much more suited to small primes, but primes aren't really what I'm after other than a macro lens.
Did you try the EM1, imo the EM1 and 12-40mm is one of the best balanced combos I've used.


. I started playing with a 600D and remembered just how comfortable Canon's were, I could find my way round the buttons in the dark and never use a menu.
That's what I was alluding to in my previous post, familiarity plays a huge part and is really important a lot of the time. It's like I'm used to Nikons and nearly bought into the Canon system, but I found that I was more comfortable with Nikon and took with it. There's no problem with sticking with what you're familiar with.
 
That's why it's so important to try these things out first rather than just going on recommendations etc. I'm sure some of it will be purely a lack of familiarity, but if you disliked them that much they're just probably not for you unfortunately.

I could learn to live with one, but what's the point? I may as well stick with what I know and crack on with taking pictures. Carrying the extra weight will do me good!


The only body that really grabbed me was the Fuji XT20, but it looks like something I could quite easily wreck! I have no qualms about throwing a used Canon around a bit.
 
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These days we are hardly limited by sensor size at all,
This is true if we only print sizes up to about A3.
as it is if we pixel peep on our computers.

Social media users see no limitations what so ever.

Just as we all expected to see significant grain on films rated 400 ASA or above.
we now expect to be able to shoot at almost unlimited ISO values with acceptable noise levels.

We expect to be able to take snap shots, with out flash, at any time of the day or night.

Modern digital cameras are so good as to exceed most people expectations, And certainly Needs, what ever the situation.

The choice of camera and sensor size is for most people almost immaterial, as all will produce everything they need.

Those occasions when you need the biggest and the best are becoming fewer every day.
 
I could learn to live with one, but what's the point? I may as well stick with what I know and crack on with taking pictures.
Exactly.
 
Firstly I should state that it probably has something to do with me being so fond of my OM2n, the design of which (for me) is almost perfect - it's simple, intuitive and everything is 'where it should be'. I'm probably guilty of getting too attached to the idea that the new OMDs would be similar.

I'd probably get away from the idea that film and digital cameras should be similar. They're both very different beasts.
If however you absolutely want to re-produce the film experience, I'd have a look at Fuji
 
I'd probably get away from the idea that film and digital cameras should be similar. They're both very different beasts.
If however you absolutely want to re-produce the film experience, I'd have a look at Fuji

The XT20 was the standout body that I've tried in terms of 'classic' usability, but I'm not convinced about it as a whole system. I don't know enough about Fuji gear for one thing - what's available, prices etc etc.

I'm not all that bothered about replacing film with digital; if I shoot some film it's more for pleasure than any practical purpose and I've already got a couple of film bodies for that. I may get a Fuji though if I do decide to go fully digital, they do look/feel really nice.

There are other (more boring!) considerstions at the moment too; if I go with Canon, I can put the money saved (I already have access to some Canon gear). I can get a much needed new laptop/storage
 
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The XT20 was the standout body that I've tried in terms of 'classic' usability, but I'm not convinced about it as a whole system. I don't know enough about Fuji gear for one thing - what's available, prices etc etc.

I'm not all that bothered about replacing film with digital; if I shoot some film it's more for pleasure than any practical purpose and I've already got a couple of film bodies for that. I may get a Fuji though if I do decide to go fully digital, they do look/feel really nice.

There are other (more boring!) considerstions at the moment too; if I go with Canon, I can put the money saved (I already have access to some Canon gear). I can get a much needed new laptop/storage
Fuji are a little bit marmite. Some love the manual dials etc, some like me like the idea of them but don’t like them in use.
 
Fuji are a little bit marmite. Some love the manual dials etc, some like me like the idea of them but don’t like them in use.

I'd probably only have one to replace my old film cameras, which is an expense I'm not willing to fork out.
 
I went and bought (another) 600D.

I went out planning on buying something new and up to date from Canon, but there just didn't seem anything that great to warrant the price tag. Kind of a boring decision, but it leaves me with a decent wedge to play with for something else, maybe a nice macro lens and flash...
 
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I went and bought (another) 600D.

I went out planning on buying something new and up to date, but there just didn't seem anything that great to warrant the price tag. Kind of a boring decision, but it leaves me with a decent wedge to play with for something else, maybe a nice macro lens and flash...
I don't know the Canon range that well tbh, but you're happy and that's the main thing (y)
 
I went and bought (another) 600D.

I went out planning on buying something new and up to date from Canon, but there just didn't seem anything that great to warrant the price tag. Kind of a boring decision, but it leaves me with a decent wedge to play with for something else, maybe a nice macro lens and flash...
I bet you didn't try the Pen-F
 
And me.

Worst system I've ever had


I loved a lot about the Fuji cams I've owned, but there was always a niggle ... whether it was the PP issues, or the lenses being a little pricey for what you get - like the 35 F2, twice the price of a Nikon 35mm 1.8 or the 55-200 being triple the cost of a Nikon 55-200 ... something just seemed off about that, and some say Fuji lenses are nicely priced :thinking:
 
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