Hip Coyote

My wife and I take hiking-focused vacations so weight is a factor for me. When I say hike, I mean rather long distances over difficult terrain so carrying a large dslr can start to wear one down over a few days. I switched to the Olympus OMD em5ii and have a love-hate relationship with it. I have a few lenses including the Pro 7-14. The camera has changed, and in fact help me define, my style of shooting. The in-body image stabilization on the Oly cameras is amazing. Where as many photogs try to avoid people in their shots or use filters with long exposures to eliminate them, I seek out people to add motion and a sense of place to my photos. I can do that hand-held with no problem. The Oly pro lenses are spectacular but pricey. I have a very wide and fast prime for use indoors which works "ok" but not great. Learn to use the EVF properly and you will see the wonders of how it can improve your photography. There is also a feature on the camera known as live composite which allows the user to take a photograph (multiples really) over time which only new sources of light being added to the final composite. So, it is possible to have fireworks properly exposed with a cityscape. Something no other camera system can do so far as I know. The camera is water sealed so long as you use sealed lenses.

The hate part is the fact that the batteries are small. The EVF takes up quite a lot of energy even though I keep the rear screen off and have the camera set to auto turn off after about 60 seconds. Carry a few extras and consistently monitor battery strength and you should be ok. The low light capabilities of the m4/3 are not good. One can push the iso up to 1600 or so but the image will become grainy. I know "serious" photographers do not care about built in flash, but when hiking or at a restaurant (and not wanting to take a lot of equipment with me) it is sometimes nice to have a fill-in flash immediately available. The 5ii does not have a built in flash so you have to carry the small flash that goes onto the shoe for fill in. You will have to do some serious study of the menu system. It takes time to learn so do not buy this camera and jump on a plane to your dream vacation the following day.

As with any system, there are trade offs.

sadcase

Hi,
I have a similar problem to yourself. I suffer from arthritis and from spinal damage and like yourself have struggled with the weight of a DSLR.
My only experience of mirrorless cameras is with the Panasonic LUMIX G range of cameras.
So my comments relate to that range. Mirrorless cameras are certainly lighter thanDSLRs.
Over the last few years I have worked my way through Panasonic's G2,GH2,G3,G5,G6, and currently have a GH3 and a GH4. As the range has progressed so image quality has got better, the GH4 would give most DSLRs a run for their money, and I would reckon the latest models like the G7 and GH5 must improve on what went before. The downside though, is that as Panasonic have improved the G series the camera bodies have got bigger and heavier. If you really need a relatively small light camera body a second hand or refurbished GH2 or GH3 would be my choice.
If you haven't entirely given up on DSLRs , have a look at Pentax. I have a Pentax K-5IIs , the body is actually smaller and lighter than the Panasonic GH4.
Best regards,
Eric.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

As I said YMMV.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Exactly. I am aware of that but have never seen f.x. used.

Dennis

PhotosBySteve

I own the Sony R7II a full frame mirrorless, as well as a Canon 6D & 7D. The mirrorless does NOT save anything in weight. The weight is all in the lens of choice, not so much in the camera body. If you want to reduce weight, replace the camera body with a small mirrorless or bridge camera, and any lenses with small, slow lenses. This will also reduce image quality and printable size.

yorkiebyte Loc: Scottsdale, AZ/Bandon by the Sea, OR

Obviously depends on one's outlook on what "printable" quality size and structure means to a person. Having personally printed from 4" x 5" and 8" x 10" (in a Pro lab/studio I worked at) negatives before, I am astounded at the 30" x 40" print capabilities of modern MFT (my Olympus) and DX sensor cameras (my Nikons) having had printed those sizes in the past year from both. Snappy and Sharp on print, they are.
FF really, in my opinion, would come in play for me in lower light situations as in my previous 35 year stretch as a Pro Wedding photographer. The advantage of true F stop on full frame would be of no consequence either for me. At F1.4 on my 4/3 lenses, I have no problem with the slight difference of true aperture.

As to the OP's question of saving weight/space but keeping Image Quality - there is (in my humble opinion) no doubt! My Olympus kit is easily 1/2 the size of my Nikon DX bag.

Ciao!

prabhusinha

Go for Fuji XE2 with 18-55 kit, buy adapter to use Nikon lenses on Fuji body. Will be a great Fun Prabhas from India

le boecere

Tom Dempsey does quite a bit of international hiking. Here's what he's carrying, now:

http://photoseek.com/

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Either you are joking or missed the point of the post. The other used f.x. Not to distinguish a full frame camera compared to dx but to express, for example.

Dennis

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

It might be worthwhile to evaluate the Nikon D5300. I have one and find the weight to be fine and the slightly larger body is easier to hold onto with my hands in their condition.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

It might be worthwhile to evaluate the Nikon D5300. I have one and find the weight to be fine and the slightly larger body is easier to hold onto with my hands in their condition.

BebuLamar

Thanks! I think I missed the point. I would not call it F.X.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I can understand your confusion. "FX" usually means a full frame Nikon, but I think the poster meant, "for example."

sharonmblais

I have the same issues with arthritis in my hands and back problems. so I can't carry heavy weight anymore. I switched to M4/3 several years ago. I switched to Panasonic and have the GX7, GX8 and the GX85 with several lens. I am very happy with them and the photos I take with them. I find the menu system for Panasonic cameras very intuitive and they perform well in low light for me. Good luck with your quest.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Canon M5. Light and easy to use. Does not destroy your mind going through endless menus just to change a setting.
You will really appreciate the intuitiveness of it.