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4/3 Camera Upgrade.
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Jun 11, 2014 06:41:54   #
Nick1
 
I want to upgrade from my Fugifilm bridge camera. It's been great for my travels and as I still want to keep the weight and size down, I'm looking at a 4/3 kit.

I have 3 on my shortlist. Has anyone used or is using a Fugifilm X-T1, Olympus OM D 1 or the new Lumix GH4?

My primary use is travel and street photography so the GH4 may be an over kill as video is not a main priority. However it does look an awesome bit of kit.

I did look at the Sony A 7 but for me it does not sit well in my hands. My new purchase will be with me for the next few years so I don't want feel any regrets down the road. If anyone is using any of these models or has compared them, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Nick.

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Jun 11, 2014 06:48:45   #
Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI
 
As you can tell from my signature, I'm a little biased towards the em1. It can be stripped down to just the 20mm for a lightweight low profile rig or supped up with the hld7, 12-40 and fl600r for wedding/studio work. IQ from this combo will rival any current camera on the market.

The xt1 is nice too, but I like the lens lineup better for m4/3.

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Jun 11, 2014 06:51:54   #
lukan Loc: Chicago, IL
 
Nick1 wrote:
I want to upgrade from my Fugifilm bridge camera. It's been great for my travels and as I still want to keep the weight and size down, I'm looking at a 4/3 kit.

I have 3 on my shortlist. Has anyone used or is using a Fugifilm X-T1, Olympus OM D 1 or the new Lumix GH4?

My primary use is travel and street photography so the GH4 may be an over kill as video is not a main priority. However it does look an awesome bit of kit.

I did look at the Sony A 7 but for me it does not sit well in my hands. My new purchase will be with me for the next few years so I don't want feel any regrets down the road. If anyone is using any of these models or has compared them, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Nick.
I want to upgrade from my Fugifilm bridge camera. ... (show quote)


I love the Oly OMD EM-1 with the battery grip. It's beautifully made, has vast capabilities, and the articulating touchscreen is a potent tool for clandestine street shots. Some of the lenses available for it are nothing short of extraordinary, and it has physics-defying low-light/low-noise performance. Its image processing software (TruePicVII) is highly evolved, allowing you to make beautiful JPEGs, if you don't want to process RAW. Its IBIS 5-axis stabilization is state-of-the-art (I wish my 1DX had it!) and its weathersealing and low-temp capabilities keep you outside shooting when others have long since abandoned the thought. Give the Olympus a long, hard look. It is a high quality camera integral to a mature system. I highly recommend it. :thumbup: :thumbup:

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Jun 11, 2014 07:22:50   #
sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey
 
I don't have the Fuji X-T1 or the Olympus EM-1, but I do own the Fuji X-E2 and the Olympus E-M5.I prefer the controls and the much more intuitive and easier menu system of Fuji. You really need to study the Olympus menu system. Fuji is always improving cameras with firmware upgrades. I had a lot of trouble with my original EM-5 and it took forever to get things right. After many trips back and forth my original camera was replaced with a new one.Also my grip broke and had to be replaced. I found their repair service slow.

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Jun 11, 2014 07:44:16   #
amehta Loc: Boston
 
Nick1 wrote:
I want to upgrade from my Fugifilm bridge camera. It's been great for my travels and as I still want to keep the weight and size down, I'm looking at a 4/3 kit.

I have 3 on my shortlist. Has anyone used or is using a Fugifilm X-T1, Olympus OM D 1 or the new Lumix GH4?

My primary use is travel and street photography so the GH4 may be an over kill as video is not a main priority. However it does look an awesome bit of kit.

I did look at the Sony A 7 but for me it does not sit well in my hands. My new purchase will be with me for the next few years so I don't want feel any regrets down the road. If anyone is using any of these models or has compared them, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Nick.
I want to upgrade from my Fugifilm bridge camera. ... (show quote)

You are looking at a mirrorless kit, and you are talking about three different senor sizes:
1. micro 4/3 (Olympus OM-D E-M1, Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4)
2. APS-C (Fuji X-T1)
3. full frame (Sony A7)

A bigger sensor size generally means better overall image quality and better high-ISO performance, though the differences may be fairly small.

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Jun 11, 2014 08:53:31   #
username
 
If I had the money I would get the oly. Have you considered the oly em10? Cheaper and lots of the same features...

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Jun 11, 2014 09:47:32   #
sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey
 
I would only get a camera with a viewfinder. B&H has used Fuji X-E2.
username wrote:
If I had the money I would get the oly. Have you considered the oly em10? Cheaper and lots of the same features...

Reply
 
 
Jun 11, 2014 09:50:54   #
Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI
 
sueyeisert wrote:
I would only get a camera with a viewfinder. B&H has used Fuji X-E2.


The EM series all do.

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Jun 11, 2014 10:01:27   #
minniev Loc: MIssissippi
 
Nick1 wrote:
I want to upgrade from my Fugifilm bridge camera. It's been great for my travels and as I still want to keep the weight and size down, I'm looking at a 4/3 kit.

I have 3 on my shortlist. Has anyone used or is using a Fugifilm X-T1, Olympus OM D 1 or the new Lumix GH4?

My primary use is travel and street photography so the GH4 may be an over kill as video is not a main priority. However it does look an awesome bit of kit.

I did look at the Sony A 7 but for me it does not sit well in my hands. My new purchase will be with me for the next few years so I don't want feel any regrets down the road. If anyone is using any of these models or has compared them, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Nick.
I want to upgrade from my Fugifilm bridge camera. ... (show quote)


I use the Olympus EM1 and have been very pleased with it. It is extremely customizable, has a terrific button array, is easy to handle and carry and has a vast lens selection. The tiny sharp primes (Olympus and Panasonic) are great for street photography. The EVF is amazingly good, and I would never want to go back to an OVF after getting used to this one. The touchscreen is a feature I never suspected I'd care about but it is pretty useful to have the option for one-touch instant focus/capture on-screen. Just got back from a few weeks in Europe and it was a distinct advantage to be able to carry camera and 3 lenses in a small bag weighing less than 2 lbs.

Sorry, don't have the others so can't compare but will be glad to answer any questions about this one.

Reply
Jun 11, 2014 10:48:19   #
joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois
 
Nick1 wrote:
I want to upgrade from my Fugifilm bridge camera. It's been great for my travels and as I still want to keep the weight and size down, I'm looking at a 4/3 kit.

I have 3 on my shortlist. Has anyone used or is using a Fugifilm X-T1, Olympus OM D 1 or the new Lumix GH4?

My primary use is travel and street photography so the GH4 may be an over kill as video is not a main priority. However it does look an awesome bit of kit.

I did look at the Sony A 7 but for me it does not sit well in my hands. My new purchase will be with me for the next few years so I don't want feel any regrets down the road. If anyone is using any of these models or has compared them, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Nick.
I want to upgrade from my Fugifilm bridge camera. ... (show quote)


Based on the 3 cameras you mention you don't seem to have any particular preferences.

Let me suggest another one. The Nikon D7100 is a very good camera, has a great sensor, one of the largest selection of available lenses, the best flash system and is arguably the best value in its class. Where it may be lacking is video, but you don't seem to be hung up on that.

Not knocking the EM 1. It too is a fine camera although it costs more and can not match the Nikon system. Of course if size is a concern the Oly wins hand down.

Here is a comparison. The yellow bars show where the Nikon exceeds the Oly; the blank bars show the reverse.
As you can see they are very close except for video, although when comparing system to systems the Nikon is way ahead.

I don't have any problem recommending either since I use both. Each has its advantages over the other.

Good luck with what ever you choose.



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Jun 11, 2014 11:57:42   #
craggycrossers Loc: Robin Hood Country, UK
 
Nick1 wrote:
I want to upgrade from my Fugifilm bridge camera. It's been great for my travels and as I still want to keep the weight and size down, I'm looking at a 4/3 kit.

I have 3 on my shortlist. Has anyone used or is using a Fugifilm X-T1, Olympus OM D 1 or the new Lumix GH4?

My primary use is travel and street photography so the GH4 may be an over kill as video is not a main priority. However it does look an awesome bit of kit.

I did look at the Sony A 7 but for me it does not sit well in my hands. My new purchase will be with me for the next few years so I don't want feel any regrets down the road. If anyone is using any of these models or has compared them, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Nick.
I want to upgrade from my Fugifilm bridge camera. ... (show quote)


Nick - first of all ..... I'm a Fuji X-E1 user of 15 months experience and cannot speak more highly of the X Trans APS-C sensor. So Amehta is correct - please don't confuse the Fuji X-Series sensors with 4/3 and micro 4/3 sensor units. They are different. I have the 18-55mm and the 35mm XF lenses, which are of the highest quality, and will be getting an X-T1 just as soon as I can gather together the funds.

Please take a look at the Fuji road map for their XF lenses. They are already excellent and only going to improve. Zeiss have also decided to join forces and already make two autofocus lenses (Zeiss? Autofocus? Do I hear you say ?) for the X-Series. Things are already going places with Fuji and others are going to fall by the wayside as their bandwagon gathers pace.

You can, and should, do your own research. All I will leave you with is this super little blog from a UK pro who has already ditched his Nikon gear in its entirety in favour of the Fuji X-Series cameras and XF lenses.

http://matthewhartphotography.wordpress.com/2014/06/11/why-fuji/

Reply
 
 
Jun 11, 2014 12:31:29   #
mechengvic Loc: SoCalo
 
Nick1 wrote:
I want to upgrade from my Fugifilm bridge camera. It's been great for my travels and as I still want to keep the weight and size down, I'm looking at a 4/3 kit.

I have 3 on my shortlist. Has anyone used or is using a Fugifilm X-T1, Olympus OM D 1 or the new Lumix GH4?

My primary use is travel and street photography so the GH4 may be an over kill as video is not a main priority. However it does look an awesome bit of kit.

I did look at the Sony A 7 but for me it does not sit well in my hands. My new purchase will be with me for the next few years so I don't want feel any regrets down the road. If anyone is using any of these models or has compared them, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Nick.
I want to upgrade from my Fugifilm bridge camera. ... (show quote)


Mirrorless cameras are almost entirely smaller than DSLRs, so for size you should be OK picking your favorite. Compared to bridge cameras they offer the distinct advantage of interchangeable lenses, features like fast burst rates, focus tracking, weather sealing, image stabilization, electronic viewfinders, and other DSLR-like qualities as well as about the fiercest competition in the world of photography at the moment. I won't say image quality is an advantage either way because mirrorless cameras are at the level of DSLRs and because I am seeing better and better images coming from bridge cameras simply because they are benefiting from the same technological advances.

I am loyal to the Olympus brand for three reasons. I fell in love with their film cameras as a teenager, because today no other camera company has done as much to bring camera technology into the future, and thirdly and most importantly, Olympus squeezes out more image quality per pixel and per unit of sensor area than any other company.

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Jun 11, 2014 12:57:45   #
MtnMan Loc: ID
 
joer wrote:

Let me suggest another one. The Nikon D7100 is a very good camera, has a great sensor, one of the largest selection of available lenses, the best flash system and is arguably the best value in its class.


Arguably indeed. It is very heavy compared to what the OP is looking at and lacks the articulated screen of the lower cost and weight and equally capable D5300.

But the OP didn't ask about DSLRs.

I recently added a Sony NEX-7 to my kit. Although (mistakenly IMHO) recently discontinued by Sony you might still find one. The new 6000 is close but has an inferior EVF. Both have 24 MP APS-C sensors but are very lightweight and at least have a tilting LCD. The EVF on the NEX-7 is wonderful.

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Jun 11, 2014 13:56:58   #
craggycrossers Loc: Robin Hood Country, UK
 
craggycrossers wrote:
Nick - first of all ..... I'm a Fuji X-E1 user of 15 months experience and cannot speak more highly of the X Trans APS-C sensor. So Amehta is correct - please don't confuse the Fuji X-Series sensors with 4/3 and micro 4/3 sensor units. They are different. I have the 18-55mm and the 35mm XF lenses, which are of the highest quality, and will be getting an X-T1 just as soon as I can gather together the funds.

Please take a look at the Fuji road map for their XF lenses. They are already excellent and only going to improve. Zeiss have also decided to join forces and already make two autofocus lenses (Zeiss? Autofocus? Do I hear you say ?) for the X-Series. Things are already going places with Fuji and others are going to fall by the wayside as their bandwagon gathers pace.

You can, and should, do your own research. All I will leave you with is this super little blog from a UK pro who has already ditched his Nikon gear in its entirety in favour of the Fuji X-Series cameras and XF lenses.

http://matthewhartphotography.wordpress.com/2014/06/11/why-fuji/
Nick - first of all ..... I'm a Fuji X-E1 user of ... (show quote)


Nick - here's a little extra for you - a wedding, pictured in Florida only recently, by a Belgian pro, using only Fuji X-T1 (x2) and XF lenses ......... enjoy making your decision .......

http://blog.k-pture.com/wedding-ashley-michael/

Reply
Jun 11, 2014 22:01:29   #
Nick1
 
lukan wrote:
I love the Oly OMD EM-1 with the battery grip. It's beautifully made, has vast capabilities, and the articulating touchscreen is a potent tool for clandestine street shots. Some of the lenses available for it are nothing short of extraordinary, and it has physics-defying low-light/low-noise performance. Its image processing software (TruePicVII) is highly evolved, allowing you to make beautiful JPEGs, if you don't want to process RAW. Its IBIS 5-axis stabilization is state-of-the-art (I wish my 1DX had it!) and its weathersealing and low-temp capabilities keep you outside shooting when others have long since abandoned the thought. Give the Olympus a long, hard look. It is a high quality camera integral to a mature system. I highly recommend it. :thumbup: :thumbup:
I love the Oly OMD EM-1 with the battery grip. It... (show quote)


Thank you do much for your feedback. Greatly appreciated. Going to try a OMD E 1 this weekend.

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