Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

On 10th Feb 2016 I changed from Canon APS-C to M43. This was due to no longer being able to carry 8 Kgs of kit around for between 5 - 7 hours a day. I now have 2 x Olympus OM D EM 1's, an Olympus 400mm - 100mm, Olympus 60mm macro and Olymus 12mm - 40mm Pro. I have on order an Olympus 300mm f4 and Panasonic 100mm - 400mm. My observations so far - wow! Everything is so much lighter and even my new lenses will be much lighter than their FF equivalent. I only view my images electronically and other than for my own amusement only post to Facebook. The IQ on my 55" 4K TV appears to me to be indistinguisable from my old APS-C. I attempted to use C-AF tracking for BIF but found the AF point was all over the place like a mad man's kilt. I therefore changed to C-AF with much greater success. The EVF is brilliant; and have no compalints regarding battery life as Olympus are currently giving away free battery grips! I have always fitted battery grips to my cameras in any case. The lenses I have so far are superb. AF may not be quite as good as APS-C but the EM 1 makes up for it with the manual focus assist. I appreciate this is a bit of a wordy tome; but it is aimed at anyone who is in the position I found myself in - having to change from a beloved APS-C/FF to M43 due to being unable to lug the bigger stuff around any longer. My advice - go for it: it's brill. I am now using Lightroom 6 and it really is the biz. Olympus Viewer 3 is so slow that if, like me, you are a wrinkly and processing 750 or more RAW files at a time, you may not live long enough to process them all.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

M4/3 has some outstanding features and size and weight are foremost among them, but its not for everyone.

However, image quality is not one of them, if this is important to you. Yes, it nearly measures up to many APS-C sensors but does not come close FF.

I had the EM-1 several years ago and was impressed with its capability overall. The build quality is second to none in my opinion.

Eventually decided that for my shooting preferences image quality was more important that size and weight. Sold all my M4/3 in favor of FF high resolution.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Am thinking along those lines. But the line, "a madman's kilt." Brilliant. Thanks.

sr71 Loc: In Col. Juan Seguin Land

And that Sir is pure bunk......

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Well, you're more than entitled to it, but your statement comes off as a crock of camera snobbery. m43 is pretty damned capable if you ask me!

I've used every format from 4x5 film, to 6x17, 6x9, 6x7, 6x6, 6x4.5, to long roll full frame 70mm, to split 70mm (645), to 46mm (645), to long roll 35mm unperforated, to 135 full and half frame, to APS-C and DX digital, to full frame digital, to m43, to iPhone.

What have I learned along the way? That there are quality attributes WAY more important than pixel peeping!

• Lighting quality (direction, specularity, color, angle, etc.)
• Composition
• Contrast
• Captured moment — compelling storytelling
• Having and expressing a point of view that resonates
• Choice of scenes and subject(s)
• Ability to get to a particular location
• Knowledge of how to set the camera for capture
• Knowledge of post-processing techniques...

Over 80% of all images made these days are made with smart phones. Over 90% of all images, PERIOD, are viewed in some electronic format! Of those printed, fewer than 0.5% are printed to sizes larger than 16x20.

At the same time, we have equipment far better than we ever had during the film era. We can work in near total darkness, and send images around the world in milliseconds.

Today ANY format is a valid format if you use it within its limits and get the results you want from it. For those who can no longer work with heavy dSLRs, m43 cameras represent a highly viable option. I know many professionals who use them almost exclusively.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Good for you! Check out this lens list:

http://hazeghi.org/mft-lenses.html

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

Good luck?????

sr71 Loc: In Col. Juan Seguin Land

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

I gave the short answer

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

Blimey, thanks for the list! I have just noticed my error when quoting one of my current lenses. I meant, of course, an Olympus 40 - 150mm f2.8 plus 1.4 TC. As an update, this M43 system really is the biz. I am capturing far more BIF shots than I did with my Canon kit. Not the usual straight line stuff but the spontaneous flying off the bird table with a beak full of food. It still doesn't focus as quickly as the Canon 7D mark 11. I was only a short distance from a Robin yesterday and it kept hunting for focus for ages. You would have thought I was trying to focus on the Lock Ness Monster or a UFO. It got there in the end. It may be a bit slow at times due to the 1.4 TC. Anyway, it will be interesting to see what happens when I get the longer lenses.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

...With which I agree. :thumbup:

I did want to give the noobie readers some food for thought, though. Too many new photographers get advice that steers them to gear, first, rather than to knowledge and experience. I've always wondered how someone can know what to want without understanding what it does.

(Yes, I know you have to have some gear to start... It just doesn't necessarily have to be the top line full frame dSLR with all the bells and whistles and six lenses.)

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Bill I don't think its camera snobbery, just an opinion based on my experience and preferences. I just said its not for everyone.

Never said the EM-1 was a poor camera, it just doesn't measure up to the D810 or any other FF sensor.

Wouldn't argue with the things that you list as important, but they are not limited to M4/3.