ElaineM

Hi All,
I am shopping for a mirrorless system. I am looking to down size from my nikon D800 (too much weight). I am an art teacher and yearbook adviser taking lots of candid pictures in a school environment (inside and out and in all weather conditions). I have my choices down to two: Sony a6300 with Sony FE 24-240 F3.5 OSS lens or Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark 11 with 14-40 Pro Lens. My reasoning for both of these cameras of course is the positive reviews but also two must haves for me: weather sealing on both lens and camera and an actual view finder. I'm leaning more to the Sony but I am concerned about Sony's lens quality - I am used to shooting with Nikon glass. Any advise would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

You can't go wrong with either! Sony has some great and very pricey Zeiss lenses. Olympus and Panasonic (and Leica-by-Panasonic) all make great lenses for m4/3 cameras, some of which are weather-sealed.

If you go with an m4/3 body, the lenses will be MUCH lighter as an overall kit. My GH4 and two pro zooms (12-35mm and 35-100 mm, both f/2.8, weather-sealed) weigh only about a fourth of a full frame dSLR kit selected for equivalent field of view.

You should see this:

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

ElaineM

Thank you for all that information! My other reason for leaning more toward the Sony is that with an adaptor I could use some of my Nikon glass with it, though manually and the larger sensor size - I am going from a full frame sensor. 4K video could be really cool, though I haven't gotten in to much video, yet.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Go to www.metabones.com and look at all the adapters and SpeedBoosters. They make the best. You can adapt Nikon lenses to both brands...

repleo Loc: Boston

The Sony FE 24-240 lens is intended for a full frame like the A7 series cameras. It weighs 1.75 pounds which takes away a lot of the weight advantage of the mirror less system. I have the 18-105 mm f4 and that feels pretty hefty even though it is only half the weight.
You should definitely try the lens and body together before you buy.

Impressionist

The Sony is an awesome camera and there is an adapter that will let you use your Nikon glass. Speed is extremely fast.

JRFINN Loc: Plymouth, MA

I have the Sony 6000 which was before the 6300. I love it, the lenses aren't heavy and shooting is fast, plus you don't have to say I'm shooting with a Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark 11 over and over. What a mouth full. ;)

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

I assume you meant the 12-40 lens?
It's an awesome lens. I just shot a wine tasting event with it (on an em1) and was extremely pleased.

Jcmarino

After falling in love with the Sony a6000, I went and bought the a7II full frame. I have not used the Olympus. I suggest going to a store, renting or playing with someone's camera and play with them, look at the features and just see which one you like best. The best camera is the one you will understand how it works and will use it.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I guess Burk summed it up when he said that both cameras are very good. All you need to know before jumping on one or the other is if a dSLR camera or a rangefinder will better fit your style.
By the way, it is a Zuiko 12-40 f2.8 Pro not 14-40. The kit lens is 14-42.

jwkeith

If lighter weight is your primary reason for downsizing, then the Olympus will be the lighter choice especially if you start adding additional lenses to your kit.

MtnMan Loc: ID

I know this isn't an answer but just something to consider.

I bought an NEX7 a few years ago for the reason you suggest. My other camera is also a D800. I found the lenses and camera hardware fine and felt the software better than Nikon in terms of features; e.g panorama and low light. It took great images.

However the different control arrangement and Sonyspeak vs. Nikonspeak drove me nuts going back and forth. So I dumped it and got a refurb D5300. It weighs about twice as much as the Sony but still less than half the D800 and speaks the same language and uses all my Nikon lenses. Love it but understand it does not meet your weather requirement.

Too bad Nikon doesn't get mirrorless.

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

I use the Sony FE 24-240 lens and it is a good lens. It is on the heavy side, but it would give you the ability to get wide and to zoom.

HughB Loc: Minneapolis MN

I have had the Olympus 5 MkII for over a year now along with 3 Prime lens f1.8 and 3 Zooms: 12-40 f2.8, 7-14 f2.8, and Panasonic 45-200 1:4-5.6. Couldn't be more pleased! Yes, the camera is 'waterproof'. The software is awesome and I am still learning with it.
I made this choice over the Sony last year because at that time Olympus had a full selection of lens, Sony did not, and the price for what I wanted was better than what I would have had to spend on a Sony. More so, Olympus has a long proven history of photography equipment. Actually covered in dust in my basement is a 1970's OM1!
As to 4/3 and Nikon I just heard from a photographer friend of mine that Nikon has or will be introducing their model this year probably at the Photokina exhibition in Gremany later this year. They were ready to go with the 4/3 earlier but apparently discovered a major fault in the camera.
BTW, I went from the full frame Canon 6D to the Olympus and have not looked back!
Also, l don't know about Sony but the Olympus 5 MKII has the stabilization build into the body and it is great.
Good luck with whatever choice you make.

Mike Blythe Loc: Newcastle UK

Hi, I have just purchased the OMD EM 5 mkII with the 12-40 pro lens.
So far the results are very good, it is very different to the EOS 5D/3 that I am currently using but so far I am happy with it.
The in-body stabilisation of the Olympus is awesome.
I have a selection of Canon L lenses which I intended to use with my EM 5 II but the whole purpose of changing was to drop my kit weight.
If I use the Canon glass I am not loosing too much of that weight so for me it looks as if all of my Canon gear will be sold and a total swap tp 4/3 is on the cards.

Hope this helps.
Sorry I cant comment on the Sony gear but I am sure it will be OK.