Zario Loc: sacramento, CA

Thanks _ jb It's great to wake up to a good commentary. Your response is almost as good as a double espresso. Appreciate it. I will have to give the Ml a new look. Thanks again.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

There are several great reasons to choose the Panasonic Lumix G85 over the Oly E-M5 II.

First is the Dual IS, yes. Using Panasonic image stabilized lenses with the IBIS in the G85 provides the best facets of both in-lens and in-body stabilization. In-lens works best with longer lenses, while in-body works best for shorter focal lengths. At medium telephoto (35 to 150mm on Micro 4/3), you get the best shake reduction, and those just happen to be the most commonly used tele focal lengths.

My own handling experience with both also showed me a clear difference in ergonomics, configuration menus, price, value, video capabilities, and more.

The reviews linked here are the best evidence.

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonic-lumix-dmc-g85-g80/3

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympus-om-d-e-m5-ii

Although lesser known for cameras than Olympus, Panasonic's Lumix line is at least on equal footing with them. BOTH use the same Micro 4/3 lens mount. Both make some excellent professional grade lenses, and more are available from several third parties. Here's a list of over 100:

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

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Minor details, but...
RRS camera plates don't support the G85, but they do for the EM5ii. I'm sure there are other manufactures that do, but I've found that having the camera plate is an essential piece of equipment. It not only allows the camera to easily attach to an arca-swiss head, but it also:
- makes for gripping easier by having a slot for your pinky
- offers an alternate mounting spot for a camera strap (I like peak design leash)
- since the plate runs the full length, the camera still sits flat on the surface. The plate also will take the wear instead of the camera, if setting on a rough surface.

Zario Loc: sacramento, CA

Thank you. NOT minor details. Valuable details. Appreciate your experience and information.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Good to know, for those who own an RRS tripod/mounting system.

For those who don't know, RRS is Really Right Stuff, who make some of the finest tripods, heads, and related accessories on the planet. One of their tripods without a head can easily cost nearly as much as, or more than, either the OM-D E-M5 II or the G85. But if you hike a lot with long lenses... Give them a look:

http://www.reallyrightstuff.com

Apparently, they have a cooperative advertising agreement with Olympus.

All my tripods and heads are Bogen/Manfrotto, and I work mostly out of a car trunk, so I wouldn't care.

User ID

`

I wonder how many of us never even think
of RSS accessories and just use our tripod
as we always did since way back forever ?

I'm sure RSS and others are everything all
their fans say they are. That's not in doubt.
I cannot imagine choosing a body based on
availability of RSS items as a person who's
always used tripods, no problems, without
add ons, for every type of camera.

Seems like every new solution brings a new
problem to go with it. As always, you gotta
pick your poison.

.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

RRS isn't the only company with quick mounting plates or accessories. Such devices do make life easier when moving between hand-held and tripod work. But they aren't necessary accessories for everyone. Like most other things in photography and life, they are just options.

Clint probably wants a camera to be compatible with his existing gear.

That sort of compatibility would be quite important for those with hundreds or thousands of dollars' worth of carbon fiber tripods, monopods, and heads. Some sports and nature photographers have that sort of gear. And some of them seem to be searching almost constantly for better mounting solutions.

I use the simple mounting plates that came with my Bogen/Manfrotto heads. If I were using much heavier gear, or doing lots of work where a carbon fiber tripod would be very desirable, I'd consider RRS, along with others.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

I bought the predecessor E-M5 three days before going to Ireland. I read the manual and set the camera up on the 9 hour flight to Ireland. Ireland was a great spot to learn the true meaning of Olympus's weatherproof which I had doubts about at first. Just dry the camera thoroughly before changing lenses or batteries. The newer model is even better in features. I would also suggest getting the book covering the cameras's use. Learning to use the Super Screen on on the back screen versus the menu system will both save you time and frustration. It becomes "pick, touch, select" easy to change settings versus scroll, touch, scroll, touch, scroll, touch, etc., etc., etc. If you get the E-M5 mkII, you will love it and the fact that you could even buy a Panasonic body as your second body and any of the Olympus or Panasonic lenses for both bodies. My opinion is, should you stay with mostly still pictures, the next move would be to the E-M1mkII. If you wanted to migrate into video, you lose nothing by buying a Panasonic body for your system.

Zario Loc: sacramento, CA

Thank you. Good to know. Could you tell me if what lens you bought with the camera? Did you bundle it or get a different lens. I am not very interested in video. Looking at the Em5Mkll. Are Olympus kit lenses good. Thanks again.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

Don’t mean to spend your money, but I would urge you to get a used 12-40 2.8 pro zoom instead of a kit lens. So worth it.

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

That’s good advice. The 12/40 Pro is a great lens. Nothing not to like there. At least so goes my view.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

I actually bought an older 4/3rds lens and adapter rather than one of the Micro 4/3rds lenses. I wanted the 14-54 range (28-108 in 35mm terms) and the reasonable fast f2.8/3.5. Non micro 4/3rds lenses are also an option for 4/3rds systems users. They tend to be slightly bigger and somewhat heavier than the micro 4/3rds lenses. Supposedly they are slower than the micro 4/3rds lenses focus wise, but you will need a sophisticated electronic measuring system to prove it to yourself. I know when I hit the shutter button, I see no lag in focus or taking the shot. This is compared to the fantastic 12-100 f4 Pro IS lens (24-200 in 35mm terms) that I rented for my Germany trip.

I am not as familiar with the Panasonic side of lenses except for the 100-400 lens. It is a very good lense to add to a 4/3rds system. But you probably are in need of a general purpose lens first. There are several Panasonic lenses that can meet this need, but I am not as familar with them. One should look at them since they are a possiblity. On the Olympus side, there are quite a few possibilities. There is the much older 4/3rds lenses of 12-60 f4 and the 14-54 f2.8/3.5 that I have. They will require an adapter. Make sure it is the weatherproof adapter if you go this route. Then there are the micro 4/3rds lenses that are weatherproof. There is the 12-50 f3.5-6.3 lens that is very good but a little on the slower side. But the four that I would seriously look at are the 12-40 f2.8 Pro, 12-100 f4 Pro IS, 14-150 f4/5.6 II, and the new 12-200 f3.5-6.3 (24-80, 24-200, 28-300, and 24-400 in 35mm terms). I believe Olympus is still bundling the 12-40 with the E-M5 at a very good price. It is a fast and sharp lens. It is a work horse for many UHH members. I can not say enough about the 12-100 lens. It is sharp through both the aperture and zoom range and softens only because of diffraction at about f11 and up. The IS combined with the IBIS is fantastic. It is not cheap but it will be my next lens purchase. Then there is the 14-150 (get only the "II" version, not the "R" version; "R" is not weatherproof). It is a little slow but sharp. Just ask UHH Linda from Maine. A terrific photographer that I believe uses that lens. Then there is the new 12-200. Great range, reasonable sharp, priced reasonable, but a little towards the slower side. Other than the expense, I would suggest the 12-100. If range is your biggest factor, I would look at the 12-200. Probably the best "bang for the buck" is the 12-40. From a price point of view, both the 12-50 and the 14-150 come into play. And one of the best places to compare relative image quality, and get suggestions on other lenses other than Olympus, is the Image Resource's data base.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I’m a Panasonic user, so I use their lenses for some subtle reasons. But that 12 to 40mm f/2.8 and its cousin, the 40-150mm f/2.8, are two excellent choices.

That’s a 24-300mm range in full frame equivalent fields of view, at a constant aperture of f/2.8!

Zario Loc: sacramento, CA

Good Jupiter - what a great amout of great advice. Really appreciate your thoughtful notes on lenses for em5. It will be my reference. Thank you.

moguy Loc: St. Charles, MO

I have been very with mine!