Sony A7II with a 50mm Prime or Olympus OMD EM5 Mark II with 12-40mm f2.8 (Page 2): Im not a video kind of guy strictly language, macro etc. That being said, I do print on the large...

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

Im not a video kind of guy strictly language, macro etc. That being said, I do print on the large side normally or would like to be able to before taking my shots. I have a nice Manfrotto backpack that carries everything, although it can be a bit heavy. And Olympus has what I hear is a wonderful macro? All down to weight gain, or loss I should say, vs. any loss in image quality that I will end up kicking myself over!

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

SteveG wrote:

Im not a video kind of guy strictly language, macro etc. That being said, I do print on the large side normally or would like to be able to before taking my shots. I have a nice Manfrotto backpack that carries everything, although it can be a bit heavy. And Olympus has what I hear is a wonderful macro? All down to weight gain, or loss I should say, vs. any loss in image quality that I will end up kicking myself over!

Image loss is not much. You should still be able to print 30 X 40 should you want to. The Panasonic and Olympus macros are quite good (can be used on either camera). The Olympus macro is quite nice, sharp, and goes to 1:1 at ~7.5" from the subject. If you buy either the Olympus or Panasonic cameras, I seriously doubt that you will be kicking yourself.

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

Got my eyes on a refurbished grade c for $399 with a best offer but the seller thinks I'm being to picky because I'm asking what comes with it exactly. She said maybe I shouldn't because she has a grade a thats perfect and comes with everything and a grade c which may have a scratch and may be missing some items. I told her i don't care as long as it has an eye cup a battery and Charger

Bill P

But both cameras have really crappy menu systems, so I'd buy the Panasonic Lumix G85 and 12-35 f/2.8 Lumix Pro zoom instead. It's an extremely well-rounded camera. I can vouch for the lens... I own one.[/quote]

Bill,
I can't agree more. the menu system on the Oly is insane. Seriously, it was written by crazy people in padded rooms. I wouldn't ever make the same mistake again, buying one of their cameras without first renting it. Some people find them easy to use, others find them inscrutable.

The lens, OTOH is exceptional. Those who have the 12-100 seem to be very happy, as well.

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

Bill P wrote:

But both cameras have really crappy menu systems, so I'd buy the Panasonic Lumix G85 and 12-35 f/2.8 Lumix Pro zoom instead. It's an extremely well-rounded camera. I can vouch for the lens... I own one.

Bill,
I can't agree more. the menu system on the Oly is insane. Seriously, it was written by crazy people in padded rooms. I wouldn't ever make the same mistake again, buying one of their cameras without first renting it. Some people find them easy to use, others find them inscrutable.

The lens, OTOH is exceptional. Those who have the 12-100 seem to be very happy, as well.[/quote]

Does the Panasonic Lumix G85 have ibis?

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Bill P wrote:

But both cameras have really crappy menu systems, so I'd buy the Panasonic Lumix G85 and 12-35 f/2.8 Lumix Pro zoom instead. It's an extremely well-rounded camera. I can vouch for the lens... I own one.

I agree with the fact that the scroll menu is probably the most difficult thing about the camera. That is why Olympus added the second much more easy to use menu, the Super Control Panel. It allows access to all the major controls all at once. For the more complicated stuff, yes, one does need to learn how to use the scroll menu. But the Super Control Panel will get one to the controls one uses 98% of the time (or more) all at the same time. If one uses the scroll method to change most of the functions, it would be like taking a car to go from California to New York. The Super Control Panel would be more like taking a fast jet (SR-71?) from California to New York.

Bill P

Please, several of you have attributed a quote to me, but it was taken from a post by Burkholder. It is well reasoned and insightful, and he deserves the credit, not I.

User ID

SteveG wrote:

I'm pondering if I should go with a Sony A7II with use with a few primes, or the Olympus OMD EM5 Mark II with the highly rated 12-40mm f2.8 as my main every day shooter. Will add a telephoto zoom later and a prime to the Oly. I already have the Sony A7II buy only with a kit lens and a Canon FD 105mm f4 macro. I welcome all thoughts and input! Thanks to all in advance!!

Steve

I have both, and can't see ant way to avoid that. Go for it !

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

wdross wrote:

Image loss is not much. You should still be able to print 30 X 40 should you want to. The Panasonic and Olympus macros are quite good (can be used on either camera). The Olympus macro is quite nice, sharp, and goes to 1:1 at ~7.5" from the subject. If you buy either the Olympus or Panasonic cameras, I seriously doubt that you will be kicking yourself.

I have the excellent Lumix Macro 30mm f/2.8. The Panasonic Leica 45mm f/2.8 Macro and the 60mm f/2.8 Olympus Macro are also excellent. (equivalents to 60, 90, and 120mm on full frame)

User ID

burkphoto wrote:

I have the excellent Lumix Macro 30mm f/2.8. The Panasonic
Leica 45mm f/2.8 Macro and the 60mm f/2.8 Olympus Macro
are also excellent ......

Agreed. Altho I love my Lumix 45/2.8, I've also
kept the Zuiko 30/3.5, cuz it allows stack focus.
Plus I like the 30/3.5 better for portraits. [No, I
do NOT stack focus portraits .... ]

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

Pulled the trigger! Bought an Olympus OM-D EM5 MARK II refurbished model for $380. Too bad it's all black. I prefer the silver but the price was right! First lens purchase, 12-40mm f2.8 then the macro. I feel a weight off my shoulders already! What would you guy's recommend for a Tele zoom?

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

SteveG wrote:

Pulled the trigger! Bought an Olympus OM-D EM5 MARK II refurbished model for $380. Too bad it's all black. I prefer the silver but the price was right! First lens purchase, 12-40mm f2.8 then the macro. I feel a weight off my shoulders already! What would you guy's recommend for a Tele zoom?

Oly 40-150 f/2.8 Pro
Panny-Leica 50-200 f/2.8-f/4 Pro

Both record great images.

See the two charts I listed, above.

Congrats! Good deal on the refurb.

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

Im not seeing your charts. Maybe I should have stuck with the full frame! Lol! I can't see!

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

SteveG wrote:

I'm pondering if I should go with a Sony A7II with use with a few primes, or the Olympus OMD EM5 Mark II with the highly rated 12-40mm f2.8 as my main every day shooter. Will add a telephoto zoom later and a prime to the Oly. I already have the Sony A7II buy only with a kit lens and a Canon FD 105mm f4 macro. I welcome all thoughts and input! Thanks to all in advance!!

Steve

This is a difficult call to make. I have the Sony A7iii (not the A7ii) and I have the Olympus EM5ii with the 12-40mm f2.8. I am hard pressed to pick one over the other. They are both really good and fun to use. And I tend to use both. And I often will carry both cameras and use one for wider angles and one for telephoto to avoid changing lenses. I do like the A7iii better in low light.

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

I wish I could afford both systems. Especially the A7III! It comes down to hsving the camera with you as the best one. If I carry my entire Sony a7II kit, it's the body, quite a heavy Canon fd 100mm f4 macro, a Sigma 70-300mm OS with the LAEA4 Adapter. Qhite a heavy kit. I'm figuring on the Olympus OM-D EM5 MARK II with the 12-40 f2.8,
Maybe the same macro readapted or the Olympus 60mm macro and an inexpensive Tele zoom like the 40-150mm which reviews better than my Sigma. A huge weight difference. I tried 100% crops on Image Resource's Comparometer and I'll be damned if i could find much difference between the two even at higher iso settings.