Olympus question: I was in the process of gathering much of my Sony equipment together as a trade for an Olympus system. My main consideration is to reduce the weight and bulk. As I...

Redrocks Loc: New Castle Indiana

I was in the process of gathering much of my Sony equipment together as a trade for an Olympus system. My main consideration is to reduce the weight and bulk. As I get older, this makes a difference. Now that Olympus sold off the camera division, I am wondering if this is such a wise move. I would appreciate hearing others opinion.

BebuLamar

We don't know if the new owner will continue to make cameras or not. Assuming they won't then there are 2 scenarios.
1. You want to buy a new camera of the same system every few years or so. If this is you then you shouldn't.
2. You don't want to upgrade and what Olympus is offering now is good for a very long time. In this case you should buy but only if the price is right. Discontinuing of products may make the price goes lower but it could make the price goes higher.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I’m not worried about it. I still love mine and would buy another should my needs dictate.

nikon_jon Loc: Northeast Arkansas

Olympus makes good stuff. It should last you for a long time. Plus, this move by Olympus should make it easier to find good bargains on their used equipment.

Their decision is a sad note. I am a 'dyed-in-the-wool' Nikon man, but I have some Olympus equipment and I like it. My summation of the situation is this. Every camera manufacturer is in a bind and the proliferation of cell phones is the reason. Everyone wants to take pictures, but not everyone wants to be a photographer. Now, taking pictures with a cell phone is technically photography by the strictest definition of the term. I am definitely old school and a photographer, to me, is one who loves the craft, wants to know how it works and why it works, can get a good shot regardless of whether he is using a Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Fujifilm, or whatever piece of equipment he prefers, is willing to open books and study to learn how to do it, and he can get repeatable results.

But,enough of my sermonizing, I don't see how you could go wrong buying Olympus gear.

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Redrocks wrote:

I was in the process of gathering much of my Sony equipment together as a trade for an Olympus system. My main consideration is to reduce the weight and bulk. As I get older, this makes a difference. Now that Olympus sold off the camera division, I am wondering if this is such a wise move. I would appreciate hearing others opinion.

Also, consider Panasonic Lumix micro 4/3 systems...I have both Panasonic and Olympus and prefer the Panasonic offerings.

Lagoonguy Loc: New Smyrna Beach, FL

I switched to Lumix with a G9 & P/L lenses two years ago for all of my travel photography from a FF Nikon system and I am very pleased with the IQ and the weight savings. At 75 it is a delight to shoot all day and not get fatigued. I even do wildlife, mainly birds, here in Florida daily with a 50oz G9 & PL 50-200 with a 1.4 TC. The photos rival my D500 & 100-400 Tamron. I just purchased my wife a G9 & Oly 12-100 for her travel lens which she loves. I would not worry about the Olympus situation because the gear is still great and if the warranty becomes an issue just buy a used replacement. I chose Lumix because I wanted the f/2.8-4 P/L lenses that work well for travel and for the bright G9 VF. Yes, the FF gear produces a slightly better image but I think the 4/3 gear provides at least 95-97% of what the FF gear produces. At my age I think the gear will outlast me. Good luck.

ELNikkor

It will be a good, long time before the latest Olympus equipment becomes obsolete or wears out. If you like it better after comparing to Panasonic, get the Olympus.

Paul Diamond Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA

Whenever a line of equipment being discontinued, company sold or division closed similar questions should be asked. It could be camera gear, a car (Pontiac, import, etc.), other electronics, etc. Ask yourself about the decreased (trade in) value, the availability of parts and competent service technicians to keep it running.

If you love it and want to keep using it? If you accept that parts/service in the future might be difficult or impossible, and you understand the risks? Then you have made your decision.

I've owned things that could not get parts/labor to keep working. (My wife talks about some "dust collectors" that don't/can't work in need of a decision.)

Redrocks Loc: New Castle Indiana

Thank you. That was great logic. I love to hike into the back country of Utah and Arizona, but the Sony gear is just too heavy for me now.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Redrocks wrote:

I was in the process of gathering much of my Sony equipment together as a trade for an Olympus system. My main consideration is to reduce the weight and bulk. As I get older, this makes a difference. Now that Olympus sold off the camera division, I am wondering if this is such a wise move. I would appreciate hearing others opinion.

Who did Olympus sell out to? Minolta sold their camera and lens division to Sony, did that work out for Sony?

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

Unfortunately, I would not recommend jumping into Olympus gear, given the unknowns of the future support by the new owners. Yes, gear purchased now could last a long time, but as a user you risk being increasingly isolated and unsupported if the brand fades.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

nikon_jon wrote:

Olympus makes good stuff. It should last you for a... (show quote)

Very good summation.... you could be on a pulpit somewhere with your clear logic. Like everything else its the operator behind the equipment that makes the difference; although I will concede better equipment will help a GOOD operator to be better !

obsidian

Cameras get updated every so often like cell phones. If your Olympus is working well to your specifications then stick with it. I have used my Olympus OMD E MI-II with the 12-100 mm F4 Zuiko IS Pro lens in my travels to Latin Americas. Not that heavy compared to my Canon 5DMk3 and not that obtrusive. This camera will be with me for a long while. As long as you take pictures in RAW then you have a leeway in processing. Right now I am liking the Luminar 4.2 as my plug in to PS/ACR.

If your budget is endless, wait for the Sony A7R5

CaptainPhoto

Some two years ago I sold all my Canon gear and went all out with Olympus. I got the MK II, and all the pro lenses. Last year Olympus came out with the MK III - with all kinds of neat features the MK 10 had without the added weight of the battery clip. I like doing Milky Way photography and also using ND filters from time to time. Olympus MK III is the only camera on the market that can auto-focus on the stars at night. It has the built in ND filters. So I traded my MK II in for the MK III. I love my Olympus gear and all the features it offers.

HallwoedHill Loc: Chattanooga,TN

Redrocks wrote:

I was in the process of gathering much of my Sony equipment together as a trade for an Olympus system. My main consideration is to reduce the weight and bulk. As I get older, this makes a difference. Now that Olympus sold off the camera division, I am wondering if this is such a wise move. I would appreciate hearing others opinion.

I am an amateur, not a pro. I have used Nikon along time and tend to upgrade only when the technology becomes VERY old. My last Nikon was a D 50 with several lens. In 2017 I replaced it after a lot of research with an Olympus OMI Mark II and a 12-100 Olympus Pro and Pan/Lica 100-400 lens. I have been really happy with the system. I print no larger than @13x20 and post on the web for family and friends. Know what you want to do with your images and go from there. I suspect will not upgrade for @ 10 years when technology forces me to - if I live that long