Flickwet Loc: NEOhio

I have always used Nikons and currently have a stable of D300s, a D7100 and a D700. I haven't a lot of money to throw at my hobby so I've always concentrated on value. I have a few "better lenses" but have recently been using my Olympus E-M1 mki and e-M5 mki. Despite some haptic issues due to learning curve I'm being tempted to go "all in" on the M43 system. Anybody else out there forsaken their long term affair for the experience of the m43 system, anything you miss? for me to really move up means selling or trading in what I have, there is trepidation afoot...

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I personally wouldn't go "all in" until I was comfortable with whatever amount of money that requires. And confident that there was nothing else I wanted or needed to spend it on.

I sold my Canon APS-C dslr gear in 2017 and have been super-happy with Olympus (I also have a Panasonic Lumix). I have sometimes purchased used lenses and bodies or "last year's model" at discounts to stretch my funds.

If you need affirmation from strangers, maybe you aren't quite ready? Don't lose the joy of the hobby!

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I have zero regrets at giving up my Nikons and Canons for Micro 4/3, but then I needed the Lumix GH4 for a balanced mix of video and stills. I don't photograph sports or wildlife or birds in flight, which dSLRs and the latest high-end Sonys are good for. So I put everything in a small camera system backpack that fits under an airline seat... Body, flash, video light, wireless microphone system, shotgun mic, three lenses, chargers, cables, MacBook Air, media, and more.

One of my twins has another GH4, and his twin has a GH5. They're wannabe filmmakers...

JD750 Loc: SoCal

I can't know what you like and dislike or you style of shooting. I have and use Nikon FF cameras and lenses. These days I mostly I use the Nikon for portraits and studio work and sometimes creative work.

I have been shooting M43 since circa 2005, M43 is my go-to travel, hiking, adventure, walk-about, and "carry around with me every day" camera.

So my suggestion to you is it does not have to be "all in" it can be both. That will give you time to figure out what best you like for what.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

I have a Lumix GM 5 and a couple of lenses. I bought it for the small size and features thinking I could use it mostly when traveling by air. Unimpressed by image quality compared yo my cropped and full frame Nikons. Hardly ever use it. I now mostly take my Z50 w two lens kit when photography is not purpose of trip.

When photography is it the Z6 and, depending on subjects, 24-200, 14-30, and/or 200-500.

wrangler5 Loc: Missouri

I started with a Nikon F in 1970 and went through multiple bodies (most memorable being F3 and F100), with a bevy of lenses including three 2.8 zooms covering 17 through 200mm. Switched to Nikon digital about 2000, again going through multiple DX bodies ending with a D7000, then a D600 in 2014. I continued to use the FX lenses that I had.

In the fall of 2017 I switched to M43 for its much smaller equipment size and weight. The image quality is more than good enough for what I do - mostly family pix printed 8x8 in B&W, and bound into books as Christmas presents - even with the 16MP sensors I started with. I remember the Nikons fondly, but never wished I were still using them after I made the switch.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Rereading your post …

I agree with Linda.

If you can’t use both for a while, and if you feel trepidation with the idea of changing over then your not ready yet. Stick with what works for you.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

First, let me say there are no perfect formats or camera systems. You will be trading one set of somethings for a different set of somethings. Only you will be able to tell which set of somethings fits your needs best.

If weight and size are becoming an issue, APS-C is a solution. But not nearly the solution that 4/3rds is. The newer bodies of E-M1 and E-M5 are much better than the earlier models you have mentioned. Optically you will lose some resolution due to the only 20mp sensor, but not from the lenses. The pro lenses are capable of resolution to 100mp sensors. You will increase depth of field for a specific f-stop. The same level of ISO noise will start occurring about two stops sooner. Diffraction occurs at earlier f-stops than larger formats. IS at slow shutter speeds is the best in the industry of all formats with Olympus. If you can deal with these changes, which you should be somewhat aware of from your use of the E-M1 and E-M5, you will not really regret changing to a 4/3rds system. There may be shots that you will miss using 4/3rds. But then again, there were shots you missed using any other format that might have been captured using the characteristics of a 4/3rds system. The only regrets should be not trying to capture the image in front of you with whatever camera you have at hand, not what format you have.

BadPhoto Loc: Maryland

The newer m43 bodies have gotten much larger; close in size to the Nikon Z.

The Panasonic zooms tend to be smaller than Olympus. So you might look at Panasonic to see if it satisfies your needs.

JohnR Loc: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

The format of the camera is not important IMO - its size/weight/useability is what decides a favourite camera. If you like using it and it produces acceptable results then you will use it the most. I find I do not often use a camera that I don't feel completely comfortable with even though it might be better technically and produce slightly better shots. Eventually it'll go to be replaced by something I like better!

And yes I have APS-C Nikons and Olympus M4/3. I use the Oly E-M1 MkII most of the time with the Nikon only coming out occasionally. I also have an Oly E-M5 MkII which I use more often than the Nikons. I say go for it.

jburlinson Loc: Austin, TX

I switched from Pentax ASC and Sony SLT to M43 (Olympus EM5) and have no regrets whatsoever. However, I do not shoot sports and I do not shoot wildlife. I do shoot macro, and OMD has some really top-quality macro lenses. The IBIS is the clincher. I have neither the patience nor the dexterity to mess with tripods.

scubadoc Loc: Sarasota, FL

I have always been a Canon shooter until 5 years ago when I decided to go M43 whenever I am traveling. Savings in weight and bulk are significant. The OMD E-M1X is an incredible body with about 5 stop IS, great animal tracking, and high enough FPS with the electronic shutter to make capturing fast moving wildlife relatively easy. The Zuiko Pro lenses are incredibly sharp. The 20MB sensor is not a significant disadvantage under most lighting conditions. It is a great lens for wildlife and BIF photography. I did sell my Canon 5D MK IV and 7D MKII, kept my EF lenses and did buy the Canon R5 and RF adaptor. The body is much lighter than the DSLR equivalents, but the lenses are still heavier and bulkier than the M43 equilavent. On a recent Southern Africa safari i used the R5 and couldn’t have been happier with the dynamic range, focus accuracy, and overall ease of use. I’m lucky to be able to afford both systems and I use one or the other depending on what I am shooting and how much traveling is involved. The longer the travel and necessity of extended airport transit with multiple connections make it more likely than not that I will take the Oly M43 kit.

RKL349 Loc: Connecticut

Before you ditch the Nikon’s, rent a Z50 and try it on for size. You can adapt some of the lenses you currently have if you decide to go that way. Or not, but I always like to look at all of the options.

HallwoedHill Loc: Chattanooga,TN

[quote=Flickwet]I have always used Nikons and ...

See and pay attention to what wdross said I to used Nikons for years and made the switch to Olympus in 2017. IF you don't print larger than around 20x12, are not married to Nikon's depth of field, all the differences can be worked around/dealt with in post. I couldn't be more pleased.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

Ditto on the above comment. The Z50 is an incredibly lightweight camera body with fantastic image quality, low price, and offers an upgrade path because it uses the same lens mount as all the Z cameras and lenses.