I am now 100% m4/3rds (sold off my Canon) - Page 3

flash · #21 January 14th, 2013, 04:31 PM

Once you have the grip, the power switch doesn't seem to be in such a daft spot.

* Get used to turning the camera off and on. Significant improvement in battery life that I started doing when I switched from Canon to the GH2. I now do it instinctively on all my cameras. I'm getting about 500 shots per battery. I have 5 batteries with two bodies, all Olympus genuine.
* Turn off the auto review to remove the eyepiece blackout.
* Set the F2 button on the camera to assign the small focus box but assign the same function to the F1 button on the grip. Then it's easy to get the small focus box for improved accuracy.

I've got the grip, a hotshoe flash and lens hoods all on. I've only got the hoods for my Olympus 75mm recently (I've got hoods for all now) and it does change the perception of the camera. The camera looks the goods and I've yet to be queried about the "professionalism" of the camera. I didn't buy them to look good. I have always shot with a hood but the side benifit of appearance doesn't hurt. Either having a big bag of lighting stuff (commercial) or two cameras at a time , one on each shoulder (weddings) and my bad attitude probably helps.

A wannabe photographer has no grip, uses a Fong Dong on his flash and has the lens hood of his 70-200 f2.8 attached in the storage position. A pro has a gripped camera with tape over the logos, his flash pointing over his shoulder (or a huge pocket wizard antenna) and his hoods on, always, mostly because he has no idea where his lens caps are.

Gordon

flash · #22 January 14th, 2013, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadTraveler

Yes, I'm getting close...

Depending on your viewpoint I either took the easiest path or the more difficult one, but I jumped into m4/3 with both feet, with my eyes focused on replacing my Canon dSLR gear.

My hesitance to sell my Canon stuff has nothing to do with any great affection for the cameras (maybe a little for the L lenses), but I want to be sure I don’t receive any negative feedback from editors regarding the files I submit. As long as I do my part I’m confident the images should be fine, I just want to be sure. Fifteen years using Canon SLRs, film & digital, is a while.

Just do it. After 20 years as a canon Pro I found it incredibly liberating to get rid of all that excess baggage. It wasn't until it was gone that I realised how bogged down with gear I was and how it was slowing me down rather than feeding me creatively. Having all that gear on a shelf is a crutch. I switched because of the size and weight as well. But when I started to add up all the little accessories and add ons I found they were significant as well. Starting with a totally fresh slate was the most invigourating thing I've done, photographically, in a decade.

And there's no reason to be "ONLY" m4/3. If you've got some funds left over there are other small systems that can compliment you main working kit. An X100 or Xpro with a 35mm? Sony RX1. I compliment my m4/3 kit with a Leica and a few lovely primes. So I've still got 135 format when I need it. A used M9 and a Voigtlander 35mm 1.2 or a used 50mm 1.5 is an amzing thing. Guaranteed to remove any "L" regrets.

Gordon

GaryAyala · #23 January 14th, 2013, 05:02 PM

I used to be a full time news photog, now I just occasionally shoot for publication. Friday, I shot for publication and I finally had enough confidence to shoot µ4/3 instead of my FF gear. Part of my confidence were the new premium lenses I've obtained (P35-100 and O75mm) and the rest came from more experience with the gear and menu system.

Yesterday I gave my 5D with a 50mm and an 85mm to my oldest daughter. (Still keeping my 1D's and L's for now.)

Gary

tdekany · #24 January 14th, 2013, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryAyala

I used to be a full time news photog, now I just occasionally shoot for publication. Friday, I shot for publication and I finally had enough confidence to shoot µ4/3 instead of my FF gear. Part of my confidence were the new premium lenses I've obtained (P35-100 and O75mm) and the rest came from more experience with the gear and menu system.

Yesterday I gave my 5D with a 50mm and an 85mm to my oldest daughter. (Still keeping my 1D's and L's for now.)

Gary

Possible to see the pictures you took Friday?

GaryAyala · #25 January 14th, 2013, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdekany

Possible to see the pictures you took Friday?

Sure, later this week I'll post them. They're of a grand opening for a high school theater, nothing all that spectacular. (Haven't processed them yet).

tdekany · #26 January 14th, 2013, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryAyala

Sure, later this week I'll post them. They're of a grand opening for a high school theater, nothing all that spectacular. (Haven't processed them yet).

Maybe not to you, but I love your work and would enjoy seeing it.

yekimrd · #27 January 14th, 2013, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdekany

Maybe not to you, but I love your work and would enjoy seeing it.

+1 here.

Ned · #28 January 14th, 2013, 05:25 PM

Since we're sharing stories here, I started with the Olympus Digital Pen system back in 2009 as a complement to my DSLR system as a go-anywhere camera. They say "the best camera is the one you have with you" but I did not find that to be true when the camera cannot meet your standards and the photos therefore never get used. It wasn't until the first Olympus Digital Pen came out (the Panasonic G1 didn't show off the advantages of a non-reflex system) that I could finally have a small, compact camera that met my standards of quality. Since I was using Olympus' best pro DSLR at the time, I had some good Four-Thirds glass which were highly adaptable to the system and allowed me to share lenses between both setups. So basically, I wanted the system for dual-purpose as my compact camera for casual shooting as well as a really small backup body which took virtually no extra space in my pack.

Over time, I found there was less and less point in taking the DSLR out anymore. As my cameras continued wearing out and needing upgrading, I eventually started making my upgrade decisions in the path of m4/3. Eventually all my DSLR bodies wore out, as they always do, but instead of DSLR upgrades all my new bodies were Non-Reflex. And so that's how I evolved to use Micro Four-Thirds bodies 100%. I never sold off anything or made any decision to make a "switch" from one system to another. I just let nature take its course. Non-reflex bodies suited my needs better, and grew to the height of my evolution.

I am a full-time working photographer, running my own downtown photo studio. This is the only thing I do for a living, and in a couple years it is very easy for me to phase out my entire useful body collection just through hard use. I am always in need of fresh equipment. My lenses thankfully last me a lot longer than bodies, but speedlights don't fare any better.

Interesting thing regarding the economics of m4/3 bodies over DSLRs... A pro-grade DSLR will last about 3x as long and cost at least 3x more. For the price of one DSLR body I could purchase a few non-reflex bodies. That made my workflow a lot easier since I could then have plenty of bodies to shoot multiple lenses with and for backup in case of problems, and they would all stay newer and more updated with current technology. They last about as long as the one DSLR, because their use is being divided between them all. The overall cost works out to about the same, but the change in workflow is significant. I've never been happier with my system as I am now.

RoadTraveler · #29 January 14th, 2013, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flash

Just do it. After 20 years as a canon Pro I found it incredibly liberating to get rid of all that excess baggage. It wasn't until it was gone that I realised how bogged down with gear I was and how it was slowing me down rather than feeding me creatively. Having all that gear on a shelf is a crutch. I switched because of the size and weight as well. But when I started to add up all the little accessories and add ons I found they were significant as well. Starting with a totally fresh slate was the most invigourating thing I've done, photographically, in a decade.Gordon

As usual Flash, I found both your last two posts interesting and helpful, you’re always full of good advice and comments.

Surely it will be liberating to get rid of the excess Canon gear, even if its just been sitting and locked up. I've not used the dSLRs once since getting my m4/3, surely there is some mental baggage.

Starting with a new system, a clean slate, has been invigorating for me as well, though I've yet to shoot many projects.

Quote:

And there's no reason to be "ONLY" m4/3. If you've got some funds left over there are other small systems that can compliment you main working kit. An X100 or Xpro with a 35mm? Sony RX1. I compliment my m4/3 kit with a Leica and a few lovely primes. So I've still got 135 format when I need it. A used M9 and a Voigtlander 35mm 1.2 or a used 50mm 1.5 is an amzing thing. Guaranteed to remove any "L" regrets.

When I said 'only m4/3' what I really meant was as my main system, instead of FF dSLR. I still have and will continue to use small Canons for some stuff (S100/macro).

Interesting you mention Leica, I still have a few Leica M lenses [talk about a system that’s been sitting unused...]. Maybe I will wish I still had my 75mm Summilux (for the speed and ‘look’), but I do still have a 35mm f/1.4, 50mm, f/2 and 90mm f2. Not sure which of those I might like most adapted to m4/3 but all I need to do is buy an adapter, maybe just a cheap one at first? Seems to me the 35mm ASPH. f/1.4 might be fun.

James

RoadTraveler · #30 January 14th, 2013, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryAyala

snip...Part of my confidence were the new premium lenses I've obtained (P35-100 and O75mm) and the rest came from more experience with the gear and menu system. snip...
Gary

Agreed. Since I came to the m4/3 world hoping to leave the big, heavy dSLR [glass] behind, I invested in three premium lenses almost immediately (7-14, 12-35, 35-100) so I'm not lacking for glass. If I didn't have these lenses, I'd not even be talking about selling my dSLR stuff. The 7-14 is a super-wide zoom that I didn't have for my dSLRs, making the m4/3 kit more versatile.