Little back story. I'm a Marine. I was told yesterday I'm getting deployed again and leave in a little less than 2 months. Really last minute.. Using this opportunity to buy a new camera. Want a 4/3 system. First deployment I had a point and shoot and felt limited, wishing I had brought my dslr, but didn't want the bulk of it. 4/3 fits the bill perfect. This deployment is a meu, meaning I float around on a boat, stop at Ports everywhere and get to see many different countries.

So I think I want an Olympus omd. Good choice? Better options?
Would also like 2 to 3 lenses but have no idea where to look. Thinking the kit 12-50 because the weather sealing I'm sure will come in handy.
Other than that, no idea. I like primes, but we'll look at anything with good image quality. Rather not buy used, but not opposed to refurbished if there are good deals.

And lastly storage case and mini tripod possibly? Thinking as small of a pelican that will fit, and small tripod for if I come across cool waterfalls and night shots.

Don't have much of a budget, but also would like to save as much as possible. Need to also buy a laptop to edit my photos..

Thanks all for any help.

Welcome and good luck on the deployment. The 12-50 and OMD is a great starting point. If you have the money, the 12-35, also weatherproof, would be a better lens optically, but a little less versatile in range and no macro.

If you need to go wider, the 7-14 is an amazing lens, but pricey. The 45 1.8 is relatively inexpensive, but fabulous and would be great for images in the various ports.

The Oly 40-150 is an inexpensive but optically very good lens and would fill the need for a longer lens. I own the Panasonic 45-200 and use an OMD and am very happy with that lens.

Seems as though a relatively simple two or three lens kit with the zooms would be great for what you are doing.

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A few of my photos can be found here: http://jeffryscott.com/

First off ...let me thank you for what you do so I am able to do what I do.

The OMD is a great camera and there is not one thing wrong with the kit lens. Primes are always nice ( my first choice) but for someone like you on the move and needing to keep your kit manageable, good Zooms to cover the vast of your shots and a single prime for those night time/low light situations is a must.

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E-M5|GF2
OLY 12-50mm | P 7-14mm f/4.0 | PL 25mm f/1.4 | PL 45mm f2.8 | P 45-200mm | flux capacitor @ 1.21 GW|

Marine....I'm USAF, so it's great to see you here! (and I can relate to those short notice deployments - I've had 2 of them myself in my career)

OMD and the 12-50 would be an excellent deployment package in itself. IMHO, one body and one lens is fine enough for me - there's enough stuff to keep one occupied without the additional worry of multiple lenses. Add to it that the 12-50 and the OMD are weatherized.

Keep your head down & on a swivel!

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Olympus E-PL5
M. Zuiko 17mm ƒ1.8 | M. Zuiko 17mm ƒ2.8 | M. Zuiko 14-42 II | M. Zuiko 14-150 ED | M. Zuiko 45mm ƒ1.8 ED | M. Zuiko 75mm ƒ1.8 ED | M. Zuiko 75-300 ED II | Leica DG Summilux 25mm ƒ1.4 ASPH | Lumix G Vario 45-200 |

Hi Mathias

I thin the OMD, 12-50, and Pana Leica 25/1.4 would make a terrific kit if it isn't too expensive.

Wishing you all the best on your deployment.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Mu-43 App

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Amin
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A nice powerful, durable, weather-sealed 2-lens zoom kit would be the OM-D E-M5 with Lumix X 12-35mm f/2.8, MMF-3 mount adapter, and Zuiko 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5.

This will give you a very broad focal length coverage to capture all the action, and your entire setup will be fully weather sealed for the worst of conditions and even accidental drops in the drink. After all, you're talking about boats and waterfalls and you're on deployment which means you would have no opportunity to replace a damaged camera.

The 50-200mm will rely more on manual focus (I would suggest using the EVF), while the 12-35mm will have better Autofocus capabilities. Both will deliver as well in speed and quality. You'll have a 12mm wide end up to a 200mm telephoto end, which will be plenty.

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Olympus E-3 | Olympus E-PL2 PEN | Olympus E-PM1 PEN | Zuiko ED 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 SWD | Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 | Vivitar 100mm f/2.8 Macro | Carl Zeiss Sonnar 135mm f/2.8 | Konica Hexanon 50mm f/1.4 | Konica Hexanon 85mm f/1.8 | G.Zuiko 50mm f/1.4 | Zuiko 35mm f/3.5 Macro | Zuiko 25mm f/2.8 | KMZ Jupiter-3 50mm f/1.5 | E.Zuiko 200mm f/4 | Zuiko 75-150mm f/4 | Olympus EC-14 teleconverter | VF-2 and VF-3 Viewfinders | EMA-1 Mic Adapter | Olympus FL-36R and FL-50R speedlights

cyclopsphoto.ca

+1. The 20mm is a nice, small, fast prime that's pretty versatile and great in low light. For a tripod you might try the largest gorillapod. It's strong enough and Joby makes a nice little ball head to use with it. It can be attached to a railing or a post or used like a conventional tripod yet it's small enough to carry around comfortably.

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Love mercy, do justice, walk humbly - Micah 6:8
"A true photograph need not be explained, nor can it be contained in words." Ansel Adams

For taking pictures from the ship it might be a good idea to have a lens with some reach, maybe a 100-300mm even though it's not weather sealed. Add the 12-50mm kit lens and a 25mm f1.4 for low light stuff and you should be covered.

omd + kit 12-50 for sealing and mini macro mode plus its cheap with the kit
id add a panny 20/1.7 for night or shallow shots... its the cheapest of the smallest with the fastest ap.

then id just get one of those gorilla pods, small, foldable, not pricey
tho its not gonna be TALL unless u have something stable and tall nearby :)

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Eliot

Any Interest in a TEXAS meetup?

If so, post up here!

Another vote for the E-M5 and 12-50 kit. I'd also consider the Olympus 40-150, which can be had pretty inexpensively, and is a very good lens. The Panasonic 20mm would be a nice third addition, or for a little more money, the Panasonic/Leica 25mm.

Those lenses would give you a nice and light 3-lens kit for under $2K. Hell, I'd also pick up the Olympus 17mm on the cheap (if you opt for the 25mm over the 20mm, and used for around $100-$150). That makes the E-M5 very compact with a very versatile focal length and decent optics.

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E-M5 -- E-PL1 -- PL-25 -- m.12-50 -- m.17 -- m.45 f/1.8 -- m.14-42 (non-MSC) -- m.40-150