As I have already posted I’m thinking about going mirror less. I’m am leaning towards the OM-D but have a couple of other options I’d like users to compare if possible. Good video is important but IQ and durability is up there.

1. Sony Nex-7 - downside - lens choice limited, size? (it looks chunky); upside - focus peaking; aps-c sensor

2. Fuji X100 - downside - fixed lens (especially since I’ll need to get.keep a serrate camera for wildlife), no IBIS; upside - great pictures, sensor, viewfinder. haven’t heard a great amount of good things about the Pro-X1.


And still haven’t totally given up on the idea of updating my DSLR body to a D5100.


TIA,
Tony

I think you've pretty much nailed the three cameras, so it comes down to what your needs are based on the strengths and weaknesses of each camera. Of the four you mention, the odd man out for me is the X100 - a fixed lens camera for that kind of money seems limiting. I wouldn't want one as my only camera, but if you are planning on keeping your DSLR, maybe it makes sense to you.

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Olympus PEN E-PL1 | M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 L | M. Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f4-5.6 R | Zuiko Auto-W MC 28mm f2.8 | G.Zuiko Auto-S 50mm f1.4 | Zuiko Auto-T 135mm f2.8 | Fujian 35mm f1.7

Think that is the big question with that camera. Think that decision rests with how well the Om-D (or Nex) would be for wildlife. I’ve seen some pretty amazing wildlife shots with M43 but then read a lot of suggestions that a DSLR is still king at that kind of shooting.

Go with the Sony or Olympus and get an adaptor for your current glass.

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- tdp

Vernacular shooter/amateur photographer
500px | flickr

Unless you are really into manual focus lenses I think the E-M5 is easily ahead of the Nex-7 because of lens selection.

If the X100 meets your needs as an additional camera to your DSLR kit then it is worth a hard look.

I considered those same options. My decision toward m4/3s and the E-M5 centered around wanting a kit to replace my DSLR for everything except sports shooting. If I wanted my "other" kit, beyond DSLR, to fill a more specific need I think the competition may have been a bit tighter. For best mix of all-around use, image quality, cost, lens selection, etc. it really wasn't that close of a decision in the end.

From what the pros on here say, dslr still manages to win out on "action" shooting, but the em5 really is a delight to use. The ibis is incredible, the viewfinder is incredible, and the lens selection is terrific and keeps growing.

The X100 has a fixed lens...that alone would put me off that model. The X Pro would be a better comparison, but the price is much higher.

The sony has terrific points, as you made, but lacks the lenses and the oly ibis system.

Choice was, frankly, easy for me.

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Olympus OM-D E-M5
Panasonic Lumix 12-35mm F2.8
Panasonic Leica Summilux 25mm F1.4
Panasonic Lumix 45-175mm F4-5.6

Really? Because I really haven't heard any major complaints about the X-Pro-1 (once you get past the price and the limited number of available lenses). To me, the X-Pro-1 is a (still fairly rich) poor man's Leica M9. It can apparently do amazing things in low light and the Optical/Electronic viewfinder seems like a revelation. The recent lens announcements are very intriguing as well. I guess the biggest minus is the somewhat sluggish focusing, but that's just not that big a deal for me.

The advantages of the OM-D over the X-Pro-1 (beyond price) are the 5-axis IBIS and weather-sealing as well as the lens selection.

The NEX 7 has an amazing sensor, but I think the only way I'd choose it is if I were planning to use it primarily with adapted manual focus lenses (due to the focus peaking). I don't particularly like the aesthetics of the NEX line.

If I were shopping in this range, I'd probably go with the OM-D just because it's such an elegant package and I think it provides the best value, but it's a difficult call.

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Sarcasm is my default tone, so please consider that before taking offense to the preceding message.

Criticism (no matter how harsh) is welcomed of ANY and ALL images I post.

If wildlife shooting is a priority, the crop factor of the OM-D is another plus, along with the IBIS to help stabilize shooting at longer focal lengths. That said, the AF and AF tracking offered by DSLRs often makes that type of shooting easier.

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Olympus PEN E-PL1 | M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 L | M. Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f4-5.6 R | Zuiko Auto-W MC 28mm f2.8 | G.Zuiko Auto-S 50mm f1.4 | Zuiko Auto-T 135mm f2.8 | Fujian 35mm f1.7

You don't list AF speed as a downside of the X100, so perhaps you haven't held one in your hands yet. I've tried the X100 and after 10 minutes of fighting its slow and hesitant AF I handed it back. My recollection is it made the Panny 20mm look fast.

I don't own any of those you mentioned (I shoot a Panasonic G3 instead), but I researched them all for much the same reasons and benefits you mentioned. My take, for whatever that's worth - if I could only have one, I'd absolutely want it to be a m4/3 for the best overall blend of features and especially the available lens selections. The m4/3 platform is simply more mature in terms of lens choices and the versatility wins out for me.

From what I hear, the NEX-7 works well with adapted lenses and of course there's focus peaking. However, I honestly have no trouble focusing my manual lenses on my G3, even without the focus assist enabled. If I were going to shoot primarily manual/adapted lenses then the NEX might have an edge but for a mix of native + adapted I'm sticking with m4/3 gear.

The X100 is one I'm looking at myself but only as a secondary camera. I like some things about it but I wouldn't want my only camera to be a fixed lens after the experience of having a wide array of native lenses with my G3 and GF2. I know you mentioned you have a DSLR but I'm assuming the point of looking at this at all is to get away from carrying around a full size camera. So I'm presuming you won't be carrying both the X100 and the DSLR

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500px | flickr

“The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.” -- Dorothea Lange