Is The Olympus OM-D E-M5 a Game Changer? - Page 9

Brodie337 · #81 June 25th, 2012, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnewell

Heck yes, but why stop at professionals? There are some amateur needs that IMHO m4/3 doesn't (yet) address. My toolchests have more than one hammer, more than one chisel, more than one screwdriver...same with my photo equipment.

WARNING: Massively opinionated post ahead! :P

True, it's not the system for every need, but it comes a heck of a lot closer than any other mirrorless system I can think of.

Sony is let down by an abysmal line up of lenses. The cheaper glass is all over the place in terms of quality, and the good stuff tends to be expensive
Pentax Q is more a curiosity than a serious camera system
Pentax's K-01 has fantastic quality and huge range of glass, but as a result, it's massive and unwieldy
Nikon's 1 series has next to zero native glass
Fujifilm's X-Pro has no entry level camera, and a limited lens choice (admittedly, they're nice lenses)

With_Eyes_Unclouded · #82 June 25th, 2012, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnewell

Heck yes, but why stop at professionals? There are some amateur needs that IMHO m4/3 doesn't (yet) address. My toolchests have more than one hammer, more than one chisel, more than one screwdriver...same with my photo equipment.

This is true of any camera and any situation (pro, amateur, or whatever). To give an example, the Live Bulb is something I was eagerly awaiting to come up in any camera; and I understand that's a feature that may leave most people cold.

The spirit of the OP though, was not directed at people that nessesarily have the inclination or financial comfort to own a dozen different cameras and probably pick and chose what fits the job at hand. And the vast majority of people, even in photography fora such as this one, are definitely not in this category. So the question boils down to "is X camera able to fulfill most or even all of the day to day (and even some special) photographic challenges for Y person?"

E.g., if a healthy percentage of your shooting concerns discreet street shooting, hurdling around a FF DSLR is not the safest option, at least where I live (except if you are into hardcore facial reconstruction experiments

). By the same token, trying to make a current

work in most sports situations will leave you heavily dissapointed. Want uber megapixel resolution for National Geographic type landscapes? Buy a D800; or start saving for digital MF.

But the issue remains that most hobbyist/enthusiast types, actually do several photography styles. The same rings true for quite some pros also, that may engage in a few different categories, but a pro can justify the cost of two or three different systems.

So, I propose the following for evaluating whether a camera is an overall winner:

It has to cover all the bases for everyday shooting for the enthusiast, albeit with an objectively limited number of non-important concessions

It should be able to completely cover "pro level" work for certain specific jobs

IMO not only the OM-D but other

cameras also cover this lowest common denominator. Trying to expand this logic either way, by being either a ****** or a naysayer, only leads to unnecessary misunderstandings, IMHO.

Luckypenguin · #83 June 25th, 2012, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rparmar

Here's a little fact to introduce into the ongoing debate about professional gear: most professional photographers shoot crap. They shoot crap all day long and have found a particular market for their crap. Whether this means cookie-cutter weddings, family portraits, football players, or school kids in uniform matters little... it's a repetitive assembly-line process with little room for imagination.

Yes, it takes "talent", to varying degrees, or at least a modicum of training and investment. Like wiring a house takes talent. But 95% of an electrician's job is crap work too (and darned easy). But it pays the bills. Every now and then an electrician might get to do something fun or challenging, but generally this is on their own time. (Example: my electrician friend works on green energy.)

All "professional" means is that you make a living out of your particular crap. No need to get all caught up in how "special" it is. Do we go on about how special our plumber is? Didn't think so.

The major manufacturers would like us all to buy so-called "professional cameras". But one particular device can never give you the patience, market-share, or determination to make it big in photography. You'd be better off with a business degree.

Can we all stop worrying about being "professional" and get back to discussing photography? (Or even the minutiae of which model camera is better. At least that is suitably obsessive.)

Signed,
an amateur
(e.g. lover)

Lol, funny if a bit provocative.

While I have no real interest in exactly what gear professional photographers are/aren't using to produce crap/not crap, I am grateful that the pursuit of said crap is partly responsible for the flow of technology that all photographers are enjoying right now.

DHart · #84 June 25th, 2012, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by With_Eyes_Unclouded

So, I propose the following for evaluating whether a camera is an overall winner:

It has to cover all the bases for everyday shooting for the enthusiast, albeit with an objectively limited number of non-important concessions

It should be able to completely cover "pro level" work for certain specific jobs

IMO not only the OM-D but other

cameras also cover this lowest common denominator. Trying to expand this logic either way, by being either a ****** or a naysayer, only leads to unnecessary misunderstandings, IMHO.

Why are people even wasting their time trying to decide what camera is a "winner" for anyone else?

There are so many different aspects and variables of cameras, lenses, systems, applications, and image makers.... that it seems to me to be a waste of time trying to pick something that many be a "winner" for one photographer (whether amateur or pro, novice or supremely talented) and not for another.

I suppose if one has nothing better to do with their time, it could be an intellectual exercise, but to what productive end?

landshark · #85 June 25th, 2012, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHart

Why are people even wasting their time trying to decide what camera is a "winner" for anyone else?

There are so many different aspects and variables of cameras, lenses, systems, applications, and image makers.... that it seems to me to be a waste of time trying to pick something that many be a "winner" for one photographer (whether amateur or pro, novice or supremely talented) and not for another.

I suppose if one has nothing better to do with their time, it could be an intellectual exercise, but to what productive end?

well said

MajorMagee · #86 June 25th, 2012, 09:00 PM

Winner's get supported for a long time, have loads of aftermarket goodies, and don't get orphaned by the manufacturer. Much better for the consumer to choose a "winner".

DHart · #87 June 25th, 2012, 09:06 PM

Winners are decided, over a long term, in the marketplace, not by people squabling on an internet forum over whether this camera beats that one.

MajorMagee · #88 June 25th, 2012, 09:15 PM

That's right, so if you want your camera to be a winner in the marketplace get off the Internet and go tell your friends that your camera beats all the other ones and they should buy one too.

rparmar · #89 June 26th, 2012, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by landshark

wow, why stop at photographers, what about pilots, artists, dentists and every other job and profession, all doing crap with a limited amount of talent

I stop at photographers because the subject here is photography.

P.S. You miss the point.

rparmar · #90 June 26th, 2012, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHart

Robin... so true! There are so many so-called "professional" photographers churning out average, so-so images that just basically get the job done, but fall far short of being truly exceptional.

A good number of them fall short of being competent.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luckypenguin

Lol, funny if a bit provocative.

Thank you Penguin Bonne Chance.

I'll be off now.