Greetings from Houston (suburbs)

[Leo_B]

I signed up a few weeks ago and yesterday finally got around to ordering my camera. I ordered a reconditioned M10-II and with some points I got it with 14-42 lens for $375. I'm looking forward to learning a lot about this camera and 4/3's here.

 

[BosseBe]

Welcome!
We are a friendly bunch and the only thing we ask of you is to show us your pictures.

 

[agentlossing]

Welcome! That's a nice starter kit!

 

[Leo_B]

For the price I couldn't pass it up. I've been thinking for a while about updating from a Canon G15. I know this isn't exactly an apples to apples update but I think it's a good choice for a reasonably small and lightweight option. I'm debating next lens choices with a not too short "short list" in no particular order of 17f1.8, 40-150, 12-50, 60macro, 75-300, 14-150, and 9-18. Not all of them, just those are ones of interest. I'm probably a bit more inclined toward the 17, 75-300, 60macro and 9-18.

 

[BosseBe]

For the price I couldn't pass it up. I've been thinking for a while about updating from a Canon G15. I know this isn't exactly an apples to apples update but I think it's a good choice for a reasonably small and lightweight option. I'm debating next lens choices with a not too short "short list" in no particular order of 17f1.8, 40-150, 12-50, 60macro, 75-300, 14-150, and 9-18. Not all of them, just those are ones of interest. I'm probably a bit more inclined toward the 17, 75-300, 60macro and 9-18.

You have the 14-42mm range covered with your kit lens, so the first purchase maybe should be outside that range,
The 40-150mm has a very useable range and has a reasonable price (if you are not thinking about the PRO/2.8).

Look around in the forum, there are threads for almost all lenses, so you can see what to expect.

 

[zzffnn]

Welcome from Houston, Leo! I have a lens collection similar to your proposed list, plus the Panasonic 14-140 1st version, minus O17/1.8 (though I am buying an used P20/1.7).

It depends on what you shoot. I shoot birds and wildlife a lot in Armand Bayou and the Houston zoo, so I used my P100-300 a lot. You can put a Raynox macro converter on it and use it as macro lens too, if you have very stable hands: https://www.flickr.com/photos/zzffnn/

The 100mm (f/4.0) end of P100-300 works well for outdoor portraits.

I like the P14-140 for travel (used kit O14-42 + O40-150 before during my skiiy trip and hated lens swapping), though I rarely use its 110-140mm range for travel. I think I bought it used from Amazon for about $215. O9-18 is useful for travel as well (I usually only bring O9-18 and P14-140 for travel, unless scenes demand a fisheye or P100-300).

O17/1.8 is useful for indoor low light, but you can probably get by with O14-42 plus diffused/bounced flash (Godox TT350 or TT680). Get the more powerful TT680 if you used HSS a lot. Get the compact TT350 if you are using it for macro.

O60mm macro works quite well for portrait as well.

 

[OldRex]

Leo, from one new starter to another welcome! This is a very friendly place with lots of nice people and photos.

It's a long time since I was in Houston, but I really did have a nice time when I was there visiting a cousin.

 

[Leo_B]

Welcome from Houston, Leo! I have a lens collection similar to your proposed list, plus the Panasonic 14-140 1st version, minus O17/1.8 (though I am buying an used P20/1.7).

It depends on what you shoot. I shoot birds and wildlife a lot in Armand Bayou and the Houston zoo, so I used my P100-300 a lot. You can put a Raynox macro converter on it and use it as macro lens too, if you have very stable hands: https://www.flickr.com/photos/zzffnn/

The 100mm (f/4.0) end of P100-300 works well for outdoor portraits.

I like the P14-140 for travel (used kit O14-42 + O40-150 before during my skiiy trip and hated lens swapping), though I rarely use its 110-140mm range for travel. I think I bought it used from Amazon for about $215. O9-18 is useful for travel as well (I usually only bring O9-18 and P14-140 for travel, unless scenes demand a fisheye or P100-300).

O17/1.8 is useful for indoor low light, but you can probably get by with O14-42 plus diffused/bounced flash (Godox TT350 or TT680). Get the more powerful TT680 if you used HSS a lot. Get the compact TT350 if you are using it for macro.

O60mm macro works quite well for portrait as well.

I'm debating getting an all in one. Maybe even one of the 12-x00 lenses. They're just so large though and make the 14-xxx more appealing.

 

[Leo_B]

Leo, from one new starter to another welcome! This is a very friendly place with lots of nice people and photos.

It's a long time since I was in Houston, but I really did have a nice time when I was there visiting a cousin.

I'm really enjoying it and I think the people are more friendly and helpful than most forums I've ever visited. Houston has changed a bit since you were here I'm sure. If you come visit your cousin again let me know and we'll go grab a burger together or something.

 

[OldRex]

Unfortunately, my cousin now lives in Trinidad and Tobago, but I did find Houston and its people fun and friendly and loved the food choices!

One night we went out to a place called the "Post Oak Ranch" and it was fun.

The restrooms at the Galleria Mall were "interesting".

We also hired a small plane and flew down to Galveston for a day and visited the Lone Star Flight Museum. I thought it was awesome.