Oly OMD shooters: what are you using for noise reduction?
I recently shot my granddaughter's dance recital with both an OMD-EM5 and a Canon 6D. The 6D files at 12,800 looked considerably better than Oly files at 1600. I know others are shooting m4/3s at 1600, 3200, and even higher ISOs. Am I just too picky, or do they know something I don't know about getting rid of noise?
You're not too picky. I observe the same thing when compared against my Nikon Df and my E-P5 (with ETTR and DXO Optics Pro 9 PRIME Noise reduction technology).
And this guy below shares exactly the same observation as you did as well.
http://blog.atmtxphoto.com/2013/10/30/how-does-the-canon-6d-compare-with-olympus-micro-43/
Qoute:
Whenever I get a new tool, it takes me a while to figure out how to best use it. I have no regrets selling my Canon 7D and replacing it with the 6D. I rarely touched my previous DSLR. The 6D, however, has several district uses. Here are the cases where it comes in handy.
1. Street shooting at night, as I mentioned earlier. With its great, high ISO performance, it allows me to make images that the Olympus won’t be able to match.
2. Portraits. When I want to get the maximum shallow depth of field to blur out distracting backgrounds, I’ll use the 6D. My Canon 70-200mm f4 IS or 85mm f1.8 are my preferred lenses.
3. Ultimate Detail. The 6D is my highest resolution camera. If I need to get the most detail for regular exposures as well as HDRs, the Canon will best the Olympus, though not by a huge margin. I guess I would need the 36MP Nikon D800 to get the ultimate in 35mm DSLR resolution (No, I have no plans of getting this camera, if you were wondering)
Unqoute:
Having said that. A camera and lens are tools of a photographer and he or she shouldn't be limited by the tools. Rather, the tools work with the photographer. My question to you is this. Why do you shoot with a m43? Is it because of portability and mobility what you are seeking from a smaller sensor, while accepting certain limitations?
If you need the quality of the Canon 6D for your low light work, then you should go with the 6D. That's also why I'm still using my Nikon D4 and Df as well as the D800. They are simply superior in certain areas; but my m43 and E-P5 is superior in other areas as well too and sometimes can best and equal the bigger Nikons with lower weight.
Don't get too fixated in a certain brand and that you need to uphold your loyalty and life to it. A camera is just a tool. My Olympus E-P5 is just a tool I use to create unique images. At the end of the day, it is a tool. When I don't find a use for it, then I would sell it.
You don't want to be like some people who get so upset when Scott Kelby switched from Nikon to Canon. That's his choice, so I'm not sure why some people get all worked up trying to defend their Nikons by making all kinds of examples and we even have Nikon gurus and instructors who come in defence of their own Nikon gear and superiority. If Scott wants the look of Canon, then I guess he has the right to choose it and it's common for professionals to own a 2 to 3 systems outfit and with DXO Optics Pro and custom color profiles, you can equalize the look across your workflow. It's not new.
In closing, I like to bring awareness of Vivian Maier and her work. She works with complete freedom. What do I mean by that? It simply means your work and your tools are dictated simply by your needs and not influenced by other people. If your decisions are influenced by other people, then how can you claim yourself to have complete freedom?!? We use m43 because we are completely freed from the perception that we must have or shoot Nikon or Canon and the bigger is always better concept is not always true. You have the freedom to choose, because you are an adult. We are all adults.