Here is one reason why more people are going Micro 4/3 or to other mirrorless cameras.

[alfredo]

Micro 4/3 Olympus, and Canon behemoth.

[Speck Tater]

1. I LOVE my Sony NEX 5N

[alfredo]

5. I considered Sony, but I got a great deal on Olympus.

I would jump at the 5n or the 7 if I could afford it.

[Stevenmarc]

2. These days I rarely carry the big boy camera around.

I'm over the whole Sherpa look when I go out.

[alfredo]

8. I rarely print, and when I do, 8X10 is as big as I go. I don't need a professional grade

camera to lug around. M4/3 is perfect for my needs.

[Stevenmarc]

9. Most of my

Exhibition prints are 16x20 or larger, with the right software properly placed in your workflow you can go fairly large without the image falling apart.

[alfredo]

13. Mine just go to family and friends, so 8X10 is all I need.

[ManiacJoe]

3. Size matters.

Small cameras are great for carrying. Big cameras are great for shooting. Says the guy with big hands....

[alfredo]

6. For street photography, there is virtue in not looking professional.

For me, weight was an issue due to an injury.

[Sherman A1]

4. Looks nice

I will however hang onto my DSLR's. I am happy with them and need to spend no more money on this part of my life.

[alfredo]

7. If you have thousands invested in lenses for one format, it is best to stay with it.

I can't handle the strap over my shoulder or around my neck, so I am restricted to wrist straps. Old age and arthritis related weakness dictated the mirrorless format.

I have long lusted over this sweet machine but it is way out of my budget. Tis better to hone my skills, than spend money.

[Sherman A1]

17. Agreed

I will just hang onto my DSLR's and upgrade the bodies & lenses as required. They work for me and I certainly understand the weight issue you describe. I also carry P&S's with me as back up camera's and to use when the big ones are just not appropriate.

[alfredo]

18. M43 with a pancake lens, or cameras like the

Sony RX100 are perfect as the replacement camera. It's hard to blend in with a tricked out DSLR.

[Blue_In_AK]

34. That's how I feel, too.

I have no camera envy. The equipment I have is perfect for what I do.

[Richard D]

10. Want

[Stevenmarc]

11. It's a good want

My friend just got his and I was pretty impressed with it when I played with it this weekend.

[alfredo]

14. It's going to sell really well.

[alfredo]

16. Now the ball is in Olympus' court. Let's see if the XZ-1 replacement can

respond with something as good, if not better.

[Major Nikon]

12. I've seen some really fantastic pictures taken with 4/3rd cameras

IIRC, I think the sensor is about 30-40% smaller than APS-C found in most DSLRs, but it's many times larger than most point and shoot cameras. So while you might loose a bit of enlarging or cropping power that a DSLR offers, but you are still head and shoulders above a point and shoot.

[alfredo]

15. And it seems they are able to get more performance from smaller sensors. Look at what they

have been able to do with the Nikon V-1.

[rDigital]

19. If you like APS-C sensors, you can get a

Samsung NX-100 for around $200-$300 right now. I bought mine brand new in clearance a few months ago at BB. I purchased a 30mm f/2 prime for it and now it's my everywhere camera. It looks like a point and shoot, but it's fully featured with good image quality.

Another advantage of the little cameras is you attract so much less attention to yourself.
Taken with NX-100
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/rdigital/6986500125/][img][/img]

[alfredo]

20. I almost went with the Samsung NX10 but the wide lens choice

Of the M4/3 platform tipped the scales in that direction. I also liked how the Oly felt in my hand. I couldn't find a Samsung dealer anywhere, and I wasn't going to buy blind. I'm a wrist strap user, so it had to be comfortable in my hand.



Forgot to add: nice nighttime performance. M4/3 is somewhat lacking in the dark.

[rDigital]

21. You're right about the lenses. M4/3 is a hot ticket right now with multiple players in the game

and they're all producing lenses.

Thanks : )

[alfredo]

23. I really like my Sigma 19mm. It is also made for the NEX platform.

EPL-1 using the Sigma 19mm 2.8.




The flag looked real good in B&W, but I wanted the viewer to see that the tree is dying.

[rDigital]

25. Well balanced. I like it. nt

[alfredo]

26. Thanks. That lens is sharp from corner to corner, and no vignetting.

I've noticed little chromatic aberration. Damn nice for $200.

[GoneOffShore]

22. Love the look but hate the electronic viewfinders

I really don't like to shoot and compose via that small screen and the whole time lag thing.

Even with my Fuji E-900 I don't use the screen to shoot, just the viewfinder.

[alfredo]

24. Get an Oly or a Panny with a 14mm lens, then get an OVF for a 28mm lens.

Last edited Sat Aug 11, 2012, 09:28 PM - Edit history (1)

[nadinbrzezinski]

27. For a hobbyist or studio photography they make sense

and I mean this, a LOT OF SENSE. But if you need to do, as we do, professional journo photography, I wish I could afford the 5D to be honest, but the Nikon 5100 is a wonderful camera with a large sensor (which is what matters with these suckers at this point)

So in many ways it is truly what you are going to use it for.

(Yes, we had the debate, we ALMOST went for the Sony, since it does video the best of all cameras in the market) I looked at a Q as well, for the size factor, not enough lenses and the sensor would really disappoint in what we are doing. (I mean in the extreme settings, city councils, whatever... a point and shoot is more than enough as well)

[alfredo]

28. Yeah, the 5100 is a great camera. I have a friend with one and it impressed me.

You can get near pro performance from an under $1,000 camera now, and might only lose a bit in low light situations were a flash is forbidden.

Look at these images taken with the RX100.
http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2012/08/08/the-sony-rx100-shoots-seal-in-concert-by-barry-burris/

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. I know, why we considered it

The other night at Chihuahua valley we had the D300 and the 5100. It is the dust and smoke and other extreme conditions.

Mind you, the 5100 is not as well sealed as I'd like (Why someday will graduate to full format sealed) but it's better sealed than the Sony.

City council, concerts...that is not really a concern.

And why I tell people, use what you have.

[alfredo]

30. I have the option to stay home when it rains, so weather seal is not an issue. Maybe

someday I can get the weather sealed Olympus OM-D, but it isn't a priority.

[mysuzuki2]

31. To be fair, the Canon system including the 5d can do a lot of things the smaller camera cannot.

But that being said, those capabilities are useless if the camera is on a shelf at home. I was tired of missed photo opportunities so I just bought a Canon G1x. It's pretty small, has excellent specs and has an optical viewfinder. Lack of an optical viewfinder is an absolute deal killer for me. I haven't taken it out for a soin yet but I like how it feels in my hand. It rather reminds me of the Olympus 35RC I had in the 70s. I took some of my best shots with that camera and I hope for similar results from the G1x.

[alfredo]

32. I've read good things about the G1X, but the OVF is of the same quality as on other G models.

I had a G10 and loved it, but the OVF was too small for me. I wear glasses and that made it more difficult.

[juxtaposed]

33. I use all sizes of cameras, from point and shoot to full frame.

Today I was lugging around four 1. Canon 1D-MK3 b/c of 10 frames per-second bursts, 2. Canon 5D for the full frame sensor, 3. An Olympus point & shoot for small videos, 4. EVO 4G for geo-tagging.
After 6 hours walking around in 90 degree heat I'm pretty beat, but we're having a pretty big event here in Tampa in about a week.

evo 4G image

[alfredo]

35. I can't tolerate shoulder straps anymore due to

A work injury, so light weight is important