What to do now? (Four Thirds advice)

Panasonic Lumix G 14mm F2.5 ASPH

09/05/2010 09:09:05 PM · #1

Currently I have

Oly E-510
14-42mm f/3.5-5.6
35mm f/3.5 macro
OM 50mm f/1.8

OK,

In September my first student loan will come through (I am in the UK), I've worked out I can afford to perhaps spare Â£300 of this to essentially spend on something I don't really need. I.e. something photography related.

I could look for a 14-54 on eBay, but I can't help but feel the 3 not so good AF points of the E510 will hold it back.

I could sell the lot on eBay and go for a Panasonic GF1, much better low light focus, HD video, improved sensor compared to my older 4/3 sensor.

E-PL1, I love the camera but the focus system seems a bit crappy.

Used E-P1, E-P2..?

Basically I am looking for a few things.

SOmething that's the same size or smaller than the E-510, so no E-3s or E-30s.

The E-620 is a no no, I just do not like it :s

Micro Four Thirds interests me so I am swaying towards it.

Olyuzi

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7

09/06/2010 04:07:20 AM · #2

Right now, micro 4/3rds is pretty expensive. While some bodies are affordable, such as the Oly EPL-1 or the Pany G10 (both around $600 here in the states) lenses are not only terribly overpriced (and I do mean terribly) but are consumer grade and slow. Lens selection is growing and will get better now that Cosina has joined m4/3rds, but don't count on prices coming down unless competition forces their hand. If you're going to really consider a mirrorless camera that is highly pocketable you may want to look at the Sony NEX line of cameras with their APS-C sized sensors (better image quality), although lens selection is paltry at this time and are huge when mounted on the body. Legacy lenses, such as your OM 50/1.8 can be used on these cameras, as well as, on std 4/3rds cams.

Your Oly E-510 already has a lot of good features such as image stablization and live view, plus a sensor with a less strong AA filter which renders sharper photos. It's weakness is highlight clipping, but there are ways around that. So it may not gain you much to get another body. A new lens may be just the ticket such as an ultra wide or tele (since you already have the standard zoom, macro, and portrait/low light areas covered. The Oly 9-18mm f4 is small and light and has gotten very good reviews Plus, it's CDAF capable. Another to consider is the Oly 70-300mm f4-5.6. Very sharp, can be used as a great macro alternative, has very good bokeh, and will give you much greater reach. Be forewarned though, that the 70-300 will add considerable heft and is not really pocketable plus is quite slow to autofocus, though is much smaller and lighter than other lenses with similar focal lengths. Both the 9-18 and 70-300 are quite affordable. Don't bother with the 14-54 you've already got that range covered. I would tell you to also consider the Zuiko 50mm f2 for it's stellar image quality if you do a lot of portraits, but again, you have that covered with your OM lens, plus, the 50mm is slow to AF.

Olympus 7-14mm f/4.0 Zuiko Digital Zoom

09/06/2010 06:30:50 AM · #3

I need something that's fast, and doesn't hunt around for focus, that's essentially my main criteria if I want a new lens.

I hardly ever use my 35mm macro, I could sell that plus the 14-42, and put in the rest of the money for a 14-54.

On paper the newly introduced u4/3 lenses look slow, but I just read a review of the 14-150mm and it seems to be a superb lens.

one2one

Olympus E-5

09/06/2010 08:17:08 AM · #4

Go Canon or Nikon. You'll find lots more used and moderately priced lenses and goodies. Besides, our sensors are antiques compared to what Canon and Nikon, and others, are releasing lately. Olympus seems to be concentrating on the P&S market with micro 4/3's. I'm slowly losing any hope that Olympus will come out with a larger sensor one day. My E3 is my last Oly.

My 2Â¢

Olympus 7-14mm f/4.0 Zuiko Digital Zoom

09/07/2010 07:50:48 AM · #5

Jac, the whole point of the Olympus thinking is smaller = better. The E-PL1 can do ISo 3200 just fine, thinking back to the day of film, people coped then, so surely this is all any one could need, how often do you see a winning entry on this website with ISO above 800. The Zuiko glass is miles better than other lenses.

one2one

Olympus E-5

09/07/2010 08:40:30 AM · #6

Originally posted by dd1989:

That used to be true, not anymore. The others have caught up. Canon L glass is in my view better glass because of the results I see. My perception may have changed though. I used to love high contrast images and the Zuikos gave me that. Today I prefer a softer contrast like the Canon lenses give.

Like I said before, just my 2Â¢

☺

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

09/07/2010 09:02:27 AM · #7

OK.

Well I just have a *thing* against Canon. I've got a 35mm Canon, and I used to use a Powershot, you know when you don't like something and you can't explain why.

I'd be willing to go down the route of buying a used camera, so long as it it's in good condition and doesn't have millions of shutter actuations.

Realistically, if I sold my 35mm macro as a separate lot, my E-510 with the 14-42, how much do you think I could get on eBay.

The problem for is as follows, in my mind the E-510 walks all over the Nikon and Canon models in the same price range (when the Oly was new), 450,500d, D40 etc.

So, I'd really want to get in to a more serious level of equipment in order to make it feel like I was making a worthwhile jump from one brand to another.

D300 maybe?

Rmac

Nikon D4s

09/07/2010 05:10:41 PM · #8

I kinda have to agree with Jac, I was a dedicated 4/3rds shooter, but the lack of an upgrade from the E-3 from olympus made me switch to NIkon. I still have the Olympus gear, but it hardly gets used anymore.

tnun

Ricoh GR III

Pentax DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL [IF] WR DC

09/07/2010 05:53:09 PM · #9

have you considered

//www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonyslta55/