As you're probably aware, I've been working with the 'mirrorless' cameras since they first appeared on the market in late 2008. To write about all the advantages of going with these cameras over what I used to do with DSLR kits would take more time than I have available, but they are very compelling for my photography.
An Olympus Pen digital is not a viable replacement for a quality DSLR (maybe for a consumer DSLR). An Olympus OM-D series camera (certainly the E-M1, maybe the E-M5 as well) or a Panasonic GH3 or GH4 definitely are. These cameras work very well although best with the lenses designed for them. My E-M1 is a far better camera than any of my Pentax DSLRs (I stopped shooting with Pentax after the K10D) with respect to haptics, features, and viewfinder ... And image qualities. IMO, although I've done it for years, you lose a lot with the smaller format when you adapt older SLR lenses simply because you're paying the weight/size penalty on the lenses which were designed for a larger format SLR, on which they image better. The Sony A7, on the other hand, gives you a Pentax MX sized body that works very nicely with nearly any SLR lenses via mount adapters. It has a very good viewfinder (nearly as good as the Olympus E-M1) and good controls/features. Where it's lacking compared to the mid- to upper-grade SLRs is in responsiveness (unlike the E-M1) and an overall somewhat clunky feel. It also works well with a carefully selected range of smaller, RF camera lenses which nets a much smaller, lighter overall kit to carry compared to nearly any DSLR system. I don't know that anything is 'chasing me away' from DSLRs so much as these new cameras are drawing me to them. I will nearly always pick the smaller, lighter camera over the larger, heavier one, and the added versatility to use any lens I want from my Nikkor, Leica R, Leica M, and other makes floating about in the closet is a huge plus with the A7. The camera is a chameleon: Fit a Nikkor lens and the imaging looks just like my Nikon F. Fit a Leica R lens and the imaging looks just like with my Leica R8. Fit the right Leica M lens, and the imaging looks just like with my Leica M4-2. And the overall body package is in that sweet spot, for me, of the Pentax MX/Nikon FM2 that I always preferred. I pick the E-M1 if I want pro-DSLR grade responsiveness and access to the superb Olympus HG and SHG lenses. Godfrey > On Sep 10, 2014, at 10:03 AM, Stanley Halpin <[email protected]> > wrote: > > I had a brief fling with an Olympus a couple of years ago. It was fine as a > point-and-shoot, at least as good as my iPhone. The kit zoom lens was decent. > What I wanted, though, was to use it with viewfinder and to use it shooting > in manual mode with other-brand lenses like Pentax and Leica (via adapter of > course). The buttons/menus etc were not designed with manual shooting in > mind. At least I could never figure them out. The viewfinder was too much of > a downgrade from a good optical viewfinder. I sold it, use my iPhone or WG-3 > as my point-and-shoot. > > I don’t know that there is anything about mirrorless chasing me away (except > maybe the small sensor), but I haven’t found much to attract me to them either > > stan > >> On Sep 10, 2014, at 12:50 PM, Collin Brendemuehl <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >> When we were in Philly I saw far more mirrorless than DSLRs in use. >> After getting home I was chatting with a local store owner who found that >> odd since mirrorless sales are only a fraction of the market. Maybe they >> were all in one place at one time? >> Then last weekend we were in Wisconsin and Illinois. (Fresh curds ... yum.) >> Had a good conversation with a pro who shoots for stock. >> He uses (another brand) DSLR for action and a Sony mirrorless for general >> use. He likes the size/weight for carrying around, and the good lenses >> don't hurt. >> >> So I wonder ... is it just the form/shape that chases people away from these >> cameras? >> -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
