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01-03-2017, 12:48 PM | #1 |
would like some input for a change in camera
Hopefully I have the right section. A little Back ground: for a little over a year now ive been using a sony A5000 with the 16-50 mm kit lens for my work camera. Pretty much it comes with me all over the world, taking pictures of machinery, Parts, Maintenance items, or on occasion when the ship docks, its small enough where I can take it with me with no issues. As much as the camera is not bad, im finding that in certain circumstances where the user interface, myself, the lack of any type of view finder, and the autofocus are not really agreeing with each other now the question.... ill be selling the sony with the 16-50mm lens, a couple gopros, and my k-3 with the 16-85 mm lens to have funds for a different work/travel camera. ive been thinking about either a Fuji X-T10 or Olympus pen-f... does anyone have experience with either system? is there something else that someone recommend in the small MILC category besides a sony and pentax Q? any info would be great. | |
01-03-2017, 01:46 PM | #2 |
I can't speak to the pen-f other than to say a lot of reviewers found it overpriced and underperforming. I can speak to the Panasonic GX-7 with first hand knowledge and I can speak about the GX-85 or GX-8 but not with direct knowledge. I currently own the GX-1 Panasonic and my dad has my old GX-7 because he decided the K-3 was too much for him. I got all of his K-3 and lens gear (which we shared) I gave him my GX-7, my Oly 9mm fisheye body cap lens, my oly 17mm f/2.8, my sigma 30mm f/2.8, my Panasonic 14-42 PZ X, my Panasonic 35-100 f4-5.6, and a Canon 85mm f/1.8. Since I gave it all to him all of it other than the GX-7 has come back to me. He has purchased the Panasonic 12-35 f/2.8 and the Panasonic 35-100 f/2.8 and is as pleased as punch with this combo. He also added a Panasonic 42.5mm and a Canon fd 200 f/2.8 but found the 200mm too long for his needs. (Anyone need a MINT 200mm f/2.8 FD?) The GX-7 has very good in body image stabilization. I have seen comparisons of the GX-7 basic 3 axis pitted against the Oly EM-5-MkII 5 axis and the GX-7 won hands down on non-stabilized lenses (this was shocking). The GX-7 electronic viewfinder is placed on the side which is easier for me (fewer nose prints on the LCD). The Tilt feature of the LCD and the EVF is compact and adequate. The GX-7 is not super lightweight but it isn't bulky either. The viewfinder can swing up 90 degrees allowing it to fit in spaces that the depth would otherwise not work with. The f/2.8 pro lenses are a dream. They are small and light weight compared to the APSC or FF equivalent focal lengths and the Depth from Defocus on the GX-7 makes these quick focusing and accurate. My GX-1 system is more of a travel only or good light only kit. I recently sold the 17mm after I was given a 20mm f/1.7 Panasonic by my father. He's a gear freak and found he preferred the zoom to the 20mm. I have my Sigma 35mm on eBay at the moment also since I don't find the non-stabilized lens great on my GX-1 compared to the 35-100 or 14-42 with stabilization. I have a K adapter for use with my FA limited 31 or 77 and a manual 50 and 135 as well for when I need super shallow depth of field or just want to use a prime. With the 14-42 (or a 12-32 f/3.5-5.6) the GX-1 is tiny. I added an external viewfinder (VF-2) to mine due to getting one for a steal. There are newer compact bodies that include the EVF which I highly recommend over the external if you can swing it. I pack the external with me but only mount it in sunshine or other situations where the EVF is not practical. Overall the GX-7 and by extension the GX-85 or GX-8 are really strong tools if you photography lends itself to m43. You can do landscapes and everything you want (see m43 thread here: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/76-non-pentax-cameras-canon-nikon-etc/171...irds-club.html ) but street photography and anything that values the compact size is the sweet spot. Using a camera like the GX-1 you can create a travel kit not a lot larger than the Pentax Q also. | |
01-03-2017, 05:19 PM | #3 |
A unique M43 is the GM5, Q ish size with a viewfinder...I use its predessor the GM1....both great LITTLE cameras.A ligtweight kit is the 12-32 variable( very good kit lens) 35-100 variable.Oly body caps( both are good in good light) and if you want telephoto the Oly 75-300mm.Pano 20mm is highly rated as is the Oly 45mm.This is a relatively in expensive option.touch screens are handy and menus are ok. Read the reviews of the GX80/85 and G80/85 both very capable and worth researching. Fuji costs a bit more but the early models are Bang 4 $$$$ right now.....some can be found new for not much and used are U$200ish.....lenses cost a bit.Jpegs ooc are excellent.Fuji takes a concentrated effort to adjust to, but if you shot manually in the film era,then those old habits will return.Automation exists too! Both systems have focal reducer/speedbooster options and brings older glass into "play"! | |
01-03-2017, 05:21 PM | #4 |
I bought a Pen ePL6 for $150, and as UncleV notes many small lenses are available. The Lumix gm1 is Q-sized but with a 4thirds sensor! I've become a fan of tip screens with touch AF, which Lumix has but Oly is catching up. | |
01-03-2017, 05:34 PM | #5 |
01-04-2017, 08:55 AM | #6 |
I can't speak to the pen-f other than to say a lot of reviewers found it overpriced and underperforming. I can speak to the Panasonic GX-7 with first hand knowledge and I can speak about the GX-85 or GX-8 but not with direct knowledge. I currently own the GX-1 Panasonic and my dad has my old GX-7 because he decided the K-3 was too much for him. I got all of his K-3 and lens gear (which we shared) I gave him my GX-7, my Oly 9mm fisheye body cap lens, my oly 17mm f/2.8, my sigma 30mm f/2.8, my Panasonic 14-42 PZ X, my Panasonic 35-100 f4-5.6, and a Canon 85mm f/1.8. Since I gave it all to him all of it other than the GX-7 has come back to me. He has purchased the Panasonic 12-35 f/2.8 and the Panasonic 35-100 f/2.8 and is as pleased as punch with this combo. He also added a Panasonic 42.5mm and a Canon fd 200 f/2.8 but found the 200mm too long for his needs. (Anyone need a MINT 200mm f/2.8 FD?) The GX-7 has very good in body image stabilization. I have seen comparisons of the GX-7 basic 3 axis pitted against the Oly EM-5-MkII 5 axis and the GX-7 won hands down on non-stabilized lenses (this was shocking). The GX-7 electronic viewfinder is placed on the side which is easier for me (fewer nose prints on the LCD). The Tilt feature of the LCD and the EVF is compact and adequate. The GX-7 is not super lightweight but it isn't bulky either. The viewfinder can swing up 90 degrees allowing it to fit in spaces that the depth would otherwise not work with. The f/2.8 pro lenses are a dream. They are small and light weight compared to the APSC or FF equivalent focal lengths and the Depth from Defocus on the GX-7 makes these quick focusing and accurate. My GX-1 system is more of a travel only or good light only kit. I recently sold the 17mm after I was given a 20mm f/1.7 Panasonic by my father. He's a gear freak and found he preferred the zoom to the 20mm. I have my Sigma 35mm on eBay at the moment also since I don't find the non-stabilized lens great on my GX-1 compared to the 35-100 or 14-42 with stabilization. I have a K adapter for use with my FA limited 31 or 77 and a manual 50 and 135 as well for when I need super shallow depth of field or just want to use a prime. With the 14-42 (or a 12-32 f/3.5-5.6) the GX-1 is tiny. I added an external viewfinder (VF-2) to mine due to getting one for a steal. There are newer compact bodies that include the EVF which I highly recommend over the external if you can swing it. I pack the external with me but only mount it in sunshine or other situations where the EVF is not practical. Overall the GX-7 and by extension the GX-85 or GX-8 are really strong tools if you photography lends itself to m43. You can do landscapes and everything you want (see m43 thread here: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/76-non-pentax-cameras-canon-nikon-etc/171...irds-club.html ) but street photography and anything that values the compact size is the sweet spot. Using a camera like the GX-1 you can create a travel kit not a lot larger than the Pentax Q also. thank you unclevanya, very helpful information. Hmmm, I never thought about Panasonic. been looking at the ones you recommended online and they look like nice cameras. I have nothing against m43, Im looking more for useability and portability I guess and the GX-7/85/8 are around the size im looking for, was almost confused cause I saw that there was a G-8 that looked as big as a k-3 and then I saw the gx model you mentioned... lol for whenever im not at work I still have the 645 and k-1 as my main cameras. so id say that the m43/APSC would be in lines of something id be interested in lets see here ive got a few questions about the GX models do you find that the 90 degree swivel very useful? is the menu user friendly? are you easily able to switch between auto/ and manual focus from a switch or do you need to go through the menu to switch? id only be really looking for a decent all around wide/normal zoom lens with this camera, would you recommend the 14-42mm or the 12-35mm lens? Is there anything that you don't like about the camera? How is the usage of the GX-7 in poorly lit areas? Ill probably think of more questions down the road. thank you for the useful information ---------- Post added 01-04-17 at 09:02 AM ---------- A unique M43 is the GM5, Q ish size with a viewfinder...I use its predessor the GM1....both great LITTLE cameras.A ligtweight kit is the 12-32 variable( very good kit lens) 35-100 variable.Oly body caps( both are good in good light) and if you want telephoto the Oly 75-300mm.Pano 20mm is highly rated as is the Oly 45mm.This is a relatively in expensive option.touch screens are handy and menus are ok. Read the reviews of the GX80/85 and G80/85 both very capable and worth researching. Fuji costs a bit more but the early models are Bang 4 $$$$ right now.....some can be found new for not much and used are U$200ish.....lenses cost a bit.Jpegs ooc are excellent.Fuji takes a concentrated effort to adjust to, but if you shot manually in the film era,then those old habits will return.Automation exists too! Both systems have focal reducer/speedbooster options and brings older glass into "play"! Fuji has a old camera feel? such as adjusting Aperature on lens, iso and speed on top with not really needing to go through a menu system to the most part? | |
01-04-2017, 09:31 AM | #7 |
Hmmm, I never thought about Panasonic. been looking at the ones you recommended online and they look like nice cameras. I have nothing against m43, Im looking more for useability and portability I guess and the GX-7/85/8 are around the size im looking for, was almost confused cause I saw that there was a G-8 that looked as big as a k-3 and then I saw the gx model you mentioned... lol for whenever im not at work I still have the 645 and k-1 as my main cameras. so id say that the m43/APSC would be in lines of something id be interested in The GX-7 LCD and EVF tilts up and down only no left right. I found it quite useful. The EVF only tilts up - useful if you want to position the tripod low for a shot and dont want to bend quite as far but need the EVF not the LCD due to bright lighting conditions for example. The EVF has eye detection so it is relatively simple to go back and forth. Yes, Panasonic is the most Pentax-like interface I have used from another brand. The menus are well organized and not confusing by and large. This is in stark contrast to Olympus (which I have not used) where they have a reputation for confusing and illogical arrangements of items in their menus. Sony is also pretty bad by all reports. I've used some Nikon's and found them more confusing than Panasonic but not as bad as Canon if that helps. I haven't gotten the AF system to work precisely like I prefer. I like using center point AF with recompose but the centerpoint mode is a bit complicated on the Panasonics. The default is to then have the viewfinder zoom in for detailed manual focus override but I don't care for that as it confuses my framing. I prefer to manually enter any zoomed focusing. There is a workaround I used that gives me what I want but it is a little clunky and annoying. So most of the time I forgo center point and use auto focus points and then use the touch screen to shift the focus to the right place if it is confused. You can use the touch screen and EVF at the same time which is helpful. That depends a lot on the lens. If you have a 20mm f/1.7 pancake with you i'd say you'll be fine. The f/3.5-5/6 kit lens on the camera then you will struggle with some situations. ISO 1600 isn't bad - 3200 is useable, I'd say no more than 1 stop worse than my K-3 most of the time. The GX-1 is a little worse (older processing engine). | |
01-04-2017, 10:09 AM | #8 |
Yes, they look that way too....they can be used in everything Auto as well.....lense$ range from excellent to superb, some are like the DA series, others have a non marked aperture ring but many have a marked aperture.
| |
01-17-2017, 10:54 PM | #9 |
thank you all for your input. I finally traded/sold some cameras, and came up with a m43 camera all I can say is wow, there is something said about having a small camera. I feel like the Olympus em 5 ii is a much better fit then the sony I had. As much as I really wanted to go for the Panasonic that was mentioned, I liked the EVF on the Olympus a great deal more(it seemed clearer), along with the general Layout of the controls in the relation to my hands. there are a few things I wished they would change like the on off switch location, but its just a little thing. the touch screen is amazing, I like how you can focus and take pictures with it. Also surfar you were right about the 12-32 lens, it is a great option for a light weight set up. Ill need to maybe look into something with a little more reach down the road, and ill eventually check out the 75-300 but for now I'm really happy with the current setup. anyways just wanted to say thanks again to the community for the nice suggestions, it was really helpful | |
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