About ( compact camera) preferences...

[danielm]

 

 

"The way it is ..."

Bruce Hornsby and the Range

 

We like to photograph, and we like the cameras. It's maybe obvious but, in fact, it isn't that simple because there are so many possibilities and choices in photographic equipment, that it is often overwhelming especially for the most passionate ones. Over the past several years, I had the opportunity to try, and to compare many camera (and lens) models. Digital cameras were a new field the manufacturers had to fulfill. So, it was fascinating, to say the least.

Novelties have been always attractive for many photographers that are always interested to try and improve the tools they are using. And the technical advancements in photography into the last decades were amazing in terms of easiest of doing pictures and having outstanding image results. In the still photography field, we were privileged to assist and to profit all those developments over the years. Today we may think that we have reached a certain plateau that allow us to reconsider at last to have photo equipment for a more lengthily period of ownership and ... use!

My current photo equipment
The love of (real!) compact cameras, for good imagery, for decent performance (exposure metering, autofocusing, reactivity, reliability, etc.), to have access to an extended line of lenses and for a competent stabilization system (in-body-image-stabilization-IBIS) have certainly oriented my currents choices. Ergonomic and style also, I must confess. For me, a good design must be esthetic and effective.
 

If I feel dedicated to do photography on a specific assignation or subject, my preferred choice of the day will be the former Olympus (now OM System) OM-D E-M5 Mark III coupled with the M.Zuiko ED 14-150mm F4-5.6 II which is not only a very versatile combination but also weatherproof. For more specific long-range subjects, the Olympus ED 75-300mm F4.8-6.7 II will be a good complement (although it is not weatherproof). The OM-D E-M5 III/ED 14-150mm II is excellent for travel and outdoor photography and it can be used for interior and lowlight situations, thanks to the IBIS of the camera*.

For a more casual and discrete companion, my Olympus Pen-F** is also excellent because of its non-intrusive presence which is good for urban subjects and interior picture catches. Coupled with a small lens such as the M.Zuiko 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 R II or the M.Zuiko ED 45mm F1.8 Premium (a personal favorite since my first Olympus EP-3 model), the Pen-F is an outstanding rangefinder style camera model. These two camera models (OM-D E-M5 III & Pen-F) are using the same 20MP image sensor and the same picture interface with the consequence that you can predict similar imagery from both the OM-D E-M5 III and the Pen-F.***
 

I haven't never been able to make a definite choice between rangefinder (off-lens-axis viewfinder) and SLR (on-lens-axis viewfinder) style cameras so, ownership of both the OM-D E-M5 III and the Pen-F has been imposed by itself. It gives me the opportunity at a relative low cost to cope with the two different photo gear style. You can get a similar approach toward other manufacturers like Panasonic or Fujifilm since they offer the same alternatives into their camera line. 

The cameras that I love to use are the ones that inspired me to do photograph and extend my picture quest on various subjects. On a longer run, the compactness criteria have always been a basic issue and time tend to confirm that is useless to think differently. The Micro Four Third image sensor format correspond precisely to that photo equipment philosophy. Some may privilege a more cinematic approach and will choose to work with the Panasonic Lumix models which a perfect match in that (video) case****, others like me are more traditionalists by doing mainly still photography and will rather like the OM system line of products (formerly Olympus). At the end it is up to you to considerer your own feelings about the tools you like to work with. 
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* Internal camera sensor stabilization (IBIS) has become an essential feature for me partly because I like the optionality to use non-optical-stabilized lenses (OIS). 
** If you can still find one, just buy it!
*** If you ask me what would be my professional choices (in consideration of the more intensive use of the camera/lens into more demanding contextual situations), I will surely opt for the OM-D E-M1 II or III plus the M.Zuiko Pro zoom lens duet, 12-40mm F2.8 and 40-150mm F2.8 (with one camera body for each lens). But those professional exigences are now a think of the past in regard of my day-to-day concern.

**** Although the Panasonic Lumix G85/G80 and G95/G90 are excellent ergonomic (all weather resistant) camera models for still photography.

 

© Photos Daniel M: OM-D E-M5 II/ED 14-150mm II; Pen-F/45mm F1.8; OM-D E-M5 III/ED 14-150mm II