Feel free to jump to any part of the video! 00:00 Start 00:55 Introduction 01:55 Before M43, Canon DSLR 04:10 How I Discover M43 05:54 MFT Present Situation 07:05 What if I use Full Frame? 09:16 MFT vs Other Formats? 14:19 Conclusion
David Thorpe was a treasure that was gone all too soon. I didn't know him, but I loved watching his videos. For me too, he played a large role in my adaption of the m43 system, starting with the GX7. Anyway, great video!
Thank you for the comment Will! David Thorpe is one of my influence not just in jumping into Micro Four Thirds but also his style of photography as well. Once again thank you 😊
This is a great commentary on the Micro Four Thirds system. Some people might think these are toy cameras, but they can produce high-quality photographs in any situation. I've never had anyone look at my photos and say that they could have been better if taken with a full-frame camera. I take lots of pictures in the network of public parks in my area, and the combination of smaller size/lighter weight of my GX9 and assortment of lenses is a distinct advantage.
Daniel thank you for the comment and for sharing your experience with Micro Four Thirds! I agree with what you said too, people can't really tell the difference unless they pixel peep very deep into the image, and that's not always noticeable too. 😊
As a professional photographer I use micro 4/3 for all the reasons you state in the video, and larger format when a job requires it. It’s the old saying, you use the right tools for the job.
Same here. Nikon D850 for bady lit night sports ( at 10000iso) Fuji XH1 for daytime sports, travel and fun. Now I have added an Olympus EM1 MkIII. Each system has a particular Len’s that really makes it shine. For Nikon it’s the 105 DFC and 300f4. In Fuji, the 50mm f2 and 90mm f2. The Olympus 12-40 f2.8 ? Currently exploring
@@agylub Olympus 12-40 f2.8 really is a gem, it can focus so close too.. Others aren't slouches either, 45mm f1.8 is crazy good for the money and I love the 40-150 f2.8. I have X-H1 too and GFX 50R.. but lately I've been using my Olympus gear more and more.. I'm upgrading my m43 stuff next.
I understand your love for M43 system. I own both FF (A7R) and M43 (E-M1 II, E-M10 II and a GX9) systems, and i absolutely love M43 because it's so much fun to use, practical and feature packed. I use M43 for 95% of the time, only picking up FF for extreme low light situations. Can't wait to see the new M43 cameras. Thanks for the video! 👍 Cheers from Portugal!
Thank you for the comment! I agree with what you said, sometimes FF can still be useful for lower light situation, but most of the time MFT can do what it does as well as FF. 😊
I was a pro photographer for over 45 years, during which time I've used a wide variety of equipment, from medium format film all the way to M43. Now retired, my system consists of two Olympus M43 bodies and a Panasonic GX80, with a variety of Olympus and Lumix lenses. Many of the criticisms people throw at the system combine a poor knowledge of basic principles with downright laziness. If someone knows what they're doing, there isn't much that can't be done as well on M43 as other formats. Obviously you wouldn't use it to create images for advertising billboards, though I have a very nice canvas print on my wall that's just over a meter wide, and was shot on the GX80.
MFT is excellent for the vast majority of situations. With Olympus hi res mode and today's AI software like Topaz, IQ is every bit as good as FF or better.
It is great that you are so passionate about m43. The best thing is how easily anyone can get into photography through the m43 system. You don't need to spend thousands to get exceptional quality. Even the cheapest kit lenses give great results.
Michael thank you for the kind comment! I agree with you, I remember that the kit lens that came with my GX7 was really great, the only thing that it doesn't have is only telephoto capabilities, but IQ wise it was crazy good for a kit lens! 😊
Well said & with respect to image quality, I'd like to request your thoughts on DxO Photolab, which you can download as a trial. M. Sulanto--when he was Lumix Ambassador--noted his images from G9 looked the same as from S1 after using DxO basic lens/camera correction. Also I share your feelings for David Thorpe who was a wonderful photographer & gentleman.
Hello Rick, thank you for the kind comment! As of DxO Photolab, unfortunately I have no experience with it yet, I am currently using Lightroom and sometimes Photoshop too. However, it sounds like a good alternative to Lightroom and might be something that I want to try in the future! Cheers 😊
@@Gary_W Thanks if health cooperates, my plan is to purchase Photolab at the Black Friday price--50 percent discount--& try to make A1 sized art prints with my G9 or G95; I will let you know how it goes.
i have a little fun game for you guys: before you watch the video, you have to put 2 or 3 lenses and a camera next to you so they are in reach. The rules are simple: every time Gary picks up a piece of gear and shakes it, you have to respond by picking up that same kind of piece of gear and shake it too. its almost like lens shaking wrist workout
Good job Gary, I have an original A7r and an original om 10. I always enjoy my olympus and yes the A7r gives great resolution but lens size and cost are an issue for me, i will be switching to m43 for all my needs in the near future👍
I agree with everything you said. I love MFT cameras myself. Just purchased a GH 4 mainly for video. Currently also own g85 and OMD em10 mk3. I've owned the GH 3 , G6, GX85 GX7 and the GX1. I can't wait to see what Panasonic is gonna put inside the GH6 even though I won't be able to afford it. I think Panasonic will send you one! You are a MFT ambassador. Take care.
Thank you Owen for the kind comment! That's a very great setup you have there! Haha I'm not yet an ambassador 😁 but I just really enjoy shooting pictures and videos with MFT. Take care too 😊
I've just switched from lumix to Fujifilm. The IQ was not one of the reasons why I changed, it was very sharp and very good as you said. But AF was a very bad way for me (kids are mooving so much !). I really ask myself about switching to Olympus but I've choosen Fujifilm (XT30II) for feeling, especially ergonomic dials. I could see that portraits was really better too in APSC. Of course, M43 system is very underrated and I had lot of hesitations before switching. Today I know i've done the good choice for my needs. I will continue to watch your channel anyway, I really like your gear and photography philosophy 👍
Nwyrkcted, thank you for the comment! I think it's good to hear that you are enjoying your new Fuji system! I am aware that MFT is not always for everybody, and I think what's important is to find the right system that prioritizes what we need without compromising too much in return. Once again thank you 😊
Because of the physical mass involved in the lenses and sensor, image stability is going to be better on M43 period. That fact offsets the need to use higher ISOs.
07:05 Thank you. I am too wondering how much IQ difference it would make shooting with a FF. Will have to experience that by myself eventually. I recall a recent video where a G9 vlogger moved to Sony FF. I was shocked how big the 24-700 lens was. Just don't want to use such a massive gear. Personnal preference, not denying the lens quality is superb. Also I am just more thrilled by the upcoming GH6 than any other release. Hopefully there will be a G10 or GX10 with the new sensor one day.
Thank you for the comment! I also hope that there will be a GX10 that's more advanced, and I also hope that C-AF for video will get better for M43. FF IQ is better, I can't deny that, but I really think MFT is the perfect compromise. 😊
David Thorpe was the one who convinced me of the merits of m43 as well about the same time you decide to switch. I have a Fuji x100v which is going on ebay next week and I have a Canon RP and a 5DMkII (inherited) which I use with vintage lenses but it's simply too bulky unless you are out for professional photo shoot. M43 is and always will be my system of choice because it's just so convenient!
omg it's like listening to my own self talking. i've had the (almost) exact same m43 experience as you do. started with canon apsc, switched to fuji, sold fuji, now settled with m43, all for the same reason u mentioned. i also mostly shoot during travel, landscape etc. i agree with all the advantages u mentioned about m43. i own the lumix gx85, and the lenses i use most are the 8-18mm f2.8-4, 35-100mm f2.8, and the 100-300mm that you're holding, for some wild life occasionally. i bring these 3 lenses with me in a small sling bag all the time when travelling. in this bag i can even fit in a mini tripod! keep up the good works!
Amen I couldn’t agree more. I shot with Nikon Sony FF Fujifilm but when I held the Olympus EM1-M3 at a photo store and saw the pictures I knew it’s the system for me. Since then I have purchased preowned Olympus pro series lenses and couldn’t be happier. I’m shooting more now because my cameras are with me and not sitting at home. Great video. Sub
Thank you for the kind comment! MFT is truly a great system, and small and light enough to carry anywhere without sacrificing too much in terms of image quality.
RIP David Thorpe. Him and Digitalrev with Kai and Lok was the reason I got into M43. I currently use the small GX850 and want to expand with a G9 for some 20mp goodness. Excellent video, thanks!
Thank you for the kind comment and for sharing your thoughts! GX850 is an excellent little camera, hope you'll also enjoy the G9 in the future! Cheers 😊
I use M4/3 and I have Sony A7c and an old Nex6. All of them take great pictures including the 10-year-old Sony Nex. But I prefer Micro 4/3s for some things, but the Sony A7c has better AF. That said for video Micro 4/3's is way better especially handheld, or in lighting situations that allow it. Crop factors don't change ISO, a full-frame 1.4 lens has to be stopped down to get enough depth of field for a video and requires raising the ISO, my G9 with a 1.4 lens can shoot at 1.4 and a lower ISO than my Sony, and the stabilization on the Sony is only okay, even with stabilized lenses it's not even close to the G9 (or Olympus cameras)using IBIS only. Olympus and Panasonic lenses are fantastic for the costs and weight. The new Panasonic GH6 and OM Systems OM-1 are fantastic cameras for the money, comparing quite well against full-frame camera's costing almost 3x as much.
I had a similar experience comparing my GX7 to my APS-C Canon. I have six LUMIX cameras now, from the LX100 II to the G9. And a Canon 5D III that never gets used.
We have very similar reasons on why I have this system with me. I didn't want to scream "photographer!" whenever I go out and shoot so I had to find another alternative. I was looking at system cameras in 2014/2015 when I saw the GX7 and the tiny GM5. They actually punch above their weight. I went with the GM5 which I still have now. For me, Panasonic's RAW files are just superb in terms of detail. I can just extract a lot of detail from their RAW images. I bought newer MFT cameras but then sold them because I didn't see much difference in terms of quality and representation. I still print, by the way. Now, even with newer software, I can clean my high ISO images way better than before and extract more details from the RAW files. I also do video, which is why I chose Panasonic. They just produce beautiful videos and I don't get that much rolling shutter because of the smaller sensor. I have just subscribed. Cheers!
Eldo, thank you very much for the comment and for sharing your experience as well! I agree with what you said, image quality of MFT is more than good enough for most of everyday needs. Cheers 😊
Gotta say I do love my Olympus Pen F micro 4/3 camera and Olympus and Panasonic/Leica lenses. I can pack the camera and three lens (12, 15, & 25 or 17, 25, & 45) into Peak Design's smallest Everyday Sling bag, which isn't much bigger than a typical fanny pack. I took the Oly camera and the Panasonic 100-300 lens to Hawaii a while back and captured some excellent shots of whales off shore hand held. Thanks for the nice video.
Using a Sony A7C with samyang 17mm f/2.8, 24mm f/1.8, 35mm f/1.8, 45mm f/1.8 and 75mm/1.8, you will be surprised as they are so light weight and IQ is totally better than M43. I owned many M43 camera + lenses, but honestly, having the lightweight lenses from samyang, I don't even think about M43 or Fujifilm X100V or Fujifilm X-E4.
That's a very fair point to be honest, I think the key with any camera system is to find the right lenses. It sounds like you figured out to balance the weight with performance! Cheers 😊
A few years ago noise on Micro 4/3 was a problem. Now Topaz AI and DXO Deep Prime are the game changers for Micro 3/4. And they will improve in the future. Clean images up to ISO 25600. And up to ISO 6400 without significant loss of details. Upscaling with AI also looks better than high resolution mode in my Olympus cameras.
I agree with your arguments for M43. I still own a Sony A7 (the first model), and image quality is better than with my Oly Pen F digital - but the fun factor is much, much larger with M43. But it doesn't stop there - I never was inclined to buy some "real" lenses for the A7 (only had the kit zoom and used old SLR and Leica-Mount lenses), while I instantly had my M43 lenses "lined up" without much consideration to do! Lenses are still the main argument for me when it comes to M43 (nobody has to buy those M43 monster lenses, there are always smaller alternatives of really good quality). Oh, and Sony lenses are much more expensive (another reason why I refrained from buying one). I thought about going Fuji with APS-C, or switching to another APS-C system, even considered FF again - but it never "clicked". So I'll stay with M43 (and use film for larger formats).
Christian thank you very much for the comment and for sharing your thoughts as well! I understand what you said about the A7 never "clicked", I handled Fujifilm and Sony cameras in the past and although they are excellent when it comes to IQ and performance, MFT is more fun to use! Cheers 😊
Saya senang dengan konten Anda. Sangat jelas.. Saya juga pecinta MFT, pertama kali pakai GF3 dan akhirnya beralih ke canon 60d lalu ke 7d mark II..namun semakin lama saya merasa kurang praktis saat pergi, dan berasa saat saya backpacker ke Eropa.. Dan sepulang dr sana akhirnya nambah GX8. Lensa pun semakin banyak pilihan dan malah lebih enak pakai GX8 untuk Street photography. Minggu lalu saya ingin membeli compact camera. Karena dirasa praktis.. Dan Saya nemu channel ini akhirnya nambah lx100 ii. 🤭🤭 Kalau dibilang fanatik MFT lumix saat ini sih iya.. 🤭 Thank you.. Sukses selalu..
awalnya gw beli mirrorless gak pilih2 merk, cuman cari yg ada ibis nya. gak kenal juga sama m43. pilihan jatuh ke lumix gx85 krn ada ibis nya. Berikutnya baru tau kalo lumix sama oly pake m43 system. lensanya kecil, ringan, murah tapi tajemmm... gak salah beli dah. apalagi itu 14-140mm. dahsyat dah.
The issue now days is that m4/3 almost lost the size and weight advantages vs competitors.It is only tele lens arena where m4/3 has advantage due to a crop factor.In all other aspects larger format sensors are surpassing m4/3 (not going to mention Panasonic horrible idea about auto focus) also in the price and portability.
Thank you! Mostly nowadays it's the Billingham Hadley either Pro or Small. If I don't carry a lot then ONA Bowery. For domestic travel mostly ONA Prince Street.
Just decided an declared today that for me, there will be only Nikon Z5 even only with slow kit lense...you may have just reverted this back to Panasonic G90 with 12-35 f2.8 ii, very good video, thank you so much.
We should stop calling it full frame. Compared to a medium format system, "full frame" is not full frame. The actual name of the format, as invented by Leica, is "Kleinbild", which literally means "small frame". "full frame" was invented as a small frame system compared to the larger medium format and large format cameras.
I use M43 for weddings. There are good and bad things about M43 for wedding photography depending on how you like to shoot. Noise at ISO 6,400 was not good. Noise reduction fixes that but I was not happy with Adobe Lightroom noise reduction. Was thinking about switching but I tried DXO PhotoLab and DXO PureRaw noise reduction and now ISO 6,400 is very good. As for bokeh sometimes I want more bokeh and I'm not always getting that sweet full frame 85mm f1.2 look. But I tried Luminar A.I. and that is amazing its not perfect but most of the time it works. And I'm hearing Luminar NEO the masking tool will be a lot better. So my need for full frame for the most part is gone other then wanting to shoot at higher ISO then 6,400. But a lot of times pushed ISO 6,400 to even 25,600 works but full frame would be better. If I go full frame I'm keeping my M43 gear and just buy some full frame gear maybe for portraits and maybe some extreme low light wedding stuff but I'll bring my full frame with my M43 at weddings. Full frame will just be some extra gear I have.
Thank you for sharing your experience and setup there! I agree that high ISO noise isn't the strength of MFT. Glad to see you are able to find some balance between MFT and full frame and to mix MFT and full frame!
the strange thing is: you can talk yourself into any system if you layout enough positive arguments for it. for me, it is quite simple: do i NEED fullframe, is there anything specific i really need or want ff for? well for 99% of the time... to be honest... no on the flipside, there are a lot of actual useful benefits that are exclusive to mft, you benefit from every day with almost no drawbacks that would affect me at all in 99% of the cases. so just based on that, why then not just go m43 and save money on top. i think people need to shift the way they evaluate their needs. you need to put that in perspective at how many time do you actually need that. yes ff has better high iso... but if only 5% of the photos you take would benefit from higher iso, its kind of illogical to buy a piece of hardware for the 5% case. a different FF Bokeh would benefit 8% of my photos, having no crop would benefit 3% of my photos... however lighter weight of mft benefits 100% of my usage, lower lens cost benefit 100% of my camera usage and so on.
Totally agree with you. Using G95 here, the balance between IQ and weight is just perfect. Love it. Within m43 what made you go for lumix instead of olympus body? Cheers buddy great content keep it up!
Hello, thank you for the comment! I was using Olympus as well back in the days, E-PL6, but somebody made me a really good offer to buy my E-PL6 and I sold it without hesitation! 😁 Anyway now I'm leaning more towards Panasonic because after I sold my E-PL6, I only have a GX7 and GX8, and has somewhat become very familiar to how these cameras perform, how the image and footage look, and how their interface work. However, I am still considering Olympus (or OM?) cameras as strong options for future upgrades! 😊
I agree that M43 has been the most practical system for anyone wishing to take good photographs. I guess also for video, but I know little about that. The problem is the future. The problem is the supply chain. The lens, the sensor and the image processors are core components of digital cameras. The world image sensor production and market share are dominated by two companies. The top four companies have about half of each other successively: 40% (Sony) 20% (Samsung) 12% (Omnivision) and 6% (STM). With size come cost and R&D advantages. Result: Panasonic and Olympus depend upon Sony for this key component. Sony is a big company, so the management of the sensor division does not take orders from the camera executives. At the same time, it is hard to believe that Sony will prioritize the components of Oly and Panny over those of a sister division. Because of this neither Lumix nor OM Systems have been able to fully capitalize on the speed advantage of the M43 format, instead focussing on compensating for its limitations, leading to ever larger bodies and lenses. For now I am sitting tight, waiting to see what happens. I am happy with the quality of M43 for the reasons you have provided so well. Unfortunately my M43 now needs a repair. My inner debate: should I get a used GX8, GX9 or get an em1ii for the focus and stabilization. I think the GX9 is best for size, GX8 for fun, em1 ii for performance. I would appreciate second opinions. Mostly for stills; videos are secondary.
Thank you for your comment! 😊 Sadly I agree with you too, especially these days what you said is really true. We'll have to see if Sony or other manufacturers will prioritize MFT sensor development in the future, otherwise MFT sensor technology will stuck in its current state for a long time ☹
I would buy a micro4/3, but the autofocus in video is no good and the good lenses are pricier than Canon. The Canon M50 II is small, have better autofocus in video and you have A LOT of good cheap EF and EF-S lenses. Only problem is the long zoom lenses, the micro4/3 are smaller.
I agree that APS-C Canon cameras are smaller and maybe not as pricy. MFT is a bit pricy in my opinion. And yes, the continuous AF in video sucks, I wish they would fix that in the future.
The problem for me is the cameras are too dated. Or they are big, which defeats the purpose. Moved to Fuji XE4 and it's modern and small. More expensive lenses though
Great video. I'm perplexed as I found that my $600 Lumix G7 is giving me better video than my $3,500 Sony A7R111. Lumix kit lens v adapted Canon L lens. Any idea please.
Thank you for the kind comment! Same here, my Canon EOS M, EOS Rebels, all had better and bigger sensor, but the image quality is poorer compared to my old Panasonic GX7. What Canon lens did you use on the A7RIII? There are some L series lenses that need to be stopped down a lot to get sharp pictures, and there are some L lenses that suffer from front/back focus when using adapter if I am not mistaken.
Rest in peace David Thorpe! Sadly, I only discovered his channel after he passed away cause that`s when I started the hobby. If I recognize correctly then I am using the exact same camera as you: Lumix GX80. Although ISO 3200 would be the last resort for me as I find it a bit too noisy for comfort. On the plus side I can comfortably shoot up to 0.5 seconds if there isn`t motion, thus not needing an ISO more than 800 most of the time. though in bars and parties it is hard to get people to hold still so ISO needs to come up and that`s when I start thinking about an upgrade! Not sure the current crop of 20 MP sensors from panasonic and olympus are much better in terms of ISO though. for example is a G9 or an EM1 mkiii much cleaner at 3200 than a GX80? anyone got experinece with this?
Hello Ed, thank you for the comment and for sharing your thoughts! David Thorpe is still is a big influence for me. I do have a G85 which uses the same sensor as your GX80. Regarding 20MP sensor vs GX80/G85/GX7 sensor, I have a GX8 which has a 20MP sensor, and to my eyes, there's no improvement in low light performance, and the G85 still holds up pretty well in my opinion. The pictures taken using both the G85 and GX8 are literally indistinguishable 😁
@@Gary_W thanks for the reply Gary! So it is as I suspected. No need to upgrade my GX80 to another MFT system. If low light continues to be an issue I might have to get a Sony a7 Mark III or something similar as a second camera. Wish you best of luck with the channel ^^
@@zibert55 in APS C it will be f/2.8 and in medium format, it really depends on which manufacturer (Phase One is using larger medium format sensor), but I would say f/5.6 maybe. Hope this helps!
@@peterreber7671 I apologize this can get quite confusing, but for example an MFT lens with aperture of f2, then to get the same depth of field, you will just need f2.8 in APS-C, or f4 in full frame. Meaning that we need to crank up the aperture in MFT to get more blur compared to larger APS-C or FF. I hope this explains 😊
@@Gary_W Where I live, an EOS R with the RF 50mm f/1.8 is lighter and cheaper than the Lumix G9 with any pro lens, yet they would produce better images than anything m43 has to offer.
![เปิดใจ พี่ญา คนรุม หลังทัวร์ลง หนักสุดในชีวิต!! l [Nickynachat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/2-OJZRtclro/mqdefault.jpg)
Feel free to jump to any part of the video!
00:00 Start
00:55 Introduction
01:55 Before M43, Canon DSLR
04:10 How I Discover M43
05:54 MFT Present Situation
07:05 What if I use Full Frame?
09:16 MFT vs Other Formats?
14:19 Conclusion
David Thorpe was a treasure that was gone all too soon. I didn't know him, but I loved watching his videos. For me too, he played a large role in my adaption of the m43 system, starting with the GX7. Anyway, great video!
Thank you for the comment Will! David Thorpe is one of my influence not just in jumping into Micro Four Thirds but also his style of photography as well. Once again thank you 😊
I'm stumped, I didn't know he had passed. :(
@@RDMracer Sadly yes, his family is keeping his channel up and even added a few short videos.
David Thorpe was the gentleman who got to look at Micro four thirds. His name sounds like Thorp, the e is silent.
This is a great commentary on the Micro Four Thirds system. Some people might think these are toy cameras, but they can produce high-quality photographs in any situation. I've never had anyone look at my photos and say that they could have been better if taken with a full-frame camera. I take lots of pictures in the network of public parks in my area, and the combination of smaller size/lighter weight of my GX9 and assortment of lenses is a distinct advantage.
Daniel thank you for the comment and for sharing your experience with Micro Four Thirds! I agree with what you said too, people can't really tell the difference unless they pixel peep very deep into the image, and that's not always noticeable too. 😊
As a professional photographer I use micro 4/3 for all the reasons you state in the video, and larger format when a job requires it.
It’s the old saying, you use the right tools for the job.
Gary thank you for the comment! I agree with you, use the right tool for the job. Cheers 😊
Same here. Nikon D850 for bady lit night sports ( at 10000iso) Fuji XH1 for daytime sports, travel and fun. Now I have added an Olympus EM1 MkIII. Each system has a particular Len’s that really makes it shine. For Nikon it’s the 105 DFC and 300f4. In Fuji, the 50mm f2 and 90mm f2. The Olympus 12-40 f2.8 ? Currently exploring
@@agylub Olympus 12-40 f2.8 really is a gem, it can focus so close too.. Others aren't slouches either, 45mm f1.8 is crazy good for the money and I love the 40-150 f2.8. I have X-H1 too and GFX 50R.. but lately I've been using my Olympus gear more and more.. I'm upgrading my m43 stuff next.
I understand your love for M43 system. I own both FF (A7R) and M43 (E-M1
II, E-M10 II and a GX9) systems, and i absolutely love M43 because it's so much fun to use, practical and feature packed. I use M43 for 95% of the time, only picking up FF for extreme low light situations. Can't wait to see the new M43 cameras. Thanks for the video! 👍
Cheers from Portugal!
Thank you for the comment! I agree with what you said, sometimes FF can still be useful for lower light situation, but most of the time MFT can do what it does as well as FF. 😊
I was a pro photographer for over 45 years, during which time I've used a wide variety of equipment, from medium format film all the way to M43. Now retired, my system consists of two Olympus M43 bodies and a Panasonic GX80, with a variety of Olympus and Lumix lenses. Many of the criticisms people throw at the system combine a poor knowledge of basic principles with downright laziness. If someone knows what they're doing, there isn't much that can't be done as well on M43 as other formats. Obviously you wouldn't use it to create images for advertising billboards, though I have a very nice canvas print on my wall that's just over a meter wide, and was shot on the GX80.
Keith thank you so much for the comment, and for sharing your experience as a professional! Good to hear that M43 works well for your needs! Cheers 😊
MFT is excellent for the vast majority of situations. With Olympus hi res mode and today's AI software like Topaz, IQ is every bit as good as FF or better.
It is great that you are so passionate about m43. The best thing is how easily anyone can get into photography through the m43 system. You don't need to spend thousands to get exceptional quality. Even the cheapest kit lenses give great results.
Michael thank you for the kind comment! I agree with you, I remember that the kit lens that came with my GX7 was really great, the only thing that it doesn't have is only telephoto capabilities, but IQ wise it was crazy good for a kit lens! 😊
Well said & with respect to image quality, I'd like to request your thoughts on DxO Photolab, which you can download as a trial. M. Sulanto--when he was Lumix Ambassador--noted his images from G9 looked the same as from S1 after using DxO basic lens/camera correction. Also I share your feelings for David Thorpe who was a wonderful photographer & gentleman.
Hello Rick, thank you for the kind comment! As of DxO Photolab, unfortunately I have no experience with it yet, I am currently using Lightroom and sometimes Photoshop too. However, it sounds like a good alternative to Lightroom and might be something that I want to try in the future! Cheers 😊
@@Gary_W Thanks if health cooperates, my plan is to purchase Photolab at the Black Friday price--50 percent discount--& try to make A1 sized art prints with my G9 or G95; I will let you know how it goes.
i have a little fun game for you guys:
before you watch the video, you have to put 2 or 3 lenses and a camera next to you so they are in reach. The rules are simple: every time Gary picks up a piece of gear and shakes it, you have to respond by picking up that same kind of piece of gear and shake it too.
its almost like lens shaking wrist workout
Good job Gary, I have an original A7r and an original om 10. I always enjoy my olympus and yes the A7r gives great resolution but lens size and cost are an issue for me, i will be switching to m43 for all my needs in the near future👍
Derek thank you for the comment! I am very happy with my MFT setup so far 😊
I agree with everything you said. I love MFT cameras myself. Just purchased a GH 4 mainly for video. Currently also own g85 and OMD em10 mk3. I've owned the GH 3 , G6, GX85 GX7 and the GX1. I can't wait to see what Panasonic is gonna put inside the GH6 even though I won't be able to afford it. I think Panasonic will send you one! You are a MFT ambassador. Take care.
Thank you Owen for the kind comment! That's a very great setup you have there! Haha I'm not yet an ambassador 😁 but I just really enjoy shooting pictures and videos with MFT. Take care too 😊
@@Gary_W To each their own. Sony still reigns supreme in terms of being the standard.
I've just switched from lumix to Fujifilm. The IQ was not one of the reasons why I changed, it was very sharp and very good as you said. But AF was a very bad way for me (kids are mooving so much !). I really ask myself about switching to Olympus but I've choosen Fujifilm (XT30II) for feeling, especially ergonomic dials. I could see that portraits was really better too in APSC.
Of course, M43 system is very underrated and I had lot of hesitations before switching. Today I know i've done the good choice for my needs.
I will continue to watch your channel anyway, I really like your gear and photography philosophy 👍
Nwyrkcted, thank you for the comment! I think it's good to hear that you are enjoying your new Fuji system! I am aware that MFT is not always for everybody, and I think what's important is to find the right system that prioritizes what we need without compromising too much in return. Once again thank you 😊
You left M43 to Fuji because of the AF? The noisy and slow AF is the reason I sold my Fuji gear to go back to M43.
Because of the physical mass involved in the lenses and sensor, image stability is going to be better on M43 period. That fact offsets the need to use higher ISOs.
07:05 Thank you. I am too wondering how much IQ difference it would make shooting with a FF. Will have to experience that by myself eventually.
I recall a recent video where a G9 vlogger moved to Sony FF. I was shocked how big the 24-700 lens was. Just don't want to use such a massive gear. Personnal preference, not denying the lens quality is superb.
Also I am just more thrilled by the upcoming GH6 than any other release. Hopefully there will be a G10 or GX10 with the new sensor one day.
Thank you for the comment! I also hope that there will be a GX10 that's more advanced, and I also hope that C-AF for video will get better for M43. FF IQ is better, I can't deny that, but I really think MFT is the perfect compromise. 😊
David Thorpe was the one who convinced me of the merits of m43 as well about the same time you decide to switch. I have a Fuji x100v which is going on ebay next week and I have a Canon RP and a 5DMkII (inherited) which I use with vintage lenses but it's simply too bulky unless you are out for professional photo shoot. M43 is and always will be my system of choice because it's just so convenient!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience! MFT is really convenient, I really enjoy using MFT for travel!
omg it's like listening to my own self talking. i've had the (almost) exact same m43 experience as you do. started with canon apsc, switched to fuji, sold fuji, now settled with m43, all for the same reason u mentioned. i also mostly shoot during travel, landscape etc. i agree with all the advantages u mentioned about m43. i own the lumix gx85, and the lenses i use most are the 8-18mm f2.8-4, 35-100mm f2.8, and the 100-300mm that you're holding, for some wild life occasionally. i bring these 3 lenses with me in a small sling bag all the time when travelling. in this bag i can even fit in a mini tripod!
keep up the good works!
Jason thank you very much for the kind words and for sharing your thoughts and experience! Happy shooting, cheers! 😊
So much more interesting to listen to you than family drama's like the Northrop's.
Thank you very much for the kind comment!
Amen I couldn’t agree more. I shot with Nikon Sony FF Fujifilm but when I held the Olympus EM1-M3 at a photo store and saw the pictures I knew it’s the system for me. Since then I have purchased preowned Olympus pro series lenses and couldn’t be happier. I’m shooting more now because my cameras are with me and not sitting at home. Great video. Sub
Thank you for the kind comment! MFT is truly a great system, and small and light enough to carry anywhere without sacrificing too much in terms of image quality.
RIP David Thorpe. Him and Digitalrev with Kai and Lok was the reason I got into M43. I currently use the small GX850 and want to expand with a G9 for some 20mp goodness. Excellent video, thanks!
Thank you for the kind comment and for sharing your thoughts! GX850 is an excellent little camera, hope you'll also enjoy the G9 in the future! Cheers 😊
Thank you! fine video, m43 ist also my thing ... gx7 with lumix lenses and great adapted old fujinon lenses.
I use M4/3 and I have Sony A7c and an old Nex6. All of them take great pictures including the 10-year-old Sony Nex. But I prefer Micro 4/3s for some things, but the Sony A7c has better AF. That said for video Micro 4/3's is way better especially handheld, or in lighting situations that allow it. Crop factors don't change ISO, a full-frame 1.4 lens has to be stopped down to get enough depth of field for a video and requires raising the ISO, my G9 with a 1.4 lens can shoot at 1.4 and a lower ISO than my Sony, and the stabilization on the Sony is only okay, even with stabilized lenses it's not even close to the G9 (or Olympus cameras)using IBIS only. Olympus and Panasonic lenses are fantastic for the costs and weight. The new Panasonic GH6 and OM Systems OM-1 are fantastic cameras for the money, comparing quite well against full-frame camera's costing almost 3x as much.
Thanks Gary for another upbeat video about photography in general and micro four thirds in particular!
Thank you Joe for the kind comment! 😊
David Thorpe was the reason I got into micro four thirds as well. 👍
RIP David Thorpe. I am still very much inspired by his videos and some of his works from his website!
I had a similar experience comparing my GX7 to my APS-C Canon. I have six LUMIX cameras now, from the LX100 II to the G9. And a Canon 5D III that never gets used.
Scott, thank you for sharing your experience! Woww 6 Lumix cameras!! That's fantastic! Cheers 😊
@@Gary_W and my daughter has my old GX1. That would make 7, haha.
@@skfineshriber 😁 That's very impressive! Cheers Scott! 😊
We have very similar reasons on why I have this system with me. I didn't want to scream "photographer!" whenever I go out and shoot so I had to find another alternative. I was looking at system cameras in 2014/2015 when I saw the GX7 and the tiny GM5. They actually punch above their weight. I went with the GM5 which I still have now.
For me, Panasonic's RAW files are just superb in terms of detail. I can just extract a lot of detail from their RAW images. I bought newer MFT cameras but then sold them because I didn't see much difference in terms of quality and representation. I still print, by the way. Now, even with newer software, I can clean my high ISO images way better than before and extract more details from the RAW files.
I also do video, which is why I chose Panasonic. They just produce beautiful videos and I don't get that much rolling shutter because of the smaller sensor.
I have just subscribed. Cheers!
Eldo, thank you very much for the comment and for sharing your experience as well! I agree with what you said, image quality of MFT is more than good enough for most of everyday needs. Cheers 😊
Gotta say I do love my Olympus Pen F micro 4/3 camera and Olympus and Panasonic/Leica lenses. I can pack the camera and three lens (12, 15, & 25 or 17, 25, & 45) into Peak Design's smallest Everyday Sling bag, which isn't much bigger than a typical fanny pack. I took the Oly camera and the Panasonic 100-300 lens to Hawaii a while back and captured some excellent shots of whales off shore hand held. Thanks for the nice video.
Great setup, looks very versatile and awesome for all sorts of photography! Thank you for the kind comment 😊!
Using a Sony A7C with samyang 17mm f/2.8, 24mm f/1.8, 35mm f/1.8, 45mm f/1.8 and 75mm/1.8, you will be surprised as they are so light weight and IQ is totally better than M43. I owned many M43 camera + lenses, but honestly, having the lightweight lenses from samyang, I don't even think about M43 or Fujifilm X100V or Fujifilm X-E4.
That's a very fair point to be honest, I think the key with any camera system is to find the right lenses. It sounds like you figured out to balance the weight with performance! Cheers 😊
A few years ago noise on Micro 4/3 was a problem.
Now Topaz AI and DXO Deep Prime are the game changers for Micro 3/4. And they will improve in the future.
Clean images up to ISO 25600. And up to ISO 6400 without significant loss of details.
Upscaling with AI also looks better than high resolution mode in my Olympus cameras.
Marek thanks for sharing your experience regarding using Topaz AI and DXO Deep Prime, I will check them out later! Cheers 😊
I agree with your arguments for M43. I still own a Sony A7 (the first model), and image quality is better than with my Oly Pen F digital - but the fun factor is much, much larger with M43. But it doesn't stop there - I never was inclined to buy some "real" lenses for the A7 (only had the kit zoom and used old SLR and Leica-Mount lenses), while I instantly had my M43 lenses "lined up" without much consideration to do! Lenses are still the main argument for me when it comes to M43 (nobody has to buy those M43 monster lenses, there are always smaller alternatives of really good quality). Oh, and Sony lenses are much more expensive (another reason why I refrained from buying one). I thought about going Fuji with APS-C, or switching to another APS-C system, even considered FF again - but it never "clicked". So I'll stay with M43 (and use film for larger formats).
Christian thank you very much for the comment and for sharing your thoughts as well! I understand what you said about the A7 never "clicked", I handled Fujifilm and Sony cameras in the past and although they are excellent when it comes to IQ and performance, MFT is more fun to use! Cheers 😊
Saya senang dengan konten Anda. Sangat jelas.. Saya juga pecinta MFT, pertama kali pakai GF3 dan akhirnya beralih ke canon 60d lalu ke 7d mark II..namun semakin lama saya merasa kurang praktis saat pergi, dan berasa saat saya backpacker ke Eropa.. Dan sepulang dr sana akhirnya nambah GX8. Lensa pun semakin banyak pilihan dan malah lebih enak pakai GX8 untuk Street photography. Minggu lalu saya ingin membeli compact camera. Karena dirasa praktis.. Dan Saya nemu channel ini akhirnya nambah lx100 ii. 🤭🤭 Kalau dibilang fanatik MFT lumix saat ini sih iya.. 🤭 Thank you.. Sukses selalu..
Thank you commentnya kak! Wah mantab dari GF3, ke GX8, ke LX100II, keren kak! Sukses selalu juga kak, once again thank you 😊
Great video I agree with your views on micro 4/3. Also liked your reference to David Thorpe, he was very inspirational for me.
Thank you for the kind comment! 😊
Olympus EM5 III with 14-150mm lens, small and very good combo for travel light
It is a great setup! Thank you for sharing your setup! 😊
awalnya gw beli mirrorless gak pilih2 merk, cuman cari yg ada ibis nya. gak kenal juga sama m43. pilihan jatuh ke lumix gx85 krn ada ibis nya. Berikutnya baru tau kalo lumix sama oly pake m43 system. lensanya kecil, ringan, murah tapi tajemmm... gak salah beli dah. apalagi itu 14-140mm. dahsyat dah.
Setuju banget kak, gak salah beli hehehe. Makasih comment nya kak 😊
The issue now days is that m4/3 almost lost the size and weight advantages vs competitors.It is only tele lens arena where m4/3 has advantage due to a crop factor.In all other aspects larger format sensors are surpassing m4/3 (not going to mention Panasonic horrible idea about auto focus) also in the price and portability.
Great Video! As you travel so much, may I know what your preferred camera bag is? Takes care.
Thank you! Mostly nowadays it's the Billingham Hadley either Pro or Small. If I don't carry a lot then ONA Bowery. For domestic travel mostly ONA Prince Street.
Good overview and very nice sample pictures.
Glad you enjoyed the video! Thank you for the comment 😊
Great. The form factor doesn't affect your photo! Hope so that mft will get a new revolution of sensor soon.
Thank you for the kind comment! I hope so too, we need better sensor for the newer MFT cameras! Cheers 😊
@@Gary_W Ya..soon will be, after Sony upgrade its system then next the mft sensor.!!
Just decided an declared today that for me, there will be only Nikon Z5 even only with slow kit lense...you may have just reverted this back to Panasonic G90 with 12-35 f2.8 ii, very good video, thank you so much.
You are very welcome Gershon, thank you for the kind comment! 😊
We should stop calling it full frame. Compared to a medium format system, "full frame" is not full frame. The actual name of the format, as invented by Leica, is "Kleinbild", which literally means "small frame". "full frame" was invented as a small frame system compared to the larger medium format and large format cameras.
I use M43 for weddings. There are good and bad things about M43 for wedding photography depending on how you like to shoot. Noise at ISO 6,400 was not good. Noise reduction fixes that but I was not happy with Adobe Lightroom noise reduction. Was thinking about switching but I tried DXO PhotoLab and DXO PureRaw noise reduction and now ISO 6,400 is very good.
As for bokeh sometimes I want more bokeh and I'm not always getting that sweet full frame 85mm f1.2 look. But I tried Luminar A.I. and that is amazing its not perfect but most of the time it works. And I'm hearing Luminar NEO the masking tool will be a lot better.
So my need for full frame for the most part is gone other then wanting to shoot at higher ISO then 6,400. But a lot of times pushed ISO 6,400 to even 25,600 works but full frame would be better.
If I go full frame I'm keeping my M43 gear and just buy some full frame gear maybe for portraits and maybe some extreme low light wedding stuff but I'll bring my full frame with my M43 at weddings. Full frame will just be some extra gear I have.
Thank you for sharing your experience and setup there! I agree that high ISO noise isn't the strength of MFT. Glad to see you are able to find some balance between MFT and full frame and to mix MFT and full frame!
MFT is closer to the human eye than any other cameras and Robin Wong proved using ISO200 in lowlight is as good as FF.
the strange thing is: you can talk yourself into any system if you layout enough positive arguments for it.
for me, it is quite simple:
do i NEED fullframe, is there anything specific i really need or want ff for? well for 99% of the time... to be honest... no
on the flipside, there are a lot of actual useful benefits that are exclusive to mft, you benefit from every day with almost no drawbacks that would affect me at all in 99% of the cases.
so just based on that, why then not just go m43 and save money on top. i think people need to shift the way they evaluate their needs. you need to put that in perspective at how many time do you actually need that. yes ff has better high iso... but if only 5% of the photos you take would benefit from higher iso, its kind of illogical to buy a piece of hardware for the 5% case. a different FF Bokeh would benefit 8% of my photos, having no crop would benefit 3% of my photos...
however lighter weight of mft benefits 100% of my usage, lower lens cost benefit 100% of my camera usage and so on.
Totally agree with you. Using G95 here, the balance between IQ and weight is just perfect. Love it. Within m43 what made you go for lumix instead of olympus body? Cheers buddy great content keep it up!
Hello, thank you for the comment! I was using Olympus as well back in the days, E-PL6, but somebody made me a really good offer to buy my E-PL6 and I sold it without hesitation! 😁
Anyway now I'm leaning more towards Panasonic because after I sold my E-PL6, I only have a GX7 and GX8, and has somewhat become very familiar to how these cameras perform, how the image and footage look, and how their interface work.
However, I am still considering Olympus (or OM?) cameras as strong options for future upgrades! 😊
I agree that M43 has been the most practical system for anyone wishing to take good photographs. I guess also for video, but I know little about that. The problem is the future. The problem is the supply chain. The lens, the sensor and the image processors are core components of digital cameras. The world image sensor production and market share are dominated by two companies. The top four companies have about half of each other successively: 40% (Sony) 20% (Samsung) 12% (Omnivision) and 6% (STM). With size come cost and R&D advantages. Result: Panasonic and Olympus depend upon Sony for this key component. Sony is a big company, so the management of the sensor division does not take orders from the camera executives. At the same time, it is hard to believe that Sony will prioritize the components of Oly and Panny over those of a sister division. Because of this neither Lumix nor OM Systems have been able to fully capitalize on the speed advantage of the M43 format, instead focussing on compensating for its limitations, leading to ever larger bodies and lenses.
For now I am sitting tight, waiting to see what happens. I am happy with the quality of M43 for the reasons you have provided so well. Unfortunately my M43 now needs a repair. My inner debate: should I get a used GX8, GX9 or get an em1ii for the focus and stabilization. I think the GX9 is best for size, GX8 for fun, em1 ii for performance. I would appreciate second opinions. Mostly for stills; videos are secondary.
Thank you for your comment! 😊 Sadly I agree with you too, especially these days what you said is really true. We'll have to see if Sony or other manufacturers will prioritize MFT sensor development in the future, otherwise MFT sensor technology will stuck in its current state for a long time ☹
I would buy a micro4/3, but the autofocus in video is no good and the good lenses are pricier than Canon. The Canon M50 II is small, have better autofocus in video and you have A LOT of good cheap EF and EF-S lenses. Only problem is the long zoom lenses, the micro4/3 are smaller.
I agree that APS-C Canon cameras are smaller and maybe not as pricy. MFT is a bit pricy in my opinion. And yes, the continuous AF in video sucks, I wish they would fix that in the future.
Leave a Sony A7 series in the rain, and you'll want a Panny or an OM with sealing.
Great Video - greetings from 🇨🇭
Thank you for the kind comment! Greetings from Indonesia 😊
The problem for me is the cameras are too dated. Or they are big, which defeats the purpose. Moved to Fuji XE4 and it's modern and small. More expensive lenses though
Sadly I have to agree with you that the newer MFT cameras are not yet significantly upgraded. Thank you for the comment 😊
@@Gary_W loved my GM1. Really like EM10 too.
I loved 20mm pancake, 25mm Leica, 45mm oly, 75mm. And the oly pro zoom is good but too big.
Great video. I'm perplexed as I found that my $600 Lumix G7 is giving me better video than my $3,500 Sony A7R111. Lumix kit lens v adapted Canon L lens. Any idea please.
Thank you for the kind comment! Same here, my Canon EOS M, EOS Rebels, all had better and bigger sensor, but the image quality is poorer compared to my old Panasonic GX7. What Canon lens did you use on the A7RIII? There are some L series lenses that need to be stopped down a lot to get sharp pictures, and there are some L lenses that suffer from front/back focus when using adapter if I am not mistaken.
@@Gary_W Canon 16-35 mostly. Fine for stills but not great for video. Always manual focus. Thanks.
What lens and camera did you use to shoot yourself for this interesting video?
I believe it was my G85 with PanLeica 15mm 1.7 😊
@@Gary_W Thanks
Rest in peace David Thorpe! Sadly, I only discovered his channel after he passed away cause that`s when I started the hobby.
If I recognize correctly then I am using the exact same camera as you: Lumix GX80. Although ISO 3200 would be the last resort for me as I find it a bit too noisy for comfort. On the plus side I can comfortably shoot up to 0.5 seconds if there isn`t motion, thus not needing an ISO more than 800 most of the time. though in bars and parties it is hard to get people to hold still so ISO needs to come up and that`s when I start thinking about an upgrade! Not sure the current crop of 20 MP sensors from panasonic and olympus are much better in terms of ISO though. for example is a G9 or an EM1 mkiii much cleaner at 3200 than a GX80? anyone got experinece with this?
Hello Ed, thank you for the comment and for sharing your thoughts! David Thorpe is still is a big influence for me. I do have a G85 which uses the same sensor as your GX80. Regarding 20MP sensor vs GX80/G85/GX7 sensor, I have a GX8 which has a 20MP sensor, and to my eyes, there's no improvement in low light performance, and the G85 still holds up pretty well in my opinion. The pictures taken using both the G85 and GX8 are literally indistinguishable 😁
@@Gary_W thanks for the reply Gary!
So it is as I suspected. No need to upgrade my GX80 to another MFT system. If low light continues to be an issue I might have to get a Sony a7 Mark III or something similar as a second camera.
Wish you best of luck with the channel ^^
How many lenses do you have for Micro 4/3?
Currently I have 10, but I am planning to add some new ones maybe next year 😊
@@Gary_W nice - look forward to more lens reviews.
I have also watched David Torpe channel and agree ps Torpe is pronounced Torp e at end i silent
Michael thank you for the comment, and thank you for correcting my pronunciation! Cheers 😊
13:30 what is aputure equivalence?
f/2 in Micro Four Thirds is equivalent to f/4 in Full Frame format
@@Gary_W in aps-c and medium format that equivalence work to?
@@zibert55 in APS C it will be f/2.8 and in medium format, it really depends on which manufacturer (Phase One is using larger medium format sensor), but I would say f/5.6 maybe. Hope this helps!
@@Gary_W isn't it the other way around? Because if it is a you say the MFT camera would have a smaller DOF, I.e. more blur.
@@peterreber7671 I apologize this can get quite confusing, but for example an MFT lens with aperture of f2, then to get the same depth of field, you will just need f2.8 in APS-C, or f4 in full frame. Meaning that we need to crank up the aperture in MFT to get more blur compared to larger APS-C or FF. I hope this explains 😊
great video. but there is no such thing as aperture equivalence!!!! its a myth! so you shoulve compared the laova lens vs same aperture ff lens
Thank you for the comment and for the clarification regarding equivalence! Cheers 😊
M43 is just too expensive and heavy, full frame is cheaper, and lighter too.
I'm afraid it's the opposite from my experience.
@@Gary_W Where I live, an EOS R with the RF 50mm f/1.8 is lighter and cheaper than the Lumix G9 with any pro lens, yet they would produce better images than anything m43 has to offer.