Micro Four Thirds Cameras for Landscape Photography
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ต.ค. 2021
- Can you really use a Micro Four Thirds camera for serious Landscape Photography? A lot of people say the cameras can’t resolve enough detail, and some will even try to convince you it’s impossible.
I take a different view, having shot landscape and travel photography using a Micro Four Thirds camera for years. That photography is on sale commercially with several stock agencies. Even now, I regularly shoot and submit work from Micro Four Thirds cameras, and I’ve never experienced quality issues that were caused by the camera. Any quality rejections have always been due to other causes.
In this video, I take you on a day of landscape photography and share some of the shots I take. We take an in-depth look at these images to examine the quality whilst I explain what’s good and bad about using Micro Four Thirds cameras for landscape photography.
Sorry about the sound quality in the second part of the video. I had a problem with my mic. It should be fine in the next video.
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When I was working as a photographer during the 1970s the interest in camera brands, lenses etc was never as obsessive or as aggressive as it is today. The change in imaging technology has clearly caused much of this, rather childish, discussion around camera sensors and all that therein is - or isn't!
Then, most professionals bought equipment that had a proven record for reliability and versitility such as Canon, Nikon, and in my case, Leica for functions and reportage work - Hassels and Mamiya for studio and weddings (although I used my 35 mm gear for weddings too). The real fascination with gear, lenses ( the bigger the better regardless of optical quality) was left to the anoraks among the amateurs and some semi pros and I can recall countless tedious conversations at weddings with camera gear fanatics desperate for 'ones' views on which lens was the best, sharpest and in their eyes, had the most 'street cred '. All very sad and little to do with creating, imaginative and colourful images.
Nowadays, photo shop and advanced digital creative systems, produce pictures that are virtually impossible to identify in terms of camera and lens. And in any case, most clients look for the image content, impact and saleability rather than the means by which it came about.
Very true. Some people are more interested in equipment than what images they can create. My friend Steve calls it male jewellery. Every camera I’ve owned for the past 25 years has been capable of capturing great images but has often been let down by the lenses. The only other thing I would say about equipment is that it needs to be easy to work with. I’ve owned expensive equipment with amazing specs but it’s been a pain to use. That kit has been quickly sold on.
Great point....BUT IT IS GOT WORSE since their Ai discovery the pictures taken on a smartphone are far better quality than the average DSLR and now in 2022 the camenwith Ai generated images...so everyone is an artist and it takes 3 seconds to generate 4 distinct versions on your vision. What times we're living in, I'm not saying is a bad thing but all we appreciated and the way we see and worked with cameras is now all that is history......I bought few cameras recently just to have them as vintage gear as a collection. 👍
I just got my camera last year and there's nothing stopping me form learning how to take awesome photography. I just discovered I love taking photos of nature and I will let computer nerds fiddle around with AI image generation, meanwhile I'm gonna go enjoy some fresh air and hike, relax and take nice photos of our beautiful nature :)@@Gamehighlight2023
I now regret not looking into Olympus back in film days --- YEP ; blinded by marketing hype as was the "a professional must use a 120 camera" . Most of my better photos, including aerial, came from 35mm Nikons . . I often put a 120 on the tripod to look "professional" ; and then used a 35 mm gear .
I seemed to sell many wedding photos from a little Olympus MJU2 pocket camera because the people played in front of a little camera .
"Cameras are so good now I don't understand why people need me to take their photos for them" ; I said that 30years ago while watching the **** photos fall out of out mini lab . Not much has changed apart lots more calling themselves a "photographer"
Taken me too long to learn "photography is about the light , the quality of the light , shadows from that light , and the composition . The camera used and lens sharpness matters very little"
Man, the argument of micro 4/3 cameras being “toys” is ridiculous. Especially when applied to landscapes. Cameras are just tools in the end and it is the person behind that camera that matters.
I completely agree.
Love it. I went m43 a couple of years ago, Olympus in my case. Haven't looked back since. The limitations of the system don't affect my nature photography and I couldn't be happier with the system.
It’s a much underrated system.
Hi Robin Loving your videos across a range of subjects - Exposure X, DXO , Fuji , M43 etc. Have to say you're right about G9 being a great cam to use. It just works and is a joy to use. I've also got Fuji and Sony, Olympus and Panasonic kit, all with different pros and cons. But rarely regret picking up the G9
Thank you. I really appreciate your comments.
Nowadays it is hard to find a bad camera body. It's not the camera, it's the person using it. Your compositions are gorgeous. I use my G9 for real estate photography.
Thanks. I'm pleased you like my work. The G9 is a great camera. I also use an EM5 Mark 3 whcih is quite a bit smaller. It's a brilliant travel camera.
This was a very educational video thank you. You addressed several things I've been struggling with in my own G9 including the darkness of my images, thank you for touching on overexposing with a micro four thirds.
Glad it was helpful! Did you also see the followup processing video for the G9 images? Here's the link if you missed it th-cam.com/video/VoyKeeqntH0/w-d-xo.html
Great to see a video extolling the virtues of MFT. I've used the system for over a decade and while I keep an eye on the market place I can not see any reason to change.
Recently I attended a landscape course sponsored by Canon and London Camera Exchange where Canon were loaning their R5 and R6 cameras. Neither is cheap and the R6 is "only" 20 Mpixels. The trip prompted me to review my photography and other systems and after hours of reading I concluded there is no advantage to me in getting a larger sensor.
In fact following this phase of GAS I started printing again using, new to me, software QImageOne and two of my favourite panorama prints were shot on a Panasonic LX5 and were cropped down to just under 6 Mpixels. Noise has never really bothered me, probably because I mostly use fast primes and if it does there is always DxO's Deep prime.
I think many so called photographers are more concerned by gear and gear reviews rather than taking photographs and hanging pictures on walls.
Two questions if I may: which light weight tripod and which small filter system were you using in the video?
Keep up the good work.
Simon
Thanks for adding your thoughts and I have to agree. Ever since I bought a GF1 I've loved micro 43.
The tripod I was using was a Velbon Ultra Rexi L with a small Manfrotto head. It's a great but was then replaced by the Velbon 665 and I think that's also been replaced. I've had this one around 8 years I think and it still great.
As for the filter system, it's a mix of filter's I've picked up over the years. The holder is a Nisi as are some of the filters as well as Lee and HiTech. If I were starting again with a 75mm system I would be buying Kase. I've used their 100mm system since it first becaome available in the UK and the filters are excellent.
Hi Robin, I’ve been an Olympus OMD1 ii user for a couple of years and for me it’s the perfect camera. Thanks to your wishes excellent software videos and books I’ve been able to get very good results.
Although I do carry full frame and medium format film periodically, my Olympus is my favorite hiking gear for exactly the reason you mentioned.
I guess, for longer hikes, I could buy a mule like Ansel, but then there’s the feed and poop shoveling in the house (I’d never have a mule stay outside), not to mention getting it’s seatbelt on… 😂.
Keep up the great videos and can’t wait for the next one!
It’s very hard to argue against M43 for hiking or work at altitude. I had an EM5 with me in Bolivia at 6000m and -20C. It didn’t let me down.
It is about ‘photography’ not ‘gear’. Ease of use is a very important point for the average user. If you are taking photographs for commercial use, then it is obvious a bigger sensor will help. Although in the hands of a real professional this too is not a problem.
I print to A3 from a number of different cameras including a 15 yr old Canon compact, and people have admired my prints and asked for copies which they have had professionally framed. Photography is about the ‘image’, not how many pixels you can see. You would not criticise a painting because you can see the brush strokes! But the camera world has to be constantly pushing the idea of perfection to keep selling cameras. Having said that, we should be grateful for the amazing innovations and improvements we have these days - but that is not the main thing.
I think you've summed everything up very well Peter although I don't know that I would agree that a bigger sensor will help you shoot for commercial use. It can certainly make you lazy in how you shoot and I agree that it has benefits, but I do just fine with crop sensor cameras. The libraries I supply don't check my sensor, they are just interested in the results. Many require the images to be between 50-100Mb when uncompressed in 8-bit. A lot of large sensor cameras then need to be downsampled so it really depends what commerical market you are supplying.
Micro 43 isn't perfect but it's certainly good enough. Anyone saying you can't shoot landscapes with these cameras either doesn't know how to use them or hasn't tried.
Great video Robin, loved the shots and explanations.
Thanks Steve. Much appreciated.
Thank you Robin for your inspirational video and the photos of your MFT system. It's most refreshing to have someone who challenges the misperception of MFT systems. I have a number of MFT cameras. GH5, G9 and the recently purchased GH6. Previously I used Canon DSLR 1DX with high end lenses and I can honestly say I have not regretted loosing the size, weight and costs of the canon system. I thought your landscape photos were stunning. I will continue to look out for your future videos Many thanks🌄
Thank you. I'm glad you liked the video and photography. I still don't understand why MFT is criticised so much. It's an extremely flexible system.
@@RobinWhalley I could not agree more Robin and thank you for providing the evidence with your outstanding photography and detailed video.
Very interesting video Robin. I use the G9 with Leica lenses and edit with dxo. I'm no expert but am very happy with the results. Thanks for taking the time to make these videos.
Thank you. Good to know you liked the video.
Really helpful, thank you. I have been planning to join the Micro 4/3 revolution but mainly shoot landscapes, so it's very useful to know how the system does.
Micro 43 is a great system for shooting landscapes. Just be sure to use good lenses and don't be lazy when setting the exposure. People who like to under-expose and then recover the shadows will probably find the system difficult to work with. The high-resolution mode is also extremely impressive when used with a good lens.
Thanks for the video.
When I use my 6x9cm medium format camera for shooting landscapes, I also like to use my Olympus micro 4/3 camera set on 2:3 aspect ratio for scouting and shooting test shots.
You're welcome. And yes, they are a great tool for composition as well.
Great tips. Beautiful landscape photos as well!
Thanks so much!
Great video, thank you.
I know you mentioned the portability of the camera but if you compare the M43 lenses against full frame lenses there is an even bigger saving between equivalent lenses due to the crop factor.
Thanks for the tip on exposing for the shadows, I have been exposing for the highlights so will have to give that a go.
Thanks. I'm glad you liked it. Yes, do expose for the shadows but you need to avoid serious highlight clipping at the same time.
Very concise explanation of good information, thanks, Robin.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks.
Good video Robin. That Leica 12-60 is a superb lens, at least mine is, and I take just that one when doing multi-day overnight trips into the mountains. Your point about the lenses is well noted, and I would add the advice to test your lens thoroughly before serious use. I had a Leica 8-18 and it was good on both ends of the range, but strangely was horrible in the middle. It’s gone now.
Yes, there are poor lens examples with every system but when you get a good one WOW!
I started off with APS-C, then went Full Frame. But once I tried m4/3 I immediately fell in love with it. It strikes the right balance for me. Image quality is excellent if you know how to avoid common pitfalls. And with exposing correctly as you've described and using DXO PureRaw AI denoising I find I can even shoot at high ISO without much noise. The noise pattern on the m4/3 sensors is also very film like, so it's not ugly should you want to leave it there for that film look. I also tend to really enjoy using Olympus cameras. They have their quirks like any other camera but there is something charming about them to me, that I just enjoy. m4/3 also doesn't break your back or your wallet like FF can.
Yes, that's a very good point about the film grain. I've seen a few cameras claim the same but "grain" in micro 43 is quite attractive.
Using the G9 myself for the last 3 years, it's a great camera. There are some up and downsides to it, just like with every camera. Don't understand why smb would think it's not a proper system, i never look at a picture and wonder with what camera it was shot. if i see a great picture, i see a great picture and nothing else. I'm not gonna like it less if i get to know it's captured with a system i'm not into 🙈
You would be surprised what people say when they know which camera was used. They somehow start seeing problems that aren't there just because they have a dislike of a system. The important thing is how the image looks which often comes down to how well you can work with the equipment.
Great vlog Robin. I use Olympus cameras and love the high res shots,my old laptop not so much 😃
Thanks. I used to use Olympus but decided on the Panasonic this time because of the great discount deal they were running at the time. I htink the high resolution mode is amazing.
I have just come back from 3 days in the mountains of northern Thailand as it happens. I bought a GH5 a year ago as I was making mainly videos but the GH5 also takes good pictures. I have the same 2 lumix lenses you have plus a couple of 3rd party ones. I travel extensively on my motorbike so light weight and compact size are a great plus. I have no regrets changing to M43 and also bought a used OM10 for street photography which I will upgrade to a mk3 or 4 next year. I got PL5 also which deals well with the extra noise issue.
The GH5 is a great camera and has the same internals as the G9 I was using. Processing it with the PL software is perfect.
Thanks for taking the time to do this clip and deliver authoritative, worthwhile information. For a long time, it seems that M43 was referred-to as the camera (system) you bought for portability, sacrificing IQ along the way. As someone who's relatively new to M43, I am yet to look at one my photos and lament the IQ for being poor. On the contrary, I'm very pleased with what I have, and have noted your tips towards the end re shadows, sharpening, distortion, and highlight recovery. It's the camera that captures the photographer's composition, and if I had a medium-format blunderbuss, my compositions would be no better. I most certainly appreciate the better portability of the system for sure (and is a significant reason for my switch to M43), and the high-res mode isn't to be sneezed-at (I *must* get into the habit of using it more, so I can learn its limitations). With post-processing software becoming powerful, the valid reasons to spurn this format are decreasing while reasons to purchase it (like breathtakingly good IBIS) are increasing all the time.
Ah, another convert. I recently when out with an old Olympus EM5 that I'd had converted to shoot infrared (about 8 years ago). I used the 12-60 Leica lens from my G9 and the results are superb. Something else that I like about the Micro 43 RAW files is that they enlarge well. Doubling the resolution is no problem at all. These are great tools for capturing photography and at the end of the day, that's what matters.
@@RobinWhalley Indeed, I'm enjoying my OM-1 very much. There is bigotry against "crop sensors" (and I'm feeling that's a derogatory term), and one landscape photography article my newsfeed sent me essentially said, "if you have a crop sensor camera, then ditch it because it isn't good enough". You amply demonstrated the fallacy of *that* perspective.
Nicely done Robin and some great shots
Thank you. Good to know you enjoyed it.
Thanks, good to hear you enjoyed it.
Hi Robin Great video and you got some excellent shots ! I shoot with an Olympus EM-1 Mark ii and I also have the Panasonic 8-18mm lens it is a very good combo. I am still enjoying your books and videos on Affinity Photo and DxO Photo Lab Thanks Again !
Thank you and thanks for your support.
I enjoyed your points and presentation in this vid. These are points I've recognized for years with my decade-old 4/3 Oly and I've been debating sticking with my glass and adapting to a new mft body or going to an entirely new full-frame system that doesn't make economical sense. Oh, the same demons (noise, etc.) will still be there but shooting with the shadows in mind , combined with the processing abilities today, make them manageable. My gear has paid for itself over the years, so I simply can't complain. :)
Thank you. Something that I've been constantly amazed by over the years isn't the improvement of the camera equipment but the improvement of the software. I can go back to RAW file from my first DSLR, a 6Mp Canon D300, and the image quality now looks amazing. I can also resize those files to make 30" prints that look great. That camera had similar dynamic range to slide film but I still have some great shots from it. As for my Olympus EM5 I bought almost 10 years ago, I'm still submitting shots to Stock Libraries that I captured with it. Yes, I can imagine your gear has paid for itself many times over. The only things that I've found important is having good sorftware, knowing how to use it, and knowing how to use the camera.
After watching a bunch of British photography vlogs I was beginning to think that part of the world was nothing but drab, colourless and slightly out of focus. This is a pleasant change. Well done Mr. Whalley.
Well, it does rain a lot here and I can't diagree that thee's often a lack of colour. But in the right conditions you can shoot some fantasic landscapes. I'm glad you enjoyed the video.
You got a far better day than the 2 I 'enjoyed' in the Lake District. I've used a G9 since the day they were released - for me it's all about weight as I travel and hike quite a lot to areas of specific interest. As far as I'm concerned there is no SINGLE camera which is perfect for all genres, so all one needs to do is to FULLY understand the facilities and any shortcomings - and work around them.
There are two reasons why I probably enjoyed a better day than you. 1) I can easily time my trips for when the weather is looking promissing. 2) I don't show the videos of me sat in the car waiting for the rain to stop.
You're spot on about no single camera performing well for everything.
Fantastic video, and I enjoyed looking at the beautiful pictures you featured. Personally, I like the native 4:3 image of MFT cameras, as it gives more room for placing the desired horizon line in landscape shots. Sometimes, I place the horizon higher to emphasize the foreground, or lower if I want to emphasize the sky. I think it is more interesting than a somewhat narrower 3:2 image. I have used a Panasonic GX9 for almost 2 years, and I love it's monochrome styles. My only problem is, as I age, the controls seem a bit more fiddly and harder to see and manipulate. Perhaps bigger, more clearly marked controls on a camera such as the G9 or GH5 might help. Otherwise, I do enjoy the entire MFT system.
Thank you. I have to agree with you about the 4/3 image ratio. I find I much prefer it for vertical shots but not so much for horizontal. What I do like is the nice handling and balance between the camera and lenses. In reality, the G9 is quite large and on a par with many old SLR's. Personally I like the smaller size of the EM5 but that's because I like to carry the camera in my hand. The results you can achieve are also excellent with these cameras.
The pixel-shift hi-res mode gives a better color resolution, as the Bayer filter is shifted around, and noise it reduced due to the combination of several images (works similar to astro photography ;-)). It works slightly different for various camera models and brands - the G9 (and even more so the GH6) are known to handle movement in the series of shots that build the image far better than Olympus models (improved with E-M1III and OM-1, slightly improved with E-M5III and OM-5; I use it in my Pen F only for scanning 6x6, 6x9 and4x5 negatives, but for that it's a nice bonus).
Yes, it's a good point about the high resolution mode. I've recently picked up an EM5 MK iii and the high resolution mode on that just can't compare with the G9.
@@RobinWhalley That's consistent with the reviews I've seen.
Hi Robin.
Great video, my friend.
With cable release do you use?
Antoine.
I'm not sure what make it is. It's just a cheap one from Amazon.
Glad you like the video. Thanks
Thanks Robin...very informative.
Glad it was helpful! Watch out for the follow up with some Micro 43 editing tips.
Well done Robin. The hype around full frame is exactly that - hype - as I found to my regret after purchasing an EOS RP when they first came out. I thought I was getting a decent hybrid camera for both stills and video. Instead I got a mediocre stills camera with far below average video capabilities. My bad. Yes, the more expensive mirrorless FF gear is very good, but the Panasonic G9 does everything I need it to do so incredibly well - and DxO Photolab is a fantastic partner in helping me get the most out of my G9 RAW files!
I'm pleased you liked the video and sorry to hear about your experience with the Canon EOS RP. The Panasonic is an excellent camera but if I had any criticism, it would be that the body is slightly larger than I would like. I find my Fuji XT cameras smaller and better in that respect. Then again, they have larger lenses which is why I like the micro 43 series.
@@RobinWhalley Fujifilm is killing it in APS-C, no doubt about it. Coming from Canon DSLRs and the RP, the G9 doesn't feel that big to me, and now that I'm shooting a lot of video I appreciate that its size helps to keep the heat dissipated - an important consideration here in southern Arizona! 😎
@@RobinWhalley You were right Robin. After trying it out for a couple of weeks I sent the G9 back. It was just too big. Hopefully the G95 I ordered will be a better fit. I can live with the reduced features, since it seems to be a good bit smaller. We'll see. 🤞
Great video thank you for sharing
You're very welcome.
I have been using G9 with stock Panasonic G Vario II 12-60mm & another Panasonic G Vario II 100-300mm lens for over a year now and honestly I've been blown away with the quality. I am an amateur though, so take my comment with a shovel of salt but for what it's worth, I can imagine Leica lens would probably make it an even better experience. I was on a budget so I got 2 Panasonic lens for the price of one Leica lens.
Being an amateur only means that you don't earn your money from photography. It doesn't mean that you aren't as good a photographer as the professional. I've used botht he Leica and Panasonic 12-60. Whilst you can see a difference in the full sized image, it's not nearky as much as you might think. The Panasonic lenses are excellent.
I have a couple of Nikon and Canon FX and APS format cameras. I also have an old Olympus EM5 MKii with the 12 40 F2.8 pro. TBH, although the Nikons in particular, outperform the EM5 for resolution and noise by quite a margin, I prefer the images from the little EM5. It seems that it has more texture/noise that is more like film. I still shoot a lot of film in all formats , so with the EM5, I am on a winner when I do shoot digital. I really don't miss the extra 26.7 MP of the Nikon . BTW, is that G9 yours or borrowed from Steve? The tripod and the head look very familiar too, LOL.
The EM5 is the perfect size. I loved mine and still use it today from time to time.
Secret location? That threw down the metaphorical gauntlet. I think you were at Ulswater looking towards Patterdale, Arniston crag, Birks and St. Sunday Crag, then at Brothers Water. Great Place, nice shots.
I started at Silver Point on Ullswater before moving on to Brothers Water and then the slog up Gummers How at the end, so yes you have the locations. I'm pleased that you liked the shots. It was a good day.
Great video, thanks!
Very interesting, thank You.
Where did you put the focus point with the f8 shots ?
Thank you. I tend to pick an obvious or import object that’s part of the foreground and focus on that. Using a small aperture like f/8.0 gives enough depth of field to do this. If I use a wider aperture I tend to focus a little further away.
Nicely done.
I use a G9 as well. You should find that the high res mode not only increases spatial resolution, it also significantly reduces noise, increases color resolution and increases capture dynamic range. The only downsides are that tripod is necessary and subject motion need to be dealt with.
Thanks. I have since done more with the high res mode and I’m even more impressed. I found a couple more settings in the menu and got rid of the “ghost” image when there is movement. Love it.
What was the setting that helps remove the ghosting? @@RobinWhalley
Excellent video, excellent photos. I love MFT...
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the compliments.
Thanks for a very interesting videoI recently changed to the G9 principally for the portability factor. I enjoy my Landscape work and was wondering what filter system were you using, As I find the ones I used on my canon are to large thank you
The filters I was using in the video were a mix of the Lee and Nisi 75mm systems. These are old filters and some are quite damaged now with scratches and I've broken a few of the glass ones. I think Lee has stopped the 75 system and switched to 85mm. I personally found the 75mm ideal but the resin filters scratch easily. Nisi still make 75mm filters but I have broken a few of mine.
If I were starting again I would buy the Kase 75mm system. I've found the Kase 100mm system to be brilliant. The only downside is the upfront cost but the investment in the Kase 100mm has paid for itself now. I haven needed to replace scratched fitlers and whilst I've dropped several glass filters they were undamaged.
Hi Robin, thanks so much for the video. I have a G9 and the same lenses except for the 8-18. When you shoot landscapes (including the high res. shots), do you use manual focus or automatic, and do you use dark frame shots to remove hot pixels from your high resolution shots? When I shoot 2-6 minute long exposures I have the Long Exposure NR enabled, but it does not do it for the pixel shifting High Resolution shots. So, I am thinking of taking a dark frame shot after every high resolution (specially if the camera has been on/in use for a while) shot to remove hot pixels in post.
When you're shooting in the High Res mode the longest shutter speed is 1" (unless that's changed in new firmware) which is why the dark slide doesn't trigger. Despite this, I've found the High Res mode produces increadibly clean (as well as detailed) images and I haven't seen any problems with hot pixels.
Thank you! I was aiming for ff or aps-c but when I looked at lens prices... ridiculous. As for body I really love the retro look of FF X t3/4 but I can get Oly e m1 ii for 500 eur. That is just unbelievable price for such a camera...
Yes, there are some real bargains in the M43 world and they produce quality images.
I agree, m43 is fine for landscape photography if you have the right lenses, and you know what your doing. Thanks for sharing.
You're welcome. Thank you.
I have to confirm that your statement about highlight and shadow recovery is exactly my experience when comparing Panasonic G80 and Fuji X100V. Shadow recovery and high ISO are much better on Fuji, despite 26MPix APSC and 16MPix m43 have likely similar pixel density. But when I take photos on bright sunny days, photos from Panasonic are fine and close to what I see. Photos on Fuji have higher contrast, they are somewhat darker with the same exposure time, but I have to pull shadows by like 2EV to match image from Panasonic. So it likely has a completely different conversion curve. I still use Panasonic as a more versatile camera, but Fuji is basically better for everything between 35 and 50mm (most of the photos), except low light static scenes and it's smaller. I bought it as a replacement for Panasonic GF1+20mm/f1.7mm lens that I liked more than later and bigger cameras. But I would not say Panasonic is a bad camera - lens like 12-60mm (not speaking about leica, but kit lens), 45-150mm and 45mm/f1.8 are excellent. 12-35/f2.8 too, except it's better to use either 12-60mm for zoom or prime lenses for aperture control ... well, there's no real replacement for video in low light.
Thanks for adding your confirmation. It's always helpful when others confirm my thinking.
Hi Robin - I like the style of this video, please do more like it
Thank you and yes there will be more like this.
I've had plenty of shots chosen I took with an MX-1 as test shots for composition over my "pro kit" when showing them to a client. I'm not going to argue the tiny 1/1.7" sensor competes with FF, obviously it doesn't on paper. For the use cases of the clients I've had that pick the MX-1 image they couldn't be happier. I could technically ramble on about how it's inferior, but they could care less about any of that and only focus on if they like the image. I'm hoping the OM-1Jr Olympus kind of hinted at (probably the OM-5 Mark II) comes out soon relatively speaking. I actually quite like what the OM-5 offers, I just held out on buying because I wanted the OM-1's new menus, usb-c, and possibly a sensor upgrade without the bulk (mainly the menus tbh, if they had ported that to the OM-5's hardware it would have been a lot better received).
People obsess over Leica (most of which also obsess over full frame), the brand that pretty much created the standard of "small format" film with 35mm. You gotta have at least 120 to get anything of value. Nope, of course not, 35mm is fine for pretty much every application with some situations being better use cases than others but basically none would be impossible. For film I primarily take out a Mamiya 645 Pro TL every outing with 3 different types of film mags/back: 120mm, 35mm, and 35mm Panoramic modded backs. That gives me everything I would want and the ability to swap around mid-roll.
It's interesting how Olympus has gone full circle. Their original line up of cameras (before they went micro 43) was well respected and produced good results. I have a lot of cameras with various sensor sizes and film formats. At the end of the day, like your client, I'm only interested in how the photo looks. FOr some reason I find I can often produce my best work with the mocro 43 cameras.
I mostly use MFT, I have an Olympus OM1ii and a Lumix GX80 which is really lightweight, especially if I take my 3 primes(17,25,45) instead of my Pro zooms. In the winter when light is lower (and days shorter) I do take an old Sony A7ii, just for its lower noise capability in low light. But for 8 months out of the year the Sony rarely gets an outing. For software, it's Dxo-Affinity-Nik.
Yes, I find the G9 just a little too large and prefer the EM5. The reason I wanted it was for the 80MPixel mode. I like your choice of software.
May I ask the following? If you shoot at the same DOF and shutter speed, does the FF really have lower noise? I mean, for the same shutter speed, you have to raise ISO. And that destroys the advantage. FF only has an advantage if you sacrifice DOF or shutter speed. Example: Lets say you shoot at 1/50s, f4 on MFT. You have to shoot f8 at FF for the same DOF, so your ISO will be 2 stops higher. This looses you 2 EV dynamic range and increases your noise floor for the same amount. I see the only advantage of FF in the higher resolution sensor, where you just get more pixels.
@@weizenobstmusli8232 In low light the bigger photo-sites definitely come into their own and there is less noise. In decent light it doesn't make much difference. But the photo-site size is important, it's why FF sensors tend to be able to go to much higher ISO settings than MFT, and not just by 2 stops. However, since I wrote the comment above another winter has rolled by and I've barely touched the Sony and so I am now thinking of selling it. With modern noise-removal the FF advantage has all but gone!
@@alangauld6079 , my reasoning is, that the pixel on MFT are 4 times smaller, but at two stops smaller f number they get 4 times the brightness, so each system collects on equivalent setting the exact same number of photons. The story is different if you shoot both systems at the same f number. Then your story is true, but you have alot less DOF on FF in that situation. The settings are not equivalent anymore. In my reasoning, the advantage in lowlight for FF comes from the bigger lenses. I.E. a 1.4 in FF has twice the entrance pupil (that is front lens diameter) than a MFT 1.4. Or put in other words: the equivalent lens for a 1.4 in MFT is a 2.8 in FF. Basically the advantage of FF comes from the availibillity of bigger (brighter) lenses. Just like the advantage of MFT comes from the availabillity of smaller (darker) lense :-) But thats all just theory. I have the same situation like you: an older Sony and a EM1. I only use the EM1, just because I like it more :-)
@@weizenobstmusli8232 Its not quite that simple. It works for high light levels because the photon arrival rate is high enough that it seems linear. But as light levels get low the random nature of photon delivery makes the size of the photo-site a significant factor. There is just more likelihood of a photon hitting a bigger target regardless of how big the aperture. We are dealing with tiny areas here and at low light the distribution of photons is sufficiently sparse that they might just miss the photosite if it is too small. Think of a garden hose. In bright light you get a steady stream of water so it washes over the whole area. But if you turn the hose into a fine spray(ie low light) there is a chance that the water will not hit some areas. It doesn't matter if you open the tap further, it's still a spray. The bigger the target the greater the chance of at least some water hitting it. The same with light at low levels.
But we are talking about very low light levels for this to be significant - essentially night-time photography. But with so few photons the chance of noise being present increases. That's why I've stopped using the Sony, I just don't do low-light work often enough for it to be useful!
I bought a Olympus EM1 Mark 2 used for $650 US, and couldn't be happier. I took a photo through a window of a bar at night that strangely wasn't open. The lights were off accept for a dim light behind all of the bottles on the wall. I guess they were about 50 feet away. When I got home, I zoomed in on one of the hundreds of bottles, and I could see through the bottle and clearly read the writing on the other side. It was taken hand held at ISO 200 thanks to the excellent 5 axis image stabilization. The lens is the 12 to 50 power zoom with macro 3.5 - 6.3. This lens isn't among their best. I showed a friend who has a full frame Nikon he recently purchased. He looked awe struck and kept zooming the image in and out while shaking his head. He kept looking at his toster-oven sized camera next to my Olympus. I think he may be making the switch.
You know, the EM1is a great camera and I've even considered buying a used one myself a few times. The only thing that puts me off is that I prefer the size of the EM5 for a lot of things I do. I don't know why more people don't use these cameras and they probably would if they experienced results like yours. Hopefully we will see that new M43 25Mpixel sensor soon.
Really nice video, I agree with all of your points. For pros who want to offer large prints in the native 4:3 , what print sizes 'work' without cropping? Seems the sensor is small enough and can't afford to be cropping to 3:2, for example, for printing. How easy is it to send 4:3 to pro print shops and print larger sizes A3, A2, and American sizes, without cropping to a different aspect ratio (?) curious. Thanks.
Personally, I would happily crop a 4:3 image if I wanted to print to one of the "standard" sizes. For work up to A2 I do my own printing but then trim the excess paper if I've chosen to retain the 4:3 format. For larger prints my print shop (The Print Space) handles it. Whilst they list paper sizes to give ideas of price, it's almost irrelevant. They print any size of image and trim paper to fit. I would have though most pro quality print shops would offer a similar service.
Great video and lovely country! What camera did you shoot the video portion when using the G9? I also have a G9, but it often stays behind as I find it a bit too big and heavy for long hikes (often then use a Sony Rx100 Vii). Have considered a OM5M3 as an option, and then could use my panny lenses.
Thanks. I also find the G9 a little on the large size. My ideal is the EM5 but the deal on the G9 kit when I bought it was amazing which swung it for me. All the video was shot using a GoPro 10 which also did the sound recording. Quite amazing really.
@@RobinWhalley still, you’ve motivated me to get the g9 out a bit more!
Great video Robin, I think f5.6 is possibly the sharpest aperture setting for most m4/3rds lenses so perhaps worth experimenting with the depth of field you need when you're looking for the best quality from your lenses.
Also, for the last couple of years I've taken to using the Google Pixel smartphone in Night Vision mode which, for most of the reasons you highlight here makes an even better landscape camera when you're hiking the peak district with a Rhodesian Ridgeback at speed! It's allowed me to concentrate on my composition and covering more ground with ease... I may well return to using my m4/3rds system when OM SYSTEMS release their wizzy cam with near global shutter sensor allowing computational photography features which may remove the need for ND grads and give us phenomenal image quality in this Pro sized gear.
Wishing you good light for the season! Can't wait for my Pixel 6 Pro to arrive while we're waiting to see what OM SYSTEMS can deliver 🤞
Thanks Brian. I agree about f5.6 but it seldom gives enough depth of field for my compositions. Most of the time I set f/7.1 then forget about it, it’s only when using a long or ultra wide focal length that I might need to change.
I like you smartphone idea and I also wasn’t aware of the Olympus developments. I haven’t really kept pace with micro43 cameras when I switched to Fuji as my main camera. In fact I had the G9 on a shelf and ignored it until this summer when I started to use it more frequently and loved it. I still have and use a couple of old EM5 cameras that I’ve had for years they are the perfect size for me and the build quality is excellent.
Brilliant videos. Just found your channel
Glad you like them. Thank you.
Thoughts on the G9 vs the OM-1? Thanks
I'm sorry I can't answer that. I don't have access to the OM-1. I can only compare it to the EM5 Mark iii. Comparing those, the G9 produces slightly sharper and more detailed images. The G9 High-Resolution mode is marginally better. The EM5 is, however, much smaller and lighter than the G9, and I also prefer the colours in the EM5. I find the Olympus Natural rendering better than the Panasonic renderings in Lightroom.
The camera today are so much better than what I started with 15 years ago regardless of sensor size, the rules that you applied 10 to 15 years ago you can throw out, the sensor processors and photo editing software is so far advanced that any camera format today can take beautiful photos that can make exceptional prints regardless of file type ,raw or jpeg.
That is very true but a lot of people continue (unjustly) to criticise the micro four thirds format.
m43 is perfectly capable of producing excellent quality landscape photography. I use an Olympus EM-1 mark iii (and ii) mainly with the wonderful 12-100 f/4 Pro lens. A superb lightweight outfit. Good technique is important, and process in DxO PhotoLab which extracts wonderful results from Oly and Panasonic raw files.
Yes, I thought about getting the Olympus 12-100 but it looked just a little too big for me. I may still buy one.
@@RobinWhalley I love my 12-100 - the perfect travel lens, especially if flying (remember that?), plus a macro which takes up no space.
@@rogman27 I will have to take a closer look at the 12-100. Strangely I just came back from France and the size of hold luggage seems to have decreased yet again unless you pay additional charges.
Great Images. What i personally miss with m43 lenses is decent sunstars especially in the zoom lenses. Apart from the few voigtländer lenses you have to love with bad sunstars. Also prices for FF are much lower theses days. And i never understood the alleged dof advantage for landscapes when I can easily stop down a FF lens and increase iso if needed. Its a myth that m43 has an advantage here. Since I owned a 4K monitor i found m43 lacking for landscapes and i fear that won't change even with a much better image sensor.
I will agree with you about the sunstar but then most of the sun stars I see in peoples photos have been added later. Do remember, this isn't a video comparing full frame to micro 43. It's about saying can you shoot landscapes and achieve a decent result with micro 43 - yes you can. Not everyone can afford full frame and there are some real bargains in the micro 43 world.
I love my pen-f just as much as my leica digital m, m43 system is fun, with well builded and not crazy expensive gears to choose from.
The Pen-F is a great little camera. As you say, good fun, well built and the images are nice.
Very interesting video. One question what did you shoot the video on it is really super sharp considering TH-cam tend to degrade what is uploaded.
It was all shot using a GoPro 10 set to 4K and 30fps. The sound was also recorded with the GoPro 10 Media Mod mic. I'm pretty pleased with how it performs for a little action cam.
I switched from full frame to M43 specifically for landscapes. The last thing I want when hiking is a heavy system
Yes, the weight saving that comes from the lenses and other accessories is surprising. It's much better for hiking.
I like your style...and more i'm thinking about FF vs aps-c or 4/3 more I know that composition and understanding scene is the most important factor for a good picture...All cameras today can be excellent.
Thank you and I couldnt agree more about your camera comments.
I find it quit interesting when people say they want to print bigger. I mean very BIG. I hope to buy a A2 printer sometime in the near furure but at this moment I am pleased with all the A3 prints. You have to live in a realy big house to have a lot of A2 prints on your walls :)) I use a fuji x-system setup. That is also good enough. Specially during a long hike :))
I have printed a lot at A2 (owning an A2 printer) and you are right. A3 is good most of the time. I have a few larger prints but tend to have those done by a lab. And yes, micro 43 can handle the size increase but I do prefer my Fuji XTrans system for larger work.
Hello Robin. Yes, you definitely have to over expose otherwise the noise in the darkest shadows becomes unbearable. From my own experience, Panasonic is a real nightmare about noise, at least with the Fz300 that I have. You really have to shoot at 1.00pm with a bright light. If you shoot after 5.00pm it’s over, end of the game. No matter the aperture or the shutter speed. Landscape photography often need a big depth of field and yes, walking around all day long with you camera is surely easier than doing the same thing with a Nikon D3 and a 12-24 on it… As always, nice shots, well balanced compositions and colours…
M43 does perform better in good light but you can still get excellent results in low light. I will have more to share about this in the future.
@@RobinWhalley Thanks Robin for putting M43 in perspective. I look forward to your views on M43 in low light. I use GX9 with 14-140mm as my main kit and am perfectly satisfied with it so far.
Hi Gorgio. I have more difficulty with my TZ90 in low light than my gx9. Looking at the specifications I think the TZ90 and TZ300 have the same sensor size neither are M43.
@@philneath2965 Hello Phil. Yes, they both share the same specifications even if the Tz90 offers a higher resolution of 20M pixels and the Fz300 a 12M pixels. But they provide the same imaging performance. I’ve been very disappointed about the low performance in low light situations: unless I have a very nice and shiny day I know I have to use another dslr. Once you know the rules, you can play the game… 😀
@@philneath2965 The FZ300 has a one inch sensor.
I love the M43 system. I have an EM1 Mark III with Pro lenes. I sell my work on line and at galleries and have never had a buyer say "oh, I'm not buying your work because it wasn't shot with a FF camera".
😂 I know. It would be so funny if that happened though. The reality is, people who buy photography don't care what camera you used. The only people who seem to care about the equipment are other photographers and they rarely buy photography. Or perhaps they just don't buy my photography because I didn't shoot it on a full frame camera.
Hi, great video. Is there a difference between Micro 4/3 and regular 4/3?
It's down to the size of the sensor. The 4/3 format is a ratio comes from the image dimensions. Both micro 4/3 and regular 4/3 produce images with the same ratio of sides, for example a 4" x 3" image. The Micro 4/3 sensor is smaller than the standard 4/3 sensor. If you compare the micro 4/3 sensor to a regular full frame camera, it's half the size. I can't recall the sensor size of the standard 4/3 but it's bigger than the micro.
Canon/Nikon/Sony might be more technologically capable (bigger sensor, better AF etc.) than M43 system, but they are effective at their function as long as they are actually carried "on site" and shot with.
That Canon might have more megapixels, but do they really matter if the said Canon went outside once and served as a fancy shelf decoration for the rest of the year?
To be fair to canon and Nikon their mirrorless cameras are a lot smaller than the old DSLR's. They just need to crack how to make their lenses half the size and weight and they will have cracked it.
Your images are superb!
Glad you like them! The great weather and locations help. My next video about dull weather photography was much more of a challenge and the images not as good.
I’m thinking about switching from Nikon to MFT. Partly because it seems that I could do landscape and wildlife with an EM-1iii and 8-25, 35-100 and 100-400 (perhaps with an f1.8 prime). Plus some good processing software … Keep reading reviews and watching videos. My favoured people ATM are Robin and Thomas Stirr.
It can be a great option and the longer lenses having double the focal length is a plus along with the weight. Do watch out for the size and weight of some of the lenses though as they can still be quite large and heavy. I don't know if you've seen it but I also cover some processing tips in this video th-cam.com/video/VoyKeeqntH0/w-d-xo.html.
Those who criticise M43 have either nit used one, dont know basics about photo/videography or are part of Sony's propaganda machine that bigger sensors are whats needeed for a good output.
I love M43 and will continue to use in future too.
I agree that a lot of people who criticise M43 probably haven't tried them or don't understand how to shoot/process them. Full frame sensors just have a different approach in general.
Hello Robin. I bought a Nikon D600 for photography and landscapes only and needed a camera strictly for video that wouldn’t break the bank $$$. So I bought the LUMIX G7. But after watching your video, heck maybe it can do both 🤔. I like to print my photos, you think G7 can handle like 8x10 ??
Is that 8 feet x 10 feet or 8 inches x 10 inches. If it's the latter then the G7 has no problems PROVIDING you use a decent lens. A bad lens on a good camera still won't produce a quality image.
When I first started shooting micro 43 I was using a Panasonic GF1 which has a 12Mpixel sensor. The results were very good and I often produced A3 prints from the RAW files. When I was doing presentations at camera clubs I would often take A2 prints for people to look at. There were two identical prints of 6 images except the identical prints weren't identical. One was made using an Olympus EM5 micro 43 camera and the other with a Nikon D800. I cropped the EM5 image to make it the same fortmat as the D800. Whilst the colours were slightly different between the two, I asked people to identify which prints were the Nikon. Almost no one would get it right and anyone who did would admit it was luck. So in short, yes I don't think you will have a problem shooting landscapes with the G7. Just make sure you use a good lens.
@@RobinWhalley inches i meant. it came with the 14-42 kit lens and I have the 50mm 1.7. I haven’t had chance to try them. but once I do I will see if lenses are good or not 🧐
I'm dubious of the 14-42 kit lens. I've seen some dreadful examples. The 50mm 1.7 will give you more of an idea of what the camera can do. If you like it try picking up a used Olympus 12-40 Pro lens although it is a little heavy. I use the Panasonic Leica 12-60 which is superb but the regular Panasonic 12-60 is also extremely good.
I still use a d7100. For me works great for landscapes and all the rest. Using photolab let me get good results even at 12800 iso. So I'm fine for now
As well as the EM5 Mkii and the D800 and 5D MKii, I also have a D7200. It is an incredible camera. I originally wanted a D500, but the prices then were forbidding. I got the 7200 in mint condition at less than 25% of the price of a D500. It is light, fast, accurate and very clean up to iso 800.
Robin may I ask what Tripod and head you are using I’m trying to make up my mind on a good solid ‘landscape’ tripod so would appreciate any comments.
In this video I was using an old Velbon Rexi L tripod and a Manfrotto MG460 head. I don't think you can buy either anymore. I use these because they are reasonably sturdy and very light. I think the Velbon was replaced by the Ultra 555A model but I don't think there is an equivalent of the Manfrotto head. I would probably replace it with a ball head if I had to just to keep things light. My usual tripod is a Manfrotto Carbon Fibre three section with a 3-way pan head. It#s good but I prefer the twist lock mechanism on the Velbon rather than the clips. If I were buying another tripod I would ignore all the brands and instead figure out what features I wanted like the leg locks and how close to the ground I could get it. If things like weight are importen add that to your shopping list. Then look through all the available tripods to find as many of the features you want as possible. It's also a good idea if you can take a look at them. I remember looking at a great tripod at the Photography Show a few years ago. It was quite cheap, light and well made with all the features I like. Unfortunately no one on the stand could be bothered helping me so I left. It wasn't a brand I had heard of before. Shame.
M43 sensors already have the color depth and dynamic range of earlier 2000s full frame sensors. The arguments against m43 hold up against latest tech FF sensors, but at what point don't we care anymore? I don't need the greatest. I need great. And these do it. M43 for the win. Lightweight, cheap and outstanding image quality. I shoot on a D750 and will be switching to M43 full time soon. I just don't care about the MP or the additional dynamic range. I hardly carry it due to size when I'm out and about, so I miss more shots than I would with a smaller system. Landscape all day on my M43 camera with outstanding results.
Yes, it's hard to appreciate how good the Micro 43 system is untill you've used it in the field. Results are what count.
Great Stuff!
Glad you enjoyed it Thank you.
@@RobinWhalley nice photos
@@ProcessedDigitally Thank you
No arguments from me on this subject ; apart preferring Olympus over Panasonic . Love the DOF and use F8 or wider mostly as that has the added advantage of not recording the rubbish on the senor 😇
Have never missed the big cameras after moving up to Oly
Great photographer/photos Robin ; so jealous I don't have such scenes closer to home
I used the original Olympus EM5 for about 5 years before switching to Fuji. I only bought the G9 in the video because I missed micro 43 and they had a great offer at the time. I've since picked up an Olympus EM5 Mark 3 used and prefer the size and colours. Great cameras.
I left m43 about 18 months ago. I’m now regretting that decision as I’m finding I want to shoot longer much more often and with dxo pure raw noise/details in the files seems much better.
I undestand what you mean. I actually found myself regretting purchasing the Panasonic G9. Even though it's Micro 43, the body is quite large. My Olympus EM5 is much smaller and better for hiking.
Hi Robin, not sure if you will reply on such an old post but I actually follow you on Instagram and noticed you have started using the G9 again in recent months. Just wondered if you are happier with it now since my last post? I’m still using my Fuji X-T3 with the 18-135 and even though I’ve given it a good year I do find myself still missing the M43 system advantages for hiking/landscape photography (smaller lenses that seem sharper to my eye, and not needing to rely on a tripod). As you are someone I respect in the photography world who has owned/used the G9 and an X-T3 I was wondering if you find yourself favouring one system over the other with DXO processing making such a big difference to the raw file capabilities? I have considered the 16-80 and 70-300 but cannot bring myself to spend so much money on them. I could exchange my current setup for a G9 with the 12-35 and 35-100 f2.8 lenses and not have to spend much at all. Just wondered if you have any input on a reason why I shouldn’t go this route?
What filter system are you using. And what is brand of tripod. Thanks
The filters were a mix of old Lee Seven 5 and Nisi glass filters. If you're looking for good, small filters I would recommend Kase. I've broken quite a few of my glass filters but found the Kase filters bounce when dropped. The tripod is an old Velbon Rexi which was replaced by the Velbon 665. I think that's since been replaced but I don't know what with. I was using a small magnesium Manfrotto head on the tripod.
@@RobinWhalley Thanks very much for the reply.....regarding the noise in shadows with the G9 would under exposure in Aperture Priority not be recommended?? Also what about Dx0 RAW edit software...considering this over lightroom?? Also have you a link to the Kase Filter systems? Thanks
@@johnbourke3074 It's the sensor that's the problem. It's not designed to capture a lot of detail in shadows and is much better at recovering highlights. DxO is great and works well for removing noise. I have several videos about this if you look back. You can find the Kase filters at kasefilters.com/ref/RobinWhalley/. I am a Kase affiliate and this is an affiliate link. That said, I only recommend things that I use myself and I think the Kase filters are great. I've been using the 100mm system since 2017 and think they are excellent.
@@RobinWhalley Thanks very much for all your advice.
Bought a Lumix GX7 when I retired for travel (sized weight of course)
Upgraded to a GX9. I found the G9 big and expensive for Mf3s
Added the 12-35mm f2.8 lens and also have the 15mm f1.7 and 'your' 45-150mm (brilliant and so light weight)
I also have the Samyang 7.5mm Fisheye for fun and sometimes use the kit 14-42mm lens because my filters fit it 😂
Great daylight cameras but I'm not too sure about low light and night time photography
I still have my DSLRS 📷👍- I'm a Magpie regarding equipment 😱
Yes, I have to admit that the G9 is a little larger than I would like. My old Olympus EM5 is a better size. The reason I wanted the G9 apart from getting an amazing deal was the High Resolution mode which I think is amazing. it’s also great for low light work. You do need to crank up the ISO to keep the shutter speed below the 1second limit but the RAW files are super clean.
That’s a nice kit you have there. I used to have the Samyang 7.5 fisheye. A great lens and super sharp. I regret selling it now.
With everyone is having FF envy and selling off their M4/3 gear, this is a good time to buy some good M4/3 gear for cheap(er).
I don't just think it's FF envy these days. The marketing machine seems to be swinging into action to convince photographers we now need medium format cameras.
@@RobinWhalley Bah humbug!!!
I have three good friends who all shoot M4/3rds. They are all former National Geographic photographers. When we go out and I am lugging around my Sony full frames with heavy expensive lenses they laugh at me. And at 82 with two hip replacements I am done carrying around 15-20 pounds of gear including a tripod. So I bought a m4/3rds and next time we go out no more laughing. I can get the camera and three lenses into a small shoulder bag. Don't need the tripod with IBIS and lens stabilization.
Thanks for sharing. The more I shoot with Micro 43, the more I'm impressed. I recently bought an Olympus EM5 Mark 3. It's absolutely tiny and about half the size of the G9 I used in the video. Despite this the image quality is excellent and the high resolution mode is spectacular and I can shoot handheld after sunset. I'm pleased you've discovered the system and it will keep your photography going.
To get great landscapes you have to hike. And the best hicking cameras are M43. Therefore M43 are great for landscapes. At least that's how I see it
It's a good point. Perhaps that's why I like the M43 system so much. I've had some great results from it over the years.
Wish everyone would just call it 4/3….. Nothing micro about it !
That has a historical reason. 4/3 was a DSLR system using the same sensor size, but with mirror based cameras. When they went mirrorless they called the new system micro 4/3. The two mounts aren’t compatible. I agree that the choice of name was unfortunate.
@@stewartlogie I know, pity they just didn’t stick to 4/3 or just call it something else!
I just call it MFT, no mention of 4 or 3.
I suppose it goes back to the original Olympus 43 camera range which were a larger format. When they came up with the new smaller format working with Panasonic they needed to differentiate it.
Why recover for shadows if they are meant to be shadows?.
Because shadows often become too dark in RAW files. Selectively recovering detail in shadow areas often creates a much more interesting image. It's exactly what photographers have done for over a hundred years only now its digital rather than in the darkroom.
Great that m43 works for you - if the quality is sufficient and the lightest possible system is your priority you probably made correct decision. I love my PenF but for landscape work, I will take my A7r4 anytime. If I pack the body a take compact lenses (such as Zeiss Loxia or the new Sigma i series) I will have a system that is not that much heavier then m43 based one and will provide higher technical quality in every way - noise, DR and resolution. Your DoF argument is flawed - while m43 gives you larger DoF than FF, the diffraction also kicks in much sooner further reducing your effective resolution from already paltry 20Mpxs. Once you stop down bellow f/6 things go south very quickly. Still, if you really do not want to anything heavier then m43 it is. It beats the phone and sizes of APSC based cameras on par with FF. Better to be there on the hill with m43 than in bed with FF :-)
I'm sure your A7r4 is far superior to a micro 43 system but personally I don't need it (I shoot APSC Fuji for my main camera). Those additional pixels you have will be super sharp but the companies and customers I supply don't want images that large. I'm also only intested in getting the image as quickly and easily as possible and not having to invest lots of money in top gear - that's why I shoot Fuji usually. Your points about diffraction etc may be technically correct BUT looking at the images at 200% on a 5K Retina screen, the images look exactly the same at f/5.6, f/8 or f/12 for those Leica lenses. The kit is good enough to let me do my job and has other benefts. It also doesn't cost the earth.
Most cams are great for photography. All depends on glass and your skill. Most people forget this
This is very true and ofte overlooked.
7:04 look at the details... yes thats the problem, Video is only HD and all i can see is pixel mud.. sorry to say, but 4k would solve that.
Shame I didn't film it in 4K
@@RobinWhalley its a photo my friend
Nice video Robin, but the bird soundtrack is a bit overdone
Yes, I was experimenting with different styles at the time. If we don’t experiment we don’t improve.
Its a camera. It takes photos like hundreds of others. Its the operator overall that counts.
The same with lenses. No need to spend silly money on them as with a camera body.
It is the user that counts but Micro four thirds comes in for a lot of criticism which in my opinion is unjustified.
I'm not a fan of the 45-150mm maybe had a bad copy
If you live in windy areas micro four thirds suffers
I haven't had any problems using it in wind (and I've certainly been out in some shocking conditions). This is a great lens for the price. I know what you mean about it possibly being a poor copy. I once had a Panasonic 14-140 lens. It was terrible and the image literally fell apart when used above 60mm. It went back and I never used another until recently and that was excellent.
Interesting video, but let's tell it like it is - the Leica lenses are double the price of the Panasonics, and heavier too. I notice that you started with the Panasonic 12-60 but all your shots were with the Leica.
Yes the Leica lenses are more expensive but mine came with as part of a body and lens kit which at the time was only £100 more than the standard Panasonic kit. It's a little bit heavier but still not heavy. The Leica 12-60 is an excellent lens but so too is the standard Panasonic 12-60 (when I tried a friends). As for the video, the lens I used and showed in the video was the Leica 12-60 not the Panasonic and all of the 12-60 shots were with that lens. So yes, I am telling it like it is. Great camera and lens combo for landscape photography.
@@RobinWhalley Fair enough - for only 100 extra, I would have gone for a Leica! I was tempted to go for a Leica recently, but I think that the money may be better spent on moving from a G80 to G90 or G9 instead. I tend to 'move on' when the prices are right and the small improvement is worth the outlay. I am not yet tempted to go FF so M43 is doing something right.
@@Nnnuuk I agree. Move when the price is right. I used an Olympus EM5 for 5 years (and still have it) before switching to Fuji as my main system. I bought the G9 a year ago because I wanted another M43 camera and liked the high res mode. I have learned my lesson though and always by the best possible lenses as they will produce the best possible results even with lower spec camera models.
Given that most OM-D and Lumix cameras have high-resolution modes producing over 40MP files the lack of detail issue only shows the ignorance of the trolls ...
I don't even think it's trolls, just the uninformed who don't like to explore new things. People often forget the Ansel Adams quickly embraced smaller formats and colour photography. I love the Hight Resolution mode in my G9 and would much rather carry that up a mountain than my old D800 or Sony A7R.
All good, but please tone down the bird noises!
Pretty difficult when filming outdoor.
@@RobinWhalley true, but you're using a bird wav and looping it :)
Honestly, I can take half of these pics with my iPhone
A 20 mega pixel is a 20 mega pixel, not 80 mega pixel high resolution, just because 4 in 1 pixel binning is used it's still only 20 mega pixel.
Yes it is still a 20MPixel sensor but from your comment, I doubt you have looked at a RAW file shot using pixel shift. The resolution is stunning and it's super clean even at higher ISO settings. I don't care that it came from a 20MPixel sensor I just care about how good the results are.
No, the high res mode produces real 80MP.
It’s easy enough to verify. Shoot a cityscape, for example. Car plate numbers, distant street signs will be easily legible from the 80MP file, but illegible from one of the 20MP images that went into the composite.
The highres mode also reduces sensor noise by about two stops. It also increases hue resolution by backing out the Bayer array interpolation.
The only downside, and this is.a a large one, is that it tolerates no subject or camera movement.
Just use your iPhone if you have problems with a camera.
Panasonic 4/3 are better overall than Olympus cameras ? THANKS - GREAT VIDEO !
I don’t prefer one brand over the other. I think they both produce excellent cameras and lenses. I would happily use either.
Thank you.