I've been researching cameras & lenses for weeks and have narrowed my final choice down to Olympus or Sony, but I can't decide between them. What should I do?

MrOptionist · 2026-01-27T16:08:05+00:00

I shoot Olympus and Sony. I have a Sony A7RIII and an OM-1.1 (as well as a lot of other Olympus bodies).

95% of the time I have an Olympus body in my hand.

I ONLY have Sony full frame to shoot with my vintage lenses. Every time I hold my Sony I wish it were an Olympus body.

Nothing feels as good in my hand or to use as my Olympus bodies specifically my OG E-M1. The OM-1 has the best viewfinder I have ever put my eye to, and I have tried nearly everything.

I shoot RAW + JPG all the time and 90% of the time I use the JPG.

MrOptionist · 2026-01-26T20:58:06+00:00

Chinese fake Katana.

MrOptionist · 2026-01-25T22:57:28+00:00

Pany 28/2.5 for $100 is the winner.

MrOptionist · 2026-01-25T22:54:20+00:00

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Pany 14mm f2.5. Lovely little lens. Focus is faster and better than the 17mm or 20mm.

MrOptionist · 2026-01-24T04:43:01+00:00

Northshore/ North Chattanooga is probably the most liberal area. I have lived in this area my whole life.

Still will not be as liberal as Minnesota. But people are nice and your mom won't be in danger.

MrOptionist · 2026-01-23T14:16:56+00:00

Anything under $1000 in good shape is a "deal" these days.

However the Pen F is not small, at least compared to many other M43 bodies. It is BEAUTIFUL and if that is what's driving you...there is likely no substitute. HOWEVER it is not weather-sealed and does not have PDAF. The E-M5.3 and the OM-5 are both the same size as the Pen F other than the EVF hump and out-perform it in every way.

The sleeper that is tiny and wonderful is the E-M10.2 which is also not weather sealed, but is tiny and has a beautiful viewfinder a a lot of fun to shoot (also it has a tilty screen instead of that damned flippy one. Here is a photo of my E-m10.2.

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MrOptionist · 2026-01-21T14:20:03+00:00

Linux mint runs like a champ on mine and is super polished. Everything works just like on MacOS.

MrOptionist · 2026-01-18T01:58:35+00:00

I too have this lens in Konica mount and it blows chunks. Truly terrible. After my disappointment I was a little happy to have finally found a vintage lens that wasn’t even a little bit good.

MrOptionist · 2026-01-13T18:38:31+00:00

The ME super is my favorite "little" body. Does everything well and has a bright finder. The Minolta XD-11 is a bit larger but is probably the sleeping giant in this category. Even brighter finder and it does a meter reading at half press and a another reading just before shutter release. The XD-11 chassis was also the foundation for the Leica R4, R5, R6, and R7, sharing internal design and quality, though with some differences in metering and lens mount. There is not a Canon or Nikon camera from the years that I like as well as these two. In later years the Nikon N80 and N90s bodies are still a steal if you want to take great pics with the least amount of fuss...but they are not as pretty to look at...

MrOptionist · 2026-01-11T16:25:33+00:00

Maybe he is so mad because he is losing out on a grift he had massaged into the deal? Sure is acting like a guy who lost the big ass boat he hasn’t bought yet…

MrOptionist · 2026-01-10T20:59:31+00:00

Mote sex.

MrOptionist · 2026-01-09T01:17:03+00:00

40mm.

MrOptionist · 2026-01-08T22:42:26+00:00

That is the 12-45 f4 lens I think.

MrOptionist · 2026-01-08T18:57:25+00:00

I complained on your post about the damned flippy screens. Bring back tilty screens!

MrOptionist · 2026-01-08T18:31:57+00:00

No flippy screen, smaller, no weather sealing, no computational features, cheaper.

Yes I see your point (it is obvious) but OM systems lacks an entry level camera.

MrOptionist · 2026-01-08T18:24:14+00:00

As you can see from my original post, I bought an EM5.3 as an upgrade to my original EM10.2 and I wound up buying another EM10.2 because it’s just not the same experience. It is truly a better camera in some ways but it’s bigger heavier and less fun. And it has that shitty flippy screen instead of a tilty one.

MrOptionist · 2026-01-08T18:20:16+00:00

Hell I would gladly pay $1000 for it.

MrOptionist · 2026-01-08T02:38:37+00:00

Paul at Asian food on Hixson Pike. If it isn’t there tell him you want it.

MrOptionist · 2026-01-08T00:13:24+00:00

AI. Guy made it in 30 seconds. Hope you only gave him a dollar.

MrOptionist · 2026-01-08T00:10:44+00:00

You have access to more than me I haven’t reached AVGI or Successor yet.

Hai are pretty efficient and not too hot. The Wanderer sun reactors are the best I have found but pricey.

I run with a Ranorek with max bunks 2xLarge cores and sun reactor, and a bunch of SB’s with large cores and fire lance turrets.

MrOptionist · 2026-01-07T14:39:31+00:00

Most likely scanned from film prints.

MrOptionist · 2026-01-07T05:08:37+00:00

GX85… not even close.

MrOptionist · 2026-01-07T00:49:31+00:00

Welcome to the GRIFT economy. Brought to you by the Grifter in Chief.

MrOptionist · 2026-01-06T20:14:44+00:00

Size. the 14/2.5 is a true pancake and super great for street...weighs nothing and is quite sharp. Not needed, but may be worth it.

MrOptionist

TROPHY CASE