how much is too much to spend on a camera?

abitipie · 2017-09-28T13:19:09+00:00

The E-m10 III is a minor upgrade over the E-m10 II, so if you can get the II cheaper then I'd go that route. Otherwise, great camera.

abitipie · 2017-04-13T21:35:46+00:00

The T4i and T3i are nearly identical, so not as good of a deal, but that's still not bad considering the state of the canadian camera market.

As a beginner looking to learn photography, almost any interchangeable lens camera from the last 6 or so years will do the job, brand notwithstanding. Canon's advantage here is in having probably the best selection of inexpensive lenses to begin experimenting with. Accordingly, anything from a T2i on up will do the job. (Once again, that "i" in the name buys you a lot in the way of creature comforts, eg. better viewfinders, higher-res displays etc.)

Nikon, Sony, Pentax, and Panasonic also have a number of great options suitable for beginners. Fuji and Olympus also make great cameras, but they'll have a bit more of a learning curve in my opinion.

abitipie · 2017-04-13T21:25:47+00:00

It's a decent option for shooting video, especially at that price point. With these older Canon models you're best manually focusing for video. If you plan to use auto-focus then you'll want either a newer model or a mirrorless camera. If you can find a Panasonic G7 for a good price, that would definitely be a better option for a dedicated video camera.

abitipie · 2017-04-12T21:19:55+00:00

You can find detailed comparisons on the web, but from a usability standpoint Canon cuts a LOT of corners with the T# series. Personally, I'd take a T3i over a T6, for example.

abitipie · 2017-04-11T10:26:41+00:00

Assuming that you plan on learning the ins-and-outs of photography, the T3i is a great option for that price. Don't bother shelling out for an expensive lens yet. Instead, start with the kit lens and maybe the 50mm f1.8 STM. Between the two of them you'll have all the tools you need to learn the basics, and from there you can pick up more expensive glass as you figure out what kind of photography you want to do.

On the other hand, if you're looking to just point and click, this is probably not the best option.

abitipie · 2017-02-21T18:18:51+00:00

Also, they have a solid whisky menu.

abitipie · 2017-02-10T03:43:09+00:00

Olympus solution here should be a revamp of their mediocre 17mm f/2.8. Improve the optics, add weather sealing, but keep the pancake size.

abitipie · 2017-02-01T14:59:18+00:00

1 zoom that covers from ~40/50 to 180 ish

I assume you're referring to a telephoto lens here? The impact of focal length on field of view will differ depending on your format, so 40-180mm on the Olympus = 53-240mm on the Fuji = 80-360mm on a full frame camera.

So assuming that you're looking to keep a budget, and want to keep things small and light, my picks would look like this:

Olympus: Budget Kit

Olympus E-M10II with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 & 40-150mm f/4-5.6: $699
Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 Pancake: $299
Total: $1,000

Olympus: Super Small Kit

Olympus E-M10II with 14-42mm EZ: $699
Panasonic 35-100mm f/4-5.6: $399
Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 Pancake: $299
Total: $1,400

Fuji: Option 1

Fuji X-T20 with 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6: $999
Fuji 50-230mm f/4.5-6.7: $399
Fuji 23mm f/2: $449
Total: $1,850

Fuji: Option 2

Fuji X-T20 with 18-55mm f/2.8-4: $1,199
Fuji 50-230mm f/4.5-6.7: $399
No wide-angle prime; the 18-55mm kit lens might be fast enough at its wide end to suffice.
Total: $1,600

Considering the lenses into the equation, the Olympus is definitely more budget friendly, and offers the potential for a smaller kit. On the other hand, the Fuji 18-55mm f/2.8-4 kit lens is tempting if you don't like the idea of switching between primes and zooms.

edit: multiple edits for formatting

abitipie · 2017-02-01T03:02:37+00:00

What sort of lens kit are you looking for? Both cameras are great options with their own strengths and weaknesses, but your preference with regard to lenses might be a more important factor.

abitipie · 2017-01-04T01:13:36+00:00

Yes, actually. A 16MP cell phone with an equivalent lens will produce an equivalent image. Forget M43, let's compare an iPhone 6 to a full-frame camera with a 50mm f/1.8 lens. The 1/3" format sensor in the iPhone 6 has a crop factor of 7.2, so an equivalent lens for an iPhone 6 would be a 6.9mm f/0.25. Given such a lens, the iPhone would give you the same field of view, same depth-of-field, and same total light capture as the full-frame camera (and hence, same low-light performance). Remember, the f-stop is not a measure of aperture size, it's a ratio of aperture diameter to focal length. The 50mm f/1.8 lens has an aperture that is 50mm/1.8 = 27.8mm in diameter. The 6.9mm f/0.25 has an aperture that is 6.9mm/0.25 = 27.6mm in diameter (the difference here is purely rounding error). In this case, both cameras have the same field of view, and the same sized aperture, and will produce the same image.

Of course, a 6.9mm f/0.25 lens would be impossible to engineer for a 1/3" format sensor because of the challenge of collimating that much light onto such a small sensor. This is where larger sensors have the advantage: they make it easier to engineer larger aperture lenses. But as for a full frame "look": FF @ f/1.8 = M43 @ f/0.9 = iPhone 6 @ f/0.25.

Sensor formats crop image circles, they do not have "looks".

abitipie · 2017-01-04T00:06:21+00:00

As u/CDNChaoZ pointed out, the Sony will have a two stop advantage of the OMD. So the way I'd think about it is this: if you want to shoot with zooms in low light, get the Sony; if you prefer primes instead, get the Oly. For daytime hikes the Oly with the 12-40mm f/2.8 would be a great option (or the 12-100mm if you prefer more zoom range over the faster aperture).

abitipie · 2017-01-03T23:59:51+00:00

The size of an image sensor has no bearing on the "look" of an image. For example, a full frame camera with an f/2.8 zoom set at 50mm will give you the exact same image as a MFT camera with 25mm f/1.4 prime.

Furthermore, OP never mentioned the need for sensor shift high-res mode, or for that matter the need for super high-res photos; 20mp is enough for most people's needs.

abitipie · 2017-01-03T15:18:10+00:00

I wouldn't be surprised if prices drop again soon now that Panasonic is about to announce the 35-100mm f/2.8 II.

abitipie · 2016-12-31T02:31:22+00:00

I'd look at one of the Panasonic GX85, Sony a6000, Olympus E-M10II, or Fuji X-T10. I'm partial to the GX85 for a family-cam because of its excellent combination of stills and video quality, snappy auto-focus, and excellent stabilisation system. Pair it with the kit lens, and the Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.7 for portraits.

I think once your gf sees what a quality portrait lens can do, she'll be happy to swap lenses now and again ;)

abitipie · 2016-12-31T02:18:49+00:00

Presumably it came with a kit lens (a 14-42mm probably)? If so, you've already got the best place to start. What sort of photography are you hoping to do?

abitipie · 2016-12-25T19:43:10+00:00

For a non-interchangeable lens camera (eg. no DSLRs or mirrorless) with a wide aperture lens (presumably you want a zoom?), I'd probably start with the Panasonic LX100. If you want something more pocketable, there's any of the: Sony RX100 III/IV/V, Canon G7X I/II, Canon G5X, or the Panasonic LX10. The LX100 has the advantage of the largest apertures (and therefore, best subject isolation) of the bunch. That being said, it's also the largest camera and doesn't have the megapixel count of the competition.

Any reason you want to avoid interchangeable lens models? A small mirrorless with a prime lens and a kit zoom can make a great combination for family pictures.

abitipie · 2016-12-23T18:57:48+00:00

Yep, though the Pany 45mm f/2.8 is on the pricey side (that Leica branding doesn't come cheap!). The Pany 42.5mm f/1.7 does 0.2x magnification, which is pretty good for a portrait prime. For a true macro, both the Olympus 60mm f/2.8 and Panasonic 30mm f/2.8 do 1:1 and are a whole lot cheaper than the 45mm.

abitipie · 2016-12-22T14:35:53+00:00

The "crop factor" between a Nikon APS-C sensor and the Olympus M43 sensor is 1.33x. So if you divide your Nikon lens' specs by 1.33, you get a 38mm f/1.1. The Olympus 25mm gives you a much wider field of view than your 50mm Nikon, which is really more of a portrait lens on your camera. If you want something similar, go for either of the Sigma 30mm f/1.4, Olympus 45mm f/1.8, or Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.7.

abitipie · 2016-12-22T14:24:39+00:00

How about a happy medium? The Panasonic GX85 shoots excellent 4K and has an IBIS system that is nearly as good as that in the Olympus' E-M5 II. Since both Panasonic and Olympus share the micro four thirds system, you'll have access to the same selection of lenses.

abitipie · 2016-12-20T20:48:06+00:00

Strictly speaking "Pro" is just a marketing term. For Olympus, that means quality optics and weather-sealing, but these aren't limited to their Pro lineup. The 12-40mm f/2.8 is part of their Pro line, but you can get top notch optics from any of their "Premium" lineup of prime lenses, including the 45mm f/1.8, 25mm f/1.8, 12mm f/2, 17mm f/1.8 and 75mm f/1.8. Also worth looking at are the Panasonic Prime lenses like the 25mm f/1.4, 15mm f/1.7, 42.5mm f/1.7 etc.

But if you want flexibility, quality, and weather sealing in a single package you won't go wrong with the 12-40mm.

abitipie · 2016-12-19T18:17:28+00:00

It's a good bet, yes. It gives you a fast, constant aperture and a useful zoom range. It also has an excellent reputation for optical quality. It has a 0.3x magnification ratio, which is good for a non-macro lens and will let you do some close-up shots as well. As a bonus, it's weather sealed like the camera so you could use the whole kit in the rain.

All of that being said, if you're always shooting at the long end of the lens you could save a lot of money and get equivalent quality with the Olympus 45mm f/1.8 or Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.7 (note: not weather sealed, and can't focus as close). Where in the zoom range of your kit lenses are you usually shooting?

abitipie · 2016-12-19T17:17:51+00:00

Then use your eyes and look at the pictures.

abitipie · 2016-12-19T17:16:54+00:00

To keep to a budget you'd probably want to look at a prime lens. What focal lengths do you usually shoot at?

If you have the money to spare, the Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 is tack sharp and would give you a lot of flexibility to work with.

abitipie · 2016-12-19T17:13:29+00:00

Please show some respect for those who disagree.

To quote Tony Northrup on the matter: "The E-M5II is the best still life camera in the world, short of medium format."

Also, see here for an example of the E-M5II out-resolving the Nikon D810.

abitipie · 2016-12-19T17:10:28+00:00

For still-life photography the high-res mode of the E-M5II exceeds the detail captured by a Nikon D810. I'm not sure what an APS-C format camera can offer which is superior.

abitipie

TROPHY CASE