Swapping systems to an Olympus

[Millhouse Fella]

Hi, Just joined to get some Olympus information and advice please. Over the past 6 months I have been looking to change systems from my Pentax gear and purely judged on a visit of a professional photographer to my local photography club who was using the OM-D-E- M1 Mark ll. Needless to say his photographs were stunning. I seem to be getting more noise in my shots with the Pentax, more than I like, no matter what settings I use. I am tempted to hire one for a week or so to see how this model compares to my Pentax K3 lI. I was mightily impressed with the M1 Mk ll and wondered if you guys could give me an honest appraisal of the Olympus camera. I understand that Olympus is selling off the camera side of their business but would expect the new owners (when in charge) to keep the brand alive.
Any advise/info would be much appreciated. Any questions please fire away.

[Ian]

Welcome to the forum! The E-Group is a welcoming and friendly place

No disrespect to Pentax meant, but their adaptation of their legacy film SLR to digital was not very good to start with. Like Nikon, they largely depended on the body focusing the lens mechanically. Canon was way more advanced in this respect and yet even their system had legacy compromises. Four Thirds and what we have now with Micro Four Thirds were designed from the start to be digital sensor systems. This means better viewfinders, smaller and lighter bodies and, silent operation with many models is possible and much smaller and lighter lenses.

You may find Olympus menus challenging to start with. But they are actually quite logical - it's just that there are so many options. I personally would prefer this to a prettier and easier to navigate menu system that meant less controls.

Your choice of camera body to target really depends on what type of photography you do - action and sports, it would have to be an E-M1-series as these have phase-detect focusing. E-M5 is for ultra-compactness and the entry-level is the E-M10. The choice of available lenses is very large compared to any other mirrorless system.

Ian

[griffljg]

The E-M5 III also has phase detection autofocus, although the tripod mount appears to be a bit dodgy. So, if most of your photography is hand-held, it might be worthwhile considering, especially if you are looking at a lightweight system.

[MJ224]

What are your favorite photography subjects. The Oly gear is very suited to Wild Life with features such as ProCap. The camera will take but not store photos with a half press on the shutter button, and will record the last dozen when you do press fully. Great for birds flying etc. Another super feature is Hand Held High Resolution. That's good for landscapes etc. The Oly gear is very innovative, there are photo shops which can do "Try before you buy" I believe. That may just be Olympus Outlets....not sure..

The range of lenses is staggering...

[Millhouse Fella]

Welcome to the forum! The E-Group is a welcoming and friendly place

No disrespect to Pentax meant, but their adaptation of their legacy film SLR to digital was not very good to start with. Like Nikon, they largely depended on the body focusing the lens mechanically. Canon was way more advanced in this respect and yet even their system had legacy compromises. Four Thirds and what we have now with Micro Four Thirds were designed from the start to be digital sensor systems. This means better viewfinders, smaller and lighter bodies and, silent operation with many models is possible and much smaller and lighter lenses.

You may find Olympus menus challenging to start with. But they are actually quite logical - it's just that there are so many options. I personally would prefer this to a prettier and easier to navigate menu system that meant less controls.

Your choice of camera body to target really depends on what type of photography you do - action and sports, it would have to be an E-M1-series as these have phase-detect focusing. E-M5 is for ultra-compactness and the entry-level is the E-M10. The choice of available lenses is very large compared to any other mirrorless system.

Ian

Hi Ian, thanks for your warm welcome and advice. I guess my first love is landscape but am also a sucker for wildlife, architecture and street photography. The Pentax I have is getting a bit heavy to carry around lately. That combined with the noise issue is nudging me to move systems. The OM-D-E M1 Mark ll seems like a splendid camera and would put me at the standard of my K3 ll, I would think. Looking at comparison sites. Some go for Pentax (just) and some go for the Mark ll (just) so I guess that is why I posted here to try and get some "hands on" advice.

[kpmg]

Hi. When I switched from Canon two years ago I took advantage of the Olympus Test and Wow promotion (see here: https://wow.olympus.eu).

I tried the OMD- E-M1 Mark II Pro kit option from a local dealer and that convinced me to go ahead. Well worth trying to see if you like the cameras but U am sure you will be impressed.

[Millhouse Fella]

What are your favorite photography subjects. The Oly gear is very suited to Wild Life with features such as ProCap. The camera will take but not store photos with a half press on the shutter button, and will record the last dozen when you do press fully. Great for birds flying etc. Another super feature is Hand Held High Resolution. That's good for landscapes etc. The Oly gear is very innovative, there are photo shops which can do "Try before you buy" I believe. That may just be Olympus Outlets....not sure..

The range of lenses is staggering...

Hi Mark, thanks for your reply. My main loves are landscape but am also a sucker for wildlife, architecture and street photography. The range of lenses for Pentax is also large but given the weight advantage the M1 Mark ll is drawing me to it. The question is, I guess, is there an issue with noise on the pictures from the M1? I may have to hunt down a shop that will hire one to me for a week maybe with an option to buy.

[Millhouse Fella]

Hi. When I switched from Canon two years ago I took advantage of the Olympus Test and Wow promotion (see here: https://wow.olympus.eu).

I tried the OMD- E-M1 Mark II Pro kit option from a local dealer and that convinced me to go ahead. Well worth trying to see if you like the cameras but U am sure you will be impressed.

Hi, thanks for this. I went for a similar offer early last year but realised that the loan of the camera (M1 Mark ll) was with Pro lenses which smashed it out of the park in terms of price for me so I did not go ahead. I tried to get the loan with standard lenses but they wouldn't do it. I took it that the difference between the Pro lens and the consumer lens would be marked, rightly or wrongly.

[kpmg]

When I used Test and Wow there was no charge at all. If you click on the link it tells you location of local dealers who will provide you with equipment for 24 hours. Store will take credit card details as security but there should not be any charge at all as long as you return it all intact!

[Ian]

Hi, thanks for this. I went for a similar offer early last year but realised that the loan of the camera (M1 Mark ll) was with Pro lenses which smashed it out of the park in terms of price for me so I did not go ahead. I tried to get the loan with standard lenses but they wouldn't do it. I took it that the difference between the Pro lens and the consumer lens would be marked, rightly or wrongly.

Your Pentax has a larger sensor so it should have an edge on noise performance but members here who have the latest full frame kit report that the main area in which the noise is noticeably better than Micro Four Thirds is when the lighting conditions are not ideal. But there are now tools like Topaz Labs DeNoise AI which can claw back much of that disadvantage. Pretty much everything else about the latest Olympus mirrorless camera models is way more advanced than your Pentax K-series.

Olympus Pro lenses tend to have brighter maximum apertures and more rugged build with weather-sealing but not exclusively. The non-Pro m.Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro is weather-sealed and an excellent performer for an affordable price and can be used for portraiture. The star budget lens is, of course, the 45mm f/1.8 - tack sharp and a bargain price and it's tiny. The E-M1 Mark 3 is now shipping so the outgoing Mark 2 is being discounted heavily but it's not too different to the Mark 3. If there is one Pro lens to get I'd go for the 12-40 f/2.8. There is a good supply of used ones. Don't just consider Olympus lenses - Panasonic Lumix/Leica have a wide selection of compatible lenses as well.

If you have an eye on any specific items you will get a lot of excellent feedback on its pros and cons - you only need to ask

Ian

[Bikie John]

Typo there I think, Ian - I think you meant 45mm f/1.8, not f/2.8. I second your recommendation of both that one and the 12-40 f/2.8.

[timboo]

Also Sigma lenses are very sharp

[Ian]

Thanks John - now corrected!

[blackfox]

I changed over last year after years shooting with both canon and Nikon systems . The weight was my main reason after heart failure , my main set up is a 1-mkii and a Panasonic 100-400 not ideal but gives results that jump out at you .but the main thing is the above rig gives up to18 FPS with a FF Reach = to 800mm And weighs in all up at 1.4 kg and with lightning fast.a.f

[Phill D]

Hi, just noticed where you are. Pre covid I'd have suggested a meet up so you could try my Oly gear out one day. Not an option now unfortunately. Harrisons in Sheffield is probably a good bet for a loan camera. Not sure if they do Test and Wow though, they might, certainly worth a chat and I bet they'd give you a quote for your Pentax stuff if you are not keeping it.

[Millhouse Fella]

Hi, just noticed where you are. Pre covid I'd have suggested a meet up so you could try my Oly gear out one day. Not an option now unfortunately. Harrisons in Sheffield is probably a good bet for a loan camera. Not sure if they do Test and Wow though, they might, certainly worth a chat and I bet they'd give you a quote for your Pentax stuff if you are not keeping it.

Cheers, I will give them a call and try and get a weeks hire with the M1 Mk ll and a standard landscape lens. From what I read the menu on the Oly is a little complicated until you get to know it so, knowing me, it would take me a couple of days to get to sort the basics. As you say shame about that pesky covid-19. I always prefer shooting with company. Given the fact that 70 is hoveing into view on my horizon I fear, on my own, given my habit of taking one step too many I am likely to end up in a heap in a ditch somewhere.

[Phill D]

I don't worry too much about the menus as 95% of what I do I do with the super control panel and that is very easy. If I do delve into the menu I just work my way through and usually get there in the end and if not there is always this forum . For me it wouldn't matter how they were laid out anyway I'd have forgotten the next time I wanted something .

[Paul Graber]

I made the same change from Pentax in 2012, first to Panny (and still own and use several Panny lenses) and then in 2015 to Oly. I have never regretted it, and although Pentax glass is pretty good, frankly I find Oly’s better still.

[Otto]

I hardly ever need to use the menus as the Super Control Panel allows access to most things you need to change most often and is accessed via the touch screen. I have several Oly lenses but only one Panasonic, the tiny 12-32 which is very sharp, but the zoom ring works the opposite way to the Olys!