Silly questions but I am a little excited...

[stevewestern]

OK, so after wanting to get an Olympus for several months I have finally sold off all my Canon gear so am now close to buying...
I plan to get an EM1 with the 12-40 f2.8 lens, plus a few bits - the grip (I have big hands) the 45mm prime and a Panasonic 35-100 f2.8, plus a FL600 flash, then of course I'll need a couple of memory cards and a spare battery.

Does this sound like a good way to start ?
I did wonder about the 40-150 oly lens but the lure of f2.8 is a big one.

Any suggestions about other lenses that might be worth considering or have I made a fairly good shopping list ?

[Zuiko]

Re: Silly questions but I am a little excited...

Hey Steve, that sounds the basis of a great system to me! If you are into primes you may wish to consider the 75mm f1.8, 17mm f1.8 and 12mm f2. Or the 60mm f2.8 macro. If you need to go wider there's the 9-18mm or 7-14mm. It's quite a comprehensive and flexible system you are buying into.

[stevewestern]

Re: Silly questions but I am a little excited...

Thanks John.
Primes are something I have never really got on with - From back in the day when my OM1 was all shiny I did have a couple, but since going digital I have used mainly zooms, with a 50mm and 85mm for a short while, but most of my shooting has always needed the flexibility a zoom can give - I tend to shoot a lot of kids in classrooms so me moving can be restricted while my subjects are often darting about all over the place. I also lived in sunny southern Spain so there was often a lot of dust so I have a built in aversion to changing lenses any more than I have to.
We will see !
As it is, I am buying blind, having only held an EM1 for 3 minutes and there is no local store to go to for a play so a lot of what I am planning is based on past experience rather than hands-on research.

[Wee man]

Re: Silly questions but I am a little excited...

Seems a good way to go can you make the Photography Show? You could try before you buy and maybe get a discount??

[StephenL]

Re: Silly questions but I am a little excited...

Try to check with and without the grip before you buy. Otherwise, you've set yourself a sound system - to start with!

[stevewestern]

Re: Silly questions but I am a little excited...

Seems a good way to go can you make the Photography Show? You could try before you buy and maybe get a discount??

[stevewestern]

Re: Silly questions but I am a little excited...

Try to check with and without the grip before you buy. Otherwise, you've set yourself a sound system - to start with!

The only play I had with an EM1 was without a grip in the Plymouth LCE store - they were prepared to get in other gear but only if I paid up front for it. Without a grip it felt very small compared to the Canon 5d2 plus grip I am used to which is why I am assuming I will want a grip.

I do get up to London to work at times but rarely have the time to take a few hours off to go to a store with stock. I am hoping that by buying a whole bunch of gear in one go might mean a little discount !

[Phill D]

Re: Silly questions but I am a little excited...

Not sure you would save that much but the show should be worth going to from the publicity.

[Melaka]

Re: Silly questions but I am a little excited...

Without a grip it felt very small compared to the Canon 5d2 plus grip I am used to which is why I am assuming I will want a grip.

The grip is a very worthwhile addition. Mine is rarely off either the EM1 or the EM5.

[StephenL]

Re: Silly questions but I am a little excited...

With the E-M5, it was first grip all the time. But for me, the grip on the E-M1 makes the camera too bulky. Each to their own - that's why they're detachable!

[timg]

Re: Silly questions but I am a little excited...

The only play I had with an EM1 was without a grip in the Plymouth LCE store

I think you and I have been handling the same EM1, that's the only place I've ever seen one "in the flesh" too!

[Greytop]

Re: Silly questions but I am a little excited...

I have my E-M1 gripped and my E-M5 now without both parts of the grip (most of the time).
Logic being my E-M5 has now become my super light, compact (prime) solution and the E-M1 is everything else

Steve if you are used to a bigger camera like the 5D2 plus grip, I would be inclined to go for the HLD-7 with the E-M1.

[Pierre L]

Re: Silly questions but I am a little excited...

In any case, I don't think the grip is wasted. Even if you were to decide not to use it most of the time, it is still worth having for when you need the second battery.

[Ulfric M Douglas]

Re: Silly questions but I am a little excited...

OK, so after wanting to get an Olympus for several months I have finally sold off all my Canon gear so am now close to buying...

...

Does this sound like a good way to start ?

Nope.
I think you've gone about it backwards.
Buy the new toys first, sell your tried and tested stuff when you are sure the new ones are better for you.

[StephenL]

Re: Silly questions but I am a little excited...

Nope.
I think you've gone about it backwards.
Buy the new toys first, sell your tried and tested stuff when you are sure the new ones are better for you.

That would be presuming the OP had the funds to do it that way ....