Hello everyone

[Richard M]

Just like to extend a big hello to you all - and I'm very thankful to discover this forum!

After years of keen amateur photography I'm just starting my first tentative steps into the professional world after plenty of encouragement from friends & family. How it goes it anyone's guess but if I don't try I'll never know...

At the moment I'm looking at upgrading my gear. I've been using a Nikon D7000 and had some terrific results from it. My take-anywhere camera is a Nikon V1 which I love, so I'm no stranger to smaller sensors. My first instinct was to upgrade to full-frame until I spotted the EM-1. So now I'm stuck in the micro 4/3 and FF debate. I adore the EM-1 and it seems to tick all the boxes. But I've used a D800 and I was blown away with the IQ.

So I'm here really to see other opinions and get some advice. At the moment I'm leaning towards the EM-1 (I do love it).

Anyway, thanks for reading. Bye for now.

Richard

[Bikie John]

Re: Hello everyone

Hello Richard, welcome aboard. There are a few of us down here in sunny Wessex - I'm up the road in Salisbury.

We have some members here who have converted from Nikon so they may be able to give advice based on real-world experience.

Ciao ... John

[Ross the fiddler]

Re: Hello everyone

G'day Richard & welcome from a down under member. You might be interested in reading this thread "Article on rumour site re. m4/3rds v. FF" with a blog article by Lindsay Dobson. http://lindsaydobsonphotography.com/...vs-full-frame/

[OM USer]

Re: Hello everyone

a warm welcome Richard.

[Richard M]

Re: Hello everyone

Hello Richard, welcome aboard. There are a few of us down here in sunny Wessex - I'm up the road in Salisbury.

We have some members here who have converted from Nikon so they may be able to give advice based on real-world experience.

Ciao ... John

Thanks John - Salisbury is very close. If there are any meet-ups let me know.

G'day Richard & welcome from a down under member. You might be interested in reading this thread with a blog article by Lindsay Dobson.

Thanks Ross. Actually, I've already had a good read-through of Lindsay's wonderful blog and I must say she nearly single-handedly convinced me to go micro-thirds with her honest opinions and magnificent photographs. With results like hers I'm not entirely sure I need the bigger, heavier, more expensive D800.

[banjukes]

Re: Hello everyone

Welcome to the forum Richard, hope you enjoy.

[tomphotofx]

Re: Hello everyone

A warm welcome from me too.

Tom

[Zuiko]

Re: Hello everyone

Hi Richard and welcome.

What type of photography do you specialize in? If it's landscapes printed really huge then the D800E may be the way to go. Also if you need shift lenses Nikon full frame is more versatile. For virtually anything else, particularly if a degree of mobility is required, the E-M1 is a compelling alternative. Try to handle them both at some stage (if you haven't done so already) to see which one feels best for you in terms of size, ergonomics, control placement and accessibility, etc.

[Phill D]

Re: Hello everyone

Welcome from me too. Would have missed that Lindsay thread without this.

[Richard M]

Re: Hello everyone

Hi Richard and welcome.

What type of photography do you specialize in? If it's landscapes printed really huge then the D800E may be the way to go. Also if you need shift lenses Nikon full frame is more versatile. For virtually anything else, particularly if a degree of mobility is required, the E-M1 is a compelling alternative. Try to handle them both at some stage (if you haven't done so already) to see which one feels best for you in terms of size, ergonomics, control placement and accessibility, etc.

Thanks for the advise John - it'll be primarily people - portraits, models and weddings and out of those three weddings seems to be getting most of my time these days.

I've yet to handle the E-M1 but harking back to my earlier days I had a gorgeous OM-4Ti which I never, ever should have sold. I loved the look and feel of OMs. The E-M1 looks like it might be of similar dimensions, bar the grip. Trying to find an E-M1 just to handle is proving tricky, with no dealers having one.

[Richard M]

Re: Hello everyone

Ok, went to LCE in Southampton and they had an E-M1 there - hoorah! Loved the look and feel of it. Only had about 5 mins to play around with it. Not overly impressed with the EVF though. I accepted the one on my V1 as a necessary evil, actually using the screen on the rear more often than not, but I thought the E-M1 would be a lot clearer. What are people's thoughts on it? I much prefer OVF but I guess it's something you get used to.

[bredman]

Re: Hello everyone

Welcome aboard Richard.

[timd1230]

Re: Hello everyone

Hi Richard - Welcome to the forum - I am moving to 2 EM1 from D800's for my wedding work next year - unless you print above 20x30 or do a lot of studio or advertising work (Or crop heavily the E-M1 is good enough for most situations.

You do need to select your lenses carefully but from my perspective I have been taking better photographs with the olympus and are a joy to use (As well as carry a lll day)

[Richard M]

Re: Hello everyone

Hi Richard - Welcome to the forum - I am moving to 2 EM1 from D800's for my wedding work next year - unless you print above 20x30 or do a lot of studio or advertising work (Or crop heavily the E-M1 is good enough for most situations.

You do need to select your lenses carefully but from my perspective I have been taking better photographs with the olympus and are a joy to use (As well as carry a lll day)

Well, that's exactly the kind of feedback I was after. Great to hear you're moving from a D800 to the E-M1. That tells me you have great confidence in micro 4/3. Handled the D800 again today and it's huge compared to the E-M1 - I think it will be somewhat easier dragging around an E-M1 outfit all day! Many thanks.

I'd be very interested in what lenses you've opted to use for weddings and your flash solution, if any?

[timd1230]

Re: Hello everyone

From my perspective with weddings I rarely use anything bigger than 24x12 as a double page album spread most images are 11x14 or less but very happy with the image quality - What I do find is I actually get more pictures as its easier to have a camera in the hand ready to use .