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$400 discount on OM-1 Mk2 through Nov 3 - lenses also discounted (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter tx2ad
- Start date
Unfortunately a couple of weeks late
Do people generally feel that that 100-400 Zuiko is the best value bird lens for M4/3?
There's some big discounts on the long lenses: $500 off the 100-400; $700 off the 150-600; $300 of the 300 f/4 Pro.
Any recommendation(s) for a 2nd lens to make a 2-lens system to cover travel and non-birding?
Was thinking of one of these:
There's also $300 off the 40-150 f/2.8 Pro; and $300 off the 90 f/3.5 Pro Macro.
There's also $500 off some of the primes.
There's some big discounts on the long lenses: $500 off the 100-400; $700 off the 150-600; $300 of the 300 f/4 Pro.
Any recommendation(s) for a 2nd lens to make a 2-lens system to cover travel and non-birding?
Was thinking of one of these:
| 12-100mm f/4 IS PRO (24-200) - $400 discount |
| 12-200mm f/3.5-6.3 (24-400) - $100 discount |
| 14-150mm f/4-5.6 II (28-300) - no discount |
| 12-45 f/4 Pro (24-90) - $200 discount |
There's also $300 off the 40-150 f/2.8 Pro; and $300 off the 90 f/3.5 Pro Macro.
There's also $500 off some of the primes.
Re second lens: Difficult to know. I would look at the weight and consider what the intended use is. If a second lens should be in your camera bag for whole days out and about while you also have the long lens, then I would probably look for something lightweight. But is the shorter lens should be for days when the big lens stays in the hotel, then reach would become more of a priority.
Regarding the first of your questions: I like the convenience of the 100-400 size and it usually has the reach I want. I am old enough that I want nothing longer and heavier. Slightly higher sharpness is rumored to be possible with the 300 prime which can be supplemented with the 1.4x TC. However, you lose the convenience of not needing to remove the lens when zooming.
Niels
Regarding the first of your questions: I like the convenience of the 100-400 size and it usually has the reach I want. I am old enough that I want nothing longer and heavier. Slightly higher sharpness is rumored to be possible with the 300 prime which can be supplemented with the 1.4x TC. However, you lose the convenience of not needing to remove the lens when zooming.
Niels
MelospizaMelodiaFan
I photograph birds
I have the 100-400 with my E-M1ii. There is a weight and size advantage compared to full frame, and I have gotten used to carrying it around. The zoom is nice for a couple reasons I can think of:
1) when large birds get close, I have to zoom out to get them in frame.
2) I end up using 100mm (200mm eFOV) for landscapes because I hate changing lenses. Most people don't have this issue.
Overall, I am happy with the results I get with this lens. Contrast and saturation are on the low side, but that can be fixed in post-processing. Also, there is no sync stabilization with the body, so what you end up with is mostly stable, with a few occasional jumps when the lens IS and camera IS are working against each other. This doesn't happen very much, but it may affect a few shots out of a burst. I live with it, and it is not a deal breaker for me. There is a YT review that shows this on camera, but I don't have time to find it now.
I find myself just using my phone for landscape and travel photography most of the time. I have one other lens, a 25mm (50mm eFOV) Zuiko (the base model) that I intended for "normal" photography, but I don't use it very much. I only use it for portraits, mostly of pets. Relying on a single prime lens is not such a strange idea; several cameras have a fixed prime lens, like the wildly popular Fujifilm x100.
You sound like you are ready to plunk down several thousand on Olympus gear. I don't know if this is a big investment to you, but it would be for me. In my opinion, OM System has been disappointing fans for several years now, and their future is questionable. I recommend doing more research on this, if this matters to you.
In what way has OMSD been disappointing fans for several years now?
What makes their future questionable?
DP Review just completed a couple of Big Year photo challenges - I didn't do an exact count, but I'd guess that maybe half of the photos picked all came from some version of the OM-1 camera; it seemed obvious to me that it was the most used camera of all of pics chosen. I think the second most popular camera was the Sony A1. After that - I don't even think that another camera showed up even twice.
So - it seems like either - there's a few very active users of the camera system that submitted to the challenge; or the system is capable of doing the job (or both!).
At the moment, I'm also considering going with a Fuji system. Would go with the Fuji 100-400 and 18-135 lenses there, undecided on body still.
DP Review also had a link to an interview with one of the top guys at OMSD from April - and he seemed to be coyly implying that they would in fact be bringing back a capable PEN model to the US in the future. They sell the PEN-7 quite well in Japan, and they seem to think having both style of bodies does make sense - and I agree with that. So, it seems like their plans are to expand rather than contract.
I'm thinking of Fuji or OM-1 b/c - not only do they have the lenses that cover my needs - but they produce quality pics; and there seems to be the option to also go with a smaller/lighter body for non-bird specific outings that would share lenses. They seem to have the most options for picking your size/weight/featues in terms of both body and lens. At least, that's how it seems to me.
MelospizaMelodiaFan
I photograph birds
Just my opinion. I'm sure you can also find the opposite opinion just as easily. I watch guys like Robin Wong, Matti Sulanto, Peter Forsgard, and Red35 on YouTube. I think the last few releases by OM are incremental improvements. They have stopped innovating. I got into M43 because it was smaller and less expensive. But the gap has narrowed, and M43 is moving in the wrong direction. Like I said, do your own research, YMMV. I bought all used gear, would not hesitate to bail on the system if there is a more suitable system for me down the road.
Peter.home
Mr Peter Home
The om1 has the in camera focus stacking. Is it the only camera with this feature still? Coupled with a macro lens it is very good for insects.
Everything else, well, lightroom is a great leveller!
Everything else, well, lightroom is a great leveller!
So - Robin Wong is upset that OMDS is no longer working with a littany of "influencers" - likely b/c - he's an influencer.
Tesla got rid of its entire media department - there's literally no way for the media to interact with Tesla.
So, is OMDS taking a page out of Tesla's playbook?
Is Tesla headed in the wrong direction b/c they have no media department?
Does the media department have any real impact on the final product - or just on the media people that want to make money talking about products?
Apple used to have everyone out to Cupertino for every release - now, they publish a highly theatrical "play".
Is Apple headed in the wrong direction because they don't drag everyone to Cupertino?
Could you summarize the thoughts of the others you mentioned?
I've been thinking about this for a while and I have been doing my own research.
Generally, I feel like nearly any current camera is likely to be a very good camera.
After that - its a matter of degree - and to some extent - how much work do you want the camera to do for you in some set of scenarios.
Pick any camera you want today - wait a year or two - and there's likely to be several that are better in some set of ways.
But - point the lens at something and push the shutter button - it will still take a photo same as the first day.
I think precisely for bird photography that OM currently has a step on Panasonic, but with the release of the g9ii, it is a smaller step than it used to be. So even in the scenario where OM systems might fail in the future, you would still have a very capable camera that would fit your lenses.
Try check out the video by 43nerd where she compares pana and om in mk2 versions in The Faroe Islands. I believe she says that if birds is your thing you should go OM, but if you take considerable amount of other style photos that the g9ii might be a better choice.
Finally, I have no input regarding the Fuji.
Try check out the video by 43nerd where she compares pana and om in mk2 versions in The Faroe Islands. I believe she says that if birds is your thing you should go OM, but if you take considerable amount of other style photos that the g9ii might be a better choice.
Finally, I have no input regarding the Fuji.
MelospizaMelodiaFan
I photograph birds
Okay, that's good. I gave you my 2 cents, I'm glad you have formed your own opinion. I agree that most flagship and second tier cameras will do the job.
The part I highlighted should say "you could still get". Obviously, that is only a question if the first one fails or gets significantly superseded, and significantly superseded seems less and less likely (in all camera brands, not only OM). They all seems to be making minute improvements at the moment according to what those using each brand is saying in threads here (and if I read that correctly, but it does make sense given that sales in units and dollars seems to be going down for most brands).
Niels
