The µ43 thread - welcome to the really dark side
- Thread starter King4aDay
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I suspect cause they are the latest in the range so have slightly better features. From reviews the gx-80 now has the 5 axis stabilising like the Olympus always have had but will work in tangent with the image stabilising built into the vast majority of the Panasonic lenses.
This is something the Olympus can't compete with except for the new 2 grand Olympus big lense.
The 6 stops of stabilising it offers is a real boom for big telephoto lens users.
Plus the sensor has been tweaked and from reviews appears to be on par or beat the Olympus offerings for similar money.
The gx8 offers a 20mp sensor I think which none of the Olympus can compete with. So until Olympus release the new em1 , Panasonic have the better bodies atm. Even then unless Olympus do a firmware upgrade which lets you use the IS on the Panasonic lenses the Panasonic bodies will always have this advantage
This is something the Olympus can't compete with except for the new 2 grand Olympus big lense.
The 6 stops of stabilising it offers is a real boom for big telephoto lens users.
Plus the sensor has been tweaked and from reviews appears to be on par or beat the Olympus offerings for similar money.
The gx8 offers a 20mp sensor I think which none of the Olympus can compete with. So until Olympus release the new em1 , Panasonic have the better bodies atm. Even then unless Olympus do a firmware upgrade which lets you use the IS on the Panasonic lenses the Panasonic bodies will always have this advantage
Soldato
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You may joke Greebo, but the battery really does takes an age to charge. I'd say it almost makes the usefulness of the USB charging void - Took nearly 3 hours to charge out the box.
The good news is that's about the only negative thing I have to say. Image quality is impressive, very impressive. It is clear to see that it is above and beyond my RX100 M3.
The stabilisation is crazy good, unlike anything I've seen before. I can only wonder how much better it will be with a supported lens to allow for the dual IS.
I'm finding the menus a little clunky to deal with, which has surprised me as many praise Panny for their menus. Perhaps this will change in a few days.
The touchscreen is wonderful, coming from a FF DLSR and even the RX100, it feels so good to be able to touch to focus. The real icing on the cake is the ability to move the focus point around with your finger on the touchscreen whist looking through the view finder, such a nice touch!
The viewfinder quality isn't going to set the world on fire, it's small and not the best image quality, but it's perfectly acceptable.
I'm still surprised by how much it weighs considering it is a plastic build, it feels substantial. Very good build quality and finish.
Hopefully Adobe aren't too long with bringing support for the the RAW files it produces.
Some test shots I took today, JPGs cropped in Photoshop.
The in built crop and pan feature is very unique and works very well, I shot this test in a local restaurant this evening:
As an early adopter, it's always a bit of a risk, but I think my gut feeling was right on this one. I am very happy.
The good news is that's about the only negative thing I have to say. Image quality is impressive, very impressive. It is clear to see that it is above and beyond my RX100 M3.
The stabilisation is crazy good, unlike anything I've seen before. I can only wonder how much better it will be with a supported lens to allow for the dual IS.
I'm finding the menus a little clunky to deal with, which has surprised me as many praise Panny for their menus. Perhaps this will change in a few days.
The touchscreen is wonderful, coming from a FF DLSR and even the RX100, it feels so good to be able to touch to focus. The real icing on the cake is the ability to move the focus point around with your finger on the touchscreen whist looking through the view finder, such a nice touch!
The viewfinder quality isn't going to set the world on fire, it's small and not the best image quality, but it's perfectly acceptable.
I'm still surprised by how much it weighs considering it is a plastic build, it feels substantial. Very good build quality and finish.
Hopefully Adobe aren't too long with bringing support for the the RAW files it produces.
Some test shots I took today, JPGs cropped in Photoshop.
The in built crop and pan feature is very unique and works very well, I shot this test in a local restaurant this evening:
As an early adopter, it's always a bit of a risk, but I think my gut feeling was right on this one. I am very happy.
The gear has arrived
I've sold enough Canon gear to fund this little lot
The lenses and the E-M5ii are new, the E-M1 body is used but at a good price and in good nick.
I'll keep the 12-40 on the 5ii and the long lens/converter on the 1. Both bodies with lenses feel nicely balanced, the 5ii does feel a bit small in my hands.
I now have to decide whether to keep my Canon macro stuff and buy a converter or flog it and get the Olly macro.
The 300 F4 is now in my sights but I'll have to sell my 7D and 300 F4.
Although I've watched a lot of Youtube videos about this gear I still have little idea about menus etc.
Going away to Yorkshire for a week tomorrow so I'll have plenty of time to play!
Goodbye Canon, hello Olympus.
I've sold enough Canon gear to fund this little lot
The lenses and the E-M5ii are new, the E-M1 body is used but at a good price and in good nick.
I'll keep the 12-40 on the 5ii and the long lens/converter on the 1. Both bodies with lenses feel nicely balanced, the 5ii does feel a bit small in my hands.
I now have to decide whether to keep my Canon macro stuff and buy a converter or flog it and get the Olly macro.
The 300 F4 is now in my sights but I'll have to sell my 7D and 300 F4.
Although I've watched a lot of Youtube videos about this gear I still have little idea about menus etc.
Going away to Yorkshire for a week tomorrow so I'll have plenty of time to play!
Goodbye Canon, hello Olympus.
Suggest you get the battery grip. Makes the body much more balanced esp with those two lenses plus you gain a second battery. I can easily go through both batteries on a day out.
As for a covertor I wouldn't bother. I'd sell and get the Olympus/ Panasonic stuff. Unless there isn't the equivalent lense that is but I'm pretty sure they have them all covered now and the quality is on par with the canon lens.
Plus the size difference and weight really helps. Enjoy your 40-150 lens. I got mine last week and so far I'm amazed at it.
As for a covertor I wouldn't bother. I'd sell and get the Olympus/ Panasonic stuff. Unless there isn't the equivalent lense that is but I'm pretty sure they have them all covered now and the quality is on par with the canon lens.
Plus the size difference and weight really helps. Enjoy your 40-150 lens. I got mine last week and so far I'm amazed at it.
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Got my batteries and vertical grip from eBay second hand. There are normally loads around. I actually got a bargain of the grip and three genuine Olympus batteries for around £110.
As for bag I've got a think tank retrospective 5. Takes my mark 5 Ii with my 40-150, 12-40, 75mm, 45mm, 25mm plus charger, the 4 batteries and othe stuff no problems. You might want the 7 if you have two bodies and plan to keep the lenses on both. It will fit my body with my 40-150 and 1.4 converter on without removing it. You could keep the other body with the lens on as well and it would fit but you wouldn't have much room for much more, maybe one prime lense.
They aren't cheap but god it's well made and a good looking bag and comfy.
As for bag I've got a think tank retrospective 5. Takes my mark 5 Ii with my 40-150, 12-40, 75mm, 45mm, 25mm plus charger, the 4 batteries and othe stuff no problems. You might want the 7 if you have two bodies and plan to keep the lenses on both. It will fit my body with my 40-150 and 1.4 converter on without removing it. You could keep the other body with the lens on as well and it would fit but you wouldn't have much room for much more, maybe one prime lense.
They aren't cheap but god it's well made and a good looking bag and comfy.
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Caporegime
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How are people finding the GX80? I've got the dual lens kit in my basket and am itching to buy. Other option is the GX8 (better EVF/deeper buffer/better sensor) but the GX80 is smaller and has better IS - still haven't decided.
Associate
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Something bit different - wee music vid we made with Olympus OM-D E-M5ii and 45mm 1.8 lens
picked up a < £10 N400 variable filter on the bay and shot this at end of my road this morning... pretty pleased with result
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/73603922/P5150020.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/73603922/P5150020.jpg
Soldato
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Impressed so far - I got the dual lens kit. Both the lenses are absolutely teeny tiny, and seem nice and sharp.
I haven't used it that much so far but I'm really happy with it. and the IS is very impressive.
Soldato
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I'm really impressed, It definitely ticks all the boxes. I wrote a more detailed summary a few posts up.
Not unique to the GX80 - I'm still kinda getting using to the fact that the M43 system is so compact, coming from FF it's a shock that I can have a range of lenses and not be breaking my back.
V nice
Thanks, still learning how to get good results... got a couple of ND1000 10 stop filters on order as the variable ones are abit hit and miss, and near ND400 you get a big black cross across image
I fire it off on my iPhone which I can control all settings, though wish Olympus would add histogram to app
Olympus have promised to look into adding it. You aren't the first user to bemoan this omission
Soldato
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What kind of ND filters are you guys using?