Author Topic: Why did you buy Micro Four Thirds in the first place? (Read 6864 times)

voyager · « **on:** August 11, 2011, 03:40:13 PM »

We all have a reason for buying our G1's or our E-P1's instead of the most obvious of choices - a Canon or a Nikon (or a Sony), so why did we buy these cameras which at the time of release are always seen as the underdogs, instead of one of the big bad wolf cameras? What was it about the E-P3 that made you want to preorder one, or what made the G3 so special that it was a better choice than the Nikon D7000 or the Sony SLT A55?

I think this is a really important question to consider when we all think about our attitudes towards Micro Four Thirds and what it can't offer, but in the first place there was something that they had that nobody else did for us, so what was it for you?

Streetshooter · « **Reply #1 on:** August 11, 2011, 04:11:03 PM »

I heard Olympus was working on a camera system that was to be compact yet high quality. So I started looking for info about the new camera.
When the EP1 arrived, I instantly fell in love. I knew nothing about this m43 sensor but I loved the camera.
I sold my Pen1 but still miss it. To this day, I still feel it's one of the best cameras ever designed.

count_zero · « **Reply #2 on:** August 11, 2011, 04:28:42 PM »

I wanted a digital rangefinder, but didn't want to pay the price of an M8. Plus, I got sick of lugging around massive lenses. m4/3 seemed like the best balance of sensor size for shallow dof when needed, and long focal length in a small package without sacrificing picture quality too much. I still think it is the best balance. Nice to be able to carry a 40-150mm (80-300mm equiv) lens in my murse, and hold the camera+lens in one hand.

bigfoot · « **Reply #3 on:** August 11, 2011, 04:44:27 PM »

For me, it was largely the size factor of m4/3, followed by the image quality factor thanks to the larger (than P&S) sensors. Started out getting more serious with photography back in college with a Canon AE-1 and a 50mm lens. From there things went back and forth... a digital P&S, Canon rangefinder, Nikon 35mm setup, Nikon dSLR (D50), digital P&S, bridge cameras (Canon G11, S95), briefly tried an E-P1, then back to Nikon dSLR (D3100).

Finally I got fed up with chasing the "perfect" camera. Most of what I shoot is travel, landscapes, and family gatherings. I remembered enjoying the E-P1 for the short while I had it, so I decided to zero in on that and scored a good deal with the 17mm lens and VF-1 viewfinder kit. It really makes me want to go out and take pictures. Now when I get the bug to look at other cameras, I remind myself of the weight/bulk of a dSLR and the poorer image quality from a P&S.

Plus, my wallet finally gets a break.

voyager · « **Reply #4 on:** August 11, 2011, 04:45:44 PM »

Finally I got fed up with chasing the "perfect" camera.

I love this.

Nikas43 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 11, 2011, 04:46:54 PM »

I`m using SLR`s since 1976. My first one was a Minolta S-RT 101. I started digitally with a Oly C-3030 and bought then a EOS 10D. For every day`s use I like my E-PL1 and value the quality of the files. The difference in IQ is not that big to a APS-C DSLR for me.

MFT offers the chance to use all the lenses of your personal history in photography. For me there are the lenses from Minolta (MC/MD) and from Carl Zeiss of GDR (Pentacon Six and Praktica). It`s very emotional like meeting old friends to work again with them after all these years.

I never had a Contax G, Leica or Werra, but I think using a PEN or a GF is similiar and I seldom leave the house without my PEN, this is different to the times when a DSLR was my preferred companion.

At the end of the day I have more pictures since I started using my PEN compared to the times with my EOS.

It changed my life in that aspect.

Toyuko · « **Reply #6 on:** August 11, 2011, 04:47:43 PM »

Well i was planning to get a DLSR last summer, anyway but i guess it was a lucky pick, i didn't know M4/3 was NOT a SLR system. So i choose the EPL-1 and without prior knowledge i got a M4/3 camera.

Handheld · « **Reply #7 on:** August 11, 2011, 06:06:01 PM »

It looked cool and, compared to my E-3, would be easier to carry on outdoor trips with similar image quality. I had hoped I could use my Four-Thirds glass with it but that proved quite limited.

Is this topic really worth a special announcement? I think that feature should be reserved for breaking news of great interest and for forum maintenance notifications.

lisandra · « **Reply #8 on:** August 11, 2011, 09:15:29 PM »

At first, to put it simply, the PEN was irresistible. Beautiful, square, leicaish with a big chunky SLR sensor in a size smaller than APS C, but still big. I had never shot below APS C, and to that point thought it was pointless, I never understood the E3 guys who raved about the "quality" of olympus files. I understood everything once I started shooting with these cameras. Later the GH1s output just plain blew me the F away. I still have APS Cs around and use them regularly, but m4/3s files continue to surprise and blow me away.

TaKing · « **Reply #9 on:** August 11, 2011, 10:45:08 PM »

I bought my E-P1 because of the retro look and the Pinhole art filter. I recently bought an E-P2 because of the Cross Process filter. Wish I could apply both filters on one image.

jakesm · « **Reply #10 on:** August 11, 2011, 10:59:12 PM »

Largely because i wanted a way of mounting Leica lenses without laying out the awesome money for their cameras!

Dave Mason · « **Reply #11 on:** August 11, 2011, 11:02:01 PM »

As hard as I tried I could not get my DSLR into my pocket

voyager · « **Reply #12 on:** August 11, 2011, 11:30:34 PM »

Quote from: Dave Mason on August 11, 2011, 11:02:01 PM

As hard as I tried I could not get my DSLR into my pocket

But you could put a Micro Four Thirds camera in your pocket!? Which one?

traveler_101 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 12, 2011, 12:23:15 AM »

I had lost touch with the world of photography as the DSLR rose to prominence. I had used a Canon manual SLR from the late 1970s through the 1980s, but I didn't learn all that much other than how to control aperture and shutter speed, and I acquired a sense that I wished to control the camera myself. I bought the E-420 "the world's smallest DSLR" in 2009, partly because of size and price but in large measure because of the "underdog" factor.

About a year latter at the local train station I saw a stunning blonde with a white E-P1 (I am not sh*ttin' you guys). She was on her way to the airport: I fell in love. I got the camera, but I didn't get the girl. At that point, the E-P2 had come out, but I choose the E-P1 and the VF-1 anyway, in large part thanks to Streetshooter's advice on how to turn m43 into a RF type photographic experience.

I have moved on to film rangefinder photography, but I still use my E-P1 and I will never sell it.

PenF · « **Reply #14 on:** August 12, 2011, 01:21:42 AM »

when Olympus dropped the price of the EPL-1 twin lens kit by £250 I bought one on impulse before reading the small print. I have an E400 SLR which is a great camera but too heavy for travel photography. My father bought me my first camera when I was 10, an Olympus Pen E. Over the next 49 years I have always had an Olympus camera, Pen-F, OM1, OM2SP, XA, Mui, and they have never let me down. I tried a couple of Minox 35mm cameras but they were totally unreliable.

I like the EPL-1 very much. The only feature it lacks is a remote shutter release using Infra red (both the E400 and the C70 have this). As I take a lot of pictures of small insects this would be very useful. I wish I had known this before I bought the camera, i assumed that some remote trigger would be available (even a cable release would be better than nothing at all).

I bought the macro converter lens. Sadly it does not fit the shorter zoom lens that came with the EPL-1...but is fine with the longer zoom.

I looked at the EP3. The body is a little too large, and the price is too high. I may wait for the price to drop before I think about buying one

Thats all from me

ChrisJ · « **Reply #15 on:** August 12, 2011, 02:50:14 AM »

I first bought a Pannie G1 purely for the size of it. I can carry the camera and two lenses in a 'bum bag' rather than a back-breaking shoulder bag (Pensioner) of my Pentax kit.

I went to a demonstration of the E-P1 at Harrisons in Sheffield and fell in love, but a didn't buy one till I saw a factory re-furbished one on eBay for £200 and couldn't resist any longer, with all it's faults (lack of viewfinder, noise) I love this camera. It's the only camera I have that people ask about when walking around in the street.

Chris

rparmar · « **Reply #16 on:** August 12, 2011, 03:08:38 AM »

£125 seemed the right price and the E-P1 has a nice look and solid build. This allowed me to mount all my lenses and compare with other systems. And as soon as they release a body that can match the ergonomics of my Pentax I'd be willing to spend a bit more.

chrism_scotland · « **Reply #17 on:** August 12, 2011, 03:14:23 AM »

I initially looked at the EP1 when it was launched before disregarding it as an "expensive" toy and keeping my Sony DSLR kit at the time, but now how wrong could I have been!

Sold my last DSLR kit (Pentax) and while I really wanted the Sony NEX I didn't like the native lenses, the Panasonic 20mm and the other pancakes drew me back to m4/3.

I was looking for a small camera so that I can take it with me all the time, so looked at the GF2 initially and then the GF1 but the lure of Olympus was strong!

Ended up buying the EP1 and 17mm kit partially based on price and partially on looks!

I've now sold the EP1 and upgraded to the EP2 while I saw one cheap, going to focus on lenses now, currently only have the Panasonic 20mm as a native lens (used FD 50 1.8 & 24 f2.8 which I love) my use of legacy glass has spurred me to pickup the EP2 so I can add an EVF.

Would like to add either the Olympus 12mm or Panasonic 14mm to my kit (12mm looks lovely!) but will probably give the EP3 a miss, could be tempted to upgrade further in the future to the G3 though.

All in all I've really enjoyed shooting with my EP1 and I'm sure my new EP2 will give me the same enjoyment, I've started to enjoy photography much more now then when I was lugging heavy DSLR kit and I'd say that the picture quality is better than anything I got out of my previous kit!

raffaello_f · « **Reply #18 on:** August 12, 2011, 03:46:58 AM »

Hello, I bought the E-P1 for its fantastic style :-)
I had a Nikon D300 too, and I started to use both of them..well for my style of photography I realized that the E-P1 was perfect! I didn't need a reflex like the D300 :-)
So nere you can find a reportage about the roleplay ( RPG Camarilla Vampire's the requiem in Italy) :

http://www.raffaelloferrari.it/rf1/fotografie/giochi-di-ruolo-dal-vivo/camarilla-the-requiem/

Some pictures were taken with the EP-1 others with the D300.. who can tell the differences? The quality is the same :-)

Raffaello

George · « **Reply #19 on:** August 12, 2011, 04:02:30 AM »

Well I both the EP-1 becouse my P&S (miu-750) was to noisy. A DSLR came not in question to heavy and not for my hands, so the PEN was a perfeckt choice and I love it!

Luke · « **Reply #20 on:** August 12, 2011, 04:14:03 AM »

I fell in love with E-P1. DSLRs are ugly and all look the same. I can walk around with the gf1 or E-P1 and just look like a tourist..... no one knows I'm creating mini-masterpieces

mhobart · « **Reply #21 on:** August 12, 2011, 05:56:17 AM »

My second SLR ever was an OM-1 and I fell in love with the compact size and high quality of the Olympus SLRs. Over the years I added more bodies and a number of lenses, including some of the superb Vivitar Series 1 lenses. When Olympus came out with the 4/3 line and had compatibility with the OM lenses, that was the route I went with :-) Migrating on to the m4/3 line with compatibility to the OM and 4/3 lenses, smaller size, video... made it a logical progression.

I think many users follow similar progressions especially if they have a number of legacy lenses. Sure they don't have all of the whiz-bang features, but neither did the SLRs they were designed for :-)

Mike

Dave Mason · « **Reply #22 on:** August 12, 2011, 07:56:58 AM »

I own a GF1 and a G3 and both slip into my pocket with either the 20mm or 14mm panasonic lens fitted. As a street photographer it had to think of a better set up

popo · « **Reply #23 on:** August 12, 2011, 08:08:37 AM »

I didn't get m4/3 instead of DSLR, and I still wouldn't even think of it. It serves as a secondary smaller backup. Disposable for use like a compact camera. The E-P1 was the first in the "compact" form factor, as the Panasonics before it had no practical benefit over a DSLR. While there are some niche applications for it over a DSLR, there still isn't anything about the system that says to me I will ditch DSLRs within the foreseeable future.

gtxtom · « **Reply #24 on:** August 12, 2011, 08:38:28 AM »

I got mine "for my GF". I have a Pentax K-5, but I've been taking the GF2 everywhere so far. The Pentax gets used during more serious outings. I am still surprised by the K-5's photos, but there's definitely something to be said about the form factor of the GF2 + 20mm.

Author Topic: Why did you buy Micro Four Thirds in the first place? (Read 6864 times)

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