Some random thoughts
Thought Number One: As you guys know I have been playing around with Micro 4/3rds and really enjoying it! One disappointment was I bought a OM System OM-D-E M1 Mark III. The camera is well made, and has tons of great features and makes wonderful files, but…….. the controls and control placements just didn’t work for me. If you have one and it works for you, that’s great, but it didn’t for me! I also bought a Lumix GX85 and its menus and controls were near perfect, but I still wanted a bigger more capable body! When I was wrestling with this I decided to sell some Fujifilm gear that I loved, but honestly were not using, much, so I listed them. I got an email from a dear friend, and good photographer who also happens to be a FBI agent. He and I have corresponded a lot and he wanted to buy my Fujifilm XF 100-400 and happened to mention that he was shooting both Micro 4/3rds and Fujifilm and he had a mint condition Lumix G9 that he would like to use as part of a trade and cash for my lens. He said he would be happy to send me the G9 to try and he was sure I would find it a lot less confusing I terms of controls and menus!
Long story short, I love the G9, it is a much friendlier camera in terms of controls and using the menu system. Problem solved!
Thought Number Two: Once I got rolling with the. newer body I wanted one long zoom lens to use with it…… but most of the choices were in the thousands of bucks. and I I didn’t think I would use it that much! In the past I would only invested in very expensive long glass, but I found a Lumix lens that covered a range of 200-600 with a maximum aperture of f4 -5.6, and it got very good reviews so I sprang for one and to my shock, while not a super heavy duty made lens, it was very sharp, some images below. It cost less than half of the more expensive and much larger alternative lenses and was actually a faster maximum aperture!
Lumix 100-300 @ 500mm and f 8.
Lumix 100-300 @ 600mm and f 8.
Problem two resolved.
Thought Number Three: I really resisted getting into the Micro 4/3rds world, fearing that noise would objectionable, the mega pixel count might be little low and fear of lower quality all around! Well I was wrong on all counts, the G9 and the GX85 both have great low noise out to 3200, and the noise at 6400 is easy to fix with Topaz DeNoise! I shoot at 1600 a lot and I see nothing that bothers me at all! The lenses for this system are small, light and optically very, very good! What about Fujifilm? Still have it, still love it and still use it, but it is heavier and the lighter Micro 4/3rds stuff is easier on my 78 year old body! …..and the images are making me happy!
All these images made with the Lumix G9 and the Olympus 60mm macro lens, handheld!
Thought Number Four: Do we worry to much about medium format vs full frame or APS-C vs Micro 4/3rds? I guess it depends on how severe your pixel peeping condition is! I’ve been a working pro for over 53 years and I have set very high personal standards for my work, and I’ve shot all the formats mentioned above. I would never say that each of those formats doesn’t have certain advantages and disadvantages was well, but for me, I can have a lot fun and make images that please me with any of them! Whatever you love, shoot it and dedicate yourself to getting as much out of it as you can, just don’t let the technical stuff steal your joy!
Thought Number Five: Have Fun!
Blessings,
the pilgrim
This entry was posted on Monday, July 22nd, 2024 at 6:49 pm
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Great images!!
Thanks Carl!
Bill, welcome to the world of m4/3. I’ve been shooting with m4/3 since 2012, Fujifilm since 2013 and Nikon since 1974. I still use all three. All three are terrific systems with different strengths and weaknesses. That said, I think I have had more ‘fun’ shooting with m4/3 than the other two systems. One thing I think surprises those who often times criticize m4/3 because the sensor is ‘too small’ or the dynamic range isn’t ’wide enough’ or there is ‘too much digital noise’ is that if they actually try the system and practice excellent photographic technique, none of things are true any longer. The technology has progressed tremendously. I’ve shot some of my best photos ever on m4/3 and the buyers using the stock agency I used to submit my images to before I retired never ever complained or turned down an image because it was made with a m4/3 camera. You will love the G9. I owned and traveled extensively with one. Terrific camera. The open secret with m4/3, however, is the lenses. Amazingly good. Thanks for all you do Bill.
As always it’s great to hear from shooters I admire, you’re right up on that list for sure! That said, I agree with you and you have far more Micro 4/3rds experience than I do! I think the fact that the image circle us so much smaller makes it easier to build great lenses! Everyone I’ve bought, even the least expensive ones, perform spectacularly! Hope you’re doing well!
You continue to flatter me beyond all reason! Thank you, kind sir. Bill, I am doing well. In fact, I’ve been blessed in many more ways than I’ve ever deserved and think about that every day. I do my best to live a Christian-based thankful and grateful life.
Bill that is one mighty fine camera if I do say so myself. I have 12,800 shots in my catolog from the G9. You also have some of the finest glass to use on it as well. Seeing you gleeful to be able to keep weilding a camera and lens is the best gift the world can get from you. No other format in the world can match the balance of the glass and lenses for all day comfort. In reality the lenses are right sized, and the output even from those older beasts will sit toe to toe in the places you are shring now with anything else out there. For your five foot by four foot murals we’ll go to gigapixel. For what it is worth, the ergonomics of the G9 are better than the G9II (which is still very good). You’re in a good place, and I am so happy and blessed to see it.
Thanks to your exceptional advice! I’m truly blessed to have such fine photographers as friends, and Even more blessed when they are even better brothers in the Lord!
Thanks to your exceptional advice! I’m truly blessed to have such fine photographers as friends, and Even more blessed when they are even better brothers in the Lord!
Bill, the best advice in this piece is “Don’t let the technical stuff steal your joy”. Photographing in joy and awe will do more for one’s images than any equipment ever will. I have watched you do that for many years..
Thanks Mike, I’ve really tried to keep it about the joy, and friends like you and a handful of others have kept the joy in it for me!