Photo Sharing: Olympus, 4:3, Micro 4:3

[JoeDif]

We aim to please!

I like your cat shots!

Are you happy with your Panasonic purchase?

Ditto on the cat shots!!

I really like everything I've seen so far about the G3.

 

[boBQuincy]

We aim to please!

I like your cat shots!

Are you happy with your Panasonic purchase?

Thanks!
So far I really like the G3. It is easy to use but has all the required functions, has good image quality, and fits my plan of reducing size and weight of my camera gear (less than the current Canon Rebel). Now I have to decide if it will be my main camera, which requires a wide lens, long lens, flash, filters, etc. The G3 will get a trip to WDW in December, if it passes that trial by fire then it is a keeper!

 

[Pugrpooh]

I most likely won't bail at this point as I've already got too much invested in Oly gear. I doubt I'll be picking up anymore 4/3 gear until this whole mess shakes out, for better or worse.

If I do decide to go the m4/3 route at some point, I may switch over to a Panasonic body with a mix of Olympus and Panasonic lenses.

That is my plan, pick and choose from the best of the m4/3 lenses for my Panasonic G3. The next buy is likely to be Olympus really nice 9-18.

I'm not bailing either. Every time I go to Sam's I'll pick up different Canon and Nikon models and I can't find one that feels good to me. The grip on my 520 was perfect, the 600 is pretty good and the E-PL2 is close to perfect for me. I'm not going to become a professional photographer and I'm quite happy with the results I get with Olympus. I have not handled a Panasonic yet.

Today I'm going to order the 9-18mm. I want to try wide angle at WDW. I've gotten good shots with the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7, but I do see more chromatic aberration with this one than with my Oly lenses.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Today I'm going to order the 9-18mm. I want to try wide angle at WDW. I've gotten good shots with the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7, but I do see more chromatic aberration with this one than with my Oly lenses.

Are you getting the micro version or using an adaptor?

 

[missesdisney]

Hi - my husband has an Olympus E500 with two 'basic' lenses as he calls them lenses that came with the camera. I'd like to surprise him with a lens for Christmas but have no idea what I'm doing....and I don't want to break the bank. A couple hundred dollars is where I am looking. What lenses would be good to go a step above basic and where is a good place to get them? Also how do you feel about new vs. used? I am really quite clueless

He likes to take pictures in Disney but also goes to a lot of Nascar races. i was thinking a telephoto lens maybe but don't know what is good and what is not for these things.

Thanks for your help!

Maria

 

[Pugrpooh]

Are you getting the micro version or using an adaptor?

I'm getting the micro. I haven't bought the adapter; I figure I'll go all m. 4/3 eventually. The micro version is also a lot smaller than the 4/3 lens and gets very good reviews. I found a new, open box one on ebay for a good price.

Hi - my husband has an Olympus E500 with two 'basic' lenses as he calls them lenses that came with the camera. I'd like to surprise him with a lens for Christmas but have no idea what I'm doing....and I don't want to break the bank. A couple hundred dollars is where I am looking. What lenses would be good to go a step above basic and where is a good place to get them? Also how do you feel about new vs. used

A couple of lenses come to mind - the 70-300mm for telephoto shots or a 14-54mm which would replace a kit lens but is faster and excellent quality. The 70-300mm could probably be had for around $300-$350. There are two versions of the 14-54mm. The newer version costs $549 at B&H but they have a used one for $389.

You can find refurbished lenses which are refurbed by Olympus to like new condition. My E600 DSLR was a refurb and I've had no problems with it after over 1 1/2 years.

Another lens that just came to mind is the 25mm f/2.8. It's faster than the kit lens and retails for around $230. What people really like about it is that it's a pancake lens, so it's really small. Of course he would have to zoom with his feet.

 

[JoeDif]

Hi - my husband has an Olympus E500 with two 'basic' lenses as he calls them lenses that came with the camera. I'd like to surprise him with a lens for Christmas but have no idea what I'm doing....and I don't want to break the bank. A couple hundred dollars is where I am looking. What lenses would be good to go a step above basic and where is a good place to get them? Also how do you feel about new vs. used? I am really quite clueless

He likes to take pictures in Disney but also goes to a lot of Nascar races. i was thinking a telephoto lens maybe but don't know what is good and what is not for these things.

Thanks for your help!

Maria

I assume he has the 14-42 (wide angle) and 40-150 (medium telephoto). Those are the two kit lenses that usually come with that camera. For new lenses you might want to try online at B & H Photo, Adorama or Amazon. That's where I get all my Olympus equipment. They also have a selection of refurbished lenses that are excellent.

For uses lenses, try online at KEH or Ebay.

The next step up from the 40 - 150 which I assume he has would be the 70-300 lens. The price for that lens new usually runs from $300 - $400 depending on rebates offered. It's a really good lens in good light but might hunt focus a bit as light conditions degrade. Check KEH for used 70-300 lenses.

 

[JoeDif]

Pink Backed Pelican at Animal Kingdom Lodge taken with the E-30 & 50-200 SWD

 

[JoeDif]

Another pelican shot

 

[Pugrpooh]

Great shots Joe! You're making me reconsider my decision not to take my 70-300 with me next month. I was thinking that at AKL we'd be relatively close to the animals that my 40-150 would be sufficient.

One thing I've been trying to find out is where does the sun rise and set in relation to AKL? The maps I've found of the lodge don't indicate where north is. I want to get out around sunrise and try and get some good shots, but I don't want to go wandering around taking too long to find a good spot. Our plane lands right around sunset so it'll be dark by the time we arrive at AKL and I want to be ready first thing the next morning to get out. We'll be hanging around the resort most of that first day.

How did you like it there? We've stayed there once, but that was in 2003 and I didn't know anything about photography then! Any tips you can pass on?

 

[JoeDif]

Lynn,

If it were me, I'd definitely take the 70-300. There are some vantage points where you might get close enough for the 40-150, others not so much. For the larger animals (zebra, giraffe, etc.) the 70-300 would work better as they don't get so close.

We really enjoyed our short visit there. I heard all kinds of horror stories about the AKL bus system but we never had any problems. We stayed at the Jambo House with an Arusha Savanna view along the Zebra trail rooms. Sunrise was the opposite side of our balcony but you can get some decent early morning moon shots. We were usually out at sunset so I'm not sure what kind of sunset shots are available.

 

[Pugrpooh]

Lynn,

If it were me, I'd definitely take the 70-300. There are some vantage points where you might get close enough for the 40-150, others not so much. For the larger animals (zebra, giraffe, etc.) the 70-300 would work better as they don't get so close.

We really enjoyed our short visit there. I heard all kinds of horror stories about the AKL bus system but we never had any problems. We stayed at the Jambo House with an Arusha Savanna view along the Zebra trail rooms. Sunrise was the opposite side of our balcony but you can get some decent early morning moon shots. We were usually out at sunset so I'm not sure what kind of sunset shots are available.

Well, I'm leaning on taking the 70-300 now and just use it at the resort and at AK.

That's good to hear about the buses. I've been reading the reviews too, and even looked at rental car prices. But we've never had any issues with the buses during any of our trips and I really like the convenience of Magical Express. The only bus ride I'm concerned about is getting to the MK for a breakfast ADR at Crystal Palace. It's at 8:50 so I think we'll be good heading to the bus stop at AKL at 7:30.

Maybe I can use the money saved on a rental car for a larger camera bag?

 

[boBQuincy]

We drove to Florida last weekend but not quite as far as Orlando. This was the G3's first trip and I wanted to get some long exposures at the beach. The overcast lighting was not good and before it got dark enough for 10 second exposures it started to rain. The little Panasonic is pretty impressive but I think the kit lens is not good enough to really take advantage of the 16 MP.
A high-end 12-35 f/2.8 is supposed to be out early 2012.

 

[JoeDif]

We drove to Florida last weekend but not quite as far as Orlando. This was the G3's first trip and I wanted to get some long exposures at the beach. The overcast lighting was not good and before it got dark enough for 10 second exposures it started to rain. The little Panasonic is pretty impressive but I think the kit lens is not good enough to really take advantage of the 16 MP.
A high-end 12-35 f/2.8 is supposed to be out early 2012.

Impressive shot

I hear there will also be a 35-100 f/2.8 as well. Both those lens look very promising for m4/3 users.

 

[JoeDif]

I just received some interesting news from Olympus!!

I've been picked to participate in their PEN Ready project....they will be sending me an E-PM1. Wow!! I'm photographer #834

PEN Ready

 

[kim]

Congratulations Joe!

 

[Pugrpooh]

I just received some interesting news from Olympus!!

I've been picked to participate in their PEN Ready project....they will be sending me an E-PM1. Wow!! I'm photographer #834

PEN Ready

That's fantastic! Do you get to keep the Pen? Are you expected to post your pictures taken with it? How did they get your name?

 

[boBQuincy]

I just received some interesting news from Olympus!!

I've been picked to participate in their PEN Ready project....they will be sending me an E-PM1. Wow!! I'm photographer #834

PEN Ready

That is really cool!

 

[topdog]

These were taking from my Panny GF1 last Saturday. Just some quick shot as I walk pass the subject.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

There have been some great pics here!

Joe, too cool!

Kim, how is Felix doing?

Well after all this time of wanting a PEN we finally have one coming into the house. Technically it's my son's but we'll be sharing equipment as we always have, lol. I'm excited. A friend bought one too. I am going to have to get an adaptor so we can use the Oly lenses on it. Thank you for the Costco tip on the other thread, Lynn!

Have a nice Thanksgiving everyone!