Visuals by Paula B
Self-portrait test 2
My search for a worthy, lighter, more compact alternative to the big, clunky DSLR (an imaginary tech column write-up):
I took the Olympus out again today. I really wanted to give it a good slog this time. It was a nice day for it. None of this gloomy Melbourne weather crap that often lingers every time I shoot. I'm unwell so I didn't venture out very far - off I went to the Melbourne CBD.
What did I get out of today?. Good old Vitamin D, people watching, a bit of exercise, and...mixed emotions. I was excited to be an Olympus owner. I had high hopes - I heard so many great things about the Micro Four Thirds sensor. Also, the body is light. It is compact - hours of shooting no longer becomes an issue!. Goodbye RSI. And of course, the retro style body is an aesthetic bonus. My gripe?. I found myself longing for the Nikon D600 (upgrade imminent!). I was torn. I loved the size, weight and aesthetic quirks of the Olympus OMD EM-10, but I wanted the performance and functionality of my DSLR.
The Details...
On the bright side, the EM-10's 81 point AF system is fantastic. 3-axis Image Stabilisation? - GREAT! It mitigated shakes at slower shutter speeds. Coupled with the 25mm (35, 50mm equivalent) lens, the EM-10 is beautiful for portrait shots. What else? The basic ISO range served sufficiently for low light conditions and noise was well handled. The real bonus for me though is the wi-fi connection to Smartphones - I haven't owned a camera body that has this feature and it is very handy; adjust your settings straight from the phone and import your photos. Et voila! Instant high quality social media upload!. There is obviously some good fun to be had!.
My verdict: It lacks in so much that a DSLR (even an entry level one) doesn't. But that's just it. It isn't a DSLR. If I am to look at this objectively, the EM-10 does A LOT for something so compact. For the field it plays in, it truly does perform. Benchmark it against a DSLR and you will undoubtedly be disappointed. It isn't a league for league comparison and I know I'm being unfair. But let's be real; Image quality is what we're really losing out on here and quite frankly, it isn't something an enthusiast or seasoned professional alike would ever forego just to be RSI-free. I'll take all of the RSI, thank you very much!.
So, where to from here?. Seems I've come to a sticky point in my search for a worthy lighter, compact alternative to my full-frame Nikon DSLR. Perhaps I should stop the search and learn to love the bulk?. Or maybe...just maybe, I hear the distant cries of the Sony Alpha A7S MKII begging to be loved?. Only time will tell.
Self-portrait test 2
My search for a worthy, lighter, more compact alternative to the big, clunky DSLR (an imaginary tech column write-up):
I took the Olympus out again today. I really wanted to give it a good slog this time. It was a nice day for it. None of this gloomy Melbourne weather crap that often lingers every time I shoot. I'm unwell so I didn't venture out very far - off I went to the Melbourne CBD.
What did I get out of today?. Good old Vitamin D, people watching, a bit of exercise, and...mixed emotions. I was excited to be an Olympus owner. I had high hopes - I heard so many great things about the Micro Four Thirds sensor. Also, the body is light. It is compact - hours of shooting no longer becomes an issue!. Goodbye RSI. And of course, the retro style body is an aesthetic bonus. My gripe?. I found myself longing for the Nikon D600 (upgrade imminent!). I was torn. I loved the size, weight and aesthetic quirks of the Olympus OMD EM-10, but I wanted the performance and functionality of my DSLR.
The Details...
On the bright side, the EM-10's 81 point AF system is fantastic. 3-axis Image Stabilisation? - GREAT! It mitigated shakes at slower shutter speeds. Coupled with the 25mm (35, 50mm equivalent) lens, the EM-10 is beautiful for portrait shots. What else? The basic ISO range served sufficiently for low light conditions and noise was well handled. The real bonus for me though is the wi-fi connection to Smartphones - I haven't owned a camera body that has this feature and it is very handy; adjust your settings straight from the phone and import your photos. Et voila! Instant high quality social media upload!. There is obviously some good fun to be had!.
My verdict: It lacks in so much that a DSLR (even an entry level one) doesn't. But that's just it. It isn't a DSLR. If I am to look at this objectively, the EM-10 does A LOT for something so compact. For the field it plays in, it truly does perform. Benchmark it against a DSLR and you will undoubtedly be disappointed. It isn't a league for league comparison and I know I'm being unfair. But let's be real; Image quality is what we're really losing out on here and quite frankly, it isn't something an enthusiast or seasoned professional alike would ever forego just to be RSI-free. I'll take all of the RSI, thank you very much!.
So, where to from here?. Seems I've come to a sticky point in my search for a worthy lighter, compact alternative to my full-frame Nikon DSLR. Perhaps I should stop the search and learn to love the bulk?. Or maybe...just maybe, I hear the distant cries of the Sony Alpha A7S MKII begging to be loved?. Only time will tell.