Understanding why a photographer remains loyal to a particular system, like the Micro Four Thirds, can offer valuable insights into the nuances of photographic equipment, and in an age dominated by APS-C, full frame, and even medium format, the perspective of a micro four thirds user can be particularly good to hear.
Coming to you from Robin Wong, this great video shares the reasons for his enduring love for the Micro Four Thirds system. With over a decade of experience, Wong articulates why this system continues to be his choice for both professional and personal projects. His preference stems from the system's compact lenses, renowned for their sharpness and performance even at wide apertures. Wong highlights lenses like the Olympus 75mm f/1.8, which combines a compact form with high-quality output, as a key reason for his steadfast loyalty. This preference for smaller, high-performing lenses is particularly relevant in an era where many photographers grapple with the size and weight of their equipment.
Another significant aspect Wong touches upon is the system's reliability. Having used Micro Four Thirds cameras like the Olympus EM1 for professional work, he emphasizes the confidence these cameras instill, ensuring that he can always deliver quality results to his clients. In addition to reliability, he praises the superior handling and ergonomics of Micro Four Thirds cameras. This aspect is crucial for photographers who spend long hours on shoots and value comfort and ease of use. Wong's perspective underscores an essential truth in photography: the best camera system is the one that meets your specific needs, be it for ergonomics, image quality, or reliability. The truth is there is no wrong system, only what's right for you. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Wong.
I always laugh at videos like this. Never ever, have I felt need to justify the gear I used. Even when I was shooting professionally I never had a client that asked me about my gear.
I had several potential clients move on to other photographers because I was using Pentax gear,
News flash...they were never, ever going to be clients. No serious, paying client would choose a photographer based on the brand of camera they use.
You are seriously mistaken.
He is definitely an enthusiastic photographer about the gear he uses. I use the GH5 for video and have no plans to change. For still photos I use primarily a Fuji XPro3. I found it more to my liking to keep video and still photography in separate cameras. I moved to Fuji because I like the camera better in terms of ergonomics. If Panasonic or Olympus made a pull down screen I would have stayed with MFT for stills. I hate the flip out screen on my GH5 and for stills it's even more of a pain. Other than that I love the camera and have shot lots of pro work for publication with MFT and the clients always liked my work.
If one can pay the same amount of money and get better gear with more choices, it is a no brainer to jump. M4/3 technology had been stagnant for some time and one would wonder whether they have actually reached it max potential. 3rd party manufacturers statistics do not lies.
There are over fifty manufacturers producing Micro Four Thirds equipment, more than any other format The two main manufacturers, OM Digital Systems and Panasonic both release new cameras and lenses, and the demand for OM System equipment has been so high recently for three products that there has been a waiting list.
There was some catching up recently. OM Digital was the first to employ a stacked sensor in an M43 camera, at least a conventional camera... not sure about all the weird cinema cameras (at least one employ a global electronic shutter), and the first quad pixel AF from any company. Olympus was also the first with preshooting (pro capture) and AI subject recognition, though these are being adopted by other mirrorless companies lately. The system could use a resolution boost, and Insusoect that's coming.
I just jumped the ship completely. Sold all my micro 4/3 gear. The only real advantage of micro 4/3 now is in telephoto sized lenses. Given I have more resources in future, I will gladly jump back in for something like G9 II & 100-400 lens.
In the realm where superior AF and image quality comes from FF bodies which are lighter than most enthusiast-grade micro 4/3 bodies - think Canon R8 - the weight saving on the non-telephoto lenses with equivalent aperture (or depth of field possibilities) is minimal when whole setup is considered. I.e. the look of 75mm F1.8 is easily replicated and essentially beaten with the same size and cheaper, at least on used market, EF 85mm F1.8 USM (got mine for £139). And once you "taste" the AF on R8, it is just wow.
But there are still some unbeatable combos when it comes to size vs image quality. Micro 4/3 just needs to refresh some bodies which make the system unique and brings it back to the roots of being most portable system again. Combo like Panasonic GM1/5 and Olympus 45mm F1.8 has lovely rendering and I consider this best portrait combo when it comes to image quality vs size of equipment. Or with the 20mm F1.7 or 14mm F2.5 pancakes. Drop them into your jacket and you have pockets rockets right there.
For me, it is R8 at the moment. I still need to sell the great handling GH5, but R8 is basically a no-brainer for me. I got tired of having 4 different bodies, 4 different types of batteries and chargers and heaps of micro 4/3 lenses. Now the R8 is basically a first budget FF that can do it all for me - tiny size and weight - for FF, amazing AF, competent in video too. Detailed 4k 60p with no crop with 10 bit internal recording with micro 4/3 beating low light performance, and the access to still superb EF lenses on used market which now work even better on Canon mirrorless than on DSLRs.
I really think the R8 doesn't get enough credit. It's a fantastic camera for the price.
Yep, definitely is. Nothing in that price bracket can touch its AF and 40fps burst rate with full AF. Nothing has uncropped 4k60p and the slightly cropped electronic stabilisation is surprisingly effective and smooth.
Once you customise all the buttons you rarely have to dive into menu and if yes, you have my menu. Then there is the brilliant separation of photo and video mode, where the respective setting for each mode are preserved upon switching between the two.
Then the sensor! Least rolling shutter in this price bracket and DR rivaling the best of the best at 14.7 stops.
I think the R8 is Canon's new "6D moment". Amazingly capable camera.
Perhaps it is simpler? Mr Wong was an Olympus ambassador at one time and built his YouTube channel on that system. As they say on Wall Street, "Talking his own book". Personally, I find it hard to watch this guy for more than one minute.
Digital Cameras have come such a long way in the last decade, very hard to go wrong. Find a system you are comfortable with and learn it well and invest in good glass. I am a hybrid M4/3 and full frame shooter. Panasonic full frame in studio and M4/3 for events. Never had one complaint in fact the opposite. Love Olympus glass some of the best out there and I am so used to the top notch in body stabilization it would be hard for me to shoot on anything without it. You get spoiled with those super low shutter speeds.