06-01-2012, 10:42 AM
Well the first question you have to ask your self is do you need a view finder. I personally never found shooting from the screen very comfortable (i.e, i want to hold the camera up to my eye). Anyways probably the best bargin is if you can find a GH2 for around $550 or $600. There has been a few steep sales (this is usa) though I personally have not seen it below $700. The motivation for these sales is the rumored GH3.
Personally I'm pretty close to buying the EM-5; as I really liked the camera when I played with it at a store; I sort of wish it came with the handle portion of the grip (as oppose to the bottom piece) as that helps quite a bit with the feel of the camera (though I think it is a bit overpriced; and will likely pass on the grip unless they produce a less expensive one without the bottom battery pack). At the super cheap end is the nex c3 (though the nex 5n works better with asymetric wide angle lenses; if you are into that sort of thing).
Generally the 5n seems to work best with third party lenses (adapters tend to run around $25) and manual focusing is not impossible with focus peaking and mangificaiton; if you like to work 'slow'.
So at the high end I would definitely go with the em-5 if you can live with 4:3; at the best buy I would go with the Gh2 if you can find one for $550 or $600 new; as the best solution (for price range) if you can use manual focus lenses probalby the 5n; as a simple automated low price solution perhaps one of the older 4/3 (ep1 can be found for $200); gh1, g1 and such.
The older 4/3 tend to have lower dynamic range so do you give up something noticable here.
Personally I'm pretty close to buying the EM-5; as I really liked the camera when I played with it at a store; I sort of wish it came with the handle portion of the grip (as oppose to the bottom piece) as that helps quite a bit with the feel of the camera (though I think it is a bit overpriced; and will likely pass on the grip unless they produce a less expensive one without the bottom battery pack). At the super cheap end is the nex c3 (though the nex 5n works better with asymetric wide angle lenses; if you are into that sort of thing).
Generally the 5n seems to work best with third party lenses (adapters tend to run around $25) and manual focusing is not impossible with focus peaking and mangificaiton; if you like to work 'slow'.
So at the high end I would definitely go with the em-5 if you can live with 4:3; at the best buy I would go with the Gh2 if you can find one for $550 or $600 new; as the best solution (for price range) if you can use manual focus lenses probalby the 5n; as a simple automated low price solution perhaps one of the older 4/3 (ep1 can be found for $200); gh1, g1 and such.
The older 4/3 tend to have lower dynamic range so do you give up something noticable here.