06-01-2012, 11:44 AM
While having not suffered so much from DR limits, I can tell you that first gen MFT were showing their limits more often than not, in travel photography. Travel photography doesn't mean you will start to like gritty shadows or burnt highlights. But it's manageable with a bit of common sense and ... that good old histogram & blinking shadows & highlight.
I would recommend you the EM5 with absolutely no reservation but if it's a matter of budget, it's not helpful for you. My second choice would probably be the GH2 or the G3. I'd skip the GX1 because after a couple years without viewfinder, I grew very tired of not having one. The 14-42 X did not impress me at all despite its diminutive size, the power lever turned out to be very frustrating in use for me. And it was beaten in every single parameters by the 14-45mm, apart from size & AF speed (extremely fast vs very fast).
Lenses wise, Sammy is 100% spot on. 14-45 + 20 + 45mm and you've got plenty to play with in a tight package.
[quote name='Brightcolours' timestamp='1338540157' post='18585']
Dynamic range? Really? Are you really sure that is a concern for your travel photography? The focus on DR is very much overrated the last few years... With maybe one or two exceptions all cameras have more than enough DR. So you should just have to worry about higher ISO performance. And there again, most cameras now perform well up to ISO 800 to 1600.
The one thing your D700 does that makes it special is the sensor size. This gives you a play with/control over DOF which sets it apart.
This control is restricted more and more the smaller the sensor gets, and I feel this is the only real reason to not want a small sensor for a convenient camera.
My main dislike for 4/3rds (Panasonic GH models excluded) is the 4:3 format. For the rest, it is upto you to decide what kind of lenses you want with the camera.
My main concern with the Nikon 1, besides the limited DOF control, is the huge lenses for such a small camera... feels kind of like a mismatch. The Sony NEX series also have a lens size problem. And you do not like the look of it.
Samsung actually has quite a nice line up now.
And most probably the soon to arrive Canon mirrorless will have a 4:3 format, which will make it less attractive in my view.
So... all have downsides. Most attractive from them then are some of the more compact 4/3rds, except for their image format. And maybe the Samsung NX1000/210.
Personally I will miss the OVF... So I would still look at compact DSLRs unless size really has to be restricted.
[/quote]
I would recommend you the EM5 with absolutely no reservation but if it's a matter of budget, it's not helpful for you. My second choice would probably be the GH2 or the G3. I'd skip the GX1 because after a couple years without viewfinder, I grew very tired of not having one. The 14-42 X did not impress me at all despite its diminutive size, the power lever turned out to be very frustrating in use for me. And it was beaten in every single parameters by the 14-45mm, apart from size & AF speed (extremely fast vs very fast).
Lenses wise, Sammy is 100% spot on. 14-45 + 20 + 45mm and you've got plenty to play with in a tight package.
[quote name='Brightcolours' timestamp='1338540157' post='18585']
Dynamic range? Really? Are you really sure that is a concern for your travel photography? The focus on DR is very much overrated the last few years... With maybe one or two exceptions all cameras have more than enough DR. So you should just have to worry about higher ISO performance. And there again, most cameras now perform well up to ISO 800 to 1600.
The one thing your D700 does that makes it special is the sensor size. This gives you a play with/control over DOF which sets it apart.
This control is restricted more and more the smaller the sensor gets, and I feel this is the only real reason to not want a small sensor for a convenient camera.
My main dislike for 4/3rds (Panasonic GH models excluded) is the 4:3 format. For the rest, it is upto you to decide what kind of lenses you want with the camera.
My main concern with the Nikon 1, besides the limited DOF control, is the huge lenses for such a small camera... feels kind of like a mismatch. The Sony NEX series also have a lens size problem. And you do not like the look of it.
Samsung actually has quite a nice line up now.
And most probably the soon to arrive Canon mirrorless will have a 4:3 format, which will make it less attractive in my view.
So... all have downsides. Most attractive from them then are some of the more compact 4/3rds, except for their image format. And maybe the Samsung NX1000/210.
Personally I will miss the OVF... So I would still look at compact DSLRs unless size really has to be restricted.
[/quote]