06-01-2012, 10:42 PM
I've been in a similar situation you find yourself in, and after looking extensively at all the different systems available, holding them and shootign with them, I came to the following conclusions:
1) If I wanted an APS-C system, I could just as well go for an APS-C dslr, any of the smaller ones, because I wouldn't save on lens size anyway, considering the equipment I'd want (a few primes and a few zooms).
2) For FF, my ideal choice, there currently is only 1 option, and that is way out of my budget, not all that small, and fairly limited lenswise at the longer end.
3) Cameras with electronic viewfinders are not up to scratch yet IMO (personal opinion)
4) The only systems with a good range of native mount lenses in all focal lengths to choose from, is the MFT system
5) All compact systems have plenty of adapters available to use a wide range of other lenses, be it mostly manually (including your trusted Nikon lenses, BTW)
6) I like the idea of focus peaking
7) Bodies come and bodies go, they are, as with dslr systems, the least "stable", but also the easiest in replacing
8) I don't want to pay a fortune
9) The only systems with reasonably compact lenses are MFT systems and the Nikon 1 series
10) I want a sensor as large as possible for optimum image quality
Considering all this, I came fairly quickly to the conclusion that the only system worthwhile considering in this regard, is MFT. Furthermore, as the adage goes, lenses before bodies, I decided to opt for a slightly older body, with as many good quality lenses as I could afford in their specific ranges from my shortlist, being a short prime, standard prime, (short) tele prime and/or macro, WA zoom, standard zoom, and tele zoom.
In the end I got a body on sale, from a package where the lens was sold separately, two lenses on sale (both "white box" items), and a few as new used items. The body was (is) a Panasonic GF-2, "white box" lenses were (are) a Panasonic 14-45 and a 14-140 (about equally good, but the first one being nice and small), and the used items were (are) a Panasonic 7-14, a 20 F/1.7, and a 45 F/2.8 Macro. As far as I can see, excellent stuff, at least as good as my first dslr (Canon 350D), with a bunch of mostly excellent lenses, and compact enough to carry around, body plus 2 or 3 lenses, in my small shoulder bag I have with me at all times. This is the ideal replacement for my Canon G10 to me, and allows me to do a lot more too.
I was a bit worried at first because of the small sensor etc., but I must say I am pleasantly surprised, by both body and lenses. The G10 doesn't even come close. Operating the camera and lenses is very easy. It is indeed a compact system, one lens and the camera plus another lens mounted take up the same place in my carry-all as the Canon G10 previously. And when there is budget again, I will likely add a long tele zoom to the fold, and a WA prime, and eventually a better body. For now, this matches or surpasses my expectations, so I am very happy with this setup, even if I don't have focus peaking right now. I thought of this as a compromise before I got it and worked with it, but I don't see it that way any longer after shooting with it for a few months - it is a win-win option in most respects, because it is light, has a lot more options than a compact camera, and has way better IQ than a compact camera, right up there with many APS-C dslrs.
This doesn't mean I will give up my 5D II, BTW, as that has qualities that I can't get from a camera with a smaller sensor. However, I now have options to choose a system catering for carrying possibilities, without feeling limited to what I can do. I have a "G10" option (GF-2 with 1 small prime or 1 small zoom), an extended small system (GF-2 with a selection of lenses), and a large semi-pro system (5D II with a varied bunch of lenses), and it really is great to have all these options.
Just my story <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' />.
Kind regards, Wim
1) If I wanted an APS-C system, I could just as well go for an APS-C dslr, any of the smaller ones, because I wouldn't save on lens size anyway, considering the equipment I'd want (a few primes and a few zooms).
2) For FF, my ideal choice, there currently is only 1 option, and that is way out of my budget, not all that small, and fairly limited lenswise at the longer end.
3) Cameras with electronic viewfinders are not up to scratch yet IMO (personal opinion)
4) The only systems with a good range of native mount lenses in all focal lengths to choose from, is the MFT system
5) All compact systems have plenty of adapters available to use a wide range of other lenses, be it mostly manually (including your trusted Nikon lenses, BTW)
6) I like the idea of focus peaking
7) Bodies come and bodies go, they are, as with dslr systems, the least "stable", but also the easiest in replacing
8) I don't want to pay a fortune
9) The only systems with reasonably compact lenses are MFT systems and the Nikon 1 series
10) I want a sensor as large as possible for optimum image quality
Considering all this, I came fairly quickly to the conclusion that the only system worthwhile considering in this regard, is MFT. Furthermore, as the adage goes, lenses before bodies, I decided to opt for a slightly older body, with as many good quality lenses as I could afford in their specific ranges from my shortlist, being a short prime, standard prime, (short) tele prime and/or macro, WA zoom, standard zoom, and tele zoom.
In the end I got a body on sale, from a package where the lens was sold separately, two lenses on sale (both "white box" items), and a few as new used items. The body was (is) a Panasonic GF-2, "white box" lenses were (are) a Panasonic 14-45 and a 14-140 (about equally good, but the first one being nice and small), and the used items were (are) a Panasonic 7-14, a 20 F/1.7, and a 45 F/2.8 Macro. As far as I can see, excellent stuff, at least as good as my first dslr (Canon 350D), with a bunch of mostly excellent lenses, and compact enough to carry around, body plus 2 or 3 lenses, in my small shoulder bag I have with me at all times. This is the ideal replacement for my Canon G10 to me, and allows me to do a lot more too.
I was a bit worried at first because of the small sensor etc., but I must say I am pleasantly surprised, by both body and lenses. The G10 doesn't even come close. Operating the camera and lenses is very easy. It is indeed a compact system, one lens and the camera plus another lens mounted take up the same place in my carry-all as the Canon G10 previously. And when there is budget again, I will likely add a long tele zoom to the fold, and a WA prime, and eventually a better body. For now, this matches or surpasses my expectations, so I am very happy with this setup, even if I don't have focus peaking right now. I thought of this as a compromise before I got it and worked with it, but I don't see it that way any longer after shooting with it for a few months - it is a win-win option in most respects, because it is light, has a lot more options than a compact camera, and has way better IQ than a compact camera, right up there with many APS-C dslrs.
This doesn't mean I will give up my 5D II, BTW, as that has qualities that I can't get from a camera with a smaller sensor. However, I now have options to choose a system catering for carrying possibilities, without feeling limited to what I can do. I have a "G10" option (GF-2 with 1 small prime or 1 small zoom), an extended small system (GF-2 with a selection of lenses), and a large semi-pro system (5D II with a varied bunch of lenses), and it really is great to have all these options.
Just my story <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' />.Kind regards, Wim
Gear: Canon EOS R with 3 primes and 2 zooms, 4 EF-R adapters, Canon EOS 5 (analog), 9 Canon EF primes, a lone Canon EF zoom, 2 extenders, 2 converters, tubes; Olympus OM-D 1 Mk II & Pen F with 12 primes, 6 zooms, and 3 Metabones EF-MFT adapters ....