l._mare

"Brand new" e-4xx with 5,000 shutter releases initial impressions OVF sufficient Coming up/down from zero AF pips (on older MF) to dozens (on newer Nikons) not an issue 14-42 light and compact (but realize that u4/3 14-42 is 113 grams vs 190 grams) - who cares, the body is lighter This baby is lighter than an E-M1 Incredible machine for something about 10 years old Syncing with studio flashes (Elinchromes and Hensels) not an issue Seems like a toy but can hold it just fine Time between shots OK Buffering OK (shooting RAW) Dual card for an old baby like this = great Overall for a travel DSLR - 9/10 Now looking for an e-400 for that Kodak Sensor

<p>Gerry I agree.<br /> <br />Aint gonna spend 2k on an E-M when I can buy 20 e-4xx series bodies + lens for the same coin.<br /> <br />Will wait until hipsters sell their E-Ms to pay for their rent of the next fad, I'm guessing they'll rotate back to the TLRs within the half decade :D Should be a ton of "vintage" 2015 E-Ms on the market for peanuts then like you see a ton of early E-Pens on the market now (or FT for that matter)<br> Nothing like a big beautiful and bright 100% OVF with a prism. No EVF can match it IMHO</p>

<blockquote> <p>Too small to be practical for your work.... That alone makes no sense. The EM-1 with battery grip is a splendid camera. And I could see using it for fashion, landscape, Nature, weddings. You name it. Packing light is what I want. And should be what you want. You may even have room for a Quantum Q flash with battery pack. If you are serious about your job. If you have any ED lenses like I do, then the EM-1 is a no brainer. You may fret too much I am thinking. Too many choices can do that. (Post a few of the fashion shots you like to do L. just for the heck of i so we get to know your subject matter.)<br> <br />I certainly recall writing that the Pentax Q series would be too small, but agree that MFT is a good size, especially with battgrips.<br />For packing light I feel that FT is even better than MFT. Need only one or two lenses, as I shoot fashion/glamour 99% of time.<br> Weight of E-M1 with batts in 20.25 oz<br> Weight of e-420 with batts in 15 oz<br> Won't be posting my work but go to the local bookstore magazine section - swimsuit or lingerie take your pick you might see it <br />Aint gonna reveal me here too much</p> </blockquote>

Thinking about what body I'll be carrying the next year or two shooting fashion. I got thinking what would be the perfect size for traveling with a body + spare. 1. e-450 size and weight, but I'll admit - I do like the more narrow and smaller MFT like the E-M5/1/10. Pentax Q also nice but alas, way too small to be practical for my work. 2. 100% OVF - and bright - that means a mirror, unless you go compact like a P7700 or Canon Gxx series 3. Zuiko Digital lenses are going to be enough sharp and light, but again - I do like the MFTs on offer 4. Sensor - doesn't matter but an old Fuji SSR with 12+ stops would be nice - guess I can't have one of those 5. Need a batery grip, so perhaps an old e-620 is better rather than risking third party The extra room over a larger DSLR means I can always heave a spare or extra strobe with me. Really packing light these days. What would you prefer? I guess a lot of MFT fans will tell me its game over and E-M has won.

The Leitz VF is very nice - but way way too big! FT is dead? No way. FT are capable of good work and there are enough bodies and lenses around for it to be very much alive for another 10 years. MFT craze will die down, and DSLR manufacturers will reign supreme again (Note the SL1 Rebel) or start innovating again for the "next great thing" - which is FT. Hipsters get older, eyes get worse, and EVFs continue to make promises they can't keep, which big bright OVFs with 100% will be improved. No OVF in MFT, not MFT for me. The E-M series are very nice, but for the same weight I can by 1 body (e-400-450) + 2 backup bodies (same type) + 3 grips (third party) + 3 lenses as one MFT Oly - no competition. I can shoot the same thing with a 2001 DCS DSLR as I can with a modern DSLR so a camera from 2006-9 is fine with me. One more thing - there's nothing interesting anymore about MFT. I like the compact mirrorless (MFT or non MFT mirrorless compact) format, especially the GF series, but frankly, a G9-11 or P7700 offers much more to me than either of these to a lot of shooters.

Further to some posts here by Gerry about about the Olys, their names, and the smaller formats: They're all great choices. I like the feel of the u43 E-M series but the standard 43 seemed enough tiny for me and I'll be using these near vintage (?) models for the next few years until the u43rds craze dies down. When is a 8+ year old DSLR a vintage? It isn't. Shooting magazine covers with a 2001 DCS is still possible if it was back in the day. Keep the bodies in good order and it's entirely possible. There are so many choices today. For wildlife guys the u43rds + 300mm combo gives a 600mm punch in a tiny package but frankly, for anyone doing fashion any of the 43rds bodies seem to be enough. The way up for Oly is 43rds (again) with better and brighter prisms in their OVFs. I'll leave the EVFs for folks who like that kind of thing. It's possible they could put an OVF in a mirrorless (a la the Canon G series or the Nikon P7700 but they won't). So its "vintage" 43rds for me.

The 14-42 D Zuiko looks AF to me. Am I guessing right? Can't get over how small these things are. So tiny. Two card support also - very nice for an 8+ year old body. Edit - yes looks to be AF.

I'll be using the 14-42 standard kit (at the time - Olympus Digital Zuiko) at about 35 and 50 (with the 2x(?) crop factor, that's at 17mm and 25mm wide open. Choosing an e-400 (Kodak) and e-410 (Panny) and later e-450 bodies -- all around 60-80 bucks each with lens & batteries included. Thought about the Rebel SL1 100D but never liked Canon SLR ergonomics. I want tiny. Other considerations were the Canon G9-11, Nikon P7700/7800, Olympus XZ-1/2 (but no VF), and the M4/3rds but cannot justify spending the money on a M4/3rds for an EVF. I want an OVF and that's why no Lumix GF, Pen or other toys for me. E-M5/10/1 look great and the lenses are great but in terms of the weight the e-4xx are their equal, even if they are a little larger. I'll be buying a bunch of "never really used" e-4xx bodies and can get more in a pinch, with lens for about 80 USD. That's a much better investment than paying 300 USD for a M4/3rds Oly. When Oly put OVFs in their M43rds I'll buy one. Will be seeking out used Roknon/Ownuser battery grips if you know someone with one as they stopped making them. Shame that 43rds didn't last but I think that it could come back. When I don't know but there are a ton of never really used much 43rds bodies and lenses laying around. 100D looks like a nice idea from Canon but the Oly's seem simple and effective enough for what I do which is glamour/fashion. I want small for travel. Usually used MF and LF Blads Fujis and Contax but want small for a reason. Therefore e-4xx.

Thanks for the warm welcome Gerry. Already have an SH series which I love. I wish I could take a larger body with me but I can't Sometimes I travel heavy with my Fujis and Blads and 2-3 packs 4-12 heads but not now. I'm looking for small. The 400-410-420 seem to offer the most compact solution with an optical viewfinder other than some other series from Canon such as the G9 or the Nikon compact with viewfinder. I looked at the Lumix GFs but I want a viewfinder. I also looked at the newer OMs but I want something less expensive, and where I travel to I can see a dozen of these bodies with 14-42 in near mint condition ready to be bought for less than $ 100 used by home amateurs, and having spent 99% of their life sitting on a shelf. If one breaks I can get another quickly. I'd like the 420 but can only see the Useowner Grip for the 400-410, and the Rockinon grip for the 420 seems to be unavailable everywhere. I'll be using on board lighting mounted with a bracket and am thinking of a Metz, so if you can advise me of a Metz that can be mounted as a wireless slave (without triggers) or attached to the flash hotshoe somehow I'm all ears. I'll use a bracket to body mounted flash and maybe a remote one (can use a long telephone cable or wireless). Any suggestions? Oly flashes are hard to come by where I'm at now but plenty of Yongnuo and used Metz, others. LM

<p>e-400 (Kodak) or e-410 (Panny)?<br> Will be shooting fashion and glamour -- no landscapes<br> Will be using on a lot of simple on board lighting, color and BW and on occasion full studio lighting<br> Kodak or Panny? What should I get?<br> (Can't get battery grip for the 420, so I'm getting one of these)<br> Recommendations?<br> BTW, 400-420 smallest made? (Other than Rebel SL1, which are actually pretty darn fat in comparison, but has a shorter body lengthways.<br> LM</p>