New Canon lens or new Olympus camera (Portraits,travel,street)

<p>So, I have a 5DMkII, 50mm f/1.4, 24-70mm, 70-200mm f/4, 16-35mm. I'm going to Burma. I want more shots like this: <strong> </strong>http://tinyurl.com/cj2rs4b.<strong> </strong> I'll be using a backpack and all the photo gear would go in a Lowepro Flipside 300. Low light is an issue (on the street).<br>

Weight is not my first concern but I'm wondering, would now be a good time to consider Micro 4/3? Specifically the Olympus OM-D E-5. Getting everything in a bag for daily movement is a consideration.<br>

To manage the low light and bokeh I am thinking of the Canon 85mm f/1.8, the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 for my 5DII. I'd take that instead of the 50mm.<br>

If I went to the Olympus, I'd get the M Zuiko 45mm f/1.8. I know the Olympus has a crop factor of around 2 and the DOF would not be as acute.<br>

So, reasons for the Olympus would be size/weight, less conspicuous, more in the bag, 5 axis IS.<br>

What would I be giving up - and how significant would it be? Am I about to spend a lot of cash just to save a few pounds? Does anyone own the Olympus as well?</p>

<p>My first reaction is that it is never a great idea to go on a long trip with a new camera, especially a completely different system.</p>

<p>You'd also be going to a much smaller sensor. Full-frame (so-called) to 2X factor. I'd sure want to see how that worked out in practice before making the shift.</p>

<p>I'd tote the weight for now, and consider the 4/3 option under less stressed circumstances.</p>

<p>Unless you're likely to use the Olympus beyond your trip, it doesn't really make sense to buy a whole new system, and if you're only going to buy one lens for it, you'd be just as well off with the body you already have and only taking an 85mm. You'll also have to spend time learning the new system in advance of your trip. I'd think you'd be better off finding a way to take as few lenses as possible...if you'll miss 10% of your likely shots with the tele, maybe that can stay at home. Or leave the 24-70 and use the 50 to bridge the gap between the other 2.</p>

 

<p>Thanks. I'll be travelling in July (flights booked). I have lugged the 5DII on a 1 year RTW trip before. If I take that then I'd look at the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 maybe. This would make the travel kit: <br /> Canon 16-35mm, Sigma 85mm, 70-200mm f/4, CF tripod, ND filters. Then I'd want to take the 24-70mm, 580ex, wireless triggers, ... Same issues ... weight and travel.</p>

<p>I recently picked up a Fujifilm X-E1 with a few lenses for almost this very sort of thing. I'm not traveling for months, so I figured this would give me plenty of time to see how it will work as an alternative to my big, bulky full-frame system for this particular use. </p>

<p>So far I'm very impressed. The lens/camera system produces excellent image quality and low light performance is outstanding. I chose this over the 4/3 systems since it has a larger APS-C sensor.</p>

<p>How about the new Rebel SL1? It'll handle the 16-35 and 50/1.4 very nicely all in a tidy lil package.</p>

<p>I've seen the SL1, a smaller unit yes. I had hopes for the EOS-M before it came out but it's a bottom end, featureless compared to the OM-D E5 etc. An EOS-M v2 that could focus faster, allow more manual control and supply a viewfinder and in-body IS (very unlikely). There'll always be the next gen along. EOS compatibility would be a big plus. I'm checking out the others too (like the X-E1)</p>

<p>I must admit that on paper it looks like a very interesting platform for travel and street photography. Of course there's the EOS M, and the Oly E5 (which is such a snazzy lil camera!) but as you rightly point out, there is the matter of EOS compatibility right out of the box which is very compelling. </p>

<p>The digi OM is a really nice machine but the AF on moving subjects is nowhere near good enough. That would be my main concern. Take the kit you're used to using. You know it well and the 5D2 produces killer images as we already know.</p>

<p>From experience, I carried my 70-200mm on a few trips only to have the lens sit in my bag for the entire trip. Also carrying a bunch of lenses while having to stop to swap those lenses seemed to draw a lot of attention and also weighed me down. </p>

<p>Now when I travel I settle for one Zoom lens and maybe a fast small lens like the 50mm f1.8 or f1.4. When I say zoom I mean a zoom with a nice range like the 24-105mm that way you won't miss out on anything. Since you will be using Full Frame I wonder wether 105mm will be enough though ?</p>

<p>The Olympus would not be a bad idea though. I have read some glaring reviews about this camera, but in my opinion you can't get around physics. 4/3 is 4/3 no matter how sharp the lens or how good the camera. Meaning that ISO 400 would be the equivalent of ISO 800, on a DSLR and ISO 800 would be the equivalent of ISO 1600 on a DSLR and so on. Again I do not own the Olympus so this is just my opinion.</p>

<p>Believe it or not, I still use my non-L series ($300) 28-105mm f3.5/4.5 for travel because it is compact has a nice range and takes relatively good pictures. On my 7D this gives me a range of about 48-168mm which keeps me pretty anonymous. Lately I have also been using a Sigma 17-70 f2.8/4 which gives a range of about 24-112 much like Canon's 24-105 f4 Zoom. </p>

<p>You have way too much stuff if you ask me. It's one thing to be on assignment for <em>National Geographic,</em> but you are just going (in theory) to enjoy yourself. Take the 24-70 and the 70-200mm and the 50/1.4 (if you must) and leave the rest behind. Not sure what you will be doing with all that flash stuff(?). You have a 5D2: low light is not really an issue with that camera...What you propose taking sounds like no fun at all. Sure you can get a new kit, but why spend the money if you take what I suggest; you have it all covered. An even lighter alternative would be the 24-70 and 85 f1.8. That would be even better. Of course if you want to take <em>every</em> picture that is possible you will need to take everything, but you won't want to carry all that stuff around in the hot sun and on your back.</p>

<p>I grew up with SLR cameras but I've been using the Olympus OM-D for almost a year as my snapshot camera and can tell you that:</p>

<ul>

<li>The EVF might be frustrating at times: although it is great in low light situations one can never tell what the picture will actually look like</li>

<li>The buttons are tiny and not very well placed</li>

<li>The UI stinks</li>

<li>Some lenses "rattlesnake" (look it up...) I use Pan/Leica 1.4/25, the Panasonic 2.5/14 and Panasonic 12-35/2.8 zoom</li>

<li>AF is just barely adequate for slow moving objects but not for "action" photography</li>

<li>The battery life is atrocious, the Oly batteries are expensive, and the (cheap!) aftermarket batteries are not that great AND require a separate charger</li>

<li>The write speed is slooooooow.</li>

<li>Must use fast lenses wide open for good subject isolation</li>

<li>Shutter and AF lag are bothersome</li>

<li>The Olympus RAW processor is rather rustic (Aperture, etc. = extra cost)</li>

<li>Some lenses display pronounced purple fringing and there is no internal correction for that</li>

</ul>

<p>Now, the good:</p>

<ul>

<li>Small, light</li>

<li>Awesome image stabilization, even with manual focus lenses (you'll need to enter the focal length manually)</li>

<li>ISO is fantastic up to 1600 and still usable at 6400</li>

<li>Accurate AF for stationary subjects (you'll be astonished...)</li>

<li>Well implemented LV</li>

<li>Good in-camera JPEG processing: in fact I shoot medium JPEG + RAW and rarely use the RAW files unless I have a "keeper."</li>

<li>The number of megapixels, etc. is not a real concern in real life</li>

<li>Small light (did I say that already... The Oly, 25/1.4, 14/2.5, 12-35/2.8 and a cheap fish-eye weight less and take less space than my 1Dx body with a 24-70 zoom...</li>

</ul>

<p>I still use big DSLRs for "serious" stuff but the Oly is always with me as a snapshot/notebook camera, and the only camera that matters is the one that you have with you when it matters.</p>

<p>Thanks. I know you are right on 'too much'. When I went for a year, with PWs and two flashes I hardly used them (twice, maybe). Strobistry is difficult when you're moving every day. But in S.America without a tripod - what a mistake when I couldn't buy one and even worse when I bought a bad one. I'm going to enjoy myself, I enjoy photography. I really missed having a low light lens when shooting monks in Laos - missed the shot t 05:30 in Luang Prabang - and hard to get back there in a hurry.<br>

One bag is the rule (+ tripod.) Here's me trying to get it all in for a previous long trip: <img src="http://tinyurl.com/c9t6nkk" alt="" /> . <br>

Michael, that's really good information. I've been looking at that camera for a while - real world experience is very useful. I wonder if there'll be a newer version soon with improvements. I am leaning to sticking with the 5DII - and I take on board the lens comments - a 24-105mm would be better than the 24-70mm for travelling, sure - I won't be buying one of those though. <br>

I like the thought of the lightweight kit - it's a lot to start again collecting lenses. I'm starting to procrastinate :-)</p>

<p>I also have an OMD with a full bag of M4/3 lenses and a Canon system. I'd broadly agree with most of what Michael L said.<br>

I'd add that the Olympus UI lends itself more to slow purposeful shooting. If you want to make quick changes on the fly, it is not a great camera as it is too easy to muck up settings you don't want to change and sometimes hard to find the setting you do want to change. That said I have 15 years of experience with the Canon UI and only six months with the OMD.<br>

The great thing is that you can carry a full suite of lenses in something like Think tank retrospective 5 or 10, or Loweprove Cirrus 120-140. The M4/3 lenses all seem to perform well wide open. All have fast silent AF with FTM override.<br>

I can carry the OMD, Pany 8 mm fisheye, Oly 9-18, Pany 20 f1.7, Oly 48 f1.8, 60 f2.8 macro, and Pany 45-200 and flash all in a Think tanks Retrospective 10 and it weighs less than my Canon 60D with EF-S 10-22 and 24-105f4L. </p>

I often travel with both my 5D2 and Olympus E-P3. I prefer using the 5D2 most of the due to the greater IQ and ease of

operation. However the Oly with pancake is a good compromise in IQ when you need something small to tuck in your

coat pocket or for incognito shooting. I rarely get a blurry photo with the 5D2 but due to the lightness and lesser grip area

of M4/3, it's a lot easier to spoil images due to camera shake. The 2.0x crop factor makes motion blur even more

apparent at the same print sizes as my 5D2. So you need to practice more careful technique--brace on face, brace

elbows, use a table top tripod, etc. However the Oly is still a big upgrade over my S90.

<p><strong>Personally I would avoid the Olympus m4/3rds digital system</strong>. I also shoot with the full frame Canon 5DMKII and OM Olympus Zuiko legacy lenses myself ....anything smaller than full frame would be a step down for me.</p>

<p>Your question gets asked all-the-time in the Olympus 4/3rds forum and everyone naturally takes sides with Olympus 4/3rds. <strong>In this case its a Canon forum so most of us are going to recommend you stay with Canon full-frame digital</strong>. Ask the Leica forums and your answer will vary...ect. It really depends what forum you ask this question. :/</p>

<p><strong>In your case you may want to consider going with Leica</strong>. And if I were to choose one camera right now for professional travel photography it would be the Leica M or M9 Digital Rangefinder. But since it is Leica...try to rent its very very pricey!<br /> Leica M digital FULL FRAME<br /> <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/893170-USA/Leica_10770_M_Digital_Camera_Black.html">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/893170-USA/Leica_10770_M_Digital_Camera_Black.html</a></p>

<p>Leica M9 FULL FRAME<br /> <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800923146-USE/leica_10703_m9_p_digital_camera_body.html">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800923146-USE/leica_10703_m9_p_digital_camera_body.html</a></p>

<p>Thanks again. Leicas are out of my price range. I do like this review, including Leica though: http://zackarias.com/for-photographers/gear-gadgets/fuji-x100s-review-a-camera-walks-into-a-bar/</p>