I have been researching micro four thirds camera systems for a few weeks now. I began with nearly zero knowledge of them and have been daunted by the options available, even just those offered by Olympus. I am leaning towards the ELP-5, OMD-EM5 and OMD-EM1. I am trying to understand the equipment options.
I have been shooting my DSLR (NIKON D80, Nikon 18-55 zoom, Ikelite housing with zoom ring, Ikelite DS160 substrobe) underwater for 7 years. I shoot fish portraits and landscapes and have had nice success. I moved to it from my Canon G9 to get away from the delay and the difficulty using an LCD as a view finder. But, I miss the flexibility to shoot macro or fish portraits or landscapes in the same dive.
I am heading to Indonesia in September for muck diving and a Komodo liveaboard. I know I'll want to have macro, fish portrait and wide angle capability. Plus, my DSLR system is huge and heavy. A smaller, lighter weight system would be helpful.
I am hoping the new camera will replace my DSLRs for topside shooting. I love birding, especially shooting from our canoe on river trips. I take tons of pictures (landscapes and people) in all our travels in all kinds of lighting and all times of day. And, I take the DSLR in my dry bag on whitewater canoeing trips and take pictures of my river buddies surfing waves and running rapids. A decent flash is important for fill in harsh sun or inside shooting.
One attractive thing about the micro four thirds system is the crop factor. I am hoping that I can finally afford to buy a lens that will give me crisp, sharp shots of birds in a 600mm or more equivalent focal length compared to what I get with my Nikons (D80 and D300) and a 70-300 Nikon zoom (soft at 300mm, not a good lower light lens).
How will these Olympus cameras perform for this kind of topside shooting? Which would you recommend if any? What will I miss if I sell my DSLRs?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions. Right now I am stuck in the muck trying to sort it all out.
I have been shooting my DSLR (NIKON D80, Nikon 18-55 zoom, Ikelite housing with zoom ring, Ikelite DS160 substrobe) underwater for 7 years. I shoot fish portraits and landscapes and have had nice success. I moved to it from my Canon G9 to get away from the delay and the difficulty using an LCD as a view finder. But, I miss the flexibility to shoot macro or fish portraits or landscapes in the same dive.
I am heading to Indonesia in September for muck diving and a Komodo liveaboard. I know I'll want to have macro, fish portrait and wide angle capability. Plus, my DSLR system is huge and heavy. A smaller, lighter weight system would be helpful.
I am hoping the new camera will replace my DSLRs for topside shooting. I love birding, especially shooting from our canoe on river trips. I take tons of pictures (landscapes and people) in all our travels in all kinds of lighting and all times of day. And, I take the DSLR in my dry bag on whitewater canoeing trips and take pictures of my river buddies surfing waves and running rapids. A decent flash is important for fill in harsh sun or inside shooting.
One attractive thing about the micro four thirds system is the crop factor. I am hoping that I can finally afford to buy a lens that will give me crisp, sharp shots of birds in a 600mm or more equivalent focal length compared to what I get with my Nikons (D80 and D300) and a 70-300 Nikon zoom (soft at 300mm, not a good lower light lens).
How will these Olympus cameras perform for this kind of topside shooting? Which would you recommend if any? What will I miss if I sell my DSLRs?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions. Right now I am stuck in the muck trying to sort it all out.