Micro Four Thirds in 2024

[@JezdziecBezNicka]

I became desensitised to the „m43 is dead” narrative a long time ago. I keep investing in my Olympus/OM lineup and focus on having fun taking pictures instead of listening to equivalence gurus.

[@SMBYopinion]

Love it!!

[@MichaelAivaliotis]

Ya but these videos get clicks

[@Nikod750]

I got a Lumix G85 in 2017 for video. Eversince, it is my travel and streetphotography camera. I brought it during my Tokyo and Melbourne trip and the images it produced is amazing. My 12-60mm got broke, i decided to buy a lumix 14-45mm with an E-pl2 body.

[@corunseen]

I shoot with Zuiko Pro lenses and my EM1 Mark II, and the results are perfect. I’ve used Canon and Fujifilm in the past, but the size of the lenses is what ultimately drew me to this system-along with the fact that I’ve spent a long time shooting with the Lumix LX series. Lumix has its own charm. It may not be as trendy as Leica or Fujifilm, but it offers its unique rendering in image production. I always shoot in RAW, and with LUTs, things have become much easier. The recipes with Fuji never fully convinced me, and at the end of the day, it’s all about the results. My next purchase will be the GH7, and I’m confident that this system will remain relevant for many years to come.

[@braddyboy82]

I bought a GX-85 on eBay about six months ago and some cheap Chinese lenses from Amazon to just get a feel for what a "real" camera might be like. Didn't know about about M43, all I knew is that this line had a lot of lens options and the picture quality seemed great. Fast forward to now... I absolutely LOVE my GX85. I bought some good Panasonic and Zuiko lenses (including the 14mm mentioned here) and this thing is endlessly fun and takes incredible pictures. I just got the 45-150 lens and it's upped my game even more. What started out as a "I've always liked taking pictures, let me try something more real and substantial" has turned into a full-fledged hobby that I immensely enjoy, thanks to the GX85 and the great array of lens options. If camera snobs think M43 sucks, then that's their deal -- for me, I'm a super fan.

[@SMBYopinion]

Thanks for sharing!! Glad to see there’s still so much attention given to the m43 system. Honestly don’t know why some wants to kill it off. The more systems on the market, the more options for us consumers!

[@snugsonblitz]

I enjoy those two youtubers as well. Love M43. Size, lenses, price.

[@JanAnton]

As a proud owner of OM-1 and some PRO lenses by m.zuiko I can tell in all honesty that they might as well call us dead but they can't kill us all :D #vivalaM43

[@larrytorres6360]

I am new to MFT. Found an Olympus OM D E 10 MK IV at a pawn shop with kit lens and all accessories and a bag for $385. Too good to pass up, have several Fuji cameras and am happy with them but wanted to try an even smaller set up. So far so good, very impressed with camera and photo quality. I honestly have too many cameras and need to quit going to pawn shops. This Olympus is definitely a keeper.

[@SMBYopinion]

Great to hear!! :)

[@estraume]

I bought the original Olympus OM-D E-M5 with some lenses back in 2013 after a little more than a year trying out the now dead Nikon 1 system. Over the years, I have bought more lenses, exchanged my cameras in newer models. My entire kit fits in a Nanuk 910 case that I could bring as a second personal item along with my carry on when I travel (with most airlines). I currently use the OM-1. I think most users of MFT would much rather spend money to update their camera and a lens every 3 year than try to sell everything at once on the used market and buy a new system. If you don't need the nose tip to be out of focus while the eyes are in focus in your portrait photos, you really don't need to drag on those large heavy full frame lenses.

[@SMBYopinion]

Never had the chance to try an Oly but I’ve heard good things about its Timelapse. Hoping to try one one day

[@MrJapanforce]

Great and vivid video. Proud user of Lumix MFT system since 2008! Never looked back.

[@barnseyb6031]

I have one camera and I love it! Lumix GX9 ❤

[@bastian.michel]

Well said. Thank you.

[@letni9506]

People say about wedding photography but usually you have a few small or medium sized prints and view and share the pics on your phone. You can blur the backgrounds to your hearts content with software and only pixel peepers will know. Then you've got 1.2 lenses and the likes of the 75mm 1.8 that give an amazing look. It's better than the kit from 10-15 years ago and new bodies will go to iso 6400 with software. If you need to go higher you really need to turn a light on. M43 is plenty useable for pro work. It's only enthusiasts that worry about such things. I got married 32 years ago and my photos still look good and that was taken with a way lesser camera than the OM1 ii.

[@SMBYopinion]

Definitely! And when you blow it up and look from afar, you honestly really can’t tell much difference

[@petermcginty3636]

Thanks for video. I am a very happy MFT shooter. I can’t compare it to any other system, as I have never used other systems. Most of my gear is second hand, very good quality for a reasonable price. No complaints about the image quality.

[@SMBYopinion]

Definitely the second hand market is the go to for MFT. Great deals to be had! :)

[@KiliTheKiller]

1:37 the dust on the sensor freaked me out a bit, well done 😊

[@SMBYopinion]

Haha thanks thanks! Rocket blower was on standby :P

[@DerSchaddan]

I also love my GX80, my only gripe is when doing portraits/people shoots where I want to do bursts, the Buffer is full very quickly and the flash needs a lot of time to recharge after a while. I might just get an external flash for that purpose :)

[@SMBYopinion]

Haha yeah I don’t think it was designed for bursting, I’ve mainly just been using it as a general/street photo camera :)

[@davemaric4057]

f2.5 is not "full-frame f5 equivalent" - unless you're specifically talking about depth of field when taking a photo at exactly the same distance from the subject.

[@MichaelGerrard]

Yes, small and light, that is the true heart of m43. Pany must give us a new small camera, a new GX, GF or GM model.

[@dzeng]

I’m not a professional photographer. But I have m43, APSC and FF and I gravitate towards my m43 gear more than the other options especially for travel. Software really cleans up the noise for those who are concerned. Unless you’re shooting in very dark scenes, m43 is more than adequate and some of my favorite pictures are from my m43 gear. Definitely learn how to use a flash because a badly lit subject is a bad picture regardless of what gear you use. Does FF produce better pictures? Sure. But it depends on the lens more than the camera and it might be just marginally better.

[@SMBYopinion]

Love it. Definitely a great travel companion. I’m also someone who doesn’t mind noise much so honestly doesn’t bother me too much haha

[@JeffBourke]

The used market is amazing for MFT gear but i think it's just crazy to be investing in new bodies and glass in 2024.

[@SMBYopinion]

I agree, I’m not saying mft should be anyone’s first or only choice. But depends on what you value, there are pros to be had with this system. I was lucky enough to get my gx85 for around $250 and lenses for a very good price used. Used market is a good way to go.

[@mattlynch67]

I don't. Since last black Friday I've bought one new body and two new pro lenses. Hardly use my Fuji x100v anymore.

[@clemfandango9534]

That makes zero sense. The advantage is small lenses. That has not changed. I can carry FL from 14mm to 600mm equivalent in a small bag very easily. I just can’t do that with my Sony FF rig. Time has not and will not change this.

[@corunseen]

Good points overall

[@JeffBourke]

MFT user here BUT i think it's ludicrouse to be dropping thousands on new MFT bodies and Glass in 2024. Panasonic only JUST released a GH with PDAF! At the end of the day, MFT bodies and glass is too expensive. If you look for equivalent lenses in L-Mount, for something that gives equivalent bokeh (if you're into that), the MFT if it is even available, is MORE expensive.

[@daltonramsey9585]

I remember buying the G85 on sale back in 2020 for like $700, and that was a good deal. Recently the G95 was on sale for $699 and the g85 for $599. I’ve seen them about $100 higher lately but that’s still a fair deal. I bought a G9 last April for $899 from Adorama and got a nice tripod with it for free. A couple years ago I saw the e-m10 iii on sale for $350! I think the price of some of the newer cameras is absurd. The lenses can still be found on some good sales. I got the Leica 25mm 1.4ii for $550. I have had several of the Olympus 60mm 2.8 macro which I got on sale for $400. The lumix 42.5mm 1.7 for $299 on sale is a great deal as well. I think the normal retail price on these makes them hard to justify and I certainly wouldn’t pay close to $2k for a new body. I love the Olympus system for macro. I had a e-m1 ii that I got used for $600 in like new condition. Price used to be one of the draws for m43 but I think that gap is narrowed significantly. I grabbed a Nikon Z5 and 50mm 1.8S in 2021 for $1,550+ tax. I don’t know if I will purchase another m43 body moving forward.

[@LaurieHallLJH]

I agree. I jumped to Sony full frame some time ago because I realised that with one decent standard zoom lens I’d remove the need for all those lovely little M43 primes I had. If there was a 14-35mm f/1.4 for M43 to replace my Sigma 28-70 f/2.8 then I would consider going back but sadly that’s technically impossible. The best Lumix can do is the Leica f/1.7 10-25mm but it’s soooo expensive!

[@villegas24]

Teo Crawford has a based in Austria

[@SMBYopinion]

You’re right! Haha I guess I’ve seen so many of his Japan videos I thought he was from there.

[@overnightdelivery]

Just now bought a 15mm f/1.7 lens from 2014 to go along with a GM1 camera that I picked up last year. Also recently got the GH7 that I love using with the 10-25mm f/1.7. What a moron for investing in a dead system, right? 😅

[@SMBYopinion]

How do you like the GH7?

[@misha4422]

I do not get the various “MFT is dying/dad” opinions. Are those people feeling threatened by MFT? I wish the anti-MFT pro-full frame folks would stop hyper ventilating and enjoy their cameras of choice. You know, live and let live?

[@SMBYopinion]

Agreed! Multiple systems can live in harmony. No harm in that. Better for us consumers!

[@ianyoung5750]

I have all kinds of different camera formats, but Lightroom says I used 4/3 the most. Long live m43 cameras!

[@SMBYopinion]

Well said! ;)

[@JeffBourke]

Example, the 10-25mm f/1.7 costs around $1500. THe 12-35 f/2.8 is basically only SLIGHTLY cheaper than the LMount 24-70 f2.8 which absolutely destroys the 12-35mm. I say all of this being an MFT fan and i Use MFT and LMount. The economics of the S5ii and Sigma LMount glass makes it unbeatable. Sigma do not even make MFT lenses - they make APSC glass with MFT Mount.

[@DaveEP]

And? One could argue back and forth between any brand or system by cherry picking specific bodies and/or lenses. Your points do not mean that MFT is dead, just that you think other systems are worth looking at too.

[@georgemahlum6542]

Panasonic GX9 (basically discontinued)... OM/Olympus Pen F (discontinued)... OMD EP7 (no viewfinder)...Panasonic S9 (full frame Joke)...Anyway a pair of Sony A7c bodies will have to work for me...Cheers.

[@JeffBourke]

Myth: MFT Gives you MORE DOF = False. You can increase your FStop on a fullFrame to achieve the same DOF if you're into DEEP dof.

[@thomasa.243]

Correct. But you can get more DoF while still retaining more light, i.e., you can either increase your shutter speed or decrease the ISO on M4/3 which may be more beneficial in certain scenarios.

[@clemfandango9534]

Nope. You won’t be able to keep the same exposure.

[@jc.baptiste]

And you will probably need a tripod

[@12symmo]

@@JeffBourke here come the f stop brigade ignoring the fact their sensors capture 1/4 of the light of a full frame sensor at the same f stop.

[@fastguitars4380]

Everyone who makes a Video, that "celebrates" Micro 4/3rds, .. always says......'"on real Jobs of course i use a FF"... so, that is telling us that the 4/3 system is only good for pics of your dog and your yard... and for that, a Cell Phone, is just as good.. So, unless these "UTube" influencers start saying..."well of course i use my 4/3 for wedding, and professional work" then there is nothing left to conclude except that a 4/3rds is "for fun only" and in that case, use a cell phonel

[@letni9506]

I think it's just small margins and diminishing returns. People want the maximum in life even if you have to squint to see it. Customers dont care and everything is edited to the moon and back. Full frame portraits are processed to the level of an ai photo. You may as well shoot weddings on an iPhone these days.

[@JeffBourke]

The S5ii essentially just renders MFT to be redundant.

[@DaveEP]

How so? The FF glass for the S5 & S5II are still substantially larger and heavier than MFT. I say this as someone who owned the S5 alongside MFT and sold it because of size & weight, not just of the lenses but also the body. The G9II is the same size of the S5/S5II which is exactly why I don't buy Panasonic MFT bodies anymore. Lots of MFT bodies and glass much smaller than the S5/S5II so, no, the S5II does not render MFT redundant. YMMV.

[@clemfandango9534]

No it’s doesn’t. Lenses are HUGE.

[@me-rfc2024]

Stop talking bollocks!

[@fishwomanyvr]

apsc blows away m43 in quality and is almost as small. pick up a used a6500 and it's staggering how much better the pics are then any m43.

[@houghwhite411]

Which m43 do you use and which lens?

[@mattlynch67]

​@@houghwhite411good question!

[@clemfandango9534]

Not true. And I have the gear to prove it.

[@MuppetChops]

MFT is basically dead. Particular when you can get a decent FF body from Sony for a similar price. And the lenses are only a bit bigger and bit more expensive. But the IQ of FF vs MFT is a different league

[@DaveEP]

MFT is not dead at all, thought perhaps in your mind. FF & APS-C are bigger than MFT by quite a long way, and yes, I have both. I pick up the MFT more often than not. I also print to A3+ all the time and quality if not an issue.

[@ianforber]

How much does IQ matter to non-pixel peepers though? I’m as guilty as the next man of zooming in the screen to look at the details but with modern photo processing such as PureRaw4 and Topaz AI it is close enough as makes little difference. Yes, my FF system is significantly better IQ than APS-C or m4/3 but I’ve got pictures I’m very happy with from all formats. Shallow depth of field is the main drawback but you can either get primes with large apertures or use AI masking to produce a similar effect.

[@MuppetChops]

@@ianforber it’s massive. The high iso tolerance of a full frame camera versus MFT is enormous

[@MuppetChops]

@@ianforber I’m not just talking about sharpness.

[@ianforber]

@@MuppetChops I agree , it an immense difference but stick a m4/3 raw file through PureRaw4 and it makes a massive improvement compared to what you get with LR or CO. I rarely need to go to very high ISOs so the issue is not a big one for me.