Ok, guys, it’s my birthday today and my middle-aged GAS is through the roof!
Having received a bit of money from kind relatives, I’m sorely tempted to treat myself. Which of these do you think is the best deal?
Price USD
Camera/kit and condition
$500
TG-7 – brand new
$850
OM-5 Mk 1 body only – used
$970
OM-5 Mk 1 + 12-45 f4 PRO – used
$1,435
OM-5 Mk 2 + 14-150 f4-5.6 II – used
$1,438
OM-1 Mk 1 body only – brand new
Note: this is just a bit of fun and i don’t want it to be taken too seriously. I may buy one of them, but I may not. Ultimately I’ll buy whatever I think suits my needs best, but I don’t NEED advice per se. I’m just interested to hear your thoughts and see which you think is the best deal, if any.
I know the TG-7 and OM-1 aren’t exactly comparable, but I will ultimately own a pocket camera and a more serious camera. So it’s more of a matter of which order I acquire things.
Yes, good question.
As for old M4/3 gear, I was very close to getting an older Oly PEN or a Panasonic GX. The reason why I have moved away from those ideas is why I started looking at M4/3 in the first place: I wanted best-in-class weather sealing and I also wanted to try out the computational features like Live ND and Handheld High Res Shot. It basically left me with the more recent OM models only.
As for the Sony and Canon compacts, in many ways, I’d love them, but the used prices are currently very high, and I feel I can’t justify it. I know the TG-7 is a big step down in IQ, but I think it’s still a great truly pocketable camera for snapshots with some very interesting features. And it’s super cheap comparably. I can pick up a used TG-6 for about $300, which is another option.
I don’t own any M4/3 lenses, so I agree that’s an interesting option, and possibly the best value when looking at the prices of the two components new. I’m just not sure if that particular lens would be high on my list. But it might be a good option that I can always sell on at a later date. Apparently it’s small and light, which is one of my biggest priorities.
None of the PEN ones are, but the older E-Mx ones are, yes. But other than the E-M1 MK.3, the computational features are less appealing to me in the older cameras, and I guess there’s always the question of whether the weather seals are still in good condition after 10 or so years.
The E-M1 Mk 2 is currently the best value right now, I think, but I’m tempted to go for the smaller and newer OM-5 for a similar price.
If you can swing it, either OM-5 would be a nice camera. The mk ii is nicer: USB-C, modern menus, some improved computational features, but whether it’s worth the cost who can say. I have the OM-5 mk ii and while I haven’t used it nearly as much as I would like, it does feel great to carry around.
If you skip the kit lens and go body-only there’s plenty of good lenses you can get on the used market for $2-400.
Yes, the Mk II of the OM-5 would definitely be more appealing because of the things you say, but there are fewer good deals on that model because it’s so new. Even this one I found is not that cheap considering the bundled lens is one of the cheaper ones.
Do you know in what ways the computational features were improved in the Mk 2?
TG7 camera is not in the same class of camera. I own TG6 and underwater housing for diving . It is an underwater or tough camera. Very limited creative controls. Only two apertures f2 and f2.8 (if I remember correctly). The f8 aperture is faked by using a neutral density filter. Lots of lens distortion which is handled nicely by darktable. TG7 shoots in RAw which is why I picked it over other brands for an inexpensive dive camera. Despite rating of 15 metres mine flooded at 11.7 metres but Australian supplier replaced free of charge despite being out of warranty. Kudos to them. I recommend an underwater housing. I also destroyed a TG 4 when I splashed the charging port. If the cover is open it has no water resistance.
Yes, I’m well aware, and I wouldn’t be getting it for the same purposes. I see it more as a serious toy that can be taken anywhere and just shoved in the pocket. The fact it shoots in RAW is what put it on my radar because that’s a requirement for me.
I had noticed that I was including more and more smartphone pictures in my collection over the last two years, mainly because I can process the RAWs and get very good results, and obviously because it’s just with me at the right time. So, the TG-7 (or previous version) would be a more ergonomic option for carrying everywhere.
There are many other compacts I’d prefer in an ideal world, but very few at a price I’m prepared to pay right now. I’m still not convinced by the TG-7 at $500, but if I can pick one up for $300-$400, I think it would be a fun option. Plus, I’d be ok with my kids using it!
I upgraded from old DSLR to a used EM10 M2 a few years ago and was pleasantly surprised with olympus M43 compactness and computational features. I still think FF and modern ASPC have some edge in IQ but I am willing to trade off these qualities as I am a hobbyist.
I have a pancake lens. Then first added 14-150 f4.5-5.6 II for a all in one lens for travel. Then added 12-45 f4 pro due to GAS. Again, my preference is convenience/weight than absolute IQ.
So, if I need to upgrade, I would go to OM-5 MK1 based on budget and my needs. I may even consider EM5 Mark iii.
What are your thoughts on these two? Do you have a preference? I know they are not their high-end lenses, but I don’t need high-end lenses. They both seem very compact and light, which is what I’m looking for.
Thanks! I think I already have the prime sorted out thanks to a friend selling their used copy. I’ve heard good things about the 12-100 f4, and that focal range is great, but isn’t it one of the heavier ones? Maybe I need to look into it more.
Yes, the ten year old EM10 mk II is a gem, with its compactness and level of control (incl. two wheels). I always carry one with the 14-42 kit lens and the small and cheap, but astonishingly good, “Plastic Fantastic” 40-150/4-5.6.
Small and weighs nothing, and really can give a cheap intro to the advantages of m43, but loses out on OP’s requirements by lacking weather protection.
The OM-5 mk I is a really nice little thing, actually being an Em-1 mk III (my main camera), albeit in a smaller package. The OM-5 mk II has no new computational features, but some other goodies that you will find described here: https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/om-system-om-5-mark-ii-initial-review
I tend to think that with weather sealing and lots of computational features, the OM-5 mk I will give you more bang for the bucks than the OM-5 mk II.
Indeed, but the idea is that it replaces several lenses while keeping the image quality good. An ideal travel zoom (though the PanaLeica 12-60 f/2.8-4 is sufficient for my purposes). Needless to say, neither of these are pocketable
Is that the pancake EZ zoom? That thing is so small and really shows the strengths of M4/3. 28-80mm equivalent in such a small package is so cool. And I’ve seen it quite regularly for $150 used.
What is the zoom operation like? Is it smooth or jerky?
Yes, I’ve made my peace with my main camera not being pocketable (hence the TG-7 companion camera). The closest I’ll get to pocketable with my main camera is having an OM-5 with a pancake lens (even a zoom!), which would fit in a jacket pocket. But when I’m doing a serious session, I’ll be carrying a small sling anyway.
My current everyday setup is a Fuji X-T5 with XF16-80 F4. That weighs 997g.
An OM-5 with Oly 12-100 would weigh 975g.
An OM-5 with PanaLeica 12-60 would weigh 734g.
An OM-5 with Oly 12-45 would weigh 668g.
Interesting to see that the Oly 12-100 would still be lighter than my Fuji setup, despite being a larger lens.
And that PanaLeica seems like a great option. It’s a tad heavier than the 12-45 but has better reach and is faster at the wide end.
Optically it is superb. But you reach near f/4 rather quickly as you zoom in. Think of it as a 12mm f/2.8 prime combined with a f/4 constant zoom that said I use it a lot when travelling.
Nya, I prefer a manual zoom that is easier to fine tune, but I don’t experience that as major problem in daily photography.
(Be aware that the EZ lens seem to have a weakness in that it puts a lot of strain on the flexible (print) cord connecting camera and lens electronics. The experience is that they are prone to breaking after some years.)
As for the 12-100 I can only join the ranks for those who praise its optical qualities and it sits almost glued to my EM-1 mk iii. As my age increases, I’m getting somewhat more aware of its weight, though.
that said I use it a lot when travelling.