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Anyone gone mirrorless? (1 Viewer)

Sam Posten

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Still holding out for the fabled Nikon Entry to the mirrorless landscape, but I gotta say I'm tempted to buy either a last year Micro 4:3rds on closeout or bite the bullet and give the Olympus E-P3 a shot, with the new prime...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wSXu6YsJRs&feature=relmfu
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1029688
Nikon leak:
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1029226
 

Citizen87645

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I have a Panasonic GF1 that I use for a change of pace. But I've thought about selling it off and on for the last year. It's a fun camera to use, but there's a dearth of prime telephoto lenses for the format, so it's been kind of frustrating in that respect. If only I wanted several mediocre zooms...
 

Sam Posten

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I hear ya... I intend to use this as the cam I leave in the car for general use or carry around town like a street leica when I don't want to lug the DSLR bag soteles aren't really factored in my consideration...
 

Citizen87645

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Yeah, if I think of it as a rangefinder then it's not so bad. But given how frequently I use it, the controls always take a bit of getting used to and I wonder, "Why didn't I just bring my DSLR?" :)
 

Scott Merryfield

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While the thought of having something smaller is appealing sometimes, I just cannot bring myself to invest in another set of lenses that are not compatible with what I already own. If I want to go small, I'll just take my 7D with a 28mm f/1.8 lens attached. That's fairly portable, and I do not have to compromise on quality, auto focus performance, viewfinder, or cumbersome controls.
 

Citizen87645

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Well, it took this thread to finally take the step and I'm selling my GF1. Thinking I will get the 28mm f/1.8 with the monies.
 

Scott Merryfield

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Cameron Yee said:
Well, it took this thread to finally take the step and I'm selling my GF1. Thinking I will get the 28mm f/1.8 with the monies.
I think you'll like the 28mm f/1.8, Cameron. It gives you a FoV similar to 50mm on a full frame body, and I would compare it favorably in image quality and auto focus performance with the Canon 85mm f/1.8 -- if you are familiar with that lens. I did have difficulty finding a lens hood for it when I purchased it last year, as everyone was out of stock on the Canon brand hood (damn Canon for not including hoods with all their lenses). I ended up buying a Pearstone hood instead, and it works fine. It fits a little tight, but the lens is still small enough with the hood attached that I never even bother to reverse it when storing the lens.
I considered the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 as an alternative, but didn't feel like playing the lottery to get one that focused accurately. Also, the Sigma is for crop sensors only, and I didn't want to buy a prime lens that wouldn't work on a full frame body. You never know when a good deal on a 5D MKii will fall in your lap. :D
 

Citizen87645

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I started the auction at 495.00, which includes the LVF1 electronic viewfinder and 20mm f/1.4 lens.


Just curious but what do you think you will ask?

I am familiar with the 85mm. It's one of my favorites!


I think you'll like the 28mm f/1.8, Cameron. It gives you a FoV similar to 50mm on a full frame body, and I would compare it favorably in image quality and auto focus performance with the Canon 85mm f/1.8 -- if you are familiar with that lens.
 

Sam Posten

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Whelp, glad I waited. Now do I go for the NEX-7 or continue to wait for Nikon to get off the pot, or both ;)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m6QSS5UVQ2CB2?ie=UTF8&ref_=ent_fb_link#?ie=UTF8&tag=photorumors-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-NEX-7-Compact-Interchangeable-Camera/dp/B005IHAIEI/ref=zg_bs_3017941_2
http://www.dpreview.com/news/1108/11082419sonynex7overview.asp
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/NEX7/NEX7A.HTM
 

Sam Posten

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Hrm, 3 weeks till announcement? Better than waiting till PhotoPlusExpo I guess.
http://nikonrumors.com/2011/08/28/nikon-in-white-mirrorless-camera-event-in-vienna.aspx/
 

Sam Posten

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Well, I jumped. For the Sony NEX-7. Sadly it doesn't ship till November.... So I got a NEX-5N to tide me over. =)
If you buy a 5 or 5N at Best Buy you can get the 16mm f2.8 for $99, so I picked one of those up too.
Still playing, but so far I'm impressed for what this lil guy can do. No it won't replace a DSLR for me, but as a carryaround it's a LOT more compelling than 15 pounds of gear!
Next up:
Wrist strap
Nikon Adaptor
Then lots of experiments.
 

Sam Posten

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Looks like the NEX-7 is delayed indefinitely due to the floods in Thailand =(
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/242211/sony_delays_new_camera_launch_due_to_thai_flooding.html
Damn =(
A new quicklook:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/1110/11101420sonynex7videopreview.asp
On the plus side, I'm enjoying my NEX-5n in the meantime. I got a Gordy's wrist strap for it and that rules.
Amazon just got the 30 macro in too, I placed my order today and it should be here tomorrow.
 

Gregg Loewen

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Ive still been eyeing the Oylmpus P3 but cant swallow the $900 price point.
Almost 3 times this week I have purchased the the P2 at $479 from Amazon...but still thinking. The p3 cant we worth twice the price ?
What are my other options ?
 

Gregg Loewen

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$469 with free shipping!!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Olympus-Micro-Digital-Camera-EP2-%26-Lens/140627368694?_trksid=p1468660.m2000037
 

Will_B

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Even with Olympus likely going out of business due to their scandal, the Olympus PEN cameras are still worth considering.
I almost got a Sony NEX instead, but waited, long enough to see the Sony NEX 5n and C3 iterations, but ultimately, I just do not like the way Sony images look.
Olympus images are always nicely dark and have a brownish cast to them. Sony images are always too bright and have a yellow-green cast to them.
I just mean they have slightly different tints, and expose in slightly different ways. So as a personal preference, Olympus wins.
But they are all good choices.
 

Sam Posten

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I'd love to see specific examples of that. Cause I have no idea what you are talking about. And I'd expect you might be judging based solely on JPEGs? Or specific shooters who have palettes they gravitate towards?
Anywho, for those excited about the NEX-7 it looks like it's back in production, hopefully not too long a wait for it. 1 hour 45 minutes of in depth description on the new Sony's from their customer relations guy at a huge B&H promo:

I came -this- close to buying an Olympus E-P3 and I am sure it's a great camera, but if you are seriously considering buying -anything- that company makes right now with an expectation that they are going to have a long life you aren't paying attention.
 

Will_B

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I spent what seems like the last two years comparing the NEXs and the PENs as they rolled out new models, so trust me when I say, "trust me". I based my opinion on situations when reviewers took both cameras out and shot the same subjects. One I remember clearly is a water fountain with those mottled-green-grey statues of cherubs. Maybe I can find that site again.
Different companies have different ideas of what tones look best. As do all the other companies, for that matter. I've always been most sensitive to greens, so to my eye I notice the greens going yellow-green on Sony and brown-green on Olympus. The overly-bright Sony images are common knowledge, which many people just compensate for with a little underexposure. But as a pale person, I can use all the help I can to not look solid white in pics!
 

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