Well, I've read forums and blogs; I've asked advice from fellow photographers and even Scott Bourne, but I'm still not sure, so I thought maybe 365ers would have some helpful thoughts.
I have a wonderful Nikon D7000 that I bought a little over a year ago with the following lenses: 18-200mm, 105mm, 11-16mm, 70-200mm, and 80-400mm. I mainly like to shoot landscapes, wildlife, and macro. But, I live in a very ugly place, so I only get to shoot the good stuff when we travel and hike. I've found that with the Nikon I wind up carrying the 18-200 and the wide lens. I leave the others because they're too dang heavy to carry.
I bought an Olympus OMD this month with the kit lens (12-50mm) and a Pany 20mm. I'm finding the Olympus puts out virtually the same quality images as my Nikon. Even the kit lens does some pretty good macros.
I'm tentatively thinking of selling all my Nikon gear and going solely with the Oly micro 4/3. I can't imagine why I would need to keep both systems. Would I really want to keep the Nikon just in case a flock of birds shows up in Abilene and only the 70-800 lens will do?
I'm not a pro (duh); I have no plans to shoot weddings. But I want to keep doing landscapes, wildlife, and macro. I can get several really good Oly primes if I can sell my Nikon gear.
So, what do you think? Bad idea? Go for it? Have any of you dumped your DSLR for smaller gear? Glad? Sad?
Thanks for your thoughts. I know ultimately I'll just have to decide, but I'm having a hard time thinking of negatives of getting rid of the Nikon. But I'm afraid of regretting it.
I would be interested in some of your lens's if your selling! :) the 70-200 for sure! a couple of more if the price it right! ..i cant advise you because all i have ever shot was Nikon..but i believe in a Back up Camera no matter what!! Even if you can just save the lens you like the most with the back up and sell the rest of the len's! let me know...:)
I know tons of photographers that get rid of gear if they really want to focus on a singular format/camera so it's not a bad idea just to keep the camera and one lens. As far as which lens, that's up to you.
My sister dumped her last camera for smaller gear and she is beyond happy with it. You already bought the OMD so even if you're not sure, just hold off for a bit on selling any make sure you absolutely are fine with dumping your gear.
@ellimae I'm listing the 70-200mm on Amazon (I just submitted it, so it may take awhile to show up) because it's the one lens I know I just won't use enough to warrant what I paid for it. I don't know if there are rules here about advertising stuff, so I won't put the price or anything. But it should be the lowest price listed for used 70-200 lenses once it's live on Amazon.
@dloche Thanks, Derek. I know I should be patient, but, at the same time I'm thinking, "If I sell my Nikon gear I can buy some of those spiffy primes Olympus offers!"
this is the next lens i was wanting to purchase ...have to check with my hubby first...i may have to wait as we are moving soon. thanks and good luck..are you listed as photogear?
Isn't the only ultra-wide lens for micro 4/3rds the Panasonic 7-14mm? I'd want to make sure that was a good lens, as if you're a landscape photographer you'll want a good ultra-wide.
You have some nice kit at the moment, but it's no use if it always stays at home. The best camera is the one you take out with you.
My start point was not a classy as yours, I had an Olympus with three lenses and found them too heavy and bulky to carry when traveling. Furthermore I found I had the wrong lens fitted when a snap-shot was required.
I sold the lot and bought my Panasonic FZ100 - all in one and as I'm not planning to sell my images the results are more than adequate. Check out some of my recent stuff.
I have the Olympus E620 and the EP-1 and you can actually get the cameras for the 4/3 and use an adapter ring to put on a micro 4/3. I will say that the Nikon puts out a nicer shot of stars than the Olympus. But other than that, go for what you want to use.
I had the Canon 7D with a 17-50mm, 50mm, 11-16mm, 70-200mm, and 100mm. I sold all of it after I bought my OM-D. I haven't regretted a single second of it. I don't miss lugging around 20lbs of gear. I love being able to pack 5 lenses and the camera in a small bag that weighs next to nothing. And the best part is that I am shooting more than ever. I started off with the kit lens and the 20mm. I have added the Oly 9-18mm, 60mm macro, the 40-150mm, and most recently after selling enough of the Canon gear, the Panasonic 12-35mm (I am in love with this lens.) I love the quality that the OM-D is producing and like I said, I do not regret the move.
@rhondatn Thanks! I really appreciate hearing from someone who has actually done this. What do you think of the 60mm (because I'm considering that one) and the 40-150? I just took a look at the Pany 12-35mm. Yikes! Expensive! What do you use that lens for most?
@otprofsp I love the 60mm, very sharp. The 40-150mm is not my favorite lens, but the price was right. I think that I may buy the Oly 75-300 in the future, much better for the type of bird shots that I like to take. And yes, the 12-35 is expensive (had to sell my 70-200 to afford this one) and it is my best lens and my all around general use lens. I've used it for portraits, some landscape shots, etc.
I don't see any reason for you to have two camera systems if you are happy with the image quality from the OMD. Lighter is better in my opinion. I've heard nothing but good things about the OMD. Although I shoot Nikon, I have also owned Olympus cameras and had very good experiences with them.
I had the same problem - Canon 500D was too heavy with its 70-210 zoom when I was out walking. I now use a Panasonic Lumix FZ150 for everything and the quality is great. And it will shoot raw if I want to do HDR. Not your particular camera, but still a good zoom lens.
Panasonic Lumix FZ150
go for the OMD! you can get so many great lenses for it, they are awesome! i still have my canon eos400d but had to give it up because of my disability (my hands couldn't keep it steady because it is way too heavy and i have to focus through a viewfinder)
i bought the penP3 last year and i absolutely love it, but want to exchange it for the OMD next month, because it is even better. my favorite lens is the 40-150 i use it almost every day for nature photography like this
and closeups like this one (taken at 150mm f/5.6, i really like the quality of the DoF)
apart from the 40-150 i also have the 45mm f/1:8 for portraits. i don't use the 14-42mm kitlens much, i guess the OM's 12-50 is a lot better.
i will definitely buy the 60mm and probably a nice wide-angle, don't know which one yet.
@janturnbull@rakusribut Thanks to both of you. Beautiful photos. I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with the OMD, but when I started to make a listing on Amazon for my Nikkor 105mm, I got tears in my eyes and couldn't do it! Isn't that silly. But that macro lens is my favorite lens and it's given me a lot of joy. So, I'm holding off for a bit, until I'm completely sure.
@rakusribut WOW! That video is stunning! After that, it's hard not to be convinced. I also watched his review of the OMD. I'm pretty sure I'm going to dump the Nikon, just so I can buy more Oly and Pany lenses.
As a new person, I cannot think of a reason for an amateur to carry along two systems. The major players all have great offerings, especially dslr. If you really feel that your original purchase is not up-to=par, then I would advise you to look again. If you are concerned about lens availability, or native lens cost, then I advise you to look at the "generic" lens mounts of Tamron and/or Sigma. The lenses are good, and have mounts that are adaptable to your main-stream camera. Sure, after you have bought a Nikon mount, you cant use that with a Canon camera,
If you have a dslr, then I would advise you keeping it, and then checking for these lenses.
If you have a "point and shot" or other, then it really doesn't matter, since the lenses are more expensive than the camera.
I shoot with a D7000 and the OMD EM-5 and I say the image quality is pretty close between the two systems. I must say I'm more heavily invested in micro four thirds but the DSLR does have advantages. I keep both systems going but use the D7000 as the system that I'm quite rough with. The Nikon comes camping with and into more extreme weather while the OMD is up to the task I just feel DSLR and built for being knocked around a lot more.
The biggest trade of is the optical view finder vs the digital. The digital is quite interesting as you always see a preview of what your picture will turn out to be. Adding things like art filters are a fun bonus of digital view finders. For tracking subjects I find the optical much better. Really is a trade off, but if I had to choose between the two systems the M43 is the way to go just for size. I can take a large side bag and fill it with 5 or 6 lenses, 3 bodies, and a couple flashes. To do this with an DSLR I'd need a checked bag on wheels.
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Macro shot with OMD:
You can see examples of both Nikon and OMD in my project which is very incomplete this year.
My sister dumped her last camera for smaller gear and she is beyond happy with it. You already bought the OMD so even if you're not sure, just hold off for a bit on selling any make sure you absolutely are fine with dumping your gear.
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-70-200mm-Nikkor-Digital-Cameras/dp/B002JCSV8U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354240727&sr=8-1&keywords=nikkor+70-200
You have some nice kit at the moment, but it's no use if it always stays at home. The best camera is the one you take out with you.
I sold the lot and bought my Panasonic FZ100 - all in one and as I'm not planning to sell my images the results are more than adequate. Check out some of my recent stuff.
Non-macro with 60mm:
Olympus 9-18mm:
Olympus 40-150mm:
Panasonic 12-35mm:
Panasonic Lumix FZ150
go for the OMD! you can get so many great lenses for it, they are awesome! i still have my canon eos400d but had to give it up because of my disability (my hands couldn't keep it steady because it is way too heavy and i have to focus through a viewfinder)
i bought the penP3 last year and i absolutely love it, but want to exchange it for the OMD next month, because it is even better. my favorite lens is the 40-150 i use it almost every day for nature photography like this
and closeups like this one (taken at 150mm f/5.6, i really like the quality of the DoF)
apart from the 40-150 i also have the 45mm f/1:8 for portraits. i don't use the 14-42mm kitlens much, i guess the OM's 12-50 is a lot better.
i will definitely buy the 60mm and probably a nice wide-angle, don't know which one yet.
http://youtu.be/o13ndzqQDiQ
If you have a dslr, then I would advise you keeping it, and then checking for these lenses.
If you have a "point and shot" or other, then it really doesn't matter, since the lenses are more expensive than the camera.
As a newbie, my two cents worth.
The biggest trade of is the optical view finder vs the digital. The digital is quite interesting as you always see a preview of what your picture will turn out to be. Adding things like art filters are a fun bonus of digital view finders. For tracking subjects I find the optical much better. Really is a trade off, but if I had to choose between the two systems the M43 is the way to go just for size. I can take a large side bag and fill it with 5 or 6 lenses, 3 bodies, and a couple flashes. To do this with an DSLR I'd need a checked bag on wheels.