Goodbye Nikon! Why I switched to the Olympus OM-D E-M1Mark II and the micro four-thirds format 

Woop woop!! It's so cool to see more pro photographers join the m43 side!

“I wanted to make photography fun again.” That’s the point!

Don't tell em how good it is dammit, you'll drive the prices up. Stay with FF folks, nothing to see here.

Welcome to the club!!! After going from Canon to Sony, I've settled on Olympus and I ABSOLUTELY don't regret it at all :)

I'm firmly sticking with Nikon but wish you all the best with your move to M43 Olympus. Gavin Hoey is one of my favourite photographers and his work using Olympus is some of the best out there 😊

I'm a firm believer of this quote " Use the gear that works for you" If the Olympus micro 4/3 system works for you then more power to you. I agree with you the best way to find out is to rent the gear for yourself before listening to a youtube video. You might find out what works for one person might not work for the next.

Its all about the image, never been about the camera. I'm so happy for you.

Joe, welcome to the Olympus family. I’m no pro, just some guy with a camera. But, I love my Olympus gear.

Ironically it's all the youtube politicians that hardly get out and shoot that make new photographers worry about megapixels, dynamic range, iso performance etc. Use what makes your job easy and fun as a photographer. Loved the video. Oh and you got a new sub.

I listen for 2 minutes in already knew you are a true pro photographer unlike most channels that entertain better then they shoot! Also for the studio work Olympus will work for most. I'm own 3 Canon 1dx's for pro sports. Olympus is definitely not ready for that. But for portrait,studio awesome! ,,, in maybe events. No sure! Love the way you light different shades of skin. Perfect! Skills!!!

Welcome to the M43 world Joe! Congrats! I can't wait to see your images from that new 45mm f/1.2!

so loved this.. I swapped from canon to olympus OM-D EM1 MII about sixs months ago... OMG why didnt I do it sooner.. I love the olympus.. have the three pro lenses covering 7-150.. its a fantastic camera system ... your 'arguments' are bang on

I chose m4/3 recently, for I wanted to ignite joy in photography again. The camera is even simpler than yours - Pen E-P5 (love its small size and retro style!). And I have never been happier! Powerful, brilliant design, simplicity, small & excellent optics, less stress, more user-friendliness, all is so lightweight, unobtrusive, output is brilliant! m4/3 output offers enough magnification even for billboards.

Kostas from Greece here. I just want to say a big "Thank you" for this video, it really helped me decide on my first camera. I really like your style, both informative and entertaining, straight to the point, great mix of skill, talent and experience. Wish you all the best, will keep watching you, don't change a bit!

Good for you, I love your honesty and common sense, and it's so refreshing. Currently I have three GH4 bodies (and a GX8) but have decided, for a number of reasons, to move to Fuji. Had I stuck with M43, I'm pretty sure I would have moved to Olympus, they make great cameras. Looking forward to seeing your success.

Wish you good luck with your new journey and thank you for sharing with us your toughts! i'm sure your next pictures will be great as always!

Joe, this video is excellent, a down to earth no-nonsense explanation from a real-world photographer why using this system is such a smart choice. I personally shoot with Panasonic and a combination of Panasonic and Olympus lenses, and the benefits are endless while the real-world quality difference is not noticeable, as you very clearly explained. Thank you for all you do for us photographers to help us make better pictures (which is definitely not about the gear!)

Joe, great video. I saw in one of the Olympus FB groups you asking questions on flash system compatibility. Good to know you found the answers you were looking for and were able to make the switch. I moved to Olympus in 2014 as a way to get back into photography as I wasn't taking my Canon DSLR anywhere with me. Looking forward to more great videos in the future.

With the newly released firmware 3.0, owners of the Olympus E-M1 Mark II basically had a free upgrade. I am very happy with my E-M1 Mark II along with the 12-40mm F2.8.

All I know is that you are going to LOVE light painting with your new Olympus E-M1 mk2. The 'Live Composite' feature is like no other. All the best, Joe.

First video i watch from you, i'm new in "serious" photography, in fact i used to shoot with my smartphone, than started to know about raw and these stuffs and day after day i began to love more and more photography because i felt like this could give me the opportunity to create something and not just watching something. I heared about many different cameras and i chose the Olympus omd em10 mark II, i can't tell you exactly why, but it just seemed fun and comfortable. Only time will tell, but with this camera i know i can love photography

Joe, what a great video. The fascinating thing is that you are completely satisfied with this system, and you are a pro photographer who depends on it to earn a living. The other 99.9% of us are amateurs, and for us a sixyear old Olympus EM5 was good enough, despite having a four thirds sensor. Currently I use an EM1 an EM5 and a Panasonic GM1 as my travel/street cam, and I will eventually get a used EM1 II when I can find one for half the original price. But I may have a long wait for that, since after two years the used ones still go for around $1,500. I really think you nailed it with this video. Chasing better specs doesn't make sense unless you are having fun and actually need the better specs. In terms of usability, M4/3 seems to have hit the perfect balance. And the lenses are mouth watering, with a huge selection at various price points.

I like you Joe. Talk your sh*t.

Congratulations on pulling the bandaid! And this looks like a great lens line up. Regardless of the brand, looking forward to keep learning with your videos. And happy 100K subscribers!

Congratulations on your investment! Can't wait to see the results.

Congratulations Joe on your new acquisition, you've made a wise choice to acquire the Olympus EM1M11 system, like you I started in the same way with photography doing my own B&W & Color D & P . When I acquired my first digital system I went the Olympus route and have never looked back, all I've done is added new bodies to my existing system. Your video content is "AWESOME " YOU COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT BETER! All the best with your new acquisition & most of all have fun with your PHOTOGRAPHY! Continue creating great pix & videos looking forward to more of your cost effective DIY Gear videos! 😎 👍

Great video Joe- really spot on! Your comparison with photos shot on older cameras with small sensors is an angle I hadn't thought of before. I personally went with Panasonic, but pretty much everything you said would apply to both, especially with interchangeability of lenses. I am curious about the Pan G9 for photographers like you?? Your best point of all is that M4/3 makes photography and videography fun! I've had a blast and continue to:) BTW, my very first 35mm camera was an Olympus Trip 35 I got in 1969 when I was only 16, but it was an amazing little rangefinder camera that did very well at the time... Olympus has a long history of quality!

I got to give it to you. You've got balls. You are not likely to win any popularity contests with this but I support you completely. No, I don't use a micro 4/3 camera but I am happy that you are happy with yours. I hope in the near future you will do a video detailing the reasons for and the advantages to making the switch. In the meantime continued success.

I have to admit I just discovered the images last night and I love the system. I'm going to wait until next year to see the sigma FF foveon and then will decide what system to go with.

I have owned Olympus cameras since 1979. I have had Canons and Nikons, but after the "film era" ended for me I shot again with Olympus, and now have both the Em1 and the Em1 Mark 2. The 300f4 Pro... sealed the deal forever. Astoundingly sharp, the AF and IS of the Mark 2 is absolutely perfect for the style of wildlife photography that requires ALL your equipment to be weatherproof, and even more important, light and compact. I find myself in the refuge with someone carrying a tripod and a massive lens all weighing about 15 pounds. I carry in my Pelican back pack two cameras, three lenses, and a nod to Nikon.. a pair of Monarch7 binos. This set up lets me venture out on to stone jetties in the surf, scramble down a rock scree with no worries, and race up a hill when I need to. What I have now, with Olympus, is the feeling that I have the best for my purposes regardless of price, and will be happy with it for a long time.

Just found your channel! I also added micro four-thirds to my bag last year and recently picked up the em1 mark ii. Might want to add the 75mm f/1.8 to your arsenal. I just did a family portrait session and found it the only lens I needed! I haven't taken my d750 out in months and considering selling off all my Nikon gear. But it's so hard to let go.

Nice explanation and good to know you already have had some client's assignments and are satisfied with the results. Great video! I'm going to share it!

Given the fact I have an old OM-4 with two pro lenses from the 80s, I probably should stick with this camera as the adapters work fine with manual control.

Great video Joe! I have the E-M1ii and the 12-40mm f2.8 Pro, and I really love that combo. It's so fun to shoot! I will very much look forward to seeing your future videos with this kit!

*Paging Tony and Fro. Paging Tony and Fro* jpeg alert! jpeg alert! ;p

This video gives the best explanation of the pros and cons of M43 that I have yet seen. Well done, Joe! I just got back into photography recently via an E-M1 mark 1. I am having a ball! Keep up the great work! IM 8)

Nicely said, appreciate your frank statements. The encouragement to think of photography and not get hung up with gear can't be made enough. Thumbs up!

First a video about Interfit, now one about m4/3 gear. We seem to be on the same page these days. Good to hear you're thrilled about your new setup. Keep up the fantastic work Joe!

Joe, Did you sell any or all of your Nikon equipment? Will all our future shoots be with the Olympus? Is there anything that you will still shoot with your Nikon equipment if you kept any of it? I am a Nikon shooter. I have a D810 and a D7100 with approx 24 lenses. I am heavily invested in Nikon. I did just purchase a Fuji X-T20 for my daughter though.

Far and away, the best video I have seen on the subject. It proves (to me at least), that the author has more smarts than the vast majority of other photographers doing this on RU-vid. I started my own photography a bit later than Joe, in 1979 or 1980. If I were to make my own video on the subject, it would be just like this one. Now, I don't have to! Thanks for that, Joe. Kudos, and MUCH respect. You won't be disappointed by your choice, it only gets better from here. Jan

I finally got comfortable with my D750 and settled on a pair of lenses that I am happy with no matter the situation. But its nice to have an alternative brand to switch too if Nikon just drops the ball completely. I look forward to see how you enjoy your Olympus OM-D E-M1Mark II. You are absolutely right. Photography should be fun, especially if it is something you do full-time. Because of the multitude of youtube photographers and opinions out there. I think a majority get stressed out on gear now and days instead of enjoying photography. I have been guilty of that. But now, I just don't care about the gear. If it does the job. I'm good. LOL

I did the same thing a little while back! VERY happy, and no regrets at all. I will always have a place in my heart for Nikon, but frankly cannot see anything but parity or actual improvement in my images. A real bonus beyond the 5 axis stabilization and leaving the tripod at home is the almost magical live bulb and live composite modes - FAR beyond amazing. Thanks for your video here!

Congrats Joe, i guarantee i wont leave because you changed brands =) I just found your channel and am loving it. I have a question though and its not even about photography, How do you keep so upbeat and energized, its something i lack as a photographer and person in general. I always leave your videos feeling positive its awesome.

So true for me too! After i stopped shoot commercial photography 3 or 4 years ago, I also gave up my hobby photography just because i didn't want to take my full-frame Nikon with all those giant 2.8 zooms just for a walk or for fun. Carrying 5 to 7 kilograms is not fun! But then, about year ago, i decided to return to photography as a hobby, and purchased Pen-F. It really returned all fun for photography for me. Even more! The camera is always with me, so I shoot almost every single day. And the result - in that 1 year, i've learned more than i learned for 10 years before with Nikon! You really progress much faster when you have fun during the process.

Good vid, fair and practical. That being said, having shot many including currently owning the olympus, I have to say I will not walk away from my Nikon gear. Street shooting, travel, olympus all the way. But for portraits and anything that requires resolution, Olympus just doesn't cut it. The camera is amazing, but in the end, the results I need do depend on the resolution. And yes, I am a pixel peeper and prefer low-low noise. So... I own both and am much happier doing so.

I have to say you have a common sense approach that other RU-vid pros are lacking. At the end of the day your camera choice is your choice nobody else! Thanks for all you do!

Yay. I bought all MFT gear to get back into video and I'm loving it.

So refreshing! I started with the OM-1 in the military years ago. I chose it over all the other cameras in the Navy Exchange because I could hide it in my camouflage utilities leg pocket. I loved it! I went all over Naples, Italy shooting. OM-1, OM-1n, OM-2 and then the OM-10 with the 1.4 50mm prime, it was a dream. I knew hardly anything about photography. I knew enough to place the needle in the bracket. Not sure why I went to Canon but I am looking to go back to OM. Thanks for making me tear up, Joe!

Curious if you tested any Fujifilm cameras?

Joe, I really enjoyed this video, it was like watching a rerun of my own journey. I have watched some of your other videos - and the true testament to your work is that unlike most of the photo youtube videos I watch at times, my wife finds yours pleasant enough that she doesn't ask me to switch off or watch in another room ;-) I have been a Canon user since the 1970, having used great cameras along the way such as the magnificent F1n and the great EOS1n film cameras, then the digital 30D and finally the phenomenal 5DMIII. I had great glass - the 16-35, 24-70, and 70-200 2.8L lenses - the Canon holy trinity! The image quality was superb, but I started watching with interest when the original 4/3 system came out. Early this year I took a very close look at the micro four thirds system, I decided to make a radical jump. I was forced to completely re-gear when Canon abandoned the FD mount in favor of the EOS mount. Thanks to Craigslist, I didn't lose nearly as much of my hind end in this switch, but it was still an investment. I have been shooting exclusively with my Olympus Gear since this spring, and I have been having more fun than I can remember. I now carry my camera gear virtually EVERYWHERE, and I have no regrets making the switch. I don't need to have anyone validate my choice, but I truly enjoyed watching this - I nodded my head throughout. I also have no ill will towards Canon - even after I got screwed when they made my rather large FD lens system obsolete ;-). I see the mirrorless wave gathering strength, and I think it will sweep DSLRs off the landscape as surely as film has been by digital. When the paradigm shifts, I wonder if Canon and Nikon will be able to shift with it - or get crushed like Eastman Kodak? My MFT system (all Olympus so far): E-M1 II E-M5 II 17mm 1.8 25mm 1.8 45mm 1.8 75mm 1.8 12-40mm 2.8 Pro 7-14mm 2.8 Pro

I wish you'd make a vid about that 45mm f1.2. It's the first m43 lens that has made me sit up and take notice.

We love you and your support for Olympus Here in Michigan Joe Thanks for the Love Regards, Rick

So you turned away from Betamax to ultimately use VHS cameras.

Joe..I may be behind the ball but I just caught your video on the " Olympus " System that you just posted. First of all I must congratulate you on your wonderful presentation, it was simple, direct and honest. Even a old film hound like me could relate to your story. I intend to get me another Olympus Camera in the very near future. I am subscribing to your channel to learn more from your experiences, as you stated I do photography for the love & fun of it. Thanks a million. I wish the other U-Tubers were as succinct and direct as you were in the above video, you set the standard as far as I am concerned. Keep it going, Happy New Year..!

I won’t tell Tony or Fro 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Would it be out of place to say I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the most straight from the heart testimonial I've heard in a very long time. The search continues...

I don't know how are the US prices but the Olympus and Panasonic cameras cost as much as nikon/canon over here.

Joe you're one of the few who truly understand the essence of photography. Very happy to see you're enjoying photography again. I had a similar epiphany when I first got my hands on Sony A7RII. I have been an avid Hassleblad and Canon loyalist. However, I did not abandoned either Canon or Hassleblad just added Sony to bring more excitement and fun to something I love. Good luck with Olympus. Keep posting great tutorials. Regards

Why did you chose M43 over APS-C? After all, you already had a D500.

An astonishing video: concise, respectful, well documented, no superfluous material, no hate toward others, no showing-off... Joe, with some minor modifications, this could be made into a TED talk.

Well, you got all the best lenses for the Oly and the mediocre primes for the Nikon. So for a lot of your lenses, the Oly has even shallower DOF than your Nikon primes. So it's an easy switch. I went a different route. I like my Canon L primes on full frame for photos, and my Panasonic GH5 and native primes for video. At the end of the day, selling off gear at a loss and getting money back for about 2-3 nice lenses isn't going to change anything. I am keeping both cameras and lenses and I'll let them complement each other. No need to compromises on your photos just to have best 4K and vice versa.

This is one of the best videos online that clearly and intelligently explains how today's market in late 2017 gives us great high quality options ... options that didn't exist 5 - 10 years ago ... and at the same time how many of us need to step back and remind ourselves why we pickup a camera.

Wait...your left handed?

Welcome to the club also from me. Switched to Olympus 2 years ago with the original E-M1 and now I'm very happy with E-M1 Mark II. I also hear this about full frame all the time, but I just ignore it and take photos. Just to notice that Hi-res shot is 50mp in jpeg and 80mp in RAW. Cheers and happy Olympus shooting :)

As much as I’ve heard you criticize geartographers, it seems this is what this space has turned into,

Fantastic video Joe! For me, working as a pro for over 30 years and using Nikon I just made the witch to Olympus and have been so happy. The image results are amazing , shot two jobs with my EM1Mrk 1 yes the Mrk 1 and my clients loved the images, I’m going to go all in with a Em1 mrk 2 and some pro lenses, just ordered a12-100 f4 pro zoom along with the 7-14mm f2.8 pro. Right now I’m using the EM1 Mrk 1 with the Olympus 14-150 ii and a Lumix 42.5 f1.7 prime . I bought it all just to get my feet wet so to speak. The results and ease of use sold me. Prints I’ve made for clients are clean and sharp with a natural rendering with very little post. Clean and accurate right out of the camera.

M43 family 💖 group hug guys

Always informative videos--this was no different. You can spout all kinds of technical mumbo jumbo about why you like the gear, but it's the results that make a difference. I get tired of hearing others say to be pro you have to shoot full frame. Baloney! And your enthusiasm is a great testimony to the camera. As always, thanks for sharing!

Seems like paid Olympus video, no comparison to Nikon D810 that Joe doesn't use anymore, no one evidence of comparison to Nikon that Olympus is better, hence No reason to switch. Nikon is better in all terms, but weight. It always was about a photographer and not the camera. Unsubscribing from this channel, Bye bye

My first camera was a a little point and shoot Olympus. I used that camera for years. Loved it. I got onto the Canon bandwagon, and it's cool, but I still remember that little Olympus. Thanks for the vid.

Ha! dumped all my e-m1 bodies and lenses to go back to Canon full frame, Olympus is overpriced and at the limit of what the format can do. Olympus m43 is good but not that good...

Excellent video! All your reasons for moving to Olympus make a lot of sense. As I have gotten older, I don't enjoy carrying my heavy Nikon gear around as much as I used to. I took my son to London and Paris this summer and he ended up carrying my cameras a lot. Whereas, I am not ready to make a complete change, I have now purchased a Olympus OM-D-10 Mark 2. I keep it, along with a couple of lenses, in a small makeup bag my wife gave me, which I then carry in my brief case. It goes everywhere with me and I always have it out. As a result, I am taking a lot more photos.

What the hate with Sony? Modern Sony Corp different with Old Sony Corp, they overhauled the company few years ago. FYI Modern Sony Corp owned partial of Olympus Corp. They injected Olympus with alot of great technology (sensor, chips etc) Without Sony Commitment to support m4/3 development for Olympus,....... Panasonic m4/3 will kick Oly in the nuts. Sony even helped Olympus make profit for first time in 7 years profit loss. Btw this Oly EM1 mk ii is Japan Camera of The Year 2016-2017. You cant go wrong with it.

Joe, welcome to Olympus and the m4/3 club! Your lens line up looks awesome but also check out the Oly 75mm f/1.8, it's my favourite m4/3 lens and just wonderful for portraits. I'm looking forward to more videos that share some of the features and advantages of the Oly system. Y.

Joe, your and Gavin Hoey's videos are very informative, practical and fun to watch. My favourite photography channels!

I agree 100% with what you have said. I just switched for exactly the same reasons... And yes! Olympus as a company is so supportive. Moved from Canon after years and years to the OMD E M-1 MK II with pro lenses and realised that I should have done it much earlier...

Joe, I couldn't be happier for you. I migrated away from full frame to m43 about 18 months ago and, like you, I'm glad I did.

Thank you!! You made my heart sing when you said that photography should be fun. Enjoy the adventure of finding the subjects YOU want to photograph with the gear YOU love. Your abilities will never rise above the crowd if you are intent on following the crowd. Love your channel and your passion for the art of photography.

Joe Edleman, as always, you ARE the Man! Really appreciate how you approach all the subjects you share with us. Thank you!

I switched from all Canon gear last year after 20 years to the Olympus EM1 mkii, so happy, as you say it has brought back the fun to my photography, just loving it. I also have the complete pro lens series including the 300mm f4 which is so sharp, but I went for the Nocticron 42.5mm f1.2 for my portrait prime, it is by far the best lens I have ever owned, sharp just does not explain it. Thanks for your video, they are great !

I've been using Olympus and Panasonic M43 professionally for a couple of years, and have never looked back! Welcome to the club 😀

It was nice having a video like this that had some interesting, unique points, and more reasons to switch than a lot of people do. I switched to Pany for video about 4 years ago and for the most part... haven't looked back too hard.

Sony user here, but this video made me a fan of you. I love that you said remember what made us get into photography - it’s about the image and having fun. Not about the gear as much. Sometimes I use my phone for pics, and I love the pics sometimes more.

That is great news!! I started with Olympus Evolt E-410 and was so sharp and so fun to shoot with it. Then I "upgraded" to a Canon 50D, I missed the sharpness... After 5 years shooting with Canon I made a jump to the Sony's A7, a6000, a6300. I was loving the results but not the low light AF performance. Then my Olympus journey started with a PEN Lite E-PL6 and some manual focus lenses, evolved to EM5, then EM1 and now I am happily shooting with EM5ii and just received an EM1ii. I am loving Olympus, is so practical to use. Now I have spent over $5,000 on this system and have been selling almost all my Sony gear. My line up: Cameras: PEN EPL6, EM5ii, EM1ii, Sony A7 Lenses: M.Zuiko 75mm f/1.8(my favorite portrait lens, give it a try!) M.Zuiko PRO 12-40mm f/2.8(best zoom lens I have worked with) M.Zuiko 9mm f/8 body cap fisheye Panasonic LUMIX 35-100mm f/2.8(great and sharp lens) M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 macro Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 Canon EF-S 10-18mm with canon to sony adapter and some interesting manual focus lenses(Rokinon 85mm f/1.4(170mm f/2.8 equiv), CCTV Apollo 75mm f/1.4(swirly), CCTV Fujian 35mm f/1.6, Helios 44-2 58mm, Minolta Celtic 135mm f/3.5 and some more.) Lighting: Flashpoint: 1x Xplor 600 2x evolv 200 1x Streaklight 360 2x Li on Zoom Flash TT350o I really like your work as photographer and teacher. I am a "professional photography" teacher in a local vocational school here in P.R. and I use your youtube channel as a reference. Thank you for always sharing! flickr.axelrivera.net www.AxelRivera.net www.AxelRiveraPhotographer.com

Good on you for a clear and concise talk about why you changed. As someone who shoots Nikon and Sony, its amazing the talk I see on either of the groups supporters forums. I shoot 2 systems for different reasons - Nikon for sport and wildlife (I like the ergonomics, AF performance and the long fast glass) - Sony for landscapes and portraits (I like the EVF, Manual focus aids and portability) In the end, its all about using what you enjoy, and what produces results. Keen to watch more videos in future of your experiences with the olympus!

Waiting for your Olympus photo videos. I also switched 4 month ago from Canon to Fuji, last week i bought the 5-140 2.8 lens, uau. Really glad with it.

After 10.000 videos from which camera to get, it is the first time i hear someone talking about having fun and making true photography.

Great video, I have been shooting with Olympus almost four years now and absolutely love MFT. The lens are fantastic, especially the Olympus Pro line. It really is the fun factor that keeps me enthused.

Hi Joe, the energy and enthusiasm broadcast from this video filled my house to the brim for which I can only Thank You for. I'd offer you coffee and a chat but alas this is RU-vid. Your honest to goodness intentions when sharing your experiences about your photography is infectious and brilliant. Fantastic, keep it coming. I took a long break from pro photography just as film dwindled to the digital revolution, but found myself drawn back into the game with some surprise and relief about a year ago when I was asked to cover a wedding abroad in the UK. A friend lent me her Lumix FZ200 bridge camera - which I poo-poo-ed at the time - and a Sony A6000 with lenses, batteries and accessories. I shot both cameras, the Lumix with its tiny 1-2/3 sensor, and the Sony with its larger APS-C sensor. In terms of fun, the weekend shoot was a hoot, a blast, a fabulous creative experience that filled me up photographically, mentally and physically; I couldn't stop fist punching the air with a rousing "YES!" much to my wife's amusement. In terms of image quality, the Sony APS-C knocked the pants off the Lumix bridge camera - no surprises there - but the Lumix's 24-600 F2.8 lens (35mm equiv) is astonishing for four reasons; 1. Such a long lens range in a portable mobile shoulder-friendly small body, put my Nikon days of shoulder ache to bed (various Nikon FM and F2AS motor-driven bodies, Billingham bag full of lenses, flash, yadda, yadda), I mean the Lumix is insane, the freedom it relinquishes is photographically astonishing and my images have improved as a direct result; Oh look, a strange looking colorful bud on a bush, impossible to get close too (shot at 600mm); I'm at an event and need to show the story of the food laden tables (shot at 24mm); I'm at a reception hall, lit by rotating purple, blue, green and red lights..I wait for the purple, frame a decorative table and zoom in a little (shot at 85mm); I'm covering a circumcision, mother is holding baby son on a pillow in dim light, she's concerned (range of shots including crowd reaction, some motor-driven most on single-shot, from 24-600mm at F2.8 within a few seconds, camera held at arms length - I never use the EVF, prefer using the LCD screen - hand-held, image stabilised, razor sharp images)...and so it goes, un-bloody-believable 2. The video quality (1080p and 720p) is gorgeous, not 4K, but I love it 3. The Lumix is sheer fun incarnate - a total photographic high, despite it's small teeny tiny sensor, this camera has been the most pleasurable of all to use..Bravo! 4 Battery life on the Lumix FZ200 is incredibly l-o-n-g, has to be experienced to be believed, truly an accomplishment that Sony can only learn and adopt. I'm trying to keep this response to your video short - yes, really - so I'll skip ahead with the story. I bought the Lumix off my friend for a ridiculous cheap price ($100) when she upgraded her kit. She's now selling her Sony kit for an equally ridiculous cheap price to which I've agreed and I'm looking forward to owning and using. With the Sony, I'm able to crop 50% in (if necessary, which it sometimes is) with hardly any loss of IQ. It's astonishing to behold to the point where I'm not sure an Olympus MFT sensor can offer the same capability given its smaller size. I live in the Middle East where we don't have camera rental outfits - you want it, you buy it - so I have yet to have had the pleasure of handling Olympus MFT gear. To recap, I can't understand how the MFT sensor can match, beat or be of similar standard to the Sony APS-C sensor. Um, what say you, Joe?

Nice to hear! I'm an advanced amateur, but I've also pretty much completed the transition to Olympus. I was an Olympus user back in the original OM System days... still have my OM-1 on a shelf here, and my OM-4 is out on loan. But after Olympus got out of the serious camera business, I moved over to Canon, starting with a used EOS Rt. Followed them into digital, and still have my EOS 6D, though it's got a bit of dust on it. I got into Micro Four-thirds with the Pen Mini, which replaced a broken P&S camera. I replaced the kit lens with a prime, then a few more primes. And then they released the OM-D E-M5, which looked just too much like my old OM-1/4 to ignore. That was the camera following me everywhere before long, until it was joined my the E-M5 mark II. And a few PRO zooms. This year I bought the Pen-F, and as you say, I'm having more fun then ever. One of the things you have to actually experience with the Pen-F and the OM-Ds is the build quality and focus on still photography. I used to collect 39mm rangefinders, and that's the last time I saw a camera as nicely put together as the Pen-F. But way, way easier to load (though still through the bottom plate, figures!).

Great vlog! Thank you. I love Olympus too but I've never owned full frame camera before and I like to play with the depth of field a lot. Have a nice day.

I made the move about four years ago and haven't looked back. Thanks for the great video.

I did the exact same thing a hand full of years ago. I was surprised at the results I got the first time I picked up one of their cameras. It's amazing how nearly all modern digital camera systems designed for enthusiasts and pros, take equal or better quality pictures than 35mm film. I really think we forget that with all the marketing wank that's out there. We have become a society obsessed with specs and the constant pressure of upgrade to this and that. Honestly, there's nothing like going out on a date night with the wife and grabbing the same camera used for pro work during the day, throwing a prime on it and snapping great shots at night. Im taking more photos than ever and absolutely love it!

Your followers have known this for a while now, but it's good to see a summary of your decision making process, Joe. Welcome (again) to the Olympus life. :)

I went Nikon->Canon->Sony->Olympus->Panasonic. Now thinking maybe Olympus again, or possibly Fuji if they manage to get IBIS working on their bodies.

I am so glad I went mirrorless. Earlier this year I wanted to upgrade from my Canon T3i since the low light performance was just not great for my concert work. I was originally going to go with the Nikon D810 but when I was talking with a guy at a local camera store about what I shot he handed me the Fujifilm X-T2. He had some examples of his low light work and I was impressed. So I decided to give a try... and I was blown away with what I could do with it. Plus I'm not having to carry around a big bulky camera nor do I have to menu dive for settings. It reminded me of shooting on film in high school. I can just go CREATE. I'm glad that companies like Olympus and Fujifilm are really trying to push things forward where companies like Canon and Nikon are barely paying attention to what's going on around them and what photographers want. Congrats on the 100K by the way!

Great video as always, Joe. I love my lightweight Olympus gear and it has regenerated an interest that was lost for a while during the transition from film to digital. Keep up the good work and welcome to the land of easier and better picture - taking!! :)

It's the first time I'm seeing a professional photographer fully switching to M4/3. I admire your openness, Joe!

Brilliant video Joe,look forward to your next videos as you talk alot of sense. Thanks.

I originally got my G7 for video and found that I truly enjoyed taking stills. Barely a couple months after that, I got a GH5 and my fun was just getting better with the added features and capabilities of the camera. I've collected 3 Pana/Leica lenses for my specific applications (video + some portrait and dance photography) as well as some mini speed lights by Godox--the best part is that it all fits in a Lowepro Slingshot 102 bag! Looking ahead, I'm working to get a G9 body to complement my GH5 and I am super excited at the possibilities with my little kit! However, it would be remiss of me not to mention that both you and Gavin have been a huge source of inspiration and encouragement along my short 4-5 month journey! Not only are your videos amazingly fun and pleasant to watch, but you're probably the only two RU-vid photographers who are real professionals that know their craft inside out. How can I tell? Because rather than talking about brands, specs, etc. you both jump right into the topic and how to create wonderful images in a way even a newbie like me can understand! That, in my opinion, is the mark of a true artist: conveying your passion effortlessly to any audience while inspiring them at the same time. Keep up the amazing work and I'm glad to be another subscriber to your channel :-)