Landscape Photography - Why Micro 4/3 is Perfect (even for film photographers) 

It's refreshing to hear someone with your approach to the photograph. Landscape photography is not an exercise in data gathering, an attempt to exhaust every last bit of shadow and highlight information. It's about mood and drama to create a visceral response. If that means noise or crunched shadows, so be it.

So refreshing to see a positive vlog about the image and its artistic rendering and not about numbers of pixels, high iso performance, ultimate clarity and the other ‘benefits’ of large sensors. Beautiful photographs as usual to boot.

Playing "Nearer, my God, to thee" while they got into the icy water was a nice touch that didn't go unnoticed.

Agreed. This entire trend towards always recovering the shadows is driving me nuts. Just because the camera can do it, doesn't mean you should.

I'm more into Olympus but the G9 is a great camera indeed. Great shots. Long live M43!

The film look, the aspect ratio, the weight/size and the quality of the lens I think made the micro 4/3 the perfect digital system for people like us , film photographers who never think in use a iso greater than 3200.

An excellent video Steve, it’s nice to see someone praising the Micro 4/3 system and showing it has a place alongside all the other formats.

I can't tell you how refreshing this is...really really refreshing and you make total sense. It's all to easy especially for newbies to be bamboozled by all those who say micro 4/3rds is dead...thank you for this.

Steve, I agree about over-saturation. Very nice images..

As a fellow G9 owner, thanks for this inspiring video. I thought this was great feedback to the anti-noise mania prevalent today. I'll have to experiment more with adding grain to my photos. I think you professionals who have a background with film cameras offer a lot to those of us who only know digital cameras. Thanks much and am now a subscriber.

Great videos and gorgeous photos! I shoot M43 (Olympus Em10) and full frame (Nikon D610). I've taking some amazing images with my Nikon but I've always loved the look of the images that come out of my Olympus. Some of my favorite landscape shots have been with the Em10 and Panasonic 12-35mm f2.8. I love this setup and take it everywhere which is probably why I've taken such memorable shots with it.

Love your attitude towards photography-- keeping it natural to the eye. Nowadays, a lot of people focus on the art you can edit with it (like composites); naturally, these people care a lot about megapixels and ISO performance because it allows the artist to crop a lot out or adjust the whole feel of the image by boosting shadows. It encourages photographers to be lazy because you can just edit the picture to whatever you want, while old film photography was limited to cropping and dodge/burns. Sadly, the wild, unreal edits and outrageous bokeh are what media likes. There's a very select few in society that still appreciates the natural photograph. Thank you.

It saddens me when new camera shoppers look at the specs alone and spend much more money on a FF setup when they could have been much happier shooting the m4/3. Which is why it's so good to see content like yours explaining quite well that it's not all in the specs. Thanks for sharing, and those are absolutely great images!

Aside from those brave swimming ladies, "shut the bloody door" is marvelous!

Totally agree with you about the film look and the qualities of micro 4/3. Great video, thanks.

Usually RU-vid recommended me the usual affiliated link moneymaker “unbiased camera review” nonsenses,, but today it was this video! Fantastic, glad that I found your channel. Subscribed

New fan here. Love your videos. This is what a life time of experience gets you.

Well done mate. I love my G9, it's the easiest to use and highest quality camera I've ever had.

There are other channels saying M4/3 is dead, you proved them wrong. I don't have a M4/3 but I believe in the format. Perhaps in the future I'll get another one.

Liked the fast food analogy, spot on! I enjoyed the video Steve.

Hi Steve, I really like my G9 and you're right about the image quality, the light/portable set up and the IBIS is incredible. Very nice subtle processing of your images too. Thanks for sharing.

I won’t be ditching my D850 any time soon, but great video! I’ve been eyeing M43 as a fast, high-mobility option for exactly the reasons you talk about. You’ve earned a new subscriber. Cheers!

Rewatching.... Great vid Steve.. just gone back to m43 with a G80...

4/3 is for me a great supplement to my M240. The Lumix GH8 is for special lenses and videofilming. Great performer.

Appreciate the information regarding micro 4/3. Thanks.

You’re one of the best here! Common sense videos. Great thoughts and advice! I agree 100%. I think you nailed it here on the “look” which looks so much better- to my eyes anyway. Please keep making these videos.

Hi Steve. Lots of very interesting stuff here. I've never considered a micro 4/3 system but watching this demonstrates some the benefits for landscape work in the hills. As your wonderful images clearly demonstrate, the ability to replicate the look of film is amazing. Really enjoyed the video Steve. Many thanks for sharing.

Nice video Steve. It is not just humans who can't cope with the weight. I like holidaying in remote places where there are often strict limits on weight for flights in light aircraft. My M43 camera and lenses go places where the heavy full frame equivalents would not be an option. In the middle of various deserts etc they have never let me down.

Great tutorial as always. Many thanks for producing and Kindly sharing the wisdom Steve.🙏

Excellent video from a, photographer who is more interested in the image than the technology but the technology it put to good use. Thank you for sharing this.

Hi Steve, You are like the Mr Ben of the youtube photography world and when you walk through the door we never know what camera you're going to have. This video was really interesting with the micro 4/3 camera and the lovely images show it was a good choice for the hill shoot. You seem to do the bang opposite to most everyone else with regard to noise - You add it, sharpening - You reduce it. Makes me wonder if sometimes we are all running in the wrong direction. Because like you lots of photographers like the film look, yet new cameras are moving ever further away from it.

I can only echo the many! Thank you for sharing your view, it's refreshing in these days of "candy photos" my names for these over-saturated pics called photography today. I'm visually fatigued by the endless over-saturation and over-sharpening I see these days. I started back in when my parents gave me a "Browne" camera for my birthday, from there to polaroid, Nikon Nikormat (you could hammer nails with tough old camera), Olympus OM-2 (wonderful camera) learn film developing and darkroom techniques which I enjoyed. Finally move to digital with a Canon EOS Rebel T2i till I got back issues (and getting older (in my 70's now) and the Canon ended up spending more in the house and less with me. Three years ago I opted for the Olympus EM-5 mkII (which looks like my old OM-2 film camera, no wonder I ended up with EM-5) and have never looked back. I now carry a small camera bag with four lenses and a fifth lens on my camera. The bag 10"x6"x4" made of canvas with lenses weighs less than my old Canon with one lens and occupies about the same space. It goes with me everywhere and is barely noticed by anyone, another aspect I really enjoy. Thanks again, and I am looking forward to more of your videos

Very interesting. I've just picked up my first micro 4/3 camera for exactly this reason, weight reduction while hiking. Haven't been out with it yet, but looking forward to that day. Thanks for this.

I enjoyed this video. I like Steve's open minded attitude towards the use of different mediums. There's a lot to learn from watching Steve's channel.

I really enjoyed this, thanks Steve. I've never been exposed to Micro 4/3. The beating of the current drum seems to be for full frame and mirrorless. Nice to get a differing perspective. Oh, and your images were fabulous!

Haha, The Titanic violin song over the swimmers was priceless :)

Recently I dove into the m43 world again , I had a Oly M5 and M1 a couple of years ago but sold them to upgrade my existing FF system as I had a lot of FF lenses from my previous photography experience (photographing for 30+ years), photographing static subjects in low light is a real delight with this system due to the image stabilisation with is more responsive/effective on smaller sensors. The ability to have more depth of field for the same angle of view, and allowing 2 stops more light for the same depth of field is for this type of photography an asset. Shooting moving objects in dark conditions is still challenging. I first went for the G9 although a very capable camera I moved to the OM-D EM1mk2 as I liked the output better for stills. I printed some A3+ prints with ISO200 shots and even at ISO1600 and I am very satisfied with them regarding the weight to output ratio. With the recent advent of higher Mp FF (35mp-50Mp) offerings I noticed that you lose around 1 stop because diffraction kicks in earlier due to the smaller pixel size. I am of the opinion that the recent M43 systems are very adequate and thinking of selling my APS-C camera's in favour of m43. I still keep some FF digital around if I have to crank up the ISO for moving subjects. With my non empirical testing I found the maximum of m43 around 1600ISO. For long exposures I like the live bulb on the Olympus camera's as it allows you to "nail" the exposure in challenging conditions without revering to bracketing. These are of course my own opinions having used different film systems (6x6 as 35mm) as several types of digital formats. the latest iterations of m43 are very performant. As I am getting older the weight considerations of a camera system becomes evident.

Loved the video Steve. I changed from Canon to MFT due to a back problem that causes severe pain when I carry a heavy backpack. Much happier carrying the lighter load that MFT gives me. I use an OMD EM5 mkII and GX85 and love the images the smaller cameras and lenses produce. Look forward to watching your next digital video. Beautiful images. Thank you for sharing.

Having just spent 20 minutes getting an Ektar exposure to the look I want, I see exactly where you are coming from. These are lovely images, I hear great things also about the Sigma Foveon sensor cameras for the filmic qualities they bring. I hate carting unnecessary weight (given how much extra is on me) so I sympathise. My resolution this year is less gear, more photos! Thanks for continuing to provide great and intelligent content.

“… go out for the day, and never take a tripod”. How liberating! The Mono/Color dial on the Olympus Pen-F (and now E-P7) is great for adjusting which film you want to emulate.

Great one Steve! What I really appreciate is your focus (excuse the pun) on the look of the images, and that you don’t get hung up on lens sharpness or MTF graphs etc. I feel I have a very similar approach, often traveling with a Fuji XE3 and their lighter weight zooms (18-55, 55-200). When I’m on a trip I’ll have the digi with zooms and one film camera with a fixed, fast prime. It gives me the best of both Worlds and keeps the weight down.

Superb, i love the lakes

Glad I found Steve. Good analysis, and I shoot what he does.

i agree, too many make those bubblegum landscape images. too saturated, everything is super sharp from back to front. clouds look as heavy as the mountains etc.

TX Steve, i have never considered the Micro Four Thirds! I will now! I love look of film, film cameras but weight now a real problem, gear small as possible! Wonderful trip and discussion. Bravo. Jason.

wow, youve convinced me, gonna start looking into some MFT cameras

I find it quite relaxing to listen to your approach, both out in the field and when editing - what you look for in the images. I have a tendency to oversaturate my images, somehow not always trusting that the composition and lighting could speak for itself. I recently changed from a full frame to a fuji for similar reasons, a more film look but mostly the weight!

Thank you for sharing your perspective on M4/3 cameras, especially for landscape. I use a Fuji X20 as my every day camera and while it has been an adjustment, M4/3 has provided a new playground for learning and image making. I have been working to find an image style I like with the camera and your affinity toward more filmlike images has inspired me to try something new!

Excellent video. I’m a recent M43 convert and I have two of the smallest camera bodies and a few lenses. I absolutely love the “near-film look of the photos and I’ll never return to lugging heavy gear on hikes. You described it all perfectly and your images are lovely. Thanks!

Nice work, Steve. I think you sum up well the film vs digital debate. They each have their place, and we can employ both technologies to capture our vision. "I like film, I like digital" - agree fully! Like your processing technique. Sometimes hard to hold back a little on processing, and let a proper exposure and good composition shine through.

At one time, I used Olympus micro 4/3 digital cameras with the following lenses for landscape photography: Prime Kit Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 (46mm filter) Olympus 17mm f/2.8 (37mm filter) Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 (46mm filter) Olympus 45mm f/1.8 (35mm filter) Zoom Kit Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 (40.5mm filter) Panasonic 45-200mm f/4 - f/5.6 (52mm filter) Loved the lenses! Loved the 4:3 aspect ratio. Loved the images! Hated the bodies because they broke too many times.

the gx8 got me back into photography, the g9 made me love it.... perfect for wild camping. lugging the range of lens you need, but mainly the ergonomics and menu....often understated but reduces the hassle, raises the enjoyment and just makes it much easier when you have cold fingers, rainy weather, and general mayhem. I also admire what theyve done with the jpg processing, and the impressive art function - which isnt far off an incamera polariser. ok its a rubbish name but on a grey day is like putting hellmans mayonnaise on a dusty sandwich.

Very nice video, I too like the more natural look on landscape images. Agree with you about the MFT systems. (Olympus or Panasonic )

Just discovered your channel and found it most interesting. Yes at last some sense, it’s horses for courses ! Having spent 40 years carrying around everyday what I though then were small 35 mm cameras. This outfit today is wonderful. And suites our needs perfectly !

Refreshing point of view on the MFT system. Definite weight advantage due to longer DOF lenses. That said, I think I’d miss having the ability to crop heavily compared to full frame (because my vision isn’t often good enough to get perfect framing in camera). I’m also using primes, which sometimes require me to crop in order to keep the same perspective (instead of zooming with my feet). Lastly, I think I’d miss being able to print large for the few occasions when you get an image that deserves it.

I've taken nice landscapes even the blue hour with my GX7. Yours look great Steve 👌 M4/3 ideal for travel - took mine to Canada in September and have no regrets.

Enjoy your video. Beautiful photos. M43 has been my default system for long wilderness expeditions including long hikes, rafting/camping, and canyon climbing, since the introduction of the M43 format. I only shoot film (B&W) for local leisurely strolls instead of for landscape photos for the same practical reasons that you have mentioned.

I love my Pannies. I use the G9 in the studio, and the GX8 makes a great travel camera.

Excellent content and images as always Steve. Thanks for your valuable opinion and balanced insight regarding m4/3, digital and film, it's rare to find. Look forward to the trip with Robin and the film/digital vlog.

Steve, this episode couldn't have come at a better time. At the moment I am not able to get out with some mobility issues and for a while going lightweight has been on my mind. To that end I have been looking at 4/3rds, in particular the Oly M1 Mk2 and the Panasonic G9. I went out with a mate the other day and stuck my SD card into his Olympus OMD EM1 Mark 1 and shot some images to see what I thought of it. I was pleasantly surprised. One of my other mates bought the G9 at Xmas and 6 weeks down the line he is looking to offload it as he "doesn't like the look"..lol He is not a film shooter so this might be the reason! I might see what sort of deal he wants with it, could be an option. Great episode and look forward to seeing your collaboration with Robin. Just one other thing, I have notice you using a red case for your Go Pro in previous videos and would like to point out this new case I came across the other week - I have bought it for my Gopro 7 Black - it gets around the issue of putting the adaptor somewhere when you are using a mic with the system . It might be of interest to you. regards Alan www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07M6W4F9R/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Love the photo of the boat! Not a fan of adding grain but hey it's not the end of the world. Film is awesome, and it can do one or two things that digital cannot (yet?). I also am considering Micro 4/3 when I upgrade my old (but still reliable) Sony cameras.

I recently sold my full frame system and went to the Fuji system, and also changed from Lightroom to Capture One, I can't be happier with the quality of pictures and the size and low weight of the Fuji. I find a full frame system too heavy to bring with me for alpinism.

Hi Steve good video!, I ditched Fuji for the natural looking files of the 4/3rds i found the colours in the Fuji un natural. I use the OMD EM1 MK2 with the 12-40mm and its bulit like a tank with great weather sealing too. Iam looking to get the Leica 8-18mm wide lens next.

Really like your post-processing commentary. Thanks for the tips; I shoot m4/3!

Wow what a stunning video and the pictures you took word so perfect of a lifetime wow just wow

Hello Steve ! Superb presentation. I am impressed about your clarity! Kindly asking to make a comparison between Panasonic G9 1:1 format and Bronica SQAi for landscape photography and to compare the 2 square formats. Thanks for all your superb presentation. Best, Franjo

Thanks steve Been looking at the micro four thirds to take on holidays and have with me when I'm traveling at work. Without carrying my Nikon 850 .

I learned so much from this video. What an excellent presentation. Plain, easy to follow and understand. Had to subscribe. Thanks so much, Mr. O'Nions, for sharing this video.

Great Images.

Love the boat image. 👍

That was a great video. I prefer the more natural look too, many of the things you said ring true with me. I will look out for those characteristics. The grain is interesting because everyone seems to be moaning about it whereas you are using it.

If using digital lens gave you such analog looks, imagine using vintage lenses on your G9....

I have a canon 5d mk iv & a gh5. As much as i love the canon i find the gh5 wonderfully portable and the pictures great

I shoot a Pen F and I have the 12-40 f2.8 just for hiking. I hardly shoot it to be honest mostly shooting film. But it is such a nice little kit. Even though AF on the Pen F is horrible. I am waiting for the new EM5 whenever it is announced.

"Shut the Bloody Door". I love it :)

Not sure about M4/3, but I agree about small and light. That G9 is pretty chunky, but if you like the look and its nicer than 35mm film I can refinitely see the draw. I agree the look is nice and I do like the processing and tones in both the film and digital. There are some quality options that IMO work well for most situations. I've been hiking around the Colorado mountains a lot over the last 18 months now and quickly moved from carrying my FF to a small mirrorless (M6 in my case) + 2 zooms. I've taken 100s of photos that would not look any better on FF (when printed not pixel-peeping shadows). The slower lenses shot at f9-f11 are high enough quality. I guess if you don't like bracketing, the DR on the Sony/Nikon FF are hard to beat, with Canon (and I likely would with other systems, including the Sony FF) I bracket and combine anyway, so slightly less DR of an sub FF is not a bit deal. Of course both my systems are 20-24MP and I would agree that printing larger than 16x24 or 20x30 could benefit from 40+MP if you really like that extra detail. Out of all the shots I've taken only 3 times have I been dissatisfied with the quality. One of those times I returned to the location with a FF, but overall I think I can get better shots, that look great printed 16x24 by being lighter.

First video watched on your channel and just subbed, great content and I will enjoy exploring your video library.

I like the Fuji film profiles in the DXO Photo Lab 2 software for many of my GH5 raw files. I shot Fuji film for 25 years. The Lumix 8-18 lens is my favorite. I'm holding out for the G10 unless I can get a G9 cheap. Nice video. I was going to say, I'd have to hike up into the snow and then you did :-)

Really great video!

You're making me want to dig out my digital camera now! It had retired to the shelf in favour of film

Interesting and educational. I use a pentax k70 with 21 mm pancake lens. It's 👍 good.

I love working with my EM1 Mark III for any situation.

I must say; it is very photogenic with the Lake District and it is very cute with small lakes and hills snow clad in winter. Very nice pictures and video, I would love to see you do something similar in Sweden; we have about 100,000 lakes here, the largest is 2,180 square mile in surface. The second largest lake is a little narrower so you can at least see across it but it's still 86 miles long, with nice roads going along the waterfront.

Very nice time-lapses.

I’ve recently started using a full frame camera for landscapes, and I realized that I prefer the beauty of the micro 4/3 images. They look more rich.

Hi good to see someone being positive about micro 4/3rds. I have had my g80 since may and find to be really good. The 35-100 lens is a great lens as well. Looking to get a g9 later on in the year. Thanks.

Hi Steve !! ... something interesting I do with my Olympus cameras is with a wide angle or ultrawide is change the image ratio to 16:9 ... slight panorama view and gives the lenses even more punch !!

Lovely images

You are becoming a b roll master. Great stuff. I don't think I'll go 4/3 but I do have an apsc and full frame. Apsc has advantages. I also shoot 35mm film and 120 film. I just wish film developing was a bit easier. I did have a lab near me that processed the negatives, but I moved and have to mail it off. I would love to see a video on developing e6, c41 and black and white developing process in 120 format.

Yep - agree with everything there, Steve. Just as well - having burned through a slab of my daughter's inheritance on my new Olympus system recently!! 😀👍

Great video and commentary waiting for your next trip.

If you use the Spider Pro belt holster, walking and hiking with the camera is really easy and the camera is quickly to hand! No good if you use a tripod though as you would have to remove the holster pin every time to mount it on a tripod.

Great Video, Steve. Glad to hear you don't like HDR as well. 👍

agreed about the film look - I have adapted an APS-C lens 18-300 to this camera to get 36-600 for flexibility when outdoors. Landscapes are great but sometimes a bird or two need attention.

Love the Film Look you are getting from the MFT cameras! GREAT VIDEO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great vlog! micro 4/3 systems are underrated and its generally in ignorance by people continually banging on about the benefits of full frame. I remember commenting to another photographer about how we have good choices in the small format camera system, and he replied "I don't shoot small format, I shoot full frame. I thought I give up!!

Excellent video as always Steve.

I'm underwhelmed by your weight and size arguments. Your G9 is heavier than my Z6, and with your 12-35 f/2.8 versus my 24-70 f/4 I'm only ~100 g heavier and they're essentially the same dimensions. Anyway it was a neat photo and a neat trip. I don't understand the people swimming the cold water, but that's okay, they're welcome to it!

Interesting. And if you want more resolution you can always use a longer lens and stitch two or more images together.

Enjoyed this one Steve. Though I didn't buy my G85 for stills, I will actually be using shortly to do that very thing so it was interesting to see your results. Great to see you capturing great images no matter what the camera. 👍