Why I Use Micro Four Thirds Cameras 

Rest well David. I always enjoyed and learnt a lot from your videos. Your videos will surely continue to help a lot of people.

David, thanks for all your very thoughtful videos.May they continue to be useful to many people many years into the future. You're sorely missed. RIP.

Hi David, thank you for your reply. I think you nailed it right there; "there is a price to pay in ultimate quality." I thought about this and it's exactly what i have picked up between your lines. It's not about 'ultimate quality' at all but about the process of making photographs and making lots of them. The more you try, the more keepers you are rewarded with ! What i often take back with me are thoughts of the lens i *wished* i had taken with me. Seeing you, raising your backpack with just one finger reminds me of the joy of going out, not the burden of my heavy backpack ! My pictures aren't about 'ultimate quality'. I don't want them to be, even if i could. (If even such a thing exists.) I want them to breathe joy and creativity. Every day, people are buried under an avalanche of media, pictures and video. If my pictures don't get the attention they deserve, i might at least focus on the joy it gives me making them. And that's *not* about constantly hurting my shoulders, dealing with tiny safes in the hotelroom, the attention a big DSLR attracts, fear of theft, etc, etc. Thx again. Cheers !

David, I ran across your product reviews by chance while researching lenses for my Panasonic GH4. I really like the style of your videos, it is as if you craft a wonderful story for each topic you cover, and then read it aloud for the audience to enjoy. Your work is excellent, keep up the great work!

It's nice to find a kindred spirit, David. My favorite M4/3 camera accessory is my bicycle.

OMG! Thank you for sharing that. I'm a professional photographer based in Venice, Italy. Duty is covered by Nikon and Canon fullframe digital cameras. No battery grip, and never bought those expensive doorkeepers like 1D or D4. I do not use long lenses, but fisheyes, ultrawide and normal ones. I bought very cheap an Olympus EPL1, maybe one of the most unfortunate micro 4/3 cameras in the bunch, 3 years ago, do substitute an hi-end compact camera. Since that moment it was my own everyday camera. I sold all APS-c stuff I had around, and made the same thought you do express so well in the video. Yes, even for me, the first time I get sentimental about a digital camera. Just 2 thoughts. Viewfinders: Superb pentaprism viewfinders of 35mm full frame cameras are something I'd not accept compromises on. All other viewfinders I've seen do not come even close. So, I'd happily trade them for size, lightness and price. And go for EPl5 or GM1 without remorse. The 16mp sensors in micro 4/3 are rivaling and outperforming apsc ones now! Of course the pro zooms of the line, despite their minimum size, they become hard to handle. No problem , I do like primes. Fisheye, 14, 20, and that 45mm 1.8 that is absolutely as fantastic as you paint it. So beautiful I use id even if it is out of my usual range. But I'd spend a word for the 20mm 1.7, I can't define in other words but outstanding. About GH3, it is absolutely one of the best cine-camera AND videocamera you can buy under 4000eur. Ops, it costs just over 1200?. Well... still is. And you can use it as a photocamera as well. So, different approach here, but same conclusions and same feelings. Of course I happen to make better pictures with the cameras I love more. So the small olympus kicked the D700. Uh, I never had dust problems, I cleaned the 4/3 sensors once a year or less ( always swapping lenses). I have to clean the Nikon big sensors once a month, Canon ones just a little less often. I do take the micro with me ALWAYS, and I shot as many picture as with my work camera.

Thanks for your nice words, Jason. From 17 when I started out as a photographer I loved it and It is something that has stayed with me all my life. I lost my love for bit after 40 years in the business but then digital came up and re-ignited my enthusiasm. It's a great career but harder to make your way in now, I think, but plenty of people do succeed and always will. Capturing the moment is the thing. You need to nail your technique right down to do it - hard to do but liberating when you have.

Thanks Epi. And what a lovely comment. I envy you in a way, the thrill of early days with a good camera and lenses, finding out what they can do and what you can do with them. Having said that, the excitement never goes away.

Nice review. I have a full frame Canon system that tops 10kg even when I leave gear home. I can put my OM-D E-M5 or Pen E-PM1 in a bag with two zooms and three or four primes for less weight than the just the 6D and a normal zoom.I still use the Canon, but it's pretty common for me to just grab the Olympus bag. Feels kind of like vindication, too, as I was an OM-system user before Olympus got out of the SLR biz and I switched over to Canon. One technical/production suggestion... it would improve your presentation if you fix your choppy audio. You're well recorded, but the chop-cuts are fatiguing (sorry... my Dad taught me photography, my Mom got me into audio production). It would be a much better video if you crossfaded your cuts. Easy to do even if you don't have recorded pauses. Just take a clip of room noise and cross fade that out of one vocal clip, then into the next vocal clip. Try it, it'll be much easier on the ears.

***** I don't really follow that. I give a detailed run down of the reasons I use the camera system I do and you tell me the contents of your camera bag. If size were the only criterion I'd just use my S4 phone camera.

Really a spot on explanation and discussion David. I've been at it myself for the better part of 35 years and finding tools that "work" and "fit" for the work one is doing has always been an ongoing theme for me. I've shot everything from 4x5 to a Rollei that shot square on 35mm film (maybe it was 1/2 frame?). Over the last couple of years M43 really fit the work I was doing and the size, weight and portability really re-invograted my photography. Often providing me options that either weren't there previously or were a hassle I didn't want to battle with. I have being able to shoot a small rangefinder style (like my old Leicas) that can be completely silent and a more DSLRish body with high speed and great focus for equestrian sports, again all with shared lenses. I too shoot a lot of music, from large concerts to tiny club venues. Having a big bag on your hip doesn't work in a crowded club, but having a 35-100 f/2.8, a 25mm f/1.4, a 20mm f/1.7 all in the pockets of your hoodie, with the 42.5mm f/1.2 on a small body is absolutely liberating and amazing. The main difference I think the people who buy my work notice today from my days in the club with my D700, 85mm f/1.8 and 50mm f/1.4 is there is more variety and I can do more creatively. Seldom does anyone mention the bokeh isn't quite as good as they were hoping for. :-) Thanks again for the thoughtful analysis.

David this is a very handy review of your reasoning. It is always good to hear a seasoned Pro discussing what goes into the bag and why. Gold...

This is cool, like watching a BBC documentary from the 70s.

So why not the Sony a6000? I got it because it's lightweight and travel friendly and it has an apsc sensor. Would the lenses for it be too large or something?

Nostalgic , I listen to him sometimes for motivation.. Rest well, indeed ..

Well thank you. I love maiking these videos and comments like yours are one of the major reasons.

I'm an old 35mm guy and remember carrying around huge lenses with my old Nikon FE. Now with my M4/3 kit (Also GH3 with 7-14 12-35, 35 100) I can pack them all up in a small bag and I'm ready for almost all indoor or outdoor shots. Size does matter!

Hello David, brilliant review, but I wish you would update it. There has been great improvements in the last year, particularly with the OMD EM1 and the GH4. I am a pro and I have just emigrated from a Nikon system to Olympus with the EM1, the 9-18, the 12-40 2.8 and the 75 1.8. The The tracking has improved greatly with the EM1 and the Four Thirds lenses work perfectly with the new AF system. I am hesitating between keeping the 75 and not buying the 40-150 2.8, but buying the 300 f4 with the converter that is coming early 2015.

Excellent overview, you are very knowledgeable and present the logic behind your decisions very well David. Subscribed.

The Fuji XT-1 has a lovely electronic viewfinder. The advantage the electronic ones have is you pretty much know how your photo will turn out and can frame it correctly the first time. I can sling my camera in my work bag with an extra lens or too with a smaller bag to put it all in for lunch time walks. The smaller sensor sizes bring some nice size and weight advantages without compromising on image quality and can out preform the older and bottom range SLR's.

Hmm... But what about Micro Four Thirds vs APS-C? The A6000 looks like pretty compact yet good IQ too. Better than M4/3?

Gm5 for the win

Thanks David. Great story. It's nice to hear about your personal views on M43. It is definitely a format with character.

David, that was a super, informative video. Very nicely put together and a pleasure to watch. Many thanks !

Your talking way is so agressive.

I've really been enjoying your Micro 4/3 reviews the past months. Keep 'em coming!

I'm not a M43 user, but your presentation style and practical insight into photography equipment is a great listen. Thank you. PS: I may be looking into M43, thanks to you.

What an excellent presentation! Well done David

i dropped all my DSLR early this year for a Fuji x10 for most of the reasons you put up in your video! I'm still saving up for either a GH2 or a E-PL5 and a 17mm 1.8! Awesome and thought provoking video!

Thanks David! I originally was considering a Canon system, I am a beginner to ILCs, than I was considering a M4/3 system. Thanks to your video, I am now quite confident in purchasing this system!

Thanks for the kind words. The strap is just a loop that I leave on the camera and fit a sling strap through when I go walkabout. I use one from Gordy's Camera Straps.

Great video - nice to hear from a proper old pro and nice to know you said pretty much what I would have - I only go back to 1980 on cameras and got a Lumix GF5 earlier this year which, unlike any digital camera I've ever used, reignited my love of photography. I mainly use classic manual lenses but recently inherited a Minolta / Sony A100 backpack with about a dozen lenses. I couldn't pick it up with one arm yet alone one little finger!!! :D

I just found your channel on RU-vid, thank you for the clear, concise reviews, tips and tricks. Like you I have moved from full frame 5D MkII, to Olympus MFT OMD EM5 Mk2, with a combination of of the Olympus Pro range of glass. - thanks for the inspiration.

Loved this. Thanks. I myself moved from a Canon 450D SLR to a Panasonic GX7 Four/thirds camera. Love it.

David, still an entertaining video in the lockdown 2020. Even then you nailed why m43 is so good. Today I’ve an Olympus system with only two lenses. The whole thing packs into a bag hardly bigger than a shortened loaf of bread, but still gives great flexibility. Thanks enjoyed your 2013 video.

Hi David, another great video. Thanks for uploading and keep up the great work

Really enjoy your reviews, I like people talk about gears and still take great photos! Thanks for sharing with us!

Bravo to you sir.. Loved your input.. Thank you from the US..

Your videos are even better the second time round David. Much better than some tech head fumbling with equipment he's not familiar with, and telling us how much he does/doesn't like it. Great, honest reviews.

The GF1 change my "photographic life" and will always be my most favorite camera.

Fascinating, useful and wonderfully open. Thank you for your video. I'm waiting for my OMD e 5 to come in, and this video came up when I was looking for instructional videos. Thanks for the share.

Nice job David! As a former shooter of a Mamiya RB67, and then moving to a Panasonic GH2 in the digital world, I completely agree with your comments on the M4/3 system. I have really started to enjoy photography once again over the past couple of years. I love the way I can carry my GH2 with 20mm f1.7 pancake everywhere and not feel a weight burden, and I seldom leave the tiny Olympus 45mm f1.8 at home either.

Totally enjoyed your "mini film". I liked your passion towards photography, and the joy it gives you. I'm in IT at the moment and I've done a few photography-esque projects for friends. Did my friends wedding 3 years ago with a Polaroid! It was interesting. Once the photos were taken, I had them stuck into a scrapbook for him and gave it to him as a wedding present. This was with all the well wishes from those that attended. Will watch more of your videos. You know what you're talking about

Really enjoyed the video. Well produced and informative.

Thanks a lot Robert. I'm hoping to review a GX7 as soon as i can get hold of one and get to know it.

Hi! great video, Ive picked myself up an Olympus E-pl5 and was wondering where I could find the hotshoe optical lens that you use? Ive found a few online but they are all very expensive.

Great video and awesome arguments! I might get into the m43 system!

Excellent analysis. I enjoyed it. Please could you tell me what bag you are using, or the size and type to search for anything similar? Thanks

Excellent film and views. I too have a soft spot for micro 4/3 and have bought the 14-140 3.5 lens as the carry around lens (plus the 20m 1.7).

Hi David, thanks for sharing your view points and I totally agree all. I take professional portrait photos using Oly em1, em5 with all the prime lenses. They are light and work great with excellent images. 45mm f1.8 is my most favourest lens.

David such a great review, thank you for the insight. I just purchased a gh4 myself and have a Leica 25mm 1.4 and I love it. I'm still new to photography, have quite a bit of experience shooting video but am still learning every day. Would you agree that adding the 12 to 35 and 35 to 100 vario lenses be the next step?

David Thorpe Hey David, can you please tell me where I can get a viewfinder like the one you have on your E-PL5? I would like one for my E-P5.

Great video. I've recently moved up from point and shoots to Micro Four Thirds with the Lumix GF3. I have the 14mm 2.5f pancake & 14-42 kit zoom which are good for mainly outdoors stuff. I use an adapter and an old Minolta 50mm 1.7f which is good for getting creamy backgrounds. I'm thinking of also getting a G or GH series Lumix so I can continue to use the lenses I have but have the added features of more manual controls and a view finder.

Good afternoon. Have just visited your July 2013 expository on why you use micro 4/3s. Another superb, focused, well presented bit of information, advice and elements of common sense and photographic wisdom. For me at least. What prompts this comment is pure and simple: appreciation for your talent and your generosity. I wish to add that I had viewed many months ago the video on the prime Olympus 45 1.8. Today, after gathering sufficient monetary resources, I ordered it. I made sure I let this brew and stew and it did for a sufficient amount of time. My choices for use are either a Lumix G5 or a GH3 in my current inventory. Recently finishing a career as an American CPA, I'm going back to my training as an anthropologist to use these tools for the stories and lives to be explored under my nose and beyond my ears from mundane to not so mundane perspectives (I hope.) Thanks again.

I love this video, and show it to my friends who are thinking about freshening their dSLR. Looking forward to a 2016 re-do of this presentation. ;)

David, I so agree with you. I am an avid amateur who sometimes does "professional" work. I happily shoot with everything from inexpensive digicams to full frame DSLRs. With that said, if I could only have one camera type it would be a MFT as that format provides the best balance between size and image quality. Perfect to take on a holiday and good enough to do head shots for web pages and brochures.

Do the Lumix cameras have an electronic depth of field scale allowing of the exact measurement of distance?

I have to say I love M4/3. As you said, it provides a combination of inexpensive equipment along with great image quality. My favorite aspect of M4/3 is how I have adapted my old 35 mm lenses to the system, effectively saving money and giving me a wider array of optics to shoot with. Granted, there is no autofocus, but I work on landscapes and portraits, which depending on the situation do not require fast focusing.

Excellent, concise review. Any advice if you were to put a system today? I would like to leave my Nikon d80, 18-200, 50mm f1.8 for a new 4/3 system. I have looked at the Olympus omd om-1 or om-10 with oly 14-150 or 12-40 lens plus a small prime. What would you do today?

Great video, David, very helpful to me as I'm looking to pick up a Lumix GH5 soon. I see that you're in Languedoc...let me know if you're ever around Pézenas and I'll buy you a beverage of choice as a thank-you for the helpful video!

Great video. I bought an OMD-EM1 a couple of mos ago. As I was updating my firmware the other day, I started to think about how my Canon gear has just been sitting there. I consider myself a serious amateur and used a Canon 7D along with a variety of lenses up until now. The weight, however, has really gotten to me. It was so hard traveling on our last Europe trip so I decided to go mirrorless. I suppose I am being somewhat sentimental as I hesitate selling my Canon gear but watching videos like yours helps me make the logical decision. Thanks for all the info.

Really interesting video what are your thoughts on uv filters as I'm thinking of fitting one on my Olympus pancake lens for protection.

Informative video. Thanks for sharing. Wondering what you think of the Sony A6500 vs the GH4 or the upcoming GH5.

Thanks David. Great video. Concise and inspiring. Everything covered.

Excellent video, very inspiring, well done sir! I travel a lot and M43 makes a lot of sense to me and your video proves it beautifully. Watched some of your other videos too, they are very inspiring. I just don't get why you still get dislikes. Anyway, thank you for taking your time to make the M43 videos!

Thanks for sharing! Comprehensive and flexible your photographic equipment

Great video review David. It is nice to hear a pro talking in such favour on MFT cameras. I can remember when they were first released that most pro's wouldn't give them a 2nd look. Whilst a quality image is the most important factor to all photographers, being able to get the shot has to be just as important. For me MFT's has given me the best of both worlds, small and light equipment with a superb quality that is improving all the time. Like you I have gone through a few Panasonic MFT cameras. GF1, G3 , G5 and GH3, I still own the GH3, it is my fav by miles, not as compact as the others but having more controls at hand a real bonus. I generally use it with the 14-140, which I can honestly say is an amazing little lens. It is generally sharp right through the range and is remarkably small and light. I also own the 14-45 and 45-200, to be honest they do not get much use these days as the 14-140 covers them both very well. I lose a bit of zoom on the 140 compared to the 200 lens but I don't find the 45-200 that sharp over 160mm anyway. I do a lot of landscape work and whilst the 14-140 works well can you suggest a better lens for this use? Many thanks and keep up the great work

man, I love listening to your videos

An excellent personal and professional evaluation and will help since just acquiring a Pen E-P3 for hobby photography. While not the Panasonic, as you say, it will serve my purposes.... Thanks

Great video man! Always nice hearing someone share their passion! I'm envious of your multiple rigs. I just dipped my toes into the DSLR world, but considered MFT VERY carefully. After seeing your video, I kind of wish I'd gone the other way. On a side note, has anyone ever told you you sound almost exactly like Alan Ford in the movie Snatch? Great film if you've never seen it. Anyhoo, thanks again for sharing!

After I realized I wouldn't be shooting pro photography any more, I bought a Lumix GM5 with a Leica 15mm f1.7. I love my setup. It's even smaller than my film cameras!

Thanks for detail explanation. I've been looking for smaller and lighter system for traveling and still thinking of getting Fujifilm X-T1 vs Panasonic GH4.

Hi, i recently bought Olympus Pen Ep3, and have no info how to use Canon or Nikon(or any other incompatible) lenses on it. Do i need adapter? if yes which is best to buy?

Can you suggest any good filter for the Panasonic Lumix 12-35 lens to me please? Thank.

Thanks John.Either camera with that lens would be nice, a great combo.

I like your reviews so much, I bought the GH3 system simplified, the best investment I ever had. Thanks again for your reviews, keep up the good work. I am now a Lumix shooter.

Thanks for your videos,Very informative and your narration is excellent. I am moving from a bridge zoom to a hacked gh1 as i will be shooting video too

David, I enjoyed your videos. I've been using my Olympus E-510 for over 10 years now & thinking about switching to OMD-EM1. Looking forward to seeing you do a review on Zuiko 12-40mm f2.8. What is the blend of your mini tripod?

This review is quite interesting in that it's a professional that is making up a very high quality camera and lens system that suits his own needs. It's very well thought out, for many who aren't pros not use to having the best quality lenses and equipment available because we don't or didn't rely on it to make a living, our choices may be entirely different. Today I just carry a lumix tx100 1inch sensor point and shoot, 25-400mm equivalent and 4k video, that just about suits my needs, I don't blow up and pixel peep my images because they're not being sent to clients for scrutiny " e.g. I'm not use to selling photo's" They are purely for my own needs, this guys life/ hobby is photography, for me it's just another of my many hobbies and interests

One thing worth talking about that I think you missed are speed boosters, particularly the ones made by metabones. Getting that extra stop of light, widening some of your lenses and being able to adapt just about any lens to M4/3 is a huge reason as to why I will be buying myself a GH4 for Christmas.

They are a great combination - especially if the upcoming updated version of the 20mm has the enhanced focusing I read it will.

Many thanks for this - I too have a big DSLR, lots of big, heavy expensive glass and frankly I am sick of it. I bought a Olympus E-M1 yesterday and wondering if my direction is really what I want. But your points, experience and priorities helped me clarify - they are identical to mine! Appreciate you taking the time to make the video and present your perspective so nicely.

Thanks for posting this and very well-done. I'm considering an Olympus Pen because I like to travel light and this was very informative.

David, I have successfully cleaned sensors on dslr cameras but would appreciate advice on cleaning four thirds. Where do you get the swabs?

Very good review! In depth and honest

Wonderful video. Thank you for posting it. I'm a full time photographer and love my BIG DSLRs, but on my time off prefer smaller cameras. I will consider a MFT system in the future.

hi,can i fit that cheapo view finder in a Lumix GF2?,i think it's better than no vf at all.

Thanks! Interesting choice of lenses - well thought through because practically every photo eventuality is covered in a minimum of euqipment to lug around.

What m43 camera do you think has the best low light performance? I've been looking at the Olympus EPL5 as I've heard it does well

This video is very well done! I have been considering a shift to m43. I am so tired of carrying around Canon bodies and lenses. Having shot with m43, I find that the image quality is up to par for my uses.

Brilliant sharing from the viewpoint of a true artist and pro, thank you!

This was an amazing article. Thank you so much.

Thank you for your thorough and thoughtful review.

Thanks very much - glad you liked it.

Super, well organized review. I just ordered a gh3 and am really looking forward to getting into the mft world. I'm encouraged by reviews like yours and the video I see on line. I shoot only video, and use a Sony vg900--an excellent, versatile camera and, with its camcorder form, very light--awesome even--but expensive in most respects. But I recently bought an inexpensive Sony a6000---and the image quality knocked me out! I preferred it, in standard shooting mode, to the Canon 70d, and the only thing that probably beat it was the vg900 in full frame shooting mode a Zeiss 1.8 lens. I'm thinking with the advancement in sensors the gh3 will provide me with even more refinement in image video quality---I just HATE to sacrifice depth of field; the whole reason for getting into interchangeable lenses in the first place, and I, like you, hate exposing the sensor while switching. All that aside, a SUPER review. Thanks so much.

I just picked up an omd em5 to throw in my backpack when I go on my bike rides. Its a game changer. I had a ricoh gr but the prime lens does limit my photos. and my DSLR is just too big and never went with me. I agree it really is a great system for someone on the go. I love my dslr and wont replace it but being able to take pictures where ever i go is a priceless.

M43 has come a really long way since this video was uploaded too

Just the person! Hi, will using an Olympus 17mm F1.8 lens on the Panasonic GX7 body cause a disabling of Panasonic's auto-focus modes when shooting video? I don't want the much slower Panasonic 20mm pancake lens, but do want the slightly better body of the GX7. Thanks.

Brilliant and informative video. I had done some commercial work, but only spare time stuff, using my Canon DSLR. But I got tired of the weight of lugging around that big bag, big lenses and big camera. I found many occasions where I missed photos because I didn't have it with me - and that's the rub. I could have a 128 MP camera with a 10-700mm f/1.2 lens, but if it is so big and cumbersome that I leave it at home, I won't have a photo. I've been able to easily carry across my Colin P series filters via a few adapter rings and have fallen in love with photography all over again. I have an E-PL5 like you, but unlike you it is my sole MFT camera, complete with EVF. It is light, quick and convenient - despite lacking full WiFi control they did well with the WiFi SD Card included and it means I can get shots off, processed and uploaded via smartphone in a minute after pressing the shutter. MFT is a magnificent system, and one which is criminally overlooked by many who buy first a compact, then enjoy it and graduate to bridge and then skip over MFT by believing that serious photography NEEDS a DSLR - in my expereince that couldn't be further from the truth.

would u consider switching to EM1 as main w/ GX7 as carry around?