Goodbye Canon, Hello Olympus OMD E-M5 - Switch to Mirror-less for Travel Photography
Goodbye Canon, Hello Olympus OMD E-M5 - Switch to Mirror-less for Travel Photography
The heat beats down on me through the blue heavenly skies above me as I climb. I climb up the mountain slowly with many steps to go to reach 400 meters above sea level. It is 90 degrees outside and the humidity is 85%. One step is fine, but as they add up the weight starts to get to me. My friend Jessa says to me “Come on Erick, lets keep going” as she climbs the stairs with ease. We are climbing the mountain to Hanginan, Maasin in Southern Leyte, Philippines. Each step becomes heavier and heavier… I am being literal here. You see, I am carrying ALL of my camera gear and it is weighing me down. You know that feeling? 2 bodies, 3 lenses, filters, tripod, a strobe, trigger, other gadgets and some food all in one backpack? At this point I am ready… I am tired of it. It is time for something different. It is time… for a new camera system.
For about 5 months now I have NOT been shooting with my Canon system setup. I used to run around with a 60D and 7D set up. The 7D stopped functioning due to water damage so I fell to exclusively using my 60D as my back up. The 60D then stopped working as I was testing it for a photo shoot I was going to do in Colombia. I was desperate to get a replacement camera. I was looking at the newly released 6D, but then I thinking back to the wonderful time I was having when climbing the mountain in Maasin. Maybe it was time to make that switch I had thought of back then. I had always toyed with the idea going to a mirror-less camera system. Mirror-less you ask? Why would a professional photographer want to downgrade?
The mirror-less systems are smaller and much lighter. Also very cheap and the quality is amazing. It is perfect for a travel photographer. I find it to be more of an upgrade than a downgrade.
OMD E-M5 Silver
The Choice? Olympus OMD
I did a lot of research after my experience in Philippines in late 2011. I had felt I had armed myself to make a well informed decision. The mirror-less camera I decided to choose was the Olympus OMD E-M5. Why did I choose this camera? Well I won’t lie, I chose it because it looked like an old film camera. I also chose it for the fact that it received the award of Camera of the Year in 2012 by DPReview. I also chose it because the camera is using a Micro Four Thirds system. Olympus and Panasonic have both embraced the Micro Four Thirds system and it’s benefits, which means that you could use either brand of lens. Sigma and other lens companies have also designed lenses for this system as well.
The Weight and Size
The weight and size was the largest factor though. Hands down the weight of the Olympus OMD is way smaller than my 7D and 60D. The 7D weighs 29 oz., the 60D 27 oz. and the OMD 15 oz. making it nearly half as light as the 7D. My favorite lens for the Canon system was a Canon 24-70mm ƒ/2.8 which weighed 34 oz. For my OMD the 17mm ƒ/1.8 and 45mm ƒ/1.8 both weigh just over 8 oz. combined.
Because the weight is less and there is smaller parts it is easier to carry. I used to carry a backpack to carry the gear around for photography. The backpack would be packed with 2 lenses, the body (with lens), blower, strobe, remote, battery charger, 4 filters, remote, lens pen, other gizmos and gadgets and snacks..
Now I can carry small bag with a body, 2 lenses, remote, 8 filters, flash, strobe, lens pen, diabetes testing kit, and snacks. Almost the same amount of items in one smaller bag.
Cost
The size of lenses are smaller making it very affordable as well. The manufactures can make a good quality lens with less parts needed to be able to create cheaper lenses. The whole system costed me a total of $2800, which is the cost of a body, 17mm ƒ/1.8 lens, 45mm ƒ/1.8 lens, remote flash, remote trigger, 2 polarizing filters, 2 warmth filters, 2 UV filters, 2 ND filters. As for my Canon system I have easily have paid $3500-$4000 (although I already had lenses).
There is a drawback on some of the pricing. Some of the OMD accessories are expensive. An example is the battery grip I purchased was $299, which in my opinion is kind of steep, but almost worth the price. For $39 the remote cable release is kind of lacking for the price that it costs.
The Drawbacks
So the only difference between a mirror-less camera and most DSLRs is the that the DSLR has a mirror and prism to preview your photo before taking the shot. I know I am using a micro 4/3 system which is a lot smaller sensor. The biggest argument of this is that smaller sensors have an issue with noise. I would have to say that is not the case with this camera. First shoot I shot with it was in the morning trying to do some long exposures and set my ISO to 2000 thinking I set it to 200. The results are amazing. Here are some examples from that shoot.
The other drawback people talk about is the Bokeh of a micro 4/3 system. I would have to say that is a drawback. But to most people who are not professional photographers, they can not tell and a good photographer can make bokeh happen (naturally). Here is an example of some bokeh taken with the OMD EM-5.
The other drawback is the crop factor, which can be an advantage. The crop factor of a micro 4/3 system is 2.0x. That turns a 45mm lens into a 90mm equivalent for a 35mm. For those who want a better zoom, like most travel photographers this is great. For those who need wide angles, this could be a drawback.
Not a Professional Camera
“The OMD is small and does not feel like a professional camera…” Yeah, that is what someone told me. They were a professional photographer by the way. “…it feels like a toy.” That is a very common perception that a lot of professional photographers have when seeing the camera. Bigger is better? Not really.
The camera is a tool. A good photographer still needs to know lighting, tonal value, composition and color. A lot of photographers believe if that they do not have a BIG camera they coud not be perceived as a professional. I was kind of worried about this myself as I had a photo shoot in Colombia. The model was more relaxed as there was not giant lens in her face the whole time. The shoot was more natural and we see each others as equals.
When I was shooting with OMD in the streets people asked me if I was with the press. Everyday people do not know the difference between a DSL and Mirror-less, they just see a camera. On another note the fact that it is smaller is also great because it a lot of times I can take it into places where they ban DSLR. I was able to take my camera into the Explorer Park in Medellin when they banned DSLRs. I got in fine with my OMD E-M5
Even Trey Ratcliff of Stuck in Customs has switched to a Mirror-less camera system from a Nikon system. The Mirror-less system is perfect for some one like Trey and I who are both travel photographers and need to travel light.
Conclusion
So what do I have to say about the OMD E-M5? Well, I love it. I know why it has gotten camera of the year. It has amazing quality, great features (which I have not spoken fully of) and extremely light and small. It the perfect companion for a travel photographer. A more in depth review of the OMD E-M5 will come in the future.
What camera do you use when you are on vacation or travelin? Do you love your Panasonic point and shoot? Do you carry your DSLR or perhaps you stand by your trusty iPhone? I know I do. Let me know what you prefer. Leave a message below, send me a tweet on twitter, or post on my facebook. Heck even send us a message. Let me know, we want to share it with others.
P.S.This is not a sponsored post. I paid everything out of my own pocket, Olympus did not sponsor me. I also am not being paid by Olympus to promote this camera. I am doing it to better inform those out there.
Erick Redcloud
A partially blind Graphic Designer, Freelance Travel Photographer, Artist, Buddhist and Vegetarian who loves to travel. Erick loves traveling by being with the locals and going off the beaten path. He is the founder and owner of Pathlesstravels and loves inspiring others to follow their dreams, whether it is to travel or something completely different. He started Pathlesstravels to hone is photography skills and to meet amazing people, and to help a friend break into journalism. Check out his photography at his link.
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16 comments on “Goodbye Canon, Hello Olympus OMD E-M5 - Switch to Mirror-less for Travel Photography”
Great blog post! I too have a Canon 60D and now using an Olympus MFT and loving the results. I still use the Canon for video shoots, but MFT all the way for my photography.
Glad you are liking your Olympus Mirror-less system too. The photography you are doing with it is amazing. I really love the street photography. Are there any drawbacks you are finding with the Olympus system that you can better inform me on?
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Sorry but the m4/3 lenses are not necessarily less expensive than 35mm or aps-c lenses or full frame lenses.. They are usually about the same price or more expensive.. But of course yes, m4/3 cams and lenses are a lot smaller than comparable dslrs.. Aps-c or full frame sensors..
I will say at the time of writing this lenses were cheaper. As there is a demand for more lenses with quality the prices have been going up more. I will admit that for my canon a 70-200 2.8 was about $2k and the equivalent for my OMD was $1.5k (less due to discount).
Excellent post and I couldn`t agree with you more which is a reason why I got into the M43 format. A recent example for me is I have a Canon DSLR with a selection of heavy L glass lenses, the 70-200 is a particularly heavy beast which certainly has its purpose, but recently I ventured out onto the Hills of the South Downs in Sussex, and carrying around all the Canon gear was like carrying around a gym in my bag, it made for a less pleasant than usual photographic stroll (or hike with those hills).
Now I went back with just my Olympus OMD EM5, and a selection of lenses, and it was like going for a light stroll, and made me enjoy what I was photographing so much more, I honestly believe the furture for landscape photographers is in these compact formats. There is absolutely no issue with noise at all, and I have to be honest, when exporting images into Lightroom from the 5D3 and Em5 I generally do not know which is which when processing. Sometimes I have thought images I was processing were from the 5D, only to realise it was the EM5, which brought a proud smile.
For Landscape work, the E-M5 is taking over for me. Once I can get my hands on owning the 35-100mm I will be a very happy man.
Glad you are enjoying your OMD as well. It is not for everyone but I am glad you are finding it fitting for you. I have the 35-100mm ƒ2.8 and I enjoy it. To be honest I use my 12-40mm more or my 17mm a lot. I would like to trade my 17mm for a 12mm though.
Aaagh. I am not a professional photographer like you guys and I don’t have any formal training or anything, but I like taking photos. Anyway, I bought a used Olympus e500 a couple of years ago just for personal use and love it. My husband have decided to upgrade my camera and bought me an OM-D E-M10. I was shocked by how small it was when it arrived in the mail and was not comfortable using it. Contemplating on exchanging it for a 60D. Would I be making a bad choice?
I must say that I did not start off as a trained photographer, as a matter of fact I have never taken any classes on photography. I just have a passion and that passion was noticed by others who later offered me great opportunities.
The Canon 60D was a great camera for me at the time. I needed something lighter, which is what this article mentions. I think the 60D was a great camera and still is a great camera. I find the OMD horrible for those who are switching from DSLR as it is harder to get used to the viewfinder and the feel is odd. But also find a lot of benefits from it compared to my 60D, including touch screen controls and focusing. Zoom when focusing to manually get the focus better (automatically), not too shallow depth of field having to stop down constantly, and of course how light it is.
When choosing a camera I have a guide here: http://pathlesstravels.com/how-to-be-a-travel-photographer-choosing-a-camera/ and here: http://pathlesstravels.com/how-to-be-a-travel-photographer-choosing-a-camera-part-2/
Feel is definitely a factor. For example, a lot of people rave about the Sony A7 cameras, but I can not use them. After having one for a week, I could not get into the feel of the Sony. It just did not feel right to me although it was a better camera for what I do. So I returned it. I would say this, play with the OMD for a week and during that time check out a store near you to play with the 60D. See which feels better to you. Then make your decision.
If you want to learn more about your camera I will be offer free online courses on this site. Sign up for the newsletter to get an announcement of when that happens.
Thank you so much! I truly appreciate your insights on this dilemma that I have! Our church hosts this annual apostolic world conference and I’ve been asked to take photos this year. I get so stressed out about it as I don’t really know what I’m doing half the time. Lol. My husband got me the OM-D thinking that it would help me, but I am more stressed out now as I am not comfortable using it. It seems like a perfectly good camera, but for some reason, I just can’t get comfortable with its size. I will follow your suggestion, give it a chance and play with it a little bit. Will definitely sign up for the free courses. Thank you again!!!
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This discussion is spot on…we are heading to a time when small is good and for some things even better. My Canon 7d is becoming quite sorry for itself as its rarely being used these days. I chose the Fujifilm X-Pro1 and love it. It doesn’t do everything the Canon does but its pretty damn close. Its a very solid built camera but half the weight of the Canon and the Fuji lens are outstanding, they are light but well put together and so fast. I only have two lens at this time an 18-55mm for that extra bit of versatility when needed and a 1.4 35mm prime (I have always liked prime lens…so simple and so much more precise than zoom and so light).
The sensor on the Fuji is about the same as the 7d (actually just slightly bigger) but it out performs the Canon when it comes to using high ISO and the relative lack of noise makes post processing a breeze.
I wrote on my blog recently that the Big two (Canon and Nikon) should wake up or they will lose their traditional market to mirrorless cameras…we’ve seen it all before where “traditional” companies sneered at the digital revolution going on around them…film they said would never be ousted by digital technology it just could never attain the quality achieved of film. I know this to be true because I was there as long time employee of Agfa in Australia and argued long and hard for a different course of action.
Where are those film companies now? The two biggest by far were Kodak and Agfa and those once huge organisations now barely exist, their market was stolen from under their noses by organisations more known for their contribution to the kitchens of this world, the builders of refrigerators and other household appliances for example.
To the credit of Canon and Nikon, they were smart enough at that time to take the SLR and develop it into the DSLR….the question now is will they manage this transition and adopt and develop technologies in what looks like the next revolution? It worries me that I see very little sign of that happening
Well with the 7D Mark II just being released, the discussion still steers me towards mirrorless. The camera is an amazing camera, but the lightweight feeling is something I still need to have when hiking.
I am glad you are liking your Fuji. I jumped into Mirrorless a bit early and missed out on investing fully into a APSC format or even the mirrors Fullframes like the Sony A7 series.
Do I regret it? not one bit.
As far as Canon and Nikon, they do not want to seem to cut into their DSLR market by introducing a higher end mirrorless product. I can not say that with confidence. Nikon’s Df camera is a great camera. Just needs more lens support. Now if only Canon will catch on.
Thank you for the comment btw
Thanks for this artice.
Just a question please: how do you deal with the waking time ? The EM5 takes about 1.5 seconds to reactivate from sleep mode and it’s very frustating when the moment you wanted to capture just fade because the camera is not ready yet…
In those occasions, needless to say I miss my old 550D
The sleeping mode can be deactivate in the OM1 but as it can’t be in the OM5 what is your solution ?
Thanks again.
The wake time does not bother me too much. I think i have learned to anticipate and turn it on faster is all. When you work your tools that you have for some time you learn toneork around the weaknesses and learn to enhance thier strengths.