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Four Third System


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I like the compactness and functionality of my D-Lux 5. Although being the best in its class it still has some limitations, ie bokeh. I am thinking of getting something than can do bokeh but still compact in size. I need some expert advice on the Four-Third system. I checked the panasonic and the olympus penn versions but with my limited understanding of the system and photography as a whole I am not able to decide if the four thid is the answer and which of the two is a better camera. I will mainly use this camera for travel and for family gatherings.

 

Thank you for your feedback,

 

Rey

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I'd keep your D-lux 5 for now and hold tight for a little while.

 

Between the Panasonic and Olympus micro 4/3's cameras I really like the Olympus camera's the best (particularly the 2011 line up). They look better, and feel better IMO. Olympus seems to come out with more serious camera's while the Panisonics of late are moving in the wrong direction - more like a point and shoot with interchangeable lenses. Since the mount is the same you can use either brands lenses on any body, though the Olympus cameras have in-camera stabilization where as Panasonic relays on optical image stabilization so I find the Olympus more flexible. I also prefer the algorithms Olympus uses for their jpegs over Panasonic. The OOC JPGS from the Olympus are really excellent.

 

That said, I recently sold all of my micro 4/3 bodies and lenses. I really wanted to love this system. I loved the looks, loved the size, loved the build quality and loved the price point, but at the end of the day I have determined that the sensor is just too small. It's true that the sensor is substantially larger than the one in your Leica D-Lux 5, but I often prefer the look of the images from the D-Lux 5. The sensor is also too small to give you really excellent bokeh. Yes, you can get decent bokeh from the micro four thirds cameras with good (read, not the kit lens) lenses, but you really do have to work for it, and when you get it, I'm still left wanting more blur. In all but macro mode shooting you just don't get that "pop" it seems you are are looking for.

 

I'm using my D-Lux 5 now and waiting for something better to come out. I haven't been a fan of Sony NEX camera's at all. Everything is menu driven, no dials which drives me crazy. Also the lenses so far have been reviewed as quite soft. That said it does have a wonderful APS-C sized sensor. Sony announced today their new NEX-7 that will come out this fall which has really caught my eye. It has an amazing sensor and three control dials. They are also coming out with some quality glass in the next few months. My interest is really peaked and I might be tempted to snag one when they come out.

 

Both Leica and Nikon are rumored to be coming out with their version of a small interchangeable lens camera which is interesting to me as well, but I don't think we'll see them until fall of 2012.

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The DL5 has very nice bokeh (imho) but it's difficult to persuade it to show you. It's only really seen in macro shots because of its small sensor.

 

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Are you actually asking about shallow depth of field and separating elements of the scene into in-focus and out-of-focus areas? If so, I doubt that 4/3 or m4/3 will offer you what you're looking for and you'd be better looking at a camera with an APS-C sized sensor.

 

Pete.

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I agree it's probably a good idea to wait till next year. An interchangeable lens Leica X1 with faster AF would be nice.

 

The APS compact market is getting quite crowded. Choices include Panasonic, Olympus, Pentax, Ricoh, Samsung, and Sony. Not sure how much bokeh a 40/2 will produce.

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...Are you actually asking about shallow depth of field and separating elements of the scene into in-focus and out-of-focus areas? If so, I doubt that 4/3 or m4/3 will offer you what you're looking for and you'd be better looking at a camera with an APS-C sized sensor...

Yes or 4/3 with faster hence bigger, heavier and more expensive lenses.

Rey, to get more or less the same field of view and depth of field as a 35/2 on APS-C, for instance, you'll need a 25/1.4 on 4/3.

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I am thinking of getting something than can do bokeh but still compact in size.

Rey

 

These are more or less contradictory wishes, due to optical laws.

A small sensor (see crop factor) leads to a small lens and so to a small camera as a whole.

With a large sensor you can play with DOF and with bokeh, but the camera/lens combination is larger.

Please take a look at the Sony NEX C3 camera with its kit lens.

Your camera isn't too bad in behave of bokeh, because of the f/2 lens. I own the Dlux-4. Try the fixed aperture mode with f/2 at wide angle and with f/2.8 at tele. And manage to be close to your subject and leave much room to the background.

I advise to wait for autumn next year to see what Leica brings new. But the optical laws stay valid, also in 2012!

Jan

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