Olympus E5 question

[sfage]

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I have a Digilux 3. As many of us know, the lens that came with the body is excellent. But, the Digi 3 cannot "realistically" print 24X36 inches.

 

In your opinion, do you think the E5 has the sensor power to *truly* print a 24X36?

 

Here's the deal: I can get a 5DMk2 for (only) 5-600 dollars more. Of course, I can't use the Digi 3's lens upon that. But, I can use my R glass. But, here's the quandary there:

 

1) I'm not a huge fan of adapters (some cropping, additional expense, et cetera).

2) The moment I pay to add the chip on to my R glass, it will no longer mount on my SL2 (that's a big, big, *BIG* "no thank you" for me).

 

Opinions please.

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[andybarton]

Why do you need to put a chip on your R lenses?

[Guest reiver]

I use the E5 for sport, sailing. A good Camera, I really enjoy to use it.

The sharpness is a big step blow the M8.

24x36 inches is ab big sheet of paper for a fourthird sensor. If this is the main job, I don't think that the E5 will satisfy you.

[earleygallery]

I don't understand the chip comment either. You just use an R to Canon adaptor, no chipping and no cropping!

 

Also you only need one of them, leave it on the Canon body and switch your lenses between the cameras.

[Paolo.Battista]

I own a Digilux 3, an Oly E-410 and an Oly E-PL1, and just sold an Oly E-3.

 

I can say that if you're looking for the very finest tonality resolution that Crons and Luxs can give, than the older the 4/3 sensor is, the better. Specially the 12 MP version of the sensor are very poor in tonality resolution, let me say that's always as having an Elmarit-R on them, even when using Crons and Luxs.

 

The 2x crop factor is something to be aware about it, nice in some cases, not really so in others.

 

I must say that, owning already a Digilux 3 (that I find, viewfinder apart, the best 4/3 solution in order to use R lenses), it's more convenient adding a Canon or Nikon body to your equipment. Nikon has the disavantage of needing to change the mount of R lenses, Canon just need an adapter (like the Leica Digilux 3 needs, too). If you want to use focus confirmation on Canon, like in the Oly bodies you need a chipped adapter, in order to let the body think to have a genuine 4/3 (or Canon respectively) lens and let you use focus assist confirmation. That's not needed in Nikon bodies from D7000 on.

 

Keep in mind that the latest sensor from Sony (Nex-7) have pixel density like a 16 MP 4/3 sensor. That's meaning that they have "embedded" a 4/3 size sensor with more resolution than E-5. So even the 2x advantages of 4/3 bodies are gone.

 

I would not invest in a top Oly body any more. There is no clear strategy on 4/3 (we have only the Oly E-5, which is a modest upgrade of Oly E-3 with sensor and jpeg engine of the basic E-PL1 camera which you can find new today for 299 €), the Company has some serious problems with their acquisitions (the shares are down more than 50%, FBI is investigating...).

 

Only my opinion, indeed.

Regards.

 

Paolo

[sfage]

To be honest, what it's really looking like is: sell the D3 with lens and get a 5DM2. I can get a 5D NIB for $2K here in Calgary.

[Guest reiver]

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I would not buy a dslr to use R lenses. If you have the right dslr for your "job" it is fine if you can use an R lens, but the best solution for an R lens is a leica body...

[Paolo.Battista]

To be honest, what it's really looking like is: sell the D3 with lens and get a 5DM2. I can get a 5D NIB for $2K here in Calgary.

 

Well, selling the D3 is an option, but I still love the rendering of this camera, so I opted to keep it. It's not the camera I use most of the times, but when shooting without hurry I really enjoy using it.

 

I think that a 5DmkII is a good addition to a Digilux 3 when using R lenses, BUT you need to check if you like Canon color rendering.

 

Ricoh GXR with M mount module could be another very good choice for using shorter and ligther R lenses (up to 135 Elmarit-R in size). If you look at the GXR thread, you will find some examples.

[earleygallery]

I would not buy a dslr to use R lenses. If you have the right dslr for your "job" it is fine if you can use an R lens, but the best solution for an R lens is a leica body...

 

And as the OP wants a digital body which current Leica do you suggest?

[sfage]

I can afford a maximum of 3 thousand dollars. I need a machine which I can use in tandem with my 24 inch printer.

[earleygallery]

The Canon is the obvious choice for your requirements.

[sfage]

this ^

[sfage]

Oh. I have another question. Some later R lenses will not fit upon my SL2. Is this going to be an issue with the adapter?

 

I have a 'Cron 50, Elmarit 60 macro and an Angenieux 35-70.

[sfage]

Anyone know of a reasonable asking price for a D3?

[Paolo.Battista]

Oh. I have another question. Some later R lenses will not fit upon my SL2. Is this going to be an issue with the adapter?

 

I have a 'Cron 50, Elmarit 60 macro and an Angenieux 35-70.

 

A site for checking R lens compatibility with Canon bodies.

 

USING LEICA-R LENSES ON CANON dSLRs

 

You can consider even a Nex-7 for using R lenses and having a high pixel count.

 

Pros:

very compact solution (but see cons)

1,5x factor can be usuful when using longer lenses (but see cons)

should be much easier to focus

EVF compensate when working in stop down mode

 

Cons:

1,5x crop factor can limit usefulness of shorter lenses

1,5x factor not ideal for landscape shooters

small body means no good balancing with longer lenses

 

By the way, in the thread of the GXR you can find exemples of photos taken with the M module and the Macro Elmarit_R 60.

[ASpes]

I have a Digilux 3. As many of us know, the lens that came with the body is excellent. But, the Digi 3 cannot "realistically" print 24X36 inches.

 

In your opinion, do you think the E5 has the sensor power to *truly* print a 24X36?

...

 

 

There's a software solution which could help you to avoid a costly decision, it's called "Perfect Resize" (new name and version for "Genuine Fractals") by onOne Software. I've been using it since over a couple years and the results are nothing short of amazing.

As an example, last month I did a few pictures of a new furniture showroom to be used for posters to be affixed around the town. The final size of the picture on them was 70*100cm, which is slightly bigger than your request, and the printer was pleased he had plenty of res, something rather unusual for him, he said. And the good result proved it.

 

IMO, the key point, is the level of detail you need, as it depends on your choice of subjects and your use of your pictures.

Let's say that if you can get a fully satisfactory A3, you can easily bring it to A1/A0 via software, in practice without loosing any quality on it.

Please, read it exactly the way I wrote it, I'm not saying that we get the same result of an FF sensor, which I expect to have more room, detail wise. What I say is that we should always take into account our subjects and specifically the final use of our picture.

 

I'm long time Oly user and have an extensive system with the brand, with a couple D/3's still in my arsenal, although I use them now less than before, and in my case those two factor balance pretty well, so 4/3 is perfectly centered for my own use.

As for the E5, I don't have it, but given the higher res and the weaker AA filter, I expect the detail level to be better than with the D/3.

 

In any case, before commiting to any solution, I'd suggest to test the "Perfect Resize" yourself, they have a 30 day trial, and see if it can meet your needs. In my case it does.

 

Hope this helps.

[sfage]

Thanks, I will look in to that.

 

In response to your comment about subject matter, "aye, there's the rub".

 

I require extreme detail for the kind of work I do... for the price point I can afford. I know this is not easy for three thousand dollars but alas, it's the best I can do.