This Camera and These Lenses are as Good as any I've Owned!

Waterfall

I have owned and used the Olympus E-M5, with a variety of Panasonic lenses, for over 18 months.  I have also owned and used the Nikon D800E for about the same amount of time, with a variety of Nikkor lenses. Both are terrific camera and lens systems capable of highly professional results.  Which is better?  Which has better image quality?  Which is better to use on a daily basis? Which is my go-to kit?

Up until now, the D800E is the best camera I have ever owned.  Even better than my old trusty Pentax 6X7 film cameras.  But that may no longer be the case when you consider all aspects of use.

Here is what I mainly carry when using the Olympus:

-E-M5 Body
-E-M5 Grip (top half only)
-Panasonic 7-14mm F/4 lens
-Panasonic 12-35mm F/2.8 G X lens (image stabilized)
-Panasonic 35-100mm F/2.8 G X lens (image stabilized)
-Panasonic 100-300mm F/3.5-5.6 lens (image stabilized)
-Panasonic 20mm F.1.7 lens
Plus all the accessories that one would carry to complement the kit

Here is my normal Nikon kit:

-D800E Body
-Nikon 16-36mm F/4 G VR lens (image stabilized)
-Nikon 24-120mm F/4 G VR lens (image stabilized)
-70-200mm F/4 G VR lens (image stabilized)
-50mm F/1.4 G lens
Plus all the accessories that one would carry to complement the kit

*Note:  I just sold the Nikon 24-70 F/2.8 lens and the Nikon 70-200 F/2.8 VRII lenses and replaced them with the above listed lenses to reduce weight and size but without giving up quality.  I have made many, many images with both and they are as good as it gets.  My opinion considers the best lenses with both systems.

So why do I list these two diverse photography kits with the associated questions?  The reason is that I believe the Olympus camera and a couple of the listed Panasonic lenses equal if not surpass the Nikon camera and lenses for image quality at common and reasonable sizes.  Additionally, they beat the Nikon system on price, size, weight and "hassle" in carrying heavy gear with you all day.  So, what are the answers?

Where does the Nikon kit win?  The Nikon gives absolute better image quality.  Thirty-six full frame megapixels has to win.  But, that is only for large prints or for extreme cropping.  Viewing on a 24" monitor at 1:1 or print up to 16X20", it is virtually a draw.  The only real disadvantage to my photography is the ability to crop more with the 36mp sensor.  But I do my best to "get it right in the camera" all the time anyway, so I don't crop much, for the most part.  One more win for the Nikon.  Tracking a fast moving object and keeping it in focus.  But I don't do much of that either.  Your needs may be different than mine.

The build quality is similar.  Neither is better than the other in build quality.

The Olympus camera and Panasonic lenses are by far the easier to tote around all day while keeping approximately 90% of the image quality.

The Olympus has become my go-to kit.  I will gladly compromise a little bit of image quality, especially quality that I likely won't need as I rarely make or need really large prints, for the cost, size and weight advantage.

Now, if that pesky Fujifilm XE-2 camera and lenses could be stricken from my brain.....  They really intrigue me.

Thanks for looking.  Enjoy!

Dennis Mook


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