Commit to a System or Format Before Buying

Garden Decoration; Canon G9 (click to enlarge)

For the past several weeks, I've been itching to either buy a Fujifilm X-T1 to, again, give another it a try or conversely fully commit to and build out the mirrorless 4/3 system that I already have.  I've been struggling with this decision but couldn't make up my mind.  Heart versus head.  Feelings versus rational decision making.  What did I do?  Nothing.  Why?  Indecision when buying or moving into the future can lead to bad choices.  When I'm not sure, I do nothing until I am sure.

As you read in Friday's post, I now have decided to fully commit to my M4/3 format system for all the reasons I stated.  If you haven't already read what I wrote about my recommitment, you can read about it here.  After my decision was made, I went ahead and made some purchases to build out my M4/3 system.

I believe, not just with photographic purchases, but with anything I do that if I have any doubt or hesitation, or I have not fully explored all the positives and negatives about a purchase as well as done my research, that I should not go forward until I'm satisfied I have weighed all factors and come to a sound decision.  Too often in my younger days did I make a decision based upon emotion and regretted it.  I've learned valuable lessons from those experiences.

Now that my decision has been made based on sound logic, I went ahead and bought a couple of M4/3 lenses.  What did I buy?  For many, many years, I only used prime lenses and wanted a fast prime for my M4/3 system.  The current fastest lens I own has a maximum aperture of f/2.8.  That is fine most of the time, but there are times when I needed a lens with a faster aperture for subject isolation as well as situations when the light is very marginal.  A fast prime, in the normal focal length range, would fit the bill for those times.

After a lot of research, I decided upon the Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 lens.  A bit more expensive than the alternatives, but my research showed that the lens has the edge on its competitors, which I need for submitting images for stock.  I only buy new lenses when I can't find used ones, in excellent or better condition and that are able to be returned if I find that the lens is not satisfactory for some reason.  I went online to my favorite vendor, KEH Camera Brokers outside of Atlanta, Georgia to find out if they had any of the Panasonic 25mm lenses in stock.  They did and I purchased one.  I have dealt with KEH for many, many years and have never had a bad experience with them.  They normally send items that are in better condition that what you order.  Also, they have a good return policy so you can test any item you buy and return it if necessary.  I highly recommend buying from them.  I've never been disappointed.

Also, I need a top quality lens with a focal length of more than 40mm (80mm ~e).  I have been waiting patiently for Olympus to introduce the new 40-150mm f/2.8 lens, which I want to add to my system, but it is still predicted to be available after the first of the year.  That won't do as I have a couple of road trips and photo outings planned and I need the longer focal lengths on a top quality lens.  Okay, go to plan B.

A lens which I previously owned and wished I hadn't sold, is the Panasonic 35-100mm f/2.8 lens.  So, I plan to reacquire the Panasonic 35-100mm f/2.8 lens since the other lens won't be available for some time. This lens, which is comparable in 35mm terms to a 70-200 f/2.8 lens, is an outstanding performer.  I cannot say enough good things about this lens.  It is small, lightweight, well-built and the optics produce highly resolved and sharp images with good contrast and color.  I have nothing critical at all to say about this lens.  Since this lens is in high demand, I was not able to find a used copy at KEH so I purchased one new at one of the three online vendors I have also used for years.  I purchased this particular lens at Adorama in New York City.  Adorama is a competitor (and I believe very friendly with and maybe even associated in some way with) B and H Photo Video.  I have bought from both for over 25 years.  Adorama has been in business since 1974!  Both are excellent retail outfits and I don't hesitate to buy from either.  The reason I bought from Adorama is that they offered a 4% reward for this particular product while B and H did not.  Hey!  $60  US is $60 US!  That makes a difference.  I can use that to offset a future purchase.

I will be putting these two lenses through my normal tests to see if they function as they should and their image quality is up to what they should be.  As with any product, item variation applies to lenses also, whether new or used.  I believe in testing lenses in two ways; testing them first for mechanical operation using a standardized practice (I have developed one over the years) and testing them optically by using them.  If all is well, I keep the lens.  If either the mechanics are not on target or, aesthetically I don't like the way the lens renders an image, I will return it.  I don't go too much by test charts, but I do consult them for reference.

I'll be writing in the near future on the lens tests' results so tune in.

Thanks for looking.

Dennis Mook

Many of my images can be found at www.dennismook.com.  Please pay it a visit.  I add new images regularly.  Thank you.


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