Preparing For My Upcoming Road Trip, Part IV; What Backup Camera?

These images are from the first test run with the Pen-F (click to enlarge)
Pen-F, 12-100mm f/4 lens @ 14mm; 1/800th sec. @ f/5.6; ISO 200; cropped to 7.8mp from 20mp

If you have been following this short series of posts, my wife and I will be leaving on an extended road trip to the southwestern and western United States next month.  This series documents some of my preparations and decisions I need to make about which photo gear I should take as well as general thoughts on travel by motor vehicle.  For a more complete picture (pun intended!) and more perspective on our trip, you can read parts I, II, and III here, here, and here.

Silver Olympus Pen-F (Press Photos)

In a previous post, I indicated that I would be taking my M4/3 Olympus gear on this trip and leaving my Fujifilm gear behind.  There were good specific reasons for doing so, which were detailed in Part II.  However, I only owned one Olympus camera and I'm a believer in always having a backup camera at hand, whether traveling locally or for long distances.  In the past, I jut grabbed both the Olympus gear and the Fujifilm gear so I was always covered for contingencies.  I'm not inclined to bring both this time and since I only had my E-M1 Mark II, I needed to decide what I would buy for a second camera body.

There were a few considerations in choosing which camera body to purchase.  I didn't want to spend a lot of money.  I wanted something that could be set to full automatic so as to be easy for my wife use if she decided she wanted to take photographs.  It needed to be pretty full featured so if I had to put it into service as a backup to my Mark II, I lost very little in the way of features I would use.  Operationally, I wanted the camera and menus similar to my Mark II.  Finally, I wanted to have a pretty decent electronic viewfinder (EVF) as I almost always use the EVF when shooting.  Lastly, all of my lenses needed to fit nicely.

After a lot of research and looking a various current and past models of Panasonic and Olympus cameras, I decided to purchase an Olympus Pen-F.  I think that camera has the right combination of features, same sensor as my Mark II and it should serve all of my purposes well.

I then started looking on eBay, KEH Camera Brokers, Roberts' Used Photo Pro, B and H, Amazon, Adorama, etc., for a camera in excellent condition, with a warranty and return privileges.  I wanted a camera body that also had the camera's accessories with it and not just a body with no battery, battery charger, user's manual, cords, box, etc.

Had the camera set to 1:1 image format (click to enlarge)
66mm; 1/1000th sec. @ f/4; ISO 200

I settled on buying one from Olympus at www.getolympus.com.  They have a "certified refurbished" section on their website and I've bought several items from that site in the past.  Luckily, they were having one of their periodic sales which meant they discounted the camera even more.

Everything I had previously purchased from Olympus arrived in like new condition, came with a warranty and was returnable if I didn't like it.  With only one exception, when I sent a lens back (7-14mm f/2.8), because in my tests I found a lens element slightly de-centered, I was a bit miffed as I thought it took too long to get my refund (about 8 weeks).  No problem sending it back, it just took forever to get a refund to my credit card.  They offered to send me another one, etc., but at a later time I ended up instead buying a Panasonic 8-18mm f/2.8-4 lens simply because it has filter threads. That is an important feature when photographing landscapes, etc., for attaching neutral density filters.  Great lens, by the way.

I took delivery of the Pen-F a few days later.  The camera looks brand new.  All functions perform as designed.  It is lightweight, well built, solid but feels completely different in my hand than my other cameras.  Completely different!

It is smaller and lighter than the E-M1 Mark II and there is no grip around which to wrap one's fingers.  Holding it, at first, felt very awkward.  The EVF is on the left, which is different, the EVF is good but not as large as the one in the Mark II.  The controls are logically laid out.  The menus are basically the same as in the Mark II.  Not quite as many features, but basically the same.

When I first took the camera out to test it, unknowingly I kept bumping the 4-way controller which, unlike the Mark II, has functions assigned to it.  On my Mark II, the 4- way controller functions as a way to move the focus point around only.  At first, I couldn't understand why the ISO and other things kept popping up in the EVF.  I would have to get used to a completely different feel if I were to use this camera regularly.  But that is not my plan. 

The image quality from the same 20mp sensor that is in my Mark II is excellent and performs admirably.  Good highlight and shadow detail.  The color palate seem a bit different than in my Mark II.  I actually like it a bit better.  Reminds me of my X-T2.  I don't know why it would be different, however.  Maybe my imagination.

I think I made a good decision.  AND.... I bought a silver one!  I haven't used a silver camera since using my Leica M3 in the 1980s!  Of course, the camera is supposed to be reminiscent of the old Olympus Pen film camera and it does have some similarities to an old Leica screw mount lens camera from the 30s, 40s and 50s.

Now I have my primary camera and my backup camera, which, when equipped with the Olympus 12-100mm f/4 lens, will also serve as a good camera for my wife.  

 Three-quarter backlit. Brought out the shadow detail and brought down highlights well (click to enlarge)
35mm; 1/500th @ f/5.6; ISO 250

Next post, I made my decision and purchased a photo backpack.

Join me over at Instagram @dennisamook or my website, www.dennismook.com. 

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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