Does anyone use Micro Four Thirds professionally?

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I'm slowly building up a collection of MFT equipment and enjoy taking photographs as a hobby. The idea of going semi-pro (weddings and events etc.) has been suggested to me on several occasions by more than one person, so I wanted to ask if anyone out there has actually done so with MFT equipment? Or is that just not the done thing and should I be looking to invest in full frame cameras before considering doing events and getting paid for taking photos?
 
I think there's a poster on here that does pro shoots using an EM5. Seems they tried the Fuji line but was unhappy with the AF. Can't remember who just now but a search of the xpro thread should produce some results.

Steve
 
Plenty of people moving to different formats these days. I have a mate who dumped his SLRs for a couple of little Sony things I think - he's a bit of a gear-head though and likes to be seen as doing something different.

I don't think I would ever give up SLRs for events or weddings. The "done thing" doesn't matter though, use what you like using, that's the most important thing - provided it can produce the results (which most things can these days).
 
There must be but MFT has always been a bit noisier due to the small sensors so people probably progress as pros and go full frame. Doesnt mean you have to tho progression just makes life easier. On the other hand itd be alot easier carrying MFT equipment all day than a FF monster
 
ianmarsh said:
Damian McGillicuddy
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Doesn't shoot weddings or events for a start.

Is sponsored by Olympus so take the usage of that system with a pinch of salt, and I don't believe there is a great deal of evidence to suggest he deals with the general public from a photography services point of view other than training other photographers.

Far better to look at Lindsay (above) and Kevin Mullins IMVHO
 
meonshore said:
Doesn't shoot weddings or events for a start.

Is sponsored by Olympus so take the usage of that system with a pinch of salt, and I don't believe there is a great deal of evidence to suggest he deals with the general public from a photography services point of view other than training other photographers.

Far better to look at Lindsay (above) and Kevin Mullins IMVHO
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I'm not sure how relevant any of that is to the question posed "Does anyone use MFT professionally" My impression is that he is paid to shoot and usually has an Olympus camera in his hand...so he fits the bill. Unlike Kevin Mullins who shoots Fuji (and maybe still Canon).
 
Yep - just been using mine today for paid work - OMD-EM5. With the bright primes the image quality is excellent, and it's very quiet as well.
 
ianmarsh said:
I'm not sure how relevant any of that is to the question posed "Does anyone use MFT professionally"
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You might not feel so but I was responding to this:

The idea of going semi-pro (weddings and events etc.) has been suggested to me on several occasions by more than one person, so I wanted to ask if anyone out there has actually done so with MFT equipment?
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Where the question was specific to weddings and events..... so I stand 100% behind my comments.
 
meonshore said:
You might not feel so but I was responding to this:



Where the question was specific to weddings and events..... so I stand 100% behind my comments.
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Fine. But as he does shoot weddings I'll stand by mine.

Anyway, moving on from pointless arguing, I (probably completely wrongly) interpreted the question as "is MFT good enough for pro work" and the answer in my opinion is yes.
 
Not wanting to take this off thread but...

The comment above about MFT being poor for noise made me remember that I've read in more than one place that little serious work gets shot at the higher ISO's so I wonder... is this true in the pro world? Do the higher ISO's matter to pros? I'd have thought it's subject dependent???

And slightly back on thread :D I'm not going to post any links but I've been following various MFT sites and related blogs and it seems to me that quite a few people making money out of photography seem to be using MFT and indeed other CSC's these days.
 
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ianmarsh said:
Anyway, moving on from pointless arguing, I (probably completely wrongly) interpreted the question as "is MFT good enough for pro work" and the answer in my opinion is yes.
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That is a pretty good way to interpret my question and I value everybody's input. Although I didn't intend the question to cause so much debate.
 
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woof woof said:
Not wanting to take this off thread but...

The comment above about MFT being poor for noise made me remember that I've read in more than one place that little serious work gets shot at the higher ISO's so I wonder... is this true in the pro world? Do the higher ISO's matter to pros? I'd have thought it's subject dependent???
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This is a very good point to address in this discussion. I rarely shoot at high ISOs anyway - particularly when doing portraits. Thanks for your input.
 
Somebody somewhere is shooting professionally with any type of camera you can think of.. from Holga to m4/3 to wet plate.

If your style uses m4/3 to achieve the results, and people want to buy the results you achieve, then why not?
 
ianmarsh said:
Fine. But as he does shoot weddings I'll stand by mine.
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Then I must have missed that. Can you point me to his website please where he advertises his wedding photography, and/or a blog with some recent weddings on it. I'd like to see how he approaches them.

All I can find is the one with all of the fashion/latex portraits, and the training courses.
 
A professional will use the most appropriate equipment for the job. Anyone with a need to travel light, and work unobtrusively may well be using smaller format equipment, yes. Why ask? Does finding out whether professionals use m4/3 gear lend it some kind of credibility? People take make images, not cameras. A talented photographer will make great images regardless of equipment. People buy your images, not your cameras. If there is a M4/3 camera that is good in low light, fast, durable with good AF, then I fail to see why it can't be used for weddings or events.
 
Morning Mike. I can point you to the following blog posts that specifically mention he has been shooting weddings

http://www.damianmcgillicuddy.com/one-uk-client-mad-dash/
http://www.damianmcgillicuddy.com/going-dark/

I don't have any documentary evidence he was actually there, or that he used MFT cameras, I don't know how he gets these commissions or what the pictures look like, I am afraid. As he mentions in the second post he used NDAs a lot for social commissions I guess he keeps these away from prying eyes.
 
Look.. Damian whatsisface is PAID to use Olympus gear... so hardly representative.

Just use whatever you want, gives the results you want, and you're comfortable with. Seriously... who gives a damn who uses what professionally.
 
Lindsay is a posted on here (Lindsay D) she uses her EM5 professionally with stunning results
http://www.lindsaydobsonphotography.com/

Personally I think it would depend what you shoot, I've used micro 4/3 and almost came back with the EM1, but I tend to do mainly city/architecture shooting, landscapes and a lot of low light, something I found M4/3 lacking with in the past (especially compared now to my D800) and I can't see that a professional would use m4/3 for those uses.
 
ianmarsh said:
Morning Mike. I can point you to the following blog posts that specifically mention he has been shooting weddings

http://www.damianmcgillicuddy.com/one-uk-client-mad-dash/
http://www.damianmcgillicuddy.com/going-dark/

I don't have any documentary evidence he was actually there, or that he used MFT cameras, I don't know how he gets these commissions or what the pictures look like, I am afraid. As he mentions in the second post he used NDAs a lot for social commissions I guess he keeps these away from prying eyes.
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Thanks.

2 weddings in a year stated in the second blog post - no images and one of them supposedly with an NDA and the post is yet another one designed to invoke mystique, status, and position. I'll not change my opinion.
 
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meonshore said:
I'll not change my opinion.
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and we are all reassured to hear that. At last we can move on.

Ming Thein (http://blog.mingthein.com) uses MFT cameras among other systems - not for weddings or women in latex, I will emphasise, before Mike gets all agitated - but I think his posts can help the OP because he thoughtfully articulates why he uses certain cameras for certain subjects and how this has evolved through time.
 
For the record I have no issue with any blog, or working photographer using MFT who clearly evidences what they shoot, why they shoot it with a particular camera - assuming that is relevant - (ideally evidenced and irrespective of payment/sponsorship) and who can back up any claims with images, clients, and facts rather than hyperbole and a side helping of a training business.

Personally I have a Nikon v1 as my small bodied camera but use a DSLR for all of my portraits, sport and commercial work (I stopped shooting weddings in 2011). Fast moving action in particular drives my need for a DSLR and with the kit already in place and no health reasons for requiring a smaller system I'm unlikely to either switch or significantly invest in a larger standalone system in the near future.

Personally I think MFT works well for a hobby photographer, or if you specialise in a narrow band of professional work where you can be confident it will perform. If you need to be truly flexible in what you shoot for clients, have specialist requirements or need to cope equally with areas in which MFT systems are not as strong as DSLRs then you might well need a blended system.
 
Its probably already been said, but its not just about IQ and handling, for me at least durability, reliability and robustness plays a big part in choosing my pro gear.
 
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