Which m4/3 for Travel

Sootchucker

Sootchucker

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Andrew
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Hi all, I have a really nice collection of Nikon DSLR's and lenses, but I find for holidays, they are just took much for travelling (and too expensive) so I'm looking for an alternative to add.

I'm looking for a cheap(ish) interchangeable lens camera that's small, light and most importantly gives good images up to about ISO1600 (shoots RAW is also a must). I obviously don't expect DSLR quality, but like the look of the m4/3 compact style cameras (GF2 and GF3, GX1, and Olympus PEN series), and the images I've seen from these (certainly at low and medium ISO's) look excellent.

Having never used (or even handled) a m4/3 camera before I'm looking for some inspiration. I've considered the Panasonic Range (mainly the GX1) with it's 14-42 power zoom kit lens that retracts back into a very slim package, but I would like some feedback (good or bad) from users of these systems please. Total price for body and kit up to about £500 but the cheaper the better.

By the way, this will not be for those "once in a lifetime" holidays (like our Safari to Kruger next year), as the DSLR's and lenses will go on these, but rather just family holidays abroad.
 
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The power zoom doesn't seem to get a good rep, Id have a research before buying one. The pancake primes will give you the smallest footprint, the 14mm and 20mm are excellent, and the Oly 45mm.

The kit zooms are good, bigger but still light, I went around the world with a G1 and the 14-15 and 20mm.

Bodies are down to your budget, they've got smaller but some prefer the older models.
 
Some very cheap GF3s about atm.

Have you also looked at Sony's NEX range?
a NEX-5N+18-55 is ~£470 but you could get a C3+18-55 for a little over £300.
 
Thanks for the info guys. Food for thought.
 
The G3/GX1 bodies (with the 16MPix sensor) look to be a good step up from the 12MPix sensors in the earlier bodies. I have both G3 and GX1 - the GX1 is better handling, but doesn't have a viewfinder - which is why I ended up with the G3 as well...
 
Although not a m 4/3, have you thought about the Fuji X10? I haven't used my G3 since I acquired it. Perfect size for holidays and excellent image quality. So for me, it's the 50D for anything moving and landscapes etc and the X10 for trips and holidays...

Regards,
Steve
 
GX1 here and used to have a GF1, superb travel camera and the GX1 is perfectly usable upto iso6400.

The power zoom gets a bad rep but in all honesty the 14-42mm manual zoom is not really that big, plus it won't sap battery power - stick the 14mm or the 20mm pancake on it in the ever ready style leather case and keep the 14-42 in your pocket (or better still the wife's handbag :thumbs:).
 
Might I suggest you look over this thread before settling on a 4/3rds...

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=365827

But if you still want an M4/3rds, while I can't suggest a specific one as I have only the E-P1 and it is just way to clunky an interface to make anyone really happy, I can recommend some lenses. Specifically, the Panasonic 14 f/2.5 and 20 f/1.7 and the Olympus 45 f/1.8. They are three of probably the top 8 lenses for the system, and are the least expensive three that make for an effective trinity of lenses, WA, Normal, and short Portrait lens.
 
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