Happy New Gear: 2026 edition

The Lumix-S era is over. For now.

As I noted before, if S didn't work out I would just revert to the µ43 kit and enhance it.  Well, as is often the case, I was half right. 

I gave the L mount my best shot, but it couldn't be comfortably managed on my budget. I'm getting back nearly all my S investment. And in exchange I spent $220 on a new body.

Oops: it's a Pentax!
It isn't possible to deal for a choice µ43 body ($600+) without spending the same amount of cash that the S sale provided. And in effect my PK lens set is fully fleshed out - but it lacked a body. My K-01 shutter may repair itself (as many people report after it sits a while)  - but I won't bet on it. 

I found a low-shot black K-s1 body, with its nice 20Mpx sensor and odd but very small body. I've owned it before and lamented its limitations, but for the time and price it will serve. 

 

(I immediately spent $40 more on a spare solenoid - in case it's needed. And yes, it's needed.) 

It has 'better' pixels (more, and larger) for duplicating my piles of slides and negatives compared to the GX7. Somewhere around here i've seen a spare Li190 battery .. maybe?

HD us nlythe limit for video - but it's a Pentax,  video specs are not their thing. In other ways it will do quite nicely. 

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The second bit.

An Oly eM1² will arrive soon, and the gx7 will depart. After a few days of fruitless site-searching I found a very nice price for a copy. This will be the weather resistant and 4k video option. Almost everything, actually.. perhaps the K gear will be moved, but its resale value is mighty small!

I shall pick up a wx resistant zoom in the near future.. oh!

Update: a 12-60mm f/2.8-3.5Zuiko Digital is coming!

 zoIt willom the same direction as the 70-300, which will be nice. It will be bulky but that's also a match. It was the same price as 'that' 12-60 but gains me pretty much a stop of extra light. I should use a wx sealed adapter though, at some point..

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Update II: and a 40-150mm f/4? 

This was a major surprise! I found a great deal on a used copy. Not many of these show up used, so the owner must have stepped up to the f/2.8 or a longer telephoto. 

This gives me a sealed option for long shots, and also provides great overlap with both 12-60 and 70-300 lenses. And if I switch to a 12-45/4 or 12-40/2.8 at some point, I'm in a good spot. Hopefully the 12-60 will prove worthy - but it's a beast, weighing almost as much as the 70-300.

The new era begins.

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Update III: Oly 14-42ez!

So farewell to the Lumix 14-42² - and perhaps the Sigma 60mm. 

This power zoom will be an excellent video assistant, and it pairs well with the 14-42!The 10mm f:2 can then cover the widest angles.