GP MMXXIV preview

The one advantage of trying every d@#n camera in existence (and actually recalling that you've done so!) is that you inevitably learn what's important, and what is less so. 

Since 2009 and my Sony α200 I've tried nearly every Pentax dSLR (yes, the K-01 and Q too!), three Fujis, several Sonys (both mounts, both sensor sizes), a Nikon or three, Samsung NX and countless µ43 (all three brands!). Several of these were tried more than once, in various colors and/or Special Editions too! 

I refuse to count them as it will bring too much unneeded grief to this appalling process. I'm  really exhausted and frustrated by bouts of research on cameras I can't afford to equip, or will not use enough to justify even the shelf space to keep in sight or reach.. and so,

 we begin the Great Purge of 2024! 

My goals for the coming year:

• assemble a solid, affordable µ43 kit
• repair the K-s2 and let go of Pentax
• let go of Sony/Minolta
• organize digital photos
• scan non-digital ones from old media
• and take new photos. Better ones!

Step 1. µ43

Only one camera has brought me a hint of entertainment since the e-M1 original - and that is its immediate successor. That includes brief attempts to use the eM5.iii and the G9 - though not the eM1.iii which has not dropped to an accessible price for me. 

The eM1-ß's lone annoyances are the flipout screen & the menus, which are a touch more insane for its expanded capabilities. In return though, it gains in every spec that matters to me: battery life, processing power, improved sensor and additional features that I might actually use. Even 4k video, perhaps.. ?  It also uses a common USB connector for file transfers; too bad it won't charge that way, but USB chargers (even USBc options!) are ubiquitous now.

That sensor update not only improves resolution by a bit - it also increases its specs to my typical aps-c levels, which makes the K-s2 sensor a draw by dXo standards. I don't swear by the dXo data, but it does allow me to check gear in hand against each other; after all it's a competitive world where results at the modern end of the sensor scale could be biased, with or without intent.

*Late Surprise* a new small body for my kit, to replace the Air A01 and its randomly problematic phone interface. Since the eM1 had departed, the backup role was definitely available!

On the lens front, few changes are needed. A few primes will be reworked for better spacing, but the 12-60, 35-100/2.8 and ZD 70-300 zooms do very good work in typical lighting. Our plans to visit an auroral sweet spot next autumn will be a factor in the changes though!

Step 2: Pentax

I like so many things about Pentax - but it's been years since anything in my price range has been offered, and the mirrorless /live experience is better for what I do. I love its ability to crop to 4:3 and square in camera, and its post-capture raw save - but the eM1 can do the former and I can live without the latter. Once the solenoid has been fixed and demonstrated to be functioning properly, I'll offer up the camera and most of the lenses.

Step 3: Sony

And again, farewell. Love the tilt screens, miss the touch capability and other nice features that Sony has reserved for the latest = most expensive models, I don't get enough benefit from the 36x24 sensor, and their aps-c performance is similar enough to the eM1-ß. Despite my fondness for the Maxxum lenses that I have in hand (24-300mm range) it's time to accept that it isn't a realistic dream to unite them to a more modern body.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

As to organization and slide/neg scanning, those have been needed for years. My hiking web shots have corroded by jpeg duplication almost beyond recognition. The eM1 (either one) and the Oly 30 macro, plus a decent light box which I can improvise, will do most of the work other than attempting to balance the contrast and color issues that might arise.

I recently read about others who used some bracketing and/or hi res shooting to capture better digital reproductions with good results. It will be interesting to see better captures of my numerous old memories!!

And then - more shooting!

That sounds nice. 🙂

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

 So.. is it over?? 

μ43 commentary, part 2

 I've expended a lot of energy on research for cameras, and it generally pays off. In a curious way it has failed me several times recently, to my shock and frustration.

Put simply:

Why can't I like newer Lumix bodies??

I loved the G1, so small and with many nice options (unique ones in fact, as it was the first mirrorless body!). The GH1 was also nice, though I had to part with it quickly in one of many budget crunches since 2010.

The GX1, GX7 and EM1 supplanted the early bodies for quite a while, as did the eP5. Each brought new features that I really liked.

My next steps forward just didn't work out:

•  The G7 had all the specs I sought (wx seals and iStab were covered by my Pentax gear) and it fit my hand so well. But by now I was happier with tip screens so flipping was less fun, and my brain didn't mesh with the 4k features despite my coveting them.
• I then reverted to the GX series with the GX8 and its wx seals and IS.. but the flip screen and external Exposure Comp dial irritated me.  Close but not quite, compared to the eM1 original.

Oh My: had I gone over to the OM side and its curiously complex menus? Both systems brought cool new features, but on paper Lumix made more sense. 

So I tried a few more times!

• When the G85 came along with better stabilization and wx seals it just had to be the one!! Nope. The GX85 brought a new shutter and in-body charging.. but I reverted to my preferred GX7 and its oddball USB connection. Of course is not the same oddball USB connection as Olympus.. that would be too easy. 
• Last and not least: the G9. So many agree it's a bit large but Perfect for their needs.  Nearly every owner said "try it first, it's not for everyone". They are correct: this camera fit me worse than all the others. The first time i turned it on I put my finger on the shutter, moved forward to change the front dial - and powered the camera off. Front dial is Behind the shutter, Canon style. Having used everything except Canon this was contrary to all my previous experience and would once learned every other camera would feel wrong. I couldn't bear it.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

And so I continue in the μ43 system with the best I can afford, the eM5.iii (and its 'normal' micro-USB connector!) and have reluctantly accepted that Lumix G bodies don't suit me. 

Though I shall never know why !!

Major Shakeup!

I've been going through a Search phase recently, contemplating my options and placing an occasional bid on bodies that are more fully featured and modern than my classic eM1 but at an 'affordable' (=borderline-absurd) price. This means dealing with a flip-out screen, which is not my preference - but all the tip+flip screens are on current-generation bodies, and those are beyond my budget.*

I tried for a silver eM5 iii and watched for G9 and eM1.ii deals, but they stayed beyond my bidding budget. 

In the end, an all-black eM5.iii came within reach - so I reached. This has all the eM1.ii features but in a lighter body (with a smaller battery).. and the flip screen. Oh well, for all the updates gained, I can manage it.

Those updates within the 5.iii are the 4Mpx denser sensor, more touch screen uses, a high res multishot mode, AF limiter, more options for button assignment and faster processors. Oh yes, and 4k video again .. assuming I ever do so shoot video, which is an entirely different issue!

Oddly enough, I liked shooting video ~15 years ago, and the Casio P505 flip screen was a nice feature! Maybe I'll regress to 2006 instead of my early-60s childhood and adapt more quickly than I expect?

Kit Impact!

• The Sony experiment is well and truly over with this purchase. DXO sensor rankings are too close to call between the K-s2 and the 20Mpix 4thirds (G9, eM1ii, eM5iii). The Pentax can handle the job of slide duplication at 20Mpx well enough, since the 3:2 format won't be cropped with that sensor. The manual-focus Sigma macro will stay a while also.
• The backup 'small' body position is open! Does the gx7 make more sense there, or should the recently acquired Air A01 take that spot? Hmm.
• I'm pretty sure that I cannot afford a better overall kit than the eM5.iii, 12-60+35-100/2.8 and my fun primes!

*Some x-T Fujis have this screen, but then wx seals and IS vanish - which I'd also regret losing. Nearly all Alphas have tip screens but the features I like come & go  with every model update. Also: living with Oly and Sony menu systems at the same time has absolutely no appeal. 

keeping weird in my kit

I am about to give the Olympus Air A01 a try!

It's an EM10 camera within a tube - a few buttons and a µSD card slot, but a full wifi/bluetooth chat line to a local phone. It was a bargain for the feature set, but it's gained a reputation for spotty phone connections. Sure it will do fine with the 10mm fisheye so I never have to aim (or even move off a 20' focus point since it's fixed at f/5.6!) but I hope it can be happy with my Pixel5. As a simple camera for high/low perspectives and possible time as my telescope eyepiece, it's ideal. A normal microSD charge port can recharge the unit from a portable source, and it can do Live Time/Composite tricks like an eM10 and uses the talented 16Mpx sensor that gave a big boost to overall interest in the µ43 platform.

I'm thinking that the G9 is enough camera for pretty much anything - but I'll hold on to the eM1 for a little while, with its tilt screen and Oly Live features that the G9 doesn't quite duplicate. If the A01 works out, the eM1 can step aside for the next user.

This may be a weird call - but I'm not alone in seeing potential in the A01!

And of course I liked the K-01 quite a bit. So why not give it a try..

µ43 commentary, part 1

Let's face it: I've been spanning the virtual globe in search of the 'right' camera for me. I've been a big fan of big sensors since 2007, but cannot afford to hold on to the largest available when I do acquire one (K-1, D600, α7ii/Rii). The aps-c sensor is my sweet spot, especially since Pentax created such jewels as the DA Limited lenses to keep kits small; for mirrorless though, it's Sony Fuji or move on (Nik/Can have finally staked out places now, but bargains are few with their fresh arrival). Finally there's micro43 and its oft-derided sensor size that just cannot keep up (when examined with a 3x loupe in search of off-color pixels).

It annoyed me when I saw how much interim processing happens with µ43 images to compensate for optics with .. less rigorous optical expectations; since then I've learned that every mirrorless camera plays this game to varying degrees. I prefer the lens to be engineered to make straight lines straight, and all colors to focus evenly across the frame - but it's clear that many do not share my hardline attitude.

I also used to be bothered by the smaller-sensor arguments about equivalent lenses/apertures for a given image.. yet that is not relevant to 90 percent of shooters. If after every shot I attempted to make an exact duplicate of that shot with a different kit, then perhaps it would be relevant. Perhaps.

fyi: I don't do this.

And so, after many kits and brands have passed through my hands, I've assembled a kit with the best stuff I can afford. I've said that before, and meant it then too - but this feels more real. Considering that any camera body made before 2018 is too expensive for me (and still has compromises!), the eM5ii is the newest body with features that I like and use. I had always hoped to grab the 35-100 f/2.8 one day, and now a copy is in hand! The Lumix 12-60 fits nicely below the 35-100 and has suitable image quality. Also I've gathered many small native primes up to 50mm that can be stabilized with the 5.iii (unlike the α6000) so lower light imaging can happen below 35mm. I like the all-manual primes as they are optically designed without auto-corrections; all the camera knows is their focal length for image-stabilizing purposes.

The good sides of µ43 from my perspective:

i. Depth of field control. WAIT NOW, that's what Big sensors are for!! Sure, if you want to blur a background it's more easily done with 'full frame' - but 4thirds sensors can do it fine with f/1.4 primes and the proper distances to subject and background. The issue can be stood on its head just as easily: a 'full frame' camera might have problems achieving sufficient depth of field in some circumstances! Maybe you'd like a fairly long shot where everything is in focus? That's far easier with a somewhat smaller sensor. So there.

ii. Features. I'm not in need of every feature, e.g. burst rates and buffer clearing times are not relevant to a one-focus, one-click shooter like me. Weather seals are valuable though, and in-body stabilization for my primes is very nice. Autofocus in low light might be nice with starry images, capturing photons in real time with screen updates, and interval shooting are things I enjoy doing - well, attempting at least. And video was big enough thing for me in the '90s to carry a DV camcorder in addition to my film camera on multi-day hikes! 

At some point I'm going to get better at that again. Whether 4k captures me or HD is sufficient, time will tell.

iii. A noteworthy 'feature' is the 4:3 native shooting ratio, which I prefer to 3:2 most of the time. I also like 1:1 as an easy option. The α6000 offers 3:2 or 16:9 - my two least favorite choices. I'd prefer video in something other than 16:9 too, but that's asking too much of any brand, it seems!

Downsides? Hmm..

I. The flip screen is annoying. I much prefer tilt-types but those are rare once specs for video rise high enough. The tilt+flip style is gaining ground.. but not in my price range.

II. Battery life? With spare batteries and the ability to recharge on the fly, I believe the lesser rated batteries will be fine. The eM1ii/iii last a bit longer per charge, but only the eM1iii and 5iii can charge via USB.

III.  (reserved for an as-yet unknown grievance)

Just checking

I looked into specs on the eM10 mk.IV to see if, seven years after my eM1 mk.I was introduced, the OM range had finally beaten its specs for a tilt-screen camera.

Nope.. but it's close.

The most recent eM10 has the 20Mpx sensor, newer chips inside, 4k shooting and its own flash. Nice updates! But no weather resistance, no audio jacks, and pretty much the same battery life and stabilization. The new body is smaller in every dimension, but to achieve that it has no grip to speak of.

So that's the good news: nothing to buy here, even if the OM-10 comes out to bring a price drop! 

The sad news is that neither Oly/OM nor Lumix has released a tilt-screen body with wx seals in the last ten years - until very recently, with the Lumix GH6 and its tip+flip design (used by their S1 36× 24 bodies, and some Fujis). The GH6 is their latest and most expensive body, packed with top-shelf photo (and especially video) features I'd never use.

Makers of μ43 bodies are absolutely convinced that "advanced" bodies need flipout screens, and expecting that to change is a sure sign of insanity.  So we'll chalk that up as another saved expense = good news? 

Further note - the em5.iii is a 'tweener' model with wx seals, the em10.iv 20Mpx/4k imaging, and an audio input. But then the flip screen comes into play, which still conflicts me.

Fuji|X update - any future in it for me?

After nearly a month with the x-T100 I've got it set up to my satisfaction. Well, almost. Seldom does one settle in that quickly with an entirely new system! 

Images look nice with this camera and the 15-45xc lens, sharp and appropriately colorful. Focus speed is decent, not amazing but not much speed difference between this and the em1 Classic. It would be nice to check with telephoto, but nothing exists in my budget other than adapted PK lenses. No IS inside for adapted lenses, so blur is a risk. 

The µ43 system is not showing me an upgrade path. The only tilt-screen µ43 camera with weather seals is what I own now: the 8-year-old e-M1v1. Both OM-D and Lumix cameras will do IS, and weather seals are fairly common - but at the price of a flipout screen, which I've learned that I don't enjoy in the least. So for IS within and weather protection, µ43wins - but the Fuji aps.C sensor will outperform Oly (though not by a huge margin), gets decent battery life, and can be charged in-body while retaining (and improving upon!) the tip screen that I prefer. 

I'm not enthusiastic about xTrans color array, nor for retro looks that do not align with the operational memory that comes with 12 years of dSLR use. Weather seals are hard to find below a high-mid body type and definitely not for low-range lenses. The path is slightly better than µ43 though, with xT3±1 body holding to the dual-tilt screen in a modified form. The xH1 also does so, and adds internal IS. So that's a plus.

+Oly: affordable ibis, wx seals, live imaging tricks, 4:3 format plus 1:1 3:2 hd. 

+Fuji: sensor (size and resolution), screen double-tilt, battery life, 4k>8Mpx still images a la Lumix. 

+both: compact, tilt screens, interesting lenses. 

- both: moving to flipout screens and high-end items. Lumix is doing this too.

Rumor has it that 3rd-party lenses are soon to arrive for Fuji, as they made their lens-contact protocols public. That would really help with the Fuji budget and telephoto options .. some day. Sigma plans are important for me to stay in this format since Fuji has no telephoto options in my price range. OK Tamron &c could also play a role; we'll know soon what these lens suppliers have in store for the fX mount.

big (and little) deals!

 After a time of relative quiet, some big changes are coming to the kit!

from dpreview forums

Big Zoom: I recently picked up a 14-140 Lumix and it serves me well. Problem is, it's not sealed against splash/dust unlike the version IIb (mine is f/3.5-5.6 so it's a IIa). The 12-60 is sealed but cannot do much in the tele department.

I'd really like a 25-125mm lens (50-250 equiv) but nobody's doing that with the popularity of wider abilities on the 14-1x0 design.

So I looked into swapping for either a IIb Lumix or the sealed Olympus equivalent, the 14-150∙II f/4-5.6, and found a forum seller with the m.Zuiko. Dumping the freed-up zooms to a dealer was worth about that asking price, so I initiated a swap. Image at right shows m.Zuiko 14-150 (ver. 1 w/no seals) and Lumix 14-140 (ver. IIb with seals).

I also offered a couple of primes to lower my purchase price - and things got interesting!

I've been dealing with the 30/35mm 'problem' (owning one of each) so offering the excellent TTArtisans 35/1.4 was sad but would not have a big impact on the kit. I also own their 7.5mm and 17mm so I have plenty of other TTArt fun in hand! 

My other 'problem' is forgetting that I own the Samyang 12mm f/2 - every time I list lenses I forget that and need to add it later, so I offered that as well. Yes, we should all have such lens-surplus problems.. oh right, we almost all in fact do have that problem!

So it turned out the seller likes new primes, and offered the 14-150 for two of my TTAs (7.5 + 35) and the Samyang 12. 

Straight up - wow.

Six lenses depart tomorrow (including the 45-150 Lumix), one will arrive soon.

Time again for a different kit! 

1. The 14-150 will be different in use, as it has no IS inside and zooms in reverse to my expectations. However, its direction will match my old 75-300 ZD lens, so both zooms will match! The seals will be nice, and more recent Lumix bodies have IS inside just like Olympus - so no 'problem' here.
2. Primes will still have good spacing, but less curb appeal: pixco 8/3.8, TTA 17/1.4, Oly 30/3.5 macro, Zonlai 50/1.4 and adapted telephoto primes. I'll miss the 2½ stops the 35/1.4 provided over the macro, and some day I'll find the right wide prime - perhaps that nice Laowa 10mm?
3. .. and cash to pay earlier deals and other debts.

Little zoom - I won a low-bid offer for a m.Zuiko 9-18mm zoom. That was a surprise! This replaces the 7.5 and 12mm lenses, though it doesn't replace f/2 as an aperture setting :√( oh well. Most of the time this will be an excellent option for trips where wide is important; it definitely allows the 14-150 to do well with no regrets. Some day the laowa 10/2 will go here instead, but this was a bargain and that's what I need.

Update - the 14-150 is quite nice, but not quite paid for, as the 14-140 was rejected by the buyer. Its front element isn't.. ideal. Once it reaches me I'll decide the best way forward. The optical results from the Lumix were fine by me, but they weren't scrutinized all that much. The 9-18 also has some perfection issues with its front element, but images don't suffer much to my eye. The joy of low prices accrue to those who don't demand perfection!

the e∙M1 is mine at last!

 

Yes, I've owned it for a month or more. No one threatened to take it from me, no credit agency repossessed it. But I finally found the secret to AF button programming as I wanted it, and had deemed lost by regressing from the mark-II body. 

Hooray!

Each camera change comes with new adjustments, whether a new brand or just a 'small' change in a same-brand same-model camera. The eM1.ii had several incredible features but included the flipout screen that I am .. not thrilled with. Other features I liked quite a bit, and a few others sounded promising. When the chance came to give an eM1.Classic a tryout I decided to let other expensive experiments go - and that included the mark-ii and two recently-acquired Four Thirds lenses.

With the 1.Classic I gained the tip screen that I prefer, lost a few Mpix off the sensor and the ability to  select manual lenses quickly from a personalized list. Beyond that I lost very little that mattered and gained more flexibility in the family budget. However, I also lost the ability to use a front-side button for autofocus. First encountered on the D600 and GX8, I found that location ideal for focus on demand - after all my fingers are already resting on the buttons, no groping across the upper-right side of the body for the AFL button (which is too far left on the 1.Classic for my pointer finger to reach easily). 

After shopping among other new bodies for that button assignment (which would again force a flipout screen on me) I decided to sit down and force the issue. At times I've found that some Olympus button assignments preclude assigning functions to other buttons, and it deserved my best efforts. I reset pretty nearly every function button to Custom-WB Set, then turned to the front two. 

And sure enough, I could now set AEL/AFL to a front button!

Once that was set up (I chose the lower front), it was time to reassign the other buttons. The assignments aren't quite as flexible as the mark.ii (especially the Multi-Function list) so I'll be revisiting the setup at some point. I like having some pairs of options (e.g. raw/jpeg and aspect ratio, peaking and magnify) handy and adjacent, but the superCP can take care of some of those items. Trial and adjustment is in order. 

Curiously enough, even with a front button set to AEL/AFL that function is still available to some rear buttons - and I'd swear that doesn't happen in reverse!!

I cannot bring myself to complain at this point. The one assignment that I once had and lost has been found again!

thoughts on eM1/eM5ii

The eM1 Classic and eM5ii arrived the same day. After all the research and readjustment of my swap (eM1ii for Nikon –er em5ii –errr Ni .. nope em5ii) the original M1 is getting most of the attention. It was a tremendous bargain and most likely does all that I reasonably ‘need’ for this hobby. As long as both are here though, let’s find out for sure!

Differences are interesting, in part due to the lack of them. The sensors are different, yet DxO tests show them to be nearly identical in their particular tests. Neither sensor keeps up with the eM1ii, both are a pinch better than the GX7. Both eM bodies have 'better' IS within, a single memory slot, weather seals and no AA filter. 

With that out of the way, what do I have to choose from on the Oly side?

1. Phase detect AF (eM1) though not for every AF situation

2. Tilt screen (eM1) is my preference by a decent margin
3. Battery life is better on eM5ii thanks to its specific quick-nap mode
4. Grip is superior on eM1 without supplemental aids
5. eM1 is a bit larger/heavier.. but the better grip is a part of that
6. Video specs are substantially more versatile on eM5ii
7. eM5ii is silver.. OK I’m reaching now
8. In my particular case the eM1 is over $250 cheaper!

So of these first-blush points, what matters to me? 

Numbers 2 and 4 are big. My 70-300mm 4Thirds zoom might appreciate #1, though it’s cdaf-friendly by design. I’ve fallen for video specs before and shot no videos to speak of - so #6 isn’t as relevant as I pretend it is. Both cameras feel fine as to bulk, so #5 is a draw. With three batteries for the eM1, item #3 isn’t a big deal, and I can fine-tune some time-out settings too.

So items 2, 4 and especially 8 provide my answer. Therefore, unless I am disappointed in shooting with the eM1, it’s the better of the two for me. And if it's not a great fit, it's hard to imagine the 5ii being the right answer either - but it can give me its best attempt and possibly win out.

Insanity plea

The last two weeks were self-induced crazy. I felt it a great time to step up with some new gear, only to scramble and derange my kit in surprising ways before the proverbial dust finally settled.

It began with the idea that I could swap e-m1.ii for a D610 and get a pinch of money back. I did that quickly, well before thinking.

While doing that I acquired an Olympus E-3 to use with my three  four:thirds lenses. I did what? Three lenses?!? Hm, that was silly.

Oh yeah, and a new gx1 body stole my wallet briefly and ordered itself. Who could resist having a brand-new one of those? 

Chaos rules!

I then spent a weekend of active recrimination and swift action. I offered my hasty e-3 kit and gx1 and gx7 online, hardly caring which ones left or when. To my surprise the e-3 sold with two 4:3 lenses and the gx1 nearly sold. I was able to send that back to the seller instead, and sent a note about the D610 to the dealer, intending to get the em1.ii back but letting them keep the Lumix 20mm.

The day that camera reached the dealer an em5.ii showed up on their site for sale/trade! In the end (and after some quick research) I decided on the silver eM5b, battery grip and a spare Olympus battery instead, yielding more cash back than the D610 deal or the em1 return would provide.

Edit - never mind!

Soon after my posting the above, an eM1 Classic went up for an irresistible price. Worked hard and given a new shutter, it's ready to keep working for a new owner. The sensor is a dxo match for the eM5ii, tip not flip screen, and a better grip without additional accessories. Hm, sounds like my kind of camera!

returning to near normal

 That could be taken many ways - but I have just two to share.

• I received injection #1 of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine yesterday. Followup shot in three weeks.
• And the excuse for this post - an well-liked camera from my past returns!

I wasn't looking for any specific item, just going over Oly and Lumix µ43 gear - and a GX7 came up at a decent price. Looking a little more I found an EX-condition copy in black at a reseller. I got quotes from them on the Sony stuff that came within $100 of the GX7 price, so I made the deal and sent away a box of stuff. 

The Nex-5τ  worked fine and has a higher rated sensor, but the gx7 looks better, feels sturdier - and most importantly, I already know it really well.

I like its useful features like AF in very low light (even on stars, which the eM1.ii isn't great at), very nice FHD video, a tilting touchscreen that I already comprehend, two dials in traditional locations. Touch-AE, nearly unique tilt EVF. Even basic internal stabilization, Lumix' first body with that feature!

It's comforting to dump gear in search of the 'right' camera and end up essentially at the place where you started, with minimal waste of funds along the way!

Edit - the dealing aftershocks continued for a few more days. An Oly 9mm fisheye, Lumix 35-100mm (the slow+small one) & Pentax-M 135/3.5 are racing the gx7 to our doorstep. With that I must shut the door and wedge it shut for a while. Stop sending me gear, people!!

- and something it was!

 The storms that were forecast last week looked like Snobliteration! headlines would be appropriate. It didn't quite get to that, but it was pretty extreme - and we (barely) set a new accumulation record. Feet of snow and/or temperatures in the low teens seemed to be in the cards - but even as the storm knocked on our door the models were not in full agreement. The cold air was flooding through the gorge and a storm from the SW was plenty wet, but which would reach our area first, and would the southerly storm winds win the day?

It all began early on 2/11 with a trace on the ground when we woke, maybe a flake or two above 1/4 inch. By day's end we were a bit over three inches on the ground.. but at 35° nearly all day a lot of potential was wasted. This was not expected to be the Big Day, but it was a start. So for this day the SW nature of the storm was winning out at our place.

Awakening on the 12th we found 6½" on our measuring-stick on the deck, which being porous held more snow than most other areas. By day's end we had finally reached freezing, and small but persistent flakes brought us to just under a foot of snow. Winds were light and consistently from the east, so the snowdrift against our measuring-stick made the measurement challenging!

Saturday the 13th again found a decent amount of overnight snow, and we had 14½" on the ground, which matched our deepest record here on the hill-top. More flakes added up to 15" on the deck - and since previous measurements came from there, it was a new record. Our driveway stood at 13 inches and no drifts. The Fiat was a complete snow lump with only the mirrors showing (the radio antenna was lost the previous day). This was in fact the Big Day, with changeover to ..something else expected on Sunday. The Willamette Valley was already shifting to ice as the gorge winds weakened, and it was bad - 3/4 inch and more was wrecking trees and power lines. Portland was a mixed bag but the change was coming soon.

Sunday we awoke to just under 15½ inches on the deck (I wrote down 15.3"). Epectations was for another 1-2 inches, but we turned out to be in a dry slot as moisture chose to damage Oregon instead. We had drizzle, which was not falling hard enough to pull down cooler air from above; by day's end we were back to 13" and reached 40° for a bit. Ice continued south of us, but the event was ending here. The forecast for icing was again overstated, as we've never had freezing rain here. The drizzle did freeze on the snow and we got a few 8-inch icicles, but no clear coatings on any surfaces.

I'm writing this up on Thu 2/18, and we still have about 5 inches on the ground. I got the Fiat down the hill but it hasn't made it back up the driveway yet. I just scraped more snow out of the way, so I expect it will be up here again this evening. Update: WRONG

Photos coming, inevitably!

I did What?

 So much for the grand experiment - well, the more expensive part, at least.

The gear-geeky voices in my head thought quite highly of having a Best Of.. µ43 kit, with Lumix 4k photo features and Olympus' Live features and top-notch stabilization. Also the idea of one camera sealed against most weather issues (which we have plenty of  'round here!). At the time I didn't expect to leave my part-time job and remove almost all padding from our financial plans, so that's become a factor. The pandemic and its limitations make multiple higher-end cameras less useful - plus I had a harder time deciding which to pull out for any particular event.

Added to that was a forum person seeking GX1 advice. Such a simple and talented camera, and when hacked an improved video cam (higher specs for bitrate and audio) with seamless videos of any length. Smaller, lighter, and truly PGE -yes, Plenty Good Enough. With Lumix OIS lenses even stabilized!

So off goes the GX85 (and several lenses that other buyers wouldn't take), in comes a silver GX1 and funds that will make January easier. An easier decision on feature-set for most events, less money sunk into a hobby that needs time not cash, and an older but ergonomically-ideal camera for my uses. I can also use my wifi SD card with it, that adds a new twist to the old camera.

Winner!

Part II

The GX1 story is soooo last Friday. Today it's an inexpensive lens acquisition! This was the result of a curious team effort across the World Wide Web, and lots of searching same.

I was thinking about the gap that was filled by the Pentax 40mm pancake. Recent research suggests the Yongnuo 42.5 does not 'do' autofocus with eldercams (like perhaps the GX1). With that in mind I looked into other 35-45mm primes - and found a Dutch shooter's (tomscameras) test of the TTArtisan 35/1.4 lens. It's a distinctive design with a tapered nose and the optical design engraved on the barrel. Beyond the positive review was a curious comment: the optical arrangement is a near match to the Takumar 50/1.4..?! More study online yielded this - takumar on the left, TTA engraving right:

These are different in the front element but very similar, and of course designing for 35mm instead of 50 should make some difference in the optical design!

So given the good reviews and near-Pentax heritage, I ordered one. Tests have been quite good in all respects. I think the DA40 can find better places to be!

on to 2021

 Weather in December was a very average rainfall month, and zero actual snow fell. I did have some interesting patterns splattering on my windshield once, but that was it. We ended 2020 with a bit over 80 inches of rainfall, so no rain-forest designation again. Pretty close though!

In the viral battles.. we're still losing. So many travelers for Thanksgiving and then Christmas caused levels to spike as parties spread new, more virulent mutations all over the world. LA county is straining mightily and ambulances wait to offload for hours as ICU beds are pretty much filled. So very sad and frustrating. Two vaccines were approved and many batches shipped, but optimistic targets were missed all over the world. The USA goal of 20-million arms was closer to 2 than 3 mil. Hopefully another vaccine variant or two will be approved, and more people trained to inject them so the healthcare system doesn't shatter. Given the priority customers (health care workers, aged folk, essential workers of all sorts¹) it could be several months before we can all gather and hug - gently though, due to our sore arms.

 Politics have been difficult to watch as well. Other than to mention today's atrocities, I'll go no further. Yes, today the Capital was invaded and congressional spaces occupied. Ugly and decidedly undemocratic responses to mere political fortune. It's more than that - though it shouldn't be.

 Christmas was a pleasant respite from the mad times. We both got some nice gifts and relaxed at home, sad not to see family but nice to be unencumbered with obligations. Plenty of holiday movies, Nutcracker listening and cozy times on the hill-top. And pumpkin pie!

 The camera kit has now been slimmed down to about what it was four months ago. Actually it's become what I intended four months ago², but stranger things have happened during my ten years of perpetual change. Now to find a way to lock down that kit so nothing moves... wish me luck. ³

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

¹ I'm no longer on that list; I departed the Home Depot freight team at the end of  '20. A few tighter months will ensue, living off holiday checks, a bit of economic stimulus and new spending habits. Also from a few photo-gear offloads to finalize the kit reconstruction.

² my September big-camera choice was an EM1.ii or EM5.iii - but they were both out of my $reach. I decided to switch my big-little brands and hit some rather better deals. Two months later the price on used EM1.ii bodies had fallen by over $200, and I stumbled into a bargain GX85 to boot. Winner!

³ too late. Even 24 hours was too much to ask! After assisting a GX1 user on a forum site and praising the camera, I recognized that it has everything I need in a small backup. While I like the tip screen, internal charging and other GX85 features, .. the GX1 is just a great fit for me. So I found a deal at KEH and will send off several non-µ43 lenses and the '85 for a silver GX1. Now to find that key and throw it away, so the system truly locks!

flipping out

Kit mutation alert!

As I had planned but failed to execute three months ago, the 2021 kit will be big Oly/small Lumi. I ordered a used E∙M1b with 12k clicks a flash and 3 batteries, and a GX7b with its original accoutrements. The GX8 and ePL8 will now be going to more appreciative folks, and boxes of 'b's or 'ii's are coming soon :^)

Somehow, somewhere, this all makes sense. Sure it does.

What did I gain with this flip??  -  Good question! Let me see if it can be described in more detail.

In either case I have one small body with (my preferred) tilt touchscreen, and one high-end 20Mpx body with more capabilities, more inch³ for buttons and switches, and moisture seals. Going with the GX7.ii /gx85 I gain faster autofocus with DFD compared to the ePL8, I get the 4k features that allows the GX8 to depart, and I get charging via USB. This last has become a priority with both gx8 and epl8 dying at bad times recently; the gx7.ii has a short battery life but is absurdly easy to charge in the car, at home, or with the solar power-bank that I recently acquired. That will help - or at least it should, time will truly tell. On the down-ish side I lose the dedicated EV± from the GX8 (which I didn't like) and the AF/MF switch (which I will have to spend a precious button to replace).

superimposed, from camerasize.com

With the eM1.ii I get similar features to the GX8 - most of which I like, though the flipout screen is on both :^(. The 4k-photo features now descend to the smaller gx7.ii, and the eM1.ii takes over from the ePL8 with Oly's live time / composite features. Beyond that is a huge set of new features: top-notch sensor stabilization with stills and video, multi-shot hi resolution images, a different set of 4k video options, custom autofocus limiter (in body not lens!), and 400+ images per battery charge plus sleep modes and a possibility to add a battery grip.

Given the recent eM1.ii price drops on the used side, it's less of a reach than it was - but that assumes I can sell the two departing cameras at decent prices. Just before posting them, two others posted GX8 bodies to the virtual market, so I'll be dangling my bait in a different pond until at least one of those is gone. Inevitably this will (had better) make sense!

well now what's this?

 A happy surprise or two. 

The GX8 has arrived - and it isn't black. I expected a black in EX condition; this seems the right evaluation but a very shiny silvery shade of black! It's OK though, as I prefer this two-tone look, especially when the silver 20mm comes out to play; if they had labeled things right I'd have selected this copy anyway!

Here it sits with the new-to-itself Pentax 40mm XS lens. I seem to have sent off my relatively smart aperture-control adapter, but a hard rubber stop fits in the adapter and holds it at a preset opening (probably f/4ish). I've ordered another with the ap-control ring for sanity's sake.

With the 12-60mm lens it's a weather-compatible setup; with primes (including the 40) we have 8-20-40-60mm.. an adapted 90mm macro and 150mm*. That's a nice spacing.

* A Pentax 150/3.5 was just appended - did not expect that bid to hold up.

why the GX8, exactly? And why Now??

The GX8 is now my primary camera. 

My track record makes clear that I don't make good body choices* - yet here I sit typing bold statements like the one above.  It sure looks confident - especially for a camera that won't arrive for another week. One would think I should touch it first, perhaps? Yeah, that's not easy to do any more - especially with a camera no longer in production.

The GX8 has been around for five years, and in that time I've tried em5/10/10.ii and g7/8/gx85 bodies - and a YI M1. Yet I didn't try this one, and at several forks in the road I was sure that decision made sense.

Next week's kit

 So once everything is assembled, this will be my setup - sorta.

'pixco' 8 fish-eye -- Lumix 20/1.7 -- Σ DN 60/2.8

Lumix 12-60 -- Lumix 45-150 -- Zd 70-300 (4T)

Pentax da40xs (PK) -- Qtaray 90 2.8 (NF)

I say 'sorta' because I still have a few tests to crank out. I have several Nikon lenses that could be adapted with a 0.71x 'speed booster' (magification reduced by 0.71 leading to 1 stop more light concentrated). Tossing that into the mix makes things.. messy.

YN 35/2 = 25/1.4 -- YN 50/1.8 = 36/1.2 -- Sigma 18/3.5=13.8/2.5

A few other Nikon-F mount zooms could be used too.

This all comes down to usability: can such manual-only beasts be used comfortably on the GX8 with its larger grip? With µ43 it's the common problem, where the reduced depth of field is overcome with faster lenses, which add bulk, which (to most users) defeats the entire purpose of the smaller sensor that brings more compact lenses. Why carry a full35-scale Sigma 18mm And a focal reducer to match the Lumix 14/2.5 autofocus pancake lens?

Why indeed. All three will have work to do, to justify hanging around. I could use them as straight adapted lens without the added weight of speedboosting, which is what put the Quantaray 90 macro in the top list; that however leaves me with 35, 40 and 50mm primes of which only one would get used. 

(ah but which of the three? again, who knows..)

The Pentax 40 is in a unique place. I know its imaging characteristics and really like them, so its place in the lineup is pretty comfortable - meaning the two Yongnuo NF-mount primes are probably off to market. That 90 macro might fit as well as the Pentax, though bulkier - and it speedboosts to a 65mm f/2, putting the Sigma f/2.8 at risk! And the old Sigma 100-300 speedboosts to a faster 70-210, which tries (and likely fails) to bump the 4Thirds Olympus 70-300 from its weighty perch on the longer end.

Clearly the house of optical cards has not settled just yet. A few slow tests and some honest evaluation of how things feel in hand are in the works.

Nooo.. not again..

Confronted with the clear evidence, I was forced to accept defeat and plead no contest to the dreadful charge. My gear problem is not a Pentax thing: I can just as easily overspend on Nikon gear. No surprise - but very disappointing.

The punishment really isn't punitive: my 𝛍43 kit is in nice shape, in fact it's a bit bloated as well. The three bodies in hand is at least one too many, and yet the setup is incomplete in ways that allow other systems to appeal.

Here's my spontaneous list for what a kit should have to suffice as my single setup:

• Stabilized sensor
• Reasonably weather-protected
• Tilt screen for look-down shooting 
• Good viewfinder
• A body with many control switches/buttons but Not Dials (I don't "do" retro)
• And oh my yes, a great sensor and a cool feature or three.

Looking at my m4:3 options, it felt like my best two choices were Olympi, either eM5.iii or eM1.ii; both had the 20Mpx sensor, superb wx seals and IStab, and the Live features. The second camera should be a Lumix with 4k, but the gx85 and gx9 were not appealing to me. The gx1 was also an option, but prices have risen enough to justify keeping the gx7. That in turn was too good a camera to be my second option, leading to gear competition.

So it seems my choice was a higher end Lumix? Hey that's OK by me, since the ePL8 made for a Nice Camera In a Supporting Role.

Trouble is, which advanced Lumix? The G series was inexplicably not working for me (having tried g7 and g85) and the gx>7 failed to move my dials. A gh body wouldn't do either! Sad but true.

But not true?

The gx8 had pretty much everything on my list except the tilt screen. But it did have a tilt viewfinder, and an Excellent one by all accounts. Wx seals, dual iStab, 4k tricks, and the gx line that I enjoyed. Yes it also has an external EV± dial.. I expect I can manage just the one.

The online photographer can be accused of undue influence here. Mike was reviewing the gx9 and disparaging the gx7 from his perspective as a former gx8 user, and I realized how much the gx8 had damaged users'  later experience of newer bodies. Something about the oversize camera had stirred people - and I was ripe for stirring!

Also, an excellent copy could be had for less than the two Olympus 20Mpx bodies. Also also, the second body was already in hand, as was a recently reacquired 12-60 Lumix with weather seals.

I closed the deal this afternoon. Away goes the gx7, eM10ii, and most of the Nikon gear. Also I dismembered the µ43 prime setup, letting the rarely-used 14/2.5 and 30/2.8 slip away. Ironically, the 20-60 prime gap will be filled by a bizarre old friend, the Pentax DA40xs - an excellent lens, more crêpe than pancake though 'merely' f/2.8. 

A great kit - ok Another great kit will gather here soon, and a few Nikon primes will get a test drive on the gx8 and its larger grip before possibly going to market.

Looking forward not back! Well not much, now that this has been written..