The Indecisive Moment: When do I reach for M43 and when do I reach for something else?

This is a Thread I made on the DPR Forum in 2019. My opinions have changed as the Nikon Z system removed my need to run two systems, as the Z7 + 24-200 is a very powerful and lightweight travel solution, and I can also use it for my more static photogrphy with shift lenses, via the FTZ. But it was a nice thread, that unfortunately got a lot of hostile comments at the time. But M43 remains in my opinion, a really valid travel camera system.

When do I reach for M43 and of course when do I reach for something else?

Well the EM5 came along when I was doing a lot of hiking in the high Apennines. A nice three lens kit that covers 7mm-100mm is easy to carry on a long day hike. I sometimes throw the nice 60mm macro in the rucksack too.

Italy is very hot and often humid. For this trip to Bergamo in summer I was out and about all day and my three-lens set up gave me versatility and low weight and less sweat.

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Bologna, I had my compact kit in my briefcase and after a work appointment I had time to explore the city.

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It was easier persuading the custodian to let me take some pictures with my little “unprofessional” looking camera. Photography was not allowed here.

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A two hour walk to get to this place where I new I wanted the longest lens possible. The 100-300 is a sweet little lens that gets the job done without killing myself with a heavy lens.

The 100-300 on a tripod was transportable whilst taking a series of shots around this railway station by Calatrava. M43 is great with long lenses.

My EM5 fits in my briefcase. It was the obvious choice when I wanted to record a steel structure my studio designed for my web site.

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A crowded club where the notoriously grumpy Carl Palmer was playing. My EM5 with the little 35-100 was discrete, silent and face detect work a treat. Same for the other concert shot. The quality is more than fine.

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Then there are occasions when I reach for something else.

I needed to pull a lot of detail out of the shadows on this shot taken on a medieval road in the Apennines. My D700/ 810 lets me work a lot on the files before unacceptable noise sets in.

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I am doing a lot more architectural photography. A Nikon PC lens, plus an old D700 cost me less than a good lens. The results are more natural and more controllable than key stoning in post.