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.

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When I need subtle colour or tone transitions the D810 is my best choice.

Or when I do not have or want to carry a "proper camera" there is the iPhone.

Or my little LX100, my street camera.

I think my photographic interests are common to many here, travel, landscape, events and such. Nothing very specialist or extreme

I hope this thread usefully puts the eternal format diatribe into some little perspective.

UPDATE 

I wanted a one lens solution for hiking. A Nikon Z7 with a 24-200 weighed the same as the M43 alternative I was considering. I went with the Z7, for its superior sensor. My hiking kit is was up until recently a Z7 with 24-200 as well as the 14-35 F4 and a 50mm macro. For my usage the Z7 made the M43 system obsolete for me. I now need just one camera for all my lenses, including the old F mount lenses. 

For post processing I can pull far more details out of the shadows with a Z7 file compared to an M43 file. I have larger dynamic range at base ISO and less noise in high ISO shots. IBIS with the Z7 is very good down to 1/15. 

My hiking travel kit has had another 2025 update. I still use the Z7 (getting a bit battered) but I use a 14-35F4 and 28-400 for travel and hiking. The high resolution sensor means I can crop to APS and my 400 becomes 600. The 28-400 is about the same weight as the Panasonic 100-300. 

My new Z8 is replacing the D850 as it is button driven for many controls that I use, such a bracketing. My F lenses work flawlessly with the FTZ adapter. The DSLR is becoming redundant for me.  

The latest iPhone made the LX100 redundant for street. M43 remains a valid system for travel and hiking, if you use the right lightweight lenses, or the 12-100. Remember the image quality is almost on a par with medium format film.For shots taken in good light, and which need little post processing M43 is still a very valid choice. There is nothing wrong with my old M43 frames