Evolution
I started photographing at 16 years old with a Minolta SRT-101 and used Minolta equipment until the mid 1980s when I switched to Nikon and then switched to Canon when autofocus became available and Canon had developed image stabilization. For 15 years I used Canon equipment from ultra-wide angle to super telephoto. I switched to a Micro Four Thirds system largely due to size and weight and its outstanding performance.
In 2014 I started using the Olympus OM-D E-M10 micro four-thirds (M43 or MFT) mirrorless camera and two lenses for about 2 years along with my Canon gear before I decided that the capabilities of this format met my photographic needs. On top of that I became tired of traveling with 30-40 pounds of Canon equipment. I sold all my Canon equipment in 2016.
The benefits of M43 are the smaller equipment size, silent operation, fast burst mode up to 60 captures per second and incredible in-camera image stabilization. The downside is the low light noise performance is not as good as the larger sensor cameras, but innovation being what it is, this issue has improved with the OM-1. The M43 sensor is one-quarter the size of a full-frame sensor, therefore a 100mm lens provides the field of view of a 200mm lens. All other performance of the lens remains the same; the closest focusing distance is a benefit and the depth of field is what is should be for a 100mm lens at the same focus distance and aperture. Olympus is a great innovator of computational photography techniques.
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III camera body
Over the years I upgraded to the E-M1Mark I, then Mark II and in December 2020 purchased two Olympus E-M1 Mark III bodies. Many advanced features were added to this version of the Olympus flagship camera. Computational photography is a strong point of Olympus cameras. These include live neutral density mode, focus stacking, live composite, high-resolution shot, multiple exposure, and in-camera HDR. I have recently sold both of these cameras.
OM Digital Systems OM-1 Mark II camera body
A few added features to the original OM-1, noticeably live split neutral density filtering and better dynamic performance.
OM Digital Systems OM-1 camera body
After the purchase of Olympus camera division by OM Digital Systems, I purchased the OM-1 in 2023. This camera has many improvements which I am still exploring. I particularly like the expanded feature to change the function of the many buttons available on the body. I am now able to program a function, such as focus bracketing, to a button so that I can quickly select and adjust that feature instead of navigating through the menu to select the function and options.
Olympus Optics
The quality of the Olympus PRO series of lenses is without question well designed, from the optical quality at all zoom settings and apertures, to the weather sealing that allows me to shoot in snowfall without extra protection on the lens or the camera. MFT lenses are small compared to lenses designed for full-frame sensors since they need to project a smaller image circle at the sensor. Other major manufacturers have full frame and crop sensors but only build one lens designed for the full-frame sensor. The MFT is a 2X crop of a full-size sensor, resulting in the lenses having all the typical features of a full size lens, but the image size is ¼ of the full frame size. It is quarter size because it is half as wide and half as tall. So a 50mm MFT lens the same field of view as a 100mm lens on a full-frame sensor.
Olympus M. Zuiko ED 7-14mm f/2.8 Lens
Before purchasing this lens I did a shootout test with the Panasonic 7-14 f/4 and purchased the Panasonic lens since I decided the $400 increase in price was not worth the extra stop of performance. There is a tendency for the Panasonic lens to flare when shooting with a bright light near the center area of the lens. I sold that lens and purchased the Olympus lens due to less flare of the design, the faster aperture and the desire to try night sky photography.
NOTE: I recently sold this lens as I didn’t use it much in general photography, it is heavy, and cannot accept filters. I did replace some of the capability with:
Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 9mm f/1.7 ASPH
Lightweight, bright and sharp. A perfect lens for night time photography. I’ll add more infor once I get more experience with it.
Olympus M. Zuiko ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO Lens
This is the first lens I bought with the E-M10 to explore the Olympus system. A great general purpose lens. Has equivalent coverage of a 24-80mm lens on a full frame sensor.
Olympus M. Zuiko ED 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO Lens
The second lens I purchased prior to making the switch. Great walk around lens for nature subjects. Equivalent coverage of an 80-300mm f/2.8 FF lens and accepts 1.4x and 2x teleconverters without loss of quality. Close focus distance of 2.3 feet (70 cm) at all focal lengths and with teleconverters.
Olympus M. Zuiko ED 300mm f/4 PRO Lens
This lens is amazing, and super amazing when coupled with either the 1.4x or 2x teleconverters; all in a hand-holdable package. The lens weighs only 3.25 pounds, and is the size and weight of a FF 80-200 f/2.8. with the image stabilization of the lens integrated with the IS of the camera, I am able to capture sharp handheld images at 1/15 second of a subject that is not moving.
Olympus M. Zuiko ED 60 f/2.8 Macro Lens
This is the third lens I purchased in setting up my Olympus system since I do enjoy close up photography. Very sharp, and easy to use with several range settings to limit focus hunting. I’ve also used this lens with extension tubes and even with the 1.4x converter for more magnification. I sold this lens once I had some time with the 90 mm macro lens.
Olympus M. Zuiko ED 90 f/3.5 PRO Macro Lens
Many great features including a 2X magnification ration and built in image stabilization. A recent acquisition, I’m still learning how to use it.
Olympus M. Zuiko ED 12-100mm f/4 PRO Lens
A great walk-around lens that I purchased when I started doing cruises around and in Europe and England. No need to swap lenses or carry two bodies while walking around cities and their attractions.
1.4x Olympus Teleconverter
Teleconverters work quite well on a sharp lenses that they are designed to be matched, Olympus has done a great job with that, and I’ve use this with the 40-150mm and the 300mm lenses. However, they also work surprisingly well with the 60mm macro lens.
2x Olympus Teleconverter
Amazingly sharp. 2X converters used to be marginally acceptable and better than nothing. But with this converter attached to the 300mm lens, it provides the field of view of a FF 1200mm lens at f/8. And hand holdable with good technique.
10/16mm Extension Tube Set
I bought a generic extension tube set. There are no optics or electronics involved so this is a safe bet, performance wise. I can attach these to any of my lenses and they function as planned. I’ve have used them to achieve great magnification with a 1.4X converter and 10mm extension tube attached to my 60mm macro lens.
Wireless Cable Release
A cable release is useful for avoiding camera shake when taking long exposures, or when the image magnification is so great that a small movement in the camera shows up huge in the viewfinder. This happens when doing macro with extension tubes or when shooting long exposures on a tripod. While you can always use the self-timer of the camera for landscapes, it’s not as handy when the subject (insects, birds) is moving. I use radio connected remote triggers from Vello and Yongnuo. I also have a few cabled releases that I also use on occasion.
Flashpoint Flashes
There are not many flash systems to use with MFT camera systems. In addition to the flashes provided by Olympus and Panasonic, only Metz, Nissin and Godox/Flashpoint provide MFT compatible flash systems. I do a lot of off camera flash so my main requirement is to have an RF trigger and remote flashes. While Nissin does have that capability, I decided on Flashpoint, an Adorama branded version of Godox (in parenthesis) equipment. My current equipment consists of a Zoom Mini (TT350), a Zoom TTL (TT685) and an eVolv 200 (AD200). I use the Mini primarily for macro photography with a softbox, the Zoom TTL for more distant subjects, and the eVolv 200 primarily for hummingbird photography in various combinations with the other two flashes. The eVolv has a variety of heads including a bare bulb, a conventional flash head, and an LED head.
Flashpoint MF12 Macro Flash 2-Light Kit
This macro twin light is perfect for my macro photography in that it uses the same wireless transmitter as my other flashes. The mounting ring at the front of the lens can accommodate up to six of the flashes, although I don’t see a need for that at this point. I do however expect to use it in combination with the Zoom Mini to provide added light to the background when needed.
Softboxes/Diffusers
I have a variety softboxes for the flashes. My favorite for macro/close up photography is the Westcott Micro Apollo, a 5 x 8 inch collapsible softbox and a 4 x 5 inch generic one that are convenient to carry. I have 12 x 16 inch Photoflex LiteDome XS, and a Glow 25” Octo Softbox for the larger flashes.
Rechargeable Batteries and Charger(s)
In an attempt to be more green and to save weight when packing, I started using rechargeable batteries. I have an Everex four cell charger and a Power Ex 8 battery rapid charger, along with lots of batteries. If I am planning to use a lot of flash, as for high speed flash set ups, I’ll bring the 8 battery charger, otherwise I’ll bring the four cell charger or two. I also use a PowerEx 4 cell charger that also functions as a power bank when the batteries are charged
Filters
I have circular polarizing filters in a variety of sizes to fit my lenses, and a three stop ND filter. I also keep a couple of UV filters in the bag in the event I expect to be in a situation where nasty things may strike the front of my lens. I don’t use the ND filter much as the Olympus cameras have a computational ND filter that allows selecting up to a ND64 effect, complete with live view of the effect.
Benro 1580F Carbon Fiber Tripod
I purchased this lightweight tripod in 2013 to use on excursions where I wouldn’t need my big Canon telephoto. It was perfectly suitable for a full frame camera and 70-200mm 2.8 lens. It is also ideal for macro photography since small changes in height can be accomplished with the tripod center column; and the flip lock legs are also easy to adjust. I paired an Induro BHD-0 ballhead with this tripod.
Induro CLT204 Carbon Fiber Tripod
No longer needing my Gitzo 1348 carbon fiber tripod with my reduced weight Olympus equipment, I am able to use this lighter weight tripod for all my needs. I’ve always preferred a four section leg as that allows the tripod to fit into my carry-on luggage. I purchased the Induro BHL-1 ball head for this tripod as it is a bit more robust BDH-0. I have both long and short center columns, so that If I anticipate doing macro work, I can mount the short column and be able to get close to the ground with my camera.
PlatyPod MAX and PlayPod Ultra flat tripods
These ground pods are perfect for macro and close up work on the ground or on a table. I use a Giotto H-1003 ball head with an added arca swiss clamp on it for a camera platform, and use the Ultra with the short accessory spigot to mount a Litra led light on a Giotto MH-1004 ball head. I occasionally use the PlatyPod goosenecks to hold led lights on either plate and have also purchased a PlatyPod Handle which can be used on the plate to raise the ball head from 3- 10 inches high. This provides a great deal of flexibility.
Miscellaneous
There are plenty of odds and ends to take along; raincovers, small tools, a multi-tool, a macro kit (small scissors and tweezers), lens cloths, small towel, three extra camera batteries. I have a few lengths of green parachute cord that I removed the inner nylon cords to make a flat braided cord useful for pulling foliage out of the shot, or for placing a perch in a more suitable location.
Image Backup
I use a 128 GB and 64GB Lexar flash cards in each camera. I typically bring my laptop along with a 1TB portable hard drives and a flash card reader. In the evening, I’ll copy any flash cards that I have filled onto the hard drive. The large capacity of the memory cards, and the low cost of the devices, allows me to not reuse a card on a trip. I find that I don’t usually have a lot of time to edit images on a trip; I use the laptop to view the images and ensure that my equipment is functioning properly and that I am not making errors in settings.
Camera Bag
The big bag (backpack) for my Canon kit was a Moose Peterson MP-3 bag. This backpack is unsuitable for my Olympus gear as the lenses and bodies are too small to securely fit in the bag. Way too much depth. I have an old Tenba backpack from my film days which does fit all my gear. I’m considering either the new GuraGear Kiboku slim bag, WANDRD Prvke, or the Olympus backpack.
Belt Bags
I have several, no-longer-available belt bags, the Think Tank Skin Double Wide belt bag and the Skin Chimp Cage. While I was prepared to strap the Double Wide on a belt, I used it for a number of years with the two loops provided to use from a shoulder strap, finding this more comfortable, and easier to move around to get at things. The bag folds flat for packing as it only has thin padding on the belt side of the bag, and none anywhere else. There are two main compartments, two smaller pockets, and a pocket on the flap. One set up might be my flash, flash extender, brackets and cord, lens rain cover, extension tubes, and teleconverters if I was using my long lens. On walks through the rain forest where I had my mid-range zoom lens on the camera, I would carry the flash gear, reflector, a 150mm macro lens, and teleconverter. I purchased Thin Skin Belt to carry the two bags and also bought the shoulder strap kit for a trip to Antarctica. The entire belt rig fit into a dry bag so I could safely carry my gear from zodiac to wet landings on shore. I still use these bags individually with a shoulder strap.
ThinkTank Airport Airstream
Another ThinkTank product that is no longer manufactured, this bag is a small rollaboard that I can carry on the aircraft and fits all my Olympus equipment including a small laptop. This is perfect for trips where I won’t be needing all my equipment while out in the field. I use a small backpack with a Tenba BYOB 10 Insert in it, or just the Tenba bag with a shoulder strap.
Tenba BYOB 10
This “Bring Your Own Bag” size is perfect for a padded walk-around bag to carry a few items. It consists of a thin external bag with shoulder strap and a padded insert with zippered cover and several external pockets. The bag folds flat for convenient packing in my suitcase. I can carry a camera body with three lenses (7-12mm, 12-40mm and 40-150mm) and various accessories, or two bodies with two or three lenses.
Tenba Messanger DNA 11 Bag
Larger than the BYOB 10, this shoulder bag is perfect for outings where I’ll need my laptop in addition to my camera gear. I can carry all the gear I would need for a close-up photography session including flashes and softboxes.