Which system

kodachrome

15 Dec 2011 - 9:03 AM

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Hi all

I own and use 2 different systems, one is a Nikon D5000 with a Nikon 18-105 lens fitted and my other is a Olympus E-620 with a 14-54 F/2.8 fitted. They both take superb pictures.

The Nikon lenses are large and bulky due to the IS and are not that cheap if you want a good performing one.

So I have a body stabilized Olympus and a lens stabilized Nikon. Not all Nikon lenses are stabilized where as it does not matter on the Olympus. To build up a system with several extra lenses, which system would you choose, In camera IS: Olympus, Pentax, Sony, or lens based IS: Canon, Nikon, Panasonic?

Any views on this.

Pete

Steppenwolf

15 Dec 2011 - 9:23 AM

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I don't think it would be a factor in my system choice. There are advantages/disadvantages to each IS system - BTW, in-lens IS doesn't really make a lens significantly more bulky. If I were buying a system now I'd go for Micro 4/3 and get a Panasonic - mainly because Panasonic have a decent built-in EVF. I think FF and APS-C are larger formats than necessary for most people now given the advances in sensor technology. They're legacy systems and if you don't have any legacy lenses there's no reason for an amateur to buy such a large format. UNLESS you find that you can't get the lenses you want of course. That's still a bit of a problem at the moment - no long telephotos for a start.

thewilliam

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15 Dec 2011 - 10:44 AM

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Take a look through your favouite pix and count up how many were done with each camera system. Expand whichever system gave you the most peaches.

Steppenwolf

15 Dec 2011 - 1:12 PM

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G3 looks the best value. The GH2 is due to be replaced soon but it's more expensive because it's got better video features.

If you want to use the camera for video it's true to say that in-lens IS is preferable. The moving sensor method uses a lot of power, makes a noise, and also generates heat. I think - someone please correct me if I'm wrong - that the Sony A77 uses digital (software) IS when in movie mode, for this reason, which is not ideal.

Steppenwolf

15 Dec 2011 - 2:34 PM

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Quote: I'm interested in your observation of the moving sensor systems being more noisy, Hmmm, I need to research that.



You can hear it, just. The thing is that on a stills photo the sensor only begins moving when you press the shutter and it stops when the photo is taken - at least that's the way it works on Sony stuff, Olympus may be different. So the actual time it's activated is small. You can hear it if you set a long exposure though.

Steppenwolf

16 Dec 2011 - 8:53 AM

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I think the general rule of thumb is that you can hand hold provided the shutter speed is equal or less than 1/(35mm equiv lens focal length). So for a 300mm lens on a 1.5 crop camera would be OK at 1/450 sec or faster. IS gains you between 2 and 4 stops (depending on who you believe) so, if it's 4 stops, you can hand hold a 300mm at about 1/100 sec. So IS allows you to use, say, ISO800 rather than ISO3200 which is a significant advantage. IS isn't much use on short lenses as you say - it should in theory help when you use very slow shutter speeds but in my experience it doesn't seem to work very well at slow speeds.