µ4/3 Micro Four Thirds

I joined this forum yesterday,  its an excellent site, just wish I had found it long before now !  The site will give me a mass of written information and a vast array of photos, this will make travel planning a whole lot easier and more interesting.

As a keen photographer I am wondering if many members are using the micro 4/3 cameras from Panasonic and Olympus ?  I have the Panasonic G1 and love it, and I am a keen supporter of everything µ4/3.    Mick 

Straight over my head Mick! As you gather from that statement I know very little about photography, a point and shoot merchant me! LOL

However, we have some very knowledgeable photographers here in the forum and it's only a matter of time before they respond.

Thanks for the kind words about the POE website, I know Chris and Sarah appreciate it.

Hi Mick:  Welcome to POE.  I'm a point and shooter and proud of it!  lol.  I need all the help I can get, but the magic of digital sure makes it easier to practice.  I've not used the micro cameras, but as Ron pointed out, we have many keen and excellent photographers here who will be able to offer advice on any photography question.  Keep coming around, you will grow to love it here as we all do.

Hi Mick; you know, only yesterday I took my Canon G12 around Wiltshire. Taking a photo of the church at Sherston, I could have asked it-- How do I stop the clouds from burning out?   How do I make them standout more against the blue sky? How can I minimise converging verticals ( US keystoning) ? For all it's sophistication and seemingly endless controls, it wasn't able to answer any of these questions just like your micro 4/3rds cams can't. 

Picture by Paul Hilton

Paul, lets take a look !  To make clouds stand out against the blue sky we can in effect do that "in reverse", by making the sky a deeper blue.  A polariser filter could be used.  That said you will not see the effect with the G12's direct vision finder so you will need to use the rear screen, not the easiest of tasks I will admit.

Converging verticals are a real pain. With some DSLR  cameras a tilt / shift (PC) lens is available but there are few about.  Short of gaining height there is only one other answer.  Some people use computer software to fix it, its available but I do not use it, not very good with computers !

 Highlight burn out is still, I think, the main problem with digital.  The µ4/3 cameras use a much bigger (physical size) sensor than the G12 which helps with dynamic range but problems still remain.  I am aware that even full frame cameras - 5D- etc are not problem free.

In my original post I was simply asking if other members were using µ4/3.  I was not suggesting that they are problem free or that they will take away all photo concerns !! 

Paul.  Sorry but a bit lost here.  Auto ?  I did say to Ron that all cameras have an auto mode but I did not mean that I use it all the time as Av or Sv modes are often required.  If I use auto then I will say so, but I suspect that some people would not admit it !   

Just a point of interest.  AP mag tested the G1 against the then current Nikon full frame.  At LOW ISO the G1 recorded more fine detail resolution than the Nikon but at HIGH ISO the Nikon won.  As I only use (99%) low ISO I am very pleased with the G1.  Now it seems that the GH3 with its contrast detect AF is as fast as most phase detect DSLR's.  With my neck problem I cannot manage a heavy camera so the µ4/3 is ideal.  How long can Nikon / Canon avoid µ4/3 production ?