Analog Insights:
In this video, Jules and I review the Olympus PEN F which is probably the best and most-advanced 35mm half-frame camera ever produced. It comes with a beautiful design, very small form factor, great handling, and solid build quality. Take a look at our review to learn more and see quite some sample photos.
You can buy the analog PEN-F on eBay.
Robin Wong:
After numerous requests, finally I managed to get my hands on a loaner Olympus M.Zuiko 75-300mm F4.8-6.7 Mark II from Olympus Malaysia, and I thought why not shoot some cute animals at the National Zoo? Do come along with me as I test the Olympus 75-300mm lens in this mini review, is the lens really soft as many have complained? Is 300mm full zoom that bad? Be warned – many photographs of cute cats in this video. I personally think the Olympus 75-300mm is a budget-friendly lens that is a great starter for wildlife, sports and bird shooters, having compact and lightweight build yet delivering surprisingly sharp images, in contrast with the popular reports out there.
This video is made in accompaniment with a blog review here: https://robinwong.blogspot.com/2020/0…
Get the lens on Amazon.
Analog Insights:
In this video, Jules and I review the original Olympus Pen which was built between 1959 and 1964. It comes with an excellent lens and is the very first creation of the legendary camera designer Yoshihisa Maitani. Watch the video to learn all about the history of the camera, the different production runs, and, of course, how the camera handles and performs.
You can buy the analog PEN-F on eBay.
Robin Wong:
Since I am still pretty much stuck at home due to the lockdown, I can’t go out to shoot, so I do apologize in advance for the less than appealing image samples. I thought it would be fun to compare the high ISO performance between two cameras – the original Olympus OM-D E-M5 versus the E-M5 Mark III, and see how much improvement there is specifically when it comes to high ISO shooting. Does the newer 20MP image sensor make much of a difference?
Analog Insights tested an Olympus mirrorless camera of another kind :)
In this video, we review the Olympus XA which is one of the smallest 35mm cameras with all the features a serious photographer could wish for. It comes with an excellent 35mm f/2.8 Zuiko lens, built-in lightmeter and aperture priority mode, and true rangefinder focusing. The camera is also the last masterpiece of the legendary Olympus camera designer Yoshihisa Maitani – and bears quite some resemblance to his first creation, the Olympus Pen. Take a closer look at our review to learn more.
TheWireCutter reviewed the latest mirrorless models and concluded the Olympus E-M10III is actually your best choice:
The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III doesn’t represent the absolute pinnacle when it comes to image quality, but it does capture great-looking images, and it excels in other areas that matter more when you want to get the perfect shot. It’s compatible with more than 100 Micro Four Thirds lenses that all work with its effective built-in image stabilization, which minimizes the effects of shaky hands for clearer images. And its small size means you’re more likely to bring this camera with you than a bulky DSLR or even a larger mirrorless camera. The camera’s autofocus (AF) system locks on to subjects quickly and accurately and remains accurate even in dimly lit situations that cause any AF system, including this one, to slow down.
Although the auto modes are reliably great, the E-M10 III also has manual control knobs and buttons and a tilting touchscreen, which make this model one of the better-handling cameras in its class. Its built-in Wi-Fi lets you transfer images to your phone to share with your family, friends, and Instagram followers. You can also use the Wi-Fi to trigger the shutter and change most of the settings from across the room using your smartphone. And despite its great performance and advanced features, it typically costs a couple hundred bucks less than its closest competitors.
E-M10III kits at GetOlympus, BHphoto, Adorama and Amazon.
Thanks David!
The Japanese website Fujiya-blog.com (google translation here) posted the world’s first Voigtlander Nokton 60mm f/0.95 MFT Review. The conclusion:
As I mentioned earlier, the Voigtlander NOKTON 60mm F0.95 MFT is a very good lens, including the bokeh.
It’s a bad word to say, but it was a bit of a spec, so I thought about a special application, but it has a good image and individuality that makes a big difference to other lenses in extremely general portraits and landscapes. And I think you are.
In particular, the beauty of bokeh seems to be at the highest level among the Voigtlander lenses I have ever experienced, and it may be said that this lens is the most attractive.
Large, heavy, and expensive lenses require appropriate preparedness both to carry and to purchase, but I think they will respond to photographers with good image quality and unique output.
