The Power Of Micro Four Thirds
The other day I photographed the late Autumn concert at the school I work for.
The scenario included all of the gems of problem solving photography.
No noise (from me) preferred.
Long working distances and limited angles (limited movement).
Poor light (reasonable levels but mixed colour).
No clear idea of what to expect.
In other words, the usual.
A year or two ago, this would have scared me a little more than I would like to have admitted.
Not sure what to expect, but with one huge plus, the ability to pack what ever I need and work out of a big bag, I literally did just that.
The Neewer back pack got 4 cameras with everything from my 8-18 through to the big 300mm. My very fast 75 (150e), fast 40-150 (300e), less fast but good 300 (600e) allow me to start short and safe, then go longer as needed and when able. I am surprised how often I can pull off longer.
A quick test/filler shot, the sort used on the front of yearly reports or programmes etc. Hand held 300 f4 wide open (600mm equivalent), 1/30th sec, ISO 1600, EM1x, processed in Capture 1. Pretty much every part of that sentence was not possible last year.
Same stats, real life subject (guest performer and an adult so ok to use). Yes she has skin like alabaster.
I cannot imaging getting anything like this last year.
Lightroom, with an EM1 mk2 (which is a much less exciting prospect in LR*), with my 150 f2.8 heavily cropped or 300 f6.7 kit zoom (less sharp at 300, more than a stop slower and no stabiliser in lens).
I would never really have been able to get this shot. I got lucky some times, but I feel now that luck is not the key.
I am getting used to eyelash sharp, clean higher ISO shots with noise that rarely intrudes and the reliability of the newer cameras to just get the shot.
Oh, and the DoF of M43 can still be too shallow :).
Ironically, my big issue at the moment is choice when editing. I am getting a high hit rate to pick from, which is making me harden up as an editor. The shot above was one of half a dozen or so, all sharp.
*I obsessed about the relative quality difference between the EM1 mk2 and the G9 Pana or EM1x, which it turns out is more of an Adobe issue. In C1, I barely ever register any difference.