This is the bit where I do feel a little out of control.

Most of my lens choices were either needed in sme (justifiable?) way or were effectively costless due to kit bargains or trades with friends etc. Cameras are the working mechanisms of photography, so it is realistic to say your kits life span is measured in working camera lives, but still… .

(4 but really 1) EM5 Mk1. The cameras that started it all. I only have one reliable one left, three with various issues, but working in some way and if I could I would grab a new one, but alas, there are none. The sensor in the original OM-D is special especially in high ISO shooting. The review button was always oddly placed, they have no tracking focus (but are still fast in first grabs) and 3 of my 4 had a little crack in the rear screen housing that compromised their weather proofing, but otherwise, I love these little guys. They are all tired, they have earned a rest. I only the other day realised that almost all my Japan images were taken with these and processed in Lightroom. End of an era.

(2) EM10 Mk2. These are my “shutter savers”, used for low octane school jobs, but also good travel cameras. The sensor is an evolution of the EM5’s but the images are a little different. I have found they shine with flash images at events and the silver one is my lucky camera for those times. Even though these feel light weight, a cheap ebay Arca-Swiss grip plate has added some serious heft to one and the original grip rounds out the other. The silver one also seems to really like the Leica 15mm, so I use this combo as often as I can. The black one has a slightly dicky card release spring, so I feed out by cable and they are both past worn in, so we will see.

(1) EPM2-mini. The little red Pen that shares the same sensor as the EM5 mk1’s has taken some of my favourite images and tends to go unnoticed as a street camera, likely due to its amateurish good looks. Matched to the 17 or even 14-42 kit, it is the shoot-from-the-hip option. This may be the last original sensor body I will have soon, so special. Really want to take it back to Japan for one last go.

(1) Pen F. My personal camera and a modern classic. With a lean towards contemplative documentary style shooting, studio portraits and landscapes, it has its quirks, but these tend to force purer work flows, so all good. Wish it was weatherproof, but the bulk of the lenses I like to use it with aren’t either (75, 45, 17).

(2) EM1 Mk2’s were my workhorse cameras up to now. They did the lions share of work for the school, daily editiorial for the paper and some travel. The oldest one looks a bit rough, but that is clumsy tape used to hold the handle rubber down which started to lift a little and I got carried away. It is actually quite comfortable. With the lastest firmware the AF is close to as good as any EM1’s and I have found the gripped one is a very good pairing with my 40-150 f2.8. I like this also because the grip allows the strap to run from right top to right underneath. One card door is sticky some times and they have done a decent amount of work. The main issue I have with them is the lack of the little “nubbin” control.

(2) G9. The Panasonic G9’s are in my opinion the best value M43 cameras on the market. Still in the top two Panasonics for stills and a competitive video option, they are very attractive no matter how you look at them. AF performance for sports is far better with a Panasonic lens on, workable but odd with Olympus, so I use an Oly for long lenses and the Panas with standard-shorter because they are very responsive in close. I trust the face detect AF and static stabiliser performance for video more than even the EM1x’s and they sit between the EM1x and the EM1.2’s for ISO and image performance. The sensor or processor are different to the Oly’s providing brighter and more delicate images, that can seem a little thinner, and the two brands respond differently to each others lenses. I often mix Pana and Oly gear for effect. The 12-40 is especially good for video, taming the sensors lighter look and adding proper MF.

(2) EM1x, this super camera is the top of the pile offering for stills capture, also very good 4k video and is the ultimate for handling, durability, AF and stabilising. My original EM1x is at the moment my primary sports camera usually mounted with the 300 (outdoor) or 75 (indoor), but I may soon shift the new/second hand one into day to day work and may well just use the EM1x’s for work. They are supremely customisable (except for video), even down to the AF configurations and the uncluttered layout which really helps with operation. The EM1x also handles electronic shutter issues (banding etc) better than the other cameras and the poor pre-amps for sound are improved over the EM1 mk2’s. They are big, but not overly heavy and the benefit of the extra real estate is genuine.

Too much? I guess so, but I am the sort of person who likes to be prepared now, not chase replacement gear as needed. My work horse kit is duplicated and interchangeable as well as offerring a dual video or dual stills combination.

The personal cameras are either surplus or kept as task specific units. The Pen F is a delight, but not practical, the EM10’s are ideal for static sork or travel and the Pen mini is likely to be my last of the early generation sensors.

The two EM1x’s are there for a reason. Built in grips and extra durability are not always necessary, but when they are, the best cameras are at hand.