Thanks For The Offer..........
As one of the full time photographers, I now have my own kit.
Nikon D750 (soon to be upgraded I hope), a decent condition 14-24 (heeeaavy), ok 24-70 and a near new 70-200 (latest edition) are the core. There are other bits, but basically that is it……oh except for a monster 400 f2.8!
Is there really any choice? One needs a chair, a monopod, health cover, the other can be worn painlessly.
Above is a real world test taken in the office. The Nikon monster (below) was resting on my knee at 1/80th, auto ISO, the Oly was held at the same shutter speed. The Nikon files were a little under, which of course I did not notice, being used to WYSIWYG photography. The first crop was about the same relative to the actual image taken (400 vs 600), the tighter one was a less fair same size to the eye crop.
On very close inspection, the Oly image is sharper down to pixel level, but either can do the job. The big consideration is how they do it. Funny to think the lens that is getting closer actually has more depth of field. The reality is, I think my 40-150 on an EM1x (as a 300) can match the big girl above even with a 4mp and 100mm handicap.
The Big Nikon is limiting due to size, the Oly is not. The Oly can be used in tandem with a 40-150 on a second body. The Nikon can be used with a second camera, but requires some “handling”, which means it is not fast or easy to do. You don’t leave things lying around at big games, so being able to run, lay down, get up and run again without dropping anything is priceless.
I have managed with the Oly kit to shoot the kicker of a ball with the long lens, then switch to the shorter lens to catch the mark only meters in front of me. The combination of stabilising, portability, empathic focussing, one hand operation and no residual fatigue add up to more chances.
This then leads us to process. The Nikon takes from me exposure preview, post capture playback and nearly uninterrupted vision as well as my electronic shutter. It is smooth enough, but going back to a relatively dim view finder with little useful information feels fragile and distracting.
Now for the rest of the kit.
Like for like (roughly). I am currently buying a smaller bag. Maybe the big Domke f804 is the one for the Nikon kit?
The only lenses that are similar in size are the 70-200 and Oly 40-150, but in reality the tiny 35-100 Pana is the actual equivalent!
It is mine to use and I may well do so, out of curiosity if nothing else, and I will play the game so the powers that be do not think we can all run our own gear.
Funny how my once dream kit is actually now an impractical, unattractive option.