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Today, professional comic book artist/photographer Tom Nguyen details his full switch from Canon DSLRs to micro 4/3rds on his blog, with many examples of his work with the Olympus OMD-EM5.
“Coming from the Canon DSLR system professionally, I found it more cumbersome to carry around my equipment for my on-location photoshoots and for traveling. I feel that the micro four thirds system is the best mirrorless system for my increasing mobility needs now as it is the best compromise in size/image quality. The Olympus OMD-EM5’s autofocus speed/reliability, weather sealing, IBIS, ability to add a battery grip, and vast array of lenses for the m43 system is what made me choose it over over systems such as Fuji and Sony.
My blog entries show the OMD in use, for my model jobs and as a travel camera. For example, I relied on the OMD (and my E-PL5) for my Vietnam trip this year, whereas last year I had all my Canon equpiment.
Moreover, I wanted to show that in the end, it is the artistic eye, lighting, composition, and storytelling that will always be the main factors to determine a pleasing photo, no matter what system one may choose. I hope readers will follow me on my website as I put this system through its paces in the upcoming many gigs that I will document.
In 2 parts, professional comic book artist/photographer Tom Nguyen details his full switch from Canon DSLRs to micro 4/3rds on his blog, with many examples of his work with the Olympus OMD-EM5.
From DSLR to Micro Four Thirds Part 1:
http://tomnguyenstudio.com/blog/2013/5/27/from-dslr-to-micro-four-thirds
From DSLR to Micro Four Thirds Part 2:
http://tomnguyenstudio.com/blog/2013/5/28/from-dslr-to-micro-four-thirds-part-2
Earlier this year, he used only the OMD and E-PL5 for a trip to Vietnam. Many of those photos can be seen in this gallery:
http://tomnguyenstudio.com/vietnam-2013/
And most recently, Tom put up some street photos he took on his trip to New Orleans, Louisiana:
http://tomnguyenstudio.com/blog/2013/7/15/some-photos-whilst-in-new-orleans“
47 Responses
m4/3 -> Olympus well done !!!
I like this kind of posts. Much valuable than just rumours 🙂
very often comments do not appear!!!…
In your case alexander, that is a good thing
Nice. Very well done.
Nice Vietnam series, the rest is not my taste and looked like pointless sleaze.
An interesting transition nevertheless,
He wasn’t hasty in his judgments but it was was a rather gradual realisation.
I especially enjoyed when he sampled the quality the OMD had to offer…..it seemed like no going back after that.
He’s getting paid for photos and has to deliver expected result no matter what, of course he can’t just simply jump into another system. For someone doing photography only as a hobby you can switch systems just on a whim or for fun, just to use and experiment with new camera. Using new camera can be as much fun as getting good photos.
Rather a standard story about switching system, was hoping he would let see some of his comic work. some nice photowork though, especially the 20mm shot of the bikini model.
+1
btw that image of Tom with that huge combo hangin around his neck is typical and makes me sometimes think that photographers are masochists…great setup though
It’s definitely nice to see that more and more professionals are making the switch. Nice work, Tom.
Thanks!
Well the model is pretty, I guess we all see why, but the other pics are on dilettante level. Not good publicity for anyone.
The mini e-books by McGillicuddy, on the other hand, are interesting; read them and try to learn something, instead of discussing your pathetic “gear”.
you should also check the portfolio section on his site.
It’s called the digital age where gear is a fact of life. Deal with it 🙂
It’s called consumerism and ignorance.
Bollox don’t ‘ave any.
This is nice but I’m moving to an exactly opposite direction !
Problem with Olympus is that they do not offer any m43 ergonomically nice body and yes I been have trying many m43 cameras (E-PL2, E-P3, E-P5, E-M5 + Panasonic GH2, GF3) during 2 years. I would say that the best one was an E-P3. Problem is too low DR + some very crazy shooting behaviour (small center AF point does not work with auto overexposure highligting enabled, for changing mysets you have to dive into a menu, …).
The biggest disappointment for me was E-M5. Maybe I was expecting a way too much but well its buttons construction, feeling and location destroyed any other good feature that this camera offers !
It’s sad because I quite like that PEN weight and size factor but Pentax is going to be my next station now …
At some point you will discover, much to your chagrin, that the problem doesn’t lie with your equipment.
Good luck though.
I always liked Pentax although never really used it 😉 It is rumored that they might release a new pro body in autum – seems interesting to me.
Checked out the first link, I appreciate the eye candy Tom has in his YouTube video 😉
It’s not the first time I read a report on AF headaches with the 7D (or other high end Canons). Interestingly, most users feel comfortable admitting that not everything is perfect in Canonland only after they have upgraded or switched systems. Is it the usual tribal trait where loyalty is rewarded by a threatened community or maybe those cameras show their age in weakening AF accuracy? IMO the simple explanation to this phenomenon is lack of perspective, just like in the case of Fuji’s customers. As far as AF goes, you can hear the breath of relief from every new m4/3 user.
Yeah I also read some report too, especially with fast EF lens on APS-C bodies.
I recently bought an OMD after literally months and months of deliberation. I had a GF1 before that, but when I’ve shot weddings I’ve never used that at all, just shot exclusively Canon. Yesterday I had a wedding and took my new OMD along with me, and the Panny 20mm, Oly 4.5 1.8 and Oly 60mm 2.8. And I tell you what, the OMD was an absolute dream to use and I took 3 times as many pictures with that than with the Canon (7D) with 27-70 L lens. It was so much fun, it never let me down once and I prefer the pictures I get from it completely. The OMD has really shown us what these cameras can do, as mentioned I had a GF1 but if I had any paid work to do I’d always use the Canon, the GF1 was for nights out and travelling. The OMD is now my main camera, 100%. Nice articles Tom, I’m with you on this completely!
Wow, thanks for everyone’s comments/kind words! I expected to be bashed/ trolled to death but it’s all good fun here 😉
Best,
Tom
Hey Tom that bashing is still possible, maybe because its sunday it seems overly friendly here 😉
It’s already started 😉
Admin
There is a trailing space in the link to the New Orleans page. Confuses some browsers.
Tom,
Nice artwork as well photographs!
– David
Thanks, David!
Tom, great stuff but what do you think of the m4/3 iq at base iso and raw file quality in comparison to your Canon 5d?
Charles, it’s very close, I still feel I can push and pull 5D raw files a bit better for my post process needs at base ISO. But very close. Goes to show great its ancient full frame sensor was.
Thank you, Tom
Another post about some unknown pro stranger that has changed his photography gear to something we use to justify in our minds our pathetic spendage of money…..who cares, get on with it. It’s all just bologna. Go out and shoot with whatever you like. It doesn’t matter one bit.
I just realized that my post seems disrespectful to the photographer. That was not my intent…but you know what I mean
Nope, i don’t know what you mean. And i do care about this article, it’s interesting to read about different use of m4/3 gear, especially by pros. Where you have to deliver results that will satisfy clients and how people deal with image of “pro always has huge camera, if not, you’re not pro”.
Btw, why you even visit a RUMORS site, if you don’t care about such things and just making photos with whatever you like? 😀
p.s.
Why i have to justify spending money on a hobby? More like, how you can even link this kind of thing with article about pro switching systems?
I check 5 rumor sites daily and 43rumors is the only one where users constantly pat themselves on the back for being the smartest of the bunch and poke fun at DSLR and other mirrorless users.
Is it really necessary to exaggerate m4/3 and call DSLR users dumbass even if it is yourself? In fact, his 1st trip is a disaster because he over packed and not because of the camera. Who takes two pro bodies and 2 L lenses on a trip and complaint about aching neck? He can easily get the same IQ if he carries a SL1, K-50, D-3200 with kit lens. In fact, a RX100 will be even easier to carry on a trip.
People should be allow to decide what’s most important to them and buy the necessary gears without being ridiculed.
Good points. Acute observation.
Wonder if Nguyen would have done the same if he was a Nikon D600/800/D4 user?
Agreed.
Nice observation, but maybe partly true. You have to take into consideration that it was his first trip to Vietnam (presumably his motherland) so I am sure there was an urge to try to take everything in and not to miss a shot. On his subsequent trips, though there’s a change of gear, presumably his mentality also changed a lot (having been there once and knows what to expect) so knows the right camera or lenses to take.
I didn’t see a single comment stating that DSLR users are dumbasses in this post.
About other rumor sites, we see the “patting in the back” a lot on Fuji Rumors too, and that’s all fine.
On Canon/Nikon/Sony rumor sites, it would be surprising to see comments making fun of DSLRs, since those companies make both mirrorless and DSLR/SLT designs.
I don’t the find the self-congratulation here that disturbing. The trolling and aggressive posts are much more an issue.
Paul is correct; I didnt call DSLR users dumbasses. I merely felt like one from many uncomfortable stares carrying a DSLR to situations that didnt really call for it. DSLRs are fine, I had no problem whatsoever with the image output/quality in any way (other than my 7D). I just choose to carry around something smaller these days that can still give me good image quality.
You called yourself dumbass for carrying a large camera and how it makes your grandma uncomfortable. On the 2nd trip you contributed your success to having a smaller m4/3 camera and talk about how your new setup is superior to your Canons.
Good read and a bunch of very nice drawings and photos. I especially like Tom’s comic style retouched photos, no matter which system was used to shoot the original image.
The most interesting aspect to me is that finally a pro photographer admits to not having any problems retouching his mFT images. Yes, there is more lattitude with bigger sensors but with an image correctly lit for the planned retouching, i’ve not had any problems doing heavy post processing with FT and mFT images for years.
@Admin: thanks for posting the link to Tom’s blog, Didn’t know it and think it is very well worth to be bookmarked.
Thanks!
By a strange coincidence. There’s fellow willing to try OMD and $$$ lenses for 5D3 here.
http://www.bccamera.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=9002&sid=1f0d5ca46eaa7f93734bd7f6748571a9