copyright of Andre Arthur.
……..
This is a guest post from Andre Arthur. If you want to write an article for 43rumors just contact me (Ale) at 43rumors@gmail.com. Thanks!
All images on this post are under copyright of Andre Arthur. Credits:
Fashion Editorial for The Gallerist / http://www.gallerist.com.br
Photography: Andre Arthur / http://andre-arthur.com
Model: Carolina Thelin / Women Management NYC
Styling: Mari Cassou
Hair & Make Up: Emma Jean
——
Hi! Here`s my story shooting with the OM-D.
My name`s Andre Arthur and I`m a brazilian fashion photographer. My main gear is a Canon 5D Mark III with a 24-70 II and a 70-200 II. But I always loved the M 4/3 system. My first camera of this system was a Panasonic GF1, with a 20mm and a 14-45. That was something that I used most for casting and location scout, but never for something really big.
When I went to NYC last year, I`ve changed my M43 gear for an [shoplink 29074]Olympus OM-D[/shoplink], with a [shoplink 23110]25 PannyLeica[/shoplink] and a [shoplink 34914]17 Oly[/shoplink] and [shoplink 23577]45 Oly[/shoplink].
On the beginning of this year, on April, I went back to NYC to shoot a fashion editorial. Well, I had no photo assistant and I must shoot a lot of looks. So I decided not to take my Canon gear, but the Olympus one. That was when I realised how powerful is that big little camera.
FIRST OF ALL, IT`S FAST.
I used to shoot a lot of continuous shots, with the girl walking and crossing the streets. That was amazing how fast and accurate the OM-D could be.
IT`S NOT HEAVY, SO YOU DON`T GET TIRED
As I wasn`t with a photo assistant, I had to carry my laptop and all my Olympus gear. So I bought an ONA Bag called The Bovery at B&H. It`s a messenger bag, with a shoulder strap, that`s light and divided inside. Using that bag, I could change lenses and carry batteries and memory cards without the help of a photo assistant. My laptop was inside a backpack.
FOCUS
Even using the widest apertures, focus was accurate. I could completely trust on my camera and worry with the composition and not with the focus.
Gallerist A/W 13 from Andre Arthur on Vimeo.
VIDEO
While I was shooting, I made a fashion film. So I was using a small Manfrotto Shoulder to shoot this movie clips. That was amazing and video quality really surprised me.
LOW LIGHT PERFORMANCE AND HIGH ISO
For this editorial, I shot a LOT of night shots. I was really afraid of how the focus would be. Well…again, highly accurate. ISO is amazing until 800. 1600 is extremely usable. As I was using a lot of prime lenses, I didn`t have to shoot with ISO higher than 800.
LENSES
One of the great reasons to buy a OM-D are the lenses. I really don`t like the zoom. But the primes are a joy to use. Light, clear, beautiful. I even think that images created by those lenses are better than the prime lenses from Canon.
APPEARANCE AND LAYOUT
Well…that`s something important for me. I bought the silver OM-D, because I really wanted it to not look like a professional camera, but a vintage one. That`s better for me, because I shot a lot of street photograph. People who look at my camera, just don`t realize that I`m doing something really important. And that`s great, because I can take photos anywhere. Police, robbers and civilians just don`t give a damn for you, when you`ve got an OM-D in hands.
About the buttons layout, I`ve got big hands. Sometimes my fingers pushed the wrong button, but that`s something I can live with. And I really think the next OM-D will have a better layout. I really think it can get a bit little bigger. I don`t want to buy a Battery Grip.
BATTERIES
I have two batteries. One is not enough for an all-day shooting. The perfect environment is to have three of them. But two can get you there.
COMPARING WITH THE FUJI X-PRO 1
I used a X-Pro 1 for a moment. For me, it`s a slow camera with a weird appearance. It`s lighter than it should be, looks like a plastic camera. Image is great, but it`s not a pleasure to shoot with. M 4/3 lenses are way better.
WHAT I DO EXPECT FOR THE NEW OM-D
– A slightly bigger camera
– 20+ megapixels
– Better buttons layout
– Better viewfinder (like the EV-4)
CONCLUSION
Me and the client just loved the result. I could worry only about the photography itself. With the 5D Mark III, I don`t think I could do this job without at least one photo assistant. And even if I had one, I probably would not be able to explore nice angles all the time. And the most important, I wouldn`t be able to shoot the video.
Andre Arthur Photography & Fashion Films
+ 55 11 983 514 000
Sao Paulo, Brazil
http://andre-arthur.com
contato@andre-arthur.com
http://vimeo.com/andrearthur
http://www.facebook.com/AndreArthurPhoto
180 Responses
One fantastic article, thanks for posting it.
Micro 43 looks more and more like the optimum point for the keen amateur (full frame, *really*?), and Olympus have really nailed it with their delightful primes.
Refreshingly good article with killer images…none of the usual readers lameness! 🙂
Great article & thanks for sharing. I also loved your photo gallery too.
20megapixel will not come in the next OMD .., but maybe in the future. … however – I’m happy with 16. … Happy with 12 also actually.
You should try with part 1 of the grip. 🙂
Weird way for Oly to promote their stuff and take a cheap shot at fuji. While we all now fuji handeling and output is superior to 43.
He said image is great, but as I understood he enjoys EM5 not – again – great but slow Fuji.
He said the X-Pro 1 feels like a plastic camera. Are you F. kidding me? Talk about bias.
not really, he admitted that the image (quality) is great.
What I mean is the Xpro 1 looking like a plastic camera? Come on.
Bias? Sounded much more like an opinion. And, btw, mine is the same, the camera does feel “hollow”.
Said Raist well known for total absolute full ultimate absence of bias.
What a joke.
The joke’s on you. I applaud Olympus where I think they get credit. Let me know if you want the bullet point list.
Keep it. Your record of trashing Olympus for years is well known, no need to give you another chance to spew your nonsense. Damning with faint praise is your MO, so those bits where you “applaud” are just that – attempt to pretend being objective. This jig was up long ago, you are the only one who still thinks it fools anyone.
@shenkie
Please tell us how Olympus took a cheap shot, I can’t see that the author has any declared relationship with Olympus. It looks to me like this is a photographer who has tried the Fuji system and it didn’t meet his expectations, happy to receive further evidence of your conspiracy…
+100
This guy is giving his opinion nothing more. The OMD with the primes is a better camera to shoot this type of work from a handling and speed aspect than the Fuji…Can’t believe he wasn’t using the top half of the battery grip though…that makes it a really positive, controlled experience.
What a hoot! The guy very casually dismisses a camera that doesn’t meet his needs “that day” and the amateurs go crazy!
I should personally be mad he doesn’t mention the Hasselblad H series! Or Leica. Or Nikon. Nada on them. Hahaha.
But no, it’s his opinion and that’s exactly what he said. And no Photoshop is his marketing hook! Great!
And the Fuji was delivered to me before the OMD and I returned it. So what? “I” didn’t care for it… So what?
And the new body looks better to me in the same goofy retro way.
If it comes in Chrome I’ll take two. Thank you…
Black… probably. Darnitall.
Have fun with your online opinions. Like I do occasionally.
No money changes hands here.
i already UPDATED MY FUJI X-E1 with the latest firmware,.it can take picture’s but still lag’s waaaaay behind of my OM-D,.
dude,.if you don’t have both system,.you have no idea with what you said.!
what the purpose of having great sensor,.or better sensor,.if your camera won’t focus properly,and.i experienced a lots of missfocused With Fuji X-E1 specially in a low light. so,.when the time is up,.i got home with only few shot,.because most of them are blurred.
But i rarely had miss focused with my OM-D,.
I have used both systems and currently use the Fuji. The image quality of the Fuji is notably better and the lenses are all pretty darn good. The reviewer didn’t get into any details at all but said the m43/rd lenses are better and the Xpro 1 felt like a plastic camera. Are you F. kidding me?
No, he said it *looks* like a plastic camera.
I stand corrected on that. I still feel it’s a way off assessment.
“I … currently use the Fuji.”
And that’s all there is to it. Whatever you use currently is better than Olympus with you, be it Pentax or Fuji.
Nope, as I said, I applaud Olympus in areas they get it right. In fact, I have posted a lot of positives about the E-M1 and defended the expected pricing.
Troll sans experience blames Olympus for what is actually a valuable contribution by a reader that is actually a *working* *photographer*. I’m not saying you are conspiracy theorist, but you sound like one.
Regardless, your remarks are pointless. Fuji output may be glorious in many cases, but it wouldn’t have mattered here. X-Pro1 Handling however, is definitely something that needs a lot of improvement (says I and others who have used it). And don’t get me started on focusing speed, it feels worse than an E-P1.
In sum: I think this case nicely describes what the effect on shooting workflow can be with simple and (for a pro) very affordable m43 gear. Lots of great images to boot. Obrigado!
Actually if anything Fuji’s handling is also much better with better ergonomics. The fact you can tell what the camera is set at by just looking at it without even turning it on, the fact you have a real OVF in hybrid form (which no one else has) is also a big boon, and still somehow the EM-5 handles better? (which many have pointed out ergonomic shortcomings on- look at the online photographer- he bought one and moved on from it because of that).
It makes me wonder who really has used a current Fuji with latest firmware on both cameras and lenses. I’ll give the OMD still fastest AF, but the Fuji AF right now is darn accurate and has come a long long way.
“It makes me wonder who really has used a current Fuji with latest firmware on both cameras and lenses.”
Well, maybe the author hasn’t used the new firmware? Imagine that!
“still somehow the EM-5 handles better? (which many have pointed out ergonomic shortcomings on”
I assume you are referring to the grip (or lack thereof) and the tiny cramped buttons. But there’s more to handling than that.
> The fact you can tell what the camera is set at by just looking at it without even turning it on.
Good feature that almost all my film cameras have (so I appreciate it), but not a killer.
> the fact you have a real OVF in hybrid form (which no one else has) is also a big boon
Oh yes. I love the Fuji viewfinders, they’re brilliant. The X100s handles better than the X-Pro1. I expect its successor will be much better.
> and still somehow the EM-5 handles better? (which many have pointed out ergonomic shortcomings on- look at the online photographer- he bought one and moved on from it because of that).
Possible, possible, but not dogma. The Fuji S5 I own handles better than E-M5 and X-Pro1, btw – just my opinion.
> the Fuji AF right now is darn accurate and has come a long long way.
I’m convinced Fuji will be able to improve a lot of things within their paradigm over the coming years. Matter of fact, I think Fuji is an ever cooler company than Oly. But still, the E-M5 is more… mature? Polished? Smooth? At least it makes more sense for serious use IMO. But this is just opinion: Fuji and m43 are already great alternative systems and will only get better with time.
I didn’t quality nor say you can’t do pro work with the EM-5. I said none of that. Me stating that the Fuji has really good lenses or saying that the XPro1 looks plasticky is a way off assessment should not imply in any shape or form I am putting the EM-5 down.
For the record, the photographer of the article- Andre- clarified the stance a bit and we are bit more on the same page now.
Personally, I think the marginal difference in sensor size (http://cyclopsphoto.ca/images/sensor-size_comparison.jpg) is made up for tenfold by the in-body stabilization.
Then you don’t really know what sensor-size does.
Not even close. Not by image quality, not by shutter speed, not by dynamic range or richness in color. And I wouldn’t call 35%+ more surface area “marginally”.
NO, it’s not a big margin. Those of us who own aps-c and m43 knows the difference is marginal at best. Otherwise, why would I leave my Nikon in the closet and prefer my m43 even when weight is not an issue.
I wouldn’t call 1 stop “marginal at best.” Shoot both cameras and examine in raw the shadow range and highlight range. Crank the ISO up and look at it.
Sorry, the artifacts and smoothing that is seen from time to time from the sensor can be an issue as well. The new sensor array has its own issues.
Are you about to run out of places on internet where you can spread your crap?
It probably is superior. However, the difference is marginal and the quality of the photograph is more dependent on the skills of the photographer to maximize the potential of the cameras. The m43 system is good enough for pros to use, that says a lot about the image output and the capabilities of the system.
“Oly to promote their stuff”
It’s just a photographer with an opinion. But feel free to feel offended.
“we all now fuji handeling and output is superior to 43”
While I would agree on the output, said output does come with some software issues. Also, completely disagree on the handling.
Those images are stunning. My mind is blown!
nice style shots, love it.
truly impressive stuff
The article I just read here was, to me, very well thought out and illustrated. It wasn’t ad copy. While I’m not a fashion shooter (and obviously most amateur readers of this site aren’t either) the author’s website is very strong visually and his views on shooting sans assistant are very well stated.
Like most commercial shooters I both use Canons and Hasselblads and like him tested the Fuji when it first came out and sent them back. To sketchie on the focus for me. The OMD is not at all. And as for the MP count no client gives a hoot as all files I’ve ever provided have been run through post and presented as such.
Nice piece indeed.
This excellent example should be imposed to the minds of gear heads, pixel peepers & wannabe pros that proper photography is the combination of skill/ talent of photographer, the gear, the subject & the environment.
If pros around the world start using m43 and tell eachother, we might as well stop using this forum for our own futile wars about which camera/system is best. If clients are happy and money is made, nothing else matters.
We need more of this.
Yup. Ain’t it the truth.
But you know honestly I don’t care whether “pros” discover this any more then I care whether my competitors have 80 MP backs over mere 60MP backs. No client gives a crap.
Thank you. And good night.
Well, m43 really needs a break. The world is better off without the boring Canikon domination that’s stifling innovation. And I need something to do on forums like these! 🙂
Beautiful images. Goes to show its not really the equipment, but the skill, the eye and the creativity of the photographer; that makes the difference.
Its weird when something like this posting here as an example,.and suddenly,.all FULLFRAME whinier are disappear.
I just can’t understand,.some people still underestimate and look down the capability of a crop sensor,.especially ,43sensor.
nice posting admin,.thx
Wannabe photographers will claim that FF is the best because:
a) is expensive = still exclusive to be affordable for everyone = only for “serious” photographers (haha)
b) offers shallower DOF (may be an advantage sometimes)
c) it must be better because they spent so much money 🙂 for body, lenses and equipment
I am happy OMD user and really dont understand all the madness around FF NEX (a body for $3K, each lens for $1K and more). FF is more a snobbery.
I appreciate these articles.
Well, m43 isn’t exactly cheap, mind you.
Lovely images, really like the processing as well.
Nice article and very beautiful pictures. There is something I don’t understand though. If in the beginning he says: “My main gear is a Canon 5D Mark III with a 24-70 II and a 70-200 II.”, how it’s possible that later he says this:”I even think that images created by those lenses are better than the prime lenses from Canon.”??
Anyway I’m sure that fortunetly we’ll see more and more pros working with OMD, to work with 5 or 6 Kg of stuff hanging from your neck currently makes sense just for sport pictures…
For sport, I think you practically always want the 43 2x crop. And easily halving the weight of your bags is welcome for everyone on the move. So when C-AF (for m43) and high ISO (for APS-C and m43) are good enough, full frame will be out of the game. My prediction: 5 years for the tipping point, near oblivion in 10 years. Just look at the history of medium format since the 1950s. “Not economically viable.” 🙂
Personally, I can’t wait for all the FF fanboys to find something else to champion, so FF will be as cool as MF is now.
Not if m43 still will miss good telephoto lenses. There is only pana announced 150mm prime, not really long. And zooms are rather dark and mediocre quality, certainly far behind top telephoto lenses for FF/APS-C dslr’s. But m43 already has rather good at uwa to short telephoto. But i still do think, photos here not exactly best example of pro work with m43
Problem solved with EM-1, since we then have 4/3 zooms.
Yup, that was my point. Thought everybody around here would know by now what E-M1’s PDAF support means. Over the coming years, Olympus will revise the lens lineup to include m43 “high grade” teles and Pany will continue adding to it too.
Regardless, sports shooters can switch to the E-M1 in a few monts. Wildlife: same thing. Would be hilarious if all the 4/3 SHG lenses would be out of stock all of a sudden, as I have been waiting for a price decrease for over two years now.
I don’t see oly lenses in stock anywhere in shops, only several on yahoo auction. And it’s not yet known how on sensor pdaf will work. Not sure though if with SHG glass there is much of weight or even price advantage over crop dslr.
Hi! Andre here. Really happy that you guys liked my article. About your question, as you know. Today my main gear is the one I said, but I have used many primes that I didnt buy. Some of them I rent, some of them I just borrowed from friends.
Well…just to make things hotter: I also think that 24-70II is better than the Canon Primes. Lol
Thanks
Thanks for your answer Andre, now I understand the comment in your article.
About the sports topic, I said “currently” 😉 I agree that it’s just a matter of time that AF-C will be good enough in MFT, and then that 2x crop factor will likely make the difference.
Wow, not a single bad comment yet! 🙂 Jokes apart, the author appreciated the advantages of m43 system and used them to create beautiful images.
As every good photographer should do.
Bravo! And thanks for sharing!
That’s why I can confidently go around with my GH3 for client work and rarely feel that I will have inadequate shots. If you know your lighting, your gear’s strength and weaknesses, and most important have a good eye for photos, you can shoot professional work with mu4/3.
For example, I shot all of the handbag products for this handbag company, http://www.juniordrake.com with a GH3 wirelessly tethered to my laptop with Capture One watching the folder. I’ve already shot until Summer 2014 for them and not once have they ever commented on my “small camera” or its images.
Rest of my mu4/3 work can be at http://www.fotosiamo.com. Of the few images that aren’t mu4/3, they’re Phase One MF images =)
– Joe
no offense but we don’t give a **** of your gh3 here. The best you can do it’s to take notes how to do proper fashion shots. Definitely not in the same ligue as your overprocessed & artificials skin work.
Whoa, chill Franklin. Don’t be such as asshole about it. I’ve been saying all along that mu4/3 can be used for fashion and commercial work, that’s all. Just because he has a different style than mine doesn’t mean you can shit all over my work. Where’s your work, huh?
I think his work is great and I’m glad he can shoot images such as that. Don’t be a douche and start contributing positively by sharing your own work to the community.
Please ignore the moron. Your photos are great, even the handbags. (sorry, but I hope my wife never sees that handbag site) 🙂
Thanks! And you know what, we all grow in our photographic journey and develop our style and taste in different ways. Andre used his years of experience using traditional DSLRs and applied it very nicely to the OM-D, proving that it’s the photographer, not the camera that ultimately matters.
The very first interchangeable camera I ever used was the Olympus E-PL1 and that was just two years ago. Still growing in photography and working it with micro 4/3.
What a arrogant guy! So you think you as good as a guy like Andre with only 2 years of photography.. I think it’s really sad to see how EVERYBODY’s a pro nowadays. “I have a expensive camera so I’m a pro” “somebody ( who knows NOTHING about photography) gives me 50$ for a shooting so I’m a pro” blah blah blah.
Franklin’s comment was rude yes, but he’s right. Your work ( I mean your PP ) looks REALLY artificial. I know Fashion photography is not about realistic skin etc but he’s right I much prefer Andre post processing. Every professionals knows that critics is important in order to improve.
He never said he thought he is as good as Andre, just that he is improving. That’s something all of us try to do. But some of us just like to trash others’ work.
And while you don’t like his work, I and others do. Is it the same as Andre? No. Does it have to be? No. Should it be? No.
$50 for a shoot DOES make you a pro, just not one that can make a *living* at it. Big difference.
And BTW, Andre said he doesn’t use post processing to achieve those effects.
Dude, chill out. I never even said that my work is nowhere as good as Andre’s. I only said that I had 2 years of photography and it was all within the micro 4/3 system. How the hell am I arrogant? I would love to become as good as he is in his vision, his approach, etc. And I’d expect Andre’s work to be more refined that mine, since he’s been in the industry longer than me anyways.
That’s why I do have several mentors in photography who are far better than I am. The difference with my mentors and you or Franklin is that they are at once critical, but supportive. They are never an ass about it.
Am I at the point where I’m shooting magazine editorials or advertising prints regularly? No, but I’m working to get there and in the meantime, I still get paid for some of my work (far far more than $50, I might add).
As for my post-production, that is also a growing process and a lot of it is learning the technique and also knowing how much of it to use. I’ve cut back in over-processing, even though not all of my images will reflect that since many were done when I’ve been experimenting with everything from frequency separation to light sculpting.
Joe, just don’t reply to the troll (often, presenting your work in the comments of an article about another photographer gets you stuff like that ). Instead, imho, just write an article yourself and send it to admin.
But, please, do not tell people to show their own work as a reply. People can have an opinion without even being photographers.
Agreed 100%. Showing your work is always appreciated by most people. And of course, tastes differ, but I’d rather see how someone’s actually making money with m43 gear than “daily inspiration” by some amateur Leica owner at Steve Huff. The former will probably be interesting anyway, the latter can easily disappoint in my experience.
So even if it’s just handbags, bring it on! 🙂
Get real. The work was accepted by the client. By definition, a pro (full-time or not) works for clients. All deserve respect.
guys don’t feed the troll, he is obviously jealous of your work since he have nothing worthwhile to show, I’ve been your fellower on flikr and I really enjoy your work!
LOL! There’s no evidence you’d know a ‘proper’ fashion shot if you were slapped in the face with one.
Sit down, shut up and you might actually learn something, little girl.
Hello Joe,
I’m already an contact/follower of your images on Flickr. But didn’t know about the handbag images so that’s very cool to know. Very impressed by what you are doing with Micro Four Thirds gear and it would be interesting to see you post a similar post here some time.
Really appreciate that. I wish instead of bashing each other’s images, we should support each other and show that the micro 4/3 system is capable of shooting professional images. I’m still an aspiring photographer and have only really been shooting for just 2 years, so I still consider myself fairly new to photography.
Am I at Andre’s level? Of course not, but I also don’t use my gear as an excuse. I actually like the challenge of creating better and better images with what I have, which is a micro 4/3 system.
Fotosiamo, and others: Please do post some of your best work in the “pro work” discussion thread on 43Rumors at Flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/43rumors/discuss/72157634068527104/
I think the 43rumors group has been a great showcase for µ43 and 4/3 users, with many pro and pro-calibur work being posted daily. I’m not sure how often we comment on each other’s work, but I know we have some of the best stuff on Flickr.
> Rest of my mu4/3 work can be at http://www.fotosiamo.com.
Those are beautiful! Post more!!!
> Of the few images that aren’t mu4/3, they’re Phase One MF images =)
You are forgiven!
I like he base on his real own experience with both cameras clearly state the OMD is better than X-PRO1 … thumbs up for M43
He does not say it is better in general rather than it is better for him and fits his photography better. But I also hope that more Pros switch do m43.
Great images and nothing that I wouldn’t see out of place in fashion magazine. And a lot of that style of fashion photos aren’t about the needle point sharpness anyways. It’s more about the vision, the wardrobe styling, the model, the production, and the post-production treatment.
I don’t usually do the flickr ego-kissing thing, but what can I say, these are some awesome photos, that’s a fact. This goes to show just how much quality you can actually pull off with m4/3, as I’ve suspected for a long time most of the whining, moaning and trolling on this site and other forums about sensor, features and whatnot is mostly done by those who spend to much time in front of a keyboard and to little behind their cameras. I’ve personally squeezed every last drop of performance and versatility out of my trusty and old E-PL1, despite most of the disadvantages that people would complain about in this place.
Oly and Pany REALLY need to push their marketing more aggressively, they need to start lending their cameras to more pro photographers out there, specially young photographers that have no historical and emotional debt towards Canikon. As it is now, m4/3 is hardly selling any stuff thanks to word of mouth and people coincidentally finding out about it on the web. M4/3 is mature enough to be a valid alternative to DSLRs, Oly and Pany need to validate their proposal worlwide ASAP.
Hey, where is the Full Frame boy now?
Interesting article. I just bought an OM-D to complement my 5D3s & it’s great to have a camera of this quality that fits in your pocket. However I don’t understand why the author says “With the 5D Mark III, I don`t think I could do this job …And the most important, I wouldn`t be able to shoot the video.” I shoot video with my 5D3s all the time. Loads of people shoot video with 5Ds. The 5D2 started the whole DSLR video craze. Is he saying that he can’t shoot video with the 5D3 or that he couldn’t shoot a video like that with the 5D3 as I see no reason why that video couldn’t have been shot with the 5D3.
He probably meant that shooting hand-held, he could not have got those results without the IBIS.
Walk along a street with an OM-D shooting video and then do the same thing with the 5D3.
No, it was the size of the kit: the camera, 3 lenses and an extra battery are extremely small and light vs. his Canon kit.
For one guy doing a shoot alone, the size differential makes all the difference in being able to do it easily, with minimal physical strain.
Focus on the work, not doing Sherpa duty.
The way I read his comment on ‘not being able to do that job with his 5D’s’ was due to having to lug his canon gear around as opposed to the diminutive E-M5 and lenses in comparison, no assistant just himself and his model and probably her make up artist (I don’t think she’d have applied her own lipstick!!!).
I agree. a 5d3 is one of the SLR camera’s you get to shoot video. My bet is that he means that it is easier for most to shoot video on Mirrorless because at least with the OMD and even more so the GH3 you seldom have to pull focus if lighting is decent letting you just from stills to video back to stills quickly. I agree he also means the IBIS. pulling focus is not easy for everyone
I’ve been shooting the GH3 the last 6 months the only time I have had to pull focus is really fast movement towards or away from the camera and in bad lighting conditions. random piece of info for everyone from what I understand from someone who has reviewed the new GX7 is even better then the GH3 in focusing in lower light for not just stills but for video as well.
With E-M5 you get stabilized footage using handheld, vs rigs/steadicam/monopod from other camera when using prime lens.
that video clip is truly impressive, much better done then most m43 clips i have seen sofar.
Decades ago, when I was using film, I had the same results as Andre Arthur. That was when I accidentally fogged the film or dunked it in the wrong chemical. How he achieves the same effect with digital beats me.
Interesting article.
Impressive!
This is truly an example of talent before gear and not vice versa! This also shows that m4/3 has come to maturity. Besides that….OM-D rocks!
Saying that m43 give good image quality. Is like saying mp3 give good sound
@Full Frame: Had a good night? Rude awakening seeing those amazing shots hey? Don’t worry, you’ll get used to 🙂
By the way, don’t forget to take the trash bag when you leave. Thx.
There is no doubt that Full Frame camera’s give better quality for prints larger then 20×30. But unless you are Ansel Adams, Galen Rowell, Joe Cornish or Trey Ratcliff how often are you going to print that large. Wait one more area Full Frame kills M4/3 is If you need extreme shallow D.O.H, if so Full frame is the way to go. That said I believe people worry about bokeh more then the picture, all to often you see people so worried about bokeh that the subject is part of the blur instead of using the blur to pull out the subject.
lol i put D.O.H its should have said D.O.F
+1
Pics 1 and 3 from this article perfectly illustrate your words about DOF.
Oh no, you really shouldn’t have picked this comparison.
I replaced my very well regarded CD player with an iPod, because I couldn’t hear the difference in carefully controlled tests and it was infinetly more convenient. When I have mentioned this, audiophiles have reacted in horror saying I must be deaf, the difference is like night and day.
To prove them wrong, I ripped a track from a CD as WAV and then created a 224 kbps AAC version of it. I then took the WAV file and replaced sections of it copied from the AAC version and then saved the resultant hybrid.
On several occasions I have posted this file and asked the doubters to tell me the time locations where they can hear the ‘night and day’ transitions in quality. To date, no one has been able to tell where the splices are.
You are definitely ‘full’ of something, and it’s not frame.
MP3? Bah!
It’s all Apple Lossless when I rip my CDs!
The string section doesn’t sound like bees, the woodwinds like geese or the brass like a traffic jam… unless its the NY Philharmonic brass section. 😉
I use FLAC myself, but only for archiving. I use MP3 for listening, but I don’t use the 128kbps constant bit-rate that gives MP3 such a bad name.
AAC is of course more space efficient, but if you use a *good* MP3 encoder and allow variable bit rate all the way to 320kbps, I think you might like it.
Or have you already tried that?
Ok, that’s what you do, that’s fine, but can you actually hear a difference between 224 kbps and the uncompressed original? – no.
There is a website – hydrogenaudio.org – where they have been testing codecs and all things digital music related for years. Large numbers of people have done double blind listening tests via a module of Foobar. The cumulative results are that people generally can’t hear a difference when moderate to high bit rates are used.
Hi Stig, is it possible you could upload that hybrid file somewhere (briefly) so I can download it? I would like to check it out and test it on a few of my friends. Or we can go offline if you contact me at t n a r g s a t g m a i l d o t c o m
Here is the file with compressed and uncompressed interleaved: http://www.solidfiles.com/d/288b320937/
Hi FF, looking forward to your better looking fashion shoot where it is obvious that the superiority is due to FF. Quick quick, don’t keep us waiting now. And no excuses!
Nice shots and really great article. M43 really needs that kind of promotion.
I wonder if he spent more or less time in post processing the pics from the OMD than he usually spends with his 5D.
Highly impressed with your photos and video, Andre. Just wondering how much was done in camera and how much post processing. Looking forward to seeing specs for new Oly.
That is photomontage?
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj524/picrumors/picrumors087/09_zpsdf934c8b.jpeg
How is possible get that displaced lights and the model (and part of the city) on focus?.
🙁
Heavy post processing (layers and motion blur I guess).
several possibilities, I sometimes use it with a slow shutter and shift the body along the proper direction to get that effect. Its less controlled then postprocess manner, but with enough trial and error time , you should be able to predict the amount of camera shift to pull.
Hi! Andre Arthur here. Loved that u guys are liking my story.
Well, you may not believe me, but there’s almost no post processing on any of these images. Apart of some skin and colors, there’s no motion blur or layers thing.
Everything (even the blurry and moving lights) is handmade while I’m shooting. Thats a kind of personal identity of my work. That’s all about the optics. Thanks a lot!
Well, that signature of yours is really impressive then!
Wow! you really have some great technical abilities.
Thanks Andre!
There are some fantastic shots. It’s great that you’re able to get those layered effects in camera! I thought for sure you were using Photoshop for some of those blurry areas. Very cool, indeed!
May i ask for the name of that technique to get this blurred light at the same time other things are inside focus?.
I would like to investigate on internet and get this results on my photos.
Currently, if i try to do it, ill get a girl blurred too 🙁
I hope you can anwer us (i think others are interested too).
Thanks for reading me and great job with your photographies 🙂
for lowlight scenario: use fill in flash with shutterspeed slow enough to execute the camera body movement, practise to get the timing suiting your taste.
The same effect was in the videos, so not sure it was fill flash. I also loved the effect. Great signature style.
thx 🙂
Easy: put a greasy finger on one half of the lens, shoot, and there you go 😉
I tried sticky tape on half the lens and coloured it with a marker pen. You could do the same with cling film and smear vaseline over it for blur and distortion, I would imagine. Peel it off and no need to clean your lens after. Or smear stuff on a UV filter.
[IMG]http://i1351.photobucket.com/albums/p794/An0nemu5/Forum/Exposedfilm_zpsaa01f8b7.jpg[/IMG]
In my film days I smeared, in one direction on to the filter, a very thin film of Vaseline. I would then carefully wipe away an area where I wanted a part of the image to be clear but with a streaky surround. Using more Vaseline would soften the image.
Amazing pictures, but what is the purpose of the job? The author will use the same gear if he need to print the photos in something big than a magazine?
I love m43, but I still can’t see how big it can be in a professional way!
(hope the new M5 can push the boundaries)
Cumps,
I used to shoot film. I use my E-M5 to ‘scan’ slides when I need to digitise them since my film scanner died. I can safely say that the E-M5 sensor exceeds the resolution of a 35mm film frame. 35mm film images can and have been printed to sizes measured in meters, so you could do the same from an E-M5. Try displaying 4/3 images on a 50″ TV and you will see you aren’t even getting close to seeing the pixels/grain, so you could print at that size on paper and the image would look just as good because you don’t view such large images from 30cm away.
At really large sizes, you will get technically better results in terms of ppi from FF, but you would have to get unrealistically close to see the difference. As Andre’s excellent images demonstrate, it’s the overall resulting image that is important, not the technical details.
> WHAT I DO EXPECT FOR THE NEW OM-D
> – A slightly bigger camera
> – 20+ megapixels
> – Better buttons layout
> – Better viewfinder (like the EV-4)
1st time on this blog: a fully justified call for more MP. But then, photography of people was always more involved IQ-wise. AFAIK medium format cameras are still often used, especially in fashion.
@Andre Arthur: awesome work, man. Being amateur, I can’t judge it as photog, but I can judge it as a viewer. It’s just great. If you per chance wrote a book on fashion photography – please post the link! 😀
Really great shots!! That’s a impressive work from a REAL pro, not the panyslut gulio sicorio.
there is no need for comments like this.
I fully agree. I just keep waiting for someone to use that idiotic word “fanboy”. Always makes the writer sound like a 5 year old.
Honestly, you’re an idiot. I’ve met Giulio and he’s really actually a great, genuine guy. Plus, we don’t have enough working photographers rooting for the micro 4/3 system as it is, even if it’s more towards the Panasonic side.
No kidding!
The point is for people to see that the M4/3 system, regardless of brand or brand preference, is a viable alternative to larger systems.
Some great cameras and some great lenses!
Nice pics, they’d be better with a proper camera and some flashes but hey.
Wow, 3 full hours before the first unsecure Canikon turd arrived. If you don’t count “FullFrame”
FullFrame doesn’t count anymore anyway…
Hi Funny, thanks for explaining your inadequacies so fully. And so succinctly, too!
Of course a proper camera would be better, and proper lighting too.
Why don’t you puny sensor nerds take a more open attitude? You may well learn something. Nobody wants to offend you through offending your toys. Oh wait…
Learn what? From you? To be an pompous arse idiot with inferiority complex.
They would be. If you manage to take them without having an assistant, without getting run over on the street and carrying all that great equipment for hours.
Hello,
great pictures and great “review” as well, happy to read an article like that with real pictures and not those stupid benchmark i just hate, i do own an OMd as well which i really enjoy for my vacation or most of the time having it in my bag for everyday walking.
I never bring my MkII out instead for a photoshoot, i’ve tried the OMd sometimes for test, the problem is that i am using studio flash and it is not very suitable for this kind of of shooting, but for the rest, it is great as well.
The key is the girl,
with that beauty all cameras shine, 🙂
I could not judge the IQ with those tiny pics and post-processing
Alberto that is not really necessary,the OMD does have great output. For the ones who care, they can look at the 1:1 raw comparison tool from Dpreview or similar sites. Otherwise there is the possibility to print large formats(though i doubt many people are doing that, except for the exhibition approved ones.)
An interesting point you make there Ulli (regarding print size), it would be worth making a straw poll about the size of prints we make (of those who do print), I was happy with my A4 for many years until I began to take note of the A3+ printers at shows like ‘Focus on Imaging’ (let’s hope it finds a new taker for it soon) and realising the difference that size makes even for personal display, with the occasional print for friends. Even at that size a person will stand back to view (few will pixel peep), it doesn’t have to be that far but far enough for the eye not to notice any pixelation that might be visible. As regards larger formats, I personally doubt that many who will go and get a large scale print made of their work (unless a professional when required), where a ‘Mega Pixel’ image would be required.
How many club shows will you attend where the majority of prints on display will be larger than A4?
I remember an article about a photographer who printed large format posters from both 6-10 mp dslr cameras and 2-3 mp dlsr cameras, all for an exhibition. The conclusion was that at viewing distance, amount of pixels do not matter as our eyes seem to blend any detail at that distance into lower definition. I do let my photos print now and then as a portfolio A4 album, also mixing up my old dslr stuff from Canon EOS D2000 (2 mp)with 6-8 mp files, for portrait photography. I always disable sharpening for printing purpose in order to prevent artifacts in albums. What I want to say is that I dont believe in megapixels above 6-10 mp for my style of photography, and I always hoped for a new body with a low mp sensor, but with modern pipeline codec 🙂
OMega, Focus on Imaging is being continued by Future Publishing as the Photography Show, 1-4 March 2014; Olympus will be exhibiting.
OOps, Omega, I pressed the wrong reply button. Focus on Imaging is being continued by Future Publishing as the Photography Show, 1-4 March 2014; Olympus will be exhibiting
The reason is: I love pixel-peep 🙂
and I have a Sigma DP3 for that 😉
ehm well, i can respect that too i guess 🙂
Nice! We get pretty gear-happy around here, obviously, and it’s very refreshing to be shown the amazing stuff m4/3 can do. Great work!
Bullshit!
Everybody knows that you need 45mm f0.5 to be considered a professional fashion photographer!
I share the same experience as Andre, i did a fashion shoot for an italian high end shoe maker company
( they also produce women shoes for YSL , Vuitton etc.. )
using only : OM-D + mzuiko 45mm 1.8 + FL-50R
The customer was very impressed by the quality of the pictures.: “Never seen amazing pictures like that”
The overhall shooting became fun as i could easily change my shooting position according to the customer feedbacks ,
then you don’t have to worry about the focus point on the shoe ( just touch the screen !!! ) , don’t have to worry about the exposure compensation as what you see is what you get ( live histogram and EVF ) .
The more i use it , the more i enjoy having an EVF !!
We managed to do 2 seasons in one day , they told me that the previous photographer they hired before could only do one season as he had to move all his heavy stuff around the shooting venue.
Anyway i will buy the EM1 as i have a wonderfull 50-200 swd ( i sold my E-5 two month ago)
johnny
You should propose your story to admin: we need more “real life” examples!
It would be great to have a “real life stories” section on mft official site also: http://www.four-thirds.org/en/microft/
Great photos! They prove that the photographer is more important than the equipment used.
beautiful images and a great read. I enjoy these kinds of the stories most here at M43rumors.
I don’t mean to be negative because these are beautiful images. I just don’t see how they are “Fashion” photography. All the attention is being drawn to the filters and effects, color, lights, models face. There is actually very little fashion visible, in fact some images there is none at all. I honestly think the images are great but if I had designed the clothes I would not be happy since they are not the feature of these images. And yes, I have shot fashion professionally which is why I know that in the end the designer needs to show the product. There is plenty of room for effects but these images are focusing on effects and not the product. That is just my opinion and it is not the one that counts. I am glad that we are all different otherwise it would be a boring world.
Hi, Kyle! Thanks for your comment.
I really agree with you when you say that the clothes are the most important thing on fashion shots. I think you know that a fashion campaign is something really different from a fashion editorial. A fashion campaign is something to sell clothes (only that). A fashion editorial is something to sell concept and tendences.
The purpose can change from shooting to shooting, and sometimes something more conceptual is what my client wants. The feel, the colours, etc. A lot of fashion editorials wants to show people what these clothes mean, they don`t want to sell them directly. Comparing with a fashion show, it`s almost the same things. A lot of clothes that we see on fashion shows are totally unusable, but they mean something.
Another point is that I have a kind of work that has a lot of optical effects and clients ask me to shoot because of that. Almost a personal identity. It`s something totally different from using a software like Photoshop. It`s something handcrafted…
Kyle, thank you so much for your comment. I really appreciate that. Best regards!
these are amazing! I love them all, I can’t thank you enough for the beautiful imagery and well written article. olympus rules, I have been a fan forever, and have sold many a friend on their camera line. these shots say it all, the dslr is dying fast, time to sell my canon mk2 and lenses I think. what you have achieved here is breathtaking, don’t listen to the naysayers. FAN-F*ING-TASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice photos, but this alone suggests a lack of objectivity:
“I used a X-Pro 1 for a moment. For me, it`s a slow camera with a weird appearance. It`s lighter than it should be, looks like a plastic camera. Image is great, but it`s not a pleasure to shoot with. M 4/3 lenses are way better.”
The XPro1 looks like a plastic camera. WTF. And the Fuji isn’t a pleasure to shoot with? With real shutter and aperture dials that you can even tell what the camera is set at even OFF (and set it even when OFF), the only optical/EVF hybrid in the market? And m4/3rds are “way better” . WTF. Seriously?
Good that we have other reviews around setting that record straight.
He gave his opinion with arguments. He never said you had to share his point of view.
So please, keep cool 🙂
No need to guess what you shoot with.
“Nice photos, but this alone suggests a lack of objectivity”, followed by usual Raist’s crap.
Nice? You are yet to produce something half as good as this, before you bless us with your opinions; and you are yet to demonstrate any sliver of objectivity before you judge someone’s. Arrogant prick.
Calling me names sure makes your case better. Of course, people like you would never admit some rather good photography I have taken even if it was exhibited at the Getty in LA- but that doesn’t have to do anything with what we are discussing and I am not suggesting in any shape or form anything about the quality of the photographs except that I found them very good!
I just love the anonymous posts here by, I really love the word, sorry, “fanboys”.
From W. Eugene Smith to Dick Avedon it was always the eye and the timing. The gear was somewhere down the list of needs towards “lunch”. They would have been stellar using any damn camera.
The camera is simply an extension of the shooter’s eye. And sometimes budget. And always technology. And this benighted era has the very best of both. Cheap and good.
Andre and any decent paid pro uses what works best for their needs. Look or tech or speed or output. Whatever.
And the Canon f:2.8 24-70 ll is for all practical purposes as good as most Canon primes. But hey it’s f:2.8 and a boat anchor. Canon Cine and Zeiss are still better. But weigh even more.
Enjoy your hobby. And I’ll enjoy my profession.
I see some nice pictures but they are all blurry. Imagine when you want to print one of these big for some commercial use. Never gonna happen.
Well show your supersharp commercial prints Shenkie. Would be really nice to see what a real FF super pro can produce.
You must have missed the part where he mentioned that the client was happy with the results.
Kachow! Leave it to the Shenkster to put the ball right in front of the goal.
I know we focus a lot on cameras and technique but all the photographs show that Carolina (the model) also played a huge role to make such relaxed, cool and stylish photos. Must’ve been great fun for Andre and Carolina to work together, I feel it. Always a delight to work with such a model. Congratulations all round!
Yeah! She`s so lovely! That was a really nice day. Freedom and no worries. Crew was amazing!
I read that some people think that I should use some flashes and a better camera. Not at all! That wasn`t the purpose! The 5D Mark III was there, on my hotel room. I didn`t want to use that. I didn`t want two assistants carrying a lot of bags following me everytime. That wasn`t necessary…
THe point is: With a 5D Mk III I would get better image quality, but would I get the image I want?
About the flashes? I use them when I need them. But there are some great names here that never use flash. TIm Walker, Hans Feurer (i was his assistant), Josh Olins, etc…
Thank you so much for the comments!
Hello, guys! Andre here.
I`m really sorry if I seemed to be a little bit arrogant about the XPRO 1. That wasn`t the intention. I like the camera. I really think it has got a great Image Quality and I tested it on some trips. I like the aperture dial. It tries to look like (but far away) shooting with a film rangefinder.
But FOR ME, it`s a slow camera. Maybe, for someone who likes to shoot slowly, maybe in studio or some portraits, it`s great. But for a fast photography, I need the camera to be fast and accurate. It`s a fight between Image Quality vs Performance, and the photographer chooses what`s more important for him.
I even think that OMD IQ is great, specially if you use the 45, the 25 leica or the 75 Oly. I`m really happy to know that the EM-1 will have a better sensor.
About Fuji, I think they are on the right direction, but it`s not ready yet. But really soon it will be. Maybe with a XPRO 2?!
The point is that the equipment will fit you, depending on what you do.
Thanks a lot and again, really sorry about that. 🙂
Andre, thanks for clarifying and let me state- I am not saying you need to like the Xpro 1 or not choose it. I agree every photographer should choose what they want. Just was a couple of points in the description that seemed pretty odd with reality to me.
Thanks for sharing your photography.
Belíssimas fotos André! É um prazer ver um brasileiro aqui no 43rumors… Dei uma olhada em seu blog e como você comprei uma GF-1 e agora tenho uma OMD-EM5, mas é claro que minhas fotos nem se comparam às suas! Parabéns belo trabalho!
I think his pictures are good, but unfortunately there is so much PP in the process, that even a good P&S camera could easily fit the bill. I am in no way bashing the OMD, but I feel to praise the camera one should showcase what the camera is capable of without heavily handed PP. Yes, I am a purist LOL.
If you read the author’s comments in the Comments section, you will see that there is no PP to speak of.
Your disparaging comments about quality overlook the fact that this web article is not the only presentation of these photos. They form part of a pro shoot for a client, and the client is happy, and I bet he/she accessed them in a more detailed format than by just looking at this web page. (!)
So your comments are all ignorant and wrong, and you could have noticed this just by reading before posting.
You claim to be a purist and hence superior to this work by your own standards, but is seems in your case that purist just means you are full of pure nonsense!
I am very interested by the blurring technique and I wished that Andre said more about it, but I don’t want to steal his secrets. Ulli gave a hint: with fill flash and perhaps panning one might achieve both blurry and focussed areas.
Or can you do it just by panning, and slow shutter? Pausing to fix the model?
Other interesting thing is to show fashion in a Street, or Urban context. Clients probably realize that clothes must be worn in everyday life, and those setups convey more freedom, than say an office or a hotel room.
E-M5 is v. good for this, because it can offer both the resolution and flexibility, with hard IBIS for twilight effects. There is a contrast effect between the refinement of clothes, and ‘dirty’ shooting, which is very NY – ‘smart in the gutter’, so to speak.
So congrats to the photog, I can see why clients want your special style.
Try and you will find out. You can also google for “dragging the shutter”. Generally, a proper viewfinder (>> SVGA, bud sadly mirrorless is still far away, even at those prices) and manual focus make these effects easier.
These images are amazing, Thanks for the sharing your story.
After seeing these images, I’m now 100% sure I’ll be picking up m4/3 relatively soon. Not 100% sure if I should go the OMD, e-p5 or wait for the new OMD stage though.
Not trying to convince you, but while I was digging the web about “fashion” and “OM-D” I found this post about someone who decided to switch from his 5DMkII to an OM-D EM-5.
http://jonathanposner.tumblr.com/post/40780795719/my-olympus-challenge-10
The article was written 7 months ago… I wonder if the author now has some comments to add 😉
I enjoyed the real-world view this supplied. More of the same in the future would be excellent.
Someone needs to ask Olympus if 4/3 lenses will be available until there are suitable m4/3 “replacements.” Of course, I strongly suspect the most concise answer such a question will yield a provocative, not to say maddening, “Maybe, maybe not.” Nevertheless, I’d like such a question to be presented to an Oly rep – just to see if I’m right. 😛
FYI. No Olympus “rep” would likely know and certainly not be authorized to accurately answer. My guess is they’ve got a nice stash of unsold lenses they’d love to sell. Sooner then later.
Well, I used the term “rep” rather loosely. Since I mentioned “Maybe, maybe not,” I thought it was pretty clear I was referring to Terada-san, who has mastered the technique of evading questions. And yet, he does “rep”resent Olympus in interviews.
That warehouse full of NOS lenses that were produced half a decade ago is a rather mystical or fantastical construct, I think. 😉
PS: I forgot to precede my reply to your post with a humble “FYFI.” 😀
Hi! Olympus has sent me the OM-D to test and I must admit the results aren’t exciting at all. My guess is that I don’t have many lenses to play with. In fact I only have the one that came with the box. I spoke to a friend and we came to the conclusion that a set of prime lenses would most definitely wow me. Which prime lenses would you suggest to use?
Hi, Leonardi. In fact, zoom lenses are not really nice. I sold this one that comes ith the camera. The primes are amazing. I suggest you 3 lenses that I really love:
– Panasonic/Leica 25mm 1.4
– Olympus 45 1.8
– Olympus 75 1.8
Those 3 lenses are amazing. Have nice shots!