davidc wrote:It's odd that Kai is now seemingly permanently in Cambridge? According to reddit he was kicked out for working illegally, allegedly...
I, too, wondered why Kai was in Cambridge. For understandable reasons I had assumed he was a native of Kong Kong.
davidc wrote:Based on their previous videos I suspect their real personal opinion isn't exactly what they describe in this video and it's designed to simply drive discussion & maintain traffic to their site. The article does raise some hugely interesting points though
I don't think the argument is based solely on the 20mp limit, although having more MP does mean more opportunity to crop, better detail/resolution etc. and the maximum size of prints is probably far less of a consideration for the majority of photographers who don't print
Your success with the format doesn't mean the system isn't working for you of course but the argument that the single biggest appeal of the sensor size - the form factor - is now irrelevant because you can get better-in-all-aspects full frame sensors in the same format. It was always a tradeoff between weight/size & quality/performance. While I don't think the sky is falling in for the format yet, I did always think the format had a limited longevity and perhaps DRTV have a point that it may now be sooner rather than later before it's abandoned.
Given Digital Rev's style, it is almost inevitable that this is deliberately provocative piece. For me the cropping argument is misguided, a proper photographer will get it right in camera, and as you say most people do not need that level of resolution, especially if they are not printing. While Sony has managed to produce some remarkably compact full frame bodies, there is not much they have been able to do in combating the laws of physics and the lenses are not that much smaller than those found on DSLRs. Most manufacturers who have introduced digital only systems have settled on APS-C and I suspect that is where the sweet spot lies. For a convenient walkaround camera, I am happy to accept the compromise of the smaller sensor, which does not really affect what I do. If Olympus can get its AF performing at DSLR levels, those diminutive telephoto lenses would have tremendous appeal to nature and sports photographers I suspect.
davidc wrote:I'm not familiar with the pros you mention but if they are "Olympus ambassadors" then I'm sure they DO get paid a fair whack for their endorsement of the brand. If they don't then they are doing it wrong
I do not know about Gosling and McGillicuddy, but Joe Cornish is a Sony Ambassador on the sole basis that they supply him with kit. The last time I spoke to him a few months ago, rather surprisingly he was still waiting for an A7R II as Sony did not have sufficient available to provide him with one.
davidc wrote:Did you not know that Olympus is (in)famous for being uber-hipster? I assumed that was a hidden reason you went for it
Damn. Outed.
davidc wrote:On a sort of related subject, how are you finding your experience with the Fuji vs Olympus?
The Fuji is currently my go to camera, mainly because I like the image quality and 18-55 lens which covers the focal lengths I use most, although I do wish the f numbers were marked on the aperture ring as with Fuji's other lenses. Yes, I know it has a variable aperture, but it is a fly by wire system and I would understand that f/2.8 is not available at most focal lengths. It's a form of dumbing down. The X-Pro1 has a number of limitations in respect of usability, most of which appear to have been resolved in the X-Pro2 although I am not about to spring for one. For now I will work with the X-Pro1's shortcomings, which are not sufficiently severe to make me want to spend money. I like the Olympus for its tilting screen and touch focus/release which is great for street photography, although a swivelling screen would be preferable. The E-M10 on a wrist strap with optional grip and Panaleica 25 Summilux makes an excellent combination which was responsible for two of my successful SPA prints.
If I have one real complaint about the X-Pro1, it is the fragility of the rear screen. Mine has not been abused, but a number of light scratches have appeared, which is really not accepable given the original asking price and the supposedly pro spec.