Over the past six months, various aspects of my photographic and non-photographic life have caused me to think hard about where I am going with my photography and the equipment I am using.
Up until 2004, I was an ardent film user. The Olympus OM system with its small bodies and prime lenses was ideal for carrying alongside my 4×5 system which I began using in the mid-1990s for my serious work.
In 2004, I made the leap and bought a digital SLR. I agonized over the decision and lamented the fact that my Olympus lenses would not work on their new line of 4/3s DSLRs. However, Olympus once again won out as I could get the full range of focal lengths from 28mm to 400mm in two zooms that also had the same filter size – an ideal kit for travelling as by that time we were living and working overseas. It meant giving up my wonderful prime lenses, but zooms made sense at the time. Not long after returning to Canada, I upgraded that system to a 12mp body with a zoom that finally allowed be to reach 24mm – my personal “sweet-spot” for landscapes. In fact, the 12-60mm f/2.8-4 (24 to 120mm equivalent in 35mm terms) is one of the finest zooms ever made – a brilliant range for the nature and landscape work I do.
But alas, the writing was on the wall. With Olympus’ new “flagship” E-5 only carrying 12mp (although a very sharp 12mp), the 4/3s system was quickly being out-paced by APS systems and Olympus began putting its efforts into mirrorles-4/3s. Many argue that it’s not megapixels that make an image and they are absolutely correct for the vast majority of photographers. However, I come from a 6×7 and 4×5 background where image quality and every little detail is absolutely essential.
With the demise of the 4/3s system and my quest for ultimate image quality at a price I could afford, I began looking seriously at the Sony a900 and 850 bodies and the wonderful Zeiss zooms available for them. But even those cameras are looking outdated. I'm sure Sony has something wonderful up their sleeves (a square sensor to make ultimate use of image circle??). Word also began to spread of a new Nikon body with megapixels galore. Really – 36mp! You’ve got to be joking!
So, now I’m thinking – while I’ve done some very rewarding work with zoom lenses, I enjoyed photography even more when shooting 6×7 and 4×5 (and 35mm) on a tripod with prime lenses. There is something about prime lenses and working on at tripod that makes you slow down, think and look a lot more closely. It’s not that you can’t do that when hand-holding a zoom lens, it’s just that with primes and a tripod, a certain discipline develops and that discipline of careful thought and placement and composition begins to seep into all areas of the craft and vision of photography. I, for one, benefit from that discipline.
Thus, the various alignments of the demise of 4/3s, my move into creating fine art prints, the arrival of a breakthrough, full frame 36mp DSLR at a relatively affordable price and my recommitment to prime lenses have resulted in this new beginning. Over the past week or so, I have begun that metamorphosis by purchasing a variety of Nikkor prime lenses and selling my Olympus gear (thanks eBay and Kijiji). The metamorphosis will be complete when I begin shooting with the Nikon D800e that is currently on order and not yet available.
I know this post will not be popular amongst Olympus enthusiasts. I have done very well with Olympus over my 30 years of photography and am sad to leave it behind. I'm disappointed that the E system never really matured like the wonderful OM system of film days. It's upsetting to admit, but perhaps the prognosticators of 10 years ago were correct when they could foresee digital photography outgrowing the 4/3s sensor – it hasn't yet and it never will for a vast majority of photographers, but the time has come for me to move on with nothing but admiration and affection for a system that travelled the world with me.
All the best Olympus! Hello, again, Nikon! While my photos won't necessarily improve with a new system (that's up to me), I'm betting image quality will take a giant leap forward and I'll finally have a bit of breathing space with large prints.