Finishing My MFT Kit: A Tele Zoom And A Flash.

Finishing My MFT Kit: A Tele Zoom And A Flash.

When I like a camera mount I tend to flesh out a kit for it. Making an honest kit of it I will say to myself.

In my questionable logic what is the point of having an interchangeable lens camera if you do not interchange… change… the lenses. Otherwise, get a fixed lens camera. Of course, this makes no sense.

1. There are many more interchangeable lens camera choices on the market so features you want may not be available.
2. Fixed lens cameras often have expensive branding or take on cult status which can make them unaffordable or impossible to buy (Exhibit A.).
3. Fixed lens options may not have the focal length you are looking for.

For all of those reasons after a run at the X100 line, a Leica Q, and even picking up a few odd ducks I always land on interchangeable lens systems. And no matter how much I say that I will just have the one lens I always end up fleshing out the kit if it hangs around long enough.

My usual kit:

• Two bodies.
  • As much as makes no sense if I have two lenses why not two camera bodies. Nonsense. But it happens every time.
• Two primes.
  • Typically a normal lens (50mm-ish) and a portrait lens (75mm or longer).
• Two zooms.
  • Wide-ish to normal lens and a tele zoom.
• Let there be light.
  • At least one flash.

I already have most of what I listed above for MFT. Two bodies. Heck, why not? With everyone, including myself, going all full frame or nothing they are practically giving away older MFT cameras. Two primes. See back two sentences ago and apply here. One zoom. Mainly purchased for its tiny size, low cost, and O.I.S. So that leaves a tele zoom and a flash.

Flash.

The flash was easy. Easy choice and and easy acquisition. A TT350. I love those little inexpensive HSS, built in bounce card, and diffuser dome having TTL jokers. Killed it at a wedding a few years ago…

…and served as an off camera flash also.

Acquisition was easy. Walked into my local camera shop, since I try them first before I go online, and they found a used MFT one for only $50. Nice.

Lens.

My normal go to MFT lens is the far better than it has any business being Olympus OMD E-M1/Zuiko 40-150mm f/4-5.6 R.

I have taken some of my all time favorite photos with this lens. A couple even won a photo contest and were hung in UNC offices for years.

But there were two made up, first world problems.

1. No O.I.S..
   • Unlike the Olympus bodies I used to use one of my Lumix bodies does not have IBIS. This is fine for fast primes or shorter focal length lenses but becomes an issue with smaller apertures and longer focal lengths.
2. It does not say Lumix on it.
   • My baggage and I will own it.

Fortunately like the Lumix 42.5mm f/1.7 to the Olympus 45mm f/1.8 and the Lumix 20mm f/1.7 to the Olympus 18mm f/1.8 there is an alternative here also. The <inhales sharply> Panasonic Lumix G Vario 45-150mm f/4-5.6 ASPH. MEGA O.I.S. Lens. Purchased used of course.

So first off it loses 5mm at he wide end making for a 90-300mm full frame equivalent lens rather than 80-300mm like the Olympus. I will get over it. But on initial inspection it gains:

• O.I.S. (mentioned earlier) but with near no impact on size or weight.
• Even though it adds O.I.S. it is as affordable as the Zuiko option.
• Though still light, the better build makes the Zuiko feel a bit toylike in comparison.

From what I have gathered from reviews the IQ, a favorite part of the Zuiko option, is comparable. Initial quick tests prove this out also.

I will not write much more. But before I close with samples, similar to the Zuiko 40-150mm the Lumix 45-150mm not only does well with available light,…

…but it really shines when used with flash.

I never use the TT350 with direct flash. That brings unpleasant shadows and harsh lighting.

These are flash basics and I do not claim to be any manner of expert, but instead I always pull out the built in bounce card (A snap on accessory you have to keep track of with Godox V1 and Neewer Z1/Z2 flashes.) for fill flash and aim the flash head up.

Again, I really like these TT350 flashes.

Wrap up.

As I have stated before I believe MFT to be a fantastic option for those just starting out. With practice, you can get fantastic results out of these inexpensive pieces of kit. Here I will close followed up with a few sample images I took after I finished my roll of film recently.

Happy capturing.

-ELW