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Why I am switching to mirrorless for work: The ‘Mirrorless on the Job’ series preview

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When I first bought the Olympus OM-D E-M5 at the beginning of 2013, I spent a lot of time learning the ins and outs of the camera, taking it out on the streets on weekends and using it while on holiday. It wasn’t long before I started to see the potential of this fast little mirrorless for my job.

Its small size and weight, fast autofocus and amazing quality forced me to update my approach to photography. This was only reconfirmed when the Fuji X100s entered my life. I had bought the X100s thinking that I would use it for personal purposes only, but it always seems to find its way into my camera bag for work. In fact, I almost use it as much as the OM-D, if not more on some occasions.

Last week, I did my first “mirrorless wedding” using the OM-D as my primary camera, and the GH3 and X100s as my second cameras for specific shots or moments. I use the E-M5 regularly for my job at the Cinema Museum of Turin, whilst my old Nikon D700 continues to gather more and more dust on my shelf.

My plan in the near future is to write a series of in-depth articles about my experience of using mirrorless cameras for professional purposes. This post is just a sneak preview, as well as an occasion to share some pictures with you, our readers.

Update: you can check out our latest Mirrorless on the Job articles below!

 

Last week, I was commissioned to do a last minute event reportage about the opening of a very popular co-working space here in Italy called Talent Garden. The Turin headquarters is the sixth opened in the last two years. One of the founders, Fabio Sferruzzi, is a good friend of mine, and a great partner for many jobs I do with his Echo Creative Company, so despite the last minute call (and a surprise 38 degree fever), I accepted with great enthusiasm.

Below you will find some of the shots I took. For this event, I used the E-M5 with a Lumix 35-100 f/2.8 and the M.Zuiko 12mm f/2, and of course my X100s in manual focus mode. Enjoy!

  • Tony M.

    I love my Olympus OMD E5M. I bought several other 4/3 cameras to try but settled on the Olympus. My favorite lenses are the 45mm f1.8, 12mm f2 and the 25mm f1.8. Boy was I impressed when I had a camera that had eye priority and could focus on a persons eye automatically. I got great results from this set up, BUT I WOULD NOT USE THIS CAMERA FOR MY PAYING CLIENTS. My Canon 5D MkII with 24-105 zoom, 135mm f2, and 17-40 zoom are what I use for the majority of my work. I also use a Contax 120 format camera for some high end weddings and my old trusty 4×5 Crown Graphic for stage and theatrical work. I also have a custom 5×7 twin lens that Pete Gowland built for me to my specs about 10 years ago. I do classic portraiture on that 5×7 which I have blow up to 30 x 40 for some of my doctor clients who want formal family portraiture done in their homes. I used to have an 8×10 B&J view camera but retired it twenty years ago. I have been a photographer for over 60 years and want the ultimate in quality for my clients. I too can tell the difference in quality by looking at a photograph, even though the average person can not. In the late 1950s into the early 1960s, I carried a 4×5 Speed Graphic, 18 film holders and three dozen flash bulbs in my camera bag. The Canon 5D Mk II weighs about 1/3 of what I was used to carrying. The Olympus OMD E5M makes life easy for us but I do not want to show up at a shoot with a camera smaller than the guests have. I would not look professional with something that looks like a toy in my hand, even thought I always wear a coat and tie at every event I work. My 5D blows away the images the Olympus takes. Most of the photographers using the small 4/3 format with that tiny sensor, are established and can take an artistically composed image on a cell phone. Famous photographers, two of which I respect, are using Sony A6000 cameras and are living on their laurels since they are who they are and can get away with it. My advice to a beginning photographer is BIGGER IS BETTER. No way would I start a business today with a camera which has such a tiny sensor. I am quite away of the images my Olympus takes but my 120 format contax images and 4×5 format images are out of this world. You have to distance yourself from the competition and stand out. What better way to do this is with a large format camera that produces mind blowing images that leave people in awe. I do take my Olympus OMD E5m with me and occasionally take a photo or two that might be included in the final images of a professional session. It is with me all the time for my personal walk around camera. I have more fun with it that any camera I have every owned.