Is 4/3 and mirrorless or large sensor compact better quality?

crabbytech · 5th July 2012, 5:57 PM

I want a camera that suits my hiking landscapes, but can take pics of bikes and cars and all things nice.

I was considering an lx5 but i noticed the olympus pl3 can be had for $500ish with lens.

I want as close to FF dslr as possible but with much less weight.

Curious which sensors give the better pictures, large compact sensor or the m43/mirrorless?

hlokk · 5th July 2012, 6:04 PM

Hint: Which sensor is bigger?

When you say as close to a FF dslr, in which way do you mean...?

crabbytech · 5th July 2012, 6:12 PM

low light ability. so im thinking the mirrorless systems will have the edge there?

obviously something like the lx5 is incredible value considering you get a good telephoto lens.

but im hoping to start with mirrorless system and eventually move up to omd with the glass i accumulate. is that a fair path to follow?

can you get images from a 4/3 of good enough quality to publish? i would like to take on time for print doing motorcycles when i eventually have the skills and im hoping i wont have to also invest in a dslr.

Fishface · 5th July 2012, 9:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crabbytech

low light ability. so im thinking the mirrorless systems will have the edge there?

The mirror in a DSLR jumps out of the way when you take a picture, so mirrorless cameras do not have a performance advantage, just a size advantage.

wasas · 6th July 2012, 8:41 AM

EVIL. so nex3/5/7 the nikon J's, and the new olympus.

crabbytech · 6th July 2012, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishface

The mirror in a DSLR jumps out of the way when you take a picture, so mirrorless cameras do not have a performance advantage, just a size advantage.

of course, i was just answering the question re 4/3 vs compact for sensor size.

iXeR0 · 6th July 2012, 1:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wasas

EVIL. so nex3/5/7 the nikon J's, and the new olympus.

Technically, they're all mirrorless, but the NEX-3/5 and Nikon J1 are not EVIL.

Landscapes, cars and bikes all sound like you'd be better suited to using a tripod. If that isn't an option, then the OMD has IS to make up for FF's advantage in high ISO.

crabbytech · 6th July 2012, 1:27 PM

i would dearly love an omd, but up front i cant afford one. perhaps i can start with a cheap olympus pm1 or the like and when im ready to try doing more semi pro work ill go for the omd? or maybe keep the cheaper olympus and get the dslr later on for still works where portability isnt and issue...

lithos · 6th July 2012, 1:51 PM

KM-01 has the same (or so similar it doesn't make much difference) sensor as the Sony NEXes, which are renowned for their amazing low-light capabilities. The KM-01 has in-body SR, too.

SnooP-WiggleS · 6th July 2012, 1:52 PM

The lx5 isn't a 'large sensor' compact. Its a 1/1.7in sensor.

A large sensor compact would be the canon G1x (1.5in sensor) or the new sony rx100 (1in sensor). This preview gives a good idea of sizes of sensors:

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/sony-dsc-rx100

crabbytech · 6th July 2012, 1:58 PM

quite right, sorry i thought i saw the lx5 under the dpreview large sensor compact section.

so ultimately a larger sensor is better for low light, so i can pretty much rule out compacts. i think its 4/3 or compact dslr for me.

SnooP-WiggleS · 6th July 2012, 2:25 PM

Yep.

Though as I said some 'compact' cameras (ie fixed lens) like the canon G1x are large sensor (bigger than M43 in that case). The sony RX100 has the same size sensor as a Nikon J1/V1 mirrorless and from initial reviews performs better.

In terms of mirrorless cameras most compact / light out there but flexible is probably panasonic gf5 + x14-42 lens.

crabbytech · 6th July 2012, 3:54 PM

i didnt realise some of the mirrorless use apsc, i thought even though the non 4/3 mirrorless cameras werent called 4/3, i thought they still used a 4/3 sensor. hope that makes sense lol.

hlokk · 6th July 2012, 4:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iXeR0

Landscapes, cars and bikes all sound like you'd be better suited to using a tripod. If that isn't an option, then the OMD has IS to make up for FF's advantage in high ISO.

The PM1 also has IS. It has the 2 axis IS, instead of the 5 axis IBIS on the OM-D though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnooP-WiggleS

The lx5 isn't a 'large sensor' compact. Its a 1/1.7in sensor.

Its large in comparison to most compact sensors (1/2.3") but is definitely still a compact sensor. Its a large sensor by compact sensor standards (but not by other "compact" cameras). Depends what large is comparison to. A large mouse is still smaller than a small dog. If that makes any sense?
Similar sensor size to the S100 or G12.

crabbytech · 6th July 2012, 4:41 PM

so what would make more sense for $500, a new low end mirroless, or a 4 year old high end compact dslr with a couple of lenses?

im thinking around $2-300 for a used dslr body, any suggestions in that price bracket?

5th July 2012, 5:57 PM	#1
crabbytech Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,137	Is 4/3 and mirrorless or large sensor compact better quality? I want a camera that suits my hiking landscapes, but can take pics of bikes and cars and all things nice. I was considering an lx5 but i noticed the olympus pl3 can be had for $500ish with lens. I want as close to FF dslr as possible but with much less weight. Curious which sensors give the better pictures, large compact sensor or the m43/mirrorless?

5th July 2012, 6:04 PM	#2
hlokk Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: WA Posts: 3,967	Hint: Which sensor is bigger? When you say as close to a FF dslr, in which way do you mean...? __________________ Oh, for the love of science!

6th July 2012, 8:41 AM	#5
wasas Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: /au/qld/bne Posts: 672	EVIL. so nex3/5/7 the nikon J's, and the new olympus. __________________ My Signature goes BBBBRRRRRMMMMMM!

6th July 2012, 1:52 PM	#10
SnooP-WiggleS Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Ballarat, Victoria Posts: 2,662	The lx5 isn't a 'large sensor' compact. Its a 1/1.7in sensor. A large sensor compact would be the canon G1x (1.5in sensor) or the new sony rx100 (1in sensor). This preview gives a good idea of sizes of sensors: http://www.dpreview.com/previews/sony-dsc-rx100 __________________ RIG - CPU: I5 2500k @ 4.3ghz \| RAM: 8GB 1600 \| MOBO: ASUS P67 \| GC: ATI 5850 \| HD: 4tb \| Audio: m-audio delta 1010lt -> USB DAC -> Head Direct Re0 \| Case: Antec Sonata 3 PSU watts and Rails calculator OCAU WIKI's - heres what i've added, what can you add? The OCAU PSU wiki. Video Card wiki. Quiet PC

6th July 2012, 2:25 PM	#12
SnooP-WiggleS Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Ballarat, Victoria Posts: 2,662	Yep. Though as I said some 'compact' cameras (ie fixed lens) like the canon G1x are large sensor (bigger than M43 in that case). The sony RX100 has the same size sensor as a Nikon J1/V1 mirrorless and from initial reviews performs better. In terms of mirrorless cameras most compact / light out there but flexible is probably panasonic gf5 + x14-42 lens. __________________ RIG - CPU: I5 2500k @ 4.3ghz \| RAM: 8GB 1600 \| MOBO: ASUS P67 \| GC: ATI 5850 \| HD: 4tb \| Audio: m-audio delta 1010lt -> USB DAC -> Head Direct Re0 \| Case: Antec Sonata 3 PSU watts and Rails calculator OCAU WIKI's - heres what i've added, what can you add? The OCAU PSU wiki. Video Card wiki. Quiet PC

5th July 2012, 6:12 PM	#3
crabbytech Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,137	low light ability. so im thinking the mirrorless systems will have the edge there? obviously something like the lx5 is incredible value considering you get a good telephoto lens. but im hoping to start with mirrorless system and eventually move up to omd with the glass i accumulate. is that a fair path to follow? can you get images from a 4/3 of good enough quality to publish? i would like to take on time for print doing motorcycles when i eventually have the skills and im hoping i wont have to also invest in a dslr.

6th July 2012, 1:27 PM	#8
crabbytech Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,137	i would dearly love an omd, but up front i cant afford one. perhaps i can start with a cheap olympus pm1 or the like and when im ready to try doing more semi pro work ill go for the omd? or maybe keep the cheaper olympus and get the dslr later on for still works where portability isnt and issue...

6th July 2012, 1:58 PM	#11
crabbytech Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,137	quite right, sorry i thought i saw the lx5 under the dpreview large sensor compact section. so ultimately a larger sensor is better for low light, so i can pretty much rule out compacts. i think its 4/3 or compact dslr for me.

6th July 2012, 3:54 PM	#13
crabbytech Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,137	i didnt realise some of the mirrorless use apsc, i thought even though the non 4/3 mirrorless cameras werent called 4/3, i thought they still used a 4/3 sensor. hope that makes sense lol.

6th July 2012, 4:41 PM	#15
crabbytech Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,137	so what would make more sense for $500, a new low end mirroless, or a 4 year old high end compact dslr with a couple of lenses? im thinking around $2-300 for a used dslr body, any suggestions in that price bracket?