Micro Four Thirds vs entry-level dSLRs

see also:

• Micro Four Thirds system
• digital SLR cameras
• camera systems compared

I have tried to compare the two systems with similarly featured cameras and reasonable lens options to show what the price difference is and image quality at that price.

If you are shooting fast moving subjects in AF, or you want to do remote TTL flash, or use large, heavy lenses, then the Nikon dSLR would be your best bet, but for everything else, a mirrorless camera systems will do as good, if not better, and should give sharper images edge-to-edge, better HD video with ability to do slo-motion and with a far more compact kit.

Furthermore, if you are financially challenged and don't mind having fun with legacy lenses, you can put almost any lens you can find on Ebay onto a mirrorless camera systems camera such as the G3 - just get an adapter. With Nikon, you are stuck using Nikon F mount lenses only, and even then, the Nikon D3100 will not autofocus certain lenses such as the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D BUT you can use the newer, more expensive AF-S 50mm f/1.8G lens.

It will be very interesting indeed to see how the new Olympus 45mm f/1.8 lens compares in lens testing with the options for Nikon:

• Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G $220 SWM AF, aspherical, 58mm filter, 0.45m close focus
• Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.4G $485 SWM AF but slower AF than the older D version, aspherical, 58mm filter, 0.45m close focus, a little soft wide open
• Sigma 50mm f/1.4 - $499 HSM AF, aspherical, 77mm filter, 0.45m close focus, 505g the sharpest of these three 50mm lenses (although not as sharp as the Olympus ZD 50mm f/2.0 macro) but the heaviest and most expensive.

In the end, it will be the lenses which make the difference to your photography, and there is no point factoring in lenses you cannot afford. The ability to use cheap legacy lenses should not be under-estimated.

The new HD video optimised, fast CD-AF lenses for Micro Four Thirds make a compelling case for many people:

• Olympus 12mm f/2.0 with zone manual focus functionality gives a wonderful 24mm f/2.0 effective lens perfect for indoors and street photography as well as a general purpose travel, landscape lens.
• Olympus 45mm f/1.8 portrait lens giving 90mm effective focal length
• Lumix G X Vario PZ 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 OIS pancake - the most compact 3x zoom yet
• Lumix G X Vario PZ 45-175mm F4.0-5.6 ASPH OIS - the most compact 90-350mm zoom yet.

In addition to the above there are some very nice compact lens options for Micro Four Thirds including:

• Panasonic 7-14mm ultra-wide angle zoom (14-28mm)
• Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 pancake
• Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 high quality standard lens for environmental portraits, indoors and low light photography