I love Mary-Louise, my wife.
I know that this is an odd way to start a photography blog post, but today Mary-Louise helped me to unravel the jumbled mess that was scrambling around in my brain, and just by listening.
Having had a very restless night, I had to focus on a work requirement today which took me away from matters "Olympus". I had to be brutal about it, as I had to get the work task to a certain point otherwise I'd be doing a couple of very late nights next week.
The electronic view finder still worries me, although the advise I've been given on Facebook is that it works fine when adjusted for the individual user. Additionally, positioning filters (specifically the types that I currently own) is not a problem with the OM-D lenses.
Bob (from the workshop) has also admitted that it took him a while to get the programmable buttons set up to his liking, but once done and settled the camera became instinctive to him.
My choice of lens would have been the 12-40mm PRO, however it is close to £1,000 and I would need to sell more current gear to fund such a purchase.
During the workshop, Steve let me use his 12-50mm which worked just fine for me and Steve claimed to be more than happy with its quality. I've learned to trust Steve's opinion - also, it is only £270 odd to purchase.
From doing some eBaying at Christmas, I have the funds to purchase an OM-D EM-5 body outright. Olympus are also doing a free grip offer at the moment on the EM-5 (and the grip is worth around £200!).
If I sold off my trusty 10D, the battery grip, a few batteries, a charger, one of my Canon mid-zooms and some computer bits that I've recently added to the eBay pile, then I'd easily be able to fund the purchase of a 12-50mm lens to go with an EM-5.
This leaves me with my 5D, my landscape lenses - even the infrequently used 120-300mm f/2.8 (which is a cracking piece of glass) can stay where it is.
Making this purchase gives me the opportunity to pick up from where I left the workshop and to set the camera up to suit me. To re-programme those buttons so that I can quickly access those functions that I frequently chose to use. To really get out and play, and have a go in more ideal landscape light. To really find out whether the Olympus range can become as instinctive as the Canon 5D is to me now.
Unlike Mary-Louise's mouse (see earlier posts to understand that reference), the Canon is going to have to be put away with the Olympus taking its place in the bag. If I take both out with me, then I know deep down that it will be the Canon that I reach for first.
We've got a weeks family holiday in Cornwall planned in July. A perfect opportunity to do the re-programming and then leave the Canon at home and explore.
The numbers balance. The old Canon 5D is still there if Olympus doesn't work out.
Mary-Louise has even suggested that I buy the body and the lens, and then owe the joint account once I've sold off the other bits.
So its done. The order has been placed. Delivery is estimated at Friday (23rd).
I love Mary-Louise. Thanks wife. x