Here are some fact that may lead me to make a bold decision on my next purchase(s).
- I really do noTheset like lugging around well over a kilogram of camera equipment. My Tokina 11-16mm is a great lens, but it is really heavy.
- When I have been able to use Marty's L-quality lenses, my impression is split: These things make great images but are really (REALLY) heavy.
- There are much lighter cameras and lenses available that record excellent images.
Let's see some numbers on comparable Canon APS-C and the top end of the Micro Four-Thirds world.
| Item | Mass | DxOMark | DxO Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canon 7D | 816 | 66 | |
| Tokina ATX-Pro 11-16mm f/2.8 DX | 550 | 12 | |
| Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM | 290 | 19 | |
| Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM | 625 | 18 | |
| Total | 2281 | 49 | |
| Olympus OM-D E-M1 | 497 | 73 | |
| Panasonic Lumix G Vario 7-14mm F4 ASPH | 300 | 19 | |
| Panasonic Leica Summilux DG 25mm F1.4 | 200 | 24 | |
| Olympus M.ZUIKO ED 60mm F2.8 Macro | 185 | 21 | |
| Total | 1182 | 64 |
(Masses, in grams, are from B and H. The DxOMark scores are for the Canon lens on my camera; the Four-Thirds lens scores are from the Olympus PEN-5, which should be similar to the new OM-D E-M1.)
It looks to me that I could get sharper pictures and carry around half the weight by trading in my Canon stuff for this Micro Four-Thirds set.
You can get better DxOMark numbers from the lenses, to be sure, when they are on a Canon Full-Frame camera (5D Mark III), but it is even heavier.
Addendum, 6/5/14
These comments are no longer valid for me. I am committed to the heavy Canon equipment for now.
But when the next EOS M comes out, ...
