EXCERPT page containing first few paragraphs. 2024-04-26 13:04:51
UA_SEARCH_BOT_compatible_botmozilla/5.0 applewebkit/537.36 (khtml, like gecko; compatible; claudebot/1.0; +claudebot@anthropic.com) @ 18.224.149.242
For full access, subscribe here. Or click title to login. 
Examples: Around the Neighborhood
These examples were all shot handheld walking around on a rainy day. I wanted to evaluated the combination of image stabilization of the Olympus E-M1 Mark II at f/1.4 with the Panasonic 12mm f/1.4— a sort of practical look at what a fast lens might do for me.
While f/1.4 on Micro 4/3 is equivalent to f/2.8 on full-frame for depth of field, one nonetheless has an advantage in shutter speed from the f/1.4 aperture. And the Olympus E-M1 II image stabilization is outstanding, so let’s see how the combination fares down to some very slow shutter speed.
I was quite annoyed that the E-M1 II reverted to banging the shutter at lower speeds in single-shot mode—as I later realized, the single shot with a heart symbol icon has to be chosen (“Silent mode”). What does a heart symbol have to do with photography? If indeed that’s what that tiny smudge of a symbol is? I really dislike obtuse symbols in any user interface.
Article continues for subscribers...
Diglloyd Guide to Mirrorless is by yearly subscription. Subscribe now for about 25 cents a day ($90/year).
BEST DEAL: get full access to ALL 8 PUBLICATIONS for only about 75 cents a day!
Diglloyd Guide to Mirrorless offers comprehensive integrated coverage of most APS-C and full frame mirrorless cameras and lenses.
Special emphasis is placed on Sony full-frame, including Sony lenses and the high performance Zeiss Batis and Zeiss Loxia lenses plus Rokinon/Samyang and others. Fujifilm X, Olympus and Panasonic M4/3, Sigma dp Merrill and dp/sd Quattro are also covered in depth. Years in the making, it offers a wealth of material for choosing and using a mirrorless camera.
- Make better images by learning how to get the best results right away. For example, the best way to set up your Sony camera.
- Save money by choosing the right lens for your needs the first time, particularly with the numerous lenses available for Sony.
- Make better images, a sort of “cheat sheet” saving yourself months or years of ad-hoc learning—best practices and how-to and processing parameters are discussed and shown.
- Jaw-dropping image quality found nowhere else utilizing Retina-grade images up to full camera resolution, plus large crops.
- Real world examples with insights found nowhere else. Make sharper images just by understanding lens behavior you won’t read about elsewhere.
- Aperture series from wide open through stopped down, showing the full range of lens performance and bokeh.
- Optical quality analysis of field curvature, focus shift, sharpness, flare, distortion, and performance in the field.
Want a preview? Click on any page below to see an excerpt as well as extensive blog coverage, for example on Sony.
Olympus E-M1 Mark II + LEICA DG SUMMILUX 12/F1.4 @ 25mm equiv (12mm)
[low-res image for bot]