Hi all, back in 2014, I bought a Lumix GX7.
It's been serving me well even now. Recently, I was thinking of getting an Olympus 12-50mm kit lens to act as a macro lens at a budget.
My question is - What is the lifespan of a mirrorless camera like mine? This is my first proper camera. We don't throw away cameras like smartphones, do we? (Upgrading every few years). Do mirrorless cameras typically last you for 10 years or more?
Also, has anyone tried using the Olympus 12-50mm kit lens on macro on a Lumix body? Does it still work well?
Thank you.
Lifespan of mirrorless or any digital camera: Can be 10yrs. or more that is if other components like the LCD screen or EVF (electronic viewfinder) does not detoriate first like dimming at the edges of the screen. The internal battery that keeps the date,some have rechargeable battery (not the main big one you insert into cam ) everything has a lifespan even the mechanical shutter that typically
lasts 50K -80K actuations for consumer models but can go on much longer than official published numbers. Plus you keep it in dry cabinet when not in use to prevent fungus growing on viewfinder ( a mnor but not critical nuisance),mirror or lenses.
That said people change cameras like they change underwear..haha. Nothing wrong since sg is 1st. world place (got money).
On using olympus 12-50mm kit lens, do know that G7 does not have IBIS ( in body stabalisation ) so a handicap in a way.
Plus a kit lens is not a true macro lens in that it does not give a 1:1 magnification so what you see as lifesized will be smaller
when reproduced by camera. Even if such kit lens say can do macro what they really mean is
close up photography which
typically have magnification of 1: 4, 1:2 at best. Of course you can crop the image but you lose in terms of quality and resolution
vis-a-vis sensor's megapixel size (relative) instead of using the whole frame.
It's better to get a macro lens if you are serious but if you want to experiment you can try buying close up lens attatchment
( comes in various magnifications eg. +2,+3, etc) to your kit lens if the diameter is not too big or use extension tubes or reverse lens attachment but you will not be able to autofocus but most macro shooters focus manually anyway and also loss of metering. Finally it all depends on your available budget so you can look at the buy/sell section here to see the prices asked for. Not to forget some sort of lighting not neccessary a dedicated marco flash.
A diy paper plate reflector is cost effective with whatever flash you have on hand.
