(1) Image quality - That is the primary reason why I could not get away from Olympus. Jpeg from camera is important because there are times when I really don't have time or have a computer within reach to tweak a photo, for whatever assignments/submissions to client.
(2) In body IS - I am getting older. Coffee and cigarettes does not help in stabilising the shot. Don't ask me to quit either. I rather go down in a blaze of glory than die inhaling car exhaust and developing lung cancer because of someone else. Like I always said : I stop smoking when you stop driving.
(3) Compatibility - I use 4/3 lenses with MMF-1. No need to elaborate right? Everything feels "native".
(4) Screen - For whatever reasons people like high resolution screens, that works against me. And the Pen's LCD is the most accurate one there is, especially when tweaking color warmth. I make better judgements with the Pen LCD... *Panasonic will only offer one thing for my photos... screw them up.
(5) Reliable AF - I don't need fast AF when shooting a plant or a bowl of ramen... but I need reliable AF. *Panasonic's faster AF is achieved by reduced sampling. Totally unacceptable at all.
(6) Art Filters - Handy when lazy. Clients wow all the time with the black and whites. That alone is worth everything.
(7) VF-2 - No more dizziness. And being one who wear glasses, *Panasonic's intelligent EVF is the stupidest thing that I have ever used. Never fail to frustrate me.
(8) History - I love Pen because I love Pen. If Fujifilm releases digital Klasse, I am getting one too.
* Sorry for the Panasonic bashing, but primarily I hate the G-series camera because I feel it tries too hard. I am a hardcore believer in the LX series PnS, in fact, I helped sell tons of them. One of the most highly recommended PnS in the history of PnS cameras, other than the Fuji F31FD which is another classic.
What I like about the G-Series from Panasonic are :
(1) Video (in MJPEG mode) - Panasonic is all about video. No doubt about it. AVCHD might be the choice of the professionals, but G-Series is not a professional camera, though the GH1 is widely used by indie film makers now. But... (there is always a but)... Panasonic SUCKS with audio. Big time. The saving grace with GH1 is external mic input. Other wise, they really crash and burn with the audio.
(2) GUI - Panasonic GUI designers are one of the best out there. Simply a joy to use.
(3) Quality elements used in their lenses, but alas, not the build. Panasonic should just order elements from Leica and send them to Sigma to be made and focus on their Venus engine. That would produce something mind blowing and shut me up for good.
Though they are not enough reasons for me to buy one. And if I have to choose one G-Series camera in a place where Olympus cannot be found, then it has to be the GF1.
History - What really pisses me off about Panasonic is the way they screw their customers. Those who have bought into the L1, L10 regular 4/3 cameras and lenses are left high and dry... where are more OIS lenses for them? Oly have lenses, but none with built in IS... Panasonic just simply dumped their customers and went to m43 in a big way... so when there is another new format, then what happens? Olympus, on the other hand, ensured that even legacy lens owners from OM era are taken cared of when they develop new technology. Realised that OM adapters for E-Pen was released at the same time when the E-P1 was launched? That is taking care of customers. This attitude deserve my loyalty to them. Like they say, you scratch my back, I scratch yours.
Photographers invest into a system. The system must take care of photographers.
Nikon - DX, FX, whatever X... confusing.
Canon - EF, EF-S, L lens, some weather proof, some not... even more confusing...
These are things that makes hobbyists, serious amateurs worry. What they are investing will usually not bring in enough income to cover the cost of investment, and screwing them is really not nice. Something everyone must learn. There are companies out there though small, but taking care of the interest of their customers ensure loyalty and continued business. That is something I look for in a brand that I invest into.
