Regardless of the sensor format and brand we may choose, we all face investment decisions when considering various cameras and lenses. This article utilizes some current data and compares the relative costs and weight of my ‘low light’ PRO M4/3 lenses with comparable Nikon mirrorless full frame lenses. I did not include comparisons with other full frame brands simply because I don’t have any personal experience with them. Photographers can do similar comparisons with any equipment they are considering.

NOTE: Click on images to enlarge. Photos have been added to serve as visual breaks.

As regular readers know I did own a fairly extensive full frame camera kit a number of years ago. In July 2015 I made the switch to smaller sensor cameras as they better met my specific business and personal needs.

This article is not intended to make any value judgements about a photographer’s choice of camera equipment. These are personal decisions we all make based on our individual needs. When making investment decisions with camera gear it is important to look beyond a camera body and also consider the lenses required for us to do our work.

Focal length, aperture, weight and cost are the four primary factors that many of us use when selecting lenses. When I owned full frame gear I could never justify the additional weight and costs associated with the fastest aperture zooms and primes available at that time.

So I used f/1.8 primes and mainly f/4 zoom lenses, as well as some variable aperture zooms. There were obvious cost and weight advantages doing so. The trade-off was a reduction in overall kit functionality as losing one stop of light or more, can be very important in specific situations.

When I made the switch to Olympus (now OM System) equipment in June 2019 I specifically wanted the added functionality of faster aperture lenses. Since part of my decision was driven by my desire to eliminate the need for tripods for my industrial client video work, the faster apertures were critical. As a result I decided to purchase the following M.Zuiko lenses as my ‘low light’ kit:

• PRO 45 mm f/1.2
• PRO 7-14 mm f/2.8
• PRO 12-40 mm f/2.8
• PRO 40-150 mm f/2.8

I did not consider any other brands of M4/3 lenses. A previous and unsuccessful experience with another M4/3 brand played a part in that decision… but it was not the major factor. Future compatibility with Olympus computational photography technologies and weather sealing were far more important factors to me.

I recently received a product introduction email from Nikon Canada about the company’s new Z-Series mirrorless 85 mm f/1.2 prime lens. This prompted me to review Nikon’s Z-Series lens line up as I had not done so in a few years. The following summarizes the current weight and cost differences between the M.Zuiko PRO lenses in my ‘low light’ kit and similar Nikon Z-mount mirrorless lenses.

Weight Comparison

• M.Zuiko PRO 45 mm f/1.2 (efov 90 mm)= 410 grams (0.9 lbs.)
• Nikon Z 85 mm f/1.2 = 1,160 grams (2.56 lbs.)
• M.Zuiko PRO 7-14 mm f/2.8 (efov 14-28 mm)= 534 grams (1.18 lbs.)
• Nikon Z 14-24 mm f/2.8 = 650 grams (1.43 lbs.)
• M.Zuiko PRO 12-40 mm (efov 24-80 mm) = 382 grams (0.84 lbs.)
• Nikon Z 24-70 mm f/2.8 = 805 grams  (1.77 lbs.)
• M.Zuiko PRO 40-150 mm f/2.8 (efov 80-300 mm) = 760 grams (1.68 lbs.)
• Nikon Z 70-200 mm f/2.8 = 1,360 grams (3 lbs.)

The total weight of my 4 lens M.Zuiko ‘low light’ kit is 2,086 grams (4.6 lbs.) compared to 3,975 grams (8.76 lbs.) for the Nikon Z kit.

It should be noted that the M.Zuiko PRO 40-150 mm f/2.8 provides considerably more functionality when compared to the Nikon Z 70-200 mm f/2.8 due to its longer equivalent field-of-view range.

Cost Comparison

Obviously investment decisions are pointless without assessing the costs of various camera kit components. The costs below are based on current manufacturer’s list prices in Canada.

• M.Zuiko PRO 45 mm f/1.2 (efov 90 mm)= $1,800
• Nikon Z 85 mm f/1.2 = $3,799
• M.Zuiko PRO 7-14 mm f/2.8 (efov 14-28 mm)= $1,750
• Nikon Z 14-24 mm f/2.8 = $3,249
• M.Zuiko PRO 12-40 mm (efov 24-80 mm) = $1,300
• Nikon Z 24-70 mm f/2.8 = $3,099
• M.Zuiko PRO 40-150 mm f/2.8 (efov 80-300 mm) = $2,000
• Nikon Z 70-200 mm f/2.8 = $3,499

The total current cost of my PRO M.Zuiko ‘low light’ kit is $6,850 CDN versus $13,646 CDN for the Nikon Z kit.

Avoiding Buyer’s Remorse

Changing one’s camera system is a major decision that needs to be carefully thought out and planned. A photographer needs to consider what camera format and brand best meets their specific needs in terms of functionality. Since this sometimes can lead to a photographer selecting more expensive lenses… these investment decisions are best done without the emotional impacts of GAS.

Choosing lenses with more overall functionality,,, but at higher cost… may make perfect sense for a photographer. Other photographers may have their needs well served by more affordable lenses. It all comes down to personal needs.  Either way, it may take time to build the right kit for a particular photographer. Being patient as we build our photographic kit with the right component pieces for our needs helps us avoid buyer’s remorse down the road.

Have I had any regrets with the investment decisions I made with my Olympus M4/3 kit? Nope. I’ve never been able to do more with my camera gear than I’ve been able to do over the past three and a half years. I’ve had countless moments when I’ve been out with my camera in hand and thought, “Boy… I’m glad I spent the extra money on this lens.”.

Owning camera gear ultimately comes down to capturing individual image opportunities that may never reoccur. Investment decisions that help us maximize the number and variety of image opportunities we can photograph will continue to add value in our lives. Regardless of the camera format and brand we choose.

Technical Note

Photographs were captured handheld using camera gear as noted in the EXIF data. Images were produced from RAW using my standard approach in post. This is the 1,252 article published on this website since its original inception in 2015.

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