A lot of landscape and nature photographers are learning to appreciate mirrorless cameras these days. I ditched my full-frame gear almost two years ago after I learned the advantages of small high-quality cameras and lenses. There are more mirrorless models than ever, but I think the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system has many advantages over its competition.
I bought my first mirrorless camera about two and a half years ago. I decided on the MFT system because of its small size and (even then) good selection of lenses. The smaller sensor size allows MFT lenses to be smaller than their APS-C and full-frame counterparts. It’s nice to have small camera bodies, but if I still have to use big heavy lenses I don’t see much advantage over a DSLR system. I also don’t want to rely on prime (fixed focus) lenses to keep my gear small. I like prime lenses fine, but when I am hiking to a location to shoot I prefer a few high quality zoom lenses to a bag full of small primes.
The bodies I prefer for nature photography are the Panasonic LUMIX GH3 and the new LUMIX GH4. I like the ergonomic shape of the grip and the control layout is very similar to what I am used to with a larger DSLR. The articulated touch screen makes the GH3/GH4 very convenient to use on a tripod. The bodies are weather sealed and rugged, and I haven’t been able to kill one yet!
The lenses I always have with me are the LUMIX 7-14mm f4, LUMIX 12-35mm f2.8 and the LUMIX 35-100mm f2.8. These lenses give me the same field of view (MFT has a 2x crop factor) as 14-28mm, 24-70mm and 70-200mm lenses on a full-frame camera. The 12-35mm and 35-100mm are weather sealed like the GH3/GH4 bodies.
My other favorite lenses for outdoor photography are the LUMIX Leica 45mm f2.8 macro and the LUMIX 100-300mm super-telephoto. The 45mm f2.8 is a razor-sharp macro lens that has that “Leica look” that other lenses just don’t match. The 100-300mm gives you a 600mm lens for wildlife in an incredibly small package.
This kit fits into a small backpack that is easy to carry all day. The lighter camera and lenses mean you can use a lightweight tripod with no problem. I would caution against the super lightweight models if you are shooting video along with your still photography. I find the new Grand Turismo travel tripod from Induro to be a near-perfect combination of small size and solid support. I have the Carbon Fiber GT214 and I have used it with everything from a simple camera setup to a full size slider.
Speaking of video, I am a big proponent of adding movement to your photography. LUMIX cameras are known for their excellent video quality, and they make it easy to switch between stills and video. The LUMIX GH4 shoots 4K video to the SD card in the camera. Even if you don’t have a 4K TV or monitor the increased resolution can add a new dimension to your HD videos.
The current generation of LUMIX cameras has a few more features to help you add motion to your workflow. Like many cameras, the LUMIX GH3/GH4 has a built-in intervalometer you can use to shoot for shooting time-lapse images. Going a step further, LUMIX bodies like the GX7, GH4 and even the tiny GM1 allow you convert your time-lapse images to a high-definition video right inside the camera.
I like to use ProShow Web (photodex.com) to combine video clips and still images into hybrid photography “eScapes”. I think the combination of still and moving images is a powerful storytelling tool, and I am learning how to take advantage of the medium more every day. You can try ProShow Web for free, and when you’re ready to buy you can use the discount code “ROB20” to save 20%.
I have seen a big shift toward small mirrorless cameras over the last year. As many as half of my photo workshop attendees are using mirrorless cameras these days. Once you learn that you can make the same beautiful images without carrying big heavy gear, “going mirrorless” is a no-brainer for a lot of photographers.
If you would like to learn more about nature photography and adding motion to your workflow you should join me in Costa Rica this September. I have been leading photo workshops in Costa Rica since 2010, and I would be glad to show you around! Find out more at CostaRicaPhotoWorkshop.com.