I have finally taken the plunge and purchased a new camera.
Since my Sony Alpha 55 died in 2013 and I was forced to buy a new camera in Japan, I have had nothing but trouble.
Then in 2014 in China I had to buy a new Alpha 77 and another telephoto lens, after a major lens malfunction and an incompatibility issue with my Alpha 66 (the one I bought in Japan).
Another concern was that every new model in the Sony range seems to get larger and heavier.
So with two camera bodies, three lenses and the associated equipment, my camera bag was weighing almost as much as my luggage.
Definitely time for a change.
I decided to go with the Micro Four Thirds system developed by Olympus in 2008. This is a mirrorless digital camera with interchangeable lens and 16mp stills.
The Micro Four Thirds shares the same size image sensor as the Four Thirds system but because it’s mirrorless has a much smaller body size. I chose the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II, despite its ridiculously long name, as it also has a built in image stabiliser, so the lenses are also smaller and lighter.
I have now reduced my equipment to one camera body and two lenses, which weigh a fraction of what I was having to schlep round.
All I need to do now is learn how to use it.
I purchased my new camera from Michaels Camera Store in Melbourne, as they were parity with their pricing and willing to give me a generous trade-in on my old Sony equipment.
So it’s not only a weight off my shoulders, it’s also a weight off my mind and my wallet.
