Dusted off my E-M10, and never looked back

I’m Rachel from Singapore. I’m a hobbyist photographer, and I started my photography journey in 2017 when I got the Olympus E-M10 Mark II.

Back then, I didn’t attempt photography in earnest, and my interest quickly waned despite having an amazing camera at my disposal. What I realize now is that there is a steep learning curve, and it’s more important to have fun along the way than to think about nailing the “right shot”.

I got back into photography In 2023, when I planned and went for a two-week road trip in Iceland. This is a bucket list trip and I wanted to properly document the landscapes and experiences. I took out my trusty Olympus E-M-10 Mark II, and spent a few months prior to my trip learning the principles of photography and the features of my camera.

During this period, I read up a lot about the M43 ecosystem. Despite the supposed limitations of the system, I was convinced that M43 was for me because of its ability to produce good-quality photos, with a relatively small kit size. I wanted something small, light, versatile for all the adventures that I’ll have on the trip (and beyond)!

It was during this discovery phase that I also found out about the legendary Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mm f2.8 PRO lens. I managed to get my hands on a well-maintained second-hand lens at a great price and paired it with my Olympus E-M10 Mark II for the trip.

Since the trip, I’ve dabbled in a lot of different types of photography – from landscapes and nature, to cityscapes and street. Through this discovery process, I learned that versatility and portability are important to me, and I found that the M43 ecosystem was able to provide just that.

Shortly after the trip, I upgraded to an OM System OM-5 as my main body. The day I bought my OM-5, I immediately brought it with me to the F1 Singapore Grand Prix, and tried to get a few shots of the F1 cars with an admittedly slow lens – the Olympus 75-300mm f4.8 – 6.7 II.

With the new camera body in hand, I spent the evening trying out panning shots for the first time. Most of the shots I took were a blurry mess, but I managed to get this shot (above) that I’m really proud of.

I’ve even brought this same kit for a bird photography workshop, where we spent the day taking photos of Black Naped Terns. The Olympus 75-300mm f4.8 – 6.7 II may be on the slow side, but it’s still a reliable partner if you’re looking for an affordable telephoto lens.

Also, I can’t mention bird photography with the OM System OM-5 without talking about its Pro-Capture feature. The camera has a high and low mode of this feature, which allows you to “pre-capture” frames when you half-press the shutter, and store a set number of frames in your camera upon fully pressing the shutter. Handy!

One feature of the OM-5 that I love is the built-in ND filter (Live ND Mode). It has been really useful, especially when I want to travel light with few accessories. When I was researching the OM-5, I thought this mode would be interesting, but I did not expect myself to enjoy using it as much as I have thus far.

Another nifty feature in the OM–5 is the handheld hi-res mode that allows you to take a hi-res shot of up to 50MP without a need for a tripod. This feature is very useful when you don’t have the time to set up a tripod, or happen to be travelling light at that very moment. There are a lot of unexpected moments when travelling, so having these features readily available to help you capture those moments is incredibly helpful.

Alongside the OM-5, I got my hands on a few prime lenses. My favourite prime lens currently is the Sigma 56mm f1.4 DC DN. It’s an amazing bang for buck – it’s relatively affordable, weather-sealed, fast, lightweight, and has top-notch image quality.

It surprised me how well I took to its 56mm frame. I thought that I would struggle with it being too punched in, but I’ve since found it to be very versatile, and it is now a staple part of my kit.

To complete my kit, I came across an almost mint condition second-hand Lumix GF-8 (came with the Lumix 12-32mm f3.5 – 5.6). This little camera turned out to be a fantastic everyday carry. Slap on the Lumix 14mm f2.5, and you get a compact kit that packs a punch and is super fun to shoot with.

I didn’t intend to get this camera, but I’m glad I did!

Here’s what my kit looks like now:

From left, top row:

• Everyday Carry: Lumix GF-8 – for when taking photos is secondary, but this is so small and light I could just put it in my pocket. Currently has the Panasonic 14mm 2.5 on it.
• Casual Days: Olympus E-M10 Mark II – for days where I know there are moments that I could get some good shots. Currently has the M.Zuiko 45mm f1.8 on it.
• Main Body: OM Systems OM-5 – for days where I want to pursue some “serious” photography, or need weatherproofing. Currently has the Sigma 56mm f1.4 on it.

From left, bottom row:

• Olympus 8mm f8 Fisheye Bodycap
• Panasonic 12-32mm f3.5 – 5.6
• Zuiko 25mm f1.8
• Zuiko 75-300mm f4.5 – 6.7 II
• Zuiko 12-40mm f2.8 PRO
• Panasonic Leica 9mm f1.7
• Zuiko 20mm f1.4 PRO

I definitely had a serious case of GAS over the last year. Now, I’m content with the kit I own, and I’m looking forward to what is next in my photography journey.

I hope to continue to improve in my skills, keep an open mind, and see things in different perspectives.