Pen PL-2 or refurb E450?

I am looking for a camera for my wife, as a second camera to our E1.

I can get the Pen PL2 ex showroom stock from jessops, for £300 or direct from olympus, arefurbished E450 kit for £266.
Oh great photographers on here, which would you choose?

I want to use my 4/3 lenses on this second camera (oh and by the way, an adaptor for the Pen would cost and extra £112)

Many thanks in advance

The E-PL2 is lovely kit, but you really want to get the VF-2 or -3 to use with it. She'll thank you for it later.

Image quality is, I think, better than the e520 that I used to have, and matches the e30, and close to the e5. While I can use ZD lenses with an adapter, I almost always use either the m.Zuiko lenses that came with my e-pl2, or some Voigtlander m-mount lenses, which perform wonderfully. They're smaller than any of the ZD lenses I've got.

Also don't forget that the e450 and pl2 both use different batteries, all different from the e1.

Hmm, that adds another £200 onto the cost of the Pen PL2, plus the extension ring of £112, seems Olympus are making a lot out of accessories!

Whilst you can share the four thirds lenses you have on both the E-PL2 (with an adapter) and E1, if you buy any M43 lenses they will only work on the E-PL2. So that's another thing to consider.
--
Paul

Denny Crane said:

I am looking for a camera for my wife, as a second camera to our E1.

I can get the Pen PL2 ex showroom stock from jessops, for £300 or direct from olympus, arefurbished E450 kit for £266.
Oh great photographers on here, which would you choose?

I want to use my 4/3 lenses on this second camera (oh and by the way, an adaptor for the Pen would cost and extra £112)

Many thanks in advance

Click to expand...

I have to ask the following since you said, "our E1."

Does your wife like using the E1? If not, what does she dislike about it?

I have several DSLRs and mirrorless system cameras but the E1 has a special place in my kit. If your wife just wants a camera of her own and she likes the E1 then shop around for a gently used E1.

Sure, a newer camera has extra features and more resolution, but if you get a second E1 you don't have to learn a new camera interface. That's a large part of the reason that I decided to buy an E-PL1s when I wanted a second Pen camera to use along with my E-PL1. The E-PL1s is essentially the same camera as the E-PL1 so switching between cameras in as easy as breathing.

I have both the Olympus and Panasonic 4/3-to-m4/3 adapters and even with the latest Pen bodies (I had the E-P3 and E-PL3 on loan) 4/3 lenses just aren't as fast or accurate as native m4/3 lenses when you're talking about AF. Not only will you miss shots because of slow AF when using 4/3 lenses on m4/3 cameras, but sometimes the focus is way off.

Don't misunderstand me, I've taken some great photos with my 4/3 lenses mounted to my Pen cameras, but I've also experienced the frustration of slow AF and inaccurate AF.

Native m4/3 lenses are just a better choice on Pen bodies. So ... don't buy a m4/3 body if you're just planning to use 4/3 lenses.

If you're going to buy an E-PL2 then plan on buying extra m4/3 lenses.

Again, unless your wife dislikes using the E1 then I would suggest buying a second E1 for her.

She likes the E-1 but uses it very rarely and when she does its on auto and I am incapacitated LOL.

She used to have a Pentax herself, but currently is using a Oly FE250 mosty of the time, but of corse trying to take action shots (she is into equestrian cross country) its too slow on lag.

Denny Crane said:

She likes the E-1 but uses it very rarely and when she does its on auto and I am incapacitated LOL.

She used to have a Pentax herself, but currently is using a Oly FE250 mosty of the time, but of corse trying to take action shots (she is into equestrian cross country) its too slow on lag.

Click to expand...

In that case you've got a need for speed. If your wife isn't a particularly experienced photographer (just uses Auto/Program mode) and wants to take action shots of horses in motion then you need the fastest/most reliable AF you can get.

If you buy an E-PL2 (particularly if you try to use it with 4/3 lenses and an adapter) she will probably find the AF is too slow and unreliable. If you use the latest generation of m4/3 kit lenses then the AF might be fast and reliable enough ... even more so with the E-P3 and E-PL3.

The E-1 (even with the SWD lenses) is slower than the new m4/3 cameras with the latest m4/3 lenses but the E-1 is faster with 4/3 lenses than m4/3 cameras with the adapter. Newer cameras like the E-3 and E-5 are still faster and more reliable in terms of AF compared to m4/3 cameras as far as I can tell (although I think Olympus still "claims" the E-P3 has the fastest AF ... even among DSLRs).

Denny Crane said:

Hmm, that adds another £200 onto the cost of the Pen PL2, plus the extension ring of £112, seems Olympus are making a lot out of accessories!

Click to expand...

I wouldn't say you actually need it. I have the E-PL1 and do well without it. 90% of the time I'd rather not have the extra piece of gear to carry around. Only on super bright sunny days I wish that I had it. If your wife is used to using compacts anyway, don't worry about it.

--

Canon 5D Mark II, 24-105mm L, 70-200mm f/4L IS, EF 50mm f1.4, Tokina 16-28mm f2.8, Voigtlander 40mm f2.
Olympus E-PL1, 9-18mm, 14-42mm II, 17mm, & FL-36R.
Ricoh GR-D
Sony DSC-V3

I'd get the E-PL2. The difference is pretty big. A few key points:

Newer 12MP sensor vs 10MP
Newer True Pic 5 processor vs rue Pic 3
Image stabilization vs none
460,000 dot LCD vs 230,000 dot
720P video vs none
HDMI vs none

Most important...Oly appears to be going down the micro road. All the 4/3's cameras except the E-5 have been dumped. And at least with M4/3, even if Oly's M4/3 gamble does not work out, you can always slap the lenses on a Panasonic body.

Denny Crane said:

I am looking for a camera for my wife, as a second camera to our E1.

I can get the Pen PL2 ex showroom stock from jessops, for £300 or direct from olympus, arefurbished E450 kit for £266.
Oh great photographers on here, which would you choose?

I want to use my 4/3 lenses on this second camera (oh and by the way, an adaptor for the Pen would cost and extra £112)

Many thanks in advance

Click to expand...

--

Canon 5D Mark II, 24-105mm L, 70-200mm f/4L IS, EF 50mm f1.4, Tokina 16-28mm f2.8, Voigtlander 40mm f2.
Olympus E-PL1, 9-18mm, 14-42mm II, 17mm, & FL-36R.
Ricoh GR-D
Sony DSC-V3

--
Regards,
Zeev
Simon = family name so... call me Zeev!
http://public.fotki.com/zeev-simon/
http://picasaweb.google.com/zeev.simon

I have the E-PL2 with the VF-2. I use it almost all the time and the EVF don't comes down of the camera (only when diving).

Most amateurs pictures are in sun light or bright light. Maybe is possible to take pictures without, but is a nice and useful addition to the camera.

I would not buy a mirrorless camera without an EVF, but is like everything a matter of personal
taste.

--
Regards,
Zeev
Simon = family name so... call me Zeev!
http://public.fotki.com/zeev-simon/
http://picasaweb.google.com/zeev.simon

This is why I chose a new e450 over an EP1 a couple of years ago: everything is premium pricing in europe for PENS, from the cases to the EVF and flash.

Less is more.

AF on all but the 14-54mrk II will be inferior to PDAF and using live view on the 450.

The 450 has a newer JPEG engine than the 420, but the RAWs are not that much to go on IMHO. Take a look at my gallery, 90% are from the E450 and only a couple were RAW developed. Rest just jpeg.

So if she wants a view finder and likes SLRs, then yep E450. But if she can live with one lens for the moment and likes small and light, then the PEN will give a better 12mpx IQ and has much better high ISO performance and also of course IBIS.

As a former OM user, I love the E450 to bits though!

--
================================
Enjoying Photography like never before with the E-450!
Images, photo and gimp tips:
http://olympe450rants.blogspot.com/

NORWEGIAN WOOD GALLERY
http://fourthirds-user.com/galleries/showgallery.php/cat/888

Olympus' Own E450 Gallery http://asia.olympus-imaging.com/products/dslr/e450/sample/

"to be is to do" Descartes;
"to do is to be" Satre ;

............................"DoBeDoBeDo" Sinatra.
=============================

For sports events: if the 450 comes with kit lenses then the 40-150 will be best, but it can be a little slow to focus, even in PDAF. Continuous CDAF is garbage on the E 450.

The 40-150 is a nice size for lens-holding the camera, and has nice bokeh even at f5.6. Hyperfocal is quoted somewhere on the interweb, think it is over 200 feet @150mm (300)

There is a work around for this on the E series plus the PENs too you probably know but may not have bothered to use: you can allocate focus lock (AFL) to the AEL/AFL button which you then use instead of half shutter release: so you can prefocus or get the horses body , then it is locked "hands free" and the shutter release will click away at that locked distance.

It is not an easy "toggle" though and annoying to have to go through the menu by a tortuours route for this.

If she prefers the light EPL2, then I recommend the mFT 40-150 as the kit lens: see some recent examples on mFT forum: nice for the price! Then she can go to Badminton on a wet day, shove up the ISO and IBIS and fire away.
--
================================
Enjoying Photography like never before with the E-450!
Images, photo and gimp tips:
http://olympe450rants.blogspot.com/

NORWEGIAN WOOD GALLERY
http://fourthirds-user.com/galleries/showgallery.php/cat/888

Olympus' Own E450 Gallery http://asia.olympus-imaging.com/products/dslr/e450/sample/

"to be is to do" Descartes;
"to do is to be" Satre ;

............................"DoBeDoBeDo" Sinatra.
=============================

Camp Freddy said:

For sports events: if the 450 comes with kit lenses then the 40-150 will be best, but it can be a little slow to focus, even in PDAF. Continuous CDAF is garbage on the E 450.

The 40-150 is a nice size for lens-holding the camera, and has nice bokeh even at f5.6. Hyperfocal is quoted somewhere on the interweb, think it is over 200 feet @150mm (300)

There is a work around for this on the E series plus the PENs too you probably know but may not have bothered to use: you can allocate focus lock (AFL) to the AEL/AFL button which you then use instead of half shutter release: so you can prefocus or get the horses body , then it is locked "hands free" and the shutter release will click away at that locked distance.

It is not an easy "toggle" though and annoying to have to go through the menu by a tortuours route for this.

If she prefers the light EPL2, then I recommend the mFT 40-150 as the kit lens: see some recent examples on mFT forum: nice for the price! Then she can go to Badminton on a wet day, shove up the ISO and IBIS and fire away.

Click to expand...

I agree that this is a very helpful work-around, especially when using adapted 4/3 lenses on m4/3. I use it any time a pre-focusing strategy is helpful. Beats the heck out of trying to hold a half press of the shutter release for long periods.

There is a way to set it up for an easy on-off toggle too. Set the AEL/AFL manual focus function to mode 3. Then set the Fn button to toggle MF. One push of Fn turns on MF with the AFL button active, a second push puts you back in standard S-AF. Works well on my E-P1 and 2 plus my E-510 and E-5. I do not know about the E-PL series.

Lee
http://leesmalley.smugmug.com/

Camp Freddy said:

--
================================
Enjoying Photography like never before with the E-450!
Images, photo and gimp tips:
http://olympe450rants.blogspot.com/

NORWEGIAN WOOD GALLERY
http://fourthirds-user.com/galleries/showgallery.php/cat/888

Olympus' Own E450 Gallery http://asia.olympus-imaging.com/products/dslr/e450/sample/

"to be is to do" Descartes;
"to do is to be" Satre ;

............................"DoBeDoBeDo" Sinatra.
=============================

Click to expand...

Since it does not sound like the VF-2 is in the budget, I think the key factor in your decision is your wife's preferred shooting style. Since she has personal experience with both eye-level OVF in the E-1 and LCD composition in her P&S she should do some serious soul searching as to which she prefers. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.

I have experience with both Oly DSLRs (currently E-5) and Pens (currently E-P2 plus VF-2). As good as the VF-2 is, I find I do not use it much. It detracts from the small size advantage of a Pen and disrupts the smooth contour such that it is much more difficult to slide in and out of a pocket or pack. It feels vulnerable to damage or loss by being dislodged. And even when used, it is not as good as a real OVF for action and longer lenses in my opinion. So when the occasion calls for these type shots, I prefer the DSLR.

Conversely, though live-view in the DSLRs has gradually improved it is still not nearly as good as that on the Pens. So when the situation is optimum for live-view I prefer the Pen. Examples would be low to the ground close-up and tripod work plus inconspicuous candids of people.

Hope this helps.

Lee
--
http://leesmalley.smugmug.com/