@gotompoes: I agree a tilting screen is preferable. I guess they chose not to let the E-P3 screen tilt because of the touch interface. The tilting screen would definitely allow me to be more creative with perspective, but I find I shoot mostly with the camera at about eye level. I hadn't really considered the 25mm Pana/Leica one, because I'm looking for a light, inconspicuous lens for my default kit, but it does look like a great lens. Maybe it'll be one of the next lenses to buy. I'm thinking of buying the 45mm 1.8 as my first non-kit lens.
@juansin: Aye, that combination sounds excellent. Thank you for the link to your beautiful photos. I hope to visit Santiago de Compostela soon (maybe even walk El Camino), and your photos are making the city look even more attractive and interesting. I'm wondering a bit why you get so little use out of the OM 50mm in the street. I suppose it's a partly a matter of personal style, but I've found that a short tele allows me to get a bit closer to people. On the other hand having to fiddle with both focus and aperture on the OM lens, I can understand it being harder to do candid photography with it.
@Hen3ry: Yes, it sounds like I'm going down the same road, you've been walking. Thank you for your advice. I'm definitely getting a OVF right away now. You also make a very good point about black/silver cameras. I've been in a mindset where I've thought that black is always the discrete colour, but I think you're absolutely right: Silver is the way to go to stay inconspicuous, and I'll chose that as well. I like your ingenious solution to the lacking grip of the E-PL3 a lot! No need to make things more complicated than they have to be. I also like the idea of using an elastic lanyard thing for a neck strap, now you aren't carrying several kilograms of gear around. I'll rummage around for something appropriate. Cheers!
@SF Photo Gal: Very cool setup. I plan on getting a 45mm as a second lens, too. The GF1 looks like an excellent little camera. You have to wonder why they haven't made a proper update instead of the GF3 which, qualities aside, just looks like it's an altogether different type of camera.
@pocketpygmy: Ah, temptation! I'd love to have the 12mm with its snap focus, no doubt about it, but I don't think it'd be the one I kept on the camera most of the day. What a piece of engineering beauty it is, though. Maybe some day.
@rube39: Ricoh deserves more hype. Had I been going for a non-interchangeable camera, the GRIV would've been a top contender. I love the idea of the GXR system, but it still seems a bit gimmicky to me. Undoubtly I'm being unfair. If I were coming from a M-mount system, it might've been the one to choose, but as it is the GXR system needs more third party support for it to be a system, I'd dare buy into at this point.
@JeremyT: Sounds good! Thank you for the recommendations: I'll be getting both the OVF and the 45mm. I like the look of the PM1, it really looks to be the right way of slimming down a camera without losing features (or a hot shoe!) with one exception: Don't you miss having more dials?
@Wormsmeat: Thank you for the advice. Aye, I'm moving away from using my old 50 mm as a short tele and going straight for the 45mm instead. Your photos are excellent, you're good at capturing moments that tells a story, or make you imagine a story for that moment.
@Ray Sachs: Sage advice. It's the poor craftsman who blames his tools. You make a very good point about being comfortable with the gear. Excuse me if this isn't all that well thought out, I would say that perhaps ideally the camera becomes part of you, and it might feel more personal for the subjects when you use a OVF or EVF and your camera becomes your eye and next to your face (where people usually instinctively look) instead of a tool in your hands. At least when you want a connection with your subjects.
@tedolf: The Leica M-system is out of my price range unfortunately, but I understand your point. I'm hoping the AF-system is sufficiently intelligent to get focus right even without the option of zone focusing. It's a bit strange that there isn't an option to hyperforcus in the camera, with all the camera-lens interconnectivity of the 4:3 system, you'd think it would be simple for the camera to adjust. My venerable dad has a well kept Minolta CLE rangefinder that isn't getting as much use at is used to. I might be able to borrow some of his lenses if I get me a M-mount converter, but as you point out, they all end up being teles on the m43, and even with the lovely glass I suspect I'll get as good or better results with the Oly 45mm f1.8.
@Marla: Cool, I bet you'll never ever run out of subjects or surprises in NYC. What an amazing city.
@jeffharris: The EPL3 didn't feel that much smaller and lighter than the EP3 when I handled them, but this was in the shop so it wasn't that great of a comparison. I've heard that the EP3 menu system can be daunting at first, is it really that different from the menu system in EPL3? If I can find myself a cheap OM converter, I'll use my old 50mm until I get me the new 45mm, I think. I'm envious of your Voigtländer Nokton, but I'm a bit sceptical about how much use I'd get out of the f0.95. Is it practical?
Regarding Lightroom 3, I'll definitely try out the demo, and try not to be to intimidated. Thanks for the recommendations.
