Help Me Select: E-PM2 vs E-PL5 vs E-P3

sigala1 wrote:

purpleray wrote:

sigala1 wrote:

The E-P3 has an ancient sensor that's no better than a modern small sensor camera like a Panasonic LX7.

E-PM2 and E-PL5 are identical cameras except the latter has a tilting LCD, a mode dial (not really needed at all unless you switch modes all the time) is slightly bigger and heavier to account for the tilting LCD.

While I agree the E-PL5 has the latest sensor and thus makes sense, I'm not sure the E-P3 would be out of bounds because of IQ - or because of low light capability and DR.

I have an E5 with the same sensor as the EP3 (but an older processor) and the OMD with the same sensor as the Epl-5. While the OMD is better, it is probably only glaringly better if you look really closely.

The community opera I shoot has very low light and high DR - and because I choose to shoot a wide FOV to record the whole scene, it is very challenging for any camera or photographer.

Here is a jpeg straight out of the camera - shot from probably the first E5 sold in Australia a couple of years ago.

Carmen - the Gang jpeg OOC

Here is the same shot using Archgeolab's preset for LR4 to process the raw file with very minimal other PP. So, with raw you can do quite well with the old processor.

Carmen - Gang Archgeolab preset from raw

So while, I think the Epl5 sensor is better, the old EP3 is not so bad you can't take a reasonable shot and get respectable results.

Cheers

Ray

However good you think those photos look, they would have looked BETTER with an E-M5 at more than TWICE as high an ISO.

Politely said re IQ.

I don't disagree that the OMD is not better or at the time when shooting these in 2010 that a Nikon D700 would not have done a better job.

My point was that the ability to get 'respectable results'  (not studio results) even  under the most difficult condtions - could be a reason not to  totally exclude the EP3 sensor.  Everyone has different uses and expectations.

The shot itself shows signs of highlights being blown on Carmen's forearm while much of the rest of scene is quite dark.  Hence the -1.3ev to prevent some blown highlights on the face.  Other shots of this opera do have blown highlights on leads while close members of the chorus are in the shade.  So the lighting for the opera was difficult and a challenge.

These shots were used to compare different processing options to help develop Archgeolab's preset for the E5.  Hence, minimal PP to show the effects of different presets eg jpeg OOC, LR default etc.,  So a lot more could be done with the shot to clean it up - the photo is to display and compare the preset.

So while the IQ of this presentation of the photo is not studio or competition quality, I judge it as 'respectable' for the light conditions and for the lack of PP.

As well, my clients here of course find the IQ to the level they require.  The E5 was brand new at the time and no LR Raw processor was available so I delivered jpegs OOC for this job.

Comparing my theatre photos with some art or studio magazine studio photos or even club competition photos,  differences in IQ are clear.  However, this is not the standard and expectation in the world of amateur theatre or perhaps not even professional theatre.  The IQ of photos in big name professional productions such as Phantom of the Opera may not even match the IQ of my theatre photos here in Australia.  The only consistently better theatre photos in programs and promotions here in Australia I have found are from the  Australian Opera Company - they have special photos sessions and are great.  They are not just shooting last minute dress rehearsals where I have to produce 20 photos for the foyer and a 100 photos as a complete record in a couple of days.

While this sounds like a big defence of my photography, I'm just pointing out that people have different expectations.  Most people's expectations of difficult low light photography accept the limitations in terms of grain and noise.

So maybe the Ep3 is OK for a lot of people.

I am not a professional - just an enthusiast who gets odd jobs for mostly amateur or semi-professional theatre and concerts - hence no FF but equipment with compromises.

Cheers

Ray