Which adapter for E-PL2

Dunno about Canon adapters, I'm running old 35mm film era OM lenses with a cheap adapter on my PL2. What I wanted to bring to your attention is the telephoto MF issue. My telephoto rig is 240mm (eqv 480!) and it is a b*t*h to hand hold at that focal length with the 7X MF screen. The subject jumps around badly, in spite of the IBIS. It can work, I can get a usable focus, but it sure isn't fun. If you are going to be using 200+ a whole lot, consider getting the EVF accessory, or simply switch to a body with EVF built in, or stick with a tripod.

Kelly Cook

Exactly what I was afraid of. My purpose for even wanting to get a longer lens of any kind was for wildlife shots in the field. Sounds like a sure thing for a poor success rate. Between first trying to focus, being old and shaky anyway, this would be a frustrating disaster for me. Thanks for mentioning this. I'll need to go a different direction. And that will likely be using a native 4/3rds tele lens on my E-PL2. Was trying to save a few bucks by going the MF lens route. Bad idea.

Thanks again.

True, AF would be really nice. I have tripods, but am now too old and lazy to lug them around everywhere. Oh well.

Being a m4/3rds newbie, I'm still very unfamiliar with what you folks consider as good, or economical, lenses. My longest current lens is still only a 40-150mm. I do find it OK even at 150mm, but need longer for wildlife. While I can't break the bank to get one, is the 75-300 (either an older one, or what is suggested as a newer one) my only option? What if I were to settle on something a little bit shorter? What's available up to a 200mm tele? Is there anything else to consider between 150mm and 300mm?

Thanks for your help.

Speaking to adapters first, your Canon EF lenses require electronics to set the aperture, so if you mount one on your EPL2 with the basic EF-M43 adapter from ebay, it will be left on the last aperture that was set when mounted on your Canon. Some users don't mind doing that. Maybe $15 on ebay.


IF you want aperture control, the next step up is an adapter that puts an iris mechanism behind the lens to throttle the light. I've never used one, but hear they can vignette and do other strange things at full stop. No aperture references either. You go from full open to full closed and guess what the equivalent f-stop is. A little more on ebay. maybe $25.

The first two are manual focus of course.


Then there's some adapters with full control of AF and aperture, designed for people using Canon lenses on the Panasonic AG-AF100 camcorder which costs $3600. They don't mind paying $600-1000 for that kind of adapter. I suppose you would mind.

An EVF is needed to shoot legacy long lenses, unless you mount on a good tripod. At some point, around 150-200mm, you need the tripod anyway.


There are two Olympus EVF's, VF2 and VF3, which list for $249 and $179 respectively. Street pricing varies. The more expensive one offers a bigger view which some people prefer.

The main complaint about the VF2 (other than the ridiculous price) is from people who have had it fall off the camera and get lost. Had it happen to me. I sucked it up and replaced it. Ouch. Don't pay attention and you pay for that.


The VF3 locks onto the camera. Can't fall off. When they went on sale for $99 around the start of this year, I bought one. It's what I use now on my PEN. The smaller viewing area doesn't prevent me from manual focus with it at all.