E-PL6 (or E-PL5) as a pocket camera?

frangulis wrote:

TimoK wrote:

Hi all,

I'm considering getting a small inexpensive pocket camera and noticed I could get the PEN E-PL6 + 14-42 EZ kit for 399 eur. On the other hand, I could also get the Sony DSC-RX100 (the original) for the same amount. Both prices are for new units. Obviously the Sony is smaller. Oly has the bigger sensor but I'm not sure how the pancake fares optically against the Sony. I'd appreciate any pointers.

Regards,

Timo

Pockatability all depends on the size of your pockets I guess. I have E-PL6 and E-P5. I have been using the E-PL6 with Panny 14mm 2.5 pancake prime as my pocket camera for the past two years or so. The 14mm pancake prime is about the same size as the 14-42 EZ and the whole combo fits in the palm of my hand and slips easily into coat or jacket pocket or the pockets of roomy shorts. I love the tilting screen, take a lot of pictures at waist level, and would never want to go without a tiltscreen any more. To me the E-PL series are the ideal camera size. Would not want any smaller, can hardly cope with anything bigger. Can also fit an EVF or microphone on top if need be. I am actually planning to get a dekitted 14-42 pancake zoom at 230 euro's instead of the prime for more reach. The price you mention for the kit sounds like a great deal. I would say, go for it.

I had the same notion, Timo, and like Steven, went for the camera (the E-PL3 in my case) fitted with the f2.5 12mm. I had an Oly 45 or the 40-150 in another pocket.

BUT I found that E-PL3 just a touch heavy and bulky. I was replacing an LX3 as pocket camera and a G1 as "big" camera and found the E-PL3 with the VF2 was better t replacing the G1 than the bare E-PL3 was at replacing the LX3.

I was hoping Panny would bring out an LX8/9 with a 1" sensor and a decent zoom range. Nope; sadly they brought out their compromise love child which by its nature must be bigger and heavier have a restricted zoom range.

By the way, I had the E-PM1 for a while before the E-PL3. Like you, I found the fixed screen a nuisance but I have to say it was closer to being a pocket camera than the E-PL3. For me, there is some sort of line somewhere and the E-PL3 just falls over it.

I agree the PM models are as large as I would go for a pocketable camera. If I were to consider a larger camera I would go straight to the OMD series rather than the PL series.
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