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

TimoK wrote:

Thank you everyone for your input!

After your suggestions I read a few more reviews, especially of the GM1 vs. RX100 and tested both at a local store. I decided in favor of the GM1 and bought it at the store for 299 eur with the kit lens, which I think was a great bargain. I also picked up the Panny 20 mm f/1.7 II for another 299 eur. Of course on the GM1 the non-stabilized 1.7 doesn't offer much more low light capability than the kit zoom but it still seemed like a good addition and will of course be a much more versatile tool on the E-M1.

Having now set up the GM1 for my use (i.e. switched the mode dial to 'A' and figured out how to adjust exposure compensation, ISO and focus behavior) I find no other fault with the ergonomy besides the obvious: the lack of a view finder and a tilting screen. On the other hand, as such the camera appears quite robust with the minimal amount of moving parts and so far I'm satisfied with the purchase.

Both the lenses seem quite sharp at least in the center. More tests of image quality will have to wait until I get some decent light again.

Best regards,

Timo

Join the GM1 club. Welcome.

There are two ergonomic failings of the GM1. The one that gets trotted out most is the little wheel on the back.  If attacked aggressively by the thumb when twirling it is easy to press it and invoke one or other of second "press" functions.  Also you have to take care that the thumb rotation is parallel to the back of the camera - if it is not then higher pressure can be exerted at some point in the rotation (same problem).  Setting an EV value can be an issue as it requires an up press followed by a twirl  Furthermore the EV does not need to be "set" by using the centre button but remains live.  I  dumped myself into the menu quite a few times by pressing "set" when I did not need to do so.

I have had mine for 15 months now and I now only occasionally get tangled up with the wheel. It has a very light action and only needs soft pressure to be used. Getting this right is the hardest part of the camera - some never make it over the tactile digit learning hump.  They almost need big meaty cameras where you hit the buttons with a hammer and turn the wheels with a wrench.

If you set ISO to one of the soft function keys it is easy to access - in fact the five soft function keys can be set to give a considerable boost to ergonomics and handling of the camera but might take some head scratching and consideration of the manual before you can find the ones that suit you.  I can post what work for me if you are interested.  A little deeper is the 15-slot quickmenu.  The camera responds well to a thoughtful set up.  There are only three almost randomly set custom function keys when the camera comes out of the box.  In fact I found it necessary to make quite a lot of custom adjustments before the camera came to my idea of a good set up.

You have to take care with the touch screen - overlapping fingers and thumbs can send it off on a journey of its own.  In playback mode an overlapping thumb can invoke the nearby touch screen delete icon when using the mechanical "left arrow" button.  Something nobody else seems to have mentioned.  I use pinpoint focus a lot and am bedevilled by it roaming off its centre screen location, I am not exactly sure why but it can only be accidental brushes of the touch screen.  This is my last frustration frontier with the GM1 and might also be a problem with the GM5.

I have the centre reset procedure down to almost fingertip memory: left arrow, down arrow, disp.

Strangely although I am almost on top of it this is the first thing that any one else encounters if I let them try a few shots with the camera.

Apart from this the camera is a full function powerhouse and at the moment I am playing with the 45-175mm f4.0-5.6 lens which is a good-light little telephoto wonder with a reach of 90-350 in FF sensor terms.  It is small, light and compact, wears well on the GM1 and has internal focus and zoom capability. Not a pocket camera in this configuration, but I don't now how big jacket pockets are in Finland .....