Pen-F Digital vs E-M1 mkII.

kee808 · Dec 13, 2017

I currently have a Olympus E-M1 (first gen) for stills and also a Lumix GX-85 for video.

I have 2 Micro43 lenses - the Oly 12-50mm and the Lumix 40-150mm. I also have a rokinon 7.5mm fisheye and several vintage Nikon AI mount lenses as well.

I'm considering upgrading the stills camera to a newer Olympus with 20 MP sensor and 50MP high res mode.

My options:
The Pen-F Digital is currently US $1000.
The E-M1 mkII is US $1800.

As far as I can tell, it seems like the major differences between the E-M1 mkII and the Pen-F is 4K video and phase detection AF.

I don't need 4K, that is why I picked up the Lumix GX-85.

So it seems like I would be paying US $800 extra for phase detect as the only features advantage of E-m1 mkII.

Am I missing something - any other differences between the two (other than ergonomics)?

For stills, I shoot about 60% of the time with my manual lenses and only about 40% of the time using AF lenses. I don't think it is worth it to get the E-M1 mkII for me. Pen-F should be fine, right?

Also... a possible bonus with Pen-F is that if I ever decide to pick up a Speed Booster, the Pen will work with Speed Booster XL (0.64x) whereas the E-M1 only fits the standard SB (0.71x). I don't own a SB yet, but if I ever do, it gives me options.

jakelindsay · Dec 13, 2017

Weather sealing

15 FPS

Flash sync

Better battery

Dual memory cards

twenty200 · Dec 13, 2017

You'd get so much more bang for your buck by upgrading your glass.

Yes, the EM1 mkII and the Pen F have a newer sensor with more megapixels, but your original EM1 is still an amazing camera even though there's a newer model.

What can the EM1 mkII do that you need for your style of photography which your EM1 can't do?

That being said... I own an EM1 and I splurged on a Pen F because I'm a street shooter who primarily shoots in black & white. The Pen F is a dream for that. Granted, the EM1 can do black & white very well, but with the Pen F, I can flick a lever and choose color filtering live in the EVF while setting up the shot rather than having to dig into the menu for it... and the Pen F also has the option to choose the strength of the filter, which is something even the new EM1 mkII can't do (though most EM1 owners would probably rather work with RAWs after the fact rather than setting it up live).

Searching · Dec 13, 2017

Smaller VF on Pen F, I didn' t like it.

Denjw · Dec 13, 2017

Really depends on what type of shooting you do.

If you are into action/sports/wildlife shooting then the E-M1MkII is the better choice.

High speed performance are its major advantages.

New TruePic VIII processor improving camera operation speed
Improved EVF with minimum display lag time of 0.005 sec
Burst mode (electronic) 60 fps (AF-S) / 18 fps (AF-C)
Burst mode (mechanical)15 fps (AF-S) / 10 fps (AF-C)
121 point All cross type on chip PDAF
New AF Algorithm
Pro Capture Feature
AF Limiter
5 level C-AF tracking sensitivity
Weather sealing
Extra Battery capacity
Dual Card Slots

See here:

https://www.olympus.com.au/Products/Interchangeable-Lens-Cameras/Olympus-OM-D/E-M1-Mark-II/Features/High-speed-Performance

If none of these are important to you then Pen F will deliver the same IQ and it also has the High Resolution mode. But I would consider upgrading the lens.

Personally if the high speed performance and extra few mp/high res is not important then I would consider upgrading your lens to use on the E-M1.

MiroM · Dec 13, 2017

....ability to attach a grip for greater control and even longer battery life.

dotdose · Dec 13, 2017

Weather sealing!

gary0319 · Dec 13, 2017

twenty200 said:
You'd get so much more bang for your buck by upgrading your glass.

Yes, the EM1 mkII and the Pen F have a newer sensor with more megapixels, but your original EM1 is still an amazing camera even though there's a newer model.

What can the EM1 mkII do that you need for your style of photography which your EM1 can't do?

That being said... I own an EM1 and I splurged on a Pen F because I'm a street shooter who primarily shoots in black & white. The Pen F is a dream for that. Granted, the EM1 can do black & white very well, but with the Pen F, I can flick a lever and choose color filtering live in the EVF while setting up the shot rather than having to dig into the menu for it... and the Pen F also has the option to choose the strength of the filter, which is something even the new EM1 mkII can't do (though most EM1 owners would probably rather work with RAWs after the fact rather than setting it up live).

--
http://twenty200.com ...this is the world, the way I see it.

Good breakdown on the Pen F. I own the E-M1 II and the Pen F and they are to my mind two entirely different cameras. Even though they both are 20mpx, if you own both, you would see the difference in the images.

My E-M1 II is my DSLR alternative for my serious shooting. The Pen F is my all around, more fun than a barrel of monkeys, street and festival shooter. I'll also echo the wonderful Mono profiles and adjustments on the Pen F, not to mention the slide film profiles for color. That little knob on the front of the Pen F is worth $500 all on its own.

BruceRH · Dec 13, 2017

gary0319 said:
twenty200 said:

You'd get so much more bang for your buck by upgrading your glass.

Yes, the EM1 mkII and the Pen F have a newer sensor with more megapixels, but your original EM1 is still an amazing camera even though there's a newer model.

What can the EM1 mkII do that you need for your style of photography which your EM1 can't do?

That being said... I own an EM1 and I splurged on a Pen F because I'm a street shooter who primarily shoots in black & white. The Pen F is a dream for that. Granted, the EM1 can do black & white very well, but with the Pen F, I can flick a lever and choose color filtering live in the EVF while setting up the shot rather than having to dig into the menu for it... and the Pen F also has the option to choose the strength of the filter, which is something even the new EM1 mkII can't do (though most EM1 owners would probably rather work with RAWs after the fact rather than setting it up live).

Click to expand...

SpinOne · Dec 13, 2017

Why do you want to upgrade?

kee808 · Dec 13, 2017

Thanks. That is the sort of feedback I didn't necessarily Ask for, but really glad to hear.

i learned to shoot on my dad's Leica CL rangefinder and it was fun and I am really more of a street shooter. So that makes sense to me.

kee808 · Dec 13, 2017

Not really sure I will... I just saw the price drop on the Pen and it got me thinking.

i guess I really like the form factor of the Pen...

i actually bought the E-M1 for the eclipse this summer. I sold my E-M5 to get the M1 for Phase detect for a Sigma Four Thirds telephoto. But I'm selling the telephoto now and not sure whether to keep the body.

i think I'm actually gonna wait to see what other bodies come out the next few months. Maybe something better comes out or prices change when new models come out.

kee808 · Dec 13, 2017

As for lenses... I'm really happy with my fisheye and my IKiron 28mm f/2 (Nikon mount). When I'm shooting for myself, I'm shooting manual with those 2 usually.

I use the 12-50 if I bring my camera along to see family or friends or go to community events for work (at a public university) or when I'm DJing a party to document. Mundane stuff that I'm really more in social mode as opposed to photographer mode so I don't think a better lens would really make much difference. Honestly, I could probably even just leave it all at home and use my smartphone for instead.

But I have looked at lenses to see what is out there....I think if I did make a purchase, it might be one of the following lenses:

oly 12mm

Leica 8-18

oly 9-18

Leica 12-60

traveler_101 · Dec 13, 2017

After clarifying your rangefinder interest I can see why you want the Pen-F. Yes, the price drop starts to make the camera seem more reasonable. I just bought one. Nice camera. I would say, however, that you really should acquire a fast prime lens. What about something wider than that 28mm MF lens - the 17/1.8?

Woodman100 · Dec 14, 2017

I had the Pen F but switched to the Em1ii.

Pen F is a nice looking camera, but the e-m1ii feels much better in the hand. Yes its got a list of enhancements , weatherproofing being an important one. The output is different from the two cameras and the Em1ii does produce nicer files - not night and day, but its there. The reality is people look at a camera body like the Pen F and think oh its smaller, but the reality is once you put a lens on either camera they are for practical purposes the same, as the grip depth is absorbed by the lens anyway ( the only exception being a body cap lens, but why would you).

The grip transforms the handling IMHO. I had a day of street shooting with the em1ii recently and the 12-40. It was so easy, still compact, but grip makes it so easy to use and hold whilst the pen-f you have to consciously grip and hold on to it.

Em-1ii 12-40 f2.8 Pro

tintifax · Dec 14, 2017

I have both, the Pen-F and the EM 1 II. The Image quality is the same, no difference in any situations. BUT the EM 1 II is much F A A S T E R ! ! ! With the autofocus, with writing the data on the card, it has the pro-capture-mode that can caputre up to 60 fps in RAW !!! And up to 14 frames before you press the shutter, it is weather-sealed, bigger, heavier and more expensive. The creative-modes are the same, especially the b/w modes.

it‘s much more fun with the pen-F, it‘s more professional with the EM 1 II.

If you don‘‘t need weather-sealing or the speed than take the Pen-F and invest the money in lenses!

If you want the speed and weather-sealing, take the EM 1 II, it‘s incredibly fast!

Okapi001 · Dec 14, 2017

E-M1 II - think action & adventure

Pen F - think fun & fashion

SkiHound · Dec 14, 2017

If you want significantly improved image quality, go for some quality lenses. My copy of the 12-50 was easily the poorest m43 lens I've tried.

bluelemmy · Dec 14, 2017

You are missing the EVF. The Pen's is from the E-M10.

TheSquid · Dec 14, 2017

if you aren't in a hurry...I'd suggest waiting to see what the EM5m3 will bring to the table.

Also, glass upgrade....one that didn't get mentioned that would be in that ball park of expense instead of the camera body, the 12-100 F4 lens. This lens is a very nice lens from start to finish. It would probably give you similar or even better results to your current lenses on the 20mp sensors. I tried it on an EM1.2 months ago and found it's handling very nice so I don't think it would overwhelm you on the EM1.1 in size/weight compared to the 12-50.

The only thing the lens upgrade doesn't get you is the high res mode.

Pen-F Digital vs E-M1 mkII.

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