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What do you think of the new Oly EP-1?

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rhlpetrus

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I like the idea of a smaller camera with good IQ. It seems, from first tests at IR (link below), that the new OLy delivers pretty decent IQ in a very small package. No EVF or flash on it, but interesting nonethe less, could be a great candid/street/travel photography tool.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/EP1/EP1A.HTM

What are your thoughts on that? Should Nikon go in that direction?
--
Renato.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhlpedrosa/
OnExposure member
http://www.onexposure.net/

Good shooting and good luck
(after Ed Murrow)
 
Hi Renato,
The pictures look very good, IMO.
But the lack of viewfinder and flash is a pity.

Also, this kind of camera is interesting when used at wide angle, IMO. I can't imagine shooting with a tele with no VF.
That's why a 35 equiv fixed lens should be OK, with an OVF, and a small flash.
Just my opinion, of course...
André
 
I second the viewfinder missing as a problem for me. I used to use an Oly Pen F way back in the days and loved it. I have awaited the digital version, but lack of a viewfinder ruined it for me. Olympus makes some super quality stuff and their glass is second to none, but they sort of march to the tune of a different drummer some times.
 
Hey there, I was lucky enough to be able to try the E-P1 with several lenses attached on the weekend, one was the 50-200 (100-400mm in 35mm eq.) and I was amazed at how good it was, I was thinking it would just be a high end Point and Shoot, however when you look at the specs and if you are happy to go without view finder and built in flash it makes a pretty strong case for an alternative to other DSLR's like D5000 and D90. All open to your own priorities and to what is important to you, much like camera bags, there is not one to fit all needs.

The other thing I was interested in was the other 3rd party adaptor to allow Nikon lenses to attach to the E-P1, I have some nice primes I would like to put on it.

Then imagine the 14-24mm with the Pen, shooting at high ISO it makes for a pretty nice bit of gear.

Oh by the way I played with the art filters and was surprisingly addicted after a short while. I thought they would be a gimmick, they are pretty cool indeed.
 
RAL said:
I second the viewfinder missing as a problem for me. I used to use an Oly Pen F way back in the days and loved it. I have awaited the digital version, but lack of a viewfinder ruined it for me. Olympus makes some super quality stuff and their glass is second to none, but they sort of march to the tune of a different drummer some times.
Click to expand...
I agree the lack of VF isa big issue, myself I'm waiting for the EVF version, which Oly says will be coming. The good thing is that the lack of mirror makes room for smaller lenses for each size of sensor, so an APS-C camera w/o mirror could use more compact lenses.

Anyway, my bet is that EVF will slowly take the place of cheaper dslrs, and video will be a big part of that. Let's wait to see how the AF works, that's also relevant.

Cheers,
--
Renato.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhlpedrosa/
OnExposure member
http://www.onexposure.net/

Good shooting and good luck
(after Ed Murrow)
 
RAL said:
I second the viewfinder missing as a problem for me.
Click to expand...
And this is why Panasonic is going to do well after the initial excitement for the Oly fades a bit.

Put a typical 4/3 or micro4/3 lens on the G1 and then the E-P1, and they are just about the same non-pocketable size, but the G1 remains more useful in more situations.
 
I thought you are interested in Canon 1Ds Mark IV, 5D Mark V, Nikon D4, D700x, D300s,...

You have interest in all kinds of cameras and you don't buy any! How exciting to talk about stuff which you don't own or know about!!!

--
Sky is Falling... Thats the Truth....
 
rhlpetrus said:
I like the idea of a smaller camera with good IQ. It seems, from first tests at IR (link below), that the new OLy delivers pretty decent IQ in a very small package. No EVF or flash on it, but interesting nonethe less, could be a great candid/street/travel photography tool.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/EP1/EP1A.HTM

What are your thoughts on that? Should Nikon go in that direction?
--
Renato.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhlpedrosa/
OnExposure member
http://www.onexposure.net/

Good shooting and good luck
(after Ed Murrow)
Click to expand...
As prices are now, cheap DSLRs gives a lot more for the money. However, I would love a digital Leica/Minolta CL at a decent price. Eventually a m4/3 camera might be something similar.
--
http://dslr-video.com/blogmag/
 
PerL said:
As prices are now, cheap DSLRs gives a lot more for the money. However, I would love a digital Leica/Minolta CL at a decent price. Eventually a m4/3 camera might be something similar.
Click to expand...
Rabid competition will drive down prices whether they like it or not. Most of the online excitement is coming from a relatively small (in terms of market) group of DSLR owners looking for something smaller, but the natural market is as an upgrade for people with point and shoots.

A m4/3 camera needs to fill a niche that others can't easily move into and/or offer compelling price/performance. And it looks like they won't be able to offer a price advantage. When a Pentax K2000 sells for $410, a D40 sells for $450, the Sigma DP1 falls under $400, and older model cameras are at clearance sale prices (like the Olympus e-420 for $350 @ TigerDirect) after the initial sales bubble bursts Olympus will need to either defend its niche or drop prices ... or both.
 
rhlpetrus said:
I like the idea of a smaller camera with good IQ. It seems, from first tests at IR (link below), that the new OLy delivers pretty decent IQ in a very small package. No EVF or flash on it, but interesting nonethe less, could be a great candid/street/travel photography tool.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/EP1/EP1A.HTM

What are your thoughts on that? Should Nikon go in that direction?
Click to expand...
Hi Renato,

It sounds like a great concept but for me it needs an EVF. When I switch from using my Nikon D40 back to my compact Fuji F31 it's mainly the proper viewfinder that I miss the most. In bright sunshine, composing a shot using an external lcd screen involves too much guesswork.

I love the idea of the small size lenses - that pancake 17mm would make a great combination with this camera for street photography. Just the kind of thing Cartier-Bresson might have used if he were alive today; however I think he too would have wanted a proper viewfinder :-)

It would be good to see Nikon producing an APS-C version of this type of camera but the new small sized lenses needed to go with it sounds like an expensive R&D proposition.

Ian
http://ianbramham.com/
http://ianbramham.aminus3.com/ (Photoblog)
 
very attractive camera, I had the Panasonic in my hands and it is small and light but if I wanted a small and light camera I would prefer this one. A viewfinder is of course easier to work than a lcd screen but than you better use a dslr. This is a compact camera , especially with the prime lens, and it has the image quality of a dslr. Olympus made something that a lot of people really wished. I am sure it is going to sell well.
 
Sadly, to make Oly quality glass that stands up to the demands of a smaller sensor costs money. Also, they put more "smarts" in the lens. Each lens tells the camera all its' characteristics and focus is sort of cooperative. They issue firmware upgrades for lenses as often as cameras - and both far more often than Nikon.

The one thing I really miss about my Olympus equipment is the lens line. Their 12-60 would be a 16-80 if scaled up to DX or a 24-120 FX. Super lens (and it's just a mid-grade). Oly glass on a Nikon body (impossible, I know) would be heaven, even without VR.
 
Hi Renato,

I've always been jealous of Olympus lenses like the 11-22mm and
the 12-60mm.
The E3 is also one heck of a camera. Weak point so far is the sensors
that they use, but I'm sure they'll fix that in the next generation DSLRs. :)

This E-P1 is a very good new step. Very useful for both P&S users who want
better IQ and DSLR users who don't want to carry the big camera around
all the time.

It may not be what they want right now, but market forces will press
Nikon into joining this trend soon, I guess.

BTW have you seen this comparison:

http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM

E-P1 on the left, D90 on the right. Honest! ;)

Cheers,

André

--
http://mcpint.zenfolio.com

 
Yes, the EP-1 has good IQ at base ISO, maybe a tad oversharpened for my taste. And certainly the DR won't be at same level of D90's but, heck, the D90 is at the top of the APS-C class.

I agree, this is the beginning of a new era (I was heavily criticized here early in the year when I suggested the D5000 could well be the last entry-level camera with changeable lenses with a mirror-box by Nikon).

Cheers, Renato.
Andre Bomhof said:
Sorry, the direct comparison link doesn't work. You'll have to
select the cameras yourself.
I compared the ISO 200 still-life shots:

http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM

Cheers,

André
Click to expand...
--
Renato.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhlpedrosa/
OnExposure member
http://www.onexposure.net/

Good shooting and good luck
(after Ed Murrow)
 
ianbramham said:
rhlpetrus said:
I like the idea of a smaller camera with good IQ. It seems, from first tests at IR (link below), that the new OLy delivers pretty decent IQ in a very small package. No EVF or flash on it, but interesting nonethe less, could be a great candid/street/travel photography tool.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/EP1/EP1A.HTM

What are your thoughts on that? Should Nikon go in that direction?
Click to expand...
Hi Renato,

It sounds like a great concept but for me it needs an EVF. When I switch from using my Nikon D40 back to my compact Fuji F31 it's mainly the proper viewfinder that I miss the most. In bright sunshine, composing a shot using an external lcd screen involves too much guesswork.

I love the idea of the small size lenses - that pancake 17mm would make a great combination with this camera for street photography. Just the kind of thing Cartier-Bresson might have used if he were alive today; however I think he too would have wanted a proper viewfinder :-)

It would be good to see Nikon producing an APS-C version of this type of camera but the new small sized lenses needed to go with it sounds like an expensive R&D proposition.

Ian
http://ianbramham.com/
http://ianbramham.aminus3.com/ (Photoblog)
Click to expand...
Hi Ian,

I hope an EVF version comes soon and also that Nikon will join the concept of an APS-C sensor in a compact body.

For me, even a fixed lens compact with a 16-80mm f/4 (=24-120mm in 35mm format) zoom would do the job, I've shot 90% of my images in that range. Would be a perfect light camera for most purposes.
--
Renato.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhlpedrosa/
OnExposure member
http://www.onexposure.net/

Good shooting and good luck
(after Ed Murrow)
 
I dont know much about its feature set, but I can certainly say it's the best looking camera that I have seen in ages. It's gorgeous!
rhlpetrus said:
I like the idea of a smaller camera with good IQ. It seems, from first tests at IR (link below), that the new OLy delivers pretty decent IQ in a very small package. No EVF or flash on it, but interesting nonethe less, could be a great candid/street/travel photography tool.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/EP1/EP1A.HTM

What are your thoughts on that? Should Nikon go in that direction?
--
Renato.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhlpedrosa/
OnExposure member
http://www.onexposure.net/

Good shooting and good luck
(after Ed Murrow)
Click to expand...
--
My photos:
http://nickburton.smugmug.com/
 
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