E-P1 / E-P2 Active Travelling, Case or Bag for active lifestyle

[godwinaustin]

I really really want the bigger sensor and flexibility that the E-P1 brings (as opposed to the other camera I am considering the Canon S95)

The problem is transporting - I am very active and about 70 percent of my photos come from skiing, biking, hiking, running (no I dont want a tough camera, or at least not until they improve performance and give me manual controls)

I have used a Panasonic TZ series in the past and mounted it on my backpack and/or camelbak shoulder strap and that has worked perfectly for active pursuits, easy access, and easily transported, and secure....(the TZ met its end at the bottom of the colorado river however)

I dont need a camera to fit in my pocket, The EP-1 seems small enough to me, but I do need it to fit in a small secure case that can attach to a backpack shoulder strap.

I dont want lens compartments, battery compartments, card compartments, gum compartments, lose change compartments or the like. Simple, camera only.

So can anyone recommend a tough, minimalist, compact case for the OLYMPUS PEN E-P1 that can attach very securely to a backpack shoulder strap and as a bonus would work well for quick draws???

THANKS SO MUCH!

 

[tarnumf]

What lens do you want to have attached? kit lens, 20mm or 14-150 will be very different bag...

 

[DonTom]

I have used one of these for many years with many cameras:
http://www.ortliebusa.com/CartGenie/prod-41.htm

It's been in the river a few times, and survived hours of torrential rain. Shockproofing has also been excellent. Mines red & black, a black one would have suited me better, but it was at a very good price..........

This smaller version might suit your needs, but not as waterproof:
http://www.ortliebusa.com/CartGenie/prod-235.htm

I would venture it would handle on a backpack strap very well. Might bounce around a bit though, the camera really is a lot bigger than a TZ, especially with the kit lens. Looking at the clips on the back, it would best sit in the middle of your chest, clipped to a sternum strap.

Have just measured my E-PL1 with kit lens, I reckon this one might be the best bet: more versatile attachments on the back too. It would be a very snug fit depth wise, the bag has an internal depth of 7 cm, the back of cam to front of lens cap is 8cm. Just right to hold it firm I reckon.
http://www.ortliebusa.com/CartGenie/prod-43.htm

Ortlieb make very good stuff.

 

[godwinaustin]

It is the larger lens 14-42mm

Dontom those bags still seem pretty bulky.

 

[DonTom]

Padding takes space!

If you haven't handled the E-PL1 yet, do so before buying on line. It is a waaaayyyy bigger camera than a TZ once you have it in the hand (I have both).

I wouldn't take my E-PL1 mountain biking or trail running, unless that was the only way to get to a particular location, or I wanted extra good pics & was willing to take the time to make the images.

I actually take fewer photos when traveling with the E-PL1 than the TZ, but the images are better, more than snapshots or a record of travel and family. Once you start to appreciate the difference between the images of a P&S and micro four thirds, then you start to realise that the next level requires tripods, prime lenses, filters....yada yada yada! It slows things down, a lot. Also, realise that focus is critical with a bigger sensor, unless you select a high f-stop. In-focus landscapes are important for outdoors photography, and a P&S does this well, especially in good light.

I'm actually thinking of getting the Panny FT2 for hunting, fishing and watersports, when recording the event is more important to me than art......then I can just jam it in a shirt pocket, or down my wetsuit. If I want a better image of a sunset or low light scene: a small gorillapod, bracketing and subtle HDR processing will deliver a hell of a lot from a P&S.

If you really want better images, but are unwilling to carry the bulk of a micro four thirds cam, then have a good look at the LX5 from Panasonic, that is a very slim camera, and a happy balance of IQ and portability. It has a much faster lens than the E-PL1 kit lens, and the other Panny P&S cams mentioned above. You'll still need a case tho!

 

[tarnumf]

Lowepro Advetura 100 is quite small bag that still fit my EP2, plus 14-42 lens + 20mm lens + extra card and battery. But that bag have no attachment for backpack straps, unless you modify it.

 

[godwinaustin]

Tom -

I dont quite understand your comment on a larger sensor requiring better focusing - as long as the proper stop and shutter are selected by either myself or the camera shouldnt the picture focus just as easily as a P+s???

Anyways I ordered the e-p1 over the s95 and WILL be carrying it mtn biking, skiing, trail running etc.... I mean the camera weighs a pound can it really be THAT bulky? I carry a backpack when I run, what is the difference between a camera that is 2.8 inches across and one that is 3.9? (those are approximations)

Anyway, ordered the camera......

But the question is what case? C'mon people!

 

[DonTom]

Tom -

I dont quite understand your comment on a larger sensor requiring better focusing - as long as the proper stop and shutter are selected by either myself or the camera shouldnt the picture focus just as easily as a P+s???

Yes, it should, as long as you choose an aperture or scene mode that suits the scene. Look at this example:





Notice how the Highway 85 sign is in focus, but the yellow sign behind it is not? That is because I didn't adjust the aperture for a landscape. Most of the picture is out of focus, because the camera autofocused on the highway sign. I was too busy concentrating on bracketing to remember to stop down, or to select a more distant point of focus.

I probably would have got a better result in this shot with a TZ in the time I took . More of the landscape would have been in focus because of the greater depth of field that comes with a small sensor. Not saying the TZ is the better camera, just that I had to think more to get a better result with the E-PL1, and I didn't!

Here is a landscape where I did think about the aperture:





But it still doesn't do the job at F11 (F8 may have been better) The group of people in the foreground are soft, as are the islands in the distance. I dunno where the camera focused, but I know that that the image doesn't look as good on my HD TV as it did on my laptop! And I can't crop take a crop of those surreal looking islands for a minimalist landscape. Not sure if a TZ would have done better in this case, but it would not have been worse!

So what I am saying is that focus point selection is more critical with a bigger sensor than a smaller one, and it takes more thought to get the focus the way you want it, by selecting appropriate F stops and focus point.

This depth of field calculator helps explain things quite well: http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

Anyways I ordered the e-p1 over the s95 and WILL be carrying it mtn biking, skiing, trail running etc.... I mean the camera weighs a pound can it really be THAT bulky? I carry a backpack when I run, what is the difference between a camera that is 2.8 inches across and one that is 3.9? (those are approximations)

A quick comparison of the case that I stow my TZ in shows that the smallest case I could fit the E-PL1 into would be 3x the volume. This is only part of the story......the biggest issue for you is the lens sticking out the front of the camera acts as a lever. On your packstrap in your case. The leverage will amplify the force in this case, and will bounce like heck when biking or running. Waayy more than your dead TZ..

Anyway, ordered the camera......

But the question is what case? C'mon people!

Well, I've given you my opinion, and you"re not satisfied with it. Perhaps there is no satisfactory answer, and that is why experienced photographers would choose an LX5 or S95 in this situation? Horses for courses. Good luck!

 

[photo perzon]

E-PL1 is the same size as the Panny FZ35. Of course much larger than Panny FZ8.

Padding takes space!

If you haven't handled the E-PL1 yet, do so before buying on line. It is a waaaayyyy bigger camera than a TZ once you have it in the hand (I have both).

I wouldn't take my E-PL1 mountain biking or trail running, unless that was the only way to get to a particular location, or I wanted extra good pics & was willing to take the time to make the images.

I actually take fewer photos when traveling with the E-PL1 than the TZ, but the images are better, more than snapshots or a record of travel and family. Once you start to appreciate the difference between the images of a P&S and micro four thirds, then you start to realise that the next level requires tripods, prime lenses, filters....yada yada yada! It slows things down, a lot. Also, realise that focus is critical with a bigger sensor, unless you select a high f-stop. In-focus landscapes are important for outdoors photography, and a P&S does this well, especially in good light.

I'm actually thinking of getting the Panny FT2 for hunting, fishing and watersports, when recording the event is more important to me than art......then I can just jam it in a shirt pocket, or down my wetsuit. If I want a better image of a sunset or low light scene: a small gorillapod, bracketing and subtle HDR processing will deliver a hell of a lot from a P&S.

If you really want better images, but are unwilling to carry the bulk of a micro four thirds cam, then have a good look at the LX5 from Panasonic, that is a very slim camera, and a happy balance of IQ and portability. It has a much faster lens than the E-PL1 kit lens, and the other Panny P&S cams mentioned above. You'll still need a case tho!

 

[godwinaustin]

Tom,

I have appreciated your replies and advice. First off those are two gorgeous photos. I think the lack of focus is kind of cool in both in the first it adds to the twisting of the road.....and in the second it adds a almost surreal quality to an already surreal scene.

Regarding the cases, I guess I just need something that can protect the camera against impact (like a cliff drop on skis or bike) and I guess what I really need is a high tech lightweight hard case.

Maybe I need to invent one?