EP-2 or E-PL2?

Outside of some possible operational features some might consider better on the EP2, along with build quality - I would say you gain about all that Oly has done with the E5 image wise + an improved kit lens and more.

The only thing I see that might be an issue operationally is where they placed the wheel on back. They could have placed it higher and separate and moved the red button elsewhere. I have the EPL1 and often hit the red button inadvertently to my chagrin.

Of course the final review will flesh all these things out ...but it looks that Oly is really trying to respond well to the the enthusiast market with this new offering and the 'Z'.

Avaron wrote:

jimboyvr wrote:

Ep2 is built like a brick and will likely outlast all the current crop of m43s.

With current level of quality that is an absolute non-issue. Why should I care if my camera still works in 500 years ?

With tech changing so fast there is always the lure to upgrade, but look at what many are doing with older classics - like the E1.

The EP1 & 2 are destined to be classics in the same way ..and there is always something special about taking a piece of equipment build like a fine expensive swiss watch and getting the best out of it ..and let's face it, digital tech has far evolved past what most of us can make it do ...even with antiques ...like the 1 & 2 !!

ppotka wrote:

I have a short comparison between them at my site http://www.pekkapotka.com
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pekkapotka.com

Hi, great website you have! I tried to subscribe to your RSS, but all I get is "The requested URL /pekkapotka.com/Blog/rss.xml was not found on this server." So I will just bookmark your site. Maybe you can fix the RSS problem some time?

efix wrote:

ppotka wrote:

I have a short comparison between them at my site http://www.pekkapotka.com
--
pekkapotka.com

Hi, great website you have! I tried to subscribe to your RSS, but all I get is "The requested URL /pekkapotka.com/Blog/rss.xml was not found on this server." So I will just bookmark your site. Maybe you can fix the RSS problem some time?

Found the problem! The link to your RSS feed should be http://web.me.com/pekkapotka/pekkapotka.com/Blog/rss.xml

Regards, Felix

(Not designed as a response to the OP, just an Olympus wide comment)

Step back and look at what's happening.....

The E-PL2 is a neat and evolutionary step up from the E-PL1, maybe not enough to make a changeover from E-PL1 to E-PL2 but some might. A new buyer should head towards E-PL2 unless there is some overriding feature factor or dollar factor that prevents that.

The E-PL2 is technologically ahead of the E-P2 in some ways, BUT there's very obviously an E-P3 to come along (When? Soon I guess.) and do the necessary leapfrog in quality and features to make that more attractive than E-P2 (or E-PL2).

Don't forget that there are currently two distinct lines of E-P1 and E-P2 versus E-PL1, E-PL1s and E-PL2 where the "L" always stands for "Light" as the "L" line is deliberately designed to attract P&S users into the expensive world of system cameras.

The "P" stands for "Pen" and not "Pro" as I saw once somewhere.

Logically if a so-called up-market Pro model line comes along at some stage it should be called E-PP1 or some such. But knowing marketing it could be called the ZXQ7 or some equally totally illogical name.

These are early days and the M4/3 lines will not be really interesting until the fabled global shutters come to be used. Then there will be real digital cameras at last.

Regards........... Guy

I have the EP2, and I'd definitely trade the EP2 for the EPL2 in a heart beat.

If you look at the image comparison widget in the EPL2 preview, the JPGs out of the EPL2 look just as good if not slightly better than the E5. Plus, the built-in flash (as much as I hate flash photography) can sometimes be invaluable especially for fill-in purposes. Losing the extra control wheel is a stinker, but better IQ is more important, IMO.

markpsf wrote:

Apart from the built in flash, what are the advantages of the E-PL2 over the E-P2?

I know the former is targeted more for the regular consumer market, but for a veteran photographer looking for a small, interchangeable lens camera, with built in IS...does the E-PL2 have any other payoffs as compared to the E-P2?

I'd just like some reasonably objective info. I don't want to start still another camera comparison skirmish!

The E-P2 is near the end of its life cycle, while the E-PL2 was just announced, so there are the usual incremental improvements. There are rumours that the replacement for the E-P2 will be late February or early March, at a higher price tag no doubt to justify the branding as a high end brand. The E-PL2 does have features that were in the E-P2 but not in the E-PL1 (shutter release, 1/4000 shutter speed, one dial for changing settings, etc.).

Lets see from memory:

• The E-PL2 comes with the 14-42mm mark 2 lens. This lenses is classified as a MSC lens (movie stills compatible). Olympus is claiming that it is much quieter for focusing in video. I have an earlier MSC lens (14-150mm), and frankly while it may be quieter I believe I can still hear the lens focusing when shooting videos.

• Speaking of the new 14-42mm mark 2 lens, there are 3 attachments that were just announced that fit on the lens (fisheye, wide angle, and macro). While a dedicated lens will likely give you better performance, having the converters would be cheaper if you only need the feature occasionally.

• The E-PL2 has the new dramatic tone art filter that the E-P2 did not have. If you use art filters to let the camera do more post processing, it may be useful. If you shoot RAW only and do all of the post yourself, it is a non-issue.

• I believe the E-PL2 has a weaker anti-alias filter like the E-5 did, this means generally sharper images, but the downside is more moire. If you use a 3rd party RAW developer, it may or may not be able to handle the weaker AA filter the way Olympus' software does. Speaking of 3rd party RAW developers, with any new camera, you need to wait until your RAW developer deigns to update the software before you can edit the images.

• The E-PL2 has the 2nd generation accessory port. So far, the only accessory that seems to require this port is the Penpal bluetooth adapter. If you are out in the field and need to update your facebook page via your smartphone, it may be useful. Other than that, I don't know what it's capabilities are.

• On the other hand, the E-P2 is available now, so if you need it now, rather than in a month or two, the E-P2 is what you want.

• Check whether the E-P2 or E-PL2 packages you are looking at have the VF-2 (electronic viewfinder) included in the package. For me, this is a very important feature of the camera. While both cameras can use the VF-2, it can add to the cost if it isn't included in the kit.

OlympusEP wrote:

Yes. EP-2 or E-PL2? That is the question.

I'm moving from a DSLR to m4/3 to have a more compact camera system that I will (hopefully) take with me more often than I ever did my DSLR - without a reduction in image quality. Plus I have access to some old OM Zuiko lenses...

Just remember the 2x crop factor, i.e. the wide angle 24mm lens becomes a normal 48mm equivalent field of view lens on 4/3rds or m4/3rds.

My Nikon DSLR is going to another home and I am trying to fight my instant gratification urges to wait a bit longer, before buying something.

I had settled on the E-P2 as all the talk about the E-PL2 was just that - talk. Now it's announced officially, I'm tempted by the build quality/handling advantage of the E-P2 but the E-PL2 appeals with it's better 'bang for your buck'. There's also the ZX-1 lurking with it's smaller size and fast (but fixed) zoom lens...

Currently, the E-P2 with 17mm is $635 at Adorama. Add in the Panasonic 20mm lens, an OM to m4/3 adaptor and I'm at my budget limit. The E-PL2 will be $599 with the new kit lens. So we're talking $36 difference...

I was curious, and saw that Adorama has sold out of the E-P2 with 17mm for $635. Refurb might be an option. If you live in the USA and buy the Olympus extended warranty for the E-P2, it gives you warranty coverage for 2 years past the 90 day warranty you get with the refrub. Note, you would want the Olympus extended warranty for Pens (and not the store/Mack warranty that you may be offered), and you would need to buy it within the original 90 period. You sometimes can find a deal on the extended warranties if you search around. Adorama seems to sell it for $70.

Note, if you are a DSLR user and have not shot with compact cameras, I would suggest getting the electronic viewfinder, which isn't included as far as I can tell in the $635 deal. Otherwise you will need to learn to shoot with the camera at arms length.

OlympusEP wrote:

Yes. EP-2 or E-PL2? That is the question.

I'm moving from a DSLR to m4/3 to have a more compact camera system that I will (hopefully) take with me more often than I ever did my DSLR - without a reduction in image quality. Plus I have access to some old OM Zuiko lenses...

My Nikon DSLR is going to another home and I am trying to fight my instant gratification urges to wait a bit longer, before buying something.

I had settled on the E-P2 as all the talk about the E-PL2 was just that - talk. Now it's announced officially, I'm tempted by the build quality/handling advantage of the E-P2 but the E-PL2 appeals with it's better 'bang for your buck'. There's also the ZX-1 lurking with it's smaller size and fast (but fixed) zoom lens...

Currently, the E-P2 with 17mm is $635 at Adorama. Add in the Panasonic 20mm lens, an OM to m4/3 adaptor and I'm at my budget limit. The E-PL2 will be $599 with the new kit lens. So we're talking $36 difference...

Aggghh!

If you plan to get the 20/1.7, you may want to find the EP2 body only then. Not sure how much cheaper it will be than the EP2 + 17/2.8 kit, but it should save you a few dollars. Or you can sell the 17/2.8.

Alternatively, if you don't care for the EPL2's kit 14-42, you can always sell it. I'm sure someone will want to get it b/c of its superior video and AF capabilities.

markpsf wrote:

Apart from the built in flash, what are the advantages of the E-PL2 over the E-P2?

NOt everyone would agree with that
for me the no flash is actually a plus compared to the e-pl2
Harold