EPM2 image quality

JimMoyer wrote:

I just took delivery last night of the $199 special deal from Newegg on the EPM2 with the 14-42 kit lens. I took a series of shots while commuting through the beautifully landscaped local cemetery this morning, and have been comparing them with the results from my EM1. While less experienced than many veterans here, I was impressed at the image quality from the EPM2, photographing in a venue where I have shot a lot with the EM1 and also with my Nikon D7000. The EPM2 is a super bargain and gives you the EM5 sensor; you can set it up to use the Super Control Panel on its touch screen and to activate the dial on the rear for aperture or shutter priority.

Jim

Jim,

Is the kit lens pretty good.  I'm not a pixel peeper but only want the camera if the kit lens is better than my very good (comparatively speaking) LX7 images?

thanks,

Joel

Jim Salvas wrote:

joel artino wrote:

JimMoyer wrote:

I just took delivery last night of the $199 special deal from Newegg on the EPM2 with the 14-42 kit lens. I took a series of shots while commuting through the beautifully landscaped local cemetery this morning, and have been comparing them with the results from my EM1. While less experienced than many veterans here, I was impressed at the image quality from the EPM2, photographing in a venue where I have shot a lot with the EM1 and also with my Nikon D7000. The EPM2 is a super bargain and gives you the EM5 sensor; you can set it up to use the Super Control Panel on its touch screen and to activate the dial on the rear for aperture or shutter priority.

Jim

Jim,

Is the kit lens pretty good. I'm not a pixel peeper but only want the camera if the kit lens is better than my very good (comparatively speaking) LX7 images?

thanks,

Joel

You might want to try the image comparison tool at Imaging Resource. It's a pretty good way to compare image quality of various cameras side by side. I'd say the PM2 with kit lens outperforms the LX7, especially as ISO increases.

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

Jim,

I would agree that the LX7 decreases in IQ as the ISO increases, but with its impressively bright lens at all focal lengths, you have little reason to ever shoot at higher ISOs, which is why i really don't think you will sell much, if any difference using the EPM2 with the kit lens.

Joel

Jim Salvas wrote:

joel artino wrote:

Jim Salvas wrote:

joel artino wrote:

JimMoyer wrote:

I just took delivery last night of the $199 special deal from Newegg on the EPM2 with the 14-42 kit lens. I took a series of shots while commuting through the beautifully landscaped local cemetery this morning, and have been comparing them with the results from my EM1. While less experienced than many veterans here, I was impressed at the image quality from the EPM2, photographing in a venue where I have shot a lot with the EM1 and also with my Nikon D7000. The EPM2 is a super bargain and gives you the EM5 sensor; you can set it up to use the Super Control Panel on its touch screen and to activate the dial on the rear for aperture or shutter priority.

Jim

Jim,

Is the kit lens pretty good. I'm not a pixel peeper but only want the camera if the kit lens is better than my very good (comparatively speaking) LX7 images?

thanks,

Joel

You might want to try the image comparison tool at Imaging Resource. It's a pretty good way to compare image quality of various cameras side by side. I'd say the PM2 with kit lens outperforms the LX7, especially as ISO increases.

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

Jim,

I would agree that the LX7 decreases in IQ as the ISO increases, but with its impressively bright lens at all focal lengths, you have little reason to ever shoot at higher ISOs, which is why i really don't think you will sell much, if any difference using the EPM2 with the kit lens.

Joel

Joel

Good point. However, I don't think a buyer of an interchangeable lens camera should be limited to the kit lens. Otherwise, why pay extra to have a system camera? If you want to use only one lens, you should stick with a good compact camera.

Jim,

I don't disagree, but wide it isn't so true.  I think there are a lot of photographers like me that appreciate not having to change lenses, but would also appreciate a larger sensor.  There's no reason OLy, Sony or Panasonic couldn't sell a prime kit for a similar reasonable price.  this would likely increase the number of new MRT buyers, like me who would appreciate the better IQ and DR of the larger sensor with it being compromised by a not so good kit lens.

An Oly EPM2 or similar with a good quality 20mm F2.0 lens would be a great package to start with. I would notice the better IQ immediately, and that would likely encourage me to perhaps buy a couple more lenses.  As opposed to now, many are minimally content with their LX7, Canon G/S series, etc, while the camera companies whine that their sales are falling.

What do you think about my suggestion?

Joel

Jim Salvas wrote:

joel artino wrote:

Jim Salvas wrote:

joel artino wrote:

Jim Salvas wrote:

joel artino wrote:

JimMoyer wrote:

I just took delivery last night of the $199 special deal from Newegg on the EPM2 with the 14-42 kit lens. I took a series of shots while commuting through the beautifully landscaped local cemetery this morning, and have been comparing them with the results from my EM1. While less experienced than many veterans here, I was impressed at the image quality from the EPM2, photographing in a venue where I have shot a lot with the EM1 and also with my Nikon D7000. The EPM2 is a super bargain and gives you the EM5 sensor; you can set it up to use the Super Control Panel on its touch screen and to activate the dial on the rear for aperture or shutter priority.

Jim

Jim,

Is the kit lens pretty good. I'm not a pixel peeper but only want the camera if the kit lens is better than my very good (comparatively speaking) LX7 images?

thanks,

Joel

You might want to try the image comparison tool at Imaging Resource. It's a pretty good way to compare image quality of various cameras side by side. I'd say the PM2 with kit lens outperforms the LX7, especially as ISO increases.

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

Jim,

I would agree that the LX7 decreases in IQ as the ISO increases, but with its impressively bright lens at all focal lengths, you have little reason to ever shoot at higher ISOs, which is why i really don't think you will sell much, if any difference using the EPM2 with the kit lens.

Joel

Joel

Good point. However, I don't think a buyer of an interchangeable lens camera should be limited to the kit lens. Otherwise, why pay extra to have a system camera? If you want to use only one lens, you should stick with a good compact camera.

Jim,

I don't disagree, but wide it isn't so true. I think there are a lot of photographers like me that appreciate not having to change lenses, but would also appreciate a larger sensor. There's no reason OLy, Sony or Panasonic couldn't sell a prime kit for a similar reasonable price. this would likely increase the number of new MRT buyers, like me who would appreciate the better IQ and DR of the larger sensor with it being compromised by a not so good kit lens.

An Oly EPM2 or similar with a good quality 20mm F2.0 lens would be a great package to start with. I would notice the better IQ immediately, and that would likely encourage me to perhaps buy a couple more lenses. As opposed to now, many are minimally content with their LX7, Canon G/S series, etc, while the camera companies whine that their sales are falling.

What do you think about my suggestion?

Joel

I think people who have used compact cameras want zooms. Fixed focal length kits appeal to enthusiasts and they know how to get these already.

In other words, no.

Jim,

Then how do you get them, other than paying almost the same price as a body and prime by themselves. Some decent primes sell for about $300, kit zooms sell for ~$200 or more. So you should be able to get a body and decent prime for ~$100 more than a body and kit lens, but you can't normally?

And I know many of us who have "enthusiast" P$S camera have been involved in photography as long as or longer than you MFT/DSLR folks, have had many SLRs and some DSLR's before we got tired of carrying all that crap around, and know as much about photography. On the Panasonic board alone, there are many like i just described who would be quite happy with a larger sensor, prime lens small camera in addition to their FZ200, for example.

J

Jere Landis wrote:

Sounds like you knew the answer to your question, when you asked it, making it a rhetorical question. I really hate it when people do that, it's like they're baiting you. If I were you Joel I wouldn't buy the camera, I'd stick with what I had. Making it the end of your discussion.

Jere,

Sorry you feel that way.  The question was an honest one.  If you had posted several images you took with your EPM2 and kit lens and they were indeed better IQ than my LX7 pictures I would have been quite happy and kept the EPM2 i ordered from Newegg last Thursday.  And if you read various threads on some of these boards you will find many people who feel strongly that a camera like the EPM2 even with kit lens will greatly outperform my LX7.  But i haven't seen much proof, just verbiage.

As a retired scientist, that's how I was taught to make informed decisions, by gathering data and analyzing it.

Enjoy your new camera.

Joel

Jere Landis wrote:

Tell the two camera companies about your idea, I'm sure they'll build it for you.

If you knew more about cameras, you would know they already exist.

J