Have Sony 3N: Why Does E-PM2 Attract Me?

I have a Sony NEX-3N, I also (briefly) owned a Sony NEX-6 and previously owned a Sony NEX-C3. Prior to that, I owned the Olympus E-PL1 and E-PM1, and when the E-PM2 came out I was going to upgrade to it, but never did, as I got the Sony C3 for cheaper. Since then, I've built a bit of a system around it, adding the Sigma 30mm f/2.8 and Sony 50mm f/1.8 OSS to the NEX-3N to go along with the 18-55.

For some reason, though, the E-PM2 continues to attract me.

Does that make any rational sense? It doesn't I'd say. Yet when I see the E-PM2 kit going for $200, as I have lately, for some reason I want to try it out. Rationally that probably makes no sense, it would make more sense to instead re-upgrade to the NEX-6 for the $200 difference. To have an E-PM2 frankly makes no sense because of the different lens mount, and also I do appreciate the built-in flash of the 3N (and 6 previously) if I'm doing fill-flash for portraits.

Maybe the E-PM2 attracts me as an "always with me" model as it's very compact, without the 14-42 lens dwarfing the body (whereas the Sony NEX lenses tend to dwarf the body, even the kit), where the E-PM2 would be the "always with me" model and the NEX-3N (or another NEX-6) would be the "best" model when I feel like "lugging" it, or maybe it's the out-of-camera JPEGs, or maybe it's just the "grass is greener on the other side of the fence" sort of thing.

Then again, with an E-PM2 kit only costing $200, one could say "at that low of a price, why not try it and see how you like it?"

Thoughts?

cimman305 wrote:

I too am looking at the EPM2. However, based on Amazon prices, it is going for about $330. I've yet to see the $200 price point that you mentioned. Perhaps you can share where its available at that price.

IIRC, it was available briefly at newegg.com for that price.  I don't recall if it was the single lens kit or double lens kit.  It is kind of clear, Olympus is trying to get rid of stock, but only doing it through refurbished, and secondary sellers.  I would imagine soon they will release another Pen, or stop the Pen line and just concentrate on the OM-D line.

I too am looking at the EPM2. However, based on Amazon prices, it is going for about $330. I've yet to see the $200 price point that you mentioned. Perhaps you can share where its available at that price.

The EPM2 has a sensor that is on the same level as it's $700 siblings. Heck, it should be performing similar to the EM1 top of the range Olympus camera, minus the image stabilization features. It has a set of value for money Zuiko micro four thirds lens as well as the Panasonic lenses. Can't be beat for choices. It's not without it's cons of course. That mainly revolves around it's user interface. Olympus cameras are also not well recommended for action photography. It has problems tracking moving objects.

The Sony system has it's advantages as well, as you're well aware. However, would you jump ship for $200 ? and start building up a new lens system ? In my opinion, why not for $200 ? get the EPM2 and play around with it. If you don't like it, you don't have to invest in the other lens. Just get the kit lens and see comes out of it. If you like it, then consider further investment. You can always sell of the Sony system at a later point in time once you have become familiar with the micro four thirds sensor.

You can get a refurbed EPM2 2 lens kit from Olympus right now with the SUMMER20 code for ~$250. Sell the 40-150 and youre under $200 net. I bought one as a backup to my E-M5.

Because you don't have an A6000 yet?

I have both the 3n and the E-PM2. I too was attracted by the low price ($299 for 2-lens kit in my case).

IMHO the E-PM2 is better than the 3n in most ways. Much faster focus. Better controls with way more options. Can take an EVF. Great touchscreen. Autoiso in M. Better (and more compact) lens line. Much faster burst. Deeper buffer.

But the in-body IS, which should be a plus, isn't. Check shutter shock on the m43 forum. It is real and it is a problem on the E-PM2.

How is the 3n better? Pop-up flash that can be bounced. In-camera HDR. Electronic first curtain shutter.

Maybe you just like cameras and will have more fun with two systems than one more complete system. Seems a bit irrational, but I'm the same. I like cameras and can't resist a bargain. Yes, at $200 the E-PM2 is a bargain.

The kit goes down to $249 fairly often on Newegg. I picked one up as a spare camera for work. Its a nice little camera, easily worth $250-300 as the IQ is great and its quite responsive.

Is it worth it to a NEX owner? Maybe, if you just want to try something different.

I had forgotten about that, thanks for reminding me. If there is a shutter shock problem with the E-PM2 the way there was with the E-P5, and without a firmware workaround as was created for the E-P5, that would all by itself be a deal-breaker, even if the E-PM2 showed up for $50 with the 14-42. To me, I'm not seeing how one would categorize the E-PM2 as better than a Sony 3N if that problem exists for the E-PM2, that would seem to basically make an E-PM2 a no-go period.

If I recall the details, the shutter shock causes problems around 1/60-1/125 second, and in fact I probably shoot at those speeds as much as any other. Especially for landscapes, which would in fact me the main subject matter of an E-PM2 if I had one, you want a shutter speed around 1/60 or 1/125--it's fast enough (you'd figure this anyway) to prevent blur from hand-holding, but slow enough to allow an f-stop of f/11 or so for plenty of depth of field. To have to work around that and deliberately avoid those speeds, no thank you.

I know that the E-M10 was found to not have it, if that model wasn't quite as expensive as it was, it would be an attractive possibility. At that point, though, you could get a Sony NEX-6 and its full-sized APS-C sensor. The main thing, again, is that many of the lenses tend to make the body be "end heavy" whereas the E-PM1 and E-PL1, when I had those, had a more "balanced" feel lens & body, and I've always liked Olympus' JPEG rendering.

Yeah. If Olympus fixes the shutter shock on the E-PM2 as they have on the E-P5 I would call it straight-up better than the 3n.

But they haven't, and there is no indication they will. I see it sometimes, not always, but it raises doubt about your shot unless theshutter is really slow or really fast, and I have to think about turning IS on and off, where on the 3n if the lens has it you just use it.

A lot of people say it is worst on the 14-42 and 40-150 kit lenses. That's no help for me, because I really like the small, light, sharp telezoom.