Value of EPL5 and EPL6

Hgreblo1 wrote:

I have an epl6 that I like very much. One thing to note though, it is very easy to lose the cover for the battery and sd card spot on the bottom of the camera. I ordered a couple of extras to have on hand. You don't want to get dirt into the sd card area on the bottom of the camera.

I like the layout of the pl6. With the articulated lcd I can keep the flash on the camera at all times and not have the worry of losing it.

I bought the one lens version of the camera for 299,00. I would recommend buying the 399.00 version with two lenses. I also have a pl2 with two lenses so I didn't need the upgrade.

I need a camera that will stop movement better as I have many grandchildren and great grandchildren. I have been thinking about getting the gx8. That should remove the blur that I get with many images of the grandchildren.

Regards,

HGreblo

How does the battery cover come off?

aliasfox wrote:

Gesture wrote:

Thanks for responses. I'll have to check Olympus store and see if refurbs are offered on any models.

If you're going to Olympus's Refurb store and you're not in a hurry, wait for them to bring out the 20% off sale that they have every so often - the E-M10 goes for $349 normally, the 20% coupon would bring it down to $270.

yes but that's without any lenses

The battery cover can come off after you open the bottom of the  camera  near your sd card out to process your images.  I'm missing one cover, however I ordered two from Olympus.  Guy Parson advised me how to replace them,  You don/t want dirt to get in your sd slot

Hgreblo1 wrote:

The battery cover can come off after you open the bottom of the camera near your sd card out to process your images.

Not really a concern. Mine came off too, but only after a year and only because I had broken the hinge in the body. I could see where I had snapped off a little bit of plastic, which made the hinge loose. I rebuilt the plastic with epoxy.

alexisgreat wrote:

aliasfox wrote:

Gesture wrote:

Thanks for responses. I'll have to check Olympus store and see if refurbs are offered on any models.

If you're going to Olympus's Refurb store and you're not in a hurry, wait for them to bring out the 20% off sale that they have every so often - the E-M10 goes for $349 normally, the 20% coupon would bring it down to $270.

yes but that's without any lenses

True, but I assumed that since the OP was looking for an upgrade from his current Pen camera body, he/she already had the lenses.

gary0319 wrote:

alexisgreat wrote:

aliasfox wrote:

Gesture wrote:

Thanks for responses. I'll have to check Olympus store and see if refurbs are offered on any models.

If you're going to Olympus's Refurb store and you're not in a hurry, wait for them to bring out the 20% off sale that they have every so often - the E-M10 goes for $349 normally, the 20% coupon would bring it down to $270.

yes but that's without any lenses

True, but I assumed that since the OP was looking for an upgrade from his current Pen camera body, he/she already had the lenses.

That was my assumption as well. If the OP were looking for a new normal zoom, I'd actually recommend looking at the underrated Panasonic 14-42 II ahead of the Oly 14-42 IIR, but that's really just a personal preference with regards to build/appearance/handling (I don't like the lock switch on the Oly). Both lenses seem quite adequate, with the Oly being slightly brighter in the middle of the range, and the Panny being sharper, at least in the middle of the frame.

pterosonus wrote:

My advice is to buy a used or refurb E-M10 unless you are determined to stick with the pen style of body. I bought the EPL-6 at blow out price as a second body to my E-M10 and returned it. The ergonomics were terrible, it only has one control wheel, lacks the 3 axis IBIS, has lower resolution LCD and does not have the zero second anti-shock setting. The E-M10 is just a better and more advanced camera. Prices are cheap now that the model II has come out.

i concur on em10.

I found a refurb em10 with kit lens for my sister from the OlyUSA web site last month for $340 delivered to her door.

i tried the pl6 last summer as a second body and, for the reasons you cite, i sent it back and spent $100 more for the pl7.  i am glad i did every time i pick up the pl7 (which now wears the panny 12-32 as its lens; a perfect pairing).

gear1box wrote:

pterosonus wrote:

My advice is to buy a used or refurb E-M10 unless you are determined to stick with the pen style of body. I bought the EPL-6 at blow out price as a second body to my E-M10 and returned it. The ergonomics were terrible, it only has one control wheel, lacks the 3 axis IBIS, has lower resolution LCD and does not have the zero second anti-shock setting. The E-M10 is just a better and more advanced camera. Prices are cheap now that the model II has come out.

i concur on em10.

I found a refurb em10 with kit lens for my sister from the OlyUSA web site last month for $340 delivered to her door.

i tried the pl6 last summer as a second body and, for the reasons you cite, i sent it back and spent $100 more for the pl7. i am glad i did every time i pick up the pl7 (which now wears the panny 12-32 as its lens; a perfect pairing).

I agree, the Panny 12-32 on the PL7 is pretty much perfect, IMO. I've also added the diminutive  35-100 F/4 to the mix and it has become my go to combination for the street, festivals, and family gatherings.

If you have an EVF like the VF-2 already then yeah I guess get the PL5 or 6, not sure what difference there is but they seem to be really closely priced on amazon so go for the 6 as it obviously has some incremental improvement.

That said if you don't have the EVF I would look for an E-M10 on 20% (s/b coming up with spring refurbished sale next week).

The other option if you're okay with switching brands is the GM5, these are regularly on discount now and have an EVF as well as the very conveniently small, and sharp 12-32mm OIS kit lens.  If I were upgrading to another rangefinder camera I would get one of those in black on black in a second.

As it is I have an E-PM2 with the 12-32mm OIS for my second camera to my E-M1 and fast zooms, obviously for me there is savings in keeping one menu system. I also got the E-PM2 for a song since it has a broken battery door.

The 16mp sensor as others have said is going to be a huge upgrade in low light high iso performance that you will not regret.

ramcewan wrote:

That said if you don't have the EVF I would look for an E-M10 on 20% (s/b coming up with spring refurbished sale next week).

You know for sure there's a 20% off sale next week? Exciting news for me at least...

I think that the EPL6 handles fine.  I set the FN button to control ISO.  The rest of the controls come together very naturally.  The wheel controls shutter or apperture depending upon what mode you're in (A,S or M) and clicking the top of the wheel gives you exposure compensation.  That covers most of what an experienced photographer needs to get to.  Occasional trips to the SCP take care of the rest.

gear1box wrote:

pterosonus wrote:

My advice is to buy a used or refurb E-M10 unless you are determined to stick with the pen style of body. I bought the EPL-6 at blow out price as a second body to my E-M10 and returned it. The ergonomics were terrible, it only has one control wheel, lacks the 3 axis IBIS, has lower resolution LCD and does not have the zero second anti-shock setting. The E-M10 is just a better and more advanced camera. Prices are cheap now that the model II has come out.

i concur on em10.

I found a refurb em10 with kit lens for my sister from the OlyUSA web site last month for $340 delivered to her door.

i tried the pl6 last summer as a second body and, for the reasons you cite, i sent it back and spent $100 more for the pl7. i am glad i did every time i pick up the pl7 (which now wears the panny 12-32 as its lens; a perfect pairing).

It depends on what one wants.  The EPL7 is actually $200 more expensive than the EPL6 and when I got it there was a sale, and the EPL7 would actually have been twice as expensive (I got the EPL6 for $249, the EPL7 was $499)- I am talking about with the kit lens since I had no m43 lens at the time.  The EPL7 is basically the same price as the EM10.  And lacks an EVF! So the EM10 is definitely the better buy.

But for my needs none of the above factors was of any importance- I'm attaching the EPL6 to a telescope, so IS doesn't matter.  Shutter shock is a non issue since I would never use those shutter speeds anyway.  Ergonomics dont really matter I needed the lightest body possible, also I dont use control wheels, I like my cameras to have buttons not wheels.  I find buttons to be much more durable.  I dont really care about the resolution of the LCD I can always magnify the image 14x or whatever amount I want.  From my point of view, the EPL7 is overpriced, for that price I'd rather get the EM10.

jsaras wrote:

I think that the EPL6 handles fine. I set the FN button to control ISO. The rest of the controls come together very naturally. The wheel controls shutter or apperture depending upon what mode you're in (A,S or M) and clicking the top of the wheel gives you exposure compensation. That covers most of what an experienced photographer needs to get to. Occasional trips to the SCP take care of the rest.

Exactly- and I dont even use that wheel! I use it as buttons, because I like buttons a lot more than wheels.

aliasfox wrote:

ramcewan wrote:

That said if you don't have the EVF I would look for an E-M10 on 20% (s/b coming up with spring refurbished sale next week).

You know for sure there's a 20% off sale next week? Exciting news for me at least...

Last two years in a row there has been a 20% off refurbished sale for the beginning of Spring, around 3/21.  The next one will be right before Memorial Day, July 4th, labor day, black Friday, then next President's day. I bought my E-M1 on Memorial Day sale two years back and a 7-14mm this year on President's day.