E-pl6 two lens kit $399

This seems to be a very good deal.  Why is this camera always being sold so cheap?  What would be the difference between the e-pl6 and, for example, an e-m5?  Is the difference huge?

The biggest issues I see with this model are the 2-axis IBIS, no EFCS, and less than desired ergonomics. So yes, there is a big difference between this and the current E-M5.

Here is a site on info of epl6/epl5

HGreblo

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brownie314 wrote:

This seems to be a very good deal. Why is this camera always being sold so cheap? What would be the difference between the e-pl6 and, for example, an e-m5? Is the difference huge?

It is a very slightly updated version of the E-PL5. It was originally released only in Asia and then released in the US late last summer (IIRC). It doesn't appear to have been enough of an upgrade to attract people who have a PL5 (it isn't for me) and now that the E-PL7 has been released it's sort of an orphan being sold off at discount prices.

Karl--you can find the PL6 at the US Olympus Refurb site. They have the camera with 14-42 for $239, and you could add the 40-150 for another $99 or so.

http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/outlet/e-pl6-black-body-with-14-42mm-ii-r-black-lens-reconditioned.html

brownie314 wrote:

This seems to be a very good deal.

Not so sure. Depends where you live, I guess. The 40-150 can be had for $99 in US I believe. And I'm not sure $300 for E-PL6 is anything special. Certainly is not a bad deal.

Why is this camera always being sold so cheap?

Because it's an old generation of Olympus bodies. And one that was initially only sold in Asia as a minor update to E-PL5. That it "leaked" to other regions suggests that maybe Oly overestimated demand and they're trying to clear them out? Or maybe they use it to replace E-PL5 on the store shelves? Who knows. It's their way of having something in the super-cheap tier of the market.

What would be the difference between the e-pl6 and, for example, an e-m5? Is the difference huge?

Yes, it's pretty big. E-PL6 has the older image processor (compared to current generation of Oly cameras, not sure about E-M5 specifically), so it lacks some of the goodies that newer cameras have. It only has the 2 axis IBIS, which is worse than 3-axis of E-M10 and E-PL7, and vastly inferior to the 5-axis of the newest bodies. It does not have a true electronic first curtain, and I'm not even sure if it has 0-sec anti-shock. So shutter shock issues might be more of an issue than on other bodies (heavily depends on the lens, too). All that is on top of the PEN vs OM-D difference.

Karld70 wrote:

Highlands wrote:

Karl--you can find the PL6 at the US Olympus Refurb site. They have the camera with 14-42 for $239, and you could add the 40-150 for another $99 or so.

http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/outlet/e-pl6-black-body-with-14-42mm-ii-r-black-lens-reconditioned.html

Thank you !

You're welcome!  Though.. if your budget will extend to it, the PL7 would give you some additional features including a better IBIS system and an additional control dial on the top panel.  It's $399 with the 14-42 on the Oly Refurb site.

But--do you ever feel like you need an EVF?  If so, you might be better off with an EM-10 ($359 body only on the refurb site and about $399 with the 14-42 kit lens).  An add-on viewfinder (the VF-4 is the equivalent of the viewfinder in the EM-1 and is terrific) will cost about $225 to $240 used, which adds to the cost of your Pen. Of course, that's not a problem if you like using the LCD and won't need an EVF.  Good luck!

I don't think you would be able to tell the difference between this and the E-M5 based on IQ. They're both using the 16mp M43 sensor.

This does provide an inexpensive way to get into the M43 system. There are some pretty good buys to be had right now, ie: Olympus E-M5.1 body for $379

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/842931-REG/Olympus_V204040BU000_OM_D_E_M5_Micro_Four.html

I'm somewhat tempted by this just to get the weather resistant body.

Astrotripper wrote:

Yes, it's pretty big. E-PL6 has the older image processor (compared to current generation of Oly cameras, not sure about E-M5 specifically), so it lacks some of the goodies that newer cameras have.

The EPL5 came out after the EM5. Since Olympus migrates their image processing engine right down the model line on new releases, the EPL5 engine has the same processor, plus tweaks that were added in firmware later to the EM5.. I have both cameras. The JPG's are the same.

We're talking about bodies that originally sold for $1099 and $599 respectively, so the IBIS in the EM5 is superior, along with integrated EVF, and other stuff. As they drop to bare bones clearance prices, the dollar difference really shrinks, doesn't it. EM5 or EM10 might be the better buy, but at the same time, $229 for an EPL6 vs $399 for EM5/EM10  for the budget conscious buyer still requires some thinking.

I like to take my EM6 in tourist mode, when I will be using longer lenses with an EVF, or if I know I want to video some bands, where the IBIS is superior. For family gatherings, walking around town, or packing on a bike ride, the EPL5 is my choice.  It's smaller.

Astrotripper wrote:

brownie314 wrote:

This seems to be a very good deal.

Not so sure. Depends where you live, I guess. The 40-150 can be had for $99 in US I believe. And I'm not sure $300 for E-PL6 is anything special. Certainly is not a bad deal.

Why is this camera always being sold so cheap?

Because it's an old generation of Olympus bodies. And one that was initially only sold in Asia as a minor update to E-PL5. That it "leaked" to other regions suggests that maybe Oly overestimated demand and they're trying to clear them out? Or maybe they use it to replace E-PL5 on the store shelves? Who knows. It's their way of having something in the super-cheap tier of the market.

What would be the difference between the e-pl6 and, for example, an e-m5? Is the difference huge?

Yes, it's pretty big. E-PL6 has the older image processor (compared to current generation of Oly cameras, not sure about E-M5 specifically), so it lacks some of the goodies that newer cameras have. It only has the 2 axis IBIS, which is worse than 3-axis of E-M10 and E-PL7, and vastly inferior to the 5-axis of the newest bodies. It does not have a true electronic first curtain, and I'm not even sure if it has 0-sec anti-shock. So shutter shock issues might be more of an issue than on other bodies (heavily depends on the lens, too). All that is on top of the PEN vs OM-D difference.

wasn't there a patch that fixed the 0-sec anti-shock? Its been a whiles since I got the patch so I don't remember. I bought my EPL6 for 300 dollars. the Additional lens is 99 dollars anyways so its not that great of a deal. I mainly bought it to see if I was going to like m4/3. now I want to upgrade

I have the camera; I bought it as a second body for my pl2.  The 16 meg. sensor is good.

HGreblo

Karld70 wrote:

Highlands wrote:

Karld70 wrote:

Highlands wrote:

Karl--you can find the PL6 at the US Olympus Refurb site. They have the camera with 14-42 for $239, and you could add the 40-150 for another $99 or so.

http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/outlet/e-pl6-black-body-with-14-42mm-ii-r-black-lens-reconditioned.html

Thank you !

You're welcome! Though.. if your budget will extend to it, the PL7 would give you some additional features including a better IBIS system and an additional control dial on the top panel. It's $399 with the 14-42 on the Oly Refurb site.

But--do you ever feel like you need an EVF? If so, you might be better off with an EM-10 ($359 body only on the refurb site and about $399 with the 14-42 kit lens). An add-on viewfinder (the VF-4 is the equivalent of the viewfinder in the EM-1 and is terrific) will cost about $225 to $240 used, which adds to the cost of your Pen. Of course, that's not a problem if you like using the LCD and won't need an EVF. Good luck!

Thank you, all great info. (don't want to hijack the OP's thread, but this is also good info them him/her)

I just started looking at a second body, need to price out a few, I can go $399 easy, so that might be the better camera for me, I also like the control wheel moved to the top, I had a GM1 for a few days testing and hated the wheel on the back (but I have been told the wheel on the pl5,pl6 is much better, not an issue)

Thanks again for your input.

No, you are not hijacking.  This is all good info and it is exactly what I was hoping for.

Including the 12-40 and 40-150/2.8...