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EPM2 or GX1?

Started Oct 2, 2016 | Discussions
jor23 Senior Member • Posts: 1,556
EPM2 or GX1?

Bought GX1 and EPM2 used for good price.

Which one is a better camera?

I thought the GX1 handles better and the EPM2 has a better sensor + IBIS.

But after using both for a few days, honestly, both handle about the same with small prime lenses. Maybe my fingers are too long? The grip on the GX1 seems to be too narrow and not as easy to grip as others stated. I am more used to Olympus interface. Even though the EPM2 has fewer buttons, with the touch screen and super control panel, I don't see a big difference in handling.

The IQ on the EPM2 is not much better than the GX1. About 1600, both have quite some noise. But this could be tamed in Lightroom easily.

The shutter on the EPM2 seems to be a bit softer. The screen on the EPM2 seems to have higher resolution? Maybe it just that the menu has smaller fonts.

Everyone seems to love the looks of the GX1, but the white EPM2 that I have looks awesome with a black prime lens. The build is also not as bad as many claimed. It's quite solid actually.

Does it make sense to keep both? I've got an EM1 already for M43.

Olympus E-M1 Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
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jalywol
jalywol Forum Pro • Posts: 12,302
Re: EPM2 or GX1?

Keep the EPM2. Nice camera, far, far better color rendition than th GX1.  Had both, returned the GX1 due to colors and ahuttershock. Used the EPM2 for about a year, have some particularly nice shots from it.

-J

alcelc
alcelc Forum Pro • Posts: 19,004
Re: EPM2 or GX1?

Love my GX1. Especially when paired with LVF2, would give similar shooting experience to the more recent models like GX7/GX85.

Grown up with film slr for 30+ years and G1 be my first digital ILC, thought dslr form factor might be my must requirement down the road of upgrade. Surprisingly, GX1 changed my mind forever and select GX7 and GX85 instead of G7...

In terms of ergonomics the more physical buttons and touch LCD of GX1 allowing faster/easier setting than GF3 (more close to the simpler design of EPM2). It also has a more full set of features then GF3, close to any mid range models of its time (not sure the entry class EPM2 would be better). Had been my main camera for 2 years (upgraded to GX7 but was robbed by my wife leaving me GX1 for one more year ) producing not obvious worse result than GX7/GX85 (except for the higher ISO department). Shutter shock is not obvious on my older lenses like 7-14, 14-45 and 45-200 etc but 14-140 M2 might not always as sharp as comparing to the e-shutter of GX7 or GX85....

I would keep both, having GX1 (more feature rich) as main camera and EMP2 as back up. When under more demanding shooting environment, you would find the usefulness of a camera having more physical controls than a simplier one.

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Albert

 alcelc's gear list:alcelc's gear list
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 Panasonic G85 +11 more
OP jor23 Senior Member • Posts: 1,556
Re: EPM2 or GX1?

But I already have an em1

LMNCT Veteran Member • Posts: 4,908
Re: EPM2 or GX1?

Keep both.  I noticed that you used the Olympus for the b&w shots and the GX1 for color.  Popular consensus would dictate that you reversed the order...with the famous Olympus color, it would make sense to use the Oly.  In truth they are pretty much the same except for the menu systems.  I would keep both.  They seem to be working for you and you will need to switch lenses much less frequently.

 LMNCT's gear list:LMNCT's gear list
Panasonic LX100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 +23 more
OP jor23 Senior Member • Posts: 1,556
Re: EPM2 or GX1?

I was afraid to scare people away while using the gx1. The shutter is so loud, almost gx7 loud

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