DPReview.com is closing April 10th - Find out more

Should I swap my E-PL6 for E-P5?

Started Jan 24, 2017 | Discussions
Elmokki Regular Member • Posts: 276
Should I swap my E-PL6 for E-P5?

So, as much as I like my E-PL6, the constant talk about how amazing the 5-axis IBIS is has left me craving for it. It's really tempting since I think I could've shot some of the about 1 second exposures I shot yesterday without a tripod if I had E-P5 or E-M10mk2 or GX85 or something similar and I'm pretty sure I'd appreciate all the nice small improvements like better screen, wifi, faster shutter and such even though those aren't really the selling points for me.

The thing is, I paid 200€ on a sale for my E-PL6 kit last spring and now there's an E-P5 with shutter count of about 1500 for sale for 250€, without a lens of course, and there's a single store in my country (Finland) that still has them new and it's just 300€ even then! It sounds like such a good upgrade since it's considerably cheaper than I've ever seen E-M10 mk2 for and I do have the VF-4 for the relatively few times I feel like using a viewfinder in.

I have no real idea how much I could get for my E-PL6 which still has a fairly meager shutter count, about 2200. Judging from what people are trying to sell them for, maybe 150 to 200€ with the lens and my extra third party battery, provided the cameras are actually being sold at those prices. I don't really want to part with the lens as I do use it for 14mm, but I suppose I'd really have to to get an entry level camera sold, which is a bit of an issue as well I suppose.

Is there any point in getting a cheap E-P5 nearly 4 years after its release or should I just use the E-PL6 that shoots exactly as good pictures as long as stabilization isn't needed and maybe wait for E-M10 mk2 or GX85 prices to really floor down eventually or my willingness to pay increase? Please either talk me out of wanting to upgrade or alternatively into doing it, even if it's a fact that only I can truly know what I want or need. Regardless, it's the indecisiveness that's the worst.

Oh, and also, I know E-P5 doesn't have focus stacking, but does it have focus bracketing? Stacking would be nice, but with the prices I'm potentially willing to pay for a body I won't get it for a good while.

 Elmokki's gear list:Elmokki's gear list
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4-5.6 R Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 45mm F1.8 Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm F2.8 Macro Panasonic 12-35mm F2.8 +3 more
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Olympus PEN E-P5 Olympus PEN E-PL6 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85
If you believe there are incorrect tags, please send us this post using our feedback form.
gipas
gipas Regular Member • Posts: 322
Re: Should I swap my E-PL6 for E-P5?
1

Hi Elmokki,

I've an E-Pl5 which I stopped to use since I acquired an E-PL7 (2nd hand mint, like new) about 6 months ago. The PL7 is quite a step up compared to the PL5 (PL6), especially the 3 axis ibis is waaaaayyyyyyyyy better than the old two axis. Even if I don't have the E-P5 I can imagine it is even better than the PL7, especially its ergonomics if you have medium/large hands (I can confirm this because Inhappen to have bought a very cheap photographic bundle which inlcuded the old E-P3 and it is still an awesome camera from the handling standpoint). Additionally, the 5 axis ibis will guarantee you slight advanced stabilisation compared to the 3 axis one, therefore, if you can find it cheap, would be a step up to buy the E-P5 (even if it doesn't have the focus bracketing, being this one reserved to the latest OMD and PEN camera).

Cheers

 gipas's gear list:gipas's gear list
Samsung TL500 Olympus E-450 Olympus PEN E-PL1 Pentax K-30 Fujifilm X-E1 +3 more
Guy Parsons
Guy Parsons Forum Pro • Posts: 40,000
Re: Should I swap my E-PL6 for E-P5?
1

Elmokki wrote:

So, as much as I like my E-PL6, the constant talk about how amazing the 5-axis IBIS is has left me craving for it. It's really tempting since I think I could've shot some of the about 1 second exposures I shot yesterday without a tripod if I had E-P5 or E-M10mk2 or GX85 or something similar and I'm pretty sure I'd appreciate all the nice small improvements like better screen, wifi, faster shutter and such even though those aren't really the selling points for me.

Not so sure about 1 second exposures but maybe with care at wide angle. I definitely have at times achieved 1/2 second at 40mm, so at 20mm 1 second is theoretically possible based on that.

Is there any point in getting a cheap E-P5 nearly 4 years after its release

Yes. Better IBIS, 0 sec anti-shock and twin dials for operation make life so nice. Make sure that the dials work properly and that there is some sort of return if not as advertised guarantee. Check shutter count http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~parsog/olyepl1/12-epl1-shotcount.html

or should I just use the E-PL6 that shoots exactly as good pictures as long as stabilization isn't needed and maybe wait for E-M10 mk2 or GX85 prices to really floor down eventually or my willingness to pay increase? Please either talk me out of wanting to upgrade or alternatively into doing it, even if it's a fact that only I can truly know what I want or need. Regardless, it's the indecisiveness that's the worst.

I say buy the E-P5 but then I'm seriously biased.

Last camera was E-PL5 (essentially 99% the same as E-PL6) and used the 12-40/2.8 on it to get good results, but when I moved to E-P5 with the same lens suddenly everything seemed better and so much easier. I put that down largely to the 5 axis IBIS and the 0 sec anti-shock, it seemed to me that I could not mess up anything that I took.

Oh, and also, I know E-P5 doesn't have focus stacking, but does it have focus bracketing?

No focus bracketing. No Live Composite but it does have the simpler Live Time.

Stacking would be nice, but with the prices I'm potentially willing to pay for a body I won't get it for a good while.

For me the E-P5 is the body where I'm staying until global shutters arrive in a Pen shaped body and prove to be OK. It could be a seriously long wait but with 2 E-P5 and also 2 E-PL5 I have enough to carry me for a few years by sharing out the wear on all the bodies.

If serious about the E-P5 then my page about the menus may help with understanding the manual. http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~parsog/olyepl1/56-ep5-custom-menus.html

Regards..... Guy

Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum MMy threads