Newbie with an E-PL1 on the way

[uRwhatUr]

Hello Everyone!

Well, our Canon SD750 is being handed down to the kids. I decided on getting the following package in order to take a step-up into the photography world. Scheduled to be here 12/21. I am really looking forward to using it and learning more through this site/forum.

(All items are new)
Package Contents:

• Olympus E-PL1 Camera Body
• Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 Lens
• Olympus 40-150mm F4.0-5.6 ED Zuiko Digital Lens
• Olympus MMF-2 Lens Adapter

Based on the internet pricing I saw, I feel I got a decent deal at $540.

Thanks in advance,
Devin

 

[aquaticvid]

Congrats! I think you'll enjoy your E-PL1. It's a very nice camera, takes great pics, and is a lot of fun. Don't forget to try out the video and Art Filter functions, separately they are good but together, they're great! (Especially Diorama and video.)

 

[SnapshotSteven]

Which site did you get that deal from? I'm thinking about getting this as a first camera and I'm currently looking around for deals. Did you buy it online?

 

[uRwhatUr]

Thanks! Will do on the filters. I was reading the manual about them last night.

Congrats! I think you'll enjoy your E-PL1. It's a very nice camera, takes great pics, and is a lot of fun. Don't forget to try out the video and Art Filter functions, separately they are good but together, they're great! (Especially Diorama and video.)

 

[uRwhatUr]

Got it on ebay from ritzcamera and had a 10% off coupon.

Which site did you get that deal from? I'm thinking about getting this as a first camera and I'm currently looking around for deals. Did you buy it online?

 

[roberthd12]

That's a great deal. The Ritz/Wolf store prices are absolutely awful, some of the worst.
--
Roberthd12

 

[RMillward]

I can recommend the Dummies book for E-PL1 - it makes short work of the somewhat confusing menuing system for options (the manual is "just OK", but you have to know what you're looking for; the Dummies book is great for discovering features, etc.)

Good luck. Ive had mine about six months now, and I really, really love it!

 

[uRwhatUr]

Oh man - I never even considered a book! Thanks for the suggestion - stopping by the book store tomorrow.

I can recommend the Dummies book for E-PL1 - it makes short work of the somewhat confusing menuing system for options (the manual is "just OK", but you have to know what you're looking for; the Dummies book is great for discovering features, etc.)

Good luck. Ive had mine about six months now, and I really, really love it!

 

[rude]

congrats. i have an evf2 on the way which i get mon from bh. rudy

 

[aquaticvid]

I forgot to say earlier, make sure you turn on the Super Control Panel (SCP) when you get the camera. It will make your life so much easier! pp. 74 (Control Setting) and 81 of the manual.

 

[Guy Parsons]

Package Contents:

• Olympus E-PL1 Camera Body
• Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 Lens
• Olympus 40-150mm F4.0-5.6 ED Zuiko Digital Lens
• Olympus MMF-2 Lens Adapter

Same package bought here in Australia cost more, but that's life. For me the MMF-2 brings my 4/3 lenses into play so am having fun with them. Also have Nikon lens adapter but yet to seriously play with my Nikon lenses.

Meanwhile I am starting to collect some possibly interesting bits of info on my page at http://homepages.tig.com.au/~parsog/olyepl1/02-epl1-comments.html

Have fun!

Regards............ Guy

E-PL1 plus 4/3 lens 11-22mm, my most used lens......



Also the 40-150mm lens with a Hoya Multi rubber hood added.......

 

[redrunnertc]

Are there any comparisons out there of the 40-150 4/3s lens vs the 45-200 Panny m43s?

 

[Guy Parsons]

Are there any comparisons out there of the 40-150 4/3s lens vs the 45-200 Panny m43s?

I think it is generally acknowledged that the Panasonic lens is the better one, but is a lot heavier and larger and rather defeats the idea of "compact and light" for the M4/3 cameras.

Go to http://www.four-thirds.org/en/special/matching.html to see the lenses on the bodies. Go to http://www.four-thirds.org/en/microft/lense.html to compare the specifications.

Regards........ Guy

 

[baxters]

Which site did you get that deal from? I'm thinking about getting this as a first camera and I'm currently looking around for deals. Did you buy it online?

Current price is $549 for the two lens kit on Amazon with free shipping. Fulfilled by Ritz, but that's OK, Wow, that's what I paid for the EPL1 and 14-42 lens by itself back in May. Oh well, I knew it would get a lot cheaper and I've gotten a hundred bucks worth of fun out of it. And this one is the black body.

 

[tjuster1]

Are there any comparisons out there of the 40-150 4/3s lens vs the 45-200 Panny m43s?

I think it is generally acknowledged that the Panasonic lens is the better one, but is a lot heavier and larger and rather defeats the idea of "compact and light" for the M4/3 cameras.

Go to http://www.four-thirds.org/en/special/matching.html to see the lenses on the bodies. Go to http://www.four-thirds.org/en/microft/lense.html to compare the specifications.

Regards........ Guy

Gotta disagree with this. From what I've read, the Oly is definitely better--though obviously it has shorter reach. Here's a good comparison:

Oly: http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/zproducts/olympus40-150f4-56/tloader.htm

Panny: http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/zproducts/panasonic45-200f4-56g/tloader.htm

Oly is better at almost all focal lengths both wide open and has higher sharpness when optimally stopped down.

STILL: there are some big things in favor of the Panasonic: (a) it's a native m43 lens, which means it will focus faster; and (b) it's got image stabilization. But for absolute IQ, I think the Olympus has the slight edge.

 

[beomagi]

While Panasonic's lenses have been a step up from Olympus's lenseS in general for m43, the four third Oly's reputation still stands. The kit 40-150mm f4-5.6 is one of the sharpest kit lenses you'll find. It is also cdaf enabled so focusing is decent.

Are there any comparisons out there of the 40-150 4/3s lens vs the 45-200 Panny m43s?

I think it is generally acknowledged that the Panasonic lens is the better one, but is a lot heavier and larger and rather defeats the idea of "compact and light" for the M4/3 cameras.

Go to http://www.four-thirds.org/en/special/matching.html to see the lenses on the bodies. Go to http://www.four-thirds.org/en/microft/lense.html to compare the specifications.

Regards........ Guy