Lizard_King promoted this comment
iomatic (I know I'm an idiot, but I'll comment anyway) was starred
iomatic (I know I'm an idiot, but I'll comment anyway) was unstarred
I've looked into a couple of the smaller ones, and seriously thought about the E-P1, but then heard the GF1 would arrive soon. Both the E-P1 and the GF1 suffered from something I thought was an obvious oversight: Lack of a hotshoe flash and viewfinder support at the same time. I also found the EVF lacked necessary resolution to rival an optical VF, and I could not get used to relying on the LCD. It's a very odd standard, definitly not as versatile as I had been led to believe. #olympusep2
@Lizard_King: I definitely agree with the optical viewfinder as an important feature that is lacking. When I heard Olympus was already working on an E-P2 I hoped for one, but alas, not yet.
Don't both these 4/3 cameras have a hot shoe right on top though? While a flash doesn't come with it, you could always buy one separately. (please correct me if I'm wrong) #olympusep2
@James Philip: The EP1 and 2 and the GF1 all have hotshoe, and while the EP2 and GF1 have an electronic viewfinder, it covers the hotshoe. I say covers because I haven't gotten my hands on the EVF modules yet to see if they do interface with the hotshoe as the GF1 has a port in back of the hotshoe for EVF mounting. I'm guessing that the EVF makes no electrical connection to the hotshoe, but again, that is a guess.
One point to note, the m4/3 standard does not allow for an optical viewfinder - it must be electronic. That being said, I'm gonna punch the next person to tout Live View as a feature on the m4/3 cameras - it is necessary, not a feature.
Honestly, I like the comparison to rangefinder cameras - and hate it when these cameras are listed as if they have all of the features of an SLR in a smaller case. I'd think that most of the consumers purchasing this would already have an SLR. I might actually get a GF1, but would prefer to have electronic viewfinder and hotshoe flash at the same time. #olympusep2
I would love a camera like this as an alternative to my SLRs.
Onboard flash sucks anyway. Plus, it has 4 stop image stabilization. Using the 1/focal length rule of thumb, you could presumably hand hold at 1/4th of a second on the 17mm lens (Convert to 17mm to 34mm for 35mm equivalent; 1/30th - 1/15th - 1/8th - 1/4th). While the four-thirds sensor is not quite as large as an APS-C, it is MUCH larger than standard point and shoot cameras. This would yield much better high ISO performance. Assuming it has the same ISO capabilities of the E-P1, that would be 100-6400. And even if you limit yourself to say, 1600ISO, I cannot imagine many situations in which 1/4th f/2.8 @ ISO1600 wouldn't suffice. #olympusep2
@Lizard_King:
No I mean the GH1. You know, that video shooting multi-aspect sensor toting feature filled successor to the G1 that's been out for like 5 months now and was announced early last year? You know, the one that replaced the G1? #olympusep2
@TheCrudMan: You know, I forgot about that one, I saw it mentioned in PMA coverage, but haven't seen it in person yet. I think I was blocking it out based on price, because the vid modes were supposed to be great.
Though, if in the market for a m4/3, I'd get a compact body, the DSLR sized units have no advantage over a DSLR for me, but plenty of disadvantages. #olympusep2
@Lizard_King:
It's significantly smaller than a DSLR in that if it had a mirror box it would be considered the smallest DSLR on the market. The price is $1500 but $800 of that is the kit lens...you can only get one body only in Japan (and that one is limited to the Japanese language only, although it is NTSC) for about $650. It's really an excellent camera...and with its feature set is (in my opinion) primarily a video camera. As for buying a DSLR at that pricepoint (the size point being addressed by the fact that the thing takes better pictures and video than the smaller m4/3 cameras and the G1) I would point out, again, that the kit lens makes up a good chunk of the price. Why do you care if you're paying more anyway? Well, if you spend $900 on a comparable DSLR you're getting a kit lens that goes for less than $100 used and retails for not much more. The general 18-55 lens you get is almost as slow as the GH1's kit, and lacks the amazing 14-140mm zoom range, optical image stabilization, and silent auto focus (for video) the the GH1's lens has...in short, you will soon need to spend that extra $600 on glass to get near what the GH1 can do out of the box...you'll probably have to spend another $900. With the GH1 you will probably spend another $300 just to add some faster glass from Nikon or Canon (FD) which can be adapted to fit the camera..so the prices all even out in the end...only with the GH1 you get amazing video features.
Ah, crap. I was just about to buy a GF1. I'll wait to see the specs on this. I have an issue with my DSLR because of my glasses--I can never frame the shot right. #olympusep2
The E-620 seems like a better option, especially considering you can already pick it up for $599. Where is the new E-3? I keep hearing a new E-3 or E-5 will be coming out, and it will have video, like the EP-1. Where is it?
@lilaliendog: Olympus needs to stop faking and bring on the E-5 then. I would love to see what a video equipped E-5 could do with my Oly Zuiko50mm f/2.0 macro.
This thing looks really cool, but I got one major problem with these olympus line of cameras, as rugged as they are, they can only withstand a drop from 5 feet????
I'm 6 feet tall, like a lot of dudes. What's the point of the ruggedness if I expose it to breakage during normal, everyday use?
11/05/09
11/05/09
I've looked into a couple of the smaller ones, and seriously thought about the E-P1, but then heard the GF1 would arrive soon. Both the E-P1 and the GF1 suffered from something I thought was an obvious oversight: Lack of a hotshoe flash and viewfinder support at the same time. I also found the EVF lacked necessary resolution to rival an optical VF, and I could not get used to relying on the LCD. It's a very odd standard, definitly not as versatile as I had been led to believe. #olympusep2
11/07/09
Don't both these 4/3 cameras have a hot shoe right on top though? While a flash doesn't come with it, you could always buy one separately. (please correct me if I'm wrong) #olympusep2
11/07/09
One point to note, the m4/3 standard does not allow for an optical viewfinder - it must be electronic. That being said, I'm gonna punch the next person to tout Live View as a feature on the m4/3 cameras - it is necessary, not a feature.
Honestly, I like the comparison to rangefinder cameras - and hate it when these cameras are listed as if they have all of the features of an SLR in a smaller case. I'd think that most of the consumers purchasing this would already have an SLR. I might actually get a GF1, but would prefer to have electronic viewfinder and hotshoe flash at the same time. #olympusep2
11/05/09
Sounded more like a response to GF1 than a refresh, but the faster these beauties advance, the better!
I'm in between now... viewfinder is a must for me, and now both have it.
I see movie recording also got a manual shutter/apperture too.
Flash could be useful but not that important.
And there's the in body IS... #olympusep2
11/05/09
Sorry to be pedantic, but the 17mm isn't a zoom. That's why it's called "17mm" and not "17-xxmm, or yy-17mm"! #olympusep2
11/05/09
11/05/09
11/05/09
11/05/09
11/08/09
11/05/09
Onboard flash sucks anyway. Plus, it has 4 stop image stabilization. Using the 1/focal length rule of thumb, you could presumably hand hold at 1/4th of a second on the 17mm lens (Convert to 17mm to 34mm for 35mm equivalent; 1/30th - 1/15th - 1/8th - 1/4th). While the four-thirds sensor is not quite as large as an APS-C, it is MUCH larger than standard point and shoot cameras. This would yield much better high ISO performance. Assuming it has the same ISO capabilities of the E-P1, that would be 100-6400. And even if you limit yourself to say, 1600ISO, I cannot imagine many situations in which 1/4th f/2.8 @ ISO1600 wouldn't suffice. #olympusep2
11/05/09
well, most any situation with a human being in it... unfortunately, image stabilization can't freeze your subject :) #olympusep2
11/05/09
11/05/09
11/06/09
11/05/09
11/05/09
If the E-P1 gets a good amount cheaper though I just can't justify getting this one. #olympusep2
11/04/09
11/04/09
The G1, good camera, though I don't see why you wouldn't just get a DSLR at that point. #olympusep2
11/05/09
No I mean the GH1. You know, that video shooting multi-aspect sensor toting feature filled successor to the G1 that's been out for like 5 months now and was announced early last year? You know, the one that replaced the G1? #olympusep2
11/05/09
Though, if in the market for a m4/3, I'd get a compact body, the DSLR sized units have no advantage over a DSLR for me, but plenty of disadvantages. #olympusep2
11/05/09
It's significantly smaller than a DSLR in that if it had a mirror box it would be considered the smallest DSLR on the market. The price is $1500 but $800 of that is the kit lens...you can only get one body only in Japan (and that one is limited to the Japanese language only, although it is NTSC) for about $650. It's really an excellent camera...and with its feature set is (in my opinion) primarily a video camera. As for buying a DSLR at that pricepoint (the size point being addressed by the fact that the thing takes better pictures and video than the smaller m4/3 cameras and the G1) I would point out, again, that the kit lens makes up a good chunk of the price. Why do you care if you're paying more anyway? Well, if you spend $900 on a comparable DSLR you're getting a kit lens that goes for less than $100 used and retails for not much more. The general 18-55 lens you get is almost as slow as the GH1's kit, and lacks the amazing 14-140mm zoom range, optical image stabilization, and silent auto focus (for video) the the GH1's lens has...in short, you will soon need to spend that extra $600 on glass to get near what the GH1 can do out of the box...you'll probably have to spend another $900. With the GH1 you will probably spend another $300 just to add some faster glass from Nikon or Canon (FD) which can be adapted to fit the camera..so the prices all even out in the end...only with the GH1 you get amazing video features.
11/04/09
11/04/09
11/04/09
11/04/09
11/04/09
09/07/09
08/31/09
08/31/09
09/01/09
07/17/09
I'm 6 feet tall, like a lot of dudes. What's the point of the ruggedness if I expose it to breakage during normal, everyday use?
07/17/09