Digital Pen with Viewfinder and Flash on the way (eventually)

[Merkin]

http://photorumors.com/2009/06/24/olympus-confirmed-pro-pen-camera-in-the-future/

I hadn't seen any mention of this around here, thought I would share.

 

[ZeissFan]

Good to hear. The colors on that site are painful.

 

[Merkin]

update: http://photorumors.com/2009/08/03/o...before-the-end-of-the-year-with-a-viewfinder/

Apparently a fairly reliable french magazine, Chasseur des Images (or something like that) is reporting that the EP-2, which will have a viewfinder, will be out by the end of the year.

 

[zuikologist]

Sounds good. Presumably the viewfinder will be an EVF.

 

[250swb]

So it will be a head to head battle with the Panasonic GF1 if both are out by the end of the year. This is going to be a really tough call because the design philosophy of both companies has much going for it, the GF1 with its control layout and (presumably) nice Panasonic menu's, the Olympus with in body IS and style. I have a feeling neither will be 'cheap'.

Steve

 

[Merkin]

I think the really tough battle will be between the EP-2 and the Samsung NX-10. The more I hear about that Samsung, the more it sounds like the true digital heir to the original leica philosophy. It will be a tough battle between the smaller size of the Pen and the larger sensor of the samsung.

 

[zuikologist]

I think the really tough battle will be between the EP-2 and the Samsung NX-10. The more I hear about that Samsung, the more it sounds like the true digital heir to the original leica philosophy. It will be a tough battle between the smaller size of the Pen and the larger sensor of the samsung.

I agree. Though it will be interesting if Canon, Nikon or Pentax ever respond with something of their own, especially if the sensor is APS-C size/crop factor.

 

[jarski]

It will be a tough battle between the smaller size of the Pen and the larger sensor of the samsung.

battle for the hearts of RFFers, sensor probably dictates the result 🙂 but hearts of not so gear headed folks, difficult to say if prices dont vary that much.

 

[Merkin]

battle for the hears of RFFers, sensor probably dictates the result 🙂 but hearts of not so gear headed folks, difficult to say if prices dont vary that much.

I would say that to win the hearts and minds of most rff'ers, it will depend on which system allows the easiest use of M mount lenses, regardless of absurd crop factor 😉

 

[jarski]

I would say that to win the hearts and minds of most rff'ers, it will depend on which system allows the easiest use of M mount lenses, regardless of absurd crop factor 😉

adapters. that I have no doubt clever engineers bring up solution day or two after new camera will be available 😉
I dont think its an absurd crop factor, but rather how severe in-camera crop will it be 🙂

 

[DougFord]

I think the really tough battle will be between the EP-2 and the Samsung NX-10. The more I hear about that Samsung, the more it sounds like the true digital heir to the original leica philosophy. It will be a tough battle between the smaller size of the Pen and the larger sensor of the samsung.

[FONT=&quot]It’s a hoot watching the manufacturers leapfrogging each other with their respective ‘leaked’ product information. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I’m waiting for Samsung to leak some GF1-esque form factor info as a model variation to their upcoming NX camera. Another week, another leak. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Leica S2, FFM9 and a small m4/3 GF1 with Leica glass. A rather impressive line-up of digital offerings from Leica. [/FONT]

 

[ishpop]

I have yet to see an amazing photo from a Samsung camera though...

 

[triplefinger]

I went and handled an EP1 today at Samy's Camera in LA.

Really nice, easy to use, felt good in hand, responsive AF with the 17 2.8 attached ( I didn't try the zoom)

Manual focus with the 17/2.8 was easy and precise, the screen blows up 7x when grabbing the lens to focus. I don't know if the same thing happens with a fully manual lens + adapter in place.

anyone know that answer?

anyhow. very cool camera. and it'll take all my nikon and LTM glass.

 

[count_zero]

Manual focus with the 17/2.8 was easy and precise, the screen blows up 7x when grabbing the lens to focus. I don't know if the same thing happens with a fully manual lens + adapter in place.

No, it only works with digital u4/3 or 4/3 with adapter. You can disable the focus assist, and use the fn button instead to active it. I don't think you can use the fn button to active the focus assist with non digital 4/3 lenses, but the manual doesn't go into details on that function too much and I haven't tried it. I figure the longer the camera is out, the more tricks people will find to program the fn button with. Plus, with future firmware revisions they might unlock other hidden functionality.

One thing I noticed is you get what appears to be more light filming video rather than shooting wide open in manual mode. I would estimate with the kit lens at f3.5 ISO 30 was the best I could get indoors at a particular sporting event, but video was shot with the same lens at f5.6 and it "looks" closer to ISO 125 when I pause on a frame. So, in retrospect, next time I need more light but don't want to go to flash or faster glass, I will just shoot video and photoshop out the frames I want. There is probably some fancy tracking algorithm that compenstates for motion blur when shooting video that isn't obvious how to engage when shooting stills.