Operating the EP-1

Dogman

Dogman

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This may be a stupid question. If so, I can live with it. But before I ask the dumb question, I need to do a bit of qualification.

Okay, the EP-1 has been out for over a year so some of you must have experience with it (unlike some of the Web reviews I've read that were written by people who had not even touched the damn camera but felt the need to offer their words of wisdom anyway).

I'm interested in the camera because it's small, has reported excellent IQ and built-in IS, it is substantially built and it can be fitted with my Leica M lenses (albeit with the limitations associated with 35mm optics on 4/3 format). It's also about as close to a digital Leica M as I will ever get now that I have retired. I don't use flash, I don't shoot sports or action so the AF and lack of built-in strobe are non-issues to me.

What concerns me are the reports of the camera being very user unfriendly--complicated menu navigation in particular. You see, I'm an old fart who is set in his ways of shooting and I have no intention of changing. With a digital camera, I want to set the SOB to aperture priority, use exposure compensation, turn off all obnoxious sounds and lights, set the center AF point only, use either center-weighted or evaluative metering, AWB and shoot RAW. I don't want to fiddle with the camera gizmos constantly other than focus and exposure.

So...can this user-unfriendly, overly-complicated camera be set up to suit my simplified shooting procedure?
 
You are talking my language. I have the EP-1, love the results, the ******* is an f'ing PIA some times. OK, center focus spot only, yes you can, focus and recompose I have found best for me. The meter is fine, no issues there. You can turn stuff on and off, you do have to learn the menus and all the options. Here is the problem with the menus. They tried to make the camera SOOOO user friendly there are options for everything. A casual user who will just put it in Auto mode and never deal with all those things will think they are getting a cool camera that can do anything. The same features will drive a photographer (a group which I loosely associate myself as being part of) crazy. The biggest issue I have is that if you have a right thumb, you will accidentally change the settings of your camera because of that stupid control wheel thing. I have not checked the specs of the EPL-1 out, but if you can set it to the settings you want, it appears they have eliminated that wheel thingy on the back which will mean you will not have to schedule an amputation to keep your sanity.
 
I have had an E-P1 for a year now, and just bought an E-PL1 because I liked the look of it better, no really! I love the camera and can't say enough about the image quality. I used a couple of VL lenses on it and found that I have the same trouble focusing manually as I did on my R-D1s. It's a vision problem. I've sold off all the RF stuff and use the 17mm u4/3 lens nearly exclusively. I don't find the interface particularly difficult. Each camera has it's own way and requires a learning curve. Work with it, the results are worth it. S
 
Well, thanks guys. If I'm understanding correctly, the camera can be set up the way I intend to use it but I have to be aware of some ergonomic deficiencies, right?

I'm tired of reading internet reviews of the camera. I bought the Magic Lantern Guide for the EP-1 and I've mulled over that until my eyes are crossed. I almost bought the Panasonic GF-1 when Amazon offered the electronic VF for free with camera purchase. But it doesn't have body-based IS--a feature I've come to really appreciate in my Canon G10--and reviews of the Panasonic indicate a noise problem at higher ISOs.

Anyway, I've mulled it over enough. I looked on Amazon this afternoon and found the price of the EP-1 with 17mm and finder had dropped $50.00 since I last looked. I declared this as a sign form God so I ordered the damn thing. I also ordered the Voigtlander Leica M to micro 4/3 adapter so I can use my Leica lenses. I'll add a zoom with something in the wide range later.
 
focusing manual lenses

focusing manual lenses

I am considering buying a EP1 at a huge discount by Olympus here in Spain, as it is discontinued.

My concern is how hard or easy is it to focus a manual lens (nikon, leica m)without a viewfinder. I have a E-330 with a split image focusing screen, to make things easier.

I will apreciate your experience in facusing manual lenses.

Thanks

Eduardo
 
congrats. i think you should definitely be okay using AF lenses, it sounds like the only two things you'll really be changing regularly are the exposure comp and aperture, which are both very easy to change. exposure comp is very easy because there's a dedicated button for it, and aperture is easy with the control wheel. fwiw, i haven't had an issue with accidentally changing the aperture, but it sounds like others have. ISO is also easy to change as there's a direct button press for it also.

now all that said, things do get a little more complicated once you move to manual focus. it'll take some getting used to but it's not that bad, it's been discussed on here before. for me, i found that programming the "fcn" button to manual focus, and then reducing the number of screens that get displayed by the "info" button, you can make the manual focus process easier. it'll make more sense once you get the camera and instructions in hand.
 
eduardo - i find the lcd is fine for manual focus, especially because it "zooms" in on the subject so you can see better whether it is in focus. but i haven't tried manual focus in outdoors, bright light conditions. that might be a weak point because the LCD is somewhat low resolution. some people use a hoodman in bright light.
 
Hi Dogman,

near the 63 in age, the Oly E-P1 was the "messing around" cam beside my RF analog cams as ZI and Bessa. The D300 is sitting on the shelf due to the weight of the rucksack......but -

immediately when the E-P2 with its fantastic EV hit the market, I changed without even thinking.....
The E-P2 or the slightly better in terms of IQ, the E-Pl1 are closer to the Ms of Leica, due to the shooting position of the close forehead distance of the cam.
OK, thats also possible with the E-P1 but with just only 1 optical finder for the 17 or 20mm lens. Keep in mind that a 50mm Cron or a 35mm lens will be doubled terms of length and it's not so comfortable to have different vf for each adapted lens.
If you can get familiar with the "tourist-shooting-position" as with P&S cams, everything will be fine.....

I'm not the menue-surfer and find the Oly UI not so good as from the Nikon D300 but for my streetshots it's ok.

This cam changes my mood compare to the Nikon or the B/W RFs, it's a very comfortable feeling as I had it with my NikonF in the olde days.....

The 4/3 systems for DSLRs I like not so much (big camera-small sensor) but in the package of m4/3 it's OK (for me)......

Here two shots with the E-P1 17mm and optical Finder at the first day:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36573929@N00/4279147071/in/set-72157623098397621/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36573929@N00/4341235310/in/set-72157623098397621/

and the E-P2 with the 20mm Panasonic pancake !!!A Must for m4/3!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36573929@N00/4751363392/in/set-72157623098397621/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36573929@N00/4568306151/in/set-72157623098397621/

anyway - have fun with your new cam

Bernd
 
Dean,

I got the E-P1 and I am quite happy. I got adapters for nikon and M lenses and are using them.

Focus through the screen is Ok, true that in very bright situations not so easy, but overall positive.

Thanks for your advice

Eduardo
 
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