Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GF-1

[Dogman]

Got an EP-1 with 17mm in the mail yesterday. I was concerned about the menu and all the reports of the buttons being nightmares but it's not so bad. I set it up for how I want to use it and I've been playing with it this morning. Some fine tuning will probably be necessary as I get used to it but, so far, it's coming together well. I love the 17mm lens and finder.

 

[sfaust]

I've found if you don't take the time to figure out what features you want ready access to, and never setup the custom buttons, it is more awkward than it needs to be. But once you have those priority features setup on the buttons you want for immediate access, the rest aren't needed often or quickly, and the Super control panel displays most of those settings and makes them pretty easy to get to. But out of the box, there will be fiddling with menus if one doesn't customize the features.

For me, the most needed items are setup to be one button away, (ISO, AFL, AEL, Exp Compensation, AF mode, White Balance, etc), and the super control panel makes easy access to the rest. Rarely do I end up in the menus at all.

 

[ywenz]

Okay just bought E-P1 on ebay.. still waiting for it to arrive.

Please confirm this - I read somewhere that whilst in the zoom mode for manual focusing, pressing the shutter button doesn't take you back to the normal view. You'd have to press the zoom button again to cycle out of it? Is this true? If so, that's simply idiotic.

 

[sfaust]

That does sound like warped logic.

I don't have the E-P1, but I tested it for you on my E-P2. When I press the shutter button half way, it exits out of manual focus zoom display. Not sure how it worked on the E-P1 since I rarely if ever use that function, and no longer have an E-P1 to test it. Either way, it appears 'correct' in the E-P2.

 

[ywenz]

Thanks Sfaust. Hopefully Olympus isn't stupid and made the E-P1 with this defect..

Just to confirm.. pushing "OK" also has the effect of exiting out of the zoom mode right? i've seen a bunch of you tube videos where they demonstrate the manual zoom by hitting the OK button to zoom in/out.. I was wondering why they don't just push the shutter down half way...

 

[JoeFriday]

I picked up the E-P2 with the kit zoom lens and am getting stellar results. Even better results (of course) with my 50/2 and 90/2 Summicrons and a cheap adapter. I'm pretty sure my M3 will be up for sale since I don't have any desire to use it at this point.

 

[ywenz]

I picked up the E-P2 with the kit zoom lens and am getting stellar results. Even better results (of course) with my 50/2 and 90/2 Summicrons and a cheap adapter. I'm pretty sure my M3 will be up for sale since I don't have any desire to use it at this point.

hmm big change in FOV though from 50mm to 100mm...

 

[januaryman]

Question -- I've been using the E-P2 for quite a while, but I'm not sure even in reading the manual if my settings are correct. I set the S-AF as constant, even if I use an adapter and legacy lenses. Now I'm reading that there is a zoom assist, but it seems only for an M34 lens.

How would one get the manual focus zoom assist to work for my non-M43 lens? This doesn't seem to be touched upon in the manual at all.

 

[dws21uk]

IIRC, change the display until you get the little green box, then press the OK button to zoom in, once zoomed in use the circular dial to choose 7x or 10x.

 

[januaryman]

I'll give it a try. Thanks.

 

[ywenz]

IIRC, change the display until you get the little green box, then press the OK button to zoom in, once zoomed in use the circular dial to choose 7x or 10x.

Right.. but I'm wondering is the OK button the ONLY way to zoom back out? Or will half press of the shutter do that? That difference plays significant role in the shooting workflow ..

 

[sfaust]

Thanks Sfaust. Hopefully Olympus isn't stupid and made the E-P1 with this defect..

Just to confirm.. pushing "OK" also has the effect of exiting out of the zoom mode right? i've seen a bunch of you tube videos where they demonstrate the manual zoom by hitting the OK button to zoom in/out.. I was wondering why they don't just push the shutter down half way...

Again just talking about he E-P2 since I don't have the E-P1 anymore.... You can exit the zoom mode by either a half press of the shutter button, or by pressing the OK button. Works either way on the E-P2. I'd also be curious to hear what others find on the E-P1.

 

[PCB_RF]

Again just talking about he E-P2 since I don't have the E-P1 anymore.... You can exit the zoom mode by either a half press of the shutter button, or by pressing the OK button. Works either way on the E-P2. I'd also be curious to hear what others find on the E-P1.

I have an EP1 and can only exit zoom mode by pushing the OK button. Shutter half-press does not exit zoom mode. This always annoyed me, I didn't realize Oly fixed it with the EP2. Sure would be nice if they could add this to the EP1 with firmware.

I don't think there's a custom-menu function to enable this, but it wouldn't surprise me if somebody found one. I do appreciate how configurable Oly made the EP1, but I don't delve into the menu deeper depths unless I have to. I'm always a little afraid of unintended consequences.

 

[ywenz]

Damn I just got the E-P1 today.. yeah can't zoom out with the shutter button.. what a stupid oversight.. The other major ergonomic issue I found was the back wheel being difficult to turn. I almost always end up pressing one of the 4 directional button... I guess they don't hire any photographers over at Olympus..

E-P2 does have nice features over the E-P1 but at twice the cost it wasn't worth it to me.

 

[FalseDigital]

Both of you are wrong.
You can exit the zoom by pressing the shutter down slightly. (on the E-P1)
Chances are you didn't upgrade your firmware.
Upgrade your firmware on the body and lens.
It's free and took me 10 minutes to do.
GET IT HERE

Damn I just got the E-P1 today.. yeah can't zoom out with the shutter button.. what a stupid oversight.. The other major ergonomic issue I found was the back wheel being difficult to turn. I almost always end up pressing one of the 4 directional button... I guess they don't hire any photographers over at Olympus..

E-P2 does have nice features over the E-P1 but at twice the cost it wasn't worth it to me.

 

[sfaust]

Seriously? How can they be wrong? 😉 🙂 🙂

I would argue they are both 100% correct, and I bet I'd win.

With their camera, their existing firmware, it works exactly as they described, and I'm sure they could demonstrate that. They are 100% correct for their camera and their firmware level. Both conditions are 'correct' for each specific firmware level. The new one doesn't make the old one disappear and non-existent.

 

[narsuitus]

I cannot vote because I have not yet decided.
I am also considering the Sony Nex 5.
All three have features that I like and dislike.

Olympus EP-1
Chrome body (I like black)
Sensor smaller than APS (I prefer a bigger sensor)
Image stabilization in body (love it)
Stationary LCD (big negative)
Nikon lens adapter is available
Has hot shoe (I need it)
$600 with 17mm f/2.8 lens

Panasonic GF-1
Black body (I prefer black)
Sensor smaller than APS (I prefer a bigger sensor)
Comes with 20mm f/1.7 lens (I need this fast lens)
Stationary LCD (big negative)
Nikon lens adapter is available
Has hot shoe (I need it)
$825 with 20mm f/1.7 lens (dislike this high price)

Sony Nex 5
Black or chrome body (I prefer black)
APS sized sensor (big plus)
Movable LCD (big plus)
Nikon lens adapter is available
No hot shoe (big negative)
$650 with 16mm f/2.8

 

[januaryman]

Both of you are wrong.
You can exit the zoom by pressing the shutter down slightly. (on the E-P1)
Chances are you didn't upgrade your firmware.
Upgrade your firmware on the body and lens.
It's free and took me 10 minutes to do.
GET IT HERE

I wonder if that's true using legacy lenses on my E-P2 as well. I'll have to try.

 

[sfaust]

When I tested it on the E-P2 I was using a legacy lens, and a half shutter press exited the focus zoom assist. I didn't try it with the 14-42 or 20mm AF lens interestingly enough. So I tested just now and with the Panasonic 20mm 1.7 and it indeed would exit the focus zoom assist as well.

 

[Don Parsons]

I"m trying to decide on these two cameras also. I recently accepted a job which requires me to fly all over the world. I want a small camera to carry in my flight bag.

I'm considering these 3: Panasonic LX-5, Olympus E-pl1 or Panasonic gf-1.

I love the feel of the panny and the 20 lens.

I like the internal stabiliazation of the olympus.

I like the 24-90 f2 of the lx5.

Any make or break things I should no about?