nightfly
Well-known
Wondering if it is still worth buying an EP-1. I've been looking at some deals on new or refurbed EP-1's with the 17mm lens and the viewfinder in the $500 range.
The things that I like about the Pen series are the color of the JPGs that come out of it and I like the idea of a 35mm equivalent lens with an optical viewfinder. Also the size seems to be just big enough to use comfortably without being prohibitive for travel. I shoot mostly street and travel with a 35mm or 28mm lens currently. I know there are ways to set up the Pen so it's pretty quick to use. Controls on the EP-1 and EP-2 look like they aren't too fiddly.
I know everyone loves the 20mm Panasonic but the 40mm field of view just doesn't work for me (sold a 40mm Summicron for a more than twice as expensive 35mm Summicron for my M4-P and am much happier). Only reason I could see buying it instead would be the extra speed.
I can't see spending much more than $500 for anything digital that will be obsolete or at least far surpassed in a few years but I am getting tired of having color film processed and scanning it particularly for travel which is where I think this would get the most use.
The other options would be something like a Panasonic LX5 but I have a feeling the image quality of the m4/3 is probably the worst I will tolerate. LX5 images look a little noisy to me even at low ISO. I've had a GRD and despite everyone's ravings, the color images were pretty noisy at low ISO as well. Worked if you converted to b&w and pretended it was grain but not so much for color.
Not concerned about high ISO more about color quality and a nice film like look. The X100 would be nice but seems a little big and expensive at the moment.
Am I better off with an EP-2? Or waiting for the next round of Pens coming shortly (so the rumor sites say)? Or one of the EPLs which seems to offer less control and not much benefit? Or any NEX (controls look too awkward, camera looks so small, lenses so big)?
Also not interested in using legacy glass.
Any suggestions appreciated.
The things that I like about the Pen series are the color of the JPGs that come out of it and I like the idea of a 35mm equivalent lens with an optical viewfinder. Also the size seems to be just big enough to use comfortably without being prohibitive for travel. I shoot mostly street and travel with a 35mm or 28mm lens currently. I know there are ways to set up the Pen so it's pretty quick to use. Controls on the EP-1 and EP-2 look like they aren't too fiddly.
I know everyone loves the 20mm Panasonic but the 40mm field of view just doesn't work for me (sold a 40mm Summicron for a more than twice as expensive 35mm Summicron for my M4-P and am much happier). Only reason I could see buying it instead would be the extra speed.
I can't see spending much more than $500 for anything digital that will be obsolete or at least far surpassed in a few years but I am getting tired of having color film processed and scanning it particularly for travel which is where I think this would get the most use.
The other options would be something like a Panasonic LX5 but I have a feeling the image quality of the m4/3 is probably the worst I will tolerate. LX5 images look a little noisy to me even at low ISO. I've had a GRD and despite everyone's ravings, the color images were pretty noisy at low ISO as well. Worked if you converted to b&w and pretended it was grain but not so much for color.
Not concerned about high ISO more about color quality and a nice film like look. The X100 would be nice but seems a little big and expensive at the moment.
Am I better off with an EP-2? Or waiting for the next round of Pens coming shortly (so the rumor sites say)? Or one of the EPLs which seems to offer less control and not much benefit? Or any NEX (controls look too awkward, camera looks so small, lenses so big)?
Also not interested in using legacy glass.
Any suggestions appreciated.
