A Few E-P2 Photos

[Johnmcd]

Getting used to using my OM 50/1.4 and the LCD screen of the E-P1. The B/W ones were shot using the monotone setting on the camera and 1600 iso.

Just come back from a trip to India where we used a Canon 7D for video and my girlfriend found it very difficult to adjust to taking video from the LCD. She loves the E-P1 for stills, so I'm thinking a E-P2 with the EVF would be perfect for her videos (admittedly at 720p rather than 1080p).

Cheers - John

 

[sfaust]

I understand your girlfriends difficulty shooting while viewing off an LCD screen. After shooting thousands of hours of video with EVFs on pro gear, I also find it very hard to adapt to an LCD at arms length for video. I can't stabilize the camera as well, focus isn't determined as easily, much harder to steady in pans, and trying to zoom or focus
while holding the body with one hand, and the lens with the other, makes for some very shaky video.

1080 is also overrated for most applications. Great for movies, high end imagery, etc, but a space hog for most other work. 720P is more than acceptable for 90% of content these days, and makes the workflow for archiving so much easier. The quality is still head and shoulders above SD, and most people can't tell the difference between 1080 and 720 without a trained eye.

 

[Johnmcd]

I understand your girlfriends difficulty shooting while viewing off an LCD screen. After shooting thousands of hours of video with EVFs on pro gear, I also find it very hard to adapt to an LCD at arms length for video. I can't stabilize the camera as well, focus isn't determined as easily, much harder to steady in pans, and trying to zoom or focus
while holding the body with one hand, and the lens with the other, makes for some very shaky video.

1080 is also overrated for most applications. Great for movies, high end imagery, etc, but a space hog for most other work. 720P is more than acceptable for 90% of content these days, and makes the workflow for archiving so much easier. The quality is still head and shoulders above SD, and most people can't tell the difference between 1080 and 720 without a trained eye.

Yes, I agree. 720p looks fine. There is no doubt that the 7D can produce some incredible video but it didn't make a very flexible 'street / holiday' video machine. It didn't help that she was used to auto focus on a small 3CCD handycam. The allure of shallow depth of field and my constant encouragement that it was just a matter of getting used to a new technique, didn't help at all and she was very frustrated.

I think a E-P2 is on the cards now with what, by all accounts, seems to be a very usable EVF.

John

 

[sfaust]

Definitely a frustrating experience using a DSLR to capture video coming from a professional level video camera. So much is missing, terrible handling characteristics, lack of features, etc. But for the odd opportunity that presents itself and you want to capture it, nothing like having something available, rather than the pro camcorder left at home.

If you look at video production companies that use the DSLR for its unique offerings, they also run separate sound, use a stabilization rig, external monitors, have a crew of people to help when shooting, etc. Those help overcome the shortcomings of the DLSR form factor and make it easier to use. Shooting alone and without the needed add-ons tends to be very frustrating indeed.

However, I've found it pretty easy and convenient to shoot video with the E-P2 handheld, fixed focus using enough DOF for the subject/movement, and smoothing out the jitters in post. Its more than suitable for home movies and even documentaries. But for anything creative, I'd use my professional video camera, or if using a DSLR I'd have a small crew (minimum sound engineer & camera assistant) with me.

 

[luiman]

Amazing pics with 14-42! My small contribution (from recent E-P2 purchased):

Edit: Sorry, last picture was taken with CV 35/2,5...

 

[nightfly]

Coming to this thread late but really love these 3 images from your initial post, the two color ones especially. Did you do a lot of post processing to get the color like that? Also which lens was used on these?

J