E Pee One, A Poll, are You In or Out?

[willie_901]

Now that the EP-1 is known, I realize the G1 is best for me. I can't see myself using the EP1 LCD to focus my MF lenses.

I hate the G1 hump and I want the harder to find, more expensive black body. When the G1H becomes readily available the G1 price has to fall. Maybe I'll pounce then.

Then again... how exactly does one acquire an RD-1X?

 

[splitimageview]

Touched it today...
I just held one for 2 minutes...It was at a local camera store in Austin, Texas and a Olympus representative had it.

That's the same camera in the photos above. 🙂

 

[Ronald_H]

Just read the latest review - just posted - over at the Online Photogrpaher on the E-P1. Very positive, except for manual focusing an OM lens, which he declared just too fussy.

But all this garment-rending and teeth-gnashing about the E-P1 not having an OVF is just...misguided. Mistaken. Not gettin' it. Just try imagining it—what is it you want? How would it work? What would the problems be? Try imagining it, and you'll see. You want handling like a Porsche or hauling like a semi? You can't have both at once.

Ahhhh... I love the guy who wrote this.

 

[amateriat]

But all this garment-rending and teeth-gnashing about the E-P1 not having an OVF is just...misguided. Mistaken. Not gettin' it. Just try imagining it—what is it you want? How would it work? What would the problems be? Try imagining it, and you'll see. You want handling like a Porsche or hauling like a semi? You can't have both at once.

Ahhhh... I love the guy who wrote this.

Say what?

Ye Olde C-8080. Imagine this in a µ 4/3 design....


Nobody tell me it can't be done, or is in some way undesirable...(think Porsche Cayenne).


- Barrett

 

[Trius]

Barrett,

Yes, it can be done, but not (at lest for the foreseeable furure) at the same size. My guess is it will be of a size between the E-P1 and the 8080.

And remember, the 8080 is a fixed lens camera. Interchangeable lens capability complicates matters considerably.

 

[helen.HH]

NOT IN yet...Film still RULES
but I DO WANT a compact digital.....
I'm on the FENCE
and have it narrowed down to the Gx200 / DP2 / EP1...🙄

Cheers-H

 

[amateriat]

Trius: True...and hopefully, Olympus is already on the case.

Helen: What you said. But I can wait it out.


-Barrett

 

[nksyoon]

Nobody tell me it can't be done, or is in some way undesirable...(think Porsche Cayenne).- Barrett

The 8080 used a smaller sensor and is bigger than the EP1. You'd just end up with something the size of an Oly 4/3 DSLR, and that's already available on the market. The only advantage over the regular 4/3 cameras would be the possibility of using non 4/3 lenses.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

There WILL be camera like the EP-1 with viewfinders... the Panasonic G1 is an example. They will be EVFs, but these are getting more and more accurate and clear. EP-1 meets G1. It'll happen.

 

[amateriat]

The 8080 used a smaller sensor and is bigger than the EP1. You'd just end up with something the size of an Oly 4/3 DSLR, and that's already available on the market. The only advantage over the regular 4/3 cameras would be the possibility of using non 4/3 lenses.

But then, there's the issue of the missing (to my mind) optical/electronic VF. And a camera that reduces options in this regard is inadequate by my lights, a way of saying this is something of a non-serious camera for largely-casual pursuits. Which is cool, because most cameras, including a lot of film/digital SLRs, were/are made with this in mind. It's just that the asking price is a stunning amount to ask for such a compromise.

It's like a lot of things: you can't miss it if you've never had it. And, if you've never had it, so what? But, what if you have had it?

Time to buy some more film. 😉


- Barrett

 

[Steveh]

Add me to the list of people who went out and bought a G1 after the full details of the Oly came out. I took the G1 out and about today for the first time today and it's a really neat, well resolved package, and having the flippy out screen and the optical viewfinder make it more versatile, to me, as a carry around camera for days out etc. I actually probably used the screen for more than 80% of my shots today, but having the OVF is handy at times, particularly when you have strong sunlight behind you. I have an 8080 as well and the G1 is very much a replacemetn for that to me, but with proper quick focus, minimal shutter lag, better noise performance etc. The price difference between Oly and Pany was signficant to me too - I'm struggling to see what else I get for my cash with an EP-1 to justify so much more money for less camera (in some ways!).

 

[Trius]

a way of saying this is something of a non-serious camera for largely-casual pursuits.

Until a modern-day HCB sticks a Biogon 25/2.8 on it and uses it decisively. 😛

Time to buy some more film. 😉


- Barrett

Agreed.

 

[amateriat]

The 8080 used a smaller sensor and is bigger than the EP1. You'd just end up with something the size of an Oly 4/3 DSLR, and that's already available on the market. The only advantage over the regular 4/3 cameras would be the possibility of using non 4/3 lenses.

I messed around with an Olympus E-3, and I came away seriously disappointed at the size of that camera. The 8080 is dwarfed by this thing. (The stovepipe zoom that was bolted to the E-3 didn't help matters much.) The current pro dSLR paradigm has outlived its usefulness IMO. I can think of one or two saner approaches, but there will likely be other outside forces that upset this particular applecart instead, and, to my mind, they will be even less palatable from a creative/aesthetic standpoint. But I've been proven wrong before.


- Barrett

 

[nksyoon]

I messed around with an Olympus E-3, and I came away seriously disappointed at the size of that camera. The 8080 is dwarfed by this thing.- Barrett

I was referring more to the 520/620 form, as seen on this comparison from dpreview:
http://a.img-dpreview.com/reviews/OlympusE30/images/compared_oly.jpg

This pic compares the E-P1 and the 620:
http://reviews.photographyreview.com/files/2009/06/olympus_e-p1-e-620-front.jpg

This pic compares the G1 with the E-P1:
http://43rumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/img_0073.jpg

 

[peterm1]

Not sure. A big reason for me to purchase would be if it could use my Leica M lenses. Which in theory it can given use of the micro 4/3 format. But without a built in finder this would mean focusing using the rear LCD (I would suppose) then composing using a separate finder. There is no way you will find me composing using the damned outstretched arm technique (if you can call it that) which seems so common today. In this sense I am a traditionalist. Using a viewfinder of some sort is the only way o compose and it adds steadiness to the shot that you cannot get with that other abomination of an approach. Perhaps if the camera is good enough I could be interested in using it with its pancake lens and supplied finder....perhaps!

 

[FrozenInTime]

I'm expecting very little difference ( other than size ) compared to using the E-420 plus 25 f/2.8 pancake:
The E-420 viewfinder is basically for composition only - sharp accurate focusing with such low viewfinder magnification is all but impossible.
You are reliant on the AF accuracy or need to switch to live-view x10 on the rear LCD.

The E-P1 is not going to be that different ( using the 17mm and OVF ) single AF using the AFL button while framing with the OVF.
Longer and wider lenses are not going to be as convenient and would really be best left to a DSLR or G1/E-P2? with EVF.

 

[Kevin]

I'm expecting very little difference ( other than size ) compared to using the E-420 plus 25 f/2.8 pancake...

You might be slightly disappointed by the EP1's 1-second focusing speed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXMVvFJ6oJU&NR=1

 

[Pickett Wilson]

That's kind of trippy watching it focus in the LCD! 😉

You can prefocus with a half press of the shutter button I assume? Not best for fast action, but I don't think this camera was intended for action photography.

 

[Sonnar2]

The inside of the camera don't seem to be up to the mechanical state of the PEN F (1963)...

 

[FrozenInTime]

The focus delay shown on the video does not worry me - similar time to manually focusing a Leica M if not pre-focused.
I never would have expected it to track fast moving cars or children.
To avoid shutter release delay, I already only use the E-420+25 in pre-focus mode with one shot manual focus assigned to the AEL/AFL button.

The inside of the camera don't seem to be up to the mechanical state of the PEN F (1963)...

Engineering plastic might be more precise than hand finished metal castings circa 1963.
It looks like it's going to be very easy to customize:
some sandpaper, primer and a tin of spray paint and you have your own a black paint special limited edition version ( some will be more adventurous - red/yellow/safari-green etc. ).