m4/3 for under 400 €

[Matus]

So, here I am looking for a second camera for a friend (I got him Sony RX100 and it did not went well as you can read HERE). I would like to stay under 400 € with a normal zoom lens.

EVF is not so relevant (and could be added later), reasonable video should be there, IS as well. JPEG out of camera should look nice, RAW is not relevant at all. If the camera would have some art filters to play with it would be nice.

i had a look at the 'higher-end' compacts like LX7 (LX5), XZ-1, Nikon 7700, but compared to what RX100 could deliver there do not really shine. So I started to think that a simpler (and maybe not the latest) m4/3 camera could be a better match.

As there are quite a few m4/3 cameras already, I would like to ask for a bit of help. I was looking in the Olympus E-PL3. It has really good price (som 320 € with the 14-42 lens) and it seem to be a nice camera. What else is there that could fit the bill?

One more question concerning the lens - Panasonic has this really compact 14-42 G Vario lens - how well does it work on Olympus cameras? I know - a bit off the price, but just for the curiosity.

thanks

 

[traveler_101]

So, here I am looking for a second camera for a friend (I got him Sony RX100 and it did not went well as you can read HERE). I would like to stay under 400 € with a normal zoom lens.

EVF is not so relevant (and could be added later), reasonable video should be there, IS as well. JPEG out of camera should look nice, RAW is not relevant at all. If the camera would have some art filters to play with it would be nice.

i had a look at the 'higher-end' compacts like LX7 (LX5), XZ-1, Nikon 7700, but compared to what RX100 could deliver there do not really shine. So I started to think that a simpler (and maybe not the latest) m4/3 camera could be a better match.

As there are quite a few m4/3 cameras already, I would like to ask for a bit of help. I was looking in the Olympus E-PL3. It has really good price (som 320 € with the 14-42 lens) and it seem to be a nice camera. What else is there that could fit the bill?

One more question concerning the lens - Panasonic has this really compact 14-42 G Vario lens - how well does it work on Olympus cameras? I know - a bit off the price, but just for the curiosity.

thanks

Three points: (1) Olympus has excellent jpg production, one of their major strengths; (2) if you are looking for roughly the same size camera as the SONY, you should be looking at the Pen mini. See size comparison: http://camerasize.com/compare/#387,332 (3) Olympus has just gone through a MAJOR upgrade in their sensor and their latest cameras have much better performance in dynamic range and high ISO.

The last point presents something of a dilemma. You can get an older camera like the PL3 or the PM1 reasonably, but then you are buying an obsolete camera. On the other hand the cheapest of the new cameras is the PM-2, coming to be highly regarded, but also costing 599 Euros--well over your budget.

 

[btgc]

... but then you are buying an obsolete camera.

In modern world, everything already is obsolete as soon as delivered to stores. Why worry about this. Certain feature or technology is another - if one needs it then why buy camera without it.

 

[traveler_101]

In modern world, everything already is obsolete as soon as delivered to stores. Why worry about this. Certain feature or technology is another - if one needs it then why buy camera without it.

Sure, I agree. I was simply laying out the options. Actually, having resisted three rounds of Olympus upgrades, I am still shooting with an "obsolete" E-P1; but I know the camera's limits, especially in regard to dynamic range, and use it in relation to its strengths. (But then I have moved increasingly to film anyway). I would add that the two previous rounds of upgrades to Olympus m43 cameras were largely insignificant in terms of the resolving power of the camera. The latest sensor change does make a difference (according to reviews and user testimonials).

 

[Addy101]

You can get the Panasonic GF3 with 14-42 for just €299,- in The Netherlands (if brown is okay, look at Kameraexpess.nl). The GF5 is about €399,- with the same lens. Any other option is more expensive then your budget.

 

[Matus]

Yes - I do realize that only with the E-PL5 and E-PM2 brought a more significant step in image quality. But these are rather new on the market and so the price is quite a bit higher than the previous models.

Still - when I have a look the the camera comparison (on DPreview) than E-PL3 produces cleaner results at higher ISO than e.g. RX100 by about a stop. Of course this difference is effectively (at higher ISO) lost when one compares the zoom lens for Olympus as it is slower.

So - what about the Panasonic 14-42 G (pancake) lens? Is it worth it? The small size would be a real plus in this case. What I would like to know is how it works on Oly cameras.

 

[Matus]

You can get the Panasonic GF3 with 14-42 for just €299,- in The Netherlands (if brown is okay, look at Kameraexpess.nl). The GF5 is about €399,- with the same lens. Any other option is more expensive then your budget.

That sounds good. Now I have to have a look at GF3 & GF5.

Now I am even more interested to hear about the Panasonic 14-42 lens 🙂

 

[traveler_101]

So - what about the Panasonic 14-42 G (pancake) lens? Is it worth it? The small size would be a real plus in this case. What I would like to know is how it works on Oly cameras.

Well, for one thing it is redundant: you're paying for lens stabilization which must be turned off with Olympus' bodies because they have IS.

Do you mean the 14-42G or the 14-42X power zoom? The latter is the one with the size advantage.

Edit: I am wrong. They are both compact and there is some chatter that the G is the better performer and not all that expensive on E-bay; some have adopted it on their Olympus E-M5.

 

[Prest_400]

Two weeks ago I spotted both an EPL1 & 2 at 199€, grabbed the EPL2 a week later.
If you happen to se a store clearing their stocks, there are serious bargains. Curiously, just over the shelf there was a GF3 at a much higher price.

 

[Matus]

I have managed to find only one version of the pancake Panasonic 14-42 and it is called: Lumix G X Vario PZ 14-42 mm.

EDIT: I of course do realize that putting this lens on Olympus makes the OIS obsolete, but the lens is very compact and seems to be a very good performer.

 

[traveler_101]

I have managed to find only one version of the pancake Panasonic 14-42 and it is called: Lumix G X Vario PZ 14-42 mm.

EDIT: I of course do realize that putting this lens on Olympus makes the OIS obsolete, but the lens is very compact and seems to be a very good performer.

No, there are two lenses. There is also a convention zoom:
Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH MEGA O.I.S. It is not a pancake lens however. You can find a list of Panasonic lenses along with ratings at DXOmark.

What I've been reading is that there are some problems with the panasonic power zoom at certain shutter speeds.