M8 users that are considering the Olympus E-P1 as a backup

[eleskin]

This little camera that Olympus has my imagination going, and I am sure an M adapter will be in the market soon. So here is the question (or the $700 or so question - whew- at least it is not a $5,000 plus question): Who here is seriously considering this camera not as a M8 replacement, but something that gives us a decent backup with extra features not found on the M8 (image stabilization built in -- this should have been on the M8 for the price we all paid).

I am thinking this thing would be killer with a zoom finder on the hot shoe. ASA would not be a problem like it is with the M8 due to image stabilizer. I know there is a crop factor, but just imagine using fast Leica glass with the image stabilizer. I would really like to see a $1,500 digital CL that has the M8 sensor size, image stabilizer, and hot shoe mounted zoom finder. For $1,500, I beleive it is possible. Metal combined with plastic for this would not bother me in that these things only have a life of a few years anyway. The lenses are way way more important to me than the camera (this is why I bought an M8, although I think it is a bit overpriced ). I hope Zeiss and Voigtlander jump in with something like Olympus did, but geared more towards the M mount!

 

[kbg32]

I don't understand this. Most Rangefinder users use lenses within the 35-90 range, most. Some tend to go wider, a lot wider. Using adapted wides on 4/3 cameras doubles their effective focal length, making them essentially useless for what they were intended, unless you want a fast prime. It the one thing that drives me crazy about using other lenses on 4/3 camera bodies.

 

[splitimageview]

That's true, but what if they want to go longer? RFs are poor for that. Having a body that can use the same lenses is a big advantage.

BTW, there are already a wide variety of M adapters as well as adapters for nearly everything else. 🙂

 

[JoeV]

This little camera that Olympus has my imagination going, and I am sure an M adapter will be in the market soon...

Actually, adapters from u4/3 to M-mount have already been available for some time. u4/3 is a system, with the adapters for the G1 already available. I've heard, however, that the Jinfinance adapter doesn't fit correctly to the E-P1.

~Joe

 

[splitimageview]

The Jinfinance Pen F adapter has some issues, but the other Jinfinance models appear to work.

 

[sfokevin]

This new camera intrigues me and I have one on order... I do not plan on trying to MacGyver it to use my Leica glass... It seems given its size and form factor even a Leica lens (That is smallish) would be large and out of proportion to the camera.

Here is a pic showing it's relative size next to a Lumix:

 

[splitimageview]

Depending on the adapted lens, it can be smaller than the Oly kit zoom.

 

[jky]

Just looked through Popflash and the Oly coupled with the 17mm pancake seems like a nice package... plus it's just a tad larger than an LX3.

 

[POINT OF VIEW]

Not for my taste.

Not for my taste.

The Olympus E-P1 is a nice camera. They are starting to move in the right direction with a interchangeable lens / compact body. However, until they build in a viewfinder, it isn’t a rangefinder. The ability to look through the M8’s viewfinder and get the subject in perfect focus is what makes a RF a RF. For a back up camera, I would much prefer a nice used film RF like, a Voigtlander Bessa-R3A. Amazon has them for under $600. For my taste, it is a much better way to go and still use my M lens. The one thing I definitely do not want to do, is start another lens collection. Bill

 

[yanidel]

I think the DP2 is a better backup. It is closer to a digital rangefinder than the E-P1. The DP2 will fit in a suit pocket, the E-P1 will not.

 

[sfokevin]

Depending on the adapted lens, it can be smaller than the Oly kit zoom.

You have chosen what looks like a small 40mm lens... given the 2x factor of the adapter it 80mm on the Oly... To get ~35mm you would need a 17.5mm equivalent lens... there are few pancake sized Leica lens at the lower end of that scale...

I have a SEM 4/18mm I would like to see on that Oly... You wouldn't happen to have one there in your stable to put on the Oly and show? ;-)