KEH
Well-known
As you can see below, the E-PM1 with Lumix 20/1.7 is just slightly larger than the Lumix LX5. At only $449 (with a kit zoom and flash which I will probably never use) I thought it was worth a 'shot.'
So far I am very impressed. Very pocketable. Fast focus. Unobtrusive on the street. And image quality is really excellent (the second shot is with the Oly 45/1.8 shooting into the light at f3.5, straight out of Lightroom).
While the guts are essentially the same as the E-P3 (according to DPReview and others), I was worried about the 'beginner' interface. It turns out to be very nice. Once you have got it set up then the top button on the 4-way controller handles aperture / speed / program (depending on what mode you are in), as well as +/- exposure compensation. The bottom button handles drive mode.
The interface has two ingenious touches. First, the video button can be changed to do AEL (exposure lock) - but you also get to choose what metering mode AEL will use! Really a brilliant touch. Plus, if you hit the 'Info' button after hitting the top +/- button, you can independently adjust the exposure of hightlights and shadows.
All in all a great deal of fun to use. I am not really fond of composing using the back screen of a camera, but the whole idea is to be unobtrusive.
I will post a couple of more photos this week.
Regards,
Kirk
So far I am very impressed. Very pocketable. Fast focus. Unobtrusive on the street. And image quality is really excellent (the second shot is with the Oly 45/1.8 shooting into the light at f3.5, straight out of Lightroom).
While the guts are essentially the same as the E-P3 (according to DPReview and others), I was worried about the 'beginner' interface. It turns out to be very nice. Once you have got it set up then the top button on the 4-way controller handles aperture / speed / program (depending on what mode you are in), as well as +/- exposure compensation. The bottom button handles drive mode.
The interface has two ingenious touches. First, the video button can be changed to do AEL (exposure lock) - but you also get to choose what metering mode AEL will use! Really a brilliant touch. Plus, if you hit the 'Info' button after hitting the top +/- button, you can independently adjust the exposure of hightlights and shadows.
All in all a great deal of fun to use. I am not really fond of composing using the back screen of a camera, but the whole idea is to be unobtrusive.
I will post a couple of more photos this week.
Regards,
Kirk
kshapero
South Florida Man
Looks like a nice street rig. How is the LCD in bright sunshine?
KEH
Well-known
The LCD in bright sunlight is only average for the genre. Usable, but difficult when there is direct sunlight from behind.
Kirk
Kirk
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
Kirk,
Your review echoes my impression when I held an E-PM1.
The thing redefines the meaning of "sleek"
Although I do think that Olympus should have just two models the E-P* and the E-PM* and be done with the E-PL* line and use the design resources to improve the E-P* line (adding a built in EVF, for example
)
Your review echoes my impression when I held an E-PM1.
The thing redefines the meaning of "sleek"
Although I do think that Olympus should have just two models the E-P* and the E-PM* and be done with the E-PL* line and use the design resources to improve the E-P* line (adding a built in EVF, for example
)
KEH
Well-known
'Sleek' is the right word. Oly produces some very good bodies / lenses, but seems to have no strategy. Hope they survive the current turmoil and produce some great new stuff.
Another photo:
Shot with the Lumix 20/1.7 @f8. Funny how even a schoolyard looks spooky in the right light.
Kirk
Another photo:
Shot with the Lumix 20/1.7 @f8. Funny how even a schoolyard looks spooky in the right light.
Kirk
AncientCityPhoto
Established
I am been using the E-pm1 as my "pocket camera" as well with the 17mm 2.8. I prefer a 35mm fov vs the 40mm fov of the 20mm lens.
Aside from having the slickest body surface ive ever seen (gaffers tape fixed that quick), the E-pm1 has been great.
Agreed, the interface is not all that bad. Ide rather have less buttons than more...as long as I can program them for what I want. The E-pm1 seems fairly decent in this regard. I have the AEL button set to switch me to manual focus. That way I can recompose and shoot as many shots as I want. It also doesnt allow me to accidentally jump into manual focus mode when I hold the lens and keep getting a 10x view.
Aside from having the slickest body surface ive ever seen (gaffers tape fixed that quick), the E-pm1 has been great.
Agreed, the interface is not all that bad. Ide rather have less buttons than more...as long as I can program them for what I want. The E-pm1 seems fairly decent in this regard. I have the AEL button set to switch me to manual focus. That way I can recompose and shoot as many shots as I want. It also doesnt allow me to accidentally jump into manual focus mode when I hold the lens and keep getting a 10x view.
btgc
Veteran
I wonder if they at Olympus haven't learned what basics of ergonomics are, I mean absence of grip of any size. They do grips on their cameras costing three times less than E-PM1 so they for sure know something. What is this? Stupid segmentation of models?
stewmander
Established
Thanks for this post, a great idea... I am looking at the epl2 and if the epm1 is really just a ep3 without the dial I think I could deal with the menu. Originally wanted the LX5, but if u can get m4/3 in the same sized package fora similar price that'd be awesome.
How does the 14-42 ii kit lens affect the "pocketability"? I would get the epm1 with kit and buy the panny lens later. I have an XA I live for pocketability, and the epl2 is almost the same size ( I saw a photo line up in the m4/3 porn thread) so if the epm1 with kit it similar itd almost be like a digital XA with zoom
How does the 14-42 ii kit lens affect the "pocketability"? I would get the epm1 with kit and buy the panny lens later. I have an XA I live for pocketability, and the epl2 is almost the same size ( I saw a photo line up in the m4/3 porn thread) so if the epm1 with kit it similar itd almost be like a digital XA with zoom
Bar8barian
Established
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