Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GF-1

[dreilly]

To me, the perfect solution was the E-p1 and the Panny 20. If you think you'll need an auxiliary EVF, then the E-p2 or GF-1 would be the ticket. The GF-1 is nice, but it lacks the awesome jpeg engine and in-body stabilization, as you noted.

The size difference between the E-p1 and GF-1 is not significant, in my opinion (I have compared them both, my office has a GF-1).

 

[PCB_RF]

EP1: Shutter Push Doesn't Work For Legacy MF Lenses

EP1: Shutter Push Doesn't Work For Legacy MF Lenses

Both of you are wrong.
You can exit the zoom by pressing the shutter down slightly. (on the E-P1)
Chances are you didn't upgrade your firmware.
Upgrade your firmware on the body and lens.
It's free and took me 10 minutes to do.
GET IT HERE

I'm not sure we're talking about the same thing here. The previous question was about exiting zoom view mode on an EP1 using legacy manual-focus lenses, with lens adapters. A shutter release half-push does not change the display mode on my EP1, even with the current body firmware (v1.4) Only pushing the OK button will exit the zoom view mode. It will even remain in zoom made after the shutter is tripped. If you know of a camera setting combination that enables this feature with a shutter release half-push, please let us know!

A shutter release half-push will exit zoom view mode on my EP1 using native m4/3 lenses, depending on camera settings.

 

[januaryman]

When I tested it on the E-P2 I was using a legacy lens, and a half shutter press exited the focus zoom assist. I didn't try it with the 14-42 or 20mm AF lens interestingly enough. So I tested just now and with the Panasonic 20mm 1.7 and it indeed would exit the focus zoom assist as well.

I tried this on my E-P2 and got no results. The only way to get out of focus zoom assist was to re-press the button. The shutter half press and even complete press to capture did nothing at all. I have the latest firmware version on my camera as well. Too bad. It's not very convenient. But I'll live with it.

 

[sfaust]

I tried this on my E-P2 and got no results. The only way to get out of focus zoom assist was to re-press the button. The shutter half press and even complete press to capture did nothing at all. I have the latest firmware version on my camera as well. Too bad. It's not very convenient. But I'll live with it.

That's odd. I am pretty sure it's a software/firmware function since others can update their E-P1 and change the behavior. I'll go back and test my 20mm and legacy lenses again and verify I didn't do something wrong. I'll also look up the firmware version I am using.

Could they have backtracked in a later firmware update because it caused some other sort of problem?

 

[januaryman]

That's odd. I am pretty sure it's a software/firmware function since others can update their E-P1 and change the behavior. I'll go back and test my 20mm and legacy lenses again and verify I didn't do something wrong. I'll also look up the firmware version I am using.

Could they have backtracked in a later firmware update because it caused some other sort of problem?

Well, it was 2 weeks ago that I updated... if you updated later, then excuse me, I was dead wrong. I'd be very happy if that were the case!

Just Saturday morning I was trying out a 205mm Canon FD zoom lens (doubled to 410) and saw a great shot - then I used the focus zoom assist. By the time I had the lens focused about where it needed to be, the bloody heron had flown off! I had to poke around the camera until I found the center button to shut it off and see what I was about to shoot. It was an empty patch of marshlands.

I need to get back to find the firmware update date. (Update date?) You know.

Thanks for getting back to me.

 

[sfaust]

My firmware is V1.1 for body and lens. I have not updated my firmware in the last month or so.

Just checked it again today, with Panasonic 20mm 1.7, a half press on the shutter button exits the focus assist.

I don't remember how to turn on the MF assist with legacy lenses, and don't have the manual with me at the moment. I'll check on that later this evening.

 

[januaryman]

I did not check on anything other than my legacy FD lens with an adapter -

 

[ywenz]

My firmware is V1.1 for body and lens. I have not updated my firmware in the last month or so.

Just checked it again today, with Panasonic 20mm 1.7, a half press on the shutter button exits the focus assist.

I don't remember how to turn on the MF assist with legacy lenses, and don't have the manual with me at the moment. I'll check on that later this evening.

Yes the MF workflow is fine with AF lenses,

With Legacy lenses, you'd have to toggle zoom in/out with the OK button and only whilst in the green box mode. That also means, you can't change ISO, WB, etc... and you'd have to cycle out of that mode to change it... Annoying!

Olympus knows a big selling point of their camera is legacy lens compatibility.. they really need to give us dedicated button for zoom in/out.

 

[sfaust]

Ok, that explains why I couldn't find it again. I never use 'green box' mode, but remember being able to zoom with a legacy lens when I was playing around when I first got it.

However, I just tried it with a 75mm 2.5 Voigtlander and couldn't get the focus assist up on screen. It just brings up the side menu. I tried in iAuto, P, and SCN, and OK would only bring up the menu, no focus assist.

 

[januaryman]

I verified I have the latest firmware, tried the same as you did, Stephan, and that is the way it works. Not good for the focus assist. Maybe there could be a firmware update to fix this...

 

[ywenz]

Okay Olympus is simply idiotic..

They have great cameras in their line up. All with great image quality. However, the control system are just terrible compared to the GF1. Well, for me at least.

I now own both the GF1 and E-P1.. For the price difference between the the two, the GF1 is worth $300 extra for me. Might not be for other folks. The E-P1 is on its way out..

The E-P1's control strategy with manual legacy lenses borders to the point of unusable. With the GF1, it's simply intuitive. In my normal grip (thumb on back wheel, index on the shutter release) my fingers do not need to reposition itself and I can perform all of the following: MF ASSIST on/off, exposure comp, shutter speed, shutter release. Compared to the E-P1, working with a legacy lens, my thumb is all over the rear panel - pressing various buttons at various times, this is a total distraction from the picture taking process.

The extra resolution of the LCD on the GF1 is a significant plus. Yes I knew the E-P1 had lower res when I bought it... but it was also much cheaper. So why does the E-P2 still have the same low res LCD? To me the E-P1 is great deal at $500, but the E-P2 is not worth the asking price.

 

[januaryman]

Well, I have the E-P2 and the EVF makes a big difference in HOW I use the camera. I agree the E-P1 with the LCD screen only is not the best idea.

Your other statement I find just wrong. For legacy lenses, I mount the lens, set the dial to aperture priority, and I'm set. You can swapped functions of the main dial/sub dial to work more intuitively, and if you spend time doing that, you can take a shot without moving your eye from the EVF (if you get the E-P2, that is!). I find the E-P2 to be the best thing since sliced bread. To each his own.

 

[sfaust]

I agree also with januaryman (and not because my birthday is in january either) 🙂.

Once I took the time and used the customization features the Olymups E-P2 has to setup the camera to work my way rather than the default, its a very simplistic camera to operate with the functions I use always under my thumb for easy access. Out of the box, it wasn't bad, but not to my liking. Enabling the super display also helps speed up access to all the important items.

I do feel Olympus takes the approach with the E-P2 that everyone likes their cameras setup in different ways, and thus builds in customization features to allow everyone to set it up to their liking. This does require the user to take a few moments to do the customization, but its far more rewarding then leaving the camera in a default state. I do the same with all my DSLRs since they also offer similar customizations, and adapt them to my shooting style rather than my adapting to their default setup.

I probably wouldn't like the Olympus as much if I couldn't customize it to fit my shooting style, and had to use it in the default state.

 

[ywenz]

Well, I have the E-P2 and the EVF makes a big difference in HOW I use the camera. I agree the E-P1 with the LCD screen only is not the best idea.

Your other statement I find just wrong. For legacy lenses, I mount the lens, set the dial to aperture priority, and I'm set. You can swapped functions of the main dial/sub dial to work more intuitively, and if you spend time doing that, you can take a shot without moving your eye from the EVF (if you get the E-P2, that is!). I find the E-P2 to be the best thing since sliced bread. To each his own.

Can you activate MF assist on the E-P2 without being in the green box mode?

 

[januaryman]

Can you activate MF assist on the E-P2 without being in the green box mode?

Not that I'm aware of - the green box is the target area that is magnified.

 

[ywenz]

Not that I'm aware of - the green box is the target area that is magnified.

Right, so that is basis of my rant. In the green box mode, the dials do not allow you to change the image parameters. User have to cycle thru various display modes to a mode that allows changing for example, ISO, or WB,

 

[cnewhall]

from what i seen on the net, the colour pics taken by the Oly E P1 seem nicer to my eye than the colour shots from the Panny.

Which isn't an issue for me since I shoot raw and know how to use Lightroom. The autofocus speed on the GF1 is the reason I picked it over the Pens. Nothing pisses me off as much as not getting a shot, or getting a blurry one, due to slow autofocus. Even the GF1 is a lilttle slow for my taste, I can't wait for an Evil camera with phase detection autofocus.

 

[Finder]

Can you activate MF assist on the E-P2 without being in the green box mode?

You can with m4/3 lenses. With manual lenses, you need the green box. Since the keys are already assigned functions to magnify and change the box position, you cannot use them for other uses.

 

[M4streetshooter]

The entire AF system on the GF1 is better.
It has an adjustable target size. It's faster especially in low light. MF is a cinch and very intuitive. The EVF on the Pen2 is the best out there. I don't use it as I bought a G2 for the form factor.
The EVF changes the Form Factor on both cameras to something the G2 does naturally.

 

[ywenz]

The entire AF system on the GF1 is better.
It has an adjustable target size. It's faster especially in low light. MF is a cinch and very intuitive. The EVF on the Pen2 is the best out there. I don't use it as I bought a G2 for the form factor.
The EVF changes the Form Factor on both cameras to something the G2 does naturally.

The Olympus doesn't have low light AF assist light. Another huge deal for me..