Olympus EP-1 First Impressions from a store demo

I don't understand the reasoning behind designing a solid and thus relatively big and heavy camera that needs to be held away from you while being operated and that, if I understand Jon Eastland's instructions correctly, requires four steps to focus with manual focus lenses (not unlike my 8x10), which may well deliver superior image quality - and they'd better at 25% image area compared to 35mm, each time you want to take a photo.
 
It's definitely soaked up the RF pedigree.

The original Pen F was a SLR, not a RF. It used porro prisms (think old-fashioned binoculars) instead of a pentaprism to keep the size down

In the end though it's going to be the Sigma DP2 that I'll order next week. That should tide me over digitally til that mythical full frame Leica M comes along.

I already have the DP2 and was looking for something snappier, but the reports on the 17mm are not encouraging, and it isn't that much smaller than the M8. I guess I'll just spring for a 28mm Elmarit pancake instead.
 
I wanna see actual image samples. Yes the camera is pretty but all I want to know is what the photos look like.

can I direct you to my own test shots. it is a mixture of the Kit Lens and my Leica glass. The Merry go round was taken with a Leica 2.8 m mount prime and Lucy I used a Leica 50mm m mount prime. All the rest is with the zoom (14- 42)lens Olympus supplied. Hope you find them useful.

I am beginning to love this camera.

Ray
http://gallery.mac.com/raykilby#100359&bgcolor=black&view=grid
 
It's a nice and compact camera and with the Novoflex MFT - Leica M adapter you can also use the Leica M lenses on this PEN E-P1 camera. The limitation is the display when using the life view mode plus loupe function.

Here a shot with the 14-42 zoom lens, my 17mm pancake is still in backorder.

3743084591_6827c168b2.jpg
 
I don't see any problem with the LCD screen other than an occasional glare. The digital view finder on the GH1 is completely useless. Why look at a tiny screen with less resolution vs a nice easy to see big screen, other than it makes you feel like an old school photographer aiming for the perfect shot. I recently took my EP-1 to a concert. You might ask, how did you get it into the concert? I put it in my pocket and security didnt think it was a professional quality camera so they let it pass. Then I held it up in the air to get a shot of the stage without a bunch of heads blocking my view. And yes, I was able to use the LCD screen, and manually focus at the same time. Took some great shots, and some cheesy art mode shots. Oh, and then I did this really neat trick. I switched over to record video mode and recorded 1 hour (about 11GB) of HD 720p video. The sound also turned out great. Did I say video? Blasphemy, I know.

For $800 it shoots better quality pictures than the M8 (see dpreview to compare M8 vs EP-1 at ISO 2500), its smaller and better made than the GH1 (and cheaper). Yes, it is a point and shoot HD video camera with the option of mulitple lenses for $800 in a stainless steel body smaller than any other rangefinder.
 
"...Silly people bought them in the beginning, of course, but now the smart buying majority are snapping them up at the correct price/value of roughly 200 euro. You can be sure that even at this price point Sigma is still making a decent profit!

By all means, buy an EP1 now - at hyper-inflated prices - and show us all your pretty pictures taken with it. Be sure to get a lens adapter as well and tell us how beautiful your classic lenses render on the EP1's brilliant sensor.

But please don't insist that this camera is a good value for the money ... because at this price it definitely is not!"

let's just skip past the separating opinion from fact part of this post.

Kevin, some of us "silly" people have different priorities when purchasing a camera. i for one work on my cameras. day in, day out. i need a point of sale. i need service. i need a receipt. these are not negotiable (especially with my insurance agent and accountant).

i also need to produce work. day in day out. i purchase the best tools for doing so without waiting to squeeze the best deal out of the used market (well most of the time). when i produce work, i get paid. following that logic my purchases have proven to be very sound. i will presume that before you tell me otherwise you venture to understand EXACTLY what defines good value in my world.

i don't understand when folks think a company can arbitrarily charge xxx amount of dollars for a product that cost yyy amount of dollars to research, develop, build, market and support? it's naive at best. because sigma is dumping the dp-1 does not prove anything about what the product cost to develop, manufacture and market. it has EVERYTHING to do with paying down debt (and thus incurred interest), cash flow and financing further research and development. do yourself a favor before you go online and call folks "silly". go down to your local camera shop OWNER and ask him about the profit margins and mark up on cameras. i think you will be surprised.
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I estimate the real value to be around 450 USD, which is what this kit will cost in about 15 months time.

You are simply paying a premium for being able to own the camera now instead of later.

That was your choice, not mine, bubba.

I don't own Olympus stock, so I don't care one way or the other.

Its a great idea to buy it in 15 months time at at $450. Thats FIFTEEN months of not using it, and buying it when the next version is on the market, so buying a redundant camera for $450. Great idea.


Steve
 
Its a great idea to buy it in 15 months time at at $450. Thats FIFTEEN months of not using it, and buying it when the next version is on the market, so buying a redundant camera for $450. Great idea.

Aaaa, another motivated stock holder :eek:
I have plenty of other film and digital cameras to use.
Each one of them is already redundant.
 
1 week with the E-P1, and the USB port has FAILED. Now when I plug the thing into my computer, the computer does not detect it. I've tried different computers, and no luck. Unfortunately, the USB port is not one of those standard size cellphone USB ports, it's slightly bigger, so I don't have another cable to test it with. Pretty lame, but technology in general is usually disappointing. I guess I have to go back to my Bessa for now. :bang:
 
It appears that you're projecting again.

Have you actually looked at John's work? Do you know him personally? Do you know how he works? Do you know his passion? Have you met his family and how his wife works hard to help support his vision and what he is trying to accomplish?

I have. And I think you are way off base on this one.

Peace.
 
1 week with the E-P1, and the USB port has FAILED. Now when I plug the thing into my computer, the computer does not detect it. I've tried different computers, and no luck. Unfortunately, the USB port is not one of those standard size cellphone USB ports, it's slightly bigger, so I don't have another cable to test it with. Pretty lame, but technology in general is usually disappointing. I guess I have to go back to my Bessa for now. :bang:


Will it have to be repaired or will the retail store exchange it? if neither, try a card reader.
 
It must be something wrong with the port on the camera because I tried using the A/V cable that uses the multi connector and that failed as well. Maybe something melted on the inside because I was recording video for about an hour in 100 degree weather. The SD card sits right behind the port, and that thing gets hot if you record 7minutes continuously.
 
It must be something wrong with the port on the camera because I tried using the A/V cable that uses the multi connector and that failed as well. Maybe something melted on the inside because I was recording video for about an hour in 100 degree weather. The SD card sits right behind the port, and that thing gets hot if you record 7minutes continuously.

Supposing it isn't the camera at fault have you tried re-installing the Olympus software and drivers, and the updating it to the latest version, Master 2.2? Other than that just use a card reader (plugged in to your USB socket). Supposing it is the camera, and perhaps you have adjusted some parameters or re-set to default, on the USB menu, when you highlight 'Storage' to make the PC recognise the camera as a 'removable disk' you must press 'OK' to confirm, and not just leave it highlighted. Just a shot in the dark.

Steve
 
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