Report: E-PL1 w/40mm Summicron & 25mm Skopar

[Jim Simmons]

Just got my new E-PL1 a week or so ago and have finished first round of lens tests. Thought I'd share, though some of what I'm reporting is found in bits and pieces around the web.

I used Chinese adapters for both lenses - M adapter for 40mm and LTM adapter for the 25mm (the older non-cammed LTM version of the Skopar). Both adapters focussed to infinity, but each needed to be shimmed to correct the incredibly TOO thin adapter specs.

These tests shot on a tripod, with IS off. I'm not a testing freak, as I shoot MF and LF when sharpness matters, but I like to set a base understanding of all new gear, so I know what its strengths and weaknsses are, and then I just go out and use the stuff, never shooting another test chart or brick wall again!

40mm Summicron: sharp all the way across the image. Soft and desaturated at f/2, as this lens always has been, but when used on a m4/3 body as an 80mm equivalent, this actually makes a very nice portrait lens! Sharpens up a lot by f/2.8, but very sharp at f/4 through f/8. f/11 slightly less sharp, but f/16 understandably soft.

25mm Skopar: centre is sharp at f/8 and f/11, with f/5.6 and f/16 being only slightly less sharp. f/4 and f/22 too fuzzy to use to suit my tastes. The corners, however, are quite soft on this lens on m4/3. I was hoping this would not be the case, but it clearly is. The central 50% of the image is fine, but then is starts to taper off, with the very corners amazingly smeared. That said, I will still have no problem using this lens for street photography and general snaps, as it's sharp in the centre and has great contrast and colour rendition.

BTW, I love the ergonomics on the E-PL1. Very similar to using my Leica CL.

 

[Fujitsu]

... Pictures?

 

[Jim Simmons]

Well, I did so much work doing all the tests and processing and evaluating that I was too tired of the "lens test project" to go further and post the images, but I'll attach a couple that make the main points in my original post. These are both the upper left corner of each image. The tripod was moved between the shots to that the amount of the wall that was framed was identical between the two lenses. The fuzzy on is the 25mm shot, the sharper one is the 40mm shot. As I said in the post, but central portion of the image was pretty much the same. You could "imagine" the 40mm image is sharper is you want to. ;-)

This is a <500 pixel wide crop of a 4032-pixel-wide image.

 

[Krzys]

Need pictures...otherwise this is quite boring for us non 4/3 users...

 

[wiedo]

I would like to replace my aging (and noisy) Canon EOS350d, with something like this, so i could use my Leica and M42 lenses..

Do you think it's a worthy replacement? I don't have EF mount lenses for my canon (only a kit lens).

 

[Jim Simmons]

Hi Wiedo. The one thing to keep in mind when using an E-PL1 with manual focus lenses is that it's a slower process than all-auto-everything shooting. But the E-PL1 is one of the best cameras out there for doing that. I see on your blog that you've got a Leica CL, and so do I. I keep the 40mm lens on the Olympus most of the time.

My routine is to open to f/2; rough focus; press the zoom in button; focus at 7X zoom; press the zoom out button; stop down to desired aperture, then move the camera around until I get a histogram/image I like on the LCD and half press the shutter; frame the shot and press the shutter. Many more steps than point and shoot, but I'm loving my results. Since I come from both Leica shooting and view camera shooting, this is to me a combination of those two fast and slow methods. Not a problem for me.

You mentioned that your curent camera is noisy. Well, you will love the images the E-PL1 makes. Very smooth all the way up to ISO 400, and higher ISOs are very nice to my eye. Most folks think 800 is excellent on this camera. Good luck with your decision. I also see you like to travel. I keep this camera with me most all the time.

 

[wiedo]

You mentioned that your curent camera is noisy. Well, you will love the images the E-PL1 makes.

I meant noise in sound, not in the photo 🙂.

I think if i buy this camera i'll directly buy the optional viewfinder.. taking photos with only a rear display is my worst nightmare 🙂.

I'm used to manual focussing.. I only use vintage lenses, and i'll like the option to zoom to correctly focus and zoom out again (not possible on my dSLR).

 

[Jim Simmons]

The optional viewfinder is bulky, taking away a lot of the compactness of the camera, but it would be a much nicer viewing experience than the LCD. Using the LCD outdoors in bright light is the worst aspect of the camera as far as I'm concerned.

 

[pkreyenhop]

My routine is to open to f/2; rough focus; press the zoom in button; focus at 7X zoom; press the zoom out button; stop down to desired aperture, then move the camera around until I get a histogram/image I like on the LCD and half press the shutter; frame the shot and press the shutter. Many more steps than point and shoot, but I'm loving my results. Since I come from both Leica shooting and view camera shooting, this is to me a combination of those two fast and slow methods. Not a problem for me.

I admire your patience - I couldn't bear that fiddling around!

 

[Jim Simmons]

I know what you mean, pkreyenhop, but in that post I was listing my complete perfectionist routine brought over from large format work. I also have a fast shooting style. For instance I have the My Mode button programmed to 2:3 ratio, Monochrome, ISO 800. I just put the aperture at f/5.6 or f/8, press My Mode, and focus quickly and shoot. Instant Leica Tri-X shooter with auto exposure! Digital can be fast or slow depending on how you approach it. When I'm really being anal, I even go to the custom white balance menu and run up and down the Kelvin scale to get the colours just the way I want them. A very professional feature for such a low-cost camera to have.