Why the digital Pen is a good thing

[Ronald_H]

Amidst all the negativity (it doesn't have an optical viewfinder, waaaaaaa!!!!) I see a lot of positive points:

- Going on the latest 4rds cameras, image quality will be very good. Comparable to an entry level dSLR, which is by any accounts very good, and way, way better than any P&S (LX-3, G10). Some wail and gnash their teeth because of the slightly less dynamic range of the 4rds sensors, but let's face it, no digicam this small has ever offered comparable image quality (or so it is assumed, I don't own one yet 😀)

- It will be really small, truly P&S size.

- Due to small size and the fact that it looks like a P&S it will be very inconspicous. We will be able to take it to places a D200 would never be allowed or stand out too much. That should appeal to us RFF-ers right?

- It will probably be really quiet sans mirror. Also a big plus for RFF-ers.

- It can mount accessory viewfinders. YES, I know about the aspect ratio.

- Like other micro 4rds, it will be able to mount virtually anything. 2x crop or not, my M-lenses will be very useful on it and the F's too, at a pinch.

- The leaked pics show a fast prime. Yay!

- It is rumoured to offer video. A gimmick for some, distasteful for purists, but to hell with them, for many it will be very welcome.

What did I miss?

Disclaimer: There are already many posts addressing the unforgivably moronic oversight of not having an optical viewfinder on it. Let's not do that all over again in this thread shall we?

 

[back alley]

same with the g1, it's looks dinky next to a dslr and no one pays me any attention when i'm out with it.

 

[user237428934]

- It will probably be really quiet sans mirror. Also a big plus for RFF-ers.

The G1 is surprisingly loud even without mirror. Hopefully Olympus does it better.

 

[axiom]

You missed built-in IS
flip-out screen for waist level shots

 

[Benjamin]

If it has a shoe, surely you guys can just use an aux. finder?

 

[nightfly]

Isn't is supposed to be in the neighborhood of $1000?

For half that I'd buy one but really that's far too much particularly in this market. It does look really cool though. The finder thing doesn't bother me in the least.

 

[johannielscom]

...

Disclaimer: There are already many posts addressing the unforgivably moronic oversight of not having an optical viewfinder on it. Let's not do that all over again in this thread shall we?

😀😀😀 Allright, I promise, Ronald

 

[bmattock]

If it has a shoe, surely you guys can just use an aux. finder?

Of course. Naturally, it is less convenient to shove such a camera in a pocket with an external viewfinder attached, and constantly removing and replacing it is less than optimal as well.

 

[nightfly]

I'm sure this same discussion happened on the Viewfinder discussion list when the first film cameras came out. Most people just couldn't imagine not getting under a sheet...

 

[rover]

I'm sure this same discussion happened on the Viewfinder discussion list when the first film cameras came out. Most people just couldn't imagine not getting under a sheet...

Now that is funny. 😀

 

[bmattock]

I'm sure this same discussion happened on the Viewfinder discussion list when the first film cameras came out. Most people just couldn't imagine not getting under a sheet...

That's funny, but what I find interesting is not far from what you speculated - many 'professional' photographers were furious with the notion that anyone could buy a Kodak and take a photograph. The rise of amateur photography, they were sure, was going to destroy their livelihood.

And now in the digital age, we see it again - pros who are utterly convinced that the ease of making photos of high technical quality with low-cost easy-to-use digital cameras will put them out of business, angry, bitter, and convinced that a law ought to be passed to put a stop to it.

The arguments read as if written by the same hand - one hundred years apart.

Now that, I find humorous.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Competition from amateur photographers is the least of the problems pros have making a living these days. If only.

 

[hkrz]

There are a few question about his camera that were raised by the member of 43photo forum Riley. This camera maybe something more than we expect. All thread about his camera were closed a few hours ago on that site...

To me this camera is designed to be as much pocketable as possible, with all dials hidden, even the aperture/ shutter wheel is hidden below this part with E-P1 logo. If the lens has automatic lens cover it would be a killer feature.

Here's what he has posted:

"notice the moulding indicated by 'A' rolls under the flash hotshoe mount

notice 2 unusual surfaces 'B', contacts?

notice circle and line 'C', traditional for OVF index

notice irregular green line below LCD

notice 2 holes at front, screws or mic holes

and why have a mode dial like this, it is very unusual. If you look around at the chrome moulding with EP1 written on it, it extends to the l/h side of the camera. It is almost as if the top comes off. A replaceable top deck?"



A good food for thought, isn't it?

 

[Pickett Wilson]

I wonder if the real camera even looks like this? 😉

 

[hkrz]

Well,
If you've read what I've written, not quoted, you would have probably understood that, I was talking about not the PASM dial, but the second one under the lump with the logo. No offence here intended.

Could you please expand why do you thing that this camera is a knock off form G10? I've used briefly, I admit, G10 and Pana G1 and I found those cameras quite a bit apart. I enjoyed Canon's size, while Pana was a nicer camera to use. Just looking at Pen convinces me that it will have rather different feel than Canon. So if you have more experience I would appreciate your feedback.

Thank you

 

[Trius]

I wonder if the real camera even looks like this? 😉

Thank you! I hope it doesn't, if only to make us all look like real maroons!

 

[Ronald_H]

You missed built-in IS
flip-out screen for waist level shots

Hey, someone actually answered my question!

Good points, how could I forget IS? But I'm not so sure the screen will be actually able to do that.

And again those viewfinders 🙄 I already said have a beautiful Leitz brightline.
Also, frankly I don't give a cr*p what people think of me when I look at the screen... I get far far worse looks when they see me futzing around with a roll of film or worse still, a TLR! It will be a great camera and system, even without an OVF. Even it is on the expensive side initially, prices will go down.

The last points, the bitter pro, there might be some truth in that. A few weeks back a friend took me to a working pro who had a lot of old analogue gear for sale (Hassy, Leica, Nikon, really nice stuff). Instead of the warm welcome we expected, the guy was nearly hostile when he figured out I was a *gasp* amateur, just doing it for fun. He couldn't stomach the fact that I was willing to buy a lot of expensive gear just to have fun with it, just because I could. And of course he also understood I actually knew what to do with it, but would never ask for money. Ouch.

 

[Larky]

Look, as long as it has no shutter delay, it'll earn a few goody points. If it's like all other pocket sized digi cams, it'll take the photo when the person has entered the next county, and will therefore be fairly useless.

I hope I'm wrong.

 

[cny3123]

Look, as long as it has no shutter delay, it'll earn a few goody points. If it's like all other pocket sized digi cams, it'll take the photo when the person has entered the next county, and will therefore be fairly useless.

I hope I'm wrong.

I don't really know why you would assume this camera would perform and have the speed of a digital point and shoot. Just because it is the same size? If anything I would expect it to be on par with the Panasonic G1.

 

[Larky]

I made no assumption, I stated two paths it could take and hoped it wouldn't go the crappy shutter delay one. For example, if they have a mode where it fires even if the focus and exposure is wrong, instantly, I'll be happy.