One thing is certain: the Olympus E-P1 is a divisive camera. I've yet to hear from anyone who has tried it who didn't have pretty strong feelings one way or the other.
DPReview just published their (approximately) 80 page review, and Simon Joinson wrote of the E-P1, "The head says no, the heart says go."
Dante Stella and David Pogue, both of whom were seriously excited about the E-P1, were less kind after actually trying one.
I've not yet had my chance to hold, much less review, the E-P1, but I thought one of Simon Joinson's comments in the DPR forum was interesting. A forumer by the name of pollywogs wrote, "Giving the EP-1 a 'Highly Recommended" rating is watering down the "highly recommended" rating and making it meaningless. It also leaves no room for improvement. Suppose the next generation improves on the screen, the slow focus, the flash situation, etc... Well, it will also receive a 'Highly Recommended' rating. Reminds me of a teacher I work with who gives everyone an 'A' is his class no matter what they do." Simon responded, "No, it's like the teacher giving 'A's to the best students every year rather than saving them because there might be a better student in the future. Besides it's a recommendation, not a score."
I think Simon has it right. If there isn't a better camera for your needs at this time, there isn't a more "recommendable" camera. Still, when I consider the E-P1 for my own personal purchase, I have a tough time opening the wallet. I'm fairly certain that we'll soon see a Micro Four Thirds camera with form similar to the E-P1 but better autofocus and a nicer screen, and I'm not eager to pay the early adopter fee this go around. Besides, experience has taught me that I need one of two focusing methods to greatly enjoy photography: fast and reliable autofocus or a manual focus system which operates on look and feel. By nearly all reports, the E-P1 fails to deliver either of these, and so I'm thinking it won't be a great fit for me.
As an aside, I've come to enjoy the Nikon D5000 and AF-S 35/1.8 so much that I sold my D700, AF 85/1.4, and AF 35/2 Nikkors. While the service recall is a bummer, I think the D5000 represents a real step forward in image quality amongst smallish DSLRs, and the handling is great too. I thought about waiting for the E-P1 before purchasing the Nikon as my "small bag" kit. Glad I didn't.
Thoughts About the E-P1
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Posted by Amin
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Serhan · 819 weeks ago
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=...
That explains it all:)
amin 67p · 819 weeks ago
Serhan · 819 weeks ago
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=...
Robert · 819 weeks ago
I really don't mind having no VF, I think shooting without VF has the advantage of being more aware of what's happening around you. But without VF you need a good LCD screen. And the E-P1 has a low quality screen and outdoors it's so dark you sometimes think the camera isn't on yet [even when it's cloudy].
E-P1's size and IQ are perfect for street photography or party/event photography. But street photography is no fun with slow AF, ineffective stabilization and a very loud shutter sound. And for party/event photography you need [fill-in] flash, so you will have to choose for the external flash [= expensive and adding more weight].
So no outdoor photography, no street photography, no party/event photography... I love the look and feel of the E-P1, but more and more I'm wondering for what kind of shots I can use it.
Peter · 819 weeks ago
Robert · 818 weeks ago
DSLR-owners seem to be happy, because they get a nice IQ with a smaller and lighter camera [although a lot of them are using quality lenses instead of the kit lenses, which might be an important factor].
Compact shooters are just wondering why they need a bigger and heavier point-and-shoot with slow AF and no built-in flash.
Gregory Travis · 818 weeks ago
At first I was steered towards the G1 and went down that road until it dead-ended in not-availableanywheresville. That, and I started to notice some of the picture comparisons between the G1 and the E-P1 and did notice a slight quality advantage to the E-P1 images.
And, there's no denying that the E-P1 looks great while the G1 looks like something Sigourney Weaver would use to kill an alien with.
But the E-P1 was just too close in the Venn diagram of cameraness to my D-LUX 4 to justify owning both. I contemplated, but dreaded, putting the DL-4 up on eBay and using the proceeds to get the E-P1 and was just about there last week.
But I looked even harder at the E-P1, and looked again. The LCD had half the pixel count of the G1 (and my DL-4). While I'd rather put knitting needles in my eyes than ever use a flash, there are times when you just need it and the G1's built in (like the DL-4s) was there, the E-P1 wasn't.
Finally, the coup-de-gras was the lack of a viewfinder. Like I said, I'm looking forward to taking dad's 50mm F1.4 MD lens back out of retirement and that sucker is going to be manual everything from f-stop to FOCUS. The G1 has an electronic viewfinder, sure, but at least it's a viewfinder. I've tried manually focusing with my DL-4's LCD-only setup and, frankly, it's a nightmare if not outright impossible.
So I'll take a LITTLE less image quality for a very nice LCD, an (electronic) viewfinder, a built-in flash, and a price difference of at least $200 (B&H is selling black G1s right now (in stock) for $640 WITH the Panasonic camera bag ($80 retail) thrown in AND (it appears) an extra battery free).
And I'll keep the little DL-4 for parties and walking around. Best of both worlds, I think.
Andreas · 818 weeks ago
No single camera is fun with legacy lenses, and (m)4/3 lenses are superb anyway. It is just an option.
Regarding the weight I would say that this camera has got a much larger sensor than compacts plus interchangable lenses. Which high quality camera with interchangable lenses you can put in a pocket? Answer: none.
And I don't see any reason why a camera like this needs a built in flash. Serious cameras don't need built in flash.
I also think that the EP-1 is not there yet, but it is the right direction. I agree that it should have and EVF, or at least an up-to-date display, but better EVF and maybe smaller display. Heck, I was happy with the E-1 display back then. Then we need good AF (like the Panas) and lenses with infinity stop and dof scales. The last point is the real dealbreaker, because using and Epson RD-1 with a Voigt 28/2 with focussing tab I can't reiterate enough how great prefocussing (even by feel without having to look) is in real world street shooting (or even friends and family snaps). I will never again use a camera that I can't set to hyperfocal distance.
Having said that, we should not dismiss the EP-1 for things it is not supposed to do.
Andreas · 818 weeks ago
I am by no means an Oly fanboy, myself not owning Oly gear, but I am afraid that these are just campaigns against the new system, and, if it works out, we all are poorer again, having to go with what Canikon have to offer in their "please-no-nothing-new"-mindset. If I had the money I would buy one just to acknowledge the venture.