On 2/25/2013 8:40 PM, Moose wrote:.
> I've recently paid a bit of attention to the large sensor 'compacts' with
> fixed, prime lenses. It may have been comments about the Sony RX100 that
> started it ...
>
> In many cases, the fixed lens cameras are as large and heavy as ILCs with
> comparable lenses, or bigger.
The upshot of all this was another preemptive strike by my internal GAS
complex. A factory demo E-PL2 moved in with me
on the 13th., and had it's first outing on Valentines Day.
Mike 'outed me'; of course, who else, but I suppose no one else noticed, or
cared. :-)
On 2/20/2013 4:22 PM, usher99@xxxxxxx wrote:
> Especially like the twin fuchsia and the 'dil. The whole gallery is expanding
> with nice shots. Seems you usually used
> the 43mm macro setting of the 12-50 on the EPL-2 for some reason.
Looking for the first time at the Pen line-up with any attention, I was amazed
at the quirky potpourri Oly's designer
and marketers created. (For those who may be curious, here's Moose's guide to
the Pen series camera bodies.*)
Although the E-PL1 I have is a perfectly nice back-up to the E-M5, it became
clear that the E-PL2 is the pick of the
reasonably inexpensive Pen litter.
The addition of a control wheel makes a big difference. The 'L1' is easy enough
to use, in a way, but the 'L2' is much
better. A larger LCD, with twice the pixels, makes viewing better. For my
fingers and hand, the subtle changes in front
and rear grips and the different surface texture make it much more comfortable
for me to hold.
What my unconscious GAS complex must have known is that I would really just
like this little camera. Styling is seldom a
big factor in my camera choices, and I tend to scoff internally at lengthy
discussions about camera looks. I've always
been very flexible about camera ergonomics.
And yet, I find the 'L2' ridiculously attractive with 12-50 attached, and very
cute with Panny 20/1.7. Somehow, it just
looks and feels good, and I enjoy using it. The LCD is certainly less useful
than the viewfinder on the E-M5 for most
light/situations, but I've managed to make it work for me even in lots of
direct sun.
It'll never replace the M5 for more serious work, but for a day trip to visit
friends and several sessions in our yard,
I've had a lot of fun, and taken shots I like. For casual shots in good light,
no high DR subjects, it gives little away
to the M5. All the images in my early spring garden album were taken with it.
<http://zone-10.com/tope2/main.php?g2_itemId=2449>
I just checked, and I haven't shot the M5 since the L2 arrived. Weird.
Softer Headed Moose?
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*
The Olympus Pen Story - A Personal Version
E-P1 – The capabilities of the E-620, 4/3 camera are shoehorned and/or
recreated in a much smaller body, without a
mirror and with a smaller lens mount, the µ4/3 mount.
It’s an exciting new idea, the Mirrorless, Interchangeable lens Camera, ILC.
Olympus and Panasonic, partners in the 4/3
Standard, have collaborated on this new standard, µ4/3. Panny’s first camera is
already out, and this is Oly’s first.
E-P2 – Only five months after the E-P1, the E-P2 comes out. The only technical
difference is the addition of an
accessory connector under the flash shoe. Really, it should be the E-P1a, but
marketing smarts choose to make it look to
the casual observer like there real action in the Pen line.
E-PL1 – Oly takes the same image creation innards and puts then in a body with
simplified controls, similar to many
compact cameras, and with some feature differences.
Downgrades:
Smaller, 2.7” LCD, with the same pixel count
No orientation sensor, continuing on all two letter models.
Mainly plastic body with aluminum skinned front (Stainless steel and alloys for
E-P2)
Image stabilization with claimed 3 stop benefit, vs. 4 stops for E-P2
Mono mic with option to add stereo using adapter vs. built-in stereo mics.
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000th sec, vs. 1/4000th.
Upgrades:
Built-in flash (external flashes only on E-P2)
Direct record movie button vs. movies only as position on E-P2 mode dial
They call this a Pen Lite, even though it’s only 6% lighter than the E-P2 and,
based on published dimensions, 14% larger
in volume. Lite must mean feature lite.
E-PL2 – Someone rethinks the super simple interface, gives the E-PL1 a cosmetic
redesign, adds one control wheel and
better control button layout.
Screen goes up to 3” and the number of pixels doubles. Occasionally useful,
lower DR ISO 100 dropped, mostly useless ISO
6400 added.
The actual big news isn’t the camera, but that the kit lens had been redesigned
to their MSC standard, and focuses much
faster and more quietly.
E-P3 – Some significant changes under another cosmetic redesign, more like the
PL2 than the P2. And the ever changing
front grip is now removable.
Same sensor, but a faster processor, for faster focus confirmation and shorter
screen blackout.
New 3” screen, OLED with touch and higher rez.
New, 35 point, AF, which continues in all later models.
AF illuminator light, which continues in all later models.
E-PL3 – Most significant – and most puzzling – change: The screen is still
listed as 3” and 460k pixels and, it tilts.
But, it is 16:9 proportions. So, when shooting or viewing full frame stills,
the image fills only the center of the screen.
So, lets see, all prior models but one have had 3”, 4:3 screens, 230,000,
460,000, then 614,000 pixels. The one small
one, on the E-PL1, is 2.7”, 230,000 pixels.
The actual screen for stills on this one is 2.45”, 345,000 pixels. Remember,
resolution is a linear function, while
pixel count is square/area. The increase from 230,000 to 460,000 with the E-PL2
increases resolution by 50%, not 100%.
From the E-PL2, we’ve dropped resolution about 25%, and on a smaller screen.
E-PM1 – The forces behind the E-PL1 return, designing a quite capable camera
without adequate controls for anything but
Auto, without some frustration. Continues the video screen format, fixed.
NOTE: All the prior cameras make the same images. They make them faster with
the new processor starting with the E-P3.
There is some talk of an updated sensor along the way. But use the comparison
gizmo on dpreview. There is just no change
in image quality.
Lots of sound and fury. Folks like me, who weren’t keeping close track, could
easily think there was a lot of
development going on. An impressive job of smoke and mirrors, keeping the image
of action and progress alive until it
really did come alive in the E-M5.
E-PL5 – Most of the capability of the E-M5 in a more compact camera. Quite
alluring – until I discover it’s the same,
silly, video format screen. I lost interest.
E-PM2 – An E-PL5 in the low control body, with the tiny screen.
--
What if the Hokey Pokey *IS* what it's all about?
--
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