Anyone Using Micro 4/3? | FerrariChat

Anyone Using Micro 4/3?

Discussion in 'Creative Arts' started by teak360, Apr 14, 2010.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. teak360

    teak360 F1 World Champ

    Nov 3, 2003
    10,065
    Boulder, CO
    Full Name:
    Scott
    #1 teak360, Apr 14, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I was going to order a Canon 5D MkII to replace my 20D for my trip to Italy next month. I was dreading lugging another SLR with my big lenses around so I started to do some research. I learned about the new Micro Four Thirds cameras.
    I ordered the Olympus EP2 today. I also ordered a Lumix 20mm f1.7 pancake lens. The camera and lens together are very compact, and the 20mm on this body is equivalent to 40mm lens on a 35mm body. The EP2 shoots in RAW format and JPEG and HD video. The quality of the pictures is amazing.

    http://www.dpreview.com/news/0911/09110501olympusep2.asp
    http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/panasonic_20_1p7_o20/
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  2. alfas

    alfas Formula Junior

    Sep 17, 2009
    639
    chicago
  3. teak360

    teak360 F1 World Champ

    Nov 3, 2003
    10,065
    Boulder, CO
    Full Name:
    Scott
    #3 teak360, Apr 16, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  4. alfas

    alfas Formula Junior

    Sep 17, 2009
    639
    chicago
    milwaukee MOMA & thanks... that was with my first Oly though, an E300
     
  5. teak360

    teak360 F1 World Champ

    Nov 3, 2003
    10,065
    Boulder, CO
    Full Name:
    Scott
    #5 teak360, Apr 21, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  6. alfas

    alfas Formula Junior

    Sep 17, 2009
    639
    chicago
    congrats and with that there is a new firmware that will make everything even more better... I literally just updated mine with no problems.

    http://www.olympus.co.jp/en/support/imsg/digicamera/download/software/firm/e1/index.cfm

    load the provided software package and follow the instructions.

    a couple of things,

    be SURE to make sure the battery is fully or bear fully charged during the update as if power goes on it or a wire gets unattached you will brick the camera requiring you to send it in.

    a pro that's a big fan of the Pen series

    http://visualsciencelab.blogspot.com/

    he's a frequent contributor to the e system community over at flickr.

    dpreview also has a active microfourthirds forum where questions can be answered.

    best of all ENJOY the new kit...
     
  7. zygomatic

    zygomatic F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 19, 2008
    5,064
    Washington, DC
    Full Name:
    Chris
    Any reason in particular you chose the Oly over the Panasonic? I've been looking at the GF-1/EP2, myself.
     
  8. alfas

    alfas Formula Junior

    Sep 17, 2009
    639
    chicago
    #8 alfas, Apr 22, 2010
    Last edited: Apr 22, 2010
    in body IS is a huge advantage. any lens attached new or old is going to enjoy IS and all that MF fast glass that's out there at all price points is a huge advantage of m4/3rds.

    bit better IQ & ISO performance

    with the new FW the AF is even better than it was. the AF issues around the forums get blown way out of proportion.

    the EVF on the E-P2 & E-PL1 is also much better than the one with the GF1.

    the pen cameras will also use any 4/3rds lens with adapter with no issue offering full functionality(AF, metering, etc.), the panasonic won't. you can still mount the lenses with an adapter but they will not fully function.

    any microfourthirds lens will mount and fully function on any microfourthirds body, panny or Oly.

    seems panny is making the better m4/3rds lenses right now and oly is making the better bodies. Oly's new lenses that are coming seem to be good ones though.

    The panny advantage is the bit better implementation of video but they both do HD video
    token flash.(solved on the E-PL1 which has flash now)
    higher res screen rear LCD. the lower res screen of the Oly's perform better in bright light.

    If video's not hugely critical the Oly is the better choice IMHO...
     
  9. zygomatic

    zygomatic F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 19, 2008
    5,064
    Washington, DC
    Full Name:
    Chris

    Thanks, Alfas, for the terrific response. Your reply pretty well matches what I'd heard,but I'm always interested in others' experiences.

    I'll admit to a soft spot for Panas - my LX3 has been nothing short of amazing as an adventure/travel camera. It's survived hikes, rock climbs, kayak trips, tree climbs, and even (while in a dry bag) a swim. It's a great pocket camera - but, naturally, a bit limited.
     
  10. teak360

    teak360 F1 World Champ

    Nov 3, 2003
    10,065
    Boulder, CO
    Full Name:
    Scott
    #10 teak360, Apr 22, 2010
    Last edited: Apr 22, 2010
    I think alfas is spot-on with his post. The Panasonic Lumix 20mm 1.7 lens is really great. I put the Oly 14-42 3.5 on today (the lens that came with the camera). No comparison in quality. The little pancake Lumix 1.7 is really that much better.
    The AF works fine, even before I updated the firmware. There are lots of AF options too, or you can combine AF and manual focus if you want. I never got as clear a focus with my Canon 20D or even my daughters 5D and great glass as I can with this little camera.
    I really like the EVF on the Olympus too, it works well.
    The in-body IS really works, I did some good hand-held shots as slow as 1/15.



    By the way, there is a dedicated Panasonic HD video camera coming this year using the Micro 4/3 lens format. It will have native 1080/24p.
     
  11. alfas

    alfas Formula Junior

    Sep 17, 2009
    639
    chicago
  12. teak360

    teak360 F1 World Champ

    Nov 3, 2003
    10,065
    Boulder, CO
    Full Name:
    Scott
    #12 teak360, Apr 23, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  13. alfas

    alfas Formula Junior

    Sep 17, 2009
    639
    chicago
    #13 alfas, Apr 23, 2010
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2010
  14. alfas

    alfas Formula Junior

    Sep 17, 2009
    639
    chicago
    BTW - I knew I forgot something, the other thing the GF1 does not have is an orientation sensor.

    i.e. you have to rotate all of your images manually when you import them...
     
  15. alfas

    alfas Formula Junior

    Sep 17, 2009
    639
    chicago
    #15 alfas, Apr 26, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017

Share This Page