Richard do you remember if the focus ring on the 17mm has a start and an end? ie it doesnt turn perpetually like Canon lenses? Maybe one could put a mark on it for 1m, 2m and infinity?
Spyro P. wrote:
Richard do you remember if the focus ring on the 17mm has a start and an end? ie it doesnt turn perpetually like Canon lenses? Maybe one could put a mark on it for 1m, 2m and infinity?
Unfortunately they didn't have a 17mm for me to try. However, I would guess that the focus system is the same on the 17mm as it is on the zooms: the ring doesn't move when AF is engaged, and that probably means that it is entirely electronic, and has no end stops and fixed gearing.
If you want to set 1 yard as your distance then you could just focus on something that is a yard away, so you can work around the absense of a scale. Keeping the camera focussed at that distance could be tricky though, as the focus rings are liable to get nudged.
The automatic 7x viewfinder zoom on the EP1 was very snappy though. As soon as you touch the focus ring the vf instantly switces to zoomed view, and jumps back just as instantaneously, so it does seem like a really well-thought-out implementation of that feature. It remembers where the patch was in the frame too, and jumps to that place. I suspect it won't work automatically with manual lenses because there's no electronic coupling to the focus ring, so you will probably have to press a button to get it zoom in and out. I could be wrong about that if contrast detect triggers the switch, but I can't believe that contrast detect would do it that instantly. All in all it seems like a very usable feature though, and perhaps a better implementation of it than offered by the G1 which seems to entail clicking VF-zoom buttons before/after manual focussing - correct me if I'm wrong.
The focus ring on all Oly Zuiko Digital lenses in focus-by-wire and therefore has no mechanical feedback and turns perpetually. you can however choose the direction of rotation via CF on the oly bodies.
The G1 offers the auto-zoom mf assist as well. It's configurable by CF. with adapted lenses you need to engage it manually on both the g1 and e-p1.
Thanks mate. Sounds a little retarded to me, but on the other hand I dont think I am their target group either. AFAIC its a 17mm lens, crop or no crop it still has the dof of a 17mm lens, therefore it simply doesnt need AF. Especially not one that is so hard to work around. Still, it shouldnt be too hard to add a distance scale on the screen, so at least you know how far you're focused?
mawz wrote:
The focus ring on all Oly Zuiko Digital lenses in focus-by-wire and therefore has no mechanical feedback and turns perpetually. you can however choose the direction of rotation via CF on the oly bodies.
The G1 offers the auto-zoom mf assist as well. It's configurable by CF. with adapted lenses you need to engage it manually on both the g1 and e-p1.
How would you compare the feel of the Panasonic m3/4 G1 lens when using manual focus to the Olympus focus-by-wire? Does the Panasonic offer better mechanical feedback?
mawz wrote:
The focus ring on all Oly Zuiko Digital lenses in focus-by-wire and therefore has no mechanical feedback and turns perpetually. you can however choose the direction of rotation via CF on the oly bodies.
Except on the sonic motor driven lenses, which are mechanically coupled but sacrifice velocity sensitive focusing and ability to select the focus direction.
Spyro P. wrote:
Thanks mate. Sounds a little retarded to me, but one the other hand I dont think I am their target group either. AFAIC its a 17mm lens, crop or no crop it still has the dof of a 17mm lens, therefore it simply doesnt need AF. Especially not one that is so hard to work around.
AF's easy to work around on the m43 cameras. They do much better for manual focus than their 4/3rds brethren. What is currently lacking is any way to do hyperfocal or zone focusing unless you're adapting either HG or SHG series 4/3rds lenses or 3rd party MF lenses (the latter is mostly what I use on the G1). And of course the fact that focus-by-wire focus rings do kinda suck. On the other hand, they do have some of the nicest focus rings I've seen on kit lenses, but that's more a case of anything usable is better than CaNikon's kit lens focus rings.
Tariq Gibran wrote:
How would you compare the feel of the Panasonic m3/4 G1 lens when using manual focus to the Olympus focus-by-wire? Does the Panasonic offer better mechanical feedback?
The Panny lenses are better damped, but otherwise identical. There is NO mechanical feedback as there is no coupling between the focus ring and the focus system (The exception is Sigma lenses and apparently Oly SWD lenses)
olyacme wrote:
Except on the sonic motor driven lenses, which are mechanically coupled but sacrifice velocity sensitive focusing and ability to select the focus direction.
Oh, I didn't realize the SWD lenses had a proper USM-style focus ring, I thought they were focus by wire as well, like the early Canon USM lenses.
I do know that the Sigma HSM lenses are pretty standard USM-type focus rings.
mawz wrote:
The Panny lenses are better damped, but otherwise identical. There is NO mechanical feedback as there is no coupling between the focus ring and the focus system (The exception is Sigma lenses and apparently Oly SWD lenses)
I had the 12-60 SWD lens and the issue with manual focus on that lens was that the throw was extremely short if I remember correctly. On the plus side, even on my E330, Af was so fast and accurate that I found I never used manual focus. I think the upcoming Panasonic 20mm m4/3 lens will likely be far superior to the Olympus 17 but also much more expensive.
cogitech wrote:
That's the word I was thinking. Knowing all this, I'd just rather carry my 5D and 3 primes around with me.
Same. However I wanted something that I could slip into my jacket pocket as sometimes I sneak out from work for a bit of street photography and generally I dont carry bags to work. Basically I'm looking for an LX3 with a little better dynamic range and high ISO. Apparently this is not it, no worries
Spyro P. wrote:
Same. However I wanted something that I could slip into my jacket pocket as sometimes I sneak out from work for a bit of street photography and generally I dont carry bags to work. Basically I'm looking for an LX3 with a little better dynamic range and high ISO. Apparently this is not it, no worries
The E-P1 is way bigger than the LX3. The only cameras that fit that bill size and IQ wise at the moment are the Sigma DP's. If you can deal with the slow AF(by either manual focus/zone focus) and the slow shot to shot time (mostly on the DP-1, DP-2 is better but still not up to EP-1 standards), you will simply not find anything that can compete with the extra ordinary dynamic range these cameras offer. The dynamic range in fact is right up there with my old 5D and current Sony a900 full frame cameras at base ISO. For B&W work, this is huge. High ISO for color work, not so great unless you like de-saturated color.
Spyro P. wrote:
Same. However I wanted something that I could slip into my jacket pocket as sometimes I sneak out from work for a bit of street photography and generally I dont carry bags to work. Basically I'm looking for an LX3 with a little better dynamic range and high ISO. Apparently this is not it, no worries
I hear ya. It's not always convenient to have that bag, which prevents me from bringing my camera on a daily basis. With what's available, I'd still rather have nothing. I'm OK with that, too, for now.
Tariq Gibran wrote:
If you can deal with the slow AF(by either manual focus/zone focus) and the slow shot to shot time (mostly on the DP-1, DP-2 is better but still not up to EP-1 standards), you will simply not find anything that can compete with the extra ordinary dynamic range these cameras offer. The dynamic range in fact is right up there with my old 5D and current Sony a900 full frame cameras at base ISO. For B&W work, this is huge. High ISO for color work, not so great unless you like de-saturated color.
Tariq, I suggested the DP2 for a friend and his photos are really nice. I shoot with a 5D and considered the DP2 before I bought the G1. I sitll really like the DR the DP2 offers and don't need a pocketable camera really so probably will pass on all, but the G1 offers me a light small camera with interchangeable lenses to carry places I would rather not carry my 5D/kit. And--its fun with adaptors, MF lenses, etc.
picnic wrote:
Tariq, I suggested the DP2 for a friend and his photos are really nice. I shoot with a 5D and considered the DP2 before I bought the G1. I sitll really like the DR the DP2 offers and don't need a pocketable camera really so probably will pass on all, but the G1 offers me a light small camera with interchangeable lenses to carry places I would rather not carry my 5D/kit. And--its fun with adaptors, MF lenses, etc.
Diane
It is quite amazing the flexibility/quality that G1 offers considering its size and price.
cogitech wrote:
That's the word I was thinking. Knowing all this, I'd just rather carry my 5D and 3 primes around with me.
That's sort of the conclusion I reached after handling the Pen and G1 in the shop. A 5D2/Oly40 or a 500D/Oly24 aren't _that_ much more trouble to have with you but shred m4/3 in usability and IQ. Bearing price and pocketability in mind I'll probably get a Fuji F200 and pass on the m4/3 and Sigmas for the time being. I'm disappointed because I was very excited about the Pen. In the flesh the love affair failed to materialise.
