Lloyd Chambers now has a G1 review up in DAP if you're a subscriber. His experience seems to mirror mine (E-P1 has nicer build, G1 handles better, has better AF and the higher-resolution LCD and EVF make a real difference in use).
andrewd01 wrote:
Also, a 230K screen in 2009? Are they on drugs? Did they buy cheap stock from Canon? Forget about trying to judge focus on such a low res screen. I know from experience with 3" low res screens on Canon, they were RUBBISH.
In manual focus mode the E-P1 will give you a selectable 7x or 10x screen magnification
that is more than adequate for precise focus. I have a Hoodman 3" loupe attached to the screen which gives me a light tight view. This method works well for me.
bdickers wrote:
In manual focus mode the E-P1 will give you a selectable 7x or 10x screen magnification
that is more than adequate for precise focus. I have a Hoodman 3" loupe attached to the screen which gives me a light tight view. This method works well for me.
With the higher-resolution screens it's much easier to judge focus without having to zoom in. I generally only use the MF assist zoom on the G1 when shooting stopped well down from wide open.
brainiac wrote:
Hi Mike - good to see you here at FM alt - haven't seen you post for a while.
The thing that has held me back from jumping in to the EP1 is that there don't seem to be too many zone focus 35mm equivalents. The 17mm pancake looks perfect, but am I right in saying there are no distance markings on that lens and the focus ring turns infinitely. How do you get around that? The 2x crop means that I would need to use an 18mm M system lens and they seem big and expensive. Do you shoot pre-focus at 35mm equivalence, and if so, how?...Show more →
The Voigtlander 15mm is very compact, excellent optically and fairly cheap. I use it to zone focus on the E-P1, and the distance marks are easy to use.
checked out an E-P1 in my local store yesterday, and my fears about the LCD are confirmed. It is RUBBISH. Personal opinion of course, but Olympus will have to do better to earn my cash!
I'd like to see Leica build a scaled down M camera using the EP-1/G1 sensor. Should be possible since they are in partnership with Panasonic.
Well, for me, The E-P1 is more usable...because I have one due to the size. The G1 is twice the size of the E-P1 (in depth) and is not much smaller than a small SLR, while the E-P1 is noticeably smaller. WIth the E-P1 and the 17mm, I can fit it in my front pants pocket in most of my pants and shorts. Try that with the G1 and ANY lens.
I find the E-P1 to be very, very usable, and it's more customizable than any camera I've ever owned. EVERYTHING can be changed to suit how you shoot. The LCD isn't perfect, but it's far from rubbish, and I've had absolutely no problems with composing, judging exposure (it's got an excellent live histogram), and manual focus (with the enlargement). If you are looking for one as your sole camera system, the G1 would be my choice. If you're looking for a small complement to your SLR system, IMO, the E-P1 is better suited to that purpose, and apparently I'm not the only one, judging by the sales so far.
IMO, the only reason to be disappointed with the E-P1 is if you expected it to be an action camera or an SLR replacement. It's not, and it was never intended as such. 95% of the people who own one and have used it for any length of time (not a 5 minute trial in a store) absolutely love the camera. The image quality is very good, and it's got a wonderful form factor with great amounts of control over more or less everything you want.
Jman13 wrote:
Well, for me, The E-P1 is more usable...because I have one due to the size. The G1 is twice the size of the E-P1 (in depth) and is not much smaller than a small SLR, while the E-P1 is noticeably smaller. WIth the E-P1 and the 17mm, I can fit it in my front pants pocket in most of my pants and shorts. Try that with the G1 and ANY lens.
The G1 with the M. Zuiko 17mm is about 2-3mm deeper than the E-P1 with the same lens. the depth difference is entirely in the grip and the thicker LCD mount and the grip is no deeper than the smallest lens. Note the depth difference is only 9mm with no lens mounted (36mm vs 45mm). The only practical difference in size between the two cameras is the height, with the G1 being some 14mm taller and having control dials situated on top of the body rather than recessed (70mm vs 84mm).
Don't forget the eyepiece for the viewfinder, which protrudes more than 2-3mm. Regardless, it definitely feels significantly larger in the hand, and in the pocket.
jhapeman wrote:
The Voigtlander 15mm is very compact, excellent optically and fairly cheap. I use it to zone focus on the E-P1, and the distance marks are easy to use.
Hmmm. You've got me thinking. Ken Rockwell has an excellent page about the Heliar. The G1 with a Heliar and an OM 24 and OM 50 would quite rock as a small kit. Thanks for the suggestion.
Panasonic is way ahead on the AF front, their contrast detect AF is excellent and the GH1 is even better I believe. The EP-1 is a much nicer size, but that's not enough. Since the EP-1 has no optical VF, and you have rely on LV for AF, it's disappointingly slow and for me a deal breaker.
Anyway I'm skipping these 1st gen u-4/3 cameras. Oly has said there'll be a pro version of the EP-1 at some stage, and I'm sure the next gen panasonics will be smaller and then there is the mirrorless Samsung using the APS-C sensor.
Pixel Perfect wrote:
Panasonic is way ahead on the AF front, their contrast detect AF is excellent and the GH1 is even better I believe. The EP-1 is a much nicer size, but that's not enough. Since the EP-1 has no optical VF, and you have rely on LV for AF, it's disappointingly slow and for me a deal breaker.
Anyway I'm skipping these 1st gen u-4/3 cameras. Oly has said there'll be a pro version of the EP-1 at some stage, and I'm sure the next gen panasonics will be smaller and then there is the mirrorless Samsung using the APS-C sensor.
All true. I'm personally willing to put up with the shortcomings of the E-P1 for what it offers me, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't wish it had faster AF and an EVF. Here's hoping that Olympus solve the AF mystery and manage to produce a new Digital Pen roughly the same size (slightly larger to incorporate EVF) but with G1-like AF. I'd be one of the first in line for that, but for now as a personal camera for leisurely shooting the E-P1 sure beats lugging around a 5D and EF lenses.
Why not Panasonic or Samsung? Olympus have in-body stabilization while Panasonic and Samsung (rumored) don't.
Yohan Pamudji wrote:
All true. I'm personally willing to put up with the shortcomings of the E-P1 for what it offers me, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't wish it had faster AF and an EVF. Here's hoping that Olympus solve the AF mystery and manage to produce a new Digital Pen roughly the same size (slightly larger to incorporate EVF) but with G1-like AF. I'd be one of the first in line for that, but for now as a personal camera for leisurely shooting the E-P1 sure beats lugging around a 5D and EF lenses.
Why not Panasonic or Samsung? Olympus have in-body stabilization while Panasonic and Samsung (rumored) don't....Show more →
I thought the EP-1 would be the camera I would get, but alas I'll wait longer now. If the GH1 was cheaper I'd probably jump on that now. Panasonic has made a good breakthrough on contrast detect AF, and I wonder if even Nikon and Canon will match them in the near future, let alone Oly.
I hope the next iteration from Oly greatly improves the AF and adds a nice EVF.
Yohan Pamudji wrote:
Why not Panasonic or Samsung? Olympus have in-body stabilization while Panasonic and Samsung (rumored) don't.
Combine that in-body IS with some great M-mount glass and the E-P1 is a great package. Yes, it would be better to have an EVF, but hopefully that will be coming.
Pansaonic at least has IS in some lenses. The Samsung isn't really a rumour, as it was Samsung themselves that showed off a mock up and said a mirrorless APS-C format camera would be released by years end.
After playing around with both the E-P1 and GH-1 it seems they both have some place in my world.
The E-P1, while perhaps not ready for prime time, perhaps is the next step in my "point and shoot" alternative series. Its better (for me) than the Sigma DP cameras and is at a reasonable price point and much more flexible than say a G10. But I'm still hoping the next Olympus will have better autofocus, and a real EVF.
The GH-1 is more of an SLR alternative. I'd take it and a couple of lenses everywhere in a belt pack while I might leave the big camera and gear back in the room.
The big thing for me right now after shooting all of the Micro 4/3 lenses is they are the limiting factor in image quality. They're all nice kit lenses but both cameras give much better images with some high quality glass on an adapter. But when you do that they aren't little cameras anymore.
And then I'm back to the same thing: the GH-1 shoots much better, but I'd really like in body stabilization with that alternative glass.
