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Archive 2009 · Olympus EP-2

mawz
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p.2 #1 · Olympus EP-2

Greg Feldman wrote:
You're right. I should have said "compact" or somesuch thing. There's no need for that hump anymore.

The hump is functional. It's filled with a combination of the flash and the EVF unit. As you can see ty the size of the EVF unit for the E-P2, the high-res EVF's are pretty large.

There's no way to push it more into the body either, you'd have to go for an altogether taller body to eliminate the prism hump.

Nov 05, 2009 at 06:06 PM

Yakim Peled
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p.2 #2 · Olympus EP-2

dasrocket wrote:
The four main complaints about the E-P1 have been the Lack of EVF, the low rez screen, the lack of flash and the slow AF.

One down...

Well, you got to leave something for the E-P3, E-P4 and E-P5.....

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Nov 05, 2009 at 06:07 PM

loudtiger
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p.2 #3 · Olympus EP-2

how about just an optical one with frame lines? that wouldn't take much space on the body. it can have an overlay for AF points, or if that's too inaccurate, just have center point focus.

Nov 06, 2009 at 01:15 AM

myam203
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p.2 #4 · Olympus EP-2

loudtiger wrote:
how about just an optical one with frame lines? that wouldn't take much space on the body. it can have an overlay for AF points, or if that's too inaccurate, just have center point focus.

Agreed. That's what I'd like to see.

Nov 06, 2009 at 01:39 AM

Lotusm50
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p.2 #5 · Olympus EP-2

Mike Yamin wrote:
Agreed. That's what I'd like to see.

Yes.

And I expected to see an optical viewfinder when this so-called "Pro" version of the E-P1 was rumoured. It probably would have been cheaper to in implement than their EVP)off the shelf technology) and a more welcome feature.

And I expected a higher-resolution LCD (Oly is seriously behind the curve on this, especially with a camera that needs a good one)

And I expected faster AF, maybe even a better sensor, something, anything in the camera hardware -- instead we get "art-filters" and a couple software tweeks. Another anticipated camera off my shopping list.

Nov 06, 2009 at 09:09 AM

Sam Bennett
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p.2 #6 · Olympus EP-2

People inclined to Optical View Finders can already use them in the form of external OVFs. An internal OVF that can show focus, etc. makes absolutely no sense for the market these cameras are aimed at - it will take up a lot of precious space without providing a useful/accurate view. If a high quality, accurate OVF is of primary importance to you, then MFT is probably not the format for you.

IMO, Panasonic and Olympus' time is better spent further developing accurate, bright and compact EVFs - making them smaller and smaller. That is the only way that you easily cover all the ways in which people will use the cameras with various lenses - from super wide zooms going out to 7mm to super zooms going out to 300mm, to people using god-knows-what 3rd party lenses. Once the "guts" take up less space, look at integrating a smallish VF in the style of Leica into the "top" part of the camera, without having an SLR-like look to the camera.

Nov 06, 2009 at 09:26 AM

Lotusm50
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p.2 #7 · Olympus EP-2

Sam Bennett wrote:
People inclined to Optical View Finders can already use them in the form of external OVFs. An internal OVF that can show focus, etc. makes absolutely no sense for the market these cameras are aimed at - it will take up a lot of precious space without providing a useful/accurate view. If a high quality, accurate OVF is of primary importance to you, then MFT is probably not the format for you.

But external OVF don't using convey any information about exposure, camera settings, etc, they take more space, can be lost, and prevent using other accessories at the same time like a flash, or in the E-p2's case a microphone. They have worked well in compact film cameras (Leica CM, Contax T3, etc.) and can work equally well and simply, in digital large sensor, compact cameras. How accurate do they need to be in a compact? I've never had a problem with them and they have been used quite successfully by millions of photographers for decades. They are easily sufficiently "accurate", and quite useful. They present a clearer, crisper view that is much easier on the eye than EVF. In terms of "precious space", the cameras is already very small and an OFV need only add 15mm or so to the height of the camera -- not much at all -- and potentially less depending how it arranged and what kind of OVF is used. They have proven quite useful without requiring significant space in cameras for many, many years. EVF's still are not a good substitute for a optical VF. Until they improve significantly, they are just an expensive, technology-for-technology's-sake, inadequate, limited value, substitute. Without an OVF, MFT might not be the format for me, but there is no reason why MFT can not use an OVF. Quite frankly, if Olympus took the step of adding a quality OVF to the supposed "pro" E-P2, they would be selling them like crazy. Now, as it is, as evidenced by the threads on this, the camera is being met with little more than indifference.

Nov 06, 2009 at 10:50 AM

EOS20
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p.2 #8 · Olympus EP-2

I liked the Fake EP-2 photo that was doing the rounds before the official EP-2 Announcement:

Fake EP-2 Pic

Nov 06, 2009 at 11:17 AM

Sam Bennett
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p.2 #9 · Olympus EP-2

Lotusm50 wrote:
But external OVF don't using convey any information about exposure, camera settings, etc, they take more space, can be lost, and prevent using other accessories at the same time like a flash, or in the E-p2's case a microphone.

All of which are arguments for having a smaller, integrated VF, but not necessarily an OVF.

Lotusm50 wrote:
They have worked well in compact film cameras (Leica CM, Contax T3, etc.) and can work equally well and simply, in digital large sensor, compact cameras. How accurate do they need to be in a compact?

Both of those cameras are fixed-lens cameras, and so it is much easier to optimize the OVF for the focal lengths they use.

Lotusm50 wrote:
EVF's still are not a good substitute for a optical VF. Until they improve significantly, they are just an expensive, technology-for-technology's-sake, inadequate, limited value, substitute.

And yet, a vastly larger number of people are getting by with EVFs or LCD displays than OVF/dSLRs. Like it or not, the way that most people take pictures right now is on crappy LCD displays. Again, look at the market Olympus and Panasonic are going for long term - EVFs and LCDs are fine for that market.

Lotusm50 wrote:
Without an OVF, MFT might not be the format for me, but there is no reason why MFT can not use an OVF. Quite frankly, if Olympus took the step of adding a quality OVF to the supposed "pro" E-P2, they would be selling them like crazy. Now, as it is, as evidenced by the threads on this, the camera is being met with little more than indifference.

Actually, there are many reasons why an OVF is impractical, as I've already stated. MFT is an interchangeable lens format which makes an OVF that can cover the range from 7mm to 300mm (or beyond) is very, very impractical. And ultimately, an OVF simply isn't desirable for the majority of the market than Olympus and Panasonic seeing as being their wedge in the digital camera marketplace. I wouldn't hold my breath.

Nov 06, 2009 at 11:20 AM

Lotusm50
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p.2 #10 · Olympus EP-2

Sam Bennett wrote:
All of which are arguments for having a smaller, integrated VF, but not necessarily an OVF.

Both of those cameras are fixed-lens cameras, and so it is much easier to optimize the OVF for the focal lengths they use.

And yet, a vastly larger number of people are getting by with EVFs or LCD displays than OVF/dSLRs. Like it or not, the way that most people take pictures right now is on crappy LCD displays. Again, look at the market Olympus and Panasonic are going for long term - EVFs and LCDs are fine for that market.

Actually, there are many reasons...Show more →

Integrated VF yes, and optimally -- if not necessarily -- an optical one, certainly at this stage of the technology and preferable to most.

For focal length coverage, with interchangable lenses -- it doesn't have to duplicate DSLR's in this respect -- its a compact, and with a compact it is unlikely you'll defeat the purpose with a 300mm -- most of the uses will be from (on an equivalent basis) 28mm to 90mm. The optical VF in the Contax G2 easily accommodates these focal lengths (and have technology to go from 21mm to 90mm), and so does the Leica (CL's and M) although less effectively IMHO - bit others are quite satisfied. I don't see anything "impractical" about it at all, and they are certainly preferred by most users given the choice. It is quite desirable by the majority of the market and much easier to use.

Olympus and Panasonic may have chosen a different path, but they have given up a lot of sales in doing so. A good optical viewfinder in a camera like this would see huge demand -- especially those who use OVF's in their DSLR's and those who have used OVF for years. An EVF is a compromise, and a compromised technology right now. Many may be resigned that that is all they are going to get, but it would not be their preference, and they are not excited about it. Maybe it will take Zeiss/Sony, Canon, Nikon to show them how its done, and its potential with the market, with competing products. Given the choice and comparing them, most users and buyers would choose and OVF over an EVF nearly all the time.

Nov 06, 2009 at 12:07 PM

dasrocket
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p.2 #11 · Olympus EP-2

EOS20 wrote:
I liked the Fake EP-2 photo that was doing the rounds before the official EP-2 Announcement:

Fake EP-2 Pic

Hey that is a much better looking body, especially if that was an integrated EVF

Never saw that one - I like the chrome-top/ black body RF style cameras...

Nov 06, 2009 at 12:21 PM

EOS20
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p.2 #12 · Olympus EP-2

yeah I first saw that pic just before the announcement was made, and when I saw that the EP-2 had been announced, I thought that Olympus was going to make that camera.

It's what everyone is asking for, a camera with a built in EVF and a built in flash and still a compact sized camera (no SLR style viewfinder bump like on the GH-1) it's a shame it's a fake.

Edited on Nov 06, 2009 at 12:30 PM · View previous versions

Nov 06, 2009 at 12:28 PM

weezintrumpete
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p.2 #13 · Olympus EP-2

EOS20 wrote:
I liked the Fake EP-2 photo that was doing the rounds before the official EP-2 Announcement:

Fake EP-2 Pic

Now THAT is a m43's camera I would buy

Nov 06, 2009 at 12:29 PM

Greg Feldman
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p.2 #14 · Olympus EP-2

weezintrumpete wrote:
Now THAT is a m43's camera I would buy

Exactly.

Nov 06, 2009 at 12:47 PM

carstenw
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p.2 #15 · Olympus EP-2

Oh, just buy a Leica

That is the look they emulated. In fact, I think those are some of the Digilux-2 controls on the back.

Nov 06, 2009 at 01:02 PM

Sam N
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p.2 #16 · Olympus EP-2

The fake looks nice other than the horrible flash placement which would block the flash from hitting your subject with most lenses.

I think there are enough people who want an integrated EVF in a body that's less SLR-like than the G1/GH1.

Nov 06, 2009 at 01:13 PM

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