[ Review ] The Olympus E-P2 (Electronic Pen, Model 2)

[nightpiper]

When images become so smooth to a point of no return.... "AOU!!!" Smooth Criminal... HAHAHAHA!!! (ok another lame joke from an old man... :sweat: )

That said, Samsung is releasing a new camera in Jan, Fujifilm has something in the works, Samyang is making lenses... 2010 is madness... to your wallet. :bsmilie:

That said... I have no wallet to be mad about. BOOHOO...!! :cry:

 

[Ninja23XX]

Should i get the EP1 or the EP2, since you have reviewed that the EVF isn't that accurate or battery saving?

Thanks.

 

[nightpiper]

Stills are stills, and there is still something about noise we want to see in photos. Video can be super clean (that is why movies are still shot on film), but what do I know?

When all fail, buy a 5DMkII.

The trend is gaining pace towards filmless/tapeless. George Lucas did it with Star Wars ep 1, 2 & 3. IIRC it was all shot in 2k & then after post & color grading, the movie was sent to dup into film. Those cinema with digital projector can direct put it on screen with better clarity. :thumbsup:

If all fail wait for 5Dmk3 HAHAHAHA!!!

 

[microcosm]

Saw the trailer,heard customers comments,not gonna watch it But yea,3D effects getting better,but the purpose of photos is to have images that look realistic rather than having something as smooth as cream,or smoother than cream ;p

But many are going for that noise free, artifact free look... they got confused between 3D render and photography. They should have taken up the former. Bokeh is never a problem too... you can render anything... f0.8 also possible. Without addition cost. :bsmilie:

 

[microcosm]

Should i get the EP1 or the EP2, since you have reviewed that the EVF isn't that accurate or battery saving?

Thanks.

If you do manual focusing, the E-P2 is still worth it, and don't mind me saying, not many see colors like I do. So you might not be bothered by what bothers me.

The trend is gaining pace towards filmless/tapeless. George Lucas did it with Star Wars ep 1, 2 & 3. IIRC it was all shot in 2k & then after post & color grading, the movie was sent to dup into film. Those cinema with digital projector can direct put it on screen with better clarity. :thumbsup:

If all fail wait for 5Dmk3 HAHAHAHA!!!

That is in Ah-Mah-Ree-Kah... the HK film being made now is still shot on film... You very Ang Moh lor... Vee are Asians! Still on fee-lim...

When images become so smooth to a point of no return.... "AOU!!!" Smooth Criminal... HAHAHAHA!!! (ok another lame joke from an old man... :sweat: )

That said... I have no wallet to be mad about. BOOHOO...!! :cry:

LOL! Smooth criminal...

Aiyah, budget planned by wife... make sure ministress of finance and home affairs approve can liao...

 

[spidey89]

But many are going for that noise free, artifact free look... they got confused between 3D render and photography. They should have taken up the former. Bokeh is never a problem too... you can render anything... f0.8 also possible. Without addition cost. :bsmilie:

Agreed.sad to say,my uncle is 1 of them,hmmmm,next year cny probably should psycho him to take up 3D rendering as a hobby instead of photography :devil:

 

[microcosm]

Agreed.sad to say,my uncle is 1 of them,hmmmm,next year cny probably should psycho him to take up 3D rendering as a hobby instead of photography :devil:

No lah, there is always Canon for these folks.

And I still think the 1DS is a good killer camera. Just that the clean output is not my cup of tea. But to the many out there, it is for them.

 

[spidey89]

Haha,funny story about that,my uncle happens to use Canon as well,but he talks like he's the best photographer in the world,and he laughs at my aunt (who is the same age as me) for using film cameras -_-,anyway,I guess it's just how everyone feels about different things, I like Windows,you like Mac,as long as it works for us,it's fine

 

[Ninja23XX]

If you do manual focusing, the E-P2 is still worth it, and don't mind me saying, not many see colors like I do. So you might not be bothered by what bothers me.



That is in Ah-Mah-Ree-Kah... the HK film being made now is still shot on film... You very Ang Moh lor... Vee are Asians! Still on fee-lim...



LOL! Smooth criminal...

Aiyah, budget planned by wife... make sure ministress of finance and home affairs approve can liao...

I like to do some manual focusing at times. Does it mean EP1 can't do manual at all? Thanks. I'm so confused over 4/3 systems. I use a Canon DSLR right now. Haha.

 

[spidey89]

the E-P1 can do,just that its slightly more troublesome to have to magnify the view to do critical focusing that's all

 

[nightpiper]

That is in Ah-Mah-Ree-Kah... the HK film being made now is still shot on film... You very Ang Moh lor... Vee are Asians! Still on fee-lim...

LOL! Smooth criminal...

Aiyah, budget planned by wife... make sure ministress of finance and home affairs approve can liao...

The film movie scene in asia is going to change very soon. Its so much cheaper shooting in digital than film. Every foot of film counts, but storage is cheap for digital :heart:

Ministress of finance always say "U buy 1 toy so expensive, we girls buy many pairs of shoes, bags, clothes, etc, less than ur toy... U kao bei!!" :sweat: She wins, i KO!!

As for the smooth Canon gear, the 1Ds actually has more noise than 5D/mk2. I personally prefer the 1Ds look to those 5D, 7D, 1000D, etc. Weight is one thing & no wallet for madness is another

I haven't seen 2012 yet but IIRC the movie 300 is also silky smooth :sweatsm: Lets do the moonwalk together!! HAHAHAHA!!! :bsmilie::bsmilie:

 

[microcosm]

I like to do some manual focusing at times. Does it mean EP1 can't do manual at all? Thanks. I'm so confused over 4/3 systems. I use a Canon DSLR right now. Haha.

E-P1 can, only that E-P2 makes it even easier... through the 1.44MP high resolution EVF without tunnel vision.

the E-P1 can do,just that its slightly more troublesome to have to magnify the view to do critical focusing that's all

Bingo.

The film movie scene in asia is going to change very soon. Its so much cheaper shooting in digital than film. Every foot of film counts, but storage is cheap for digital :heart:

Ministress of finance always say "U buy 1 toy so expensive, we girls buy many pairs of shoes, bags, clothes, etc, less than ur toy... U kao bei!!" :sweat: She wins, i KO!!

As for the smooth Canon gear, the 1Ds actually has more noise than 5D/mk2. I personally prefer the 1Ds look to those 5D, 7D, 1000D, etc. Weight is one thing & no wallet for madness is another

I haven't seen 2012 yet but IIRC the movie 300 is also silky smooth :sweatsm: Lets do the moonwalk together!! HAHAHAHA!!! :bsmilie::bsmilie:

It is nothing to do with technology costs, it is about politics. In HK, people don't like to shake up the chicken coup... usually cost lives. If you know what I mean.

You need to learn how to deal with the ministress of home affairs. (cannot anyhow comment, so don't comment). 家家有本难念的经.

1DS is a different monster. So let's leave "wet dream products" out of the discussion. LOL!

So is Planet 51 bro...

 

[henavs]

Major retailers in US already started selling E-P2 today...I thought they usually very slow
When is ours available locally? MSC & CP hinted stock will only come end of the month :dunno:

 

[Ninja23XX]

Major retailers in US already started selling E-P2 today...I thought they usually very slow
When is ours available locally? MSC & CP hinted stock will only come end of the month :dunno:

I can wait. Intending to get it only after christmas as new year present. Haha..:bsmilie:

 

[NMSS_2]

New Functions (*will be updated as I discover them like Easter Eggs)

MANUAL FOCUSING!!! This is the WOW WOW WOW!!! factor for me. In S-AF (MF) mode or MF mode, when you touch your focusing ring, the viewfinder (or screen) will automatically zooms 7x to manual focus assist. Spinning the thumbwheel will bring you to 10x zoom should it be required.

The best thing now is, when you stop turning the focusing ring, the view goes back to the entire frame, allowing you to compose without lifting your finger off the half pressed shutter button. This is a great improvement especially for the S-AF(MF) mode which I primarily use all the time. (edit) If only Olympus can allow user to customise the zoom out release time once the focusing ring stops moving. I believe people with different levels of speed in accessing image sharpness will appreciate that. Some people will need more time to make sure the image is sharp before feeling safe enough to full press the shutter release button.

So this manual focusing only works with 4/3 lenses? what about other camps' lenses?

 

[Ninja23XX]

Is it true, the Pen is designed in Tokyo and assembled in china?


How about the lens? Does country makes really differ in the quality of the camera?


Funny thing, Panny Gf1 is make in Japan. Both body and lenses. That's what my friend told me.

 

[spidey89]

So this manual focusing only works with 4/3 lenses? what about other camps' lenses?

Manual focusing works with almost all lenses,even from other camps,just that 4/3 lenses is easier cause there is contacts which allow auto focus and aperture control,lenses like Canon's FD mounts,those older Nikon lenses with aperture ring,or any other with aperture ring also can be mounted and used,just that it is troublesome to do manual focusing cause you have to bring up the magnified view yourself

Is it true, the Pen is designed in Tokyo and assembled in china?


How about the lens? Does country makes really differ in the quality of the camera?


Funny thing, Panny Gf1 is make in Japan. Both body and lenses. That's what my friend told me.

I think Microcosm ever said that parts are made in Japan but assembled in China. Wherever it is made from,it doesn't really matter,it's quality control that matters. If lets say my friend and I,study same course,everything the same,we work in 2 different companies in Singapore, we both fix computers,only difference is the amount of work put in,if one of us do nicely,the other one just anyhow fix, one will work,the other won't,both done in Singapore,only that one is done properly,understand? I seem to make it complicated :bsmilie:

 

[nightpiper]

[
You need to learn how to deal with the ministress of home affairs. (cannot anyhow comment, so don't comment). 家家有本难念的经.

So is Planet 51 bro...

Its more like Ministress know how to deal with me!! :sweat::bsmilie:

Planet 51 is pure animation le, 300 is real people, closer to super clean & smooth images we're talking about. But the treatment in that film is pretty unique & creative i must say :lovegrin:

Does country makes really differ in the quality of the camera?

Well, that brings me to the old days of walkman. MIJ vs other countries, sound quality world's apart.

Fast forward to yr 2007 Nov, my boss bought a Suzuki Vitara MIJ. Compared to the MIThailand ver of the same thing, world's apart.

So whether MIC shows any difference, that's to everyone's guess & likings. Not like we have a choice these days... :bheart: The other way to look at it is... Why SHG grade lenses r MIJ if MIC QC & everything else is juz as good? Something to think about

 

[microcosm]

So this manual focusing only works with 4/3 lenses? what about other camps' lenses?

If you are referring to the auto zoom in and out function, I think it is based on the electrical communications between lens and body, but for those lenses running on adapters with chips and purely a piece of metal to mount lens, I believe the camera has no way to know that there are adjustments.

Is it true, the Pen is designed in Tokyo and assembled in china?


How about the lens? Does country makes really differ in the quality of the camera?


Funny thing, Panny Gf1 is make in Japan. Both body and lenses. That's what my friend told me.

Spidey got that one right. At the end of the day, QC is the most important thing. Though I have to say that MIC products tend to have a greater rejection than those made in Japan. Things are changing of course. After WWII, no one wanted MIJ, only MIUSA, then came Taiwan, no one wanted that, only MIJ, then came Korea, people accepted Taiwan, reject Korea, now comes China, everyone start to accept Korea (though not for cars, LOL!) and reject MIC... given time every country's manufacturing improves. Next up, MIR, MIB, MII, of course, MIA... LOL!

Its more like Ministress know how to deal with me!!

Planet 51 is pure animation le, 300 is real people, closer to super clean & smooth images we're talking about. But the treatment in that film is pretty unique & creative i must say :lovegrin:

I just came back from the worse movie of the year, Storm Warriors... it copied heavily from 300, God of War (the game, especially from Chains of Olympus), Star Wars (look at Ekin's eye, Sith Lord looking), War Craft, and almost entirely made in Thailand... 1/2 out of 10.

300 had grit and partly due to good acting that saved the day, not to mention amazingly well timed cut and story telling skills. Imagine Desperate Housewives shot on Canon 5D... becomes Desperate Housewives : The Blow Up Doll Stories. (That might go down well with the viewers who are male). LOL!

Why are we talking about noise again? Chey!

Well, that brings me to the old days of walkman. MIJ vs other countries, sound quality world's apart.

Fast forward to yr 2007 Nov, my boss bought a Suzuki Vitara MIJ. Compared to the MIThailand ver of the same thing, world's apart.

So whether MIC shows any difference, that's to everyone's guess & likings. Not like we have a choice these days... The other way to look at it is... Why SHG grade lenses r MIJ if MIC QC & everything else is juz as good? Something to think about

You are just biased... when 21st Dec 2012 comes, make sure you don't get onto the Made In China arcs that will save you from the tsunamis and bring you to Africa! Ha ha ha...

(self infract OT).:sweat:

 

[jjmoh]

Hi Clifford ( Microcosm ),

Wow!....A Vey Good , Down To Earth Review Of The E-P2....:thumbsup:.....And It's Only now after Two Years of Browsing The 4/3 forum Here, That I Realise That Your Real Name Is Clifford!......... Well, we both have one thing In common Though and That's The 4Cs, and although I Am A Moderator At The other 4/3 Forum Across The Causeway, You are are Far More Active and Livelier Than Me. Argh!....Maybe it's The Age Thing, But then You're a Vet Youself What?.........That aside, In My Opinion, You're One Very Responsible, Caring and Evenhanded Mod.....:thumbsup:

Thanks For The User Friendly Brief Review Of The EP-2. As an old school Photog who Still Own some Manual Lenses, Those Manual Features Of The EP-2 really is The Icing On The Cake For Me....;p....In This Hard Times, and on a tight Budget, looks like it will be awhile before I take The Plunge!

Thanks again Clifford.....Uncle James.