The Crazy, Wacky World of Art Filters!!! Olympus PEN E-PL2

[Dream Merchant]

Field Test – Olympus E-PL2

Creative Art Filters


I guess there no need to introduce this sexy lil machine! I had the WHITE model and many babes were drooling (at the Camera!) when I went walking around with it!

Quite a few ‘field tests’ have already been done*, with much feedback, so what I would like to do is avoid the technicalities, which have been covered, introductions etc and just explore further use of the Art Filters, and combinations, in real life situations.

This was from one day around Chinatown, and I’ll try to shoot more when time permits.


* Field Tests in the Review Section

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/threads/841944-REVIEW-Olympus-PEN-E-PL2-by-ed9119

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/threads/845540-Field-Test-Olympus-EPL-2-by-Marky

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/threads/854566-Olympus-E-PL2-Handson-by-Spidey89

and by member wonglp

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/threads/846006-EPL2-Likes-dislikes-by-wonglp


As mentioned, the Art Filters can be a real Magnet!

… I let my colleagues in the office play with it all last week ...... nobody shoots seriously , maybe a few Facebook journalists among them ..... EVERYONE loved the ART filters ..... ESPECIALLY the Pop Art, Grainy Film and the Dramatic Tone filters .... and especially the younger colleagues (the girls love the white/tan sample that I have .... some asking if it comes in pastel pink .............BELCH !!)

This old fart(me) cant understand young people these days .....

Actually Ed, you can get quite creative/'serious' with the right subjects and filters/combination of Filters! *WINK*




NPNT!!!

So here they are!


Dark and Gloomy day - a great way to turn the damp and dreary into something Wild, Wacky and FUN!!!

L: Normal AV mode, No filters | R: Pop Art

You can see IMMEDIATELY how the very first filter option 'LIFTS' the entire image and makes it ... well, 'POP'!


Another Example:

Even with normal AV, I love the colors and sharpness produced by the E-PL2!

POP ART - See the SATURATION! DROOLS!

TBC ...

 

[Dream Merchant]

Organic Matter

Normal AV no filters

Dramatic Tone

For those selecting certain subjects when using the Dramatic Tone filters, I notice one thing if you don't want too over-the-top results with massive Draganizing, HDR and random heavy-handed dodge and burn ...

Look for FLAT, more even contrast/lit subjects.

These coconuts were under shade, and it had been reining that day - VERY FLAT LIGHTING.

I personally haven't tried this (yet), but as you go along with the Dramatic Tone filter, I suspect that you could start to slowly INCREASE the contrast and brightness levels by using Fill Flash.

There no 'guide' per se, but I would probably start with -1EV for closer subjects.

In addition, you could also use exposure compensation to some effect.

a +EV seems to even out the filter effects a little, and a -EV bias seems to darken and make the filter effects look denser and well, more dramatic! LOL!

 

[Dream Merchant]

Moving on to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, there were many interesting scenes that were begging for the use of the Art Filters!


This time, I started using a combination of different filters. I'll describe the along the way.


As you may know, there are two types of Grainy Film - I and II. I can't say that I favor just one, because I look at the subject, and then decide if I want a 'lighter', slightly more ethereal effect, of a darker, more brooding patina to the shot.


Many times, it helps to study the subject first, then decide ... but sometimes, just for the FUN OF IT, WACK!!! LOLZ!


This was a combination of the Grainy Film Type II AND the Frame Border.

I decided to give this one a slight +EV compensation.


Since it had been raining all afternoon, I was kinda stuck around the area, and lo and behold, when I looked UP, I found some very nice semi-abstract/detail shots to be captured!

This one is with the Soft Focus filter.

And this one with the Pin Hole filter

You will notice that with the fall-off in light, there appears to be a slightly fuzzy area near the pin hole effect which may be similar to a 'soft focus' effect.

I suspect this 'effect' may diminish if the subject is too bright or contrasty with high levels of illumination, so if you choose your subject carefully, you can take advantage of this!

 

[Dream Merchant]

Getting into combi-filters, two filter effects, the scope for possibilities opens up.

Besides the 'scene' modes, which is something else altogether (select scene to match your shooting conditions and subjects), the range of Art Filters on the E-PL2 is quite interesting:

Pop Art - Type I - Brighter
- Type II - Darker and more intense

Pop Art - Type I or II can be COMBINED WITH
- Soft Focus effect
- Pin Hole Effect
- Frame Effect (Old Polaroid border)



Soft Focus - one setting only


Grainy Film - Type I - Darker and more brooding
- Type II - Slightly lighter and less contrasty

Grainy Film Type I and II has an additional Frame Effect (Old Polaroid border)


Pin Hole Effect has THREE Types
- Type I - Light and Breezy, almost like a high-key effect
- Type II - More true to like, deeper saturation
- Type III - Almost 'Retro' looking effects

ALL THREE Types of Pin Hole can be COMBINED WITH a Frame Effect (Old Polaroid border)


Diorama (Miniature or tilt-effect) Filter - Only one setting


Dramatic Tone - can be COMBINED WITH a Frame Effect (Old Polaroid border)

IIRC, the dramatic Tone effect, while having only ONE setting, may be altered with judicious choice of subject, lighting and +/- EV compensation described above.

 

[Dream Merchant]

OK, let's explore the combined filters a little ...


This one is with Pop Art I and Frame Effect (Old Polaroid border)

Grainy Film (Type II - the less contrasty setting) + Frame Effect (Old Polaroid Border)

Soft Focus

Pin Hole

Pin Hole with Frame Effect (Old Polaroid Border)

I wonder if the E-PL2 might allow us to download jpeg borders found on the net?

That would increase the potential of the Frame Effect tremendously!

 

[Dream Merchant]

Moving on, the day was getting darker AND Gloomier, but that did not stop the E-PL2 Art Filters from doing a wonderful job!

This series of shots were under dark, overcast skies and towards evening.


Pop Art

Dramatic Tone under drab, overcast and flat lighting

Dramatic Tone and Frame Effect (Old Polaroid Border)

 

[Dream Merchant]

Last few to wrap up this segment of the review.

Random Shots.


Ancient Coins

Food Street

 

[Dream Merchant]

Apologies for the delays ... have been very busy.

Managed a chance to shoot recently, and hopefully, can show some of the ways that images may be tweaked (somewhat) with the Art Filter settings.

Let's start off with a 'controlled' test (as totally un-scientific as I could manage!). This is to replicate what folks using an E-PL2 while going out with friends of casual outings might encounter.

No external flash, not huge camera bags, just a little pouch. I'm sure many consumers, even hard-core photographers may not always want to carry 5 kg of equipment everywhere ... or even just 2 or 3kg!


Shots takes on a relatively bright, but cloudy day.

Normal Aperture Priority

Pop Art Type I - this is the brighter and slightly 'breezier' effect, but still with increased saturation and contrast.

Pop Art Type II - More intense and darker

Pop Art Type I + Soft Focus. It's only labeled 'Soft Focus' in the photo. This was a mistake on my part.

Pop Art Type I & Frame

 

[Dream Merchant]

Continuing the Pop Art series, here's one with Pop Art Type I and the Pin Hole effect!

Soft Focus filter (photo is mislabeled)

Notice that in Soft Focus, colors are more muted with slightly lower contrast as compared to the Pop Art + Soft Focus?

Moving on to the Grainy Film effect, some folks have complained that the Grainy effect might be a bit too strong. Highlights are blown, and shadows blocked-up ... but, there are times when you do want to use such filters for an overly intense feel and look.

Grainy Film Type I

Grainy Film Type II features slightly reduced contrast and intensity, and may be a better choice for normal applications.

Adding an old Polaroid rebate border seems to 'enhance' the Grainy Film effect, creating a mood of great nostalgia!

 

[Dream Merchant]

Pin Hole Type I - Appears to lean towards green somwewhat. Colour wise, it's slightly more intense than the other two pin hole types.

Pin Hole Typr II - appears cooler and more blue, even though that's a misnomer where colour temperatures are concerned.

Pin Hole Type III - warmer, muted colours. Again, a misnomer. But with Type III Pin Hole, what you get is a 'retro' looking peek into a different world!

To really enhance Pin Hole Type III, let's add the old Polaroid border!

If you want to, you could always desat the colours or even intensify them!

 

[Dream Merchant]

Remember in my previous post, I suspected that biasing a strong +/- EV using some filters might alter the intensity somewhat?

Sometimes, filters like Dramatic Tone (especially) and Grainy Film can be 'customized' simply by adjusting EV.

Here's an example ... shot immediately one after another, different EV settings. BOTH using Dramatic Tone filter.

Straight-away, you can see how one is like a deep, dark Gotham-City like feel, and the other is bright and airy!

 

[Dream Merchant]

OK, just another 'control shot' using normal aperture priority ... showing the colour rendition which Olympus lenses and sensors capture.

 

[Dream Merchant]

As night falls, it gets even more interesting when city's lights add a palette of rich and vibrant colours.

I notice that even under difficult conditions, the E-PL2 focuses positively and rather quickly, for a 'pocket' camera. I also took videos under the bridge where skate-boarders were mucking around and most of the time, there was focus-lock.


OK, let's go back to some stills ...


Diorama

You'll notice that even though there is a nicer gradation, only the center sliver of the image is sharp, so you need to choose your plane of sharp focus carefully. Nonetheless, it's GREAT FUN!

Pop Art and Soft Focus lends a dreamy, romantic feel to the shot while the pop art keeps intense and brightly coloured lights intense.

For he who likes things ... DRAMATIC!

 

[Dream Merchant]

While not part of the Art Filters review, I should mention that ALL these shots were taken HAND-HELD.


So I got crazy. I had nothing to loose, really! And I wanted to see how well the IS or image stabalizer performed with the kit lens.


Without going into long doo-dahs, it did very well!


These were shots taken with exposures of between 1-2 to 2 seconds. Hand-held with both hands cupping the camera and placed hands on my knee.


This was average

This was the Best I managed to get:

There were, much worse shots of course! :bsmilie:

 

[Dream Merchant]

A couple more for the road!


OLYMPUS COLOURS!

Grainy Film

 

[Dream Merchant]

Nostalgic Moments ... Over-exposed.

 

[lee84]

appreciated this review, especially the I.S. part taken on Marina Bay Sands. still waiting to lay my hands on this baby =D

 

[hope107fm]

Good review. I've learnt a few tricks.

 

[huatman]

kind of like the filter function.. tempted to get cheaper EPL1 or EPL2, but saw some review EPL2 got some sensor problem which got some red lighting stuffs?

 

[Dream Merchant]

You're welcome!

Huatman ... apparently it appears only with very small apertures and the camera pointed at an angle to the sun.

BTW, I HAVE also experiences this phenomenon with THREE DIFFERENT digital cameras (two brands).

However, it's so easy to just move your angle slightly, or don't shoot with very small apertures!