No love for E-P3?

[Jorgen Udvang]

GH2 + G3 seems like an almost perfect match. Had the E-P3 had a viewfinder, it would have been GH2 + E-P3, and that would have been perfect plus (only weather sealing lacking). I'm going to my pusher today to give both a thorough review.

I tested the GH1 for motor-racing this weekend. That went surprisingly well, eve pan shots. The shutter release feels more responsive than that on my D300. Images will follow.

 

[Millsart]

Terry, ever thought maybe about something like a GF3/EP3L or Pen Mini for a second m4/3 body ?

They certainly lack the EVF but in the event you wanted to travel with a second/spare body they seem like they certainly have a nice size factor. For an African safari I'd of course suggest GH2x2 or GH2 plus G3, but for more typical outings where you do want a backup, they could certainly fit the bill.

That EPL3 in particular looks like it could add some cool features such as not only the tilting display, but also the IBIS.

Throw a 14mm f2.5 on that it would be quite the easy to carry in a jacket pocket or cargo short type camera, and from my recent experience with the EP3, got to say I really do like the IBIS. Its not great with longer lenses, but really cool with wides, which Panasonic doesn't offer with in lens OS.

Semantics between GH2 vs G3 aside, they are rather similar enough that having 2 of either combo doesn't really add all that much, where a much smaller body, and/or one with some unique features could make a lot of sense.

I'm thinking I'm personally going to go EPL3 and GH2 myself as it seems like that would give me the most shooting options, both with lenses like the 7-14 and 100-300, as well as my primes in that I could go out as small and light as possible or with a bigger kit in a smallish bag.

 

[Terry]

I owned the E-P1 and the E-PL1.
I preferred the E-PL1 to the E-P1.

Sounds odd but.....

I'm seriously not a fan of the Oly UI. they have a lot of great features but way over complicate things. The E-PL1 streamlined the UI a bit where you could at least pick between Super Control Panel or Live Guide where the E-P1 they both needed to be active. I'm also not a fan of the current bottom control dial. So for now the answer is no, not on the table to get one.

I had gotten out of m4/3 gear completely until this safari came up. Now I have too much gear again. So, I will have at most two m4/3 bodies after this trip.

I also have and like the X100 and an XZ1 so i am flush with camera gear considering my main love is working with the medium format tech camera.

Terry, ever thought maybe about something like a GF3/EP3L or Pen Mini for a second m4/3 body ?

They certainly lack the EVF but in the event you wanted to travel with a second/spare body they seem like they certainly have a nice size factor. For an African safari I'd of course suggest GH2x2 or GH2 plus G3, but for more typical outings where you do want a backup, they could certainly fit the bill.

That EPL3 in particular looks like it could add some cool features such as not only the tilting display, but also the IBIS.

Throw a 14mm f2.5 on that it would be quite the easy to carry in a jacket pocket or cargo short type camera, and from my recent experience with the EP3, got to say I really do like the IBIS. Its not great with longer lenses, but really cool with wides, which Panasonic doesn't offer with in lens OS.

Semantics between GH2 vs G3 aside, they are rather similar enough that having 2 of either combo doesn't really add all that much, where a much smaller body, and/or one with some unique features could make a lot of sense.

I'm thinking I'm personally going to go EPL3 and GH2 myself as it seems like that would give me the most shooting options, both with lenses like the 7-14 and 100-300, as well as my primes in that I could go out as small and light as possible or with a bigger kit in a smallish bag.

 

[Jorgen Udvang]

Terry,
Now I've tried both, and if I were you, I would take 2 x GH2 and one G3. Ergonomics of the GH2 is way better, and if you need to change settings fast, my guess is that the G3 can be annoying at times. Great for casual shots though. The G3 is much smaller than I had anticipated, and with the 14mm, it went easily into a large pocket.

 

[jonoslack]

Well.
I wouldn't like to have to rely on just the lower dial, so it's an EP3 or nothing.
I spent the weekend at Cambridge folk festival, more interested in snapping the people than the bands (which I did with an M9). However, I find it irresistible to shoot band photos.

Saturday I shot the EPL-2 with the 14-150, and it did a sterling job - good focus, acceptable high ISO fab. But I did miss the thumb wheel on the back, so it's an EP3 for me . . . . . .

 

[Terry]

Terry,
Now I've tried both, and if I were you, I would take 2 x GH2 and one G3. Ergonomics of the GH2 is way better, and if you need to change settings fast, my guess is that the G3 can be annoying at times. Great for casual shots though. The G3 is much smaller than I had anticipated, and with the 14mm, it went easily into a large pocket.

The G3 is much smaller and people don't realize the real size when they call it a mini dslr. It really isn't in person (no matter how much the pictures don't convey what it really is)

The way I've got the G3 set up it is very fast for me to change settings.
I tend to leave the camera on burst and moderate how I push the shutter.
I won't be moving back and forth between AF/MF much, and
Switching between single area and face detection is a direct button.

My 100-300 will be on the GH2 on the G3 I will either have the 14-140 or the Oly 4/3 14-54.

 

[ptomsu]

Coming back to the original theme of this thread - the EP3:

I received mine (with the 2 kit zooms) today. First impressions:

1) EP3 (after using the EP2 for almost 20 months) feels very familiar, much more responsive, the OLED screen definitely a big step forward

2) AF much faster with the 2 new lenses - also AF via the touch screen works VERY GOOD and accurate - have to get more used to it but could think of this as a potential future way for evolution also in other cameras!

3) IQ - can only judge on JPEG so far, and I still see some artefacts even in Oly JPEGS, but otherwise the IQ is extremely good!

4) VF-2 seems to be more accurate on the EP3 compared to the EP2, since the higher sampling rate - I still would like more resolution!

5) Lenses - thy seem very sharp and handy BUT: they are pure plastic - even the mount is plastic. Maybe this was the case also with older Oly M43 lenses, but at least I did not notice so far, as the mount was silver - my new lenses are all black.

Maybe the lens issue is not a real issue and the plastic seems to be very durable, but I am kind of irritated - especially if you compare to the rugged and high quality design of the EP3 itself.

Will see how I like the combo overall. But I guess I need to say goodbye to last century overall build quality

 

[andrewteee]

On the plastic lenses, they're fine enough. Very light. But I still would like an option for a higher quality zoom lens, something akin to the Olympus 12-60mm lens.

Now the new 12mm lens... that one is real nice!

 

[ptomsu]

On the plastic lenses, they're fine enough. Very light. But I still would like an option for a higher quality zoom lens, something akin to the Olympus 12-60mm lens.

Now the new 12mm lens... that one is real nice!

I fully agree! I would at also prefer a second "high grade" line of lenses, built like the 12-60 or the 12 or the 45!

Must say the camera really is a great little tool, while the lenses just are not what I want! Even if light and cheap, I hate to touch such plastic.

Another prove that sometimes marketing departments can kill a great product (idea) or even a company.

 

[ohnri]

I have both the GH-2 and the E-P3 as well as a rarely used E-P2.

I agree with those that have found the GH-2 to have superior low light focus compared to the E-P3. The GH-2 also has an excellent, articulating touch screen as well as the ability to shoot in different formats without a significant loss of pixels.

Having said that, the E-P3 is easily my choice to shoot with. I love the IBIS for legacy lenses as well as my Oly 75-300, which is a bit smaller than the similar Pana 100-300. I also find it useful even for lenses such as the wonderful new 12mm f/2 prime.

Also, I greatly prefer the Olympus form factor. It looks and feels slim while the GH-2 feels bulky and large. The E-P3 with the tiny 14-42 kit zoom looks like a cute P&S, the GH-2 with the kit 14-45 does not.

I also love the Oly jPEGs. From the days of my long gone E-1 to my E-P2 and now the E-P3, I have found the Oly jPEGs to require very little PP compared to any other camera I use. Certainly, to my eye, far better than my GH-2.

In fact, I generally shoot jpeg only from my Olympus cameras. From my Leica M9 I shoot RAW only. From my Nikon D3x and the GH-2 I shoot RAW+jpeg. I sold plenty of prints four feet on a side from my 5 MP Oly E-1, shot in jpeg, so I am not worried about making quality blowups from the E-P3.

Generally, I shoot without the VF-2 but I often carry it in a pocket to slip it on if I want it. I am very happy with that and am glad that Olympus has kept the form factor the same for the E-P3. I am not opposed to a built in VF on other Olympus models though. For those that NEED a built in VF, I am glad Panasonic offers a nice alternative.

Best,

Bill

 

[jonoslack]

Hehe, I never use RAW - if you have good cameras, you do not ned (lifetime consuming) RAW.
It's the same like believing to need a RollsRoyce to get fresh rolls from backery next street.

Hi Hot
Shooting raw doesn't consume any extra time . . . If you're using Lightroom or Aperture - you can just make more adjustments to the RAW files, but you don't have to.
Sure, they take up more space, but that's hardly a deal breaker with today's big drives.

Perhaps you should try shooting RAW . . . . . I've been shooting jpg with my E-P3 so far, because their is no Aperture support yet. It doesn't save me any time, but it sure does reduce the options for PP.

Try it - you'll buy it!

 

[jonoslack]

On the plastic lenses, they're fine enough. Very light. But I still would like an option for a higher quality zoom lens, something akin to the Olympus 12-60mm lens.

Now the new 12mm lens... that one is real nice!

HI Andrew
Right with you. I'd like a higher quality mid range zoom - surely it'll come with the pro model later on - there are now so many good lenses for m43, that this seems more and more a glaring omission.

the 12 is delicious, but in use, and the quality. I've been having some good results with the 14-150 zoom, it's also small and light, but decently built.

Like Tom - unless they can build in a left sided EVF (like the NEX7) I'd rather have a smaller top plate and the possibility of adding the VF2 - which I often do, and like very much.

I'm certainly falling more and more in love with my E-P3, it's agile and fast, the touch screen is fab, it works well with the VF2, I like the IBIS, and it's a nice thing. Hooray!

 

[andrewteee]

Hi Hot
Shooting raw doesn't consume any extra time . . . If you're using Lightroom or Aperture - you can just make more adjustments to the RAW files, but you don't have to.

Agree with this. Once you get to know a camera's RAW files it's pretty quick and easy to make the core adjustments. You can use presets that you've configured or copy/paste a setting a bunch of images.

But it also allows you more flexibility in PP. They are much more flexible than JPGs, which can fall apart pretty quick if pushed hard.

 

[andrewteee]

HI Andrew
Right with you. I'd like a higher quality mid range zoom - surely it'll come with the pro model later on - there are now so many good lenses for m43, that this seems more and more a glaring omission.

I hope so.

I've been having some good results with the 14-150 zoom, it's also small and light, but decently built.

I've used that lens in the past and found it better than the kit lens. But it's kinda big and I don't need that much zoom range. However, if there was a constant aperture high-end zoom as mentioned above I'd put up with a larger lens.

Which reminds me... I should try the 14-35/2 on the EP3 I don't remember if I still have my 4/3-m4/3 adapter.

 

[thearne3]

Tom, did you every try to shoot a 200-600mm equiv lens on your OM though ? I doubt anyone complained about it handling "big lenses" because I doubt there were any.

Sorry I missed this...

Yes! I have an OM 300mm f4.5. Like any big lens, I use the left hand to hold everything, right hand for controls. The lens is big enough to come with a tripod bracket - wouldn't trust the mount to hold the weight!

Best,
Tom

 

[ptomsu]

Which reminds me... I should try the 14-35/2 on the EP3 I don't remember if I still have my 4/3-m4/3 adapter.

Tried the 14-35 as well as the 35-100 as I own both with my E5 - both are great lenses, but the form factor with the EP3 simply sucks!

AND - they are still slow in AF, even with the very much acclaimed fastest AF of the EP3. I suspect simply because the AF is not optimized for those kind of lenses. And I used the latest 43 to M43 adapter from Olympus - did not help with speed!

 

[Terry]

Tried the 14-35 as well as the 35-100 as I own both with my E5 - both are great lenses, but the form factor with the EP3 simply sucks!

AND - they are still slow in AF, even with the very much acclaimed fastest AF of the EP3. I suspect simply because the AF is not optimized for those kind of lenses. And I used the latest 43 to M43 adapter from Olympus - did not help with speed!

Did you heck to see if the lenses have the latest firmware?

 

[ptomsu]

Did you heck to see if the lenses have the latest firmware?

Yes, unfortunately I have the latest FW on both lenses!

But even on the E5 the latest FW update for the 14-35 is not satisfying at all! Olympus brought a new FW for this lens when they started selling the E5, saying this improves AF speed and accuracy. This FW brings the lens not even close in AF speed to Nikon, Sony, Pentax and Canon with similar lenses. We are not talking about some less ms, we are talking here about seconds!

This is a big issue because for such a pro grade lens and a pro grade camera which claims to have the fastest AF this is really NOT acceptable. And there are no signs thatOlympus is working on a new FW, because they are simply putting all resources into M43 for the moment.

I am starting to think of selling my E5 and E system lenses and get back into some legacy system from either Canon, Nikon or Sony again. Knowing there is nowhere the perfect world, but at least much less pain A shame, because mechanically and optically these pro lenses from Olympus are just stellar performers!

 

[Paratom]

One question for the specialists:

I have the E-P2 and since I sold my K5 and sometimes want a small system camera think to update the EP2- to the EP3.

Now one thing with the EP2 I dislike is the size of the AF-point. The Leica x1 has a "spot focus" function with a very small AF point. Is this possible with the EP3? Or maybe with the EP2 (to reduce size of the AF point so I can decide more precise where I want to focus?)
Maybe its even possible with the Ep2 and I just dont know how.

With more and more faster primes I find the m4/3 gets more attractive for me.
Thanks!

 

[deejjjaaaa]

T
AND - they are still slow in AF, even with the very much acclaimed fastest AF of the EP3. I suspect simply because the AF is not optimized for those kind of lenses.

vice versa - lenses (focusing gears/motors/focusing group of optical elements) are not optimized for CDAF... no firmware will help here if CDAF will continue to require it to perform a lot of fast small sequential incremental moves versus one-two moves for PDAF