More user experiences, and updates. I have been going on treks with the EP5.
I like the overall size and weight, especially when paired with the Lumix 12-35/f2.8. The feel is satiny and great. The heft is right and and the overall balance nice without being too tiring. The downside are the grips. The front is practically non-existent and the rear thumb rest could have been better contoured and placed; the rear thumb wheel could have been incorporated into the thumb rest. As it is the rest feels like it is in the way of accessing the rear dial/wheel. The controls are very responsive and tactile except for the "magnifying glass" button. If anything, both the wheels could have been a little stiffer but this is just a small quibble coz there are occasions when I have accidentally shifted the controls, especially the front wheel. Handling could be better. It is not the most ergonomic of camera. It handles better when shooting than at rest mainly because of the smallish front grip. The selection 4+1 dial is a definite improvement over the EP3. And better than the squishiness of the EM5 but still lack the robustness and tactile feel of the GX1. It is NOT rotating so there is really no good reason why there should not be discrete buttons instead of a big tilting pad.
The flash pop out button is getting a tad irritating at the way it keeps accidentally popping out the flash. Making it more recessed or adding on a guard would've solved the problem. The bottom panel don't seem as solid as the top panel; the battery/SD card compartment door seems ....flimsy in comparison to the GX1. And the shape of the battery do not make for quick and idiot proof insertion of the battery, especially in the dark. If not careful, it could be jammed in the wrong way.
The EP5 allows for very comprehensive customisation. The downside is that it is not as flexible nor as intuitive as the GX1.
After customisation, the GX1 allows for at least 4 custom sets for different conditions. Which can be called up within one click or one click and another selection. This is NOT as simple for the EP5. Each button can only be customised for some limited, or specified tasks. And it it NOT possible to set a different button for a different set (nor does this makes sense as you would lose functional capability of that particular button). Each button within the GX1 can be tasked to any options. Even the VF's "buttons" can be customised. Not the EP5. And the buttons with the EP5 can have different "mode" of response. E.g. the Fn button's click to select do not need to hold but if any of "Myset" is delegated to the "magnify" button, you have to hold it to use that particular set of condition. The easiest way to get to any of a customised "Myset" is to delegate it to the rotary dial (which can only set to 2 different settings, losing the functions of those settings). Other than that it is through the "Menu" button.
The default functions on the GX1 4 "rotary" buttons already make sense. And on top that it can be assigned. Not the EP5. As it is, I am still trying to dedicate a button for "ISO", "Myset", AWB and "AF Mode" in logical postions without upsetting the AEL from the only button that made conventional sense, at the EP5's movie start/stop button.
The LCD panel is great. The resolution and color displayed is natural and the brightness good even for daylight viewing. The control is responsive though not as repsonsive as the EP3's and definitely more responsive than the GX1's.
The best of the EP5 so far?
1. OOC jpgs.
2. ISO jpgs to 3200.
3. The shutter. I love the sound and the feel of it!
I like the overall size and weight, especially when paired with the Lumix 12-35/f2.8. The feel is satiny and great. The heft is right and and the overall balance nice without being too tiring. The downside are the grips. The front is practically non-existent and the rear thumb rest could have been better contoured and placed; the rear thumb wheel could have been incorporated into the thumb rest. As it is the rest feels like it is in the way of accessing the rear dial/wheel. The controls are very responsive and tactile except for the "magnifying glass" button. If anything, both the wheels could have been a little stiffer but this is just a small quibble coz there are occasions when I have accidentally shifted the controls, especially the front wheel. Handling could be better. It is not the most ergonomic of camera. It handles better when shooting than at rest mainly because of the smallish front grip. The selection 4+1 dial is a definite improvement over the EP3. And better than the squishiness of the EM5 but still lack the robustness and tactile feel of the GX1. It is NOT rotating so there is really no good reason why there should not be discrete buttons instead of a big tilting pad.
The flash pop out button is getting a tad irritating at the way it keeps accidentally popping out the flash. Making it more recessed or adding on a guard would've solved the problem. The bottom panel don't seem as solid as the top panel; the battery/SD card compartment door seems ....flimsy in comparison to the GX1. And the shape of the battery do not make for quick and idiot proof insertion of the battery, especially in the dark. If not careful, it could be jammed in the wrong way.
The EP5 allows for very comprehensive customisation. The downside is that it is not as flexible nor as intuitive as the GX1.
After customisation, the GX1 allows for at least 4 custom sets for different conditions. Which can be called up within one click or one click and another selection. This is NOT as simple for the EP5. Each button can only be customised for some limited, or specified tasks. And it it NOT possible to set a different button for a different set (nor does this makes sense as you would lose functional capability of that particular button). Each button within the GX1 can be tasked to any options. Even the VF's "buttons" can be customised. Not the EP5. And the buttons with the EP5 can have different "mode" of response. E.g. the Fn button's click to select do not need to hold but if any of "Myset" is delegated to the "magnify" button, you have to hold it to use that particular set of condition. The easiest way to get to any of a customised "Myset" is to delegate it to the rotary dial (which can only set to 2 different settings, losing the functions of those settings). Other than that it is through the "Menu" button.
The default functions on the GX1 4 "rotary" buttons already make sense. And on top that it can be assigned. Not the EP5. As it is, I am still trying to dedicate a button for "ISO", "Myset", AWB and "AF Mode" in logical postions without upsetting the AEL from the only button that made conventional sense, at the EP5's movie start/stop button.
The LCD panel is great. The resolution and color displayed is natural and the brightness good even for daylight viewing. The control is responsive though not as repsonsive as the EP3's and definitely more responsive than the GX1's.
The best of the EP5 so far?
1. OOC jpgs.
2. ISO jpgs to 3200.
3. The shutter. I love the sound and the feel of it!
