It's here! Olympus E-P1 "Digital Pen" m43 system (Part 2)

[wire]

All very true. Why can't they just stick a crapppy flash so I can do a little fill flash?

Where should that crappy flash go? Given the potential size of glass, there is simply no logical on the E-P1 to place it without increasing the size of the camera.

I hardly ever use the flash on my f100fd -- it's just not flexible enough. Besides, it gives me the excuse to get a FL36 ;p.

Why does it have to be the bottom lot of lcds every single time? This time it's worse because u rely on the LCD for the most important functions. The mediocre kits lens is disposable. Unfortnately there doesn't seem to be anything else better for a while.

Really depends on what the compromises really are. I find the LCD adequate -- it's not the best example out there but it does work okay for me. For the crappy photo I take, it's not a show-stopper. For framing, the LCD has adequate refresh rate, colour correctness and resolution.

Understand that it's not just the LCD if you want to increase the resolution but the entire system from the live-view recorder to the processor to the LCD. Then, there is the concern for refresh rate and battery life.

No comments about the kit lens as I find the 17mm eternally on the cam. Will be nicer to have a 17/1.4 but I'm not complaining since I love that FL. In fact, the FL makes the OVF quite useless since 17mm (35mm@35mm equi) is the easiest to frame -- just include a bit of your peripheral vision. The 14-42 is okay but a bit dark (it's a kit lens afterall).

And then, we have the Lumix 7-14mm. :lovegrin:

 

[bernards]

A small flash the type you see on all point and shoots shouldn't be too great an engineering feat. After all Oly did manage to get a really small package. Does anybody actually complain about having a flash built-in? What is this, the 1960s?

The less than stellar LCD is nothing new and really not a surprise. All the LCDs Oly has used is really bottom of heap compared to other brands with current generation machines. At least for the bodies I had owned.

It seems all the 'pro' reviews mention the ho hum LCD and lack of flash. (I use the term 'pro' loosely.) But every post here mentioning those points will unleash a torrent by rabid foaming creatures. What is this? I spent 1.5k, so I must defend my purchase decision to the end?

 

[wire]

A small flash the type you see on all point and shoots shouldn't be too great an engineering feat. After all Oly did manage to get a really small package. Does anybody actually complain about having a flash built-in? What is this, the 1960s?

Haha... Canon 1DS Mk3

But every post here mentioning those points will unleash a torrent by rabid foaming creatures. What is this? I spent 1.5k, so I must defend my purchase decision to the end?

Perhaps, or it could just be owners sounding what they felt. Everyone, including yourself, is entitled to have an opinion and have equal right to voice them.

 

[bernards]

Haha... Canon 1DS Mk3



Perhaps, or it could just be owners sounding what they felt. Everyone, including yourself, is entitled to have an opinion and have equal right to voice them.

Good catch. What is another 1/2 a kilo on that. ;p

 

[wire]

Good catch. What is another 1/2 a kilo on that. ;p

Valid observation. I was at MS Color the other day and trying on various flashes on the E-P1. FL36 seems okay -- I like the elevation and tilt-ability. The FL50 looks totally off balance. Didn't bother with the FL14 as it's even weaker than my Contax TLA20. The TLA20 looks better

 

[tomcat]

For those who have Capture One Pro, the latest version (4.8.2) now supports E-P1, making Capture One Pro the first third-party raw converter that officially supports the E-P1.

 

[microcosm]

That is cool! Thanks for sharing the info.

 

[bernards]

Valid observation. I was at MS Color the other day and trying on various flashes on the E-P1. FL36 seems okay -- I like the elevation and tilt-ability. The FL50 looks totally off balance. Didn't bother with the FL14 as it's even weaker than my Contax TLA20. The TLA20 looks better

I saw a dozen FL-14 when I bought my E-P1. It just seemed illogical to pay $260 for such a weak flash with bare features.

I started searching around for alternatives online. I've ordered a flash from Adorama. It's in the mail now, so I can't give any comments yet. Price is cheap and specs seem reasonable for the coins they ask. Looks small, about the size of the Leica SFD24. Which is okay for me.

Targus DL-20 Flash

I was looking for some stuff when I chanced on a Tumax flash. About the size of a FL-36. Uses four batteries and recharges really fast on eneloops. I don't have much uses for these bigger flashes. So the price of $190 sounded good. Cheaper than a used FL-36, TTL and slave built-in. It's a bit noisy on the zoom, but not enough to wake the dead. Build is cheap, but no so fragile you'll need to treat it like glass.

The TTL works and the flash is powerful enough for a bounce off the roof to illuminate a whole room. Recharges faster than the FL-36 as I can recall from memory. Only funny thing is when it is tilted from 90deg, the flash will lock at 50mm zoom. I don't know the reason for this or what kind of consequence it'll bring.


Tumax DPT 386 AFZ

There you go. Two alternatives for the price of a FL-14.

 

[chopper]

Question to all: theoretically EP-1 (and any micro-4/3rd) has a much shorter lens to sensor distance compare to most DSLR currently, it means theoretically you can have adaptor to use any of the SLR/DSLR lenses out there... Is this true ? I know there is already OM to micro4/3rd adaptor, but I would look forward to someone make an EF/Nikkor/Leica to micro4/3rd adaptor... That would be fun.

 

[Benares]

Question to all: theoretically EP-1 (and any micro-4/3rd) has a much shorter lens to sensor distance compare to most DSLR currently, it means theoretically you can have adaptor to use any of the SLR/DSLR lenses out there... Is this true ? I know there is already OM to micro4/3rd adaptor, but I would look forward to someone make an EF/Nikkor/Leica to micro4/3rd adaptor... That would be fun.

Please see this thread. It should answer your queries...

 

[wire]

Bernards,

Great find. Pray tell if the TTL stuff works. Bad news on my part, the TLA200 (not TLA20) works only in "full power". The flash looks really cool on the E-P1 *cooler IMHO than the FL14* but even the manual control (by zooming) requires subject be >5m away. Guess I'm back in the market for a flash...

 

[weekh]

Anybody tried using the E-P1 for IR photography?

 

[tomcat]

Anybody tried using the E-P1 for IR photography?

It could be done but there isn't much colour in the IR images.
So so only... as far as I'm concerned. :dunno:

 

[Tachyon]

*Sigh* Dual-kit stocks not here yet. I'm starting to lose interest with announcement of other new cameras coming soon from other manufacturers...

 

[KWYLEE]

Hi, Is the silver EP-1 out of stock everywhere? Anyone knows where i can get 1?
Either the 17mm kit or the dual lens kit. Checked a few shops and don't seem to have.

Thanks.

 

[zuko]

Tachyon,
I'm in a similar position as u are.Waiting for the dual lens kit but still no news.Mind telling me whats the 'other' manufacturer's new announcements that may be competing the E-P1?

 

[cichlid]

Hi

What are the average selling prices for the single and dual kit lens package?

Thanks.

 

[weekh]

Any idea if there's an underwater housing available for the cam?

 

[flourish]

Hi, Is the silver EP-1 out of stock everywhere? Anyone knows where i can get 1?
Either the 17mm kit or the dual lens kit. Checked a few shops and don't seem to have.

Thanks.

Hi KWYLEE,

Just saw the Oly E-P1 on sale at ebay.sg. Maybe you wana take a look?

I'm going to UK in late Sept... so was checking the price over there. :sweat::sweat::sweat: cannot... the price is exorbitant..

Good luck, hope you get your toy real soon!

 

[trevorise]

ebay is so ex. somemore duno how they delivering it. fragile item man
anyway i saw an E-P1 on display at CP Marina. suppose its for sale? I'm still waiting for my set. wait until not excited liao. The sales person called me yesterday morning, i tot stock arrived. Instead, he told me the adaptor is here, asked if i want to buy or not. -__-" 'NO' was my reply.