Olympus EPL1 any good?

Calabi

Calabi

Calabi

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I've looked at a few reviews and am liking the sound of the EPL1. I'm wondering if anyone has some experience of using it or has any ideas for better cameras that are roughly the same price.
 
its ridiculously good for the money.

In good light it takes better photos than a D5000, which costs loads more. The sensor has a v thin AA filter, making the photos extremely sharp. The only downside of it is the same as the downsides for most* micro four thirds cameras, its focus speed, shot to shot and its low light performance.

For the money you cant get a better camera, no doubt about it.

*the GH2 and G3 are now arguable equal to DSLR's in focus speed, shot to shot and its low light performance.
 
The other downside of the E-pl1 is its plastic construction and plastic buttons. But it does have the option to attach an electronic viewfinder which costs about £180.

HOWEVER. if your not bother about the attachable viewfinder i'd go for the E-p1 (the original pen). The e-p1 image quality is pretty much the same (pixel peeping you might notice, but i'd doubt it) as the e-pl1. however the e-p1 has the metal body construction, metal buttons and a bigger LCD. it just cant attach a view finder.

hope that helps.
 
ashatron said:
its ridiculously good for the money.



*the GH2 and G3 are now arguable equal to DSLR's in focus speed, shot to shot and its low light performance.
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Low light performance? Really? Last time I looked the G3 was worse but at least comparable in tests and the GH2 was nowhere near?

In my opinion if you want to go with an interchangable lens camera, then investing a little more in terms of cash on a DSLR (around 350-400 for a low end new model with kit lens) and more time into how to use it correctly will give you a lot more in return.

However if you are not looking at taking up photogaphy as a hobby it may be too much hassle, which defeats the point of having spent so much money.
 
I was looking for roughly in the £300 price range those GH2, G3, EP1 look a bit beyond that.

I was also thinking of the Panasonic GF2 but the picture quality isnt quite as good. From what I've seen the low light performance looks fine on the Olympus.

I'll stick with the EPL1, Thanks for the help guys.

@m3csl2004

I want to get something thats more a step up from a point and shoot. I dont want to waste money on an dslr that I dont know how to use. With the Olympus it seems I can point and shoot and learn and play around with lenses settings and work my way up to an dslr if I feel like it.
 
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Calabi said:
@m3csl2004

I want to get something thats more a step up from a point and shoot. I dont want to waste money on an dslr that I dont know how to use. With the Olympus it seems I can point and shoot and learn and play around with lenses settings and work my way up to an dslr if I feel like it.
Click to expand...

I think your exactly the type of user these cameras are made for, they are certainly a large step up from a point and shoot!
 
I was thinking about getting either an Olympus XZ-1 or going up to the EPL1 or 2.

The lens on the XZ-1 is great, the sample shot quality from it looks good and the control over dof, apeture, exposure is pretty solid (thanks to the great lens!).

I can get it for £270 from my buddy coming back from the states, is it worth extra going up to one of the EPLs considering I probably wont care about changing lens?
 
The EPL1 is £280 in a high street camera shop(not sure if competitor) at the moment. I'm getting it mainly for the image quality and low light, high iso performance and price.

Look them up on DP review and compare, thats what I did.
 
micro four thirds will be around for ages.

You won't be around micro four thirds for ages.

It's fine as a step up from a compact but you may as well get into DSLR glass as before long you'll want the DOF, and the image quality, and the viewfinder, and the handling. It'll be a lot of kit to shift and with the rate the m4/3 market is growing it'll all depreciate like a mobile phone
 
I've recently bought a EPL1 for my mrs' birthday. I'm planning on getting myself an E-P3 when they go on sale. One big benefit for MFT for me, is the size and weight over a full DSLR. When I'm out hiking, the option is to take my Nikon setup or take no camera at all. The MFT cameras will give me the option to travel light but still be able to obtain decent quality images. :)
 
You could do worse than glance at

http://blog.chasejarvis.com/blog/2011/07/chase-jarvis-tech-scotts-olympus-pen-e-p2/

Which makes an interesting read (coming from somebody who could take a D3s and 24-70 if he chose to) and there are some nice samples there too.

It's not for everybody, I can't deal with the lack of an optical viewfinder personally, it just doesn't work for me but I'd happily acknowledge that it does work for some and it's a fine option if it does.
 
I bought mine yesterday with no accessorys or anything. They wanted 50 quid for 8gbs of memory and another for a 3 year super warranty. I'm not that much of mug.

Thanks for the help guys.
 
I recently moved from a D80 to one of theses as I was not making use of the large DSLR due to weigh and bulk when going out with the familly. It's not as good as the D80 BUT for the money it does take amazing shots and there are some pretty good lenses around you can use with it.

Here's a photo I took a few weeks ago with it

5888827036_b4317daf68_b.jpg


I thought it came out pretty well, from the reviews i've read to seems to come out on top over the Panasonic's in terms of colours.

So far i'm quite enjoying it.
 
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