I like my new Olympus EP2.

[kirktuck]

I took delivery of my EP2 on Saturday and have been messing around with it ever since.  I bought it for the video (manual focus and  manual aperture capable) but I'm kind of surprised to find that the files (using 50mm macro with the MMF1 adapter) are sharper and have more resolution than the same subjects shot on the e30.  It may be the current sharpest Olympus digital camera around.  A little slow to focus indoors but nothing that's a deal killer.  I love the little EVF and wish I could also use it on cameras like the Canon G11 and G10.

I can hardly wait to use the 35-100mm f2 on the front of this camera.  Should look comical but be interesting, especially in video.

I wonder who else on the site has succumbed to the siren song of the m4/3rd retro cam.?  Anybody done a video yet?

[Wayne Fox]

I love the little EVF ...

Interesting.  I"m not particularly fond of the GF1 EVF (actually I avoid it whenever possible).  The EP2 one looks better designed.

[kirktuck]

I've set mine up to be a mini B&W hasselblad.  I wrote about it here:
http://visualsciencelab.blogspot.com/2009/...nk-olympus.html

I love the EVF+customizable aspect ratio.

Thanks, Kirk

[BJL]

Some questions to those with the E-P2, and maybe also the GF-1 with accessory EVF:

1. How well does the "peephole" VF (EVF) handle manual focusing?

2. Can you focus manually adequately without using the zoom feature, so as to focus while at the same time seeing the framing?

3. Do any of these Micro Four Thirds cameras offer a manual focus zoom mode that shows an enlarged image only in the central part, leaving the outer parts un-enlarged so as to show framing?

4. Does the tiltable EVF reduce your frustration with the lack of a tiltable VF screen? (Or did you not have much desire for a tiltable screen anyway?)

[kirktuck]

[quote name='BJL' date='Dec 14 2009, 03:57 PM' post='332639']
Some questions to those with the E-P2, and maybe also the GF-1 with accessory EVF:

1. How well does the "peephole" VF (EVF) handle manual focusing?
I think the EVF is great.  If you have good vision and are using a lens with a wide aperture manual focusing is easier than with any other evf camera I have used.  If you have mildly impaired vision (I'm over 50 so......) the zoom feature is best.

2. Can you focus manually adequately without using the zoom feature, so as to focus while at the same time seeing the framing?
[i]Not sure about the GF-1 but the EP2 blows up to 10x in one jump and consumes the screen.  If there are other ways of doing the fine focus I haven't found them....[/i]

3. Do any of these Micro Four Thirds cameras offer a manual focus zoom mode that shows an enlarged image only in the central part, leaving the outer parts un-enlarged so as to show framing?
Again, not that I've found in the EP2.  The GF1 isn't a camera I've played with more than once or twice.[/i]


4. Does the tiltable EVF reduce your frustration with the lack of a tiltable VF screen? (Or did you not have much desire for a tiltable screen anyway?)
It works very well, the finder is very clean and lacks many artifacts.  I'm rarely frustrated by not having a tilt screen

New article: http://visualsciencelab.blogspot.com/2009/...s-adapters.html

[adam_j]

I've also been really liking my E-P2 it's had some pretty cool features to play with and best of all it's got me shooting more and more.

EVF - It's actually really good, bright, magnifies nicely when manual focusing and has the cool ability to angle up to 90 degrees.
Video - HD video is very cool with this camera, my first HD video camera just starting to play with video
Multiple Aspect Ratio - Cool ability to shoot in different aspect ratios
Live View histogram - Very nice feature to be able to see your histograms live and have them displayed in the EVF or the LCD.

I've ordered Canon and Nikon lens adapters so I'll let you know how those look once I get them.

Not to self promote too much but I have some articles on the E-P2 available at http://www.knowphoto.com/tag/olympus/

[Pelao]

It seems the higher resolution on the EP2 EVF is very impressive.

I like the GF1 VF for certain types of shots. I find it more than adequate. In fact, the camera would lose some of it's charm without the EVF