Author Topic: street with E-P1/E-P2 or waiting for x100 (Read 3222 times)

rogazilla · « **on:** April 13, 2011, 10:08:14 AM »

Recently purchased E-PL2 for my fiancee and we both love the camera. While I am impressed by the IQ and the EVF, the control is not working for me. I like another control dial for quickly change aperture/shutter.

Then I saw the beautiful X100 and thought that's perfect! Just what I have been asking for but continue delay is making me to see if I can find alternatives.

Anybody use EP1 or EP2 with OVF + the 17 or the 20 that can share their experiences to use as street camera?

Any manual focus lens that's in the similar focal length that don't break bank? I prefer to pre-focus using focus scale on lens when doing street shoot a lot.

Any idea would be appreciated. Although EP2 plus the OVF and 17mm/20mm would probably put me close to 1k? EP1 might be cheaper but is it as good? OVF might not work for the 20mm right?

Panther · « **Reply #1 on:** April 13, 2011, 11:06:03 AM »

Works like a charm!

Pete · « **Reply #2 on:** April 13, 2011, 11:59:15 AM »

With The 17, You can use f/8 and pre focus on 7 feet in manual and you'll have like 5' to 15' in focus. You check a depth of focus Calculator Ford the exact amount. I have 1 on my phone I will check with then modify this post.

Edit: 4' to INF with the pre-focus @ 8' @ f/8, in manual.

count_zero · « **Reply #3 on:** April 13, 2011, 02:12:29 PM »

The benefit you get with a range finder view finder vs. SLR is that the view finder will always be in focus so to speak. Meaning, when looking through the VF everything is sharp even when the lens is wide open and out focus. The range finder will show a double image in the RF focus section. When you turn the focus ring on the lens the double images merge. This is really nice when using fast lenses wide open like f1.4 or faster because at such shallow depth of field it becomes really hard to focus with an SLR type view finder. SLR and mirrorless will show what the lens is seeing which can be hard to focus manually since the image is so blurry to start with. That's also probably the main reason why SLR owners are so obsessed with AF speed because you sort of need AF to get good shots quickly in focus. The hybrid view finder on the X100 is similar to RF VF, but it doesn't show a double image when out of focus. Instead it just draws a green box around the area that is in focus.

javarob75 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 13, 2011, 06:06:47 PM »

The e-p1 makes a great street camera, especially with the 17mm or 20mm lens. While some may argue that the autofocus is sluggish, it has rarely let me down. The lack of a viewfinder has not bothered me either... although it took some getting used to.

Zelebrator · « **Reply #5 on:** April 14, 2011, 02:52:14 AM »

I am using my E-P1 with 17mm M.Zuiko now since half a year, and for me it's nearly perfect - not for all situations, but for most. It is probably not the fastest camera out there, which might also be an issue of the M.Zuiko lenses I own (I in addition have the 14-150mm), but normally it's fast enough. For rare cases where I need more speed, or even better quality, I take my Canon EOS. However, that's more than 3kg to carry around, so nothing in the sense of "street photography" with that one.

Even if I never really got into trouble in bright sunlight without an electronic viewfinder, as I bought a delkin pop-up shade, I now considered and finally bought a (second-hand) E-P2 with VF-2.

I think there is no absolute need for an EVF with the Pen, especially if you want to keep the costs low, or the overall size. The VF-2 makes the Pen somehow bulky, and I will find out soon if I really prefer that combination over the E-P1.

Let us know about your thoughts and decision!
Z.

javarob75 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 14, 2011, 02:55:09 AM »

Zelebrator, I've been considering the same upgrade lately... I really like the idea of using the EVF for both bright sunlight situations as well as when using my MF lenses. Let me know what you think of the e-p2 vs. the e-p1...

Zelebrator · « **Reply #7 on:** April 14, 2011, 03:29:51 AM »

Quote from: javarob75 on April 14, 2011, 02:55:09 AM

Zelebrator, I've been considering the same upgrade lately... I really like the idea of using the EVF for both bright sunlight situations as well as when using my MF lenses. Let me know what you think of the e-p2 vs. the e-p1...

Sure :-) For me, it was a decision between going back to DSLR, or staying with mFT for a little longer and try the EVF. As I recently found a good offer for a used E-P2, I dedicded to go for it now and see how it works for me.

I still think that the problem of shooting using the back display is not that a major issue; and with the pop-up shade, that can be overcome. However, I sometimes missed stability - this is probably mainly due to my long "SLR career", as I am shooting with SLR cameras for more than 20 years now. Of course, in the meantime I also had a couple of compact cameras which also had no viewfinder, and so I am somehow used to shooting with back display. But as said, sometimes I feel that I am adding more camera shake, using the back display, than it might be the case with an EVF.

So I will report back soon ;-)

Z.

cosinaphile · « **Reply #8 on:** April 14, 2011, 08:36:38 AM »

i use the voigtlander 15 mm 4.5 as it has tremendous
dof also the 17 is good too

i also keep the 20 mm on the camera for street too

ep 1 and gf 1.... i use the ep1 more for street cause it can help steady even the mf voigtlander by dialing in the 15mm value using i.s. 1 in the menu ditto for the 17 oly and 20 panny

edit:
and boy am i waiting for the fujifilm x 100 !!im probably not gonna see it till the summer or fall with the delays or if e bay calms down bit i might spend 1 or 2 hundred over list price but not double

the x 100 will be a great machine but not sure of much of a difference between it and and the micro 4\3s offerings as a street machine..... both can be "zone" focused thru f stop calculations witha wideish lens this is the best option imho

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street with E-P1/E-P2 or waiting for x100