Olympus ep-1 pen 17mm lens kit or panasonic g1 14-45?!?

ozyboyross

ozyboyross

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Hello everyone,

I want to buy a micro four thirds camera to use as a compact ish, as i dont like the bulk of my Canon 40D everyday, so I am looking at buying one of the entry level micro four thirds cameras as apposed to a bridge/compact camera!

My question is which of these is the best?

Olympus EP-1 pen?
Panasonic G1?
Panasonic GF1?

I am looking to spend £400 max!! and would need a lens kit!

So which one is the best? and why?

Cheers for your help!

Ross
 
Well here are the disadvantages and advantages that may help you

Olympus EP-1 pen - no built in flash, no viewfinder, built in image stabalisation, so good for when using MF Lens

Panasonic G1 -A little larger then the other two, but bargin to be had as G2 out now, Viewfinder and Flash i think

Panasonic GF1 - Built in Flash, No viewfinder , no image stablisation in body

Also some discussion here about G1 and GF1

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=243542

Be hard to get a new and maybe even 2nd hand GF1 with lens for £400, best deal for new is like about 516 with the 20mm lens

Which means then it's G1 or Pen
 
Right after eliminating the gf1 as it's out of my budget I'm stuck in a dilema!!

I can get the Olympus ep-1 pen 17mm 2.8 lens kit with viewfinder for £399.99

or

I can get the panasonic g1 with 14-45 kit for £350 ish minus £50 cashback so £300 total!

If I'm honest I'm leaning towards the pen as I love the look of it, the build quality seems awesome and I like the idea of a 17mm 2.8 lens!

Which should I go for? The g1 price is mighty tempting! Which is the better camera for my needs? ( which is basicly using it as a compact and alternative to my 40D and L lens's!)
 
Can you try them both out first? I have read that the Pen has slow autofocus. I have no first-hand experience of either, though.
 
grum said:
Think that was improved with a firmware update but I don't know by how much. Up your budget and get a GF1 with 20mm 1.7 - you won't regret it. The lens is amazing, really sharp even wide open. :)

£516

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=243624
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Lol I would love to but over 400 for a second camera when I have a 40d and some very nice lens's is excessive!! Maybe I should get the pen with a 14-42 lens for £350 and get the panasonic 20mm 1.7 later if i feel I need it! Is the 17mm Olympus lens not very good then?

And yeah I can get hands on with both I work at warehouse express lol I prefer the look and feel of the pen! It feels more expensive and serious!

The firmware update is said to have sped up the auto focus but if I need fast focus I'll take me 40D out not the pen so that's not a huge issue!!
 
I'd say Pen you'll probably find G1 is not as compact, not much difference but thats how it looks and feels and you do have your 40D
 
Don't think the 17mm Olympus is meant to be bad, it's just that the 20mm 1.7 is really really good - and faster. I suppose the IBIS makes up for that to an extent but I'd still rather have a faster lens. Do you take many low light pics? I also understand the high ISO performance is slightly better on the Olympus.

Yeah I kind of agree - the G1 is good but it's like a small light DSLR - if you want something 'pocketable' go for the PEN.
 
I am big time leaning towards the pen as it feels more like a compact with slr features! As apposed to a small slr which the g1 is!!

Plus the pen is very very sexy I love the retro looks!!!

As for low light I don't do loads and loads and If I was doing anything important id take my 40d and my sigma 30 1.4!

The 20mm 1.7 i have heard is a very special lens for the money! But I asumed the 20mm 2.8 olympus zuiko lens would have been very good too! Seems most people opt for the gf1 so can't comment on the pen!
 
AndyWest who posts on here has owned both a GF1 and a PEN so is probably best placed to comment - he sold a GF1 to get a PEN, but then ended up selling that and going back to a GF1. ;)
 
The GF1 is faster and a lot more responsive than the Pen, a GF1 with the 20mm f1.7 will get shots that the Pen can't. The Pen has art filters, or whatever they are, but I'd rather have a responsive camera, shoot RAW and decide how I want my shots to look without an art filter deciding for me.

Save up and get the GF1 :)
 
Hmm everyone says buy a GF1 it would seem!!! Anyone recomend the pen at all?!

(EDIT) after looking around the gf1 is too much money I really am going to have to get either the g1 kit or the pen kit!

If the pen is that bad then I will have to opt for the g1! The gf1 is one step too far when I already have an SLR!

I just believed the pen fitted the compact alternative role better than the g1 but if the pen won't perform well or take good pictures then it's a waste of time spending my hard earned money on it!
 
If budget is a deciding factor and you are looking for a 'compact' camera then have you considered a 2nd hand gf1?

I don't really see how you can compare a pen/gf1 to a g1, as you say the g1 is a mini dslr style camera, where as the pen & gf1 are large rangefinder style

To be honest the gf1 and pen are very similar when it comes to the shots they output, but the spec of the gf1 including the faster autofocus, built in flash and delicious 20mm pancake make the gf1 worth every penny of the extra money

If I were you I'd look around 2nd hand or wait a while till I could afford a gf1+20mm kit - or sell a dslr lens to bump up the money.

As mentioned by grum - andywest had a gf1, bought a pen and then went back to the gf1 and he's had a fair few cameras!
 
Even though I am yet another GF1 owner and advocate, I would like to say that I have seriously considered the PEN before my definitive purchase. The built-in flash was part of that decision, as I do not have an external flash from an older camera - even though I do not take pictures in low-light often, I did want to have the option to do so without a 'pod.

I do not think the PEN is a bad camera at all and if it fits your budget, I would strongly recommend considering it.

The G1 was no option for me, as I want to have my camera with me all the time and a larger formfactor/size increases the height of the hurdle it has to jump from my desk to my bag.
 
I love the look and feel of the ep1 and all the sample images i've looked at online from it look awesome! It would be nice if someone who had put the 1.4 firmware on could confirm if it sped up the autofocus or not! But realisticly how slow is it?! If we're talking compact type slow I can live with that! I have my 40D for fast!!

As for money I won't spend the gf1 price on a second camera! And I am not selling any of my canon lens's either this is supposed to be a second camera for when I don't want to take my big serious 40D and lens's! For me this is supposed to be a fun camera to use when I wouldn't normaly have a camera with me!!

The built in IS of the ep1 is mighty tempting though and the fact the Olympus ep1 17mm kit with viewfinder is £399.99 is a total bargain in my opinion! If the gf1 price was comparible it would be a viable option but for me the gf1 is too expensive!

And I want a new camera not used as I like to have warranty when I purchase a camera!!

Ps, if post are mis spelt etc I'm on my iPhone and have been for all my replies lol
 
Didn't Olympus bring out a Pen with a built in flasy? EPL1?
 
woof woof said:
Didn't Olympus bring out a Pen with a built in flasy? EPL1?
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yeah they did but its the same price as the GF1 currently! and out of my budget!

Im not spending more than £400 on this camera as its just a second camera to use when i dont want the bulk of an SLR!
 
I chose the E-P1 over the GF1, the new firmware certainly makes focusing fast. I don't think there is that much in it in terms of speed compared to the GF1. IBIS is very useful if your planning to use manual lens, with the Panny 20mm I can get away with slower shutter speeds. Having no flash doesn't bother me, I never use the camera flash on any of my cameras, rather use a dedicated one.

You really need to go and handle both cameras and see which one suits you the most. I personally prefer the E-P1 over the GF1, but I like the Panny lens more than the Olympus ones, both bodies have their strengths and weaknesses.

ozyboyross said:
Im not spending more than £400 on this camera as its just a second camera to use when i dont want the bulk of an SLR!
Click to expand...

I think you will change your mind once you start using these cameras, I know alot of forumers on here who have ditched their DSLR's for the micro 4/3 system, just take a look at the GF1 and G1 threads.
 
Willo said:
I chose the E-P1 over the GF1, the new firmware certainly makes focusing fast. I don't think there is that much in it in terms of speed compared to the GF1. IBIS is very useful if your planning to use manual lens, with the Panny 20mm I can get away with slower shutter speeds. Having no flash doesn't bother me, I never use the camera flash on any of my cameras, rather use a dedicated one.

You really need to go and handle both cameras and see which one suits you the most. I personally prefer the E-P1 over the GF1, but I like the Panny lens more than the Olympus ones, both bodies have their strengths and weaknesses.



I think you will change your mind once you start using these cameras, I know alot of forumers on here who have ditched their DSLR's for the micro 4/3 system, just take a look at the GF1 and G1 threads.
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at last someone in favour of the EP-1 !!! as i said earlier ive handled both as i work for warehouse express. I prefer the feel of the EP-1 but the shop model hasnt had the firmware updated and wasnt charged when i went upstairs yesterday lol!

I think the EP-1 is a far bigger bargain than the GF1, and i am really leaning towards it over the GF1, that and the GF1 is too much money!!

I agree the EP-1 will get ALOT more use than my 40D but i doubt the EP-1 can compare when you go to track with a 70-200 2.8L on the front! but then again im not expecting it to, thats not what i want this camera for!

Do you have experience of the olympus 17 2.8 lens? as thats the kit im leaning towards as apposed to the 14-42.

Many thanks for everyones help and input btw!
 
ozyboyross said:
yeah they did but its the same price as the GF1 currently! and out of my budget!

Im not spending more than £400 on this camera as its just a second camera to use when i dont want the bulk of an SLR!
Click to expand...

I'm new here so last thing I want is to be appearing to tell you things you may already know. But, Olympus are doing £75 cashback on the E-PL1 at the moment.

http://www.olympus.co.uk/consumer/23302.htm

So the E-PL1 with 17-42 can be had for £395 (£470 less £75 cashback).
 
Kid_UK said:
I'm new here so last thing I want is to be appearing to tell you things you may already know. But, Olympus are doing £75 cashback on the E-PL1 at the moment.

http://www.olympus.co.uk/consumer/23302.htm

So the E-PL1 with 17-42 can be had for £395 (£470 less £75 cashback).
Click to expand...

yes i realized there is £75 cashback but somepeople arent in the fortunate enough situation that they can pay out £75 more in the first place :(

Plus I think i would rather have the 17mm 2.8 as my only lens than the small zoom.
 
If you can't or won't buy the GF1, the G1 is a different style of camera and you love the Pen so much, why are you on here asking questions and still debating it?

Sounds like you've already made up your mind - get off your backside and go buy a Pen :cuckoo:
 
bl0at3r said:
If you can't or won't buy the GF1, the G1 is a different style of camera and you love the Pen so much, why are you on here asking questions and still debating it?

Sounds like you've already made up your mind - get off your backside and go buy a Pen :cuckoo:
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I know mate, i know! im not against the GF1 at all, im sure its a lovely camera, its just too much money for me unfortunately and used ones also hold there value very well!!

The G1 and the pen are different camera's yes, BUT the reason i compare them both is because there similar prices now, and at the end of the day, i want the one that takes the best photographs!!

So far everyone has said get a GF1 but no one has mentioned the G1 hardly! although there different i feel they would both fit my purpose in there own way, and i just want the one that takes the nicest photos :)

Im still undecided and ive been reading stuff online and reviews since wednesday :(
 
:lol:

I have just bought the G1 + 14-45mm kit with the cashback - so it has cost me £304 - if you take off the £190ish for the lens the body has cost about £110 - so for me it was a no brainer.

The insides of the GF1+G1 are the same, except for the video mode on the GF1 (not used it really). Same sensor, processing engine, same iso etc - the body style is the biggest difference and what makes the gf1 + 20mm combo so easy to carry with you all the time.

The only reason I got the G1 was for the rare occasions when I need the much improved LVF over the bolt on one for the GF1.

The GF1/Pen body style with the small pancake lens is the killer combo for me.

Life's too short - buy the pen, go and and start taking pictures!!
 
As a GF1 owner, I'd say get the Pen. It was never more than a blink behind the panny in most focusing situations and since speed is the not the main criteria here, you'll probably never notice.

The GF1 is too much money compared to most other M43 bodies and the pen looks better too.
 
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