Would an Olympus PEN EP-1 be a good second camera?

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Laetitya

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I have a Nikon D90 but tried the Olympus PEN out for a day and fell in love with it. Would it be good as a second, smaller camera to travel with?
 
It'd be great. But...have you considered the Panasonic GF1? :love::)

There's quite a following here...see the thread. :lol:
 
Laetitya said:
I have a Nikon D90 but tried the Olympus PEN out for a day and fell in love with it. Would it be good as a second, smaller camera to travel with?
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Yes it would. As mentioned consider the Panasonic GF-1 too, neither is necessarily better than the other overall, but one will probably suit your needs more than the other.
 
I'd agree with the others - I have a GF1 and it is fantastic. Entry level DSLR image quality, flexibility and control in a very compact package.

They aren't cheap - but it's worth it, perfect for those occasions when you don't want to lug the D90 around.
 
I have had a look at the GF1 and although it does beat the EP-1 in a few aspects, I just love the look of the EP-1 (I am a woman after all!). Would I really be making a mistake opting for the EP-1...I am a beginner photographer and the only notable difference for me is that the EP-1 does not have an inbuilt flash.
 
As I'm a bloke I wouldn't base my decision too much on the look of the product, but...the look and feel of the product and the whole delight in using it should maybe be taken into consideration so I can't really blame you.

I find the in built flash of the GF1 useful and I also like the 20mm f1.7 lens, the Oly 20mm is f2.8 or something like that isn't it? But I expect that you could just buy the Pen body and the Panasonic 20mm f1.7 lens if the wider aperture matters to you.
 
Laetitya said:
I have had a look at the GF1 and although it does beat the EP-1 in a few aspects, I just love the look of the EP-1 (I am a woman after all!). Would I really be making a mistake opting for the EP-1...I am a beginner photographer and the only notable difference for me is that the EP-1 does not have an inbuilt flash.
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No, you wouldn't be making a mistake. The EP-1 has the advantage of built in IS for a start.

Have a look at these reviews:

EP-1
GF1

You'll see at the end of the GF1 review that Thom plumps for the EP-1.
 
Both very good cameras it seems - not tried the EP1 but I love my GF1. Most reviews seem to prefer the GF1 but if you've fallen in love with the EP1 then go for it.

I've not owned a DSLR to compare it to but I take my GF1 absolutely everywhere with me.
 
You'd be best trying both out in a shop. I could also be tempted by the EP-1 but by all accounts it is quite slow to focus. Since that was once of the things which drove me to an DSLR from a a compact I would want to check the focus speed and handling before putting down any money.
 
As far as I remember from the reviews, main differences are:

GF1

Faster to focus
Better kit lens (20mm pancake)
Built in flash
Better screen

EP1

Better high ISO performance
Inbuilt image stabilisation
 
The micro 4/3rds cameras are a great option for a smaller lighter camera if you usually use an SLR. As for which is better the EP-1 of the GF-1 it just comes down to personal preference. I was looking at them before Christmas and spent some time trying them out, I went out set on the EP-1 but figured I should try the GF-1... in the end I didn't but either. I ended up with the Panasonic G1, it's a bit bigger, but overall I prefered it (and it's still a lot smaller than my DSLR kit).
 
in my opinion the GF1 is all the camera you need for the amateur photographer.....5D2s and the likes are great but for pro use only
 
Laetitya said:
I have a Nikon D90 but tried the Olympus PEN out for a day and fell in love with it. Would it be good as a second, smaller camera to travel with?
Click to expand...

Yes, it would make an excellent second camera, or an 8th...:whistling:. Having just taken delivery of a GF1 and 20mm Pancake lens, I can vouch for just how good this combination is, so I'd advise you to have a look at the GF1 too.

Either way, I don't think you'll go wrong.

Have fun making up your mind.

Cheers


Mark
 
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