Thanks for the useful summary Moose.
...Wayne
>
> On 2/25/2013 8:40 PM, Moose wrote:.
> > I've recently paid a bit of attention to the large sensor 'compacts'
with
> fixed, prime lenses. It may have been comments about the Sony RX100 that
> started it ...
> >
> > In many cases, the fixed lens cameras are as large and heavy as ILCs
with
> comparable lenses, or bigger.
>
> The upshot of all this was another preemptive strike by my internal GAS
> complex. A factory demo E-PL2 moved in with me on the 13th., and had it's
> first outing on Valentines Day.
>
> Mike 'outed me'; of course, who else, but I suppose no one else noticed,
or
> cared. :-)
>
> On 2/20/2013 4:22 PM, usher99@xxxxxxx wrote:
> > Especially like the twin fuchsia and the 'dil. The whole gallery is
> > expanding with nice shots. Seems you usually used the 43mm macro
> setting of the 12-50 on the EPL-2 for some reason.
>
> Looking for the first time at the Pen line-up with any attention, I was
amazed
> at the quirky potpourri Oly's designer and marketers created. (For those
who
> may be curious, here's Moose's guide to the Pen series camera bodies.*)
>
> Although the E-PL1 I have is a perfectly nice back-up to the E-M5, it
became
> clear that the E-PL2 is the pick of the reasonably inexpensive Pen litter.
>
> The addition of a control wheel makes a big difference. The 'L1' is easy
> enough to use, in a way, but the 'L2' is much better. A larger LCD, with
twice
> the pixels, makes viewing better. For my fingers and hand, the subtle
> changes in front and rear grips and the different surface texture make it
> much more comfortable for me to hold.
>
> What my unconscious GAS complex must have known is that I would really
> just like this little camera. Styling is seldom a big factor in my camera
choices,
> and I tend to scoff internally at lengthy discussions about camera looks.
I've
> always been very flexible about camera ergonomics.
>
> And yet, I find the 'L2' ridiculously attractive with 12-50 attached, and
very
> cute with Panny 20/1.7. Somehow, it just looks and feels good, and I enjoy
> using it. The LCD is certainly less useful than the viewfinder on the E-M5
for
> most light/situations, but I've managed to make it work for me even in
lots of
> direct sun.
>
> It'll never replace the M5 for more serious work, but for a day trip to
visit
> friends and several sessions in our yard, I've had a lot of fun, and taken
shots
> I like. For casual shots in good light, no high DR subjects, it gives
little away to
> the M5. All the images in my early spring garden album were taken with it.
> <http://zone-10.com/tope2/main.php?g2_itemId=2449>
>
> I just checked, and I haven't shot the M5 since the L2 arrived. Weird.
>
> Softer Headed Moose?
>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
> *
> The Olympus Pen Story - A Personal Version
>
> E-P1 ? The capabilities of the E-620, 4/3 camera are shoehorned and/or
> recreated in a much smaller body, without a mirror and with a smaller lens
> mount, the µ4/3 mount.
>
> It?s an exciting new idea, the Mirrorless, Interchangeable lens Camera,
ILC.
> Olympus and Panasonic, partners in the 4/3 Standard, have collaborated on
> this new standard, µ4/3. Panny?s first camera is already out, and this is
Oly?s
> first.
>
> E-P2 ? Only five months after the E-P1, the E-P2 comes out. The only
> technical difference is the addition of an accessory connector under the
flash
> shoe. Really, it should be the E-P1a, but marketing smarts choose to make
it
> look to the casual observer like there real action in the Pen line.
>
> E-PL1 ? Oly takes the same image creation innards and puts then in a body
> with simplified controls, similar to many compact cameras, and with some
> feature differences.
>
> Downgrades:
> Smaller, 2.7? LCD, with the same pixel count No orientation sensor,
> continuing on all two letter models.
> Mainly plastic body with aluminum skinned front (Stainless steel and
alloys
> for E-P2) Image stabilization with claimed 3 stop benefit, vs. 4 stops for
E-P2
> Mono mic with option to add stereo using adapter vs. built-in stereo mics.
> Maximum shutter speed 1/2000th sec, vs. 1/4000th.
>
> Upgrades:
> Built-in flash (external flashes only on E-P2) Direct record movie button
vs.
> movies only as position on E-P2 mode dial
>
> They call this a Pen Lite, even though it?s only 6% lighter than the E-P2
and,
> based on published dimensions, 14% larger in volume. Lite must mean
> feature lite.
>
> E-PL2 ? Someone rethinks the super simple interface, gives the E-PL1 a
> cosmetic redesign, adds one control wheel and better control button
layout.
>
> Screen goes up to 3? and the number of pixels doubles. Occasionally
useful,
> lower DR ISO 100 dropped, mostly useless ISO
> 6400 added.
>
> The actual big news isn?t the camera, but that the kit lens had been
> redesigned to their MSC standard, and focuses much faster and more
> quietly.
>
> E-P3 ? Some significant changes under another cosmetic redesign, more like
> the PL2 than the P2. And the ever changing front grip is now removable.
>
> Same sensor, but a faster processor, for faster focus confirmation and
> shorter screen blackout.
> New 3? screen, OLED with touch and higher rez.
> New, 35 point, AF, which continues in all later models.
> AF illuminator light, which continues in all later models.
>
> E-PL3 ? Most significant ? and most puzzling ? change: The screen is still
listed
> as 3? and 460k pixels and, it tilts.
> But, it is 16:9 proportions. So, when shooting or viewing full frame
stills, the
> image fills only the center of the screen.
>
> So, lets see, all prior models but one have had 3?, 4:3 screens, 230,000,
> 460,000, then 614,000 pixels. The one small one, on the E-PL1, is 2.7?,
230,000
> pixels.
>
> The actual screen for stills on this one is 2.45?, 345,000 pixels.
Remember,
> resolution is a linear function, while pixel count is square/area. The
increase
> from 230,000 to 460,000 with the E-PL2 increases resolution by 50%, not
> 100%.
> From the E-PL2, we?ve dropped resolution about 25%, and on a smaller
> screen.
>
> E-PM1 ? The forces behind the E-PL1 return, designing a quite capable
> camera without adequate controls for anything but Auto, without some
> frustration. Continues the video screen format, fixed.
>
> NOTE: All the prior cameras make the same images. They make them faster
> with the new processor starting with the E-P3.
> There is some talk of an updated sensor along the way. But use the
> comparison gizmo on dpreview. There is just no change in image quality.
>
> Lots of sound and fury. Folks like me, who weren?t keeping close track,
could
> easily think there was a lot of development going on. An impressive job of
> smoke and mirrors, keeping the image of action and progress alive until it
> really did come alive in the E-M5.
>
> E-PL5 ? Most of the capability of the E-M5 in a more compact camera. Quite
> alluring ? until I discover it?s the same, silly, video format screen. I
lost
> interest.
>
> E-PM2 ? An E-PL5 in the low control body, with the tiny screen.
>
> --
> What if the Hokey Pokey *IS* what it's all about?
> --
> __________________________________________________________
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