E-P2 or wait for E-P3

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I'm interested in purchasing a compact camera for travel and am interested in the E-P2 for its size, interchangeable lenses and electronic viewfinder. I currently have a Canon 5D with a 24-105mm zoom lens; however, I do not want to travel to Mexico with it nor do I wish to have it as my only option for walking about. The E-P2 has really caught my eye and am considering purchasing one.</p>

<p>I recently read about a rumored E-P3 which may have an improved sensor but no built in viewfinder. I find the E-P2 a quite attractive alternative given its size, interchangeable lenses and electronic viewfinder.</p>

<p>If you were considering a purchase of the E-P2 and size, lenses and EVF were most important would you wait for the E-P3?</p>

<p>Thanks,</p>

<p>John</p>

<p>E-P3 not due out until Feb. I suspect it will cost at least the same as the P2 when it first came out.</p>

<p>The EP3 is just a rumor, and no one knows if it even exists. The question is really whether YOU can wait for it, if your trip will take place this year, provided that the EP3 rumor at this point amounts to no more than a wishful thinking. </p>

<p>I bet Olympus knows something about the P3 even though it doesn't exist...yet. They are not going to stop making new PENs either.</p>

<p>Good thing to do-choose lens first ,not talking to buy second camera </p>

<p>You may want to consider the Panasonic GF1. I am a Canon DSLR user (1DIIN, 5DII, 7D plus film) and I bought the OPanasonic G1 for use with FD lenses but find it is useful for travel as it is small and light. If I were to upgrade today I would buy the Panasonic over the Olympus (most reviews rate the Panasonic higher although it uses lens based IS vs sensor based). If you wait I think better sensors will appear as the current generation get pretty bad above ISO 400. The new Panasonic GH2 has got very good initial reactions. The samples on DP review look pretty good at ISO 1600 and the camera has 16 MP. I am assuming it is only a matter of time before this improved sensor ends up in a compact format camera from either Olympus or Panasonic. If this happens soon then this will be the body to go with. If not check out the EP-2 and GF 1. I was initially wary of Panasonic since they do not have a great heritage in cameras but the G1 has been a surprisingly well performing camera.</p>

<p>Here is a rumour on the GF2 with built in EVF<br>

http://www.43rumors.com/panasonic-gf2-patent/</p>

<blockquote>

<p>If you were considering a purchase of the E-P2 and size, lenses and EVF were most important would you wait for the E-P3?</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Nope.</p>

<p>Once an EP-3 is real and for sale, would you not have some misgivings about it, too: lacks such and such, etc ....<br>

So: you would want to postpone again until maybe the EP-4 or 5 came along.</p>

<p>In the meantime: You must forget about all the lost pics; lost? because you were too picky on what a camera has to have in order to be right for you. Sorry about that, my friend.</p>

<p>A vicious cycle, I, we all know too well. But if the NEX just had an EVF, then ... !</p>

<p>I appreciate all the responses. Built in EFV is the feature that would have me wait for the E-P3. Otherwise, the E-P2 look like a great addition to my Canon 5D. It appears that there is no valid basis for assuming anything about an E-P3; as such, there is no reason for me to hold off on an E-P2 purchase.<br>

Any lens recommendations?</p>

<p>Thanks again.</p>

<p>Or you could just get a Panasonic G with built-in EVF and settle for lens stabilization.</p>

<p>I have a G1 and an EPL1. I keep telling myself I'll sell one but both have distinct advantages. </p>

<p>G1 better interface<br>

G1 nice lenses. (The oly 14-42 feels like cheap plastic compared to the panny 14-45.<br>

G1 better AF.<br>

G1 better screen and it tilts.</p>

<p>EPL1 much better EVF (optional and pricey)<br>

EPL1 better jpegs.<br>

EPL1 smaller, more stealth.<br>

EPL1 looks very sharp with a voigtlander 40 1.4 attached. (For what it's worth.)<br>

EPL1 better high ISO. The G1 gets noisy at 400 and above. The oly isn't all that bad at 800 even 1600.<br>

EPL1 built in IS.</p>

<p>John... I also have a Canon 5D and 24-105, but it spends too much time on the shelf. I am now using an Olympus Pen PL1. With a binoculars strap over my right shoulder, I can hide the Pen with the 14-42mm zoom under my arm so that I do not feel like a tourist. With the Panasonic 20mm f1.7 pancake lens, I can stuff the camera into my coat pocket. Have fun.</p>

<p>I bought an EP-1 so that I could take a decent quality photo wherever I went (My 7D stays at home in its bag 90% of the time which is a shame because it's a fantastic camera). I mostly use the lumix 20mm 1.7 and my feet to zoom, but I will look closely at the new 14mm offering.<br>

I have taken lots of photos that I am very happy with, and for sheer portability, I eschewed the EP2 because of the need to carry the EVF separately. An EP-3 would have to have built in EVF, and there being no guarantee of this, my suggestion would be pick up a 'cheap' EP-1 and spend the rest on lenses.<br>

There is a lovely hit and miss/surprise quality about using the PEN, adding that need to compose in the mind before snapping, rather than relying on EVF info. Dare I say Cartier-Bresson...<br>

I picked up a PEN 38mm 1.8 mf lens and adapter which I use for portrait stuff. It's a good match form/function-wise. A fast pancake wide would complete a very pocket-able kit.</p>

 

<p>John -<br>

I've had my EP-2 since its intro something less than a year ago. It's a terrific camera, with a few quirks... same as any other camera. It's compact, the lenses are very good (I have all of them), but less than outstanding, but it suffices as my 90% user, the remaining user being my Nikon D2X. I shot a wedding recently and the Nikon was my primary camera but the EP-2 was also used, for all the available light shots in the church. I shot at ISO 1600 and 3200 and the results, printed 8 x 10, were very good. I never shoot above ISO 800 with the Nikon. The sensor in the Olympus is a good size and high ISO performance is excellent. Believe this... I haven't bought a Nikon D3s because my EP-2 precludes my need for it... because of the Olympus' high ISO performance. I'm not a pro and I don't need to buy another $5000 camera body.<br>

So... I believe the EP-2 is a great camera, but if I were in your shoes, I wouldn't wait for the EP-3, and neither would I buy an EP-2. I'd buy an EP-L for half the price and pretty much all of the performance, especially as it uses the same lenses. Besides, it has a built in flash, and the EP-2 does not. The electronic viewfinder is nice, but I use it only occasionally - outside in bright sunshine. When the EP-3 comes (and it will) I'll probably buy a body, and you might consider doing the same. In the meantime, why not buy an EP-L?<br>

Greg</p>