Olympus PEN EPL 5

[Tazza]

I'm interested in having a look at one of these, but despite the Olympus website saying they will be released in October, I can't find one anywhere. Has anyone any experience of the EPL 5 or does anyone know when they will be arriving in shops to go and prod?

As usual, the shops play the "I don't know, I will be the last to find out card"

Thanks

[NJH]

The only thing I can do is point you at this real world review from a working photographer:
http://blog.mingthein.com/2012/09/26/olympus-e-pl5...

He typically does first class reviews and is a proper photographer rather than a tech head.

[Tazza]

Thanks - excellent site that one!

[Xaero]

I played with one earlier this week (I'm in Japan) and thought it was a great little camera.

I own a OMD EM5 and would certainly be happy to have one as a second body. I'm half hoping my wife's camera will break so I can buy her one actually :-)

[Tazza]

Interesting - how does it compare to the omd ( which was one of the other things that caught my eye )? Is the omd much bigger and or better. I'm also looking at the Panasonic GX1.

[Xaero]

You need to look at the OMD in life to see how small it actually is. It's about the same as a biggish smart phone, just thicker. It's about the same as the EPL5 but has the hump at the top for the 5-axis IBIS and EVF. Otherwise they are similar in size. Other differences include an extra dial, the option to have a external battery grip and it's much more heavier as it's magnesium alloy rather than plastic. It's also weather sealed and has the amazing 5-axis in built image stabilisation rather than the conventional 2 axis of the PEN range. So you do get what you pay for in it. Although I didn't realise this in the shop, apparently the LCD screen flips right over for the EPL5 too to do self portraits, something the OMD doesn't do. The OMD to date doesn't support toshiba air officially too, although some people report it works fine.

Panasonic GX1 is a nice alternative with a half metal shell, it certainly feels quality. It was what I was almost tempted by to get me away from my NEX. But it lacks a tilting screen (quite useful) and the colours aren't quite as nice as Olympus cameras. You also don't get built in stabilisation on Panasonic cameras so if you want longer focal lengths later it's worth considering the heavier and (usually) more expensive Panasonic lenses as they have stabilisation on the lenses where the Olympus lenses don't making them lighter and cheaper (but still great quality).

That said I think the GX1 has a bit more to drop in price before it becomes a bargain, the GX2 shouldn't be too long around the corner which I guess is when it'll get it's final price drop, but by then you might fancy the GX2.

[Elderly]

Xaero said:

You need to look at the OMD in life to see how small it actually is. It's about the same as a biggish smart phone, just thicker. It's about the same as the EPL5 but has the hump at the top for the 5-axis IBIS and EVF.

I don't know about the sizes of smart phones but once you fit a lens .......
http://camerasize.com/compact/#382.3,289.332,ha,t

[Tazza]

Now that is a very useful website!!