As an update to this post. Here is the big secret. I got a new toy! Olympus Pen EP1 Series, a compact with interchangable lenses. So versatile! I have been waiting for a camera of this LIGHT WEIGHT for a while. I got interested in the G10/G11 or P6000, but the photo quality is so so. One step up from P&S, no direct flash anymore, but no bokehness either.
I wanted a light camera but unwilling to sacrifice the bokehness. Along came the Canon S90 with its f2.0 lens and super light pocketability and in the pipelines the Samsung TL500 with the f1.8 lens! Great potential! Samsung has a flash hotshoe addition, but so far I haven’t seen anything like this from Samsung, so I’ll have to wait and see. (The camera was set to come out end 2010 and I would have to wait even longer for user reviews..) At the same time the new micro 4/3rd cameras were out already, Pana GF1 and Olympus Pen EP1 .. not long after .. the EP2 and not long after again.. EPL1 with popup flash!.
More research.
So, after some fangirling, and more poison by various flickr peeps, I have finally decided to get Olympus EP1. In terms of functionality, Pana GF1 wins, but I went with Oly as I wasn’t too bothered by the focusing, the body has IS, and I’m going to use it for experimentation with manual lens anyway so.. and I totally love Oly’s retro look!
Quick review:
The body feels solid and I love the sharpness and contrast of the photos with 17mm f2.8 pancake lens kit. (I have not even glanced at the 14-24.. hehe). I’ve carried it everywhere in my bag and the thought that I still have a decent camera when out and about without my D90 is a reassuring one. I spent the first few minutes being “sakai” over having bokeh from a compact camera!
Some of my test shots of the first 24 hrs…
Contrast!
Night time test
Rocking the Bokeh at f2.8 !
What’s next?
I’m getting some adapters from EvilBay and will test out Sigma’s f1.4 with it. I want an f1.2 anything! And for my birthday an f0.95? Hahaha~ This is taking a big chunk out of my savings for NZ Rugby WC 2011..