Which Olympus camera body to get? Will sell GH2 body.

Shield · #1 September 13th, 2011, 03:43 PM

I am unimpressed with the jpg output of the GH2; I am not the type of guy that wants to spend a bunch of time doing color correcting. My wife has a Gf2, I have two Gh2's. I could sell my spare GH2 and get a m/43'rds Olympus body since I'm very heavily invested in m/43rds lenses. I just want the best jpg output, as I generally just shoot the kids (sometimes I wish! :)) and then play it back on the TV. Having to color correct spoils the moment and wastes time.

Let me know what you guys think. I will of course read up on this and do searches.

Thanks again!
Shawn

Shield · #2 September 13th, 2011, 03:45 PM

Also, I would love to have a viewfinder as I use it quite often especially during sunny days.

Dawindyk · #3 September 13th, 2011, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shield

Also, I would love to have a viewfinder as I use it quite often especially during sunny days.

What exactly do You expect other than better jpeg? You can buy EP3, EPL3 or Pana G3 ( which has much better jpg's than GH2). If You can define your needs better then it will be easier to pick the best one

Art · #4 September 13th, 2011, 04:02 PM

If you want the best jpeg output, I'd say Olympus new cameras are the bomb in that regard witb outstanding AWB performance even under challenging artificial light. I owned G3 for a while, its jpegs don't even come close! Yes, it's a bummer to use VF-2/3 but great color and detail right out of camera well worth it, IMO.

Shield · #5 September 13th, 2011, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dawindyk

What exactly do You expect other than better jpeg? You can buy EP3, EPL3 or Pana G3 ( which has much better jpg's than GH2). If You can define your needs better then it will be easier to pick the best one

Better skin tones. I forgot about the G3, but have always been interested in Olympus as well. Really that's it; it's that simple.

Shield · #6 September 13th, 2011, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art

If you want the best jpeg output, I'd say Olympus new cameras are the bomb in that regard witb outstanding AWB performance even under challenging artificial light. I owned G3 for a while, its jpegs don't even come close! Yes, it's a bummer to use VF-2/3 but great color and detail right out of camera well worth it, IMO.

VF-2/3? I need to do some reading...Also I forgot - if the camera had the ETC mode that'd be great too, and could work with the 100-300mm lens.

Art · #7 September 13th, 2011, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shield

VF-2/3? I need to do some reading...Also I forgot - if the camera had the ETC mode that'd be great too, and could work with the 100-300mm lens.

External viewfinder for Olympus VF-2 (higher resolution) and VF-3. Yes all new Oly E-P3/PL3/PM1 have ETC and you can assign one of the buttons for direct access to it.

Ned · #8 September 13th, 2011, 04:25 PM

The VF-2 is an outstanding viewfinder, 1.44 million dots like the best Panasonic EVFs. Its only disadvantage to the Panasonic viewfinders is that it takes over the hotshoe (so when using flash you either use the LCD or you trigger external flashes with the built-in Remote Flash Commander to trigger optical slaves or R-series wireless flashes). Its advantages over the Panasonic is that it has a variable angle up to 90 degrees, and is not permanently and obtrusively attached, allowing for more compact packing and classier looks.

goldenlight · #9 September 13th, 2011, 05:30 PM

I have much the same issue at the moment. Because of illness and lack of fitness I'm considering trading in my E-3 and lenses to go fully MFT. I have a G1, the form factor of which I very much like. The front dial does give me problems but this issue was resolved on the G2/GH2 by moving the dial to the back and it's very tempting to go that route. However, the JPEGs from the G1are absolute pants and I keep hearing that this is an ongoing issue in later models.

I also have an E-PL1 and like all Olympus cameras the JPEGs are fantastic, probably the best of any manufacturer. However, it doesn't handle brilliantly, is not a fast camera and focus is somewhat slow. As a back-up to the E-3 and lightweight walkabout alternative it's fine, but not for a main camera.

I had hands on with an E-P3 when first released at an Olympus event in conjunction with E-System User Group and was mightily impressed. Slick handling, fast (super fast!) focusing, fantastic new rear screen with neat focus point touch selection, a really effective optional large grip that helped my disability no end and it oozed quality and felt so good in the hand.

The drawback is no integral EVF. Ned (Hi Ned!) makes some good points about the advantages of a detachable EVF but I'd still rather have one built in, plus it adds to the cost. Oh yes, the cost - that's a big issue for me. My local store is doing the GH2 body at £600 compared to £700 for the E-P3 and then its another £180 for the VF-2!

But wait! I notice the same store are doing the E-P3 twin lens kit (I want those lenses anyway) for £915 which suddenly looks more affordable.

Another issue is that the Olympus sensor, although apparently new, is still the basic one that has been used for about 3 years over several generations of cameras. The mitigating factor is that the TruePic VI processor is now so refined it almost does seem like a new sensor. Still only 12mp though. "Only" 12mp ?! How big do we need to go? My 10mp E-3 does 16x12 prints with ease and I recently did a 24 inch canvas - don't think I want to go much bigger to be honest. More mp needs more processing power and hard disk space on the computer, plus the smaller pixel pitch results in diffraction setting in at a slightly wider aperture which is not good when you want large DOF for landscapes.

So to conclude, if you can't accept Panny JPEGs give the E-P3 a try if you can afford it. If not, the E-PL3 is not a bad alternative! I think that's the route I will eventually go.

Dawindyk · #10 September 13th, 2011, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art

If you want the best jpeg output, I'd say Olympus new cameras are the bomb in that regard witb outstanding AWB performance even under challenging artificial light. I owned G3 for a while, its jpegs don't even come close! Yes, it's a bummer to use VF-2/3 but great color and detail right out of camera well worth it, IMO.

I see nothing outstanding with newest olympus'es AWB - it has the same kind of issues with artificial light as their predecessors had ( yellow cast - g3 has it as well but to lesser extent). EP3 has a more slick body ( preffered by some ) and IBIS - on a downside it's more expensive, has to use VF2/3 (which makes it even more expensive and blocks hot shoe), has a worse sensor and is missing ETC. Though I have both I use G3 more - Olympus gets it's use with my legacy lenses. As for jpg's quality for me it's comparable - different but I see no advantage of Olympus