E-PL1, Nobody Told Me!

About the superb shutter sound.
Not super quiet, but a very precise and contained click, much nicer than my E-3. It redeems somewhat the slight plastiky feel of some of the buttons, and overall a pleasure to shoot with.
Just a few notes that have been covered by lots before, but nothing like finding out for yourself. My first white body was a non-starter.....would not save an image and promptly turned itself off after firing the shutter. I did like the funky look of the white body even if, or perhaps because it looked like a bar of soap. Why would you take a little camera like this seriously? They could not source a white replacement, only black and stripey silver trim......erk.
Well, after a couple of hours playing, I'm starting to get to grips.
I found the interface very fast and intuitive, even non E-3 features easy to navigate.
I now belong in the camp which finds the speed acceptable, so far. In fact I hardly noticed it different from normal. Shot off a few reactive shots at a squadron of ducks over the park, S-AF and C-AF and wondered why people call it slow. I did notice the ZD50mmF2 a little slower inside in moderate light, but speed was not important then. Overall a pass mark.
The screen is acceptable and with the magnification button there is little excuse for failure. Using the clip-on finder, even less excuse.
The images from the standard 14-42 kit lens are as sharp as needs be, with just a tiny PP tickle.
The real reward for me is the pleasure of using my old PenFT manual lenses, 25mm, 40mm and 150mm. They all perform well on the E-PL1 and are like small jewels. The 25mm will be a wonderful walkabout lens. And CA is almost absent so far, unlike my OM lenses which light up like xmas trees.

A couple of samples from the 40mmF1.4-

Wide open F1.4. Amazing bokeh, never seen better. Very shallow DOF. Only the eye and black splotch are in focus.



Probably F2.8. (colour changed with changing sky)



ZD150mmF2



E-PL1, a pass mark from me.
Cheers,
Don

 

I will often be using large lenses, and I seem to be sometimes pressing buttons by mistake when manually focusing etc, especially the video button.
So as far as handling goes I'm not sure yet and I have not fitted the standard strap and probably won't. My own preference is for holding a camera by the lens with a Prostrap around my wrist in case I drop it, but looking at the little lugs I'm not sure about a heavy lens dropping and being stopped by one lug. I have a nice and sturdy Smugmug neck strap which I will try as well. I will have to look at this soon because the point you raise about the straps position is important.
Thanks,
Don