Back home now and have had to fix the internet here, successfully I migh add
I will sort through the images I took today tomorrow morning on the big screen at the office.
Just to whet your appetites, I was able to use the new 12mm f/2, and I used a 50mm f/2 macro to see if the AF was any faster. On the latter, I coiuldn't detect much of a difference, but I will be able to do better tests tomorrow if my camera arrives as promised. The 12mm certainly looks like a star performer from what I have seen so far, and it's so tiny!
It looks like the new lenses are adopting that retro look of skinny silver lenses.
The way I understand the AF speed improvement is that the dual-processors operate much faster, checking focus 120 times per second. You would think that would work for any Autofocus lens, but they also say that the new R lenses have faster lens-to-camera communication (which all the old MSC lenses can be upgraded to through an upcoming firmware update). So it would make sense that although the improvement would be for any lens mounted, the lens' communication speed is the roadblock so the difference is great on the lenses that have faster communication to keep up with the dual processor of the body.
Those are my theories, anyways. I'm really interested in seeing what your testing reveals, Ian!
Am I the first to say that I'm rather disappointed with the cameras? I'm still waiting for Olympus to make a camera with a good EVF as standard like in Panasonic GH2. The VF-2 is possible to use in good light but it often gets loose in the bag and it protrudes far too much from the camera body. It's not possible to use a flash when you use the EVF. A LCD-screen is simply not useful for me as I use glasses.
The lenses, the new processor and the more sensitive sensor is very promising but Olympus does still not make any mft camera with a proper viewfinder. I do really hope the Pen Pro will be a "real" camera.
I share your desire to see a Pen (or whatever it may be branded) with a built in EVF but that was never on the cards for this launch. What we got was very much as expected and in that sense, no, I'm not disappointed. Well, a little bit maybe, about the screen on the E-PL3 being tilting but not fully articulated.
There seems to be some useful new features and initial reports on the improved focusing are actually very exciting. A lot depends on the extent of improvement to certain aspects of image quality from the new processor and tweaked sensor and it's too early to make a call on that one.
Whether we think that Olympus are where they should be at this stage of the game is another matter. I would have hoped by now that we would have had a model with built in EVF (to rival the Panasonic G/GH series) but maybe Olympus don't intend to take that route. It would also be reasurring to have a firmer indication of when a pro model might be available.
On the other hand the mini Pen is a welcome addition and those two new lenses are a big plus.
It looks like the new lenses are adopting that retro look of skinny silver lenses.
The way I understand the AF speed improvement is that the dual-processors operate much faster, checking focus 120 times per second. You would think that would work for any Autofocus lens, but they also say that the new R lenses have faster lens-to-camera communication (which all the old MSC lenses can be upgraded to through an upcoming firmware update). So it would make sense that although the improvement would be for any lens mounted, the lens' communication speed is the roadblock so the difference is great on the lenses that have faster communication to keep up with the dual processor of the body.
Those are my theories, anyways. I'm really interested in seeing what your testing reveals, Ian!
Congratulations on recently passing a thousand posts, Ned. Here's to the next 1000!
It looks like the new lenses are adopting that retro look of skinny silver lenses.
The way I understand the AF speed improvement is that the dual-processors operate much faster, checking focus 120 times per second. You would think that would work for any Autofocus lens, but they also say that the new R lenses have faster lens-to-camera communication (which all the old MSC lenses can be upgraded to through an upcoming firmware update). So it would make sense that although the improvement would be for any lens mounted, the lens' communication speed is the roadblock so the difference is great on the lenses that have faster communication to keep up with the dual processor of the body.
Those are my theories, anyways. I'm really interested in seeing what your testing reveals, Ian!
Thanks for the info about the MSC lenses upgrading to the R (FAST AF) via firmware. When I got an E-P2 body I bought the 14-42 MkII MSC lens, so when I can eventually buy one of the new models I will be able to take advantage of the faster focusing (the firmware will definitely be out by the time I have the $ :-)
The pen is getting mightier...
@Ian.. good to get your hands on reports on the new pens..Thanks..
..and while you are at it..I've got some specifics below.
1. Is the touch focus active when you slip on the VF-2 , or is it disabled..(it probably is disabled)..It would be useful to use the left thumb to "touch focus" on the composition in the VF-2 provided the target green square is also visible on the VF-2..
2. does the touch focus work if you 'drag' your finger ..or is it only a 'tap' to focus (perhaps in CF mode).
3. while trying things out..how about taking a shot at a flying bird (as small a bird as possible)in your neighbourhood ..of course with a tele-lens (any):this could make my day and my ep-2 would go be on sale.
Had an idea - either I can come down to you in Hemel or I'd be happy to host you up here at the Raptor Foundation to do some testing with moving objects (the birds!) with the new lenses and with FT lenses (between us we must have a pretty complete set!).
Had an idea - either I can come down to you in Hemel or I'd be happy to host you up here at the Raptor Foundation to do some testing with moving objects (the birds!) with the new lenses and with FT lenses (between us we must have a pretty complete set!).
What do you reckon? :-)
Andy
I'm sure we can sort something out, Andy - it would be excellent to meet up for the first time too.
The good news is that not only do I have a shiny new silver E-P3 in front of me but the 12mm f/2.0 as well
I want to dampen expectations a bit about the continuous focus ability as this remains a very challenging proposition for contrast detect AF, but of course things are improving all the time.
There will always be an advantage for lenses designed for contrast detect AF because they have optimum motor types and gearing CDAF, and the lenses are designed with low mass elements for reduced intertia. But let's see I will try the E-P3 out later today with various lenses and report back.
The pen is getting mightier...
@Ian.. good to get your hands on reports on the new pens..Thanks..
..and while you are at it..I've got some specifics below.
1. Is the touch focus active when you slip on the VF-2 , or is it disabled..(it probably is disabled)..It would be useful to use the left thumb to "touch focus" on the composition in the VF-2 provided the target green square is also visible on the VF-2..
2. does the touch focus work if you 'drag' your finger ..or is it only a 'tap' to focus (perhaps in CF mode).
3. while trying things out..how about taking a shot at a flying bird (as small a bird as possible)in your neighbourhood ..of course with a tele-lens (any):this could make my day and my ep-2 would go be on sale.
Thanks..
When the main screen goes off, the touch screen functionality stops too, but you can have the VF-2 attached and still use the touch screen.
A rather cool feature is that you can switch the touch screen off and on using a small virtual button on the screen
As the screen is a capacitive type there is less chance of the small button being accidentally pressed (it needs something electrostatically significant, like a finger). On Panasonic resistive touch screens I end up accidentally snapping the shutter quite frequently because any pressure is registered.
You can drag the focus point around with your finger, yes, then tap to shoot. And you can vary the size of the focus point using a slider.
I like the EP-3 a lot! It may be what I finally buy to replace my E-410 . . .
Now that I've read the previews, I have a few more question, Ian. How well does the eye-detect focus work? And will it work with non-humans? If it's as good as promised, it would be great for some of my friends, like these:
Are there any technical details of the new/updated sensor? I'm curious to read a description of the technology behind it.
I haven't been able to find a photo of the bigger grip. Even the (US) Olympus website doesn't have one! Are there photos anywhere? I suppose that it would always be possible for one to make one's own grip that attaches to the screw mount . . .
Is there a roadmap for future Olympus mFT lenses (and cameras) or is this being kept secret? The new 12 and 45mm lenses look great, but I just don't see myself having much use for those focal lengths for my photography. Some HG zooms would be my preference, like an mFT 12-60/2.8. Any chance Olympus would offer a bundle of the E-P3 with the Panasonic 20/1.7 or 25/1.4? Any word on what bundles will be offered (lens, VF-2, etc.)?
And please test the AF with some SWD lenses. This is critical for me since there are not yet any mFT equivalents.
Any word on what bundles will be offered (lens, VF-2, etc.)?
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