pen e pl1 vs panasonic g2 or any other suggestions? please help!

[latam2012]

Hi,

I am totally new to photography having only had a p&s. I really want to upgrade but I'm totally overwhelmed by all the choices and photography "speak".

I think I'd like to try my hand at some street photography and just generally want something relatively compact so I've been looking at the micro 4/3 cameras and I've narrowed it down to these two. Obviously the epl1 as the advantage in size, I really like the colours that come out of it and the fact that it doesnt really require any post processing. I also quite like a couple of the art filters.

On the other hand the g2 has more manual controls, a viewfinder and the articulating touch screen.

I really don't know what to do?! I want to play around with apertures as I really like the narrow depth of field look, does the lack of control dial on the e pl1 make it really slow to do this? or can i make the panasonic colours punchier using in camera settings? How much do i really need a viewfinder? is in body is much better?

I know a have loads of questions so any help would be really great? I'm open to suggestions of other cameras too

[mtclimber]

latam-

Welcome to the Forum. We're please that you dropped by.

The articulated screen of the Panasonic G-2 would probably make street photography more convenient and discreet. Or the Olympus EPL-1 or the Panasonic G-10 could be used with an accessory called Flip Back.

Sarah Joyce

[shoturtle]

if you want to try street photography at night, the epl-1 has the better low light ability. As you can shoot well at 1600iso. The G2 and G10 are not as good in low lighting. As you will not be flashing for street, iso performance can be important. The other half of the equalization for night time street is a bright lens. So if you mix the epl1 and the panasonic 20mm 1.7 it would make a good night camera.

And during the day the epl1 with the panasonic 45-200mm will give you a nice little spy glass.

These are some street shots with the epl1 and the panasonic 45-200.

http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pe...-watching.html

[latam2012]

thanks for the replies thanks for telling my about the flip back sarah. The thing is although i said i want to do street photography I don't know if i have the guts to actually go out and take photos of strangers so generally do want a good all around camera which is kind of why i like the all in one nature of the panasonic.the vf2 for the oly is so expensive! can i use the vf1 or is it jsut not as good? iv never used a viewfinder, maybe i wouldnt need one.

can ya tell me a little about the speed of actually controlling some of the options on the epl1. I wont have much money for a while after my purchase as im a student so I'd have to use the kit lens for quite bit but the panny lens sounds gd.

argh! this is so hard.

[shoturtle]

the VF1 is a tunnel, that is a set view, all it will do is give you a general idea what your are shooting.

the kit lens is quiet good, on par with the dslr, here is some samples of the kit lens.
http://forums.steves-digicams.com/tr...couver-bc.html
http://forums.steves-digicams.com/tr...m-germany.html
http://forums.steves-digicams.com/ar...t-germany.html

Here is a link with some indoor shot with the epl1 with the kit lens. The night shots were taken with the 20 1.7 the rest were the kit lens.
http://forums.steves-digicams.com/tr...ip-philly.html

Here are some samples of the panny lenses. The nice thing about the 45-200 is it is not to expensive about 280 dollars. Like the kit lens it is not the best low light lens.
http://forums.steves-digicams.com/wi...s-germany.html

[shoturtle]

PS

you hit on the main thing, with an interchangeable lens system you can add thing. When you can afford something new.

[latam2012]

guess I should also say that her the UK I can get the epl1 for £380 whereas the g2 is about £450