I mostly use the 5D, and the 40D as a backup, but I've been looking at the Olympus E-P2 as something to carry around everyday (my girlfriend doesn't like me always lugging the big cameras around everywhere).

I haven't been able to find one of these E-P2's in stores so I'm wondering if any of you guys have any thoughts on it? How well do they work with adapters for my Canon lenses?

 

How much different in size would a used Rebel be?

I haven't looked at the E-P2s, so forgive me if that's a dumb question. It just seems like a used small Rebel would bypass your adapter problem if it is reasonably sized.

I actually looked up the size difference now... but it's still hard to get a sense for the cameras' individual presences.

E-P2:
4.75 x 2.75 x 1.43" (120.6 x 69.9 x 36.4mm)
11.2oz

Rebel (T1i)
3.8 x 5.1 x 2.4"
16.9oz

But how much will your adapter and lens bring the size of the E-P2 up anyway?

The E-P2 looks like a nice camera, but the biggest thing that jumps out at my is your sensor size issue, though I realize this is only a travel camera. But comparing it to the Rebel, you're looking at a 4/3 sensor... which is akin to 2.0x on EF lenses, as opposed to the Rebel's 1.6x.


Personally at that price range I'd take a serious look at a rebel, or pickup a cheaper portable camera that doesn't have an exchangeable lens system, and is even more compact.

 

To me if your carrying 2 slr"s and than your looking to carry around a third camera for everyday use than it makes no sense to carry another body of the same size. The rebel suggested above just makes no sense if you wanted to pack an SLR you would pack one you already own.. There are plenty of fine point and shoot cameras in the marketplace today with a much smaller form factor that can substitute to the level of a decent full blown slr.

The Ep-2 fits into that smaller category and from what I have read looks to be a capable performer for a travel camera, what needs to be realized and accepted when choosing a camera for the "everyday " use is that no it will not be able to do all the "full" blown slr can but with today's fine choices they can do 95% of what the full blown SLR's can do. After all the goal is too find something smaller but capable. I think your EP-2 would be a fine choice.

On a related note did you look at an EP-1 from what I read there is little difference between the 2 and the EP-2 is $300 more.

Myself I chose a G11 as my everyday beat around camera and honestly I it.

 

Thanks Zipppy, you might note that I suggested either the Rebel OR a smaller point in shoot because he suggested he wanted to mount his EF lenses to the camera he was going to buy.

 

Thanks for the input.

I think I am going to go for an E-P2 after reading just about everything on the internet about them over the last couple weekends. E-P1 is basically the same, but it just doesn't have an electronic view finder option, so that is the deal breaker for that, and all my camera equipment is black all the way back to my Nikon fm, so I need to get the E-P2 as the 1 is not available in black .

Turns out the lack of aperture settings on my Canon lenses will mean that I can only shoot wide open with the adapter on the Oly, but that is okay because I actually have more old Nikon manual primes than I do Canon glass and these all have aperture on the lens so they'll work with adapters quite nicely. I'm thinking the only dedicated lens I'll get for the E-P will be the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 and that will probably stay on the camera most of the time.

I also looked at the Canon G12, but I can't quite warm up to the idea of the non-interchangeable lens.

I'll post up some impressions of the thing when I get it.

Thanks guys!

 

Looking forward to your impressions Jeff

 

Got my hands on the E-P2 with the Lumix 20mm f/1.7 finally yesterday.

My big worry was that the image quality would be disappointing, but I was pleasantly surprised. It's not far off from the 40D in decent conditions.

Noise is certainly worse at any ISO as compared to my DSLR's but at 200 it's not bad at all.

The raw files have less range to adjust exposure, but not as bad as some reviews made me think it would be.

Contrast autofocus is the worst thing about it, but I'll take that in exchange for the size. I like manually focusing best anyways.

The 20mm lens is quite good and really small, but the focus by wire is weird and is going to take some getting used to.

I ordered an adapter for Nikon lenses. I think that's going to be fun.

I just need to get the electronic view finder now.

Very cool little camera though!

 

Sounds like a learning curve comes with it, but hey if your happy with it than thats all that really matters