Olympus' PEN E-P2 is destined to be a fine product, we're sure. What we
aren't sure of, however, is how exactly the company came up with the
nearly laughable MSRP. The second-ever Micro Four Thirds offering from the outfit is up for pre-order right now at Amazon, though the $1,099.99 asking price is just far too lofty for us to recommend snagging a place in line. That said, you're still probably interested in learning more about the device, so we'll be pointing you in
Gadling's direction for that; the crew over at our favorite travel blog managed to snag one of these buggers early, and exterior color aside, we're told that it looks practically "identical to the E-P1." Hit up the links below for a closer look -- just keep your credit card far, far away until we see a full review.
[Thanks, Misael]
posted Nov 22nd 2009 7:43AM
I'd rather purchase a Nikon D3000 and a Canon S90 for that kind of money.
Ridiculous. Portability goes only so far when justifying a high cost.
It really depends on your "state of mind" when it comes to photography.
For some photogs, the the E-P2 is too "low end" to be justifiable, for others, it's too expensive.
For me personally, I looked at the S90/G11 for my P&S, and didn't want the crap camera image quality in low light....and went ahead and ordered a Panny GF1 (like the E-P2) instead to supplant a DSLR.
Isn't the extra price over the E-P1 mostly for the electronic viewfinder that's included?
Yes the cost includes the EVF. The GF1 EVF is $200 so when you subtract that from the equation the price is much closer to the E-P1, plus the Olympus EVF is actually usable. If you don't want the EVF just buy the E-P1, especially since the release of the E-P2 has started to create some deals.
"The GF1 EVF is $200" WHAT?!?!
For that price, I'd much rather sacrifice a small amount of portability for a full-four-thirds SLR
Great, but.... too expensive.
Cameras like the E-P2 are not going to be purchased or considered by people who are looking to buy the best performance for their dollar, and I am sure that Olympus is fully aware of this. They are marketing their resurgence of PEN cameras as a sort of Leica-like item, and in that sense, the price isn't too hard to swallow at all.
As a Nikon DSLR shooter, I would totally rock one of the new E-P2s and its awesome slim lenses because not only is it smaller/more discrete, it's just plain cool to have a camera that's different from all those Nikonians and Canonites waving around their huge lenses as if they are compensating for something else that they are lacking.
As a pure photographic tool, the comparable (in price) Nikon D90 or Rebel T1i are undoubtedly the better choices, but for those of us who either already own supercameras or those of us who do not need all that a DSLR system offers, this type of camera could (and will) fill a niche while offering substantial discounts over its competitor (the Leica M system).
this makes me laugh
But then, I'd rather save up and purchase a Leica.
The price difference is truly staggering though. I think the gap is enormous enough that most people would not be cross shopping between the two.
You do realise that the M9 is about 5-6 times the price of this?
The people who question the E-P1 E-P2 and GF-1 aren't in the target market, and won't understand the attraction for it.
A Leica M9 is 6995 MSRP. A GF1 and E-P1/2 are in the 800-1100 range. The size/quality/portability comparisons are comparable.
"it's just plain cool to have a camera that's different"
cool only goes so far and no more.. if your that rich good for you. But when you look at something like the Rollei Minidigi... also pretty cool but not practical
You do realize the M9 is fullframe and blah blah blah right?
Because full-frame in this form factor makes such an incremental difference to justify the price difference. The quality/form factor difference is justifiable between a G11 and a E-P1/E-P2/GF-1
As to say, the price jump is justifiable based on capabilities, form factor,and output between a G11 (500 bucks) to a M4-3 camera (800-1100), and less-so from a M4-3 camera to the Leica (7000)
This isn't a competitor to the Leica M9, it's more in the same bracket with the upcoming Leica X1 which should cost $1500
For that price I'd rather spend the $300 more and get the Leica, or spend less and get the Panasonic GF1.
Remember more money needs to be forked out for a flash.
This Camera with the fixed lens would be a great compliment to a full DSLR system. The pro photo guy to keep in his pocket to get the quality quick shot.
The E 620 with the 14to54mm II (F2.8 to 3.5) is what I would buy when i upgrade from my point and shot.
Here I stayed away from Engadget for a few days, expecting them to quickly sort out their new UI, and what do I see? They haven't!
What kind of genius decided that on the front page, articles have to hug the left border?! It doesn't make it easier to read, it doesn't look 'cool and hip', and it most certainly doesn't make Engadget feel like a place of high tech, when they can't even seem to manage basic web design.
wrong place to comment my friend... try the new site post.. this is about a camera!
I would rather get the lumix dmc-gf1
Me too. It has excellent reviews and costs $300 less.
The problem is - it is already sold out almost everywhere...
Olympus PEN E-P2
PEN E -> PENE -> penis in Spanish
P2 -> pe dos -> pedos -> farts in Spanish
So... to sum up: Olympic Penis Farts.
"What we aren't sure of, however, is how exactly the company came up with the nearly laughable MSRP"
@Engadget: You really should hire some writers who actually understand the photography industry. The camera costs $1100, because it comes with an electronic viewfinder, an accessory that costs $200 with the GF1. The only thing laughable here is that you can't do basic math.
So they fix the viewfinder issue and slap a 200 bux price hike on it. How much with they charge a E-P3 with flash and E-P4 with high-re LCD screen?
What we are seeing here is how Olympus run a new mount into the ground, in slow motion.
Just get the GF1. This upgrade to the EP-1 was just meant to catch up to Panasonic anyways. Sure I see the retro marketability of this product but long-term success still needs to be seen in the 4/3rds category. Setting the bar for entry this high only detracts from sales and people will drift to other formats.
$1100 and still no flash.
they should of at least threw in a flash attachment, makes the panasonic version look like a deal
No flash and same lens, a lens that relative to the Lumix GF-1 20mm is not as good. Further, when does an EVF and a change of color(?) make for a new model designation? The stated 'retro' styling is none of the sort either...
Love the form factor, not a fan of the price.
For anyone who has gone on vacation and usually trek around, lugging a Canon or Nikon DSLR is a huge pain in the butt. Sure it might be fine for the first hour or so, but when you're hiking in the woods, or walking through city streets for hours you'd suddenly start feeling the weight of that thing. Some would say that the G9/10/11 is a better proposition, but this gives you the ability to change lenses, and is tad bit of better quality (iso, supported apreture, color, etc) which would appeal to others (including me).
What we aren't sure of, however, is how exactly the company came up with the nearly laughable MSRP.
It's pretty simple. Not nearly enough reviewers or magazines called Olympus out on the crazy pricing of the EP-1. Everyone wet themselves over the camera's styling and ignored the fact that there was nothing under the hood to justify anything close to the price that was demanded.
Everyone seems to think the Pen cameras make great backup cameras for pro photographers except for pro photographers. In the rare cases where pro's feel the need for a P&S camera as a backup they almost exclusively carry Canon G9's, G10's and G11's (and that includes the Nikon guys).
For the price of this camera you could buy a Canon G11 and an S90, both of which are superior cameras to both Pen models and include built in flash units.
Anyoe who thinks the Pen cameras are portable needs to go have a look at one. You are not going to put this camera in the pocket of anything other than an arctic parka with the lens mounted. If your going to walk around lugging a camera case you may as well carry a small SLR like the T1i (if you buy the t1i you will save enough money for a nice case and a pro strobe as well).
The Pen's are fashion cameras that will be quickly forgotten.
There has been much said since the EP-1 came out about pricing, and even more so with the EP-2 announcement. While the specs of the EP-1 and perhaps the EP-2 performance are in the range of cameras are in the range of cameras from other companies that are in the range of $500 to $600; the build quality is much higher IMHO. When is the last time we had a camera with a metal body in the DLSR type range at the $800 price point with a lens as with the EP-1?
As to the EP-2; if you look at the GF1 at $900 as a kit - and then add the lack luster EVF at $200 - you are at the price of the EP-2. But with maybe what is promised to be a higher res EVF.
Right now the M4/3 systems are in their early phases. Both Panasonic and Olympus have taken the "middle road" of early adaptors with the GF and EP series. Early adaptors are a driving force for others to follow.
As an EP-1 owner I see that when I go out shooting with it. Folks love the size of it; even more so they love the quality of the images afterwards. Just hoping that Olympus in particular has not slotted themselves with this Digital Pen idea - so that there will not be a small camera with an EVF. I found that the G1 and GH1 cameras a bit "large" for my tastes.
Full disclosure here; I work in a camera shop. But the folks looking at the new M4/3 cameras are liking the idea of a smaller/lighter system. My EP-1 kit includes the standard lens, the 17mm, the FL-14, the MMF1 adapter, the 40-150, the 9-18 - all in a Crumpler 5 Million Dollar Home bag that weighs just about 5 pounds!