OLY EPL2 (Kit Only) vs XZ 1

[aseph]

Hi guys,

In the near future I'm thinking of upgrading my camera setup, currently i m using G9 with canon housing ,twin YS110a strobe, my primary concern for upgrades are noise (even in iso 100) and supermacro (I want to be able shotting small criter like pygm sea horse with some working distance)

I m by no mean an expert in photography, enthusiast hobbyist more likely, budget are somewhat a big concern, initially i m thingking of getting

OLY epl 2 with ep pt03 , inon macro wet lens and adapter
I dont think i would buy a zen dome or a wide angle lens , even macro lens my primary interst has always been macro but i still want to shoot ocasional WA (28mm equivlent are enough)

Or XZ1 with pt 50 and inon macro wet lens

now reading some review (here and some other like DPreview) XZ1 seems a good choice (some arguably say xz1 has better optics than epl2 kit) and would possibly safe me a significant amount of $$$

So.... another EPL2 vs XZ1 question Which are better
please note comparison are bettwen epl 2 kit lens and xz1 lens both mounted with inon macro wet lens

 

[jdfmail]

If you take a look in the classifieds section you will find a E-PL2 setup for sale that is a very good deal. http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/classifieds-photography/383348-sale-olympus-pen-e-pl2.html

However, I bought the xz-1 with WAL and Macro lenses for about $1200 which is considerably cheaper and I believe more versatile. I would have been tempted by this offer though.

 

[Meyr]

its easy.. epl2 is more bulky and have a Zen WA port.
XZ1 is more compact and good for macro.
Ask urself what ur interest are underwater

 

[aseph]

If you take a look in the classifieds section you will find a E-PL2 setup for sale that is a very good deal. http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/classifieds-photography/383348-sale-olympus-pen-e-pl2.html

However, I bought the xz-1 with WAL and Macro lenses for about $1200 which is considerably cheaper and I believe more versatile. I would have been tempted by this offer though.

That is indeed a very attractive offer, however much beyond my budget... Plus i dont live in usa...

I m torn between the two, if i decided to go with epl, i can see that a system i can grow with, however xz1 price wise is much better

Has anyone played with both?

 

[Jun Lao]

however much beyond my budget...

I m torn between the two, however xz1 price wise is much better

Has anyone played with both?

I asked the same question a few months back,

Bent on getting the epl2 kit (even the usd1600 w/ cam, strobe, focuslight, optic cable, kit lens epl1 kit from Oceanic Optical sales) too at first, but shooting with the kit lens will limit you, unless you buy additional lenses, ports (WA specific- oly 9-18 or panny's 7-14mm, and Macro- panny's 45mm) which will jack the costs up... also, when you have either lenses on, you only can shoot specific to WA or Macro.

Not playing with both, my friend has one in PT-ep03, dove with him, its almost twice the size of the xz1 in pt050, with a kit lens (had mount and used inon ucl165 for macro), still he always shared he had to get a better macro lens.

Bottomline, you look better with an EPL2 underwater but for low cost, no need to buy lenses (and can upgrade to WA / inon ucl's wet lenses in the future) and can shoot WA or macro on the same dive, xz1 may be a good choice., compared photos, not much difference, or nil, ...cons, ltd f8/ 1/2000 max and flash disabled at super macro mode (where shooting at 1.8-2.5 with a dive light gives good results)

Looking good underwater always demands extra $$$

 

[jdfmail]

I think JL summed it up pretty well above.

 

[aseph]

JL thanks so much for the info, i saw ur picture in the other thread they are very good, mind sharing your setup for macro, do u use any macro wet lens and what setting do u use, currently i m using G9 and i often neglect changing the aparture or shutter speed at varying depth (thinking i cal always do minor exposure adjustment on lightroom) but the noise that comes with being 1 stop under is unacceptable, mind sharing ur experiance with xz 1?

any oly epl2 user insight would be very appreciated

thanks

 

[Jun Lao]

If you take a look in the classifieds section you will find a E-PL2 setup for sale that is a very good deal. http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/classifieds-photography/383348-sale-olympus-pen-e-pl2.html

However, I bought the xz-1 with WAL and Macro lenses for about $1200 which is considerably cheaper and I believe more versatile. I would have been tempted by this offer though.

jd, drooling on link you shared, down to usd2.7k, still x 2 of ur set up , yet to purchase wal

 

[Jun Lao]

JL thanks so much for the info, i saw ur picture in the other thread they are very good, mind sharing your setup for macro, do u use any macro wet lens and what setting do u use, currently i m using G9 and i often neglect changing the aparture or shutter speed at varying depth (thinking i cal always do minor exposure adjustment on lightroom) but the noise that comes with being 1 stop under is unacceptable, mind sharing ur experiance with xz 1?
any oly epl2 user insight would be very appreciated
thanks

bro, just 1 inon ucl165 (2x), but for a time borrowed and stacked with a 5x un close up lens, causes slight vignetting but can crop off edges

on noise, more than stop adjustment, I guess keeping it at iso80 and not going over iso300 (for WA ambient light) not going lower than 1/60th shutter (optimum median 1/80-1/125) f-stop at 5.6 gives best results to keep noise at bay

at times though, you break the rules, did once a close up at F1.8 and 1/2000 shutter for a bokehlicious effect at minimum internal strobe power

since ur using ys110's, no need to change I guess shutter/apperture at any depth since light source will be the same, unless you have an effect in mind, where overall pic sharpness (higher f stop+shutter compensation on light available) or deep DOF (lowest possible f-stop pending area) or blacked out background (high f-stop/shutter and strobe towards lens) is what you have in mind, thats where stop comes in? my analogy, shooting M is like doing Jeet koon do, no fixed positions

also on lightroom, underexposed photos salvagable but will produce significant noise if you up exposure brightness,

sorry for yapping a lot, just bored at the office...

 

[chadbeck]

I think if you never plan on adding better glass to the epl2 then there is really no point in getting that. The reason I went with the epl1 at the time was the ability to grow with the system and add the other macro/wide angle options. You'll find lots of examples of people using the kit lens on the epl1 or 2 that are getting great shots in macro and the same for the xz1. The other reason for the epl1 for me was I wanted a topside camera that I could added telephoto options as well.