The gold wasp Chrysis ignita

Harold Gough · Post by **Harold Gough** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:52 am

Martin Kreutz wrote:Hi Abel,

Furthermore my camera (an Olympus E-P1) is adapted to the BX50.

Martin,

I am currently considering the idea of purchasing an E-P1 or E-P2, together with the MF-2 OM adapter, and perhaps the EV-2 electronic viewfinder (E-P2 only). This is because I have OM Zuiko macro and shift lenses, many T-system flash guns and a huge range of Tamron SP Adaptall-2 lenses which I use with my OM4 bodies.

This would give me first entry into digital with my current lenses and flash without buying much new glass or abandoning film. It would then give me macro images to post here, and in other forums, without spending huge sums of money.

How you any advice from you own experience and/or can you direct me to any good website other than http://www.biofos.com/mft/epl1_tst.html ?

Harold

Pau · Post by **Pau** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 11:06 am

Harold Gough wrote:I am currently considering the idea of purchasing an E-P1 or E-P2, together with the MF-2 OM adapter, and perhaps the EV-2 electronic viewfinder (E-P2 only). This is because I have OM Zuiko macro and shift lenses, many T-system flash guns and a huge range of Tamron SP Adaptall-2 lenses which I use with my OM4 bodies.
Harold

Harold, wellcome to the digital world,
Just to point that you can easily adapt your OM lenses to any Canon EOS camera and its field of view would be better than with a 4/3 sensor (1.6 crop with APSc sized cameras and no crop at all with full frame ones like the 5D MKII in place of 2 crop with the Oly). A very inexpensive OM to EOS adapter (better if it's chipped) can do it.
Both with Canon or Olympus you lose the automatic diaphragm and need to focus wide open and then close manually the diaphragm.
T flashes will do not work in TTL, but I think it's the same with any other digital camera, Olympus included.
I also moved from my beloved OM4 to digital, but few years ago, and sometimes I use my OM lenses in my Canon bodies. (and I was very disapointed when Olympus orphaned the OM system)

elf · Post by **elf** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 4:53 pm

The OM lens will also work well with the regular 4/3rds. I'd recommend looking at one of these as well. I'm still using an Olympus e330. I've looked at the m4/3rds cameras, but they are all entry level cameras. The current native m4/3rds lens are not anything special. Even so the biggest blocker for me is the card and battery cannot be removed when the camera is attached to a quick disconnect or the tripod. The tethering is another issue that would need further analysis.

There is a semi-pro/pro level m4/3rd rumored to be coming soon.

You really only need to limit your search for a digital camera to ones with a flange focal distance under 44mm.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lens_mounts

Harold Gough · Post by **Harold Gough** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 11:59 pm

Pau wrote: (with) Olympus you lose the automatic diaphragm and need to focus wide open and then close manually the diaphragm.

With the OM MF-1, yes. Not, as I understand it, with the MF-2, which is the reason for my current interest.

Harold

Harold Gough · Post by **Harold Gough** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 12:05 am

elf wrote:The OM lens will also work well with the regular 4/3rds. I'd recommend looking at one of these as well.

elf wrote:There is a semi-pro/pro level m4/3rd rumored to be coming soon.

You really only need to limit your search for a digital camera to ones with a flange focal distance under 44mm.

I would be interested only if auto diaphragm was retained. In any case, cost is a major concern, at least at this stage.

elf wrote: biggest blocker for me is the card and battery cannot be removed when the camera is attached to a quick disconnect or the tripod.

Is this a bulk or functional issue?

Thanks for your input.

Harold

Craig Gerard · Post by **Craig Gerard** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 1:12 am

Looks like it's time to 'split' this thread

Craig

Harold Gough · Post by **Harold Gough** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 1:23 am

Craig Gerard wrote:Looks like it's time to 'split' this thread

Possibly. I was originally unsure whether to post or to enquire via PMs but decided this might be of (slightly) wider interest.

Harold

Craig Gerard · Post by **Craig Gerard** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 1:47 am

Harold,

Just thought it might be good to discuss your requirements in more detail in a thread of its own.

It has been good to revisit Martin's post

Craig

Harold Gough · Post by **Harold Gough** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 2:05 am

Craig Gerard wrote:Harold,

Just thought it might be good to discuss your requirements in more detail in a thread of its own.

It has been good to revisit Martin's post

You persuaded me. I have started a topic here:

http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... 7815#77815

Harold

elf · Post by **elf** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 2:37 am

Harold Gough wrote:
elf wrote: biggest blocker for me is the card and battery cannot be removed when the camera is attached to a quick disconnect or the tripod.
Is this a bulk or functional issue?

Thanks for your input.

Harold

The physical location of the battery door and the card slot are on the bottom of the camera. The quick disconnect will block both of these, so removing the battery or card will require removing the quick disconnect. One could plan around this by making sure there is enough battery power and card space to do an entire stack. If you needed to replace the battery or card in the middle of a stack, it would be virtually impossible to get the camera back in the same position in order to continue the stack.

It may be possible to machine a custom quick disconnect to solve the problem.

In addition to the above, I also don't like the offset tripod mount. It makes it a hassle to set up for panoramas.

There is no provision to use AC power (mains).

I really like the concept of the mirrorless camera, much less shaking going on and less wear and tear on each shutter click. I've only opened the shutter on the OVF on my e330 three or four times since it was new. Live View works great when you're working from a tripod or in a studio.

p.s. Admins: Feel free to move this to the equipment thread

Harold Gough · Post by **Harold Gough** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 2:49 am

elf wrote:
Harold Gough wrote:
elf wrote: biggest blocker for me is the card and battery cannot be removed when the camera is attached to a quick disconnect or the tripod.
Is this a bulk or functional issue?

Thanks for your input.

Harold
The physical location of the battery door and the card slot are on the bottom of the camera. The quick disconnect will block both of these, so removing the battery or card will require removing the quick disconnect. One could plan around this by making sure there is enough battery power and card space to do an entire stack. If you needed to replace the battery or card in the middle of a stack, it would be virtually impossible to get the camera back in the same position in order to continue the stack.

It may be possible to machine a custom quick disconnect to solve the problem.

That's already an issue with OM lenses on my OM bodies, in that I have to loosen the quick release plate to change a lens. I had forgotten how hungry digital camera are for batteries. I change my OM ones or twice a year!

elf wrote:In addition to the above, I also don't like the offset tripod mount. It makes it a hassle to set up for panoramas.

That, coincidentally, is an issue with X-Pan users, where it is right at the extreme side of the bottom plate, not an issue, in use with the X-Pan , for me but I understand the technicalities about nodal points, etc..

Harold