GX1 vs epm2

[@BLAGOJAD]

Very nice and detailed. Thank you. Just a tip: to get a sense of scale, put other cameras/lenses you own in the background. Some of us already own most likely something that didn't just come out so it could give us perspective. Also - lighting is a bit off, 2 LED desk lamps on each side behind the filming camera (they're cheap) would improve the details a lot - currently b/c the cameras are black lots of detail is being lost.

[@benjaminbjacobsen]

Thanks for the kind words and honest critique. The repetition is because I do this unscripted and in one cut. In some ways this makes the review worse due to me repeating myself or making mistakes but it also means I'm more honest I feel.

[@AshtonTekno]

Sorry the E-PM2 has it this is how you access it: Go to the menu settings>then go down to the wrench icon>press right>scroll down to menu display>press right>Menu Display (gears icon) press right>put on>press OK>Back out till in MAIN MENU>Scroll down to the GEAR ICON>Press right>Display/PC>Control settings>P/S/A/M>Live SCP ON>back out to camera live screen>press OK and there you go super control panel! You will love it!

[@igetsmart]

Great video - I own the GX1 and just fell in love with the controls - so if you turn off LCD then GX1 a better choice as it has more manual controls - So when I heard that there was an update to the GX1 - I jumped when the GX7 came out - I now have two GX7 bodies - just love the GX7 - I do have the OMD-EM5 as well and I agree with the hump - I do not care for it either but great IQ - and the GX7 has fixed all the issues that the GX1 had including menu updates - I have DSLR gear and Fuji X100s / X20 as well and NEX5n and NEX7 and to me there is nothing like using the GX7 - good grip - nice LCD - nice menu - 4 physical Fn buttons 9fn all together - no hump - You seem to love Olympus :) well I do have the Olympus Stylus 1 - just an awesome all around camera - yes a bit smaller sensor but it is back lit - but a constant F2.8 lens - and a superb focal range of 28-300mm - so so practical I totally agree on the lens comments - the 17mm focus faster - I have both - the new 20mm F1.7 v2 is not available and is faster - same AF speed as 17mm - Of course the Panasonic 25mm F1.4 is the killer - just awesome I had the Fuji X100 - (updated to X100s) - what a frustrating camera - AF so so so so slow - even with firmware update - Yes the X100s is better but I find that still at times the X100s has issue especially in low light - which is a shame as the X100s has quite good low light IQ - I find my Fuji X20 AF much better than even the X100s - The fastest AF camera in low light is the GX7 - just amazing - the Olympus E-P5 is also very good - I have tried it few times - no hump and very well built - but more money

[@benjaminbjacobsen]

Thanks for all the info. I'm actually on to a X-A1 and X-E2 pair now. I love the fuji bodies and these now AF fast enough to do what I need to do. The XE2 is better but the XA1 is nice and compact (the 18mm f/2 lives on mine). I'm very curious to see what the X-T1 brings to the table AF wise though. I've also kept my NEX5 as my ski camera. The 16mm makes it tiny and the fisheye adapter is the best option for having 2 lenses w/o having to remove a lens while it's snowing.

[@Likeafoxow]

Great review. I love how detailed it is, and I really like the set up with the table. Very informative - these two cameras and lenses have been on my mind for a while now, and I think your opinions and reasonings will contribute to me finally making a decision for a more compact, every day kind of camera. Thanks!

[@SudipHowladar]

After 11 years, as I am getting my hands on a EPM2 tomorrow, I agree wholeheartedly on the 20mm verdict. That autofocus system sucks balls.

[@benjaminbjacobsen]

OK, googled it and now know which menu that is on the EPM2. I've used that on the OMD before but I prefer the menu you get (whatever they call it) where the options are on the side and bottom instead of covering the screen. It just makes more sense to me. The super control panel IS nice though for those that want everything in one place and it's another plus for olympus. Thanks for reminding me Ashton.

[@marike1100]

No I'm not confusing them, I was talking about the new Olympus 17 1.8 that is shown in the video. See the Lenstip review of both the Pany 20 1.7 and Oly 17 1.8 (notice the MTF graph). Lenstip dot com, click "Lenses" and use the interface to find the review of each lens. The 17 1.8 has a better casing, and AF motor, but resolution falls well short the 20 1.7. Which is why even with the caveat "all-around" we can't say it's "better" than the 20 1.7.

[@benjaminbjacobsen]

Thanks for that Ashton. I'd used that a bit on my OMD and didn't really like it that much. Some people love it and it's GREAT that it's an option. I just prefer the option where you hit OK and it drops the menu on the right in a vertical list with the options across the bottom. That just works so well for me I go that route. Your option does work well if you want to use the touch screen to control your menus/options though so it's well worth playing with. Thanks!

[@svenoftibet3394]

I have the e-pm2 and use it with the 45 1.8 and the 75 1.8...this is an awesome machine...I had the 45 1.8 on it when I went to the Frozen Four over the weekend...6 rows from the top of the arena...I was using the in camera digital converter...and my images are awesome....set up the super control panel and I think this is a great choice...yes it is plasticy ...but I also have small man hands and I have no problems with the grip on this camera...

[@benjaminbjacobsen]

Thanks. And I agree, shot in focus are far more important than MFT charts. If both lenses can get the shots you need in focus then consider sharpness cost and size, but for what and how I shoot AF speed is crucial and the 20mm is NOT up to task.

[@samtidd5238]

Great review, I am leaning towards the Olympus tho because I can just wear a grippy-ish glove to hold if the design really is a problem.

[@benjaminbjacobsen]

agreed, a friend has that exact setup and it's great. I'm still sticking with the X100s but the EPL5 with the EP3 grip is a great option. I'm curious to see what the EP5 brings as well.

[@benjaminbjacobsen]

That's exactly what I did when I sold my OMD. Body only GX1 kits are cheap and even less if you can (and are willing) to go used. Pair it with some of the oly primes and it's a killer kit if you can deal with the auto ISO limitations.

[@igetsmart]

GX1 has one of the best button layout I have ever used on a mirror less. 4 fn's - touch screen - fast focus - nice grip - metal buttons so so nice - Still have my OMD-5 :) and NEX5n and NEX7 and Fuji X100s and Fuji X20 and RX100 & HX50v in mirror less. Panasonic has IS in lens so I buy more Pani lneses. Such a joy to use GX1. IQ not as good as NEX7 or OMD-5 - to me ISO 800 max for GX1 and LCD to low res. Sensor to small for both for ISO 6400 to me Max 1600 on both. Oly menus are nice.

[@ivoblue]

It would be good to know how the oly lens perform on the gtx1 body.

[@ivoblue]

So would buying a gtx1 body only would be a wise decision? There are plenty of lenses to choose from so I can bye one with a faster focus without sacrificing the image quality and keeping the better body of the two.

[@AshtonTekno]

Wicked review! You should check out the super control panel!

[@tatatatata2290]

Is the olympus better than a premium compact camera, e.g. the rx100? In terms of image quality only I am asking

[@benjaminbjacobsen]

generally speaking a bigger sensor brings better quality so yes. You get cleaning high ISOs and more dynamic range. But this also comes down to lenses and what you'll carry with you. A MFT camera (one of these) with one small prime lens is still bigger than the RX100 and you get ONE focal length. The RX100 zooms. So if the zoom makes the shot the RX100 becomes the better camera. Short answer is a bigger sensor is better but it's just one of many factors to consider.

[@benjaminbjacobsen]

I've already said the 20mm is a better lens if you can wait on it's AF. It's (slightly) sharper, it's smaller and it's less expensive. The 17mm is built better and AFs significantly faster. Take your pic, but IMHO the 17mm IS the better "all around lens" because a lot of people I know HATE the 20mm for it's slow focus. I'd prefer a 20mm with an updated motor but since pani won't give me that the 17mm is really my only option. Kids in low light aren't a sport but they're a common subject.

[@paulmorgan1476]

Regarding the EPM2, add a cheap thumb grip, 10$ or less, the thumb then has somewhere to rest and the handling is transformed.

[@metphmet]

The review is very smart. It shows that you have to think about the features you need for your purpose. I bought a Sigma 19mm 2.8 for my GF2 to make street photography and I am very happy with it.I don't need 1.7 and I need fast focus. Why should I buy the more expensive 20mm Pana? The 20mm is sharper than the 19mm ( which is sharp for MFT) ...so what? Markus , are you not confusing the 1.8 and 2.8 pancake. The 2.8 is really weak.

[@benjaminbjacobsen]

Which camera has the super control panel and how do I access it Ashton? Thanks! Ben

[@igetsmart]

Olympus E-P5 PEN might be your right camera now :) GX1 is so cheap now at $239 without lens. I had to upgrade to Fuji X100s from X100 - X100 was to to slow. Still AF not as fast as I wished. I love my OMD-5 but not the best grip and heavy. NEX7 just a IQ winner but I hate the menu system and buttons or lack of fn's and lens selection so so. But the E-P5 PEN looks really nice and no viewfinder hump. just a bit pricy - but IQ much better than GX2 and EPM2

[@benjaminbjacobsen]

Thanks! As for the other cameras to give a sense of scale, wait another hour or so and check the next video in my account (it's uploading right now...). It's got the X100 and sony NEX5r in it WITH these two. I just decided to give a quicker review of just these two so people wouldn't have to sit through 45 minutes of the other one if this is all they wanted. Also check out camerasize (dot) com for great size comparisons. And thanks for the tip on the lighting, I'm terrible at it...

[@SileDevil]

does anyone have issue with the rear control wheel? mine its just impossible to use because keeps jumping through settings and changes everything and im just barely touching it

[@jrgenkleist-christensen254]

I have the exact same problem. The problem is when press down on the mode dial it can move the dial wheel slightly. That is the only problem i have with my e-pm2 otherwise it's pretty much perfect

[@SileDevil]

Jørgen Kleist-Christensen i found a solution, spray some contact solution or put a couple of drops of alcohol on it and turn it couple of times, i did that to my e-pm2 and the wheel works like a charm now

[@sbcwinn]

One important thing is that the Olympus has IBIS. The Panasonic doesn't.

[@benjaminbjacobsen]

the 17mm works very well on the gx1.

[@benjaminbjacobsen]

actually I sold my s90 because it was too small and hard to grip. Plus there are aftermarket grips for them now (if there were for the EPM2 I'd consider one). Oly also lets you change the grip on a lot of their other bodies but not this one. I don't see it as a P&S but more and entry level MFT. So yes, it's stripped and smaller but at least give me the OPTION to improve it. W/o that it's a negative for me, small or large hands...

[@elfcounsul]

Has anyone used Sugru for making your own grip for the EPM2?

[@SileDevil]

what is sugru

[@elfcounsul]

Sile H It's a self setting rubber. Look it up on youtube or Amazon.

[@CHNCAT]

I chose E-PM2

[@Mig013]

You repeat yourself a lot. This review could be done in 5 min instead of 16 min, but that doesn't make want to watch it any less ;) You're very charismatic and a great speaker and overall I really enjoy your reviews. Keep up the good work. Cheers!

[@benjaminbjacobsen]

yeah, sure, the OMD/olympus sensor is better. But the GX1 is very good and "close enough" to the olympus if you want that body. Like I said, I wouldn't choose on sensor IQ alone, there's so much more involved that matters more (because the IQ is that close). And I'm not sure where you're getting those numbers but if it's DXO I ignore their results completely, they're VERY biased...

[@HogbergPhotography]

LOL 15:32 "the snap manual fuck.. eh"

[@benjaminbjacobsen]

having shot both side by side I disagree. The lenses make a much more significant difference than the bodies do from what I've seen. The 20mm is slow on both. The 17mm is fast on both. The 17mm on the GX1 and the 20mm on the EPM2, the 17/GX1 wins first shot every time by a noticeable margin. Swap bodies and the 17mm and epm2 wins, maybe by more, but the lens makes a much more significant difference. I would not pick between these two on AF speed or IQ, they're that close.

[@ivoblue]

maybe the oly senzor is better, looking at the comparcions online, 72 against 52 score for image quality

[@alexandercvetanov8327]

try e-pl5

[@timatwater8247]

Seems like the now overpriced (used) Olympus E-P5 was probably the best solution, maybe it still is. I agree the E-PM2 body isn't the greatest although it's not really terribly made, at least mine has held together a few years now. Also the GX1 with that great grip and controls and overall great build just doesn't have the great jpeg quality of the Olympus ironically!

[@marike1100]

If you think the 17 1.8 is a better lens than the 20 1.7, why do you need to add the caveat "all-around" better? Either it's better or it's not. And to me if it not as sharp as the 20 1.7, it cannot be described as "better". The Panasonic 20 1.7 focuses more than fast enough for most uses. It's not like people are going to be shooting sports with either lens, but many would want to shoot landscapes with such a lens, and the 20 1.7 is a considerably sharper lens with better IQ.

[@Koji-888]

So, better to you only means sharpness.? My Fujifilm 16 f1.4 is clinically sharp. Hate it. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m not doing product photography. I care more about Rendering. Contrast. Saturation. Character. It’s okay. I was like you 10 years ago too. ツ

[@benjaminbjacobsen]

Who cares about MTF charts though? If you haven't tried the 17 I'd suggest it. It's a lot better than the reviews suggest. At least mine is.

[@renaultsportrs]

You are alone mate.

[@marike1100]

Stopped watching after he said the 17 1.8 was a better lens than the Panasonic 20 1.7. I guess if much less sharp equals better, than yes, the 17 1.8 is much better. The Panasonic 20 1.7 is optically one of m43 best lenses ever made. The Olympus 17 1.8 has been a big disappointment.