A quick little update on the Olympus E-PL1

Here's another photo I made this afternoon with my new Olympus Pen E-PL1.
Proving that the image-quality definitely isn't bad at all!

Olympus Pen cameras (E-pl1)

Hey everyone I'm back with a little review, or well, not really a review but just a little piece about Olympus Pen cameras and the Olympus Pen E-PL1 in particular.

Why? you think? 


Well, I actually bought one second- or actually 'third-hand' a few days ago and I got it yesterday.
I bought one, not to replace my DLSR, the Canon 1100D. But since the Canon 1100D is quite big and chunky in my bag, I can't really always take it with me when I go out to college or work.
That's why I thought of buying a (secondhand) Pen camera. Basically because of their shape, but mostly because they have interchangeable lenses.

Meaning, you can change the lenses just like a regular DSLR but it actually isn't one.

• See it as a DSLR camera in a compact body

Of course it has its pros and cons compared to a normal DSLR camera, but in this post I'm not going to talk about that, basically because I don't think I should really give a review yet. Not after just a few days. Maybe later I might write a proper review, you can also request reviews or anything photo-related in the comment sections or just write me an e-mail: info@ambydos.com

• So, was it worth it

Might be the first question that pops.

Well, for the situation(s) that I will be using it, definitely!

But it all just depends on the photographer and what you want to achieve really. But to be honest, I think I might even be able to compare it (image-quality-wise) to my Canon 1100D. I really cannot see much of a difference.
Of course you have to get used to the settings, and that holds you back at first. And not to forget that there's no viewfinder. If you do want to use a viewfinder you'd have to buy a separate one for 200 euros, the VF-1. But the 12.3 megapixel quality and the sharpness in general really isn't bad!

Anyway, let's see some photos!

I must say, they're not the best I've made but for a first day with a new camera, I must say they're quite nice. 

• One tip I must give all of you -and myself- about using these types of cameras:

Try using Aperture/Shutterspeed/Manual-mode most. I even prefer manual really. Also have a set ISO-value since the auto ISO definitely tries a bit too hard in some situations, creating very distorted and grainy photos. 

In the end I think it's a great camera, you just have to get used to the settings and where everything is. But even the manual tells you how to do everything in a very user-friendly way.

• So if you're looking for a cheap way to always have a proper camera around with you, look at one of the Pen cameras. I personally prefer the Olympus cameras but that's everyone else's own opinion. Interchangeable lenses are good, but can turn out to be very expensive. Accessories are also on the expensive-side. 
• I know I've missed some aspects of the camera but again, this is not a review. But I might still be doing that in the future.

Tell me what you think in the comment section below (no need to log in/register!!)

and have a lovely day.

Sander Marskamp

Photographer, Designer

Cylinders

Here's a quick little update on the weekend:

I've been using my camera quite a lot this weekend, and since a new 'mediacenter' opened
this weekend with some outside-art, I thought I'd go and check it out.

And I must say it's quite something. It're these cylinders that -at first- glow a blue light. However,
when you walk past them or touch them, they make these noises and change color.
Interactive art, really.
I thought it was quite interesting and was kind of hoping I'd be able to get some nice bulb shutterspeed
photos off it but the streetlights in the back were too bright for that.

Luckily when a couple came past, I was able to get this nice little photo. Post-processed it just a tad bit
to get the colors more saturated, and of course the exposure-vignette around it.

It really is a shame about the watermark but oh well.. If anyone's interested, he/she can always contact me. 

Zoutkamp

Hey everyone!
I'm sorry I haven't been updating this blog as much lately.. School's kind of been in the way
so that's why I took a little photography-trip to Zoutkamp, just to keep up the blog a bit.

It's been quite a journey, but in the end I arrived and took quite some astonishing HDR-photos.
I think I've explained this before but in short: HDR-photography is basically, shooting 3 of the same photos in three different exposures. Eventually putting them all on top of each other in post-processing (HDRtist software) and this, resulting in a great set of photos.

So here are two of the photos I took in Zoutkamp (A little fishing village in Groningen) using the HDR technique:

Architecture

Here's a quick photo I made at the shopping center in town.
There's nothing to it, really, just a random shot.

Edited in Aperture:


Black & White, red orange filter. (To get the red bricks in a nice black&white color)

Metadata:


Canon EOS 1100D
Tamron AF 70-300mm
ISO 200
130mm
f/5 (to get the best quality)
1/400 Shutter speed