New GH2,GF2, E-PL2 and E-5 tests.
Panasonic GF2 review by Digitalrev
Olympus E-5 review at foto.lt
Panasonic GH2 in Africa (Panasonic.net)
GH2: Magnified focus with legacy lenses (m43photo.blogspot).
Panasonic GF2 test at DCview.
Look at that photo at Flickr. It looks like the Olympus E-PL2 “could” have some red dot issues. Did you find more pictures showing the same issue?
Olympus EPL2 Review, first installment (Kirk Tuck)
The E-PL2 is in Stock at eBay and “almost” in Stock at Amazon DE. Pre order tare available at Amazon, Adorama, Amazon FR,

Greyhat
2 years ago |Cameranu.nl seems to have in stock
bilgy_no1
2 years ago |Foto Booms (Amsterdam) and Digital Warehouse (several stores in NL) as well. Foto Booms has several kit options (14-42, 14-42 + 40-150, 14-150) and colours in stock.
Greyhat
2 years ago |Regarding the red dots it is odd that no other saw it but they look real.
Perhaps is some internal red lens reflection. It seems to be a legacy lens in use( the number of sunstars point to a Nikon lens or high number of blades’ one). This also seems to be a center of frame thing.
Now Olympus PR should address issue immediately (even if is 3rd party lens fault) because it will impact sales.. Even if it is no camera/sensor fault. This is the downside of internet forums: everybody believes before test and value too much things that does not typically occur on real life (e.g. nikon D7000, Pentax k5)
Zaph
2 years ago |This one maybe?
I’d say it could involved that tape around the adaptor.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wingmanzero/5348482987/in/photostream/lightbox/
oluv
2 years ago |the red-dots look like the same problem of the sigma DP1. i think sigma fixed this with the DP1s or DP1x though…
greyhat
2 years ago |If it is a lens diffraction issue, on a fixed lens camera (or on known lens) they can subtract red dots on firmware, on legacy lenses no…
Greyhat
2 years ago |@oluv: sigma had no 3rd party lens
, the issue was when sun was on center if frame only or everywhere?
Thierry
2 years ago |There’s a “red dot” discussion going on on DPReview:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1041&message=37468808&changemode=1
I’m certainly NOT buying an E-PL2 until this issue’s been resolved.
greyhat
2 years ago |it seems to be a lens diffraction issue. If so, there’s not much Olympus can do about it (just PR say something about to don’t hurt sales).
safaridon
2 years ago |As you say this “red dot” discussion is getting a lot of attention on DRP. I find it hard to believe these are mainly the result of using legacy lenses since the camera has only just come onto the market so the pictures most likely are those made with the new std kit lens. If this is because of diffraction issues in the new lens that is bad news for Oly and harder to hide than just much slower AF in old lens which did not effect IQ?
With the DCview tests showing GF2 having much improved lower noise thru ISO 3200 better color than before this red dot issue may become a deciding factor for some and harder to sweep under the rug if you shoot directly into the sun as some like me do frequently. Too bad Oly was in such a rush to get the EPL2 out into market as otherwise a very good camera in most other respects.
greyhat
2 years ago |you’re right. I counted the number of sun rays: 14, i.e. 7 bladed diaphragm (same as kit lens).
Downloaded pic and checked exif. Guess what? F22.
F22 is a very low aperture for a m43 and diffraction really kicks in.
Now I would like to know at F stop it starts to be noticeable. If is only at F22 it really does not bother _me_ (I think I have no F22 pic on my FF camera…).
Still Olympus should avoid it, even removing via firmware.
panasonic
2 years ago |my goddness! the GF2 touch screen not so sensitive. it make me think of my nokia 5800 touch screen versus iphone =.=”
lh14
2 years ago |other videos that I’ve seen, the GF2 touch screen is quite sensitive. the reviews I’ve read so far also concluded that the touch screen is responsive and good enough. Maybe the guy from Digitalrev just doesn’t like touch screen so he has a hard time with it T__T
Cteve
2 years ago |Yeah well that reviewer is almost using it bably on purpuse I mean come on, even an 8 year old kid can handle a touch screen better.
sam
2 years ago |I’m really glad I bought a GF1 and didn’t wait for this camera, at least there was rumors to let people know it wouldn’t be what was expected in terms of handling. (thanks Admin!)
I do hope Panasonic take some heed to the overuse of logos on the front of the camera, please take a leaf from what Fuji are doing with the x100, the lack of logos is one of the subtle reasons it is reinforcing Fuji as a pro brand.
safaridon
2 years ago |The DCView results look very promising for the GF2 a full stop improvement in reducing noise over the GF1 and good all the way thru ISO 3200. I would trust these results more than subjective comments by reviewers claiming little or no difference with any proof. I would like to also see a similar comparison of resolution versus ISO between the two cameras.
Looking at these results one would be hard pressed to claim the new EPL2 will do any better than this GF2?
safaridon
2 years ago |Admin – Why does the link to Digitalrev simply come up with Amazon advertising instead?
Greyhat
2 years ago |Admin: Can you ask your sources:
1. Is e-pl2 AA filter weaker than E-PL1?
2. What Olympus has to say about the red fit issues?
If 1. Is true it maymake sense to Olympus to decrease sharpness to next pro m43 but will impact sales. It would be not smart since new processor alone will give the wanted sharpness. And cost concious people would feel cheated.
Voldenuit
2 years ago |There are some posts on dpr that purport to show the E-PL2 is *less* sharp than the E-PL1, although I believe some of that is due to excessive NR. A test sheet was posted on the thread that Thierry posted a link to.