I’ve been very busy photographing and filming on foreign assignments and have only just got around to updating my website with work from Russia and Haiti.

Doing that reminded me I had some EPL1 pictures from Saint Petersburg that might be worth sharing. These are shots I took “for myself” during down time or while on my way to shoot something that was part of my “official” story.

With the announcement of the EPL3, the EPL1 might seem old tech already (even though I bought mine in January!). For me the EPL2 doesn’t count because the sensor remained the same. However, the EPL1 is still available and at prices that make it incredible value in my opinion. Anyway, you get to keep the lens even if you end up upgrading the body.

I look forward to the EPL3 mainly because of its higher video resolution. That said, I think the video from the EPL1 is actually very good, despite being “only” 720P.  The image stabilization works a treat and if you have the excellent VF2 mounted the camera, handheld, is remarkably stable.

A mixed bag from Russia, then… Mouse over image for navigation. Click on image area to enter and exit full-screen mode.

And by the way, the more use this camera, the more I like it. But I’m convinced that getting your sharpening and noise reduction settings right when shooting raw is the absolute key to getting the most out of it.

Little footnote: I was sufficiently happy with my results from Russia to try to contact Olympus France to get a loaner second body – in exchange for photos – for subsequent trips Haiti and Benin (done) and China (yet to come).
I was so impressed by the quality of the video – even if it was only 720P – that I wanted to leave my Canons at home and do everything on Pens.

I’m convinced that the videos (the top two here) could easily have been done with Olympuses, and propably more easily than struggling with my Canons. Unfortunately I never got an answer.

Photos from Haiti and Benin here.