Introducing: Bought & Sold

This entry marks a new feature on jdhodges.com: Bought & Sold

Here I will list items that I purchased and then sold at a later date. Simple enough huh? Here we go…

First item: Olympus E-P1 12.3 MP & 14-42mm kit lens

This was my second Micro Four Thirds based camera and it was quite a lovely little camera. 🙂

Purchase date: 2009.06.16
Purchase price: $799.99 (from Amazon.com)

Sale date: May 27th, 2011
Sale price: $320.00

Owned for: 710 days
Difference in price: $479.99
“Price per day”:  $0.68 (68 cents per day)

Do I regret buying this? No. Sample photos and parting thoughts…

No, I don’t regret buying this camera. I was very excited when I bought it and I can even recall FIRST reading about this beautifully retro camera on 43rumors.com

After purchase it served me well and took some of my favorite photos, here are a couple examples:

Description:On a picnic the month after our daughter was born.
+The small size of the E-P1 meant we had it with us at this opportune moment. 🙂
+The lovely Panasonic 20mm F1.7 lens kept us sharp but left some nice bokeh for the background 🙂
[click the photo to see EXIF info and the option to view a  full-size version]

+I had the E-P1 in my backpack when my wife and I were out biycling in Hawaii.
-With a traditional DSLR I doubt I would have even had the camera with me…

It also more than paid for itself via its use for texture photography on NetRender:

 

 

However, I probably should have:
+purchased the “body only” version, or if not then I should have used the kits lens more!
+used it more (however, a few of the cons below prevented this from being my “go to” camera)
+ sold it earlier, as I had not used it very much in 2011

Pros/Favorite features:
+good image quality in a compact size
+image stabilization and great compatibility with old lenses
+lovely build quality and looks (for the camera, not the lens)
+a good mate for the wonderful Panasonic 20mm F1.7 lens

Cons:
+slow focusing
+relatively once paired with a four thirds lens adapter and lens
+lack of a viewfinder* and the high cost of buying the EV add on 🙁

*I was very surprised how much I missed a viewfinder when composing shots. NOW I know a viewfinder is a near necessity for me.

Conclusion: a lovely camera but not ideal for me

The E-P1 is a very nice compact camera that it is capable of taking wonderful photos. However, despite its small size I never found it to be a completely unobtrusive photographic tool. Instead it seemed like a step back from traditional  DSLRs: slower focusing, not being able to compose via a viewfinder, etc.

I enjoyed my time with the E-P1 but it did not quite qualify as a “keeper” for me, thus I was happy to send it on to a home where it would see more use. 🙂

PS a bit more about “bought and sold”

The idea here is to help keep me to be aware of what I’ve purchased over the years and to determine whether I really should have bought it in the first place. 🙂

Also, I have some sentimental attachment to a few of the items that I will list. Having a permanent entry here will help me remember the good use that I got out of the items, and also will help me remember that now the item is being used by someone else too!

For reference – mirrored version of the eBay listing:

Olympus Pen Digital Camera EP-1
with 14-42 Zoom M.Zuiko Lens

This auction is for a nice Olympus Pen E-P1 digital camera with a 14-42mm interchangeable lens. Camera and lens function perfectly and are in excellent condition.

Description: This has been one of my favorite cameras ever due to its timeless styling, excellent image quality, and compact size. This camera is unobtrusive to use, but also very stylish and garners many remarks of admiration from fellow camera-buffs.

Reason for selling: I am selling this camera and lens because lately I haven’t been using it enough to justify keeping it and I want it to go to a good home where it will be used as it deserves. 🙂

Included in Auction:

 

• Olympus Pen EP-1 Camera
• Lens – M. Zuiko Digital ED 14-42 mm f3.5-5.6
• Lithium-Ion Battery
• Battery Charger
• USB cable
• AV cable
• CD-ROM Software
• Instruction Manual
• Warranty Card