Oh yeah, I do love the D700 and the D90. Both of them fit so well in my hand with the 50mm 1.8. Jeez, I felt like I wanted to take both of them home with me. :D And the SPEED of them both!!! Holy crap!

I found it really really funny though, because the sales rep was telling me about his camera preferences and I totally agreed. He bashed Sony and Canon. Sony because they have almost no experience in the field, and Canon for their low end models, the XSi and XTi. He said the XSi was really cheap and had unintuitive controls. He told me about a customer who had wanted a Rebel a couple years back. Instead, he steered him to a D50, and years later he bought a D300, thanking him for his suggestion.

He did say however, that Canon's higher end models are pretty good for what they are.

And he bashed Sony even though he had Konica Minolta lenses! That's how angry he was. :D I had suggested the Alpha 900. He replied that he should not pay so much to get a decent camera. Meanwhile, Nikon is able to pull it off throughout their entire range of cameras- pro to intro DSLRs.

But yeah, once I figured out on the D700 that the mode button on top was to change PSAM, I was in business. I was literally shooting within seconds. What really frustrated me with the Olympus is that I would have to dig through the manual, which obviously I did not have. What's interesting is that they sold out of EP-1s, which shows you what the camera is truly catering towards- people who want a somewhat advanced point and shoot. He pretty much had the same complaints about the GH1 and G1, just that they have a viewfinder.

Same thing with the D90. The rear buttons have shortcuts, and I intuitively spun the two dials to get what I wanted. Simple. No menu digging, which happens with the D40 but I'm used to it anyway so its no big deal.

I am seriously impressed with both the D90 and D700, and I'm pretty sure the D3 and the D300 work pretty much the same way.

Haha, this thread went from evaluating the EP-1 to me evaluating Nikon's DSLRs. :D

I love love the D700 NSX! I betcha it was funny looking through that big bright viewfinder and then going back to your D40's eyepiece:(

I'm very very intrigued by the EP-1. Not as an SLR backup or anything like that but as an everyday snapper kinda camera.

I've heard other photogs tell me "Fast Enough" and "Not Fast Enough" too. Sigh...I guess I'll have to sacrifice and try it myself. 8^) I'm still hoping for a Nikon SP-D1 someday though.

I picked up the EP-1 today at J and R. I am not impressed by the camera. To be fair, it had one bar of battery left (out of 3 maybe?), so it was on its last legs. But, autofocus was not fast enough compared to anything. Honestly, you're better off with a point and shoot. What made me laugh was the sales rep- he pointed out that I wouldn't want the EP-1 because what I had around my neck was better- a D40 with a 35mm 1.8. And honestly, I agree completely. It wasn't snappy, and I couldn't figure out its controls within 2-3 seconds. I lost interest. Meanwhile, I picked up a D90 and D700 and holy crap. But that's another story. :D

NikoDody
The autofocus is "Fast enough", I just didn't like looking at the screen on the back of the camera to frame the shot. I understand the 17mm lens has a viewfinder for the hotoshoe. If I got the camera I'd get the viewfinder too. But, would rather have a rangefinder window. Overall I thought the camera was a bit pricy for what you got...I'm sure the price will come down as the market saturates.
Snaketail

I had briefly looked over a Panasonic G1 and the camera was everything I expected it to be. A nicely built camera which is great for people looking for something better than a point and shoot. But not that great for enthusiasts. The body was well built and the buttons were well placed. It was nice not to go digging everywhere to change a setting. The lens, meanwhile, felt like a toy to me. Not to say it was horribly built, but it didn't seem to be built to the same quality as the body was. I mean, why skimp on the lens when your camera body has acceptable build quality? It seemed to let me down. And the fact is, the lens is still long enough for it to be too large for it to be pocketable.

It's nice that the EP-1 and the GH1 both have better video than the DSLR counterparts, but the entry price for the GH1 is a little to high- it's over $1000 since the GH1 is not available body only for the time being. That's a big mistake- people should have a choice. The lens that comes with the GH1 is supposed to be optimized for video, which accounts for the price. But the GH1 should still take good photos and videos with the available lens with their respectable adaptors for the GH1.

I mean, with the Nikon D90 or Canon T1i, which both come out to probably not even $1000 body only, why should I spring for the GH1 when I might have lenses already?

I like the concept, it's just poorly executed right now.

What was your experience with the auto focus on the E-P1 snaketail? Sluggish point & shoot like or is it fast enough?

I had an opportunity to play with the E-P1 yesterday. No images to share, but I think the camera is the first wave of a new generation of digital cameras.
With a long lens it reminded me of a lens with a square lens cap on the end. The 17mm is the one to use - compact and bright. I didn't like using the view screen in bright sun and overall the images were a bit soft for me. I suspect with more practice I would have gotten better images.

It felt good and the controls were well thought out. Can Nikon be far behind?

Prototypes of a Nikon digital rangefinder have been circulating in the shadows for sometime. It's a toss up if they actually ever decide to mass produce it. If they do then expect the price point to be at or between the D300s and the D700. Unless they go the "Limited Edition" route in which case the price point will be way up there. A Nikon digital rangefinder, no matter the price, would definitely be a hot item.

My "CX" lens idea is surely a long shot but I think F-mount adapters for Olympus Pen and Panasonic cameras are a much safer bet. I like what the E-P1 represents and what could be possible with some of my Nikkors! I just don't know if I could do without having fill flash on the E-P1.

Oh, and way to plagiarize my thread name and CX lens idea bmxdad :^(

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=32148742

And here I thought you were an honest sales guy

Sure, I can't wait to mount a 70-200 VR on my new rangefinder. It'll probably snap off but that's fine!

@ NSXType-R : It will have to be a whole new lens lineup if nikon does it. However, they can always provide an adapter that can accept the old lenses. would basically be like an extension tube to make space for the non existent mirror.

I don't know whether to embrace the 4/3 sensor or not. It certainly is smaller, but with small DSLRs like the G1 or the GH1, it's not so small anymore. Sure, the E-P1 makes it all different, but then I like having the F-mount lens. If Nikon can do it and still hold onto the the F-mount, then Nikon might have a winner. Maybe add in a really good electronic viewfinder, plus a nice pancake lens. That would be awesome indeed.

It wouldn't be the same if Nikon had to make a completely new lens lineup.

I like the idea. I think Nikon said they have been looking into these kinds of cameras for FX and DX format for some time. I believe these kinds of cameras makes it easier to design lenses for them (results in better IQ) because there is no need to cater for the space needed for the mirror. Especially with wide angle lenses.

@ bmxdad : You are way to visionary for the masses !! :-)

I wonder who will be the first to follow Olympus with this great new Camera System. The E-P1 is even using SD cards for storage. Would you like Nikon to make something similar.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0906/09061601olympusep1.asp

I think Sony would pay close attention to how well this Works out. They could make a similar camera and also provide an adapter for older Minolta Lenses (like the Oly does for older OM lenses), Same for Canon.

Pete

Ok MX is only dreams right. But I like the Idea of a CX series of Cameras like this Olympus. Actually I like this one more than the Panasonic G1. Last year before moving over to the darkside of Nikon I tried posting this idea for a G10 Canon replacement, that got the typical Canon Dpreview rejection.

I think the camera should have that retro look (but black), with a hidden flash etc. Nikon would have to make a very small 20mm and/or 30mm pancake lens

Pete

Think Nikon will ever have an answer to the EVIL (Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lenses) cameras like this little E-P1? If the image quality is there then I for one am very tempted to get one. I came real close to getting a Panasonic LX3 but love the idea of having interchangeable lenses with a very compact body.

http://photorumors.com/2009/06/06/picture-of-olympus-e-p1-micro-four-third-camera-finally-leaked/

How about a new series of compact CX lenses to go along with DX, FX, and "MX"?
You don't think so? Okay, then any chance of an M mount? :-)