It’s not a joke, both Stuff and Huff choose the Olympus E-M1 as camera of the year! 🙂
Stuff TV writes:
The E-M1 is also a dwarf among giants and yet, like the Argentinian soccer pygmy (Lionel Messi), it packs a mean shot and turns its Micro Four Thirds size to its own advantage.
Steve Huff writes:
Of course many will be arguing and disagreeing with me but I call it like I see it and like I say over and over and over…a camera is MUCH more than image quality (of which none of these cameras are lacking). A camera needs to have the ability to inspire you to take it out and shoot..a constant companion. One that delivers time after time, one that is versatile and one that is problem free. A bonus for the E-m1 is the 5-Axis, the EVF, the Build and the other one of a kind features. Easy choice for 2013.
E-M1 Store Links:
Olympus E-M1 body at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto, Amazon DE (via DL), Amazon UK (via DL), Amazon ES (via DL), WexUK, Topshot FI, CameraWorldUK.
Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO Lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, AmazonDE (viaDL), Amazon ES (via DL).
Olympus E-M1 with 12-40mm Lens kit at Amazon DE (via DL), WexUK and CameraWorldUK, Amazon UK (via DL), Amazon ES (via DL).
Olympus E-M1 with 12-50mm Lens kit at Amazon DE (via DL), WexUK, CameraWorldUK, Amazon UK (via DL), Amazon ES (via DL).
Olympus EP-13 Eyecup for E-M1 at Adorama and BHphoto.
Olympus HLD-7 Battery Grip for E-M1 at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
Olympus LC-62D Metal Front Lens Cap for 12-40mm at Adorama and BHphoto.
Olympus LH-66 Lens Hood for 12-40mm at Adorama and BHphoto.
131 Responses
Olympus E-M1 camera of the year kickin’ butt again and again.
So where are all the FF whiners?
Look at what you have done! Now this forum will be filled with angry trolls!!!
Back to topics, I am the odd ball here but I think the new sony FF should be the cameras of the years. I know the poor specs + prices aren’t really cutting it but common, the whole idea is great. Many have been craving for this for a while now. Now we can properly enjoy our voigtlander FF on a “poor man Leica”.
I give it the first for being the first.
So you need to stuff your nose full and huff it all to pay $1,400 for that camera?
You buy a camera just because Steve and huff say that it’s the best? I don’t argue that E-M1 is really good camera. However, in terms of sale volume E-M1 does not come close to A7/A7r. In Korea, and several countries in Asia, people wait in long queue in front of Sony shop. This is like the IPhone phenomenon in the past.
You buy a camera just because it has sales volume…?
Nope..My point is that “camera of the year” doesn’t tell us anything for marketing sales.
It says that some ppl who tried many cameras, call the em1 the camera of the year.
And you care enough to paste here, what’s your point, go outside and get a life!
I live in Korea and I haven’t seen any lines. Just what Sony shop are you referring to, ha ha? Maybe you can give me the address I can check it out. I also haven’t seen any Sony system cameras.
Because Koreans only buy Korean brands, like Samsung, Hyundai or Kia.
Hmmm…I always pay a lot of attention to what people use on the subway, and I see a lot (a lot!) of iPhones and iPads. So, Kia bought Apple? I was just talking to a Korean friend who has 3 iPads and an iPhone. In fact, she criticizes the local Home Plus store because they use a Samsung tablet at their service counter (might have been an LG; can’t remember). My local coffee shop uses iPads.
I lived in China (Beijing) until three months ago – went to Zhongguancun, the big electronics area (check out WSJ article yesterday) and never, never saw much business in the Sony stores…as far as I know, I was the only one who had a Sony dSLR in my neighborhood and most families have some sort of dSLRs because of the pets and children. I was the always the only one with mirrorless. Of course, Nikon, Canon, and Pentax are big here.
On this forum and on others such as DPreview, where I spend far too much time, I always read broad generalizations about which countries or continents like which kind of hardware, and I always suspect that these folks have never spent any time in those places, or haven’t been there at all.
Who cares either way? Three paragraphs and you’ve said nothing of substance.
Nothing of substance? I call it substance when a person gives factual information (not seen lines in front of Sony stores, wide spread use of non-Korean goods in Korea, etc as a direct answer to a claim that Koreans don’t buy non-Korean goods.
@ megolin,
On the contrary I would say you show a lack of cross-cultural awareness. He called someone’s gross generalization for what it is. I found it interesting and your comment uninteresting
Thanks BLI and MAFA. I am American and taught media and finance students in Beijing for ten years; I moved to Seoul four months ago, so I’m not an expert on anything here. In fact, most of my friends are Chinese or Mongolian because of my work in Beijing. However, I made my earlier post because I thought it was a bit degrading to say that Koreans only buy products made in their own country.
I have a useless, unemployed cocker spaniel which I walk in a park every day; I also live near a couple of high schools. So, I see a lot of cameras, especially at the baseball games held at the park on the weekends. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Samsung camera. In fact, the big chain eMart was advertising cameras recently, with no mention of Samsung cameras, only Canon and Nikon – I know because I went there to get a Canon as a birthday gift for someone. Yes, many of the phones are the larger screen Samsungs, but I see a lot of iPhones and on the subway and yesterday I was watching a guy apparently trying to sync his iPad and iPhone…the subway has internet here. I love motorcycles and also pay attention to them – there are several Harleys in the neighborhood, despite the fact that Korea has a very good motorcycle company (with dealers in the US). Last summer I saw a biker group of young women all riding Japanese bikes, but they were locals because I met them in a restaurant. The husband of one of my neighbors works for LG, as does his father, but he has an iPad and iPhone.
Enough examples, but that is the point I was trying to make. I suspect that the Koreans are as loyal to their companies as Americans might be to GM and Ford, but, in the end, a person gives a priority to the product that fits his or her needs.
Off topic note:
One good thing for us followers of m4/3 is that the media students that I mentioned above are now working on their master’s degrees in the UK and US and I’m beginning to hear from them that, during their internships in China, they are running into broadcasting networks starting to use GH3s, especially CCTV, China’s national network. They’ve been asking me about where to get the cameras and what lenses to buy. One of them even sent me a photo of a GH3 in some sort of huge rig, designed to record a sporting event by CCTV5. That’s a good sign for those of us who hope this format develops.
Who asked for your life story, we don’t need to know that you were retrieved from the abortion bucket
Your such a dick. At least he has life story. Whats your life story? How you insult people?
The real stories like these from far corners of the world are actually interesting. Unlike the ones of internet trolls like dumbolin who never get out of their parents’ basement.
You just failed.
OMG where have you been? Have you ever heard the D-Day phenomenon?
Enjoy watching —> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLaTEyuG414
Ha ha ha! C’mon. Entertaining…but a Sony ad! However, the next time they bring out something special, I’ll walk buy one of their stores to see what’s going on. I pay attention to hardware people carry and I haven’t seen any Sony dSLRs or mirrorless. I’m sure they are around, but just about everything I see is Canikon and big, some with decent lenses, and some with kit lenses. The family I am friends with has 2 Canon dSLRs. I know it’s not scientific, but probably more accurate than something put out by the Sony marketing department, which looks suspiciously like it was a copy of an Apple effort.
@Anonymous, I don’t know who made that video. Probably Sony, but it doesn’t matter. The point is that it is fact from what’s happening, and it’s not only in Korea. Of course you don’t see many A7 around at this time, since it’s just released to market. Given the tremendous sale now, I bet that you will see more and more.
The reality is, A7 is #16 among CSCs on amazon, so quickly after release:
http://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Electronics-Compact-System-Cameras/zgbs/electronics/3109924011/ref=zg_bs_nav_e_3_281052
Even the grossly overpriced and released almost 2 months earlier E-M1 is #6 in the list.
and in the UK the A7 sits on the shelves of camera dealers hardly being bought and in some cases not even anyone wanting to look at the camera. On the website of Amazon it’s sale position is below that of the E-M1
I very tired of you racist monotype of Korea. We not long queue lik you say. Our people develop a lot more you will think and we use a lot camera too. Not just Canon and Nikon. Very popular Olympus same Sony to na.
I’ve been telling myself not to touch, pick up or try one of these E-M1’s as I’ve made the decision to stick with my E-M5 & go in the other direction to use the new Stylus 1 (mini OM-D) for ‘go anywhere’ (in dry conditions) use as an alternative to taking the E-M5 kit on some occasions. I’m afraid I will succumb if I come across an E-M1 ‘in the flesh’.
Wise call! I accidentally touched one at the local camera store, and walked out with a new E-M1 a few minutes later 🙂
LOL!
We are busy taking pics with proper cameras. You go on playing with your toy and your forum.
Promoting the hell out of what is a good, but in comparison to the new Sonys, a palpably overpriced camera.
There is a reason why the E-m1 has been in stock at B&H for a few days now. And it’s not because a large ship loaded with e-m1’s reached the eastern seaboard.
I wouldn’t buy the Sony for half the price…my last two Sony cameras both failed just days after the warranty expired. Now the same thing has happened to my Mother-in-law’s Sony camera. I have had 4 Oly and 6 Panasonic M43 bodies…not one failure yet.
I realize that I am a small sample size….but burn me once – shame on you….burn me twice – shame on me! I will not be burned by a third crappy Sony product.
Overpriced? How do you define “overpriced”? Is the RX100 overpriced?
To just compare price with sensor size is absurd. Why is the GX7 correctly priced (if you think so), and why are the obvious additional features of the E-M1 worth zero — in your view? Of course, if you only care about looking dandy, I can unserstand that it is not for you.
Agree.
Sony A7r is SLUGGISH, LOUD, NO IBIS, and LACKS lenses!
It will take AT LEAST 3 years before Sony can catch up to EM-1’s lens library, fast autofocus, and IBIS capabilities. By that time, Olympus has EVOLVED its m43 camera’s YEARS ahead.
Then again, 3 years from now… Olympus will just be a footnote on mirrorless history after Sony COMPLETELY GOBBLES it up AND STEAL all it’s technology.
Yay.
I said that the e-m1 is overpriced. Not that one should buy the a7 or a7r. They are almost like the sony r1, version 1.0.
In a year or two, though, then buy that one. In the meantime, as I have indicated before, I am sticking with the e-m5, which is now going for just a little over half the price of the e-m1.
If you have an e-m5, hang tight and wait. Don’t buy more lenses. If you don’t, the em-5 with a few good lenses is more than worth the price of an e-m1.
Absolutely agree.
For m4/3, Pana GX7 is best for pricing viewpoint.
E-M1’s price is very close to A7, thus making A7 more interesting. I for one will choose FF any day for this level of investment.
Native autofocus lens is still limited but more will come to market in 2014 according to Zeiss roadmap.
Do you include the plastic crap 12-40 in “a few good lenses”?
http://www.mu-43.com/showthread.php?t=56256
Give me a list of current AF lenses (non-Leica) that don’t utilize at least some plastic in the construction PLEASE!
Every lens use plastic, but what makes the pro lens different from others is that the pro-level lens uses metal in non-critical parts, and uses metal in critcal parts. 12-40 is use metal for external but most of parts inside totally are plastic.
There are internal pictures of 75/1.8 over Internet. Its internal structure is very solid and so strong. You will better understand what I mean.
Sorry for typo. I mean pro-level lens uses metal in critical parts, and uses metal in non-critcal parts
You’ve done the same typo again !
Nah. I’ll stick with my Voigtländers.
I have the Oly 12, 45 and 75, plus the Panaleica 25 f1.4 and Voigtlander 17.5 and 42.5 both f0.95, the Voigtlanders are my most used lenses by a very wide margin, they are superb.
You obviously haven’t handled a 12-40
Sony doesn’t have a lazy 8 billion, your thinking is deluded
When the E-M1 was first announced, I had no intention of upgrading from my E-M5. It was all I needed. However, the more I read, the more intrigued I became. When the display model got to B&H I checked it out. I knew right then, this was the m43 camera I was waiting for! This camera is worth every bit what I paid.
The only reason this camera may not sell is because people don’t understand it. They think bigger is better. This camera will run circles around any dSLR in its price range, and I argue it’s better than many cameras significantly higher priced. Steve Huff is right, it’s way more than just great image quality, which every camera coming out has, including the E-M1. It’s like the “pixel race” of years ago. We are there now. Anybody who argues to the contrary are simply pixel peepers. Pixel peeping has nothing to do with photography. At least, not anymore….
I don’t consider moving from an EM5 to an EM 1 an upgrade. Except, of course, in porkiness.
That there EM1 seems like a fine camera, and is about the same size as a full frame Sony. If I wanted a camera that big I wouldn’t settle for micro 4/3.
The promise of micro 4/3 is compactness. The EM1 took a wrong direction for me. The EM5 is such a fine item that there doesn’t seem to be a need for much else in that format. Maybe an EM6 in a few years, assuming Olympus and micro 4/3 somehow survive the precipitous drop in sales.
However, blaming consumers because a product doesn’t sell (people just don’t understand it) is a tactic taken by failing companies.
So you pretend to make an argument but can’t resist having to slip in an insulting comment to those who disagree with you…
I’m sorry but your argument is just totally wrong.
An E-M1 or GH3 for that mattee, with a nice set of lenses covering 24-200mm with decent quality exists, good luck finding that in a comparable size and weight in a larger format. No, the hyped A7 won’t save the day there either.
Your argument is ignorant because you ignore the most important part of a system. Deliberate ignorance? Seeing how often this has been pointed out, I think that is a fair bet.
Now, please use tge camera you like.
+1 I couldn’t have said it better.
The E-M1 didn’t feel much bigger than the E-M5 when I held it in my hand. It’s actually way more comfortable with the grip. A definite plus when using the heavy Voigtlanders.
The E-M is in fact a tiny bit smaller then the E-M5 with the landscape part of the HLD-6 grip attached.
“…will run rings around dslrs in its price range” – look mate, 6D, 7D, 610D, 7100D etc are in its price range. Where are the rings? This thing hasn’t even got the “size advantage” for mollies, that seems to be so important here.
As soon as you actually attach a lens you’ll notice the size advantage. Once you actually try to use it you might also get to understand those other things, through, bollox as you are, that understanding part is likely going to be extremely difficult.
Now go use your superior camera to take some pictures instead of wasting everybodies time by posting your moronic idiocy here.
Really, who cares what he picks as the camera of the year. He’s quite obviously a shill for Olympus.
Haha, not so long ago they said the same of him but with Nikon in mind.
olympus sponsored sure here in second hand shop already aviable for almosr 1000$ + batt grip this camera is a fail like all m43 system ….oh small sensor not full frame
@full frame
Cut your wrists loser
Please tell me where, I’ll buy five and make some money
Full Frame is a dangerous chizo. Because on one side Full Frame isn’t FULL FRAME and on the othe Full Frame is FULL FRAME.
Just figure it out!
Again and again I’m reading comments as to imply that a camera is nothing but a sensor and not the sum of all it’s parts.
The only sin the em1 has comitted to the detractors using 35mm is it’s m43 sensor! Otherwise in almost every respect
other than video it’s a seemless amalgamation of parts and sensor to produce a shooting experience that’s unrivalled by all except the best of cameras…..but WHO CARES BECAUSE IT’S NOT BLOODY FULL FRAME (35MM FORMAT ACTUALLY) SO IT MUST BE OVER PRICED JUNK!
Next year Canon will release it’s Pro-spec crop body the 7DMK2 which will most likely weigh as much as a 35mm camera and be priced around the $2000 mark but if it does offer a pro level AF system and is in actual fact a baby 1Dx than so what?….Have people forgotten a Sony x100mk2 is now around $900 which has a sensor considerabky smaller than the em1.
Some high end consumer camcorders go for almost the price of an em1 and these camcorders have pissy little tiny sensors as well which despite this still do a great job when combined with a bright lens and a million and one features you may never use.
I can’t help but think when I read all these detracting comments on the em1 that you simply haven’t used one and if you had you might actually get it when you start experience what a pleasure this camera is to use because of how refined and complete it is.
The em1 isn’t the best at IQ, wildlife and speed, small and discreet but in my experience when all things are considered as Steve Huff mentioned as an overall experience simply put, the em1 is the best all rounder on the market bar none because whatever ot does it does very well and is more than good enough while being able to lend itself any application thrown at it.
Yep, m43 isn’t really the best at anything in particular…….
But it is the best compromise system for many people. Let’s face it, not many amateur photographers have the money or time to buy, learn and use multiple systems. So, if you want to produce good images of: kids, partners, sports, landscapes, buildings, travel, wildlife in a very portable package with a good lens choice, the E-M1 is currently one of the best choices. Especially when you take weight into consideration.
After 3 years with a first gen m43 camera, I’m upgrading to an E-M1, solely for the ability to use it for my kids sports. Sure, I know I could spend more (or probably less) on a DSLR, but I don’t want to buy a camera for only one thing, and I like my m43 lenses. The E-M1 will also be my every day, travel, landscape and portrait camera. Oh, yeah…for me, I like to take occasional movies of wildlife. This camera will enable me to shoot HD video at 1600mm/F3.0, stabilised! (200/f3)x2 crop factor x4 tele-coversion). No idea how good that will be, but I’m looking forward to trying it.
There is a better choice for compromise for consumers that could care less about camera fandom. That is APS. The cameras in APS are proven, work fine, give arguably better pictures, focus faster, will last years, and most importantly are much, much cheaper. A DSLR with two kit zooms are advertised in every Sunday paper and that package can be had for 1/2 to 1/3 of the price of the EM1 body alone.
99% of consumers would be better served by that package. Only those of us with more time and money to waste are intrigued by things like micro 4/3 and its arguable advantages.
APS is dead!
Heavy, clunky, bloated tupperware designs with last century mirror garbage and no superior evf.
If people would be buying cameras based on what they need them for and not only the cameras brand then Canon and Nikon would be next to dead!
Since I have my E-M1 I barely use my D800E anymore and thats not aps-garbage but a damn FF!
Really?….please show me a 24-80mm equivalent standard zoom at a constant f2.8 aoerture fully weather sealed with 20cm minimum focusing distance and 0.3 macro magnification throughout the entire range! Did I mention it’s splash proof, dust proof and freeze proof, made of high grade materials, has a manual clutch focusing mechanism and weighs only 380grams?
Please show me a nikon dx and canon apsc crop lens of this kind that is of that weight, with those features and of that optical quality. You’ll find their equivalents but these are not sealed and weigh a bomb!
Nikon and canon treat apsc like the outcast in their family and while Pentax has very good and small primes their entry level standard and telephoto zooms which are compatible and sealed have small apertures and the ones that don’t are large and heavy.
You can get a budget fantastic plastic entry level DX body that is comparible in size and even weight with a cream of the crop m43 body but that DX body has no 5 axis IBIS, no weather sealing, none of the latest cutting edge mirrorless tech, no APSC designed weather sealed line of Pro spec lenses, non existant AF in video ecxept the 70d.
No, just hand me down second rate second considerations. If it wasn’t for Sigma and Tamron Apsc would be an ill conceived crop format without much support in sight.
What accounts for a large number of Apsc sales is the millions of people upgrading from point & shoots buying the rebel or dx entry level body with a cheap kit lens that will live and die bolted on that body without change.
When we get to d7100 and 7d level then the difference in size and weight is huge if you matching bodies with high grade lenses and all for what?…a single stop of high iso and a little extra DR with nikon bodies and often that difference doesn’t even translate.
You make a weak argument that can’t be substantiated whatever angle you look at it.
@ronin, in fact the E-M1 focusses faster AND more reliable than the APS-C DSLR counter parts. Don’t throw in APS-C mirrorless because they are really slow compared to the latest m43 of both Pana AND Oly!!!! and on top of that the A7(r) is so loud it is totally unusable for wildlife and social event shooting.
I guess you really never handled a modern m43 camera.
Hi
I love the look of the Sony A7. It really reminds me of the SLR’s I grew up with. I use an EM5 and have tried a EM1, and the EM1 is a truly great all rounder. It is fantastic in the hand. If you have not tried one then you should. I agree that the lenses are an important consideration when deciding what system to go for. Quite apart from size. I also have a GM1 as a carry around. M43 just rocks!
Berni
Everyone has opinion to choose which camera should be best 2013. In my view, A7/A7r deserves the glory. This innovation never happens before in camera industry. Its IQ blows away not only every mirrorless camera in current market, but also is much superior to Canon’s and Nikon’s flagship DSLR cameras.
I’ll give you the a7 should be duly noted for its accomplishment but as far as a working tool…it needs to be fixed…in a year or two hopefully it will have a nice lineup of lenses and focus faster . Then it will own the market…but til then I need a fast camera and the E-M1 rocks it…I shoot action and the sony cannot handle that…if you want to shoot portraits the a7 will be the choice…but with the 45 1.8 or the 75 1.8 the E-M1 will deliver nice portraits as well…but historically sony’s move with the a7 has helped to shake up the camera indutry
Only if you think that 35FF is needed. In fact it is needed only by 8% of the industry. It is slow, it is cumbersome, is expensive, doesn’t manage well wides, needs tripod, can’t shoot fast fps, slow focus, needs stopping down, eats inordinate amount of HD and battery, etc…
In other wordsit is the negation of what is needed by the ‘decisive moment’. It easy thus v. easy to understand why it comes after the E-M1: it is not even ready for use LOL.
You are just primitives trying to wear an alarm clock round the neck 🙂
Hmm yes, a mirrorless 135 format camera was absolutely innovative back when the original Leica was conceived. Now almost a century later? Not really. Innovation has zero to do with being the first to make a totally obvious combination (replace film with a sensor that has existed for a ‘few’ years now just like what happened with ‘mirrored’ slrs some 15 years before).
And no, I’m not saying its total crap, in fact I’m likely going to buy one in a couple months to use with some of my legacy lenses, but calling it innovative is just overhyped rubbish and a very good demonstration of knowing zero about camera technology and history (so you had at least 2 chances to avoid the rubbish)
yes and is full frame
Oh look, Mr Tiny DIck is back. You do release that there are bigger sensors than 35mm equivalents, don’t you? Go play with a medium format and report back to us.
I hope he just hangs himself to be honest, anyone who feels the need to go around bleating “FullFrame, Full Frame” all over the place is some sort of social reject who may as well just end it.
btw nothing wrong with FF, MF, APSC, MFT whatever – just don’t see what sort of tosser would go around bleating about it constantly.
*realise……my bad.
It COULD be if only YOU HAD IT.
All Full Frame proponents are required to show PROOF of Ownership of a FF35.
A’ propos of which I bet you don’t have the money to buy any of the New Sonys, otherwise you’d be at home learning a manual too difficult for your Neanderthal peabrains.
SO: PROOF of Ownership first, blabber later.
No need to waste breath with him: I guess he’s a friend of Admin writing bullsciiitt just to add comments.. 😉
E-M1 is a museum piece. The last hoorah for a dying system. Panasonic will go APS-C and FF with Leica. Olympus, this is not the “Beginning of the New”. It’s the Beginning of the End.
@full frame
Don’t trip over any facts on the way out, douchebag
His spelling and grammar is too good, must be someone else 🙂
It’s the Beginning of the End… for Canikon.
So at the moment I own an E-P5, D7000, 6D and A7.
Having all this gear I must agree with Steve. Micro four thirds is the best camera system of this time. The scale of bodies and lenses is the best ratio. The AF and IBIS is unbeatable. For a camera to always have with you, micro four third wins. To have the choice between E-P5, GX7, E-M5 and E-M1 is exceptional.
In an ideal world MFT will win the mirrorless wars. However in an ideal world APS-C would have won the DSLR wars. As long as people keep buying with their ego instead of with their brain, each system will always gravitate towards full frame.
And to be honest the Sony cameras are so great, if they get the lenses right this system might very well take over. I think Olympus is in a very comfortable position here: they can join Sony’s full frame system at any time they please.
I agree 100%. I can’t afford two camera’s, and looked very closely at moving from m43 to Sony. But the difference in IQ just wasn’t sufficient to count against the overall camera that the E-M1 is. I have been very pleased with the results, love the 100 ISO for low contrast shots, and the 1,8000s. Love all the extra buttons, and the resultant lack of button presses. The IBIS is definitely an improvement over the E-M5. I am getting shots I wouldn’t have tried before, and going a lot lower ambient light. Higher success rate with birds in flight than the E-M5. Bring on the RAW conversion for DXO and Aperture
The coming years a lot of people will buy ff, because it is slightly better on image quality, because it is a status symbol, and because they want to have what the pro’s have.
Soon after that people will start selling their ff cameras because the lenses are too large to carry around and they can’t see that they are actually getting any better pictures than their m43 friends does.
Large FF lenses are only good for people who are willing to carry them around and care a lot for a very small advantage in image quality. Pro’s will use them for sure. They can’t afford to give the competition a small advantage in IQ, however small. Some geeks will use ff simply because they are in love with their gear, nothing wrong with that. The rest of us will usually be better off with something like m43.
You know, you read over these comments and are served with so many posters trumpeting how bad full frame is, how incredibly gigantic and massive their cameras are, how micro 4/3 is all but equivalent in quality, how anyone owning full frame is a primitive holdover.
In FF sites, you never read this junk about 4/3. In APS sites, same thing. Ditto Nikon 1. There is this sort of compulsion to constantly buttonhole strangers seeking to validate one’s choice when it comes to micro 4/3. In this case, the choice is just one camera format over another, but you’d think it was a religion.
Manufacturers of other formats- Nikon, Canon, Leica- are showing profit and selling tons of full frame and APS. Micro 4/3 sales are unprofitable and sliding so fast that its remaining manufacturers are seeking alliances with manufacturers of other, non micro 4/3 formats. Yet we constantly hear here that those other formats are dead and micro 4/3 are taking over. You guys better tell Olympus they don’t need Sony, and while you’re at it, tell Panasonic they don’t need Leica. Cuz those formats are stupid.
A little while ago, Jared Polin, aka Mr. froknowsphoto had a ‘RAWtalk’ about the Sony A7 with the ‘provoking’ subtitle asking if it would kill m4/3.
His take? Yes it will because it is ‘full frame’. As it turned out he knew absolutely nothing about the technology (wondering if the A7 has a shutter… and how that would work), but declared it a winner regardless for the mentioned reason.
Is he unique in that? Rather not actually. “nice camera but it isn’t full frame” is a pretty typical comment when the typical D800E toting crowd sees an E-M1/GH-3 or such.
So you are wrong.
The good news here is that this makes it easy to tell the difference between photographers and number masturbators.
Wow! This overpriced tiny sensored rubbish costs the same as a nikon d610. And they wonder why micro 4 thirds is dying a slow death. Oh dear.
What a Joke! You must have such a tiny brain or it’s just a bag full of mush!
Dude! I shoot Nikon, or tbh, shot Nikon before I had my E-M1 and I can tell you that a company that has to release an updated version of a camera because of such a critical error as with the d600 and the oil on the sensor and that never says anything about it simply sucks!
The d610 is what the d600 should have been but right now too little too late. It’s bland old tech and barely a stop better at high iso while you have to lug a bunch of heavy lenses around.
My D800E kicks the D610’s ass and I still prefer to use my E-M1!
A surprising pick. I guess it’s all good and fine as long as you steer far away from video features. We do have a less expensive, proper hybrid camera out there in the same league, which is objectively leaps ahead of the E-M1 when it comes to hybrid shooting. Good for Olympus though. It’s nice to see that sensor size doesn’t come first for other people either. I very much dislike a compromised Full Frame body in comparison to a very finely tuned piece of machinery, that a smaller sensor camera can be in the same price range. It just makes the shooting experience more fun at least for me.
I bet that most people that scream that ff will take over the camera world has never owned an ff camera. FF cameras look great as long as you are only reading reviews on the web. Not so great when you start carrying those lenses around. The 24-70/2.8 is the favorite pro ff lens. For me it is close to useless due to its size. The size difference is, for me, laughable compared to the small advantage in low light noise between the canon 24-70/2.8 and the panasonic 12-35/2.8. A pro may need to carry all that junk around to keep up with the competition, I don’t. I can just focus on beautiful pictures, and convenience.
Let me tell you that more and more pro’s change system, after the release of E-M1.
This pro was allready convinced, but 3 of my colleagues have now joined me.
They bought 35-100 Pana’s and 12-40 or 12-35 lenses, the 75 Oly, the 12 Oly, 45 Oly, 25 Panaleica. One even bought 2 native m43 voightlanders.
Their take was that there’s very little the E-M1 couldn’t do that their high end DSLR’s could.
To be honest most are still sitting on their old equippement but it doesn’t get used much.
Oh yeah one more thing, they are amazed at the jpeg quality.
I hate to think how much Olympus paid Steve Huff to write this junk? Or maybe Huff’s been Puffing on too much Stuff! Maybe he meant best camera for those who like to get massively ripped off. RIP tiny sensored, corporate fraudsters – Olympus.
Why not read what he says in his extensive blogs on several cameras rather than make an assumption
iPhone camera: always with you
m43 camera: when you are willing to carry a camera
ff camera: when you get paid to carry a camera
Nice one, only you can leave M43 out of their and put APSC in. Its just as small, much cheaper en much better picture quality. M43 is not going to last much longer.
my epl1 camera will last me all the time i want it to, i take care of it and it will provide with good pictures, and it is very cheap so o dont care if it breaks.
by the way, if olympus stop producing m43 cameras i will still have my camera, and i can still buy a lot of lenses from people all over the world, who cares if it stops production, if you have a camera you dont need them all.
The Steve Huff micro 4/3 love affair continues!
I agree a camera is more than IQ alone, and this has decent IQ
But there is no getting around the problem £1300 for a small sensor camera isn’t cutting it.
And when was the last time Steve actually gave a critique rather than “wow this is great” for just about every camera that hit his hands. Nice guy..probably, good videos, camera critic def not.
Yeah the EM1 is a great camera but price-wise it costs about the same as the Sony A7 that has lot in common (eg viewfinder and weather sealing) that’s the only thing that puts it off.
The main use of the A7 must be to mount old 135 film/rangefinder lenses, as a whole system the native lens lineup is poor. I dont know Minolta AF lenses work on the a7 though.
“Yeah the EM1 is a great camera but price-wise it costs about the same as the Sony A7 that has lot in common (eg viewfinder and weather sealing) that’s the only thing that puts it off.”
Actually, the A7 is $300 more expensive than the E-M1, which is 21%. Not really “about the same”, unless your money grows on trees.
And then the cost to add some good native glass? Is there any yet? The Huff (and Puff) article mentioned (no I’m not a fan) talks about the value of the E-M1 as part of a well rounded system. AS does DP Review and a few others. Actually, if I was a well moneyed landscape shooter looking for a home for some legacy glass, the A7R would tempt me. But as a normal person wanting a ILC body that can manage most forms of shooting well enough for most purposes? Hard to find something better than the E-M1 at the moment.
Sorry but you should really try the A7(r).
I considered to buy one (along with the Df) for those seldom moments I need to rent 35mmFF.
It is veeeeeery sluggish but man you need sound barriers when you press the shutter button. I wouldn’t consider the Pana camera’s for that matter but they are near silent compared to both Sonys!!!
lets see the price & features of upcoming OM-D model …as I dont have any 4/3 glasses but would like to have vf4 inbuilt …thats what I want to see
Yes, I think this will be a decisive model, because it will down the price to a more popular level.
We have forgotten that the strength of the m4/3 is in the Pens (in Asia at least) and so one must tread carefully to promote the OM-D form factor.
Many of the perks of the E-M1 are not needed at all, provided the IQ and reactiveness are there.
I taught media students in Beijing for ten years and moved to Korea four months ago. I’ve never seen a Pen in either place. However, because of the interest in video, the GH3 has been getting interest, especially from CCTV, China’s national network, for their sports channel, a good sign for m4/3.
Can’t speak for China, but had a week in Hong Kong earlier year. A lot of PEN and NEX cameras around. A full day at Ocean Park (amusement park/ zoo), I saw at least 4 E-M5’s. Saw very few DSLR’s being used that day, but I did see a few camera backpacks on tired looking people!
i am looking forward into the new omd em6 because it will lower the price on the current omd em5, because you know i´m poor, so i have to buy two year old camera models, but that is very good, i get really great quality for a very affordable price, and to think that 5 years ago the quality was really crap, i try to compare the cameras i buy with really old ones, o to smartphones, compacts, etc. my epl1 now is selling for 100 us dollars, isnt that a good bang for your buck?
I think they mean best GADGET of the year 2013. The EM1 is just a compromise camera and does not shine in what it is suppose to do…….taking outstanding high quality pictures. Its just another M43 camera and a real expensive one to. Sony for example brings us a FF camera as small and almost at the same price as the EM1. This is a device which sticks to it main purpose…..taking outstanding high quality pictures. Sony innovates while Oly just makes camera’s more expensive and bigger. Everybody can see this and only loveblind people are falling for the fake EM1 magic.
a quick username search in google for Viezevure gave me a lot of results from 43rumors, fuji rumors and so, so my question is why don´t you comment on sonyrumors buut instead you populate the other companies rumors site? are you some kind of preacher for sony? trying to get more people into buying more sony stuff?
are you Admin trying to push clicks?
who are you, at least show some pictures.
Maybe he hasn’t stopped to think that Olympus are using Sony sensors anyhow.
So you say that Sony’s A7 is as small as E-M1 and put this as an advantage. Then you say that Olympus’ E-M1 is too big and that’s bad… Don’t you see a problem in your logic?
Your example Sony ‘full frame’ camera is just as much a compromise, merely a slightly different one:
larger sensor (+)
requires larger lenses to deliver any kind of optical performance outside the center (-)
small body (+)
no ibis (-)
But it still has quite a tiny sensor.
Yep, a compromise camera is exactly what the E-M1 is. Have you ever printed some well taken images from a modern camera? Blathering on about IQ is pointless, they are all good enough. Try some printing, put them on your wall, and enjoy your friends reactions. Then relax about IQ. My E-PL1 has plenty of IQ for up to A0 size prints….so in fact do many smartphones and compacts.
Really, chasing IQ these days is just wanking at the computer screen, not about photography at all.
On the wall, next to my desk, hangs a A3 landscape print from my e-Pl1 taken with the cheap Oly 14-42mm – it looks stunning – no noise, no mush and fantastic colours.
by the way, anyone can see my pictures in my flickr, suggestions accepted.
anyone from reddit?
Good for you.
yeah i am poor and have no friends, so i post in nerd forums so i can pretend i have a life, but i dont defend full frame vs m43 shit
yeah i am poor and have no friends, so i post in nerd forums so i can pretend i have a life, but i dont defend full frame vs m43 nor viceversa
APSC is not “just as small” as m43. Equally fast lenses are larger for APSC than for m43.
In fact, the only significant reason to use larger sensors is to be able to use larger lenses. The lower noise and thinner DOF comes from the larger lenses, not from the sensor itself.
this is part of the confusion around ff. People don’t understand that the whole point with a larger sensor is that it makes it cheaper to manufacture larger lenses.
Sensor size in itself, within reasonable limits, does not matter. It is larger lenses that gives thinner DOF and collects more light for less noise in low light.
How much light a lens collects is irrelevant, how much light gets delivered to he zctive area of the sensor is what matters.
You are just as confused about the rest.
Well, we are both right. The important thing is how much light falls on the sensor. Absolutely. but, if you want to build a lens that collects more light to the sensor area you need to make it bigger.
You can make a new lens that can put a stronger exposure on the same sensor, or you can make a lens that can put the same exposure on a larger sensor. In both cases you will have to make the lens larger.
(Of course, if you are already using an ff lens but with a crop sensor, then you can get more light on the sensor by increasing it to ff size and thus making full use of the lens.)
The DOF depends of the physical size of the lens aperture (in millimeters), not on sensor size.
The issue is that your basic premise is also wrong, no, its not easier to make biggern enses for a bigger format. As a matter of fact, it is more difficult to make lenses with good performance as your format gets bigger, and this problem only gets bigger when making the lenses brighter. Rather, a larger sensor results on bigger lenses not because its easier but because it won’t work otherwise.
You are right that at a given focal length, making a lens brighter means it will typically get bigger.
I was primarily talking about fast lenses. A f1.4 50mm full frame lens is much easier to make than a f0.7 25mm m43 lens, although they both have the same aperture in millimeters. (Since they have the same aperture in mm and the same FOV they will also put the same amount of total light on the sensor.)
Lenses are called fast because of making it easier to achieve faster shutter speeds at a given sensitivity. That has to do with brightness and not with ‘total light’, that is merely a consequence. Hence 2 f/1.4 lenses are equally fast regardless of format.
Also, corner cases don’t demonstrate general rules, and a 25/0.7 is a cirner case.
The concept of ‘total light’ is flawed. The light per measured unit, say, mm/sq, is what counts. If the concept of ‘total light’, as explained by some visitors here were correct, then having a light behind the lens would be acceptable to make it so!
The fact that a 35mm lens has 4 x the opening of a m43 lens for the same light per mm/sq seems to ‘get lost in translation’. And. That same 35mm lens puts the same light on a m43 sensor as it does on the equivalent area of a 35mm sensor. They will feed you all sorts of gumbo and garbage but in reality is its true.
I agree with Huff that a camera is so much more than it’s parts, it’s how you meld with it and if it makes you want to take photos or pick it up when you leave your house everyday. I know I have 6 cameras and most of the time I leave the house I think “smh i have my iPhone if I see a photo I need.
Also Huff is a street fotog and most of the cameras he reviews work for him in his element.
If you have other areas like working for magazines and video then some of his choices would be the last cameras of the year.
It’s all opinion, shoot what works for you…I like that. Nobody looks at a painting and says “what brush did he or she use”, should be the same with photos.
People are saying the A7 is low cost, but they’re forgetting that the glass costs a bomb. A grand for a 38mm f2.8 and for a 55mm f1.8? No thank you.
“Beginning of the End”??????
WOW! So many negative comments being traded – it’s like a rap battle sans the rhyme.
I truly hope all camera manufactures survive and thrive. In fact I wish there were more of them. It fosters competition which results in better prices and products for us hungry consumers.
Calm down people!!
m43 is dead now even panasonic will move to apsc so people start selling your gear now is the time ,m42 is in the same level of nikon 1 or pentax q but the only one say is “pro” what a joke
i saw the video this is paid by oly sure and his review is lame the em1 is capable of many thinhgs ohh exxept of shallow DOF and low light performance
I click the comments section just to get a chuckle from all the m4/3 bashers extolling the virtues of FF, constantly highlighting the DOF equivalence as if only they have this unique knowledge, and somehow it is their mission to impart this important difference to m4/3 owners.
Seriously, the comments are a hoot.