Olympus OM-D E-M5 Hands-On Review at ePhotozine (Click here): “Thankfully the camera lived up to our high expectations, and in some ways surpassed them with better than expected noise performance even at high ISO settings! The sensor in the camera has more resolution, with 16 megapixel compared to the PEN cameras 12 megapixels, yet also offers lower noise results!”
New official images from Olympus Japan (Click here). Some more E-M5 news and tests at pf.nl, digifoto.nl, hi-tech.ru, lydogbilde.no and swiatobrazu.pl. The E-M5 instructions manual is available in French (English, Spanish, German, etc. as well) via Openpn.
And there are new E-M5 preorders at Amazon UK. I updated the full preorder list (Just click on the shop name to see the direct E-M5 link):
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Full Preorder list:
1) Black E-M5 body at
Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Warehouse UK, Redcoon Germany and Amazon Japan.
2) Silver E-M5 body at
Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Warehouse UK, Redcoon Germany, and Amazon Japan.
3) Black E-M5 body with 14-42mm lens at
Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and Amazon Japan.
4) Black E-M5 body with 12-50mm lens at
Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Jessops, Redcoon Deutschland, Amazon UK, Amazon Deutschland and Amazon Japan.
5) Silver E-M5 body with 12-50mm lens at
Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Jessops, Amazon UK, Amazon Deutschland and Amazon Japan.
6) FL-600R wireless flash at
Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
7) MMF-3 Four Thirds adapter at
Amazon and Adorama.
8.) HLD-6 power battery holder at
Amazon, Adorama and Amazon Japan.
85 Responses
First again woww
Clap clap clap
that’s not new we already seen that
Jajajaj if the iso performance is good, i will sell my CANON 5dmII , to get the EM5 , because with my 12-60 will be awesome , i use manual focus all the time , so i dont need the speedest focus , only the new mmf3 and i awesome optics, like a OM 50 mm 1,8 with an adaptador OM to M4/3 , that works really good with my ep3 , so i cant wait to test it in a em5 ^^
Yes but it was nice to re-read it and see those photos. Can’t wait to get mine! Still torn between black and silver …
Pre-ordered mine in black; hoping it was the right choice, as cameras (like motor cars) can look different in the metal than how they look in pictures on the web.
silver body pre-ordered(maybe also because the 75 1.8 looks much better on it then it would on a black body, while black lenses look good on it anyway…i know it shouldn’t matter…but…)
From the picture I saw, it looks like the silver is painted instead of just being the polished metal of the body; which most of the time, looks kinda cheap. So black body seem to have a better finish…
Thats how silver bodies are. The Leica M9, Fuji X100, all the old SLRs. Only some cameras, like the EP3 have stainless plates on the front for decoration. But even it has the top and bottom plates painted.
Polishing metal is costly and difficult just like wheels. If you do, to make it last it needs to be clear coated. It’s very unlikely to get that on a regular consumer product.
I’m not sure what kind of finishing/coatings you can apply to magnesium alloys but it’s a shame that they can’t use something akin to anodising aluminium – beautiful finish.
Painted? Even early polycarbonate bodies were plated with a silver finish. Metal colored metal bodies were also plated. Black metal bodies were painted. I’m sure the silver E-M5 has either a plated, anodized, VDP finish. The black one could have a VDP or painted finish. Someone go ask Terada. “Maybe it is, but maybe not. We mustn’t say.”
I think you’ll find the Silver finish will be a coated form whether painted or possibly powder coated, either way if it’s anything like the finish on the original OMs it will be stunning.
Is there any promotion like free grip in Germany?
Ephotozine are infamous for their test of the Zuiko ED 50 suggesting it was soft and average. After being caught out they deleted all the complaints and claimed the E3 they apparently used was at fault.
Cool, image 3 is from Brussels, Belgium. Here it is on Google Maps:
http://g.co/maps/8dkfu
Are the opinions based on production version? What about the official samples?
If not, I dont see how this is different from what we have already seen/heard thus far.
its getting better everyday… 🙂
“We tested a nearly final pre-production version of the camera, running a beta version of the firmware…”
So it’s just more of what has already been published. For valid conclusions, we still have to wait for a production level camera.
Anyway, preliminary observations seem to be very good 🙂
http://www.ephotozine.com/articles/olympus-om-d-e-m5-hands-on-review-18549/images/highres-olympusomdem5darker_1329907420.jpg
IT has the same short-menu as my E-P2, that’s great! It seems to be easy to use both together 🙂
All you “less mpix is better” people, here is another example of you being on the wrong foot!
Still waiting for a review worth the name. All we got so far is re-print of marketeing documentation. I know most of you only want confirmation that your brand is the best are are satisfied.
F–k all brands, I want a photographic tool that delivers AND is a pleasure to work with. The EM5 may well be that, but this is still unconfirmed.
(Used and liked all the big brands, but the cameras I, up til now, most liked to work with was Contaxes: 139 and G1. As this brand did not manage the transition to the digital era, I am now neutral.)
how can you claim to be neutral if you want to fuck all brands.
Actually that is pretty equal.
lol
Camera molestor! 😡
“All you “less mpix is better” people, here is another example of you being on the wrong foot!”
Sorry but I don’t see why it proves anything, the same sensor with less Mpix would have better DR and less noise, this is physic…for me 12 Mpix is enough
Please, future reviewers, don NOT compare this camera to the PENs, but measure it against its direct competitors like GH2, NEX7 and XPro1.
Exactly. Saying it it has better high ISO performance than the E-P3 and then throwing in an exclemation point to boot is laughable.
looks like Mr Terada has a new strap? I hope it comes with the E-M5
http://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/OMD-EM5-3968/328/OMD60418-Custom_1329483081.jpg
No, it looks like an E-SYSTEM strap, i.e. a product more related to the big DSLRs. Probably old.
Don’t think that is a camera strap at all. It should be a strap for the ID badge.
It is actually neither.
Neither and old nor a new camera strap. It was (maybe still is) a keychain lanyard that is used by Olympus internally and sometimes given to users as a free gift on special events. I have one myself and while it may look pretty good it is just the typical lanyard and nothing out of the ordinary.
you guys are right! I totally forgot that m4/3 is no longer part of the E-system 😀 i think it’s cool though
Not even a final firmware model used in this ‘review’. Bah 🙁
Oly sample pictures good though.
it’s supposed to be a preview only
Huh?
What do you expect?
The final fw isn’t finished yet!
Sheesh…
I don’t think the quality is going to get worse on the upcoming firmware. If it’s already excellent, then it seems reasonable for them to start making conclusions.
Saw the camera in the flesh yesterday. Very haooy i went with silver but don’t panic, it looks gorgeous in black too and handles nicely. The thumb grip on the back works very well and the shutter is nice and quiet. Can’t wait.
Wow, I would love to have my hands on these cameras. Which grip felt more ‘grippy’ the black or the silver?
DxO will tell the truth about its sensor 😉
I don’t trust DxO… they play with numbers…
Not only play by numbers, but and by light also, use them sterile light in every one colour, in sensor testing so them do.
Finally the pictures will tell the truth.
The Japanese picture of girl against orange background — is it slightly burnt-out in her hair? Or is it due to reduced resolution in the published picture?
The official samples are excellent – utterly noiseless, but without excessive NR smearing.
I still think that at base ISO NR is a bit too strong. The skin of the girl looks unnatural. I hope they will fix that small problem in the final firmware (though you can always turn NR to low in any case).
Is there going to be a “Silver body with silver 12-50mm lens” option?
high iso samples look really, really good. Even the 25600 one. Unbelievable.
direct link to high res 25600
http://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/OMD-EM5-3968/highres/OMD60233-Custom_1329417426.jpg
Yes! Of course a lot of noise went away by the resizing, but it is still very good. NEX 5N is probably only minimally better. I think there will be more reasons for OM-D than for NEX 5 or 7.
I hope the imaque quality at base iso will also be so excellent, so still waiting for tests with the final firmware 😉 But anyway I’ve ordered one in black 🙂
Agreed!
If ISO 3200 turns out usable, it’s a quantum leap forwards.
That said, base ISO is far more important to me, but so far the E-M5 looks very promising indeed. Furthermore, it seems to pass the beta-fw previews so far with flying colors (literally!). Feels good! 🙂
Oh, one more ting Oly, please make all lenses in black versions as well! And make the silver versions in the same sheen/color as the silver camera body. Different silvery colors does not look good. I.e the 75/1.8 looks more golden than the bodies… You said it yourself; design is imperative on this one, so the lenses should also look just as good.
Just like the 12/2.0, the 75/1.8 is made of metal and their color is called “champagne”. That should set them apart from the cheaper, plasic-made lenses, which are silver (or black, of course). Nothing wrong with that imo.
My 12/2.0 is NOT champagne coloured. It’s a neutral aluminum colour, which is not exactly the same as the metallized plastic lenses though.
But it IS the same colour as the top plate on my E-P1.
OK, ISO is important, but for me more important is DR? Is there any information about Dynamic Range?
Lets compare OM-D with competition. EP3 is not a competition. NEX-7 is a competition and new mirrorless Fuji.
@ “Me” (sorry, misplaced answer):
Don’t like that much. I’d prefer the same sheen all over, and rather distinguish the lens tiers w/ a blue ring or something. “Champagne”… whats next? Gold? No, keep them a bit less conspicuous, more neutral looking. We needn’t flash them or show off like that. A subdued and cleaner look is more classy and timeless somehow. Made like that, they will still look classy years into the future, and not like leftovers from some short lived fad long gone. Well, my 2 cents at least.
german pre-order says expected to arrive middle of April…hope this is true.
Now put that sensor (with iso 100) and 5 axis IS in the EP3 body and im sold
You’ll get a hump on the E-Px for the current 5-axis IS… so could as well get an E-M5 instead.
Yes we’ve seen these before but the one here probably are the official samples, with the final firmware.
The skin problem problem is just heavy makeup and maybe well, something to do with the model herself, one can only blame the camera is too sharp ouch 😉
They should have shot one with the Amsterdam model instead.
The problem looks the same as with those full size pictures + raw posted on focus-numerique.com a week ago. Skin looked unnatural due to noise reduction as it could be confirmed by the raw samples.
A minor problem, in any case. Either it will be fixed in final FW or you can just turn NR to low (or off).
With E-620 and E-PL2 I have always NR low.
I don’t think the E-Pxx line will incorporate the new 5-axis if they choose to keep body same shape. Only update sensor/truepic engine/firmware.
The rumored “rangefinder” style with incorporated viewfinder can accomodate extra bits and pieces due to larger body.
So I guess E-Px will be dropped in favor of new body design and either E-PM or E-PL will be dropped too or merged.
What we get is entry level PEN, intermediate/enthusiast PEN with builtin VF and OM-D line.
Before we get to the rangefinder Oly probably will rehash an E-P4 with new sensor. Six months hereafter we can expect some sort of rangefinder styled like the 35RC/RD, whatever retro spin.
Of course Olympus will continue to need a PEN flagship as well as an OM-D flagship. Some users would like an internal flash, and less need the internal EVF. Why can’t both have what they want? It’s called diversity, and Olympus might test the water will a full spectrum of models, especially when the market currently is growing rapidly!
http://www.technobuffalo.com/news/you-down-with-om-d-olympus-om-d-em-5-micro-43-is-here/
Why is OM-4 infamous? I thought it is a beautiful camera.
Its a really shame! I can not use my field monitor during movie recording like with my Gh2! If I should not need the camera for a job (Pictures, where I would prefere the wireless flash mode) i will wait untill the OM -D 6 . Not enough adavantage!
Maybe not for you, but the E-M5 video capability is plenty good enough for most of us. We are not all videographers.
Why doesn’t the Admin post up a poll; Is video in m43 important to you?
and end this shit definitively.
What’s your point? It’s important to a substantial chunk of the market, I’d guess at least 10%. I’d guess that the average GH2 user is extremely concerned with video. Oly themselves have put a lot of effort into video, only to cut themselves short on simple details.
I don’t see why your not caring about something is a good reason for others not to.
I don’t particularly care if it doesn’t output to hdmi, though, since it’s other video features aren’t up to snuff. At this point it is a solid stills camera, which is ok.
I’d go with you, I believe the vast majority of buyers of the E-M5 would be stills people and to that end it seems a very good tool indeed.
Love the amount of detail rendered in the shaded areas:
http://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/OMD-EM5-3968/highres/OMD61028-Custom_1329483095.jpg
Wonder if they are in a similar range mentioned by EOSHD of the NEX-7 in their video review….
Hehe, yeah, you’d like some details in the deep shadows there, wouldn’t you!? 😀
I was thinking the same thing, lol!
OK, yes for this here we need more DR absolute. 😀
I doubt any serious video person could care less about HDMI out. What does HDMI have to do with quality video on the camera?
HDMI out means tethered shooting video. Opens up off camera monitors wireless or not.
Unless it’s technically not possible Olympus should implement maximum video support and let the user decide whether or not it’s usefull.
I don’t shoot 9fps, yet it’s there.
I don’t use artfilters, yet it’s there
once in a blue moon I do bracketing, yet it’s there.
I seldom shoot past ISO800, yet it claims to go to 25600.
Why are the 5DmII and GH2 so popular? Not just because of their stills capability but foremost their video flexability. Olympus can use any extra revenu they can get and be at the forefront if this camera could be adopted by video enthusiast. With 5-axis IS they might have gold in their hands and not know it.
I don’t begrudge you video guys what you want as long as it is not at cost to me,by that I mean increased price for extra technology or for lower standards due to having to compromise on the cameras stills ability. Also the majority of those who are shouting about video capability, why not go buy a purpose built video camera, as it seems to me the bulk use of the video ability is to film the kids playing as they grow up, again better served by a digicam.
Actually it might lower the price of a unit if it had more compelling features. More sales = lower price. More bang for the buck so to speak.
Video wise the Panasonic sensors used in the Pens are capable of more than what Olympus is giving us. Is it patents/software that is holding Oly back or plain ignorence to growing need/expectations of modern digital cameras.
No way of turning back the clock or standing still in technology since the 5DmII and GH-series set new standards.
We’ll know when the GH-3 starts appearing.
BTW, if a camera can have dual purpose it saves on buying an extra camcorder. Ergonomics vs dedicated videocam is less but one gaines tremendously in quality because the sensor is x-time larger than your average camcorder. Plus it’s plain convenience.
I think that the ePhotozine review of the OM is just, ok. I may have missed it (and I am SURE someone will correct me if I did!)…but I see no mention in the review of Dynamic Range…which I am most interested in about this new Olympus camera.
Also..in the “Value for the Money” section…I just don’t see the OM camera ($1099 with standard zoom), being compared to the $2298 Fuji X Pro 1. They are two totally different price classes and camera types as well, and one has a prime the other a zoom. Kind of strange. I think ePhotozine would have done better here comparing to a G3 ($649 …great bargain for what is available right now) or the GX1/LVF2 combo. I think the image quality is more comparable as is type of camera. When put up against the GX1/LVF/standard kit 14-42mm ($1038)…I think that the OM is a compelling camera to buy indeed! Nice job Olympus! I expected this camera to cost about $300 more than the price it is actually being offered at.
“I expected this camera to cost about $300 more than the price it is actually being offered at.”
Don’t give them any ideas :).
If it had PDAF, tethering, more video frame rates, also maybe it would be worth even 301 more to some of us.
If the 5 axis IBS is good, then the silver one for me; their are some shots I routinely take that can benefit from that. In the article there were nice shots of the silver one, that looked a little different in trim (like the accessory plug cover, it is now silver) then some previous shots.
Daylight ISO tests <- it gives all those reviews great credibility.
It almost looks like they are trying to hide something 😉
What I haven’t hard but what I am curious about: how well does it shoot moving subjects? I mean: compared to Nikon 1 for instance. Otherwise the AF to me and its speed are just not interesting in the sense that a Panny GH2 (which I have) is more than adequate to me.
Good looking test shots at Olympus. The 45mm f/1.8 looks wonderful!
Theres a first look of the Olympus on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c9zH9x1gTs&feature=g-all-u&context=G2a07a59FAAAAAAAAAAA
It’s annoying that the Fuji Pro X-1 keeps being referred to as a competitor to this and the NEX-7. It’s simply too expensive to be in the same category. The body alone will cost around £1400, and any one of the lenses will be around £500. So for a functioning Pro X-1 with any lens, you’re looking at around £2000, which is a good £600+ more than either of the other 2 with some type of a kit lens.
It’s like putting the 550D and the 7D as competitors.
The more i see the camera the less i like it, but i might buy it anyway, seems decent spec wise