Well…it’s real! This is the first image of the new Silver Olympus E-M1 that is likely going to be introduced on August 30 (along the new Olympus E-Pl7). It will be “delivered” with the new E-M1 firmware update which is rumored to add plenty of new features.
And now…
[poll id=”245″]
via MirrorlessRumors / Xitek.
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.
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130 Responses
E-M1 in silver! Another €1000 asking price for such a brilliant achievement!
There seems to be more “silver” than that of the E-M5, namely the top dials and surrounds to the buttons adjacent to the lens mount. Far too much, and crude
Yes it needs black buttons, like the E-M5
I spy at least two shades of silver on that thing. Way to be consistently inconsistent Olympus!
Some people are just never satisfied! 😉
Poor lighting & poor exposure by a wide angle lens in a phone is probably responsible for that.
It looks distinctive. Hard to tell from just one photo, but this could infuse new life into the camera model and give it some longevity.
Oh my god. Nooooooooo!!!!!
Best comment yet – had the same reaction. I’m keeping a careful eye on my E-M5 lest it morph into this.
Looks like a mis-proportioned E-M5 that’s grown a huge cyst (grip cover) and a bunch of silver moles (dials and button surrounds). Hopefully the photo is incorrrect and the dials and button surrounds stay black, but oh, that silver grip cover, make it go away!
They need to nab the designer from Fuji – Olympus get product design seriously wrong. Fugly.
I care very little about design, but can’t think of one reason why this is any better: http://3.static.img-dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilm-x-t1/images/front-black.jpg?v=2944
This is suppose to be EM1 original color .
Silver always Olympus’s premier color .
BTW , I prefer silver over black .
Don’t know when we will have a Silver Nocticron such as the 15mm Summilux ?
It’s not really the silver, it’s just the E-m1 is ugly, the E-M5 and the full size pens are way sexier
I don’t find cameras sexy at all 🙂
i can drool at some designs almost as much as i drool at some models. Its weird I know….
…as long as walking into B&H wouldn’t make your pants move, you’re probably ok… lol
that reminds of john claude van damme when he got an erection during a french or italian tv show lol
Why not?
There is a hidden most sensitive area obscured by a slotted
shutter which opens for a short time if you press the right button. It has sensitive areas reacting if you touch them and it shows more reaction if you stroke those areas. There might be a short round object at the front which grows if you turn it on and it grows even further if you grab it and shift certain areas with your hands back or forth. It is equiped to give the maximum performance if you shake it and at the point of the climax it flashes up.
Oh, I must stop now.
LOL ;D
Needs black dials!!! The silver ones are horrible. Apart from that seems better than I expected but still voted No for the silver dias, otherwise would have voted Yes
Taste aside, is there a serious reason for the “rangefinder style” still being around? I can’t help thinking that it’s a desperate attempt to stay classic and true to the old Olympus look, rather than taking a real modern ergonomic approach to camera design. The old cameras looked like this because of limitations in mechanical design, engineering and materials. As an owner of the Lumix GM1 I know how bad ergonomics can get on modern cameras for the sake of fashion, but I also know there’s a trade-off on that particular model for size specifically. Why these large Olympus cameras still have to look like something from the 70s is beyond me.
This is not a rangefinder design at all. Fuji x100, XE1/2, XPro have a rangefinder design. Leicas M are rangefinder cameras.
I find Em1 has a nice handling, capable of letting you use “heavy” lenses as Nocticron or Voigtländers. Just to say, I find its grip more comfortable than that of Sony As and Fuji XT1.
agree – as it is not a range finder style and not a retro styling as such I think black is better – the silver version makes it look larger – EM1 is super but the GH4 is also super and has surpassed the EM1 in focus speed in some cases – so hopefully Olympus is also improving the insides – not just the outside looks
The E-M1 has Best ergonomics by my opinion from all cameras I have used. And I have handled hundreds of bodies from where to choose. I have normal size hands as well.
The old cameras like OM-1 (M-1 at begin) was nor because engineering but by usability research Olympus did. They had team what traveled around world metering over ten thousand hands and shaped camera based their findings. They chose the materials based environments in Africa, Antarctica, Amazon, Europe etc.
It is just that you can not make great body for large camera or very small camera. Like with D800/1D or pocket cameras.
maybe because of the M designation?
M…aybe? But the M cameras are the flagship models, so I still have to wonder why Olympus haven’t made a camera that has the same quality and functions, with a “better” design.
Its possible they keep the strategy with classis lines from the pen en om series after they didnt had much impact with the E series(which are also rather standard old shapes, except for the E-1 and arguably the E-300) I think the E1,E10/20 were excellent departures from the standard forms.
btw… is it the 40-150/2.8 or the 300/4 in the background? … or something … bigger?
Makes me even more glad mine’s black.
The silver ‘wings on either side of the lens mount are the big mistake. Delete those and it might actually not look too bad.
indeed they appear as very dominant looking
Maybe that’s due to the close wide angle view of it. Take another look from further back & maybe your opinion might be different.
Remember the silly comments about the (black) E-M1 when it was first seen in the leaked images & when it was seen in the flesh & better images of it, it certainly looked a lot better.
yes i was thinking, when a lens is attached; who still cares then…actually why we care about looks of a camera..its silly indeed
I’m afraid I cared enough to wait for the silver E-M5 to come into stock & like the appearance of it, but the E-M1 was only available in black & so I have that & am happy, but I like this silver version except maybe there is a little more silver than I might prefer. I’m sure it will sell though, if the price is right & with updated firmware.
Is there a 4K logo somewhere? :o)
This same site said no 4K just yesterday. Curious what these “major firmware upgrades” are then.
Correct that, Admin’s just reversed himself and today 4K is back in. Like the man says, this is a rumors site, so all is fair.
I think its looks better in real. Since my 1st camera was chrome/silver i would not mind having this one.
It’s hideous! They have retrospectively retro spec’d!
I thought they had departed from the retro design for the sake of ergonomics with the E-M1, but no…
And even as a retro design, the grip should not have a chrome upper. Yuck!
August 30th is a Saturday which makes me sceptical
“Sometimes the magic works, and sometimes it doesn’t” (from Little Big Man). seems apt here. Makes it look like the plastic fantastic, and yes, I know its metal, just doesn’t look it.
And I’m left with the thought, this and not a thoroughly refreshed E-M5 MKII? DISAPPOINTMENT.
And it definitely doesn’t work this time. Too much silver, especially on top of the grip. Those silver “wings” around the lens mount looks odd and not “retro” at all.
The magic worked on the silver E-M5.
Just had the frightening thought, is this a year when Olympus introduce substantive, just retro-ish” styling” exercises? Trickled in with the SH1, then the E-PL7 and now this. Stop the BS, Olympus, time for an updated E-M5 MkII without shutter shake and with a new 20-24 MP Sony sensor and excellent tracking.
Black dials, buttons and switches are a must! Pure silver is not good looking IMHO.
Meant to say “nothing substantive” in my post below. Some day maybe, just maybe this site will allow posts to be edited….shortly after they start ejecting trolls.
Boy, that silver E-M1 pic really put me off my feed! Sorry for the shot (even if true), Admin, time for my first cup of coffee.
Keep cool. It’s only a (very bad/stolen) pic of the upcomming silver version. Remember how they were bashing E-M1 when first pics were published here?
I’m sure it’ll look better IRL.
Yes, exactly as my comment above (or below, depending on where it may display).
Maybe you were trying to say, “nothing substantial”?
I guess you’re entitled to your opinion, but it doesn’t mean we are going to agree with it. 😉
Hopefully it has more than just the silver color – which should have been released long time ago – unless Olympus is running out of ideas and money to make real enhancements early –
I would have expected a normal thing would have been a silver model or black model 6 months after original release – not a year later – Seems Sony is the only maker now that keeps pumping out new releases and products very frequently – although I think their NEX5,n.r,t A5000,a5100 has been a total overkill as it has not seen many drastic changes in some releases – although now a 24MP sensor vs the 16MP and faster focus – but still no Mode Dial – amazing
As I usually prefer all black for stealthier look the EM1 in silver is not on my radar to get unless there is something else which the black will not have –
Or maybe Olympus wasn’t totally ready to launch a “fully featured” E-M1 (silver model + better video) but needed to be on the market before GH4 and A7?
True – I do think that it is also a marketing / sales game – they are kindling interest again in the EM1 – I suspect the other makers do the same – like Fuji with their black X100s etc. The EM1 is truly a great camera – the best M43 stills camera – I hope Panasonic adds a competitor in their lineup – the GH3/4 is more of a video machine and a bit to large for me – I love the EM10/5 and GX7 –
Sony : New body every month, still no lenses!
What’s this about “stealthier look” that you see a lot of people talk about in camera forums. Are you ninjas, professional hitmen or what?
what is more obvious – you wearing a dark or black shirt with a black camera or a silver camera – likewise if one is street shooting in areas with high crime/theft then silver gear will stand out – same concept as most people do not mind you taking a pic of them if you have a small camera but if one has a huge FF with a long lens then people get nervous and think you are a pro and then might be a bit nervous where their pic might end up
Well, I’m a landscape photographer almost exclusively, so what do I know about taking pictures of people?
I’m really surprised people are so split regarding the silver color. I was thought silver looked really sharp on older cameras. Since these are “retro” in styling, I thought silver would make sense. Oh well.
It’s OK, the ones that like it (like me) aren’t making so much noise about it as those that are looking at a first leaked wide angle photo of it & having a great big whinge about it. I remember the noise over the first leaked images of the (black) E-M1.
I thought I would really like this …but just kinda like it…I am glad I have the all black,,,there is something about those silver things around the lens mount that I do not find appealing
I feel the same way. Something about the texture of the silver finish just doesn’t quite get it. The older cameras with brushed chrome on a brass stamping had a smoothness that none of the modern “silver” cameras seem to capture.
I thought they might fix the grip discontinuity. Oh well, not bad and I bet better in person.
It’s supposed to look like it is an attached grip, as the old film cameras would have been. Well, I think that is the idea anyhow.
I’ve disappointed by E-M1 sliver for its silver dials – ugly silver slugs of metal. However, It’s not important. Look at the black barrel (and bottom piece of tripod mount) behind the E-M1. It must be 40-150PRO. I can see the number ’72’ on black collar behind the sliver-blue ring, then 40-150PRO’s filter thread diameter should be 72mm.
Well-spotted!
You can put lipstick on a pig…..
I’ve never liked the Olympus attempts at “retro design”. As much as I like some classic design the Oly SLR-styled look to me is not appealing. Because of this I have never purchased one. Form and Function are important. I live in a major US city with a lot of tourism and when I see someone with these cameras I always think “Gee I’m glad I didn’t buy one of those”. Sorry Oly I buy your lenses but not that bad mini-me retro attempts.
I normally prefer silver cameras over black but Im not sure on this one Im not sure about, still may look better when out on the streets.
Moreover it’s a bit better from the point of view of heat dissipation etc. Still doesn’t understand why professionals always prefer the so problematic black body.
Because black doesn’t draw attention so much.
Especially when you cover all the logos with black tape.
😀
Yaaaaaaawn….puuulease…it really doesn’t make any difference. You guys really aren’t all that important! 🙂
I think it’s decent. A good melding of the retro style they want to retain, with updated ergonomics a la Panasonic. At least its not a DF.
Personally, I like the retro look and manual controls, as long as the ergonomics and design are well done. I like the Fuji XT1 a little more from a visual standpoint, but the E-M1 seems better to control.
The front dial surrounding the shutter release seems to have a larger diameter than the black E-M1 – either a fake or pre-production mock-up
Looks more like wide angle distortion of a cell phone camera to me.
High time to have something similar for GH4. Far the best M43 camera to date but almost the only Panasonic where the design (I mean the aesthetical look) was effectively sacrified for the best possible handling. Though even a siver or gun metal finishing would change the equation a bit.
GH4 looks very good, no complain here, but a silver one wold also be nice, I agree.
Far???????????????????
Definitely. The only M43 body to date which may claim to be really a professional tool, mainly because of its focus speed and ergonomy. The E-M1 is also a great and wonderful camera but not the one which may convince a professional to migrate to M43.
Well the pro argument is nosense. The only think is clear is you prefer pana.
Wouldn’t be so sure, just take in account that the main goal of the designers was to fulfill the pro photographers’ requirements – unlike E-M1 where the cool, so-called retro design was the first criteria. Not speaking about the lots of positive reviews bringing into relief exactly this point of view.
Please don’t misunderstand me. E-M1 is o wonderful camera, maybe the best (among GX7) for a highly exigent enthusiast. (It would fit better even for me as I’m not a professional as well.) But this feeling of professional MFT tool (able even to compete with Canon 5DIII in most cases) is solely charateristic to GH4 at this time.
No, the E-M1 eschewed the retro design of the E-M5 in favor of a functional, ergonomic design, specifically aimed at being a workhorse tool for professionals (and enthusiasts). Both ergonomics and focus speed is on par with the GH4, so your argument seems very strange.
I’ve never really considered the OMD designs retro. I think they look timeless IMO. But the EM1 is ugly in terms of proportions.
They are retro in the sense that they are supposed to remind you of an older design, the OM film cameras. Many old designs are indeed timeless.
and some old designs were of their time only, like OLY
What the heck is this “mybuys” ad showing up in the right hand corner showing a Toyota commercial. The audio starts playing automatically and won’t shut off. This is quite annoying and it keeps cycling through the same ads and no way to shut off audio. Quite annoying, don’t know I want to visit here again.
I adore this mad stuff when using my cellular phone abroad where internet traffic can be really expensive. It is no wonder that people try to install ad blockers.
That must mean you have been browsing for something to do with cars then!
Now I want the PRO 12-40 and PRO 40-150mm in silver too, that would be gold !
Maybe, but look good to black lens also. 😉
LOL ordering the black one this week for sure
Just found this about the NO WAY 4K on Em1.
http://www.eoshd.com/content/13280/5-reasons-olympus-e-m1-will-not-get-4k-video
Heat was also my main doubt about it, but I’m not an ingeneer and I don’t know what Olympus can do. 🙂
if they can put 4k in a cell phone I’m sure they can put some sort of super-compressed 4k in a camera. Panny and Sony will be doing it very soon in a super compact. I think the codec in these cams will be a gimmick but we’ll see pretty soon.
The other OM-Ds look gorgeous in silver, but this looks wrong somehow, just like the Nikon Df. Doesn’t look like premium quality, but more like a toy with cheap paint.
Agreed. Very plastic looking.
Bleah! The texturing with the silver makes it look like something out of a Christmas cracker.
The silver lining on the camera’s base should’ve continued around the grip. If it wasn’t ugly then (black version), it’s definitely UGLIER now. The bright side: The grip does an excellent job for handling any lens you attach on the E-M1
“The silver lining on the camera’s base should’ve continued around the grip.”
If you look carefully at this photo & a black version in the flesh you will realise that in fact it does. The narrow rim surrounding the grip’s faux leather is silver which would then meet up with the silver base down the side of the camera (& grip). I would think the SD card door etc will still be black though.
That handgrip always looks like a forced design, but actually is very confortable.
It’s supposed to have that ‘add on’ look, which it does (more or less).
The sample picture confirms one thing. The black/silver body looks gorgeous if it is range finder style. E-M1 however is like DSLR (big hump, huge grip). Thus it looks very ugly.
The only thing big about that camera is the GREAT images it produces. Anything else is a creation of your imagination.
I think the silver colour looks nice. Though, I’d love to see silver versions of the PRO lenses. Now, that would be sweet!
Is it my imagination, or have they rounded off the corners on the hot shoe hump? The sharp corners of the hot shoe on my E-M1 are just about my only complaint about the ergonomics of the camera.
Just the poor image & wide angle lens.
Wow that’s even uglier than the normal one
I thought the Black looked horrible, a Frankenstein camera… still do.
But THIS??
My Gosh, it’s Hideous.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzz ……
It’s just as we’ll we can’t see how hideous you look as your comments are bad enough!
Yesterday, I bought the m.zuiko f1,8 17mm. That was my plan b, since they only had a demo of the PL15 which they would not sell. Dang.
Anyhow, The seller (who was very cool) made a point of making sure he had the black version and I thought : “Dude, you can give me silver, I could not care less”
Having to pick between silver or black EM-1, I’d sincerely think the same: “Just grab me anyone, I will put it to a beating for years to come”
You should know by now that you are not entitled to your opinion. Never mind that this forum is filled everyday with inane comments and opinions, your comments will not be tolerated. 😉
How old are you? Twelve?
It looks retro, but 80’s retro aint my thing! Im saying this as an em1 owner, this is even more ugly than the black version (still an awesome camera though)!!
Oh Dear. It really needed black control dials/buttons to look a bit better. Looks HIDEOUS! And I have no problem with the silver E-M5.
The silver E-P5 doesn’t have black dials and looks great, so why is this a surprise and why does everyone think it looks ugly? I can’t think of any other camera BUT the E-M5 that has black dials on a silver body. Fuji, Nikon, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, etc. Even most old SLRs have silver dials.
Probably because it’s a horrible, overexposed photo that’s been taken close up with a wide angle lens on a cell phone. If it’s seen with a proper perspective with proper lighting & exposure it would look so very different.
The useless complaints were similar when the first leaked photos came out for the (black) E-M1, with many jumping to conclusions because the images were crap.
Amen.
i like it though a little late since i already have a black EM1.
For all the folks who don’t like silver EM1, you have an option black EM1. if the looks really matters to you then EM5 is still a very capable camera, is getting cheaper and looks ultra sexy. The built-in grip makes EM1 look a bit odd.
Oh my… looks like an old 80’s boom box.
I love silver E-P5. Silver E-M1 no
He he, i is agree.
Both black and silver are ugly but black manages to conceal the ugliness a bit more. It’s built for purpose therefore the ugliness can be mistaken for attractiveness but let’s be honest – Olympus cameras are ugly. All of them. They’ve got this strange design like cars from 1950’s. They might be great cameras but when it comes to looks it’s as if they missed the right century.
I agree that Oly cameras are ugly but have to straighten a few things out.
1. Please don’t blame bad design on the 50’s. There was plenty of amazing design back then perhaps better than anything today in textiles and electronics. You need to look at mid-century modern design and tech from the last century, it was original international and better than anything happening in this century.
2. The SLR as we knew it in the film days was popularized by a seminal moment in the late 60’s with the Nikon F. Olympus introduced the OM2 in 1973. The 70’s was an era known for poor design, but pretty good camera innovation. Like now Olympus bodies were ugly but very good, and the Zuiko lenses absolutely rocked. I use Olympus lenses but won’t purchase an Olympus body. (just yet)
That’s all for now
A great many OM1 through OM4 owners, and right up to the present EM1, would disagree with you, but hey! – it’s your opinion and you’re entitled to it. Do mainly looks sell a camera? Anyone using an EM1 will tell you what a superbly functional tool it is, that can be moulded to the user’s needs. So do the looks matter? To my eyes Nikons are ugly and Canons boring, but they are good tools. Anyone who turns down a brilliant tool because its looks don’t appeal is a fool to himself. Silver or black, it’s only about giving people choice.
I’ll tell what is “sad but true” is people taking time to post stupid comments on a user forum of camera format that they hate. Why not do something more productive with your life, eh?
I 2nd that!!!
Please people, calm down, remain seated, don’t panic. As previous posters have stated, it’s a poor photo and when the camera is actually released it will probably look pretty good and then you’ll have a choice between an silver one and a black one. If you think it’s ugly, go design one yourself.
If you don’t like it, don’t buy it.
falling love with my silver em5 (I have both color) but this ………. hell no !
You make no sense, you love the E-M5 in silver but hate the E-M1 in silver
Dials in silver are very ugly !
Look at this beauty http://s18.postimg.org/k80qm1f21/Olympus_12_40mm_Pro.jpg