Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Video Test from Pier-Yves Menkhoff on Vimeo.
We have plenty of new E-M5II reviews and tests and let’s start with the full review from our friend Gordon at CameraLabs:
It should be clear by now I’m very fond of the OMD EM5 Mark II. It improves on two bodies I already liked a lot, taking the best of both, improving some aspects and adding more besides. The compact weatherproof body looks and feels great, the viewfinder and screen allow easy and comfortable framing, the various modes, views and previews exploit electronic composition like no other, it shoots quickly and quietly, and the stabilization is eerily good. The icing on the cake is the 40MP mode – think of it as a bonus that only works under very specific conditions and advanced photographers will find it delivers a useful boost in resolution.
More tests:
Dpreview posted the full E-M5II review where the camera earned the Silver Award.
Reviewed also tested the camera.
First Impressions at Soundimagesplus.
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II – A Quick Test of 40MP Mode (Admiringlight).
Olympus E-M5 II Shooter’s Report Part II (Imaging Resource).
Eno: “This is how really good the EM5 II stabilization is, measured by one of the best photographic review sites: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkhTHS1p2R4. The hole story here: http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/olympus-e-m5-ii/olympus-e-m5-ii-shooters-report-part-ii.htm”
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E-M5II store links:
E-M5II in Black at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and GetOlympus.
E-M5II in Silver at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and GetOlympus.
E-M5II In Europe at AmazonUK, Jessops, WexUK, Namencolor.
51 Responses
looks like you missed the dpreview one. Silver award (although he admits that he had a hard time choosing between silver and gold..)
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympus-om-d-e-m5-ii
That eno video is pretty bad IMO. All these examples of the em5ii have the operator walking and running with the camera in hand creating serious warping of the images as the sensor is rotated in every which direction. The video looks very strange as a result.
Image stabilized video is good when pointing the camera in one direction and having IS compensate for hand jitter. Panasonic lenses do this more than adequately in my experience. Why people think IBIS is suited to replace serious videography stabilization hardware is beyond me. The product speaks for itself.
With E-M5’s IBIS one can pull off OK walking shots without using rigs. It’s a pity Mark II’s aliasing is bad and resolution is low (720-ish).
Yes, if you want an unusable video, try walking shots only with IBIS ON: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkhTHS1p2R4
Stop dreaming, IBIS is not as good as you think and will never replace a real maniacal or gyroscopic stabilizer.
What IBIS mode was this using? At several points it looks like very heaving thudding step or maybe even running and looks like the sensor was making heavy jerking adjustments.
You see some E-M5 M2 examples that look like they are using a gimbal and others that look like crap. In some cases, certainly sharp left/right turning movements cause sensor wobble and definitely on the E-M5 and E-M1 it is very visible and less on the E-M5 M2 but still there.
Probably 60p seems to be the only usable video mode.
Here’s another example
https://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=RphdO8Ne79E&vq=hd1080
“You see some E-M5 M2 examples that look like they are using a gimbal”
I bet in those shots you mentioned they were actually using a gimbal to mislead people into thinking the IBIS is so efficient. Well, it isn’t! Imaging resource clearly demonstrated it.
Walking shot at 80mm equivalent? I don’t agree with the way they set up the test because it doesn’t come close to how the camera should be used. However, against the IBIS-off twin video, they were at least trying to show the amount of stabilisation one can expect and where the limit is. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W3JnFu5tUk
Agree, IBIS at wider angles will yield better results but far from professional stabilizing systems in my opinion.
If you read correctly, I never said it was my video. It was made by Imaging Resource team and frankly it perfectly illustrates how good is the Olympus IBIS when panning or walking. 🙂
I’m not assigning the hoopla to you. More the initial response to the em5ii ibis in video mode. True, it can seriously compensate for shaking …at a serious cost to the overall coherence of the image. Many think it looks good, I think it looks horrible.
I agree.
It is your assumption that IBIS is suited to replace serious videography stabilization hardware.
In my opinion IBIS could be key to the expansion of the video market.
Expansion for who? Fun house mirror videoographers?
Consumer and Novice
For once, please try a mechanical stabilizer (some of them are quite accessible now), you’ll never want to compare it to IBIS again.
IBIS may be OK in removing the shake for stationary shots, but once the camera is moving, it’s making more harm then good to the video.
Actually I’ve just pre-ordered the PilotFly H1.
But you are missing the point. Consumers are not going to use external stabilizers, neither is the beginner videographer. The E-M5 is an excellent entry point—because of the IBIS.
Consumers are well served with any kind of stabilizing, in lens or IBIS.
Really?
They need to solve the sensor heating problem first. At the moment the mobile sensor cannot have a heat sink so it can and does get hot. Fine for short video clips but not long ones which videographers do; longer than we have seen so far. I routinely shoot 20-30 minutes on the GH4.
The E-M5ii is great if you want to shoot a shortish clip whilst running up and down stairs, you’ll get jelly wobble if you twirl any of these camera, only a fast reading/writing sensor solves that, and you need a 280Mbps card for that too (as per the GH4, the E-M5ii should have one).
I have yet to test my E-M5ii on long clips but have my E-PL7 with same Sony sensor and it does get hot, degrades image and shuts down to prevent permanent sensor damage.
The EM5 ii is close to perfect. Having the original, can’t wait for the next iteration.
Saw this video several days ago and first off it appears there is weak ISO performance and on top video IQ seems on par with Panasonic circa 2009. While the video and music set a mood for the video in this post, it gives the feeling of sadness for the E-M5 Mark II. What’s the take away from this? You don’t need 5Axis, just stand in one spot when shooting video? Only watch OMD videos in a small browser window and you won’t notice video IQ?
When I watch most OMD videos, I feels like someone not wearing glasses (blurred vision). I looked at videos after of a Pany DMC-CM1, NX500, GH4, iPhone 6 3 and 4k, and I was thinking what happened to my eyes all of a sudden, the video is so much clearer, must go back to fanboy blurrycam and put my Olympus blinders on.
Watch the video attached below, just another tiny example that confirms what we already knew. It’s already bad enough that video IQ is weak against a GH2 but cropped on top of it and weak autofocus carried from OMD to OMD especially certain low light conditions or targets. What’s worse is that a GH2 has better video IQ than On top of it the OLY marketing engine is trying to convince us. I see parts of Asia still tied to 720p and maybe that is who they are after?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzmvai35uMw
can’t see any details in that shaky video either 🙂
Best thing for small awesome video would be a blackmagic pocket cinema camera 4k with olys 5-axis…
Its not going to happen.
A couple of points 😀 the 14-140 is far from the best Panasonic lens. Did you not set the E-M5ii to do a continuous focus during video? It is not as simple to set up as on a Panasonic, the movie menu has “continuous focus” function but (it ignores that) you need to set it to C-AF(TR) as well to get it to do the necessary.
Yes, my GH4 shoots better video than the E-M5ii; I didn’t get the E-M5ii for movies at all.
It’s flip a coin as to which shoots the best stills in good light but at the moment the GH4 very much has the upper hand at high ISO, far better looking noise like fast film grain at ISO25600, the E-M5ii I’ve had to limit to below ISO8000 in low light due to its obscene speckles (I think my E-PL7 does better).
Thanks for the comparison.
Come on .. Olympus .
With such 3 years old sensor in EM5 2 still worth of Silver award ?
Even bronze award is too much for you .
There’s a brand new sensor in every E-M5ii, it has not been sitting on the shelf somewhere 😉
Oh come’on, the 3 years old Sony sensor is as good as Panasonic newest sensor in GH4. How sad is that? 🙂
Yes .
Sony’s 3 years old sensor might as good as
or fall behind Pana’s latest sensor tech ( GH4 ) .
According to DPReview the sensor performs the same as the sensor in the Nikon D5500 if it had been reduced to four thirds size. In other words it is a cut down version of that Sony 24mp sensor.
And that is one of the best sensors available and you’re not going to get better at this time.
There will always be a difference between the best APSC sensor and the best m43 sensor because of the smaller size.
If you want a better sensor you’re going to have to move to APSC or FF.
Please lah !
The EM5 2 still with that ageing 16 MP sensor , although may undergo some refinements but it still the same 3 years old sensor .
Best m4/3 sensor will be coming in 2015 & I’m pretty sure not this one from EM5 2 .
Better save for something with real innovating .
Nice video but no much camera motion or trees/grass which I like to see as that is more of a challenge
Yes it is a challenge to capture with camera motion.
The E-M5 represents the ultimate run-and-gun in it’s class, yet this aspect of the camera is not demonstrated.
The hair cutting showed a lot of fine detail but you’re right, apart from run ‘n gun excellence, this in not a video-cam. It’s for shooting stills.
And that’s where Olympus must change—if it’s going to prosper.
I really liked the first EM5 (exception: menu system). Now Oly has picked up the multi image enhancer that Hasselblad came up with a few years ago. Nice for stills. Reading the DPR review they say resolution is not “contemporary” competitive.
Looking at all the high end lenses Oly introduces, there will be a “about 24 mpix” EM1mkII within a year. This is only my guess! 🙂
24Mp is to APS-C what 16Mp is to the 4/3 sensor. Most of the best large sensor cameras are only 18Mp. Having more pixels is not necessarily a good thing, you lose dynamic range. High dynamic range is probably more important than more pixel resolution. The 16Mp 4/3 sensor has the same pixel density as a 62Mp full frame sensor would (except 62Mp full frame sensors don’t exist). 16Mp is the optimum size for the 4/3 sensor and its dynamic range is on par with that of a full frame sensor (13EV).
Have you looked at the new 28mp sensor in the NX500?
OK, but take a look at the tiny Sony RX100 and the image quality it delivers. And it is not one of the newest. Technology evolves all the time!
I remember the time before EM5 arrived. Then almost every comment on this site claimed 12 mpix was the sweet spot for m43. (Oly said 12 mpix was enough for pro use. Then came the EM5 with 16mpix and MUCH better dynamic range than the old Oly 12 mpix.
And – dynamic range on 24×26 sensors is around 14.5.
My prediction is a m43 24mpix sensor with DR 14 – wouldn’t you like that?
The “insane” dynamic range of the D600 is just over 13EV, so is that of the GH4 and E-M1
Much ho-ha about the Nikon when it came out but less festivities when mft equalled its dynamic range. Brother in law has the D600, lovely camera but like the new Canon 7Dii wundercamera, its specification on paper is actually bettered by the GH4.
Reviewers have generally panned (so to speak) the em5 II video quality. Along comes this very well made and directionally focused video. While relatively lengthy, it is made to de-emphasize any bad aspects of the video quality. Ridiculously, much of it is of subjects that are absolutely not moving. For the portions where things move, it mostly consists of scenes where either most of the elements of the frame are not moving, and so one gets a sense of great sharpness, or where one could just not tell if there are any effects (closeups of hair being cut–that is inventive!)
I am more than a little disappointed with my E-M5ii’s noise at high ISO, its noise level is generally unacceptable at and over ISO8000 so much so that I am obliged to use my GH4 which can and will produce publishable stills ISO25600. At normal ISO speeds the E-M5ii produces excellent pictures.
I have not verified but I have a feeling that my E-PL7 noise level is better at high ISO for low light such as live music gigs (last night with the GH4, see my Flickr).
I also feel that the dynamic range is less than expected as it does tend to blow-out shots that the GH4 would handle.
The fully articulated monitor is a great improvement but in order to change exposure mode or focus mode one is practically obliged to use the SCP touch screen, spot the problem when the monitor is folded shut, Olympus didn’t use joined-up thinking there; neither functions are available on buttons.
It does shoot good short movie clips. M.IS-1 is a combination of some sensor movement and digital stabilisation i.e. you do not get the full 5-axis sensor stabilisation during movie shooting (or they would not combine with digital). M.IS-2 is digital stabilisation only and the only other option is off, we are not allowed to use lens OIS during movie shooting, which is a shame because OIS is good during movies provided the camera is not riding on a bungee cord; the E-PL7 does allow OIS during movies. Interestingly, Olympus do not refer to IBIS but VCM (Voice Coil Motor) and are now building VCM into their latest lenses for focus, so they may be trying to combine a form of lens+body stabilisation.
I have yet to try shooting long movies clips of say 20 minutes or so which the GH4 does in its stride; I got the E-M5ii to shoot stills. I shall test long clips soon and will plan to stick a thermocouple to the back of the camera at the same time to find out what happens; the GH4 stays cool, the E-PL7 gets scalding hot, it hot-pixels and can and does shut down when it overheats. Hot-pixelation not only produces poor movies (mauve tinge) but can permanently damage the sensor, hence the safety cut-off.
“M.IS-2 is digital stabilization only”
Incorrect. This mode is is ALL sensor shift correction – no “digital” stabilization at all.
I stand corrected. Thank you, it is useful information.
You can blame my typo on the bizarre and confusing Olympus menu system.
M-IS1 cannot be using all 5-axes if digital stabilisation is also in play.
That makes me wonder how many axes are in play during M-IS2 because it is not called S-IS1 which is all 5-axes sensor stabilisation. They’ve stopped calling it IBIS, I wonder why?
When they do not want to tell you something, the germans say nothing at all and the japanese tell you something else.
I have yet to find a way to enable OIS on the E-M5ii during movie shooting. The E-PL7 can use OIS during movie shooting. Weird.
Considering that I don’t try to go over ISO6400 if possible (D610,D810 or rented D4), sometime ISO12800 if necessary, it is hard to believe that you think ISO25600 on m43 publishable. Maybe for very, very small prints. Doesn’t mean that you don’t get good results at lower ISO.
The 4/3 sensor can print bigger than A2/Poster-size even from a good ISO25600. Its the sensor pixel count that determines print size. Extra large prints are 100dpi or even 75dpi. Pis are 4608×3456 so work it out.
Have a look on my Flickr wall at some extra high ISO shots from the GH4. True, they’re not perfect and there were a lot of discards (‘orrible coloured lighting) but more light was not available. When you can see every hair on a chap’s chin at ISO12800 without artefacts, I reckon it’s publishable.
My brother in law has a D600. Lovely pictures but we get far, far better low light shots on the GH4, The full frame Nikons are just not up to the job in a dimly lit bar.
And yes, you get far better results at low ISO
Very doubtful imo. Since I had m43 cameras in the past and know a lot of people using them, low light is certainly not one of the strengths when using the same shutter speed and f-stop. I think most m43 users would agree on this part. I used them overwhelmingly for macro stuff and deco, but ISO 1200-1600 was my upper limit.
I checked out the ISO test for GH4 and E-M5 II in DPreview but got different impression. Up to ISO 3200, E-M5 II is a bit sharper. From 6400 to 25600 both cameras get very bad noise. I will avoid ISO 6400+ if possible, GH4 or any other mft camera.
I’m not going by DPReview but what I actually get from our GH4, GX7, E-PL7, E-M5ii, G5 and GM1(sold). They’re not all personally mine btw but I think I paid for them 😉
The GH4 is not at its best way up at telephone number high ISO but most of its shots even at ISO25600 can be publishable, its noise that is present is much prettier than off the other cameras available, it looks more like fast film grain than the usual speckling: go look at Wednesday night’s shoot on my Flickr wall, lighting was ‘orrible.
The noise on the E-M5ii at high ISO is not pretty, it exhibits speckling and rosettes, banding is also visible. I have to set an upper limit to its Auto-ISO. Below ISO6400 the E-M5ii noise is pretty good, but I do shoot the GH4 at ISO12800, ISO16000 and even ISO25600 if I must.
Of these two cameras, the GH4 produces the best still images at any ISO; it’s significant, you can tell by looking at them (same lenses). The GH4 is not big, about the size of a half-brick but it’s not discreet like the E-M5ii and E-PL7.
The GM1 was also very good at high ISO but that was replaced by the E-PL7 which is on par with her GX7. All of them can shoot acceptably at higher ISO than DPReview say: I used to test instruments not totally dissimilar to cameras for a living.
One of the reasons the GH4 excels at low noise is its incredibly fast read and refresh rate of its sensor. This is achieved by having no less than four high speed processors. This does require a fast write 280Mbps SD (The E-M5ii also requires 280Mbps btw but lacks the sheer processing power). Another reason is the charged Live-MOS has a lower noise floor by sweeping stray electrons off the sensor than the uncharged Complimentary-MOS.
There are a couple of wrinkles that allow one to use high ISO in low light, the most obvious is knowing how to use a camera, how to set it up and get its WB correct etc. Most folks check for blow-out but don’t also check the black end for under-shoot, because this is where the noise is; the gain curve can be used to adjust the noise threshold.
These cameras are just tools, they have different uses, so it’s important to understand their qualities and limitations.
Olympus has made my new all-in-one travel camera. Some talk about using stabilizers with a GH2/3/4 instead of this, but if you’re going light this is unbeatable. No need for a tripod, no need for a steadicam, or some big/goofy rig with weights hanging off the back – its pretty amazing. Its not a camera aimed at video pros and pixel peeping wannabees, its more than adequate for web viewing or watching on a 1080p TV because 99.99% of viewers will not notice the shortcomings. Its really simple to keep the warped look from occurring too, just keep your movements slow. 5-axis is far more effective than lens based stabilization.
OIS is as effective as 5-axis but the two systems do different things, OIS holds focus better, body stabilisation is better at clumsy bumps. The only thing OIS cannot do is the z-axis rotation. Yes the stabilisation in the E-M5ii is the best that Olympus have yet to produce but I do not see any improvement in the EV value between shooting with its S.IS or with OIS from the lens, I get the same result, aperture, shutter, ISO and picture quality.
The GH4 can shoot movie without stabiliser rigs with an OIS lens, it’s that videographers seem to insist on using unstabilised cine lenses or Nikkors. The GH4 will manage movies with an OIS just as well as the E-M5ii M.IS1 (which is mostly digital stabilisation) provided one handles it smoothly as one should anyway. The big advantage of the GH4 is its intuitive control system. Panasonic stupidly target the GH4 at videographers when it is first and foremost an excellent stills camera. I got the GH4 because a knob fell off the E-M1…
The GH4 is far from heavy but the E-M5ii is significantly smaller and the E-PL7 is the better pocket/travel camera.
There are always going to be production defects that make it through on any device. My GH1 came with a factory scratch on it.
I recently heard someone had the same issue with a knob falling off on a E-M5 Mark II and ran into support issues trying to get the retailer or Olympus to return it. Sounds like they eventually were able to bark enough to get Oly to send a new unit.
I have the E-M1 and E-M5 with no issues so far.
Problem with IBIS and OIS is that it’s unpredictable, the image can ‘flick’ or correct itself causing an odd movement that can ruin your shot. Any movement creates a warping effect, and panning is fighting against the IBIS so you get skips in the footage as it resets itself.
Always better to stabilise externally if you want control over your work.