Gosh, I would like to know how many of you canceled their E-P5 preorder when they read the rumor about the new Panasonic GX camera. But at leats accoridn to the new test you can read here…reviewers are quite positively impressed:
1) DPreview updated their first imrpession review and writes: “Frankly, we’re impressed – it looks as though the E-P5 is the camera we’d always hoped the PEN series could be, and Olympus has another winner on its hands to follow the E-M5.”
2) Pekka Potka (Click here) posted the second part of his ongoing E-P5 review.
3) Damian McGillicuddy (Click here) has taken delivery of the new Olympus EP5 straight from the Olympus factory and is testing it in Berlin as we speak! Initial thoughts are that it is a bit of a game changer.
4) Federico Cabrero (Click here) posted some ncie B&W image samples.
4) ePhotozine (Click here) posted a Hands-on preview and also a set of image samples.
So what do you think now about the new PEN?
P.s.: And when will the new E-P5 ship? Amazon says June 14, Bhphoto says June 27. I think the latter is right.
Links to all newly announced Olympus stuff:
E-P5 Black at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto and Samys. In Europe at Amazon Germany, Amazon UK and at Wex UK.
E-P5 White at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto and Samys. In Europe at Amazon Germany, Amazon UK and at Wex UK.
E-P5 Silver at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto and Samys. In Europe at Amazon Germany, Amazon UK and at Wex UK.
E-P5 Black with 17mm f/1.8 lens and VF-4 at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto and Samys. In Europe at Amazon UK.
E-P5 Silver with 17mm f/1.8 lens and VF-4 at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto and Samys. In Europe at Amazon UK.
E-P5 White with 17mm f/1.8 lens and VF-4 at Amazon UK.
E-P5 Black with 14-42mm lens at Amazon Germany, Amazon UK and Wex UK.
E-P5 White with 14-42mm lens at Amazon Germany and Amazon UK.
E-P5 Silver with 14-42mm lens at Amazon Germany, Amazon UK and at Wex UK.
17mm f/1.8 Black at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto and Samys.
45mm f/1.8 Black at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto and Samys. In Europe at Amazon Germany.
75mm f/1.8 Black at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto and Samys.
VF-4 viewfinder at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto and Samys.
73 Responses
I think it needs weather sealing, better video, GPS, silent shutter, much better grip, built in panaroma and HDR.
Yeah and I hate where they put the strap lugs, the lens release button is stupid, and the menus aren’t in Esperanto or Klingon. Piece of junk camera, try again Olympus.
Get real. The things I mentioned are serious omissions which will explain why this camera will not sell very well.
You’re sounding desperate to defend it, with your lame parody.
WOWIE..you can see the future….the camera is overpriced but it is a neat little piece of kit…I bet it sells fine when the price drops a little.
All you did was cry and whinge about all these little things that you want that the camera does not have …you mentioned NOTHING positive so your comments are completely unbalanced and just a little cry-baby festival….
I doubt that any camera would please you because no camera is perfect….
So in critiq
So in critiquing you …um…you could really use a positive attitude!!!!! 🙂
Though seriously, don’t they try holding camera? I mean people who design it, strap lugs are quite annoying on oly pens and e-m5, feels like they are sacrificing ergonomics little bit too much for the looks.
while the straplug position could be better, I never found it to be a main issue…sure, as spolied as we are right now, we could always complain about something,but how far can you go?
Well, i joined m4/3 with g3 since it had viewfinder and low price. So didn’t handle previous pens, but when i got to hold for the first time e-m5 strap lugs and lousy grip was first what i noticed. Pens that i tried to hold were actually better in hand than e-m5.
I want to upgrade body during fall, e-p5 so far is nice option if i can figure out how to improve grip. Too bad it’s not removable anymore. I like removable big viewfinder, more flexible this way. And rather fast flash sync is nice bonus. Can’t wait for gx2 to be announced, really curious.
it has the same silent shutter as the OMD and you can use the GPS of your smartphone via wifi
Oh, good news about the shutter.
Rather a grip, over built in wifi.
But, it has a Gri-
OH….
Regarding the grip I’m not to worried. Pretty soon there will be Oly and 3rd party add on grips and leather half cases that will help with the handling for sure.
“Pretty soon there will be Oly and 3rd party add on grips.”
That never happened with previous models, so I’m not sure at all. (Lack of) grip is the biggest problem of this camera IMO. I’d also like to see built in panaroma and HDR and real time lapse mode. Apart from that, from all I’ve read it’s a fantastic 2013 mirrorless camera.
Oh, and there’s a thing missing in the top left corner ;).
The video is fine and looks good on my 55″ HDTV. Silent shutter is for stalkers. I do agree that is should have in camera panorama and HDR and that’s all I think it needs. They have another camera with weather sealing and a better grip and that’s the point in making several models.
When taking photos in theaters a silent shutter is a must. Otherwise you have to wait for the clapping hands. Maybe you don’t need it, but for my work it’s important.
Shutter is pretty silent it seems, GPS can come via WiFi from a smart phone, panorama and HDR is better handled in computer software, grip will most likely be available as tripod screw add on. If you are serious about video get a Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera. That leaves the weather sealing which is desirable but I wouldn’t pay a lot extra just for that personally.
Just my opinion of course. Everyone has different wants and wishes. All I want from pretty much any camera is snappy controls, portable package and straight to card RAW. Any in camera processes and file handling I could do without.
So does the backwards compatibily of the VF4 with older PEN models mean that it gives the same resolution as when used on the E-P5?
very good question!
How many DSLRs can be said to have ” real charisma”? Quote from dpreview.
NONE.
But DSLR’s are made to perform and take Pics, not Drape around your neck like antique jewelry.
Its DSLRs that are draped around necks, mirrorless camera users don’t usually bother with neck straps, occasionally hand straps but most often no straps…just pure in the hands 🙂
There is something to be said about beautiful objects vs. purely functional objects. It’s the Apple vs. PC battle or Leica vs DSLR. Why spend 10 000$ on a camera that takes worse pictures of a DSLR? Why spend so much more on an iMac that is inferior in performance to a PC ? Why buy a painting for 10 million dollars to hang it on a wall ?
Value is in the eye of the beholder, and the only thing I can say is that shooting with a camera you LOVE manipulating will give you better photos than a camera that is technically better but not as attractive to you. There is too much emphasis on image quality in the world of photography today, and not enough on actual photography.
I want a camera that takes DECENT enough photos for my requirements, but that I LOVE to shoot with. And that is more important to me than THE BEST camera out there. I don’t like DSLR’s because they just don’t feel right to me, and if I don’t like them (which is obviously subjective) I just won’t be happy taking photos with them.
I agree. The E-P5 looks to be a camera that I enjoy carrying with me as opposed to my Nikon gear. I planning to start out with some cheep toys for m43 like the Pinwide and Holga 25 just go out and have fun with light. Something that that I haven’t done a lot with my bulky black chunk of Nikon. (D7000 is great at almost anything but not quite an inspirational tool to use.)
I have both the holga and the pin wide actually and they are quite fun. I ended up buying the wide converter as well for the holga, because it approaches more a 34 or so than a 25, which seemed too narrow to me. With the converter and a square crop, it has more of that holga look. fun little lens (you also have to take it apart and wash the sticky glue out).
+ 1 million to victors statement, could have not said i better myself 🙂
Frankly, and this is just my very personal opinion..I find these who are into Pana more Oly are either just newbies and same goes to those who prefer the Nex system to Fuji X or into video more stills.
According to the huge history, originality Olympus has it’s unfair to an ambitious company like Panasonic to even compare them.
Frankly, and this is just my very personal opinion. I find these who are into Oly and Fuji are stuck in the past and can’t be bothered to learn how to use a new technology.
Speaking of new technology, and technically speaking so far according to technical reviews on several websites state that Oly is the best MFT manufacturer..based on technical analysis and numbers! so I have no idea what are you trying to prove here..it’s not a fight so chill.
In case it wasn’t clear enough, saying something like this “these who are into Pana more Oly are either just newbies and same goes to those who prefer the Nex system to Fuji X” is simply stupid.
Hmm, my comment was moderated.
Vlad, I’m pretty sure your comment needed some moderation. You are biased. Olympus and Fuji make cutting edge cameras. Panasonic does to some extent. More so than Canon and Nikon, who only have to improve their sensor each iteration, MILCs have to overcome limiting factors in their sensor, and lead all camera manufacturers with the newest CAMERA technologies. I would easily say again that Olympus and Fuji are on the cutting edge.
Now quit being a fanboy, it envelopes your personality and makes you bitter and negative.
@ Doma and Dave
I can see you are Oly fanboys and Vlad may be more disposed towards Panasonic. Nothing wrong with that so chill with the personal attacks and contribute something meaningful.
@ Doma
The newbie comment is insulting. Some of us buy into these brands/systems because at the time, they were the most advanced and suited options.
What I would say is that Oly and Fuji have a long tradition and their heritage is infused into their camera DNA. This is their distinction and cannot be taken away. Technology lead changes all the time and this is anyone’s game.
“The newbie comment is insulting.”
There you have it. I was merely being sarcastic in my reply, I enjoy Olympus and Fuji as much as any other brand which makes great cameras.
Dave, let me get this straight, you assumed my comment needed moderation, you decided that I was biased, when I was merely sarcastic and I actually subsequently clearly explained my position, then you concluded that I am bitter and negative. And to top it all, you didn’t even find a problem with the original comment I was replying to.
In light of all this, I shouldn’t be bothering, but I will explain once more. As Anonymous said, the newbie comment was insulting. I replied in kind, the fact that I used the same words as the OP and that I went in the opposite direction of his comment, should have been enough of a clue that I was being sarcastic. And if that wasn’t clear enough, I actually clarified my position in the comment you replied to! And yous still managed to miss the point.
Totally agree with Doma !!!
Really? It seemed a completely pointless post to me. Well unless trolling is considered having a point.
@Doma “”Oly is the best MFT manufacturer””
It is a nonsense to state that Olympus is the best mFT maker, since the start of mFT they have been playing the feature lottery with one clone Pen after another, other than a couple of the primes { 60mm and 75mm } many of their lenses are pretty mediocre . Other than the IS { which is of dubious benefit in most scenarios } prior to the E-M5 Panasonic had both the best still and by far best video camera in mFT. Panasonic has had a number of models with built in EVF. The GH3 matches the best Olympus can offer in stills with better video and far better ergonomics,in fact the whole Olympus mFT range has been a lesson in form over function
Now, the 16mp sensor was an improvement over the woeful 12mp no doubt. But the fact is that it did not even match the previous gen Nikon APS models let alone the current.
I use mainly Panasonic cameras GH3/Gh2/gx1 , along with the 7-14,12-35,35-100 ,100-300 in primes I have the 25mm the 60mm Olympus macro { not because it is any better than the 45 macro , I prefer the longer focal length} and finally the 75mm a sweet lens { would have been nice to get a hood lol}. I do not like the ergonomics of any of the Olympus bodies ,and the fake retro design is rather tiresome. Luckily we have plenty choices.
Could you post a link to those sites? Or even one?
The assumption you make is that everyone wants to shoot with the newest technology. Perhaps a Fuji and Olympus speak to people on a different level than just image quality.
And second, you make it seem like being “stuck in the past” is a bad thing. People still shoot film, polaroid, large format, etc. and print using all sorts of techniques, not just digital to digital.
The funny thing about all these increments in digital technology are just a blip in the history of photography, and I think it’s important to look at cameras for what they are and not just which one takes the sharper photo. Most people don’t even PRINT their photos these days, or if they do they go to Walmart and Costco. What’s the dynamic range of the printers there? Or are printers less of an important part of digital photography than cameras?
great camera but overpriced. i would probably choose omd if i were looking for a mirrorless
I totally agree, I am thinking of getting something to replace my GF3 (which has served me well) but this is just too expensive. Why would someone buy this over say a GH3? Its too much trying to appeal to the “hipsters”
E-P5 over GH3, when one doesn’t need stellar video, if size and modularity is a big issue, if speed of processing and delivery matters (jpeg), 5-axis ibis, etc. etc. etc.
So you see, there’s a lot to consider if a photographer has given it a good thought.
Price is of secondary importance for those that decided pro E-P5.
On the other hand the choice for (pros) a GH3 can be made using same or other critiques.
It just depends what the individuals view is on the matter. There simply is no wrong or right.
People who find the E-P5 to pricey are not the target market anyway. Better get an E-PL5.
Then again the E-P5 is just released and it will drop in price, so if you really want it you should be a little patient. The OMD was 1100 euro body only and is now 850 so be fair and compare release price of one with release price of the other, and not street price of one and release price of the other.
“People who find the E-P5 to pricey are not the target market anyway.”
By that logic nothing is ever overpriced. Seems to me it is just a poor excuse.
Well then wait a few months and the price will come down. Nobody is forcing you to buy.
Or are you that arrogant you think all products should fit you!
Just buy what you think is worth the price and skip the E-P5 if you really need a camera now.
IBIS is over-hyped marketing to be fair. Sure its useful but its not the be all and end all of photography, like many people seem to think it is.
Like AF, viewfinders, built in meters, black lenses, change ISO each shot not every 36 function buttons?
Ibis is nowhere near any of those things, its more in the lines of auto hdr, live time and stitch panorama
Until the day Panasonic releases the new GX and it indeed has in-body stabilization, then all of a sudden it is a useful feature.
Not to mention… HDR and panorama stitching can easily be achieved in pp. Not so for live time and image stabilization.
But hey, you think you don’t need things due to clear lack of understanding, so nobody needs those things.
Its exactly the same category as IBAF (auto focus) and IBLM (light meters). Both add ins like IBIS as a sign of advance.
No its not, I turn af off and loose a whole lot of functionality and my keep rate falls dramatically, I turn ibis off and my keep rate stays the same. I dont care who makes it bart, im not a raving fanboy that drools incesantly over a brand because of a feature, and like I do now, my IS is off 90% of the time
+1
waw..those ephotozine samples are great..till iso 6400 no noise visible
No noise no detail seriously look at a real low light RAW shot from this sensor without the tragic NR and get back to me about zero noise
I’ve compared the high ISO performance of the sensor to my D7000 and I’d say it’s identical and in my book that pretty good. I’ve read here and there that the Oly noise is easier to reduce in post process than the Nikon but I don’t have any personal experience with that. Sure enough the performance may be limiting in really dark conditions but extreme conditions are always going to be extreme.
i have old epl3 thatswhy I am admired by the level of noise
i understood that those are jpegs straight out of camera and the noise vs. details are to my subjective opinion nice balanced.
even the real picture of espreso(iso2000) and fire(iso1600) …they are prety nice
One thing we will not be impressed by are its sales figures.
Their sales will be more real than your username…. Come back in 12 months.
@ youdidntdidyou
“will be more real than your username”
While I suspect that anonymous is not his real name ,I have my suspicions you were not called youdidntdidyou unless your parents have a good sense of humor lol
Hen
the only time sales figures are impressive is when the price is 1/3 to 1/4 of the initial (ie gx1 for 199)
It is a wise move to have a little patience with new mFT cameras as the price on the vast majority of them goes down quickly, the GH3 became available in the UK in DEC 2012 at £1200 it went down 25% to £899 by March. Hopefully Olympus and Panasonic will kill off the lines that are dragging them down , whatever fantasy numbers folk are coming up with both companies need to quickly sort out their finances.
Thinking of either E-PL5 or E-P5.. Image quality should be the same, price is ~2 times difference.
Do not want to lose summer without new camera, waiting for a GX2, which will likely be as much expensive + larger body due to integrated VF.
Tough choice.
How is it a game changer? I see pictures of models – what, the dude couldn’t take pictures of models before? Don’t get it.
It is a great camera but the price is just obscene.
The price as all new model prices are for first adopters. These models are going to be good 6 months, a year from now. The last four models out of Olympus have all been home run hits. The OMD, the e-P5 and two lesser PENs, (even calling the e-PL5 lesser is a stretch. The extra-compact PENs … the last Panasonic models have been hits too. And added variety to the mix. The GH3 and G6 are certainly viable models moving forward. This, still in a pencil sketch, rumour filled newest GX, sounds like a real groundbreaker. But will it be all for everyone? I doubt it. When the FUJI X-100 came out, it was a visual winner. But application and performance and price levelled that opinion.
The good news is that mFT is growing up and digging in for the long haul. These brands have done something economical and technologically smart. NONE of the big labels have. That is stick to one specific sensor system and support it. No matter what the other brands give you, they make you fight in their own model lines. APS vs FF every time. Cripple the lower models, don’t allow their economy goods to perform better than their flagships. Their eco-crop sensor lenses won’t even work on their oil tanker sized flagships ….
Can you imagine how excellent CANIKON would be if every model came with the same sensor power in every body? All the lenses they sell you would fit on on every camera? Madness of course to sell a brand that can share lenses across models and even multiple brands!
When the e-P5 announced no internal EVF, I was let down by the news. Despite that, (and it has a stupid flappy flash gizmo) which is a personal problem I have to deal with, the Camera as a whole is very impressive. A lot better than e-P3 was as a new model. Almost all aspects in it have improved enough to look at the old reliable and still totally functional e-P2 body that works well still and wonder if it needs a rest?
And there’s no stopping. More choices to come. Really good choices, not reworked cosmetics.mFT has never just been a brand, it’s a system, and a grown-up system with impressive options.
I’m not impressed with any camera that sticks its EVF in the flash shoe. The EVF should be designed into the camera. Period.
I think we are all just a bit spoilt. The choice in cameras and systems out there is just mind blowing. This is a great time to be alive. I have been a Nikon shooter for the past 20 years and I grew up with a Practika and Pentax ME Super. Today’s digital choices are just overwhelming wonderful! I have the Nikon D7000 (as well as a lot of older Nikon digitals) and Fuji X100 and XE-1 and the Oly OMD. They are all spectacular in there own way and besides the Nikon (less beautiful but I love it anyway) there are visually spectacular to me. As I am getting older I really appreciate the size and ergonomics of the smaller cameras and have no qualms about the image quality produced by these newer MILCs. My biggest hassle now is which camera to choose when I go out shooting. You gotta love choice. To all camera manufacturers – “keep up the good work!”
You see the manufactuers in a much to rosy world. To me, they don’t learn a lot, provide us cameras with the same usability quirks for years, sometimes going backwards in quality (see GH3 view finder), and promise us wonders, which they don’t deliver (i.e. spectacular IQ improvements).
I don’t know any camera, which is mind blowing or spectacular. All manufacturers are cooking more or less the same water. Still produce loose eye cups, awkward to use lens hoods or lens cups, camera bodies with unresistant paint, tripod screws not in optical axis, cameras with lousy user interfaces and awkward ergonomics.
I don’t know, where you get your over enthusiastic view about the manufacturers, which employ engineers, from whom I have doubt that they ever use their products.
no viewfinder no buy.
+100, it really needs a built in EVF.
How is it a game changer? That Damien sure is enjoying those oly checks!
Had the em6 come out I would gotten that or em5. But a panny (still use gf1) with evf and internal is. That’s worth waiting for. Em5 might be the best m43 right now, still it’s nearly 2 years old, a lifetime in dslrs.
I had the please of trying one under the watchful eye of an Olympus rep yesterday. Wow this little camera has a lot going for it, it was heavier than I thought it would be, feels really good. It fits perfectly in my hands, no those strap thingies are not in the way when you hold it, and the control dials are in absolutely the right place and so easy to use. Much much better than the EM5.
Yes sure no viewfinder within the body, shame…Didn’t stop me from pre-ordering one with the 17mm and vf4…Can’t wait until the end of June….
In the time that I was there which was about 20 minutes, this one shop took another 5 pre order…
I don’t care about paper spec comparison, handle one for real and you’ll understand why there are so many positive reviews…
Why do they continue with such a feeble video codec? No 24p, 20Mbps bit-rate max. I get that stills are a priority. But improve on the C+ video capabilities instead of including new art filters every time.