Yup, kind of like a “mine is bigger (better) than yours” contest, not like it shows what really the individual strengths and limitations of each model happen to be.
In other words, not a serious review, and kinda boring…
Just shows, that the spec war is over and it’s now about usability. If you want to handle serious glass, it’s the EM1, for video the GH3 and for casual shooting – any of the recent bodies that suits you.
Yeah, full frame is so much better then everything else, especially at consuming space, scaring people away and breaking your back. Besides, you look like an idiot on the streets with this huge gear. Look at yourself in a shop window, ridiculous! Just yesterday I saw a group of people carrying huge APSC and full frame cameras. Everybody looked at them as if they where a heavily armed invading militarily force. I just snapped away happily with my little E-M5.
Wow… take a quote from Steve Huff and run with it, huh? I guess machined metal feels cheap, nowadays. Feels good in my hand, AND takes great pictures… who would’ve thought?
Yup. And the GX7 has good video, too. Although other would justify the E-M1’s price with weather-sealing and built-in PDAF so there’s that. As for me, I really don’t need it (although I would want that, I just like the GX7’s form factor more and that’s more important than weather-sealing)
The E-M1 has enough features to warrant the higher price:
by far better view finder
better performance
better robustness
better ergonomics
more direct access buttons
much better raw buffer
arguably better image stabilization
professional service (with pickup and three work days repairment)
…
I cannot see anything cheap on either of these. I think Oly looks functional anf the Panasonic more…recreational (?). The endresult seems to be that the Panny is the better choice for most people. But, in the end, the review is so not in depth that you really cannot base anything on this review. Again.
The bag in the first minute.
Why do the makers have to put all the false straps and buckles on the press stud flaps? It all adds weight, most of the ones I have seem recently have these. Why do they make them big enough to park a car in. Why do they make them deep enough to lose your change and need to stand on tiptoe to reach the bottom? Why don’t they make one with a split top so one side can be opened without the other being opened?
Why don’t they make lens pouches for M43 lenses? One could lose a 12mm oly or 20mm pany and never see them again, even in the same pouch!
You can get very good pouches for u43 lens’s, take a look at http://www.microlenspouch.com/, I have a number of them and they serve the purpose very well indeed.
What language is using the other guy who does “review” 😉 with Kai?
I’m wondering where Kai found this TV personality.
I would register this “review” in Guinness Book of Records as most useless and most misfit review in the history of reviews.
😉 maybe, maybe not. You do not know. But two things are sure:
1/ that my English is most definitely better than this individual in the video
2/ and that with his English I would never try to be “TV personality”.
I do not like when blind people try to be bus drivers.
I hope that you got the message.
Wow! Amazing how some posters don’t get your sarcasm…even without the 14 year-old girl smiley face, it’s obvious. Makes you wonder about the level of those who frequent this site. Rather scary.
I think Kai is right. The OMD is really ugl…, I mean not so good looking. The Panasonic in my eyes is a nice looking camera. But so is the pen e-p5. But then you have to put the viewfinder on it, not so nice. BTW if you care, I use a pen e-p2 with a viewfinder (4). So to upgrade I was thinking about a new pen, but now there is the GX-7, tempting.
I know im in the minority here but i find kai quite amusing. Much more entertainig that most other boring video reviews on the net. For those who cant see he has his tongue firmly planted in his cheek, well, you need to lighten up a tad…
I love digitalrev tv! I think Lok is especially humorous. They’re both funny and entertaining.
Most websites that sale products, and do reviews of said products, are overly positive and boring to hopefully get people to buy from them.
DigitalRev doesn’t do that, and they’re fun too!
I do like Kai as well but this ‘review’ was not one of his better ones. The ‘full-time’ involvement of another ‘actor’ who is not as funny and whose English is not as ‘funny’ probably didn’t help.
(Kai’s English is ‘funny’ because it feels a bit out-of-place in his environment and is quite a contrast to the somewhat bland typical American English.)
Lok isn’t an actor, he’s normally the one filming the show, but he gradually got in front of the camera more and more because he has good chemistry with Kai.
In this case, he was funny and he used to be. But lately, he seems to be pushing it so hard the humour does not come naturally. But this one, about the missing GX2 to Gx6 (some weird cult proclaimed them to be unluckky numbers…hihi) was an example with some other remarks. I found it very funny. Taste..
I don’t get why people is so concerned about the look of the cameras. For me, a camera is just a tool, and I prefer designers pay more attencion to ergonomy rather than aestethics. An object well designed and well built is beautiful
No kidding!
I’m much more concerned with HOW a thing works!
Like ANY tool, if it’s not simple, straightforward, transparent and usable… it should nearly disappear and let me just do my work… I won’t use it.
Yeah, but in the E-M1’s case, its a monster of a camera in a bad way. Lok is a known Olympus user. That’s his primary camera, aside from using the MkIII for the DRTV vids. He doesn’t like the E-M1, at all. He has more complaints than likes.
I swear, there must be some kind of photo unity, that doesn’t want Olympus to fail. They don’t want to see one of the old, classic, film camera companies go out of business, so they praise them in order to get sales. But I’m sorry, Olympus had a hit with the E-M5 and now they’re going backwards. They want to milk the E-M5 design, re-use the sony sensor until the Olympus massive complains once again.
Having a legacy is cool and all, but I’m not stupid enough to follow a company blindly, especially Olympus and their foul business practices.
Oh, I can still remember all the whining about the lack of grip on the OMD. And if someone mentioned the addon grip that was available everybody complained why they had to pay extra. Now those people are quiet and content (hopefully) and out come the people that scream… Ooo that ugly grip. Come on. Buy a GX7, e-p5 or whatever and get over it.
The OMD is clearly aimed at the pro market. Put a 300mm FT on it and you will praise Oly for that grip. If you only use mft glass like me I don’t see the reason why u shouldnt buy a EM5. Its cheaper too btw.
I’m no Olympus fanboy but the entire PEN line is amazing and especially the E-P5 is a phenomenal camera.
Before it I had a PEN for convenience and a Nikon DSLR for performance. Since the E-P5 I can get rid off the Nikon because the PEN outperforms it. I find this quite incredible.
No offense dude but to get a Nikon DSLR that is outperformed in image quality by any mFT you have to go pretty far back before 2008 in fact even the 2008 D90 does better than the E-P5. So just what antique Nikon in digital terms did you have that you think is poorer than mFT
Nikon APS is well ahead and Nikon FF is even further ahead , in fact when you consider the fact that E-P5 fanboys boast about the 1/8th of a stop better high ISO than the E-M5 they are hugely far ahead lol
I’ll assume that Nikon is well ahead. As a matter of fact, I don’t need to know, much less to start DXO like manhood measurements.
As some blogger wrote and asked the question : how good is good enough? Simple enough. Well not quite, because we never know how good we *will* need and we all tend to overestimate our personal needs. My personal theory is that for something in the vicinity of 90% of the community, the need in IQ and overall performance is well covered by discontinued models of them all: Nikon, Canon, M43, NEX, Pentax and you name it. However, novelties create needs that about 90% of the community allegedly needs. Its the world we are in 🙂
So yes. Nikon outperforms M43, even with 43 glass. Fine. You know what? I won’t argue…
Agree completely.
Who cares if Nikon is a stop ahead or whatever it is. In theory it should be around 2/3 stops anyway given equal technology.
And if you have to go back to 2008 it shows how little progress has been made since then in sensor tech in Nikon (and all other APSC brand) cameras.
As half the people on photography sites measure a camera by its sensor only, it shows how much money they have wasted by buying the latest and greatest.
Quite frankly nobody would have noticed if they’d stuck to their D90.
The time is rapidly approaching when we buy a camera based on its functionality and features only, just like the film days, as all the sensors from 1″ upward will be good enough for most people.
“Who cares if Nikon is a stop ahead or whatever it is. In theory it should be around 2/3 stops anyway given equal technology.”
Canon APS which is smaller than Nikon/Sony/Pentax APS should be 2/3 better the Nikon APS should be.75 stops better which regarding noise it is.With regard to DR,color depth it is actually more than a stop behind which is disappointing.
@jules
Jules,I am a 100% mFT user .My comment was strictly in response to the posters claim that the E-P5 outperforms his Nikon DSLR .To find a Nikon DSLR that is outperformed where it counts in image quality by an E-P5 you would need to go back to 2007.
I get very fed up with the mutual masturbation society posts.That a certain group of typically Olympus users post ad-lib mFT main claim to fame is in it size to performance ratio.mFT serves me perfectly well however that does not mean I have to accept lies that are posted here all the time.There are posters on some mFT forums who make claims that the E-M1 is as good as FF ! which is blatantly ludicrous .
They usually support this with the “good enough” claim you infer about above lol. Which is like saying my ford focus is as fast as a Ferrari as long as you do not go over 70mph
The Ferrari one is the metaphor of the century 😀
It isn’t impossible to design a tool that functions well and looks great, the gx7 and many other cameras prove that. With the amount of time that was spent developing the em1, it feels like it was intentionally designed to be ugly. With a camera especially, a beautiful design is one you are going to want to use more. If your camera doesn’t grab your eye every time you head for the door, then what’s the point in having one of these tiny take-anywhere cameras?
My GH2 is pretty damn homely, but somehow I manage to shoot with it. I like the look of my GX7, but that’s not why I got it.
When I’m heading out the door, I tend to think which lens I’ll mount and what others to carry, rather than the beauty of the camera. Everything else is superfluous.
It’s called ‘entertainment’. People should stop being so uptight and take everything personally. I love watching Kai, and yes…I have the E-M1 and I love it.
You are right. I’d much rather see some expert talk about more meaningful things like 200% crops of facial hair. a 4% increase of image quality and several mathematical theorems on how this camera will allow people such as you and I to take better photos than the camera released last year that is basically the same F%$%^^ing camera. Good points Brutha!
Heh, I kept waiting for that guy to drop the E-M1 as he wooshed it around and tried to work 2 handed buttons with no strap on it. At least put a hand strap on, they are $4 for a bag of them!
Bit of fun = waste of time. But it’s kind of refreshing to hear reviewers conclude by saying, “I’ll keep my money.” I considered both these cameras as a replacement for my E-M 5, and I’m leaning toward the same conclusion as Kai.
Same here 🙂 just started having loads of fun with livetime bulb mode and experimenting with flashes. There is still so much to learn, instead of lusting after new gear …
Yeah, I wouldn’t trade my OM-5 for either of these cameras, unless I got the GX7 for its better video (although it’s crippled there, too, because of no mic port). Not any real gain in stills ability, especially if you shoot RAW. I have GH2/3 bodies to cover video. Although it’s subjective, I like the looks of the GX7 better, but, again, I have a GH3 if I want to look professional – if that word can be used in the context of m4/3.
Interesting to note they compare the latest and best from P&O as closer in specs with higher rez EVF and WiFi connect ability and built in larger grips than EM5. As noted their comments are very subjective and based on personal preferences as after all both these cameras are very very good. I wouldn’t place too much emphasis on weatherproofing as a camera is no better than its weakest link and most m4/3 lenses are not waterproofed at present except for a few very expensive ones. Most cameras these days are built to withstand rain but not even the EM1 is designed for water submergence and both cameras come with sturdy magnesium steel alloy chassis and bodies. If I didn’t already have way too many cameras, I would love to have either camera with the GM1 as a companion carry around camera.
I tend to enjoy Kai’s videos. This one was also funny, yet at the same time there was very little to learn from it. Ok, they may think the GX7 is good looking and the E-M1 ugly. And Kai’s friend is a designer, which proves that he knows what he is talking about…
—
In continuous shooting, the E-M1 performed well at 10fps — according to the video. But then, it was claimed that the GX7 could shoot at 40fps virtually producing 16Mpx movies! Really? Of course, the Panasonic manuals are not very clear on this, but isn’t the 40fps at a reduced resolution? Some 5Mpx or around that? In http://www.wexphotographic.com/blog/panasonic-gx7-announced-new-csc-with-tiltable-viewfinder-revealed, it is stated “The Panasonic GX7′s burst mode is set to 5fps at its standard setting, which drops to 4.2fps when AF tracking is enabled. And, when such speeds are deemed to be too slow, this can be boosted up to 40fps at a reduced resolution.” Still, it seems difficult to find the real specs…
—
In any way, funny video, but basically lots of uninteresting claims on design, price, etc, and several factual errors. On price: Arguments are in line with “oh, a Tata has 4 wheels and a Lexus has 4 wheels, so why should the Lexus cost more than the Tata?”
—
So, Kai’s concept is funny at the outset, but it seems to get stale. Do I say this because I am disappointed about his take on the E-M1? Not really. I would think the same if he made a similar presentation of the Df. Or if he laughed at the price of the D4 in comparison to that of the 6D, etc.
—
In summary, for me Kai’s reviews are on the verge of getting boring. 🙂
The E-M1 is better in the same way that tanks are better over cars. Ugly, rugged but somehow comforting. Won’t win you any style points on your way to theatre though 😉
* You’ll notice that he speaks a v. good English, in fact British English for an Asian. Just compare to his buddy who is probably more like the average Chinese.
This of course allows him understatement and humour, which other reviewers don’t have, having to be more literal.
* he gives away his attitude, mentioning twice ‘hipsters’, and treating cameras as if they were ways of dressing, fashion statements. Probably for his age bracket. moneyed youngsters, this is at least as important as the camera’s features.
Success in m4/3 is largely due to Asians, to women and youngsters so the criteria of the Western aging (male) population are different and less relevant.
So for a hipster the GX7 is better, probably because it creates more consensus in his age group.
Features between cameras not being so different, that might be the winning argument after all.
And so ease of use is also a v. important criteria, where, alas, Olympus has not yet reached the best standards.
So you see, even in a lighthearted, understated review, some real elements come to the forefront.
What do you earn by listening to a list of features, if you don’t know how pleasant in use is a camera in daily life?
Note that I will stick to my E-M5, but it took me a loong time to get comfortable with it. Some might never have done it.
Also sticking with the EM-5, although I’d love any excuse to buy another. Unfortunately the EM-1, wonderful though it may be, is too big and too heavy for the format, and I have no need for regular 4/3 capability… EM-1 is essentially the same size as a 135-format Sony A7 (and the about the same price as well). The GX-7 or EM-5 are about as large as I can see getting in this small format, but would welcome some EM-1 tech in an EM-6.
E-M1 is too big and to heavy?? It’s barely bigger than the E-M5. And for anyone who uses the optional grip with the E-M5 it’s actually smaller and lighter. In general the handling is a million times better. The buttons are placed much more sensibly. There’s direct button access to most settings for quick and easy changes.
Having handled the A7 (briefly) I found the ergonomics to pretty much totally suck.
Yes, the EM-1 is most definitely larger and heavier than the EM-5, and hence too big and too heavy for the micro 4/3 format. You give up ultimate quality for smallness- that’s the compromise.
If I have to give up smallness, no sense to compromise on quality. Hence, there are larger format cameras the same size as the EM-1.
And that opens up an entire door for Nikon and Canon DSLRs offering a larger format and two kit zooms and a built-in flash and better image quality for half the price of an EM-1 body alone.
I don’t wish to open the door here to yet another debate. In my opinion the EM-5 and the GX-7 is the high point of justifying the existence of the micro 4/3 format: the perfect balance of price, features, size. I don’t wish to go larger, or if I must I jump a format or two.
The GX7 is NOT the competition for the EM1, rather they should be putting it up against the GH3…you know, the very FIRST ever magnesium alloy, weather sealed pro quality micro 4/3 camera, which has been selling extremely well for the past year now…
The GX7 appeals to the same folks to who would be interested in the E-P5. The EM1 is more for those who would rather go for the GH3.
And just to head it off at the pass, before it becomes troll fodder, remember that the GH3 has the exact same 16mp Sony sensor as do many of the Pens, EM5, and is darn close to what they put into the EM1. It’s not just a great video camera, it can shoot stills just as good as any Olympus camera. And I say that as an Olympus “fan boy.”
Actually if DigitalRev is supposed to be the zenith of camera reviews it does it’s job rather well: only nerds buy cameras, correction: only SOME nerds from China/Japan buy cameras. The rest of the world just uses their smartphones. Actually I correct again: even in China/Japan only nerds use cameras. Global conclusion: cameras are for old people and nerds 😛
I might just pick up a used DSLR for holiday landscapes other than that cameras are DEAD (except for the pro market, a friend of mine is a pro photographer and of course he needs the good stuff)
I kind of like Lok and his Chinese accent is rather charming I think. I agree that it’s hard to understand what he’s saying sometimes. It would be nice if he speaks slower and works on his pronunciation. I suggest Kai teaches him a trick or two.
I usually really enjoy DigitalRev videos but stopped watching this one after about 20 seconds. They had completely written off both cameras before they even started comparing them.
“Ridiculously overpriced for mirrorless”
“Made in China”
Not happy with DigitalRev and I think they get worse and worse every video. These cameras deserve better.
The thing that annoys me about DRTV is that they don’t take the time to get to know the camera anymore. Actually, a lot of people here are like that too. Bash the hell out of a camera without even ever touching it. Not all features are created equal. It seems like the trend now is to look at a camera’s spec sheet and trash it if it doesn’t sound too impressive. “Oh EM1 is still 16MP and costs $1400, what a rip off!!” I used to have an EM5 and the upgrade was well worth it for me. Better EVF, better IBIS, no AA filter, better build quality and sealing, better handling, more customizable and most importantly the Raw files are so malleable! The raw files are just amazing to work with. I could keep going but that’s already enough for me to justify the price. I have a D800E as well and I HATE using it. I have the 24-70mm 2.8 and 35mm 1.4. It takes a lot of work to make use of that sensor. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an awesome sensor, but besides that I don’t really like anything about that camera. Maybe people are just uncomfortable with a smaller sensor camera with a PRO label on it. At $1400 it’s still cheaper than a decent lens for a FF frame camera. And as far as look goes, when I first saw the EM1 I was like UGH. But now that I see it person with the 12-40 2.8 attached, it’s gorgeous. My 25mm 1.4 looks pretty sweet on it too. I don’t need to justify my purchase in any way but it makes me sad to think that so many people might get dissuaded from trying such an amazing camera because there is so much BS online to filter through. Can we go back to comparing photographic skills and not camera specs?! I’m seeing so many fresh out-of-college photographers that don’t know how a lick about composition but think they need a MKIII or a D800. Stop polluting the well!
Once again a good and funny review. Kai is spot on as usual.These are good M43 camera’s but very very expensive for a M43. To expensive for what you get. The EM1 is butt ugly and the GX7 looks good. The performance is about the same. GX7 is clearly the winner but still to expensive. These kind of camera’s should cost about 500 euro.
But the M43 lovers over here won’t see the truth. They are lovestruck and only crying about Kai. Nobody with a pair of brains is going to buy these M43 camera’s. For example you could get a NEX6 or FUJI XE1 for about 600 euro. These camera’s will blow any M43 camera away in picture Performance.
Yes M43 is nice but they just can not compete with APSC or FF. So please Oly and Pani get real and give us small and cheap camera’s or make some decent APSC or FF camera’s for those high prices.
Anyone who thinks like you think should buy what you buy. Anyone else who thinks differently should buy somehting different. For whatever reason. The truth is just one variable. And it is so inconsistent you can better rely on your own erroneous thinking. So it is a GX7 for me.
103 Responses
i bet this post review will trigger another bashing and ridicule between oly and pana lover,.left alone the FF troll
Yup, kind of like a “mine is bigger (better) than yours” contest, not like it shows what really the individual strengths and limitations of each model happen to be.
In other words, not a serious review, and kinda boring…
Just shows, that the spec war is over and it’s now about usability. If you want to handle serious glass, it’s the EM1, for video the GH3 and for casual shooting – any of the recent bodies that suits you.
Don’t worry, FF wins for everything except ‘size’ which is made up with real world build and quality!
Yeah, full frame is so much better then everything else, especially at consuming space, scaring people away and breaking your back. Besides, you look like an idiot on the streets with this huge gear. Look at yourself in a shop window, ridiculous! Just yesterday I saw a group of people carrying huge APSC and full frame cameras. Everybody looked at them as if they where a heavily armed invading militarily force. I just snapped away happily with my little E-M5.
Can’t help but damn, the Gx-7 looks very cheap beside the EM-1. .
Actually the EM1 looks like the hunchback of Notre dame next to the Gx7. Even kai and lok think it’s fugly
If Charles Laughton were still alive, you’d owe him, and all of the other actors who played that famous hunchback, an apology.
Look cheap indeed. When Pana tries the retro style they come out with a freak camera.
The GX7 is not retro. There are no unnecessary curves or superfluous, nostalgic decorations.
It’s simple, clean, modern design.
Wow… take a quote from Steve Huff and run with it, huh? I guess machined metal feels cheap, nowadays. Feels good in my hand, AND takes great pictures… who would’ve thought?
It is almost half the price of the E-M1, for basically the same image quality.
Which makes the E-M1 seem overpriced.
It is good that everyone can pick the one they like better.
Looking for the same image quality at a cheaper price?
Get the much cheaper E-PM2 then!
I got my e-pm2 for $350, with 2 year warrantee.
Which leaves me around $1000 spare for the 12-40mm 2.8.
And no, my hands seem capable of holding the E-Pm2 with a 17.5mm 0.95, so the 12-40 is no trouble.
Not to say I wouldn’t like a bigger grip on the E-PM2.
Yup. And the GX7 has good video, too. Although other would justify the E-M1’s price with weather-sealing and built-in PDAF so there’s that. As for me, I really don’t need it (although I would want that, I just like the GX7’s form factor more and that’s more important than weather-sealing)
The E-M1 has enough features to warrant the higher price:
by far better view finder
better performance
better robustness
better ergonomics
more direct access buttons
much better raw buffer
arguably better image stabilization
professional service (with pickup and three work days repairment)
…
I cannot see anything cheap on either of these. I think Oly looks functional anf the Panasonic more…recreational (?). The endresult seems to be that the Panny is the better choice for most people. But, in the end, the review is so not in depth that you really cannot base anything on this review. Again.
They must have been reading 43Rumors in the last three months. This video had to be made :D.
The bag in the first minute.
Why do the makers have to put all the false straps and buckles on the press stud flaps? It all adds weight, most of the ones I have seem recently have these. Why do they make them big enough to park a car in. Why do they make them deep enough to lose your change and need to stand on tiptoe to reach the bottom? Why don’t they make one with a split top so one side can be opened without the other being opened?
Why don’t they make lens pouches for M43 lenses? One could lose a 12mm oly or 20mm pany and never see them again, even in the same pouch!
You can get very good pouches for u43 lens’s, take a look at http://www.microlenspouch.com/, I have a number of them and they serve the purpose very well indeed.
hey, you dont say bad thing about a Billingham
🙂
Useless.
What language is using the other guy who does “review” 😉 with Kai?
I’m wondering where Kai found this TV personality.
I would register this “review” in Guinness Book of Records as most useless and most misfit review in the history of reviews.
By the way, they think they are funny 😉 😉 😉
“What language is using the other guy who does “review” 😉 with Kai?”
Could ask the same question of somebody else. People in glasshouses shouldn’t throw stones.
Agree. I am not a big fan of this video, but language issues are the least relevant here
Millions of hits prove you’re incorrect. DRTV has a huge following. YOU may not like them, but you’re in the minority.
How so: there are billions of people.
your english sux. Look to your grammar before you criticise others. So dont compare the 2 digital rev tv presenters. I totally understand them
😉 maybe, maybe not. You do not know. But two things are sure:
1/ that my English is most definitely better than this individual in the video
2/ and that with his English I would never try to be “TV personality”.
I do not like when blind people try to be bus drivers.
I hope that you got the message.
“What language is using the other guy” Your language!
“who does “review” 😉 with Kai?” His girl fiend!
I’d love to “review” her 😉
Wow! Amazing how some posters don’t get your sarcasm…even without the 14 year-old girl smiley face, it’s obvious. Makes you wonder about the level of those who frequent this site. Rather scary.
Why does that guy keep straightening his hair? Its not like anyone would ever care.
Some people just don’t get sarcasm, do they?
I think Kai is right. The OMD is really ugl…, I mean not so good looking. The Panasonic in my eyes is a nice looking camera. But so is the pen e-p5. But then you have to put the viewfinder on it, not so nice. BTW if you care, I use a pen e-p2 with a viewfinder (4). So to upgrade I was thinking about a new pen, but now there is the GX-7, tempting.
I know im in the minority here but i find kai quite amusing. Much more entertainig that most other boring video reviews on the net. For those who cant see he has his tongue firmly planted in his cheek, well, you need to lighten up a tad…
+10
They poke fun at everything. I guess there are some who can’t handle it. They need to go back to handling what they know and do best… 😉
I really enjoy his style and lets face it, anyone here looking at their videos has already read almost everything there is, so it’s all good fun.
I love digitalrev tv! I think Lok is especially humorous. They’re both funny and entertaining.
Most websites that sale products, and do reviews of said products, are overly positive and boring to hopefully get people to buy from them.
DigitalRev doesn’t do that, and they’re fun too!
I kind of like Digital Review, but only when Kai’s girlfriend appear.
So I can’t consider this review among the best ones I’ve seen so far 😉
I do like Kai as well but this ‘review’ was not one of his better ones. The ‘full-time’ involvement of another ‘actor’ who is not as funny and whose English is not as ‘funny’ probably didn’t help.
(Kai’s English is ‘funny’ because it feels a bit out-of-place in his environment and is quite a contrast to the somewhat bland typical American English.)
Lok isn’t an actor, he’s normally the one filming the show, but he gradually got in front of the camera more and more because he has good chemistry with Kai.
Not just amusing, but soooo cute! I could suggest someplace for him to plant his tongue, not in HIS cheek. . .
In this case, he was funny and he used to be. But lately, he seems to be pushing it so hard the humour does not come naturally. But this one, about the missing GX2 to Gx6 (some weird cult proclaimed them to be unluckky numbers…hihi) was an example with some other remarks. I found it very funny. Taste..
I don’t get why people is so concerned about the look of the cameras. For me, a camera is just a tool, and I prefer designers pay more attencion to ergonomy rather than aestethics. An object well designed and well built is beautiful
No kidding!
I’m much more concerned with HOW a thing works!
Like ANY tool, if it’s not simple, straightforward, transparent and usable… it should nearly disappear and let me just do my work… I won’t use it.
Yeah, but in the E-M1’s case, its a monster of a camera in a bad way. Lok is a known Olympus user. That’s his primary camera, aside from using the MkIII for the DRTV vids. He doesn’t like the E-M1, at all. He has more complaints than likes.
I swear, there must be some kind of photo unity, that doesn’t want Olympus to fail. They don’t want to see one of the old, classic, film camera companies go out of business, so they praise them in order to get sales. But I’m sorry, Olympus had a hit with the E-M5 and now they’re going backwards. They want to milk the E-M5 design, re-use the sony sensor until the Olympus massive complains once again.
Having a legacy is cool and all, but I’m not stupid enough to follow a company blindly, especially Olympus and their foul business practices.
Oh, I can still remember all the whining about the lack of grip on the OMD. And if someone mentioned the addon grip that was available everybody complained why they had to pay extra. Now those people are quiet and content (hopefully) and out come the people that scream… Ooo that ugly grip. Come on. Buy a GX7, e-p5 or whatever and get over it.
The OMD is clearly aimed at the pro market. Put a 300mm FT on it and you will praise Oly for that grip. If you only use mft glass like me I don’t see the reason why u shouldnt buy a EM5. Its cheaper too btw.
I’m no Olympus fanboy but the entire PEN line is amazing and especially the E-P5 is a phenomenal camera.
Before it I had a PEN for convenience and a Nikon DSLR for performance. Since the E-P5 I can get rid off the Nikon because the PEN outperforms it. I find this quite incredible.
No offense dude but to get a Nikon DSLR that is outperformed in image quality by any mFT you have to go pretty far back before 2008 in fact even the 2008 D90 does better than the E-P5. So just what antique Nikon in digital terms did you have that you think is poorer than mFT
http://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Compare-Camera-Sensors/Compare-cameras-side-by-side/%28appareil1%29/883|0/%28brand%29/Olympus/%28appareil2%29/865|0/%28brand2%29/Nikon/%28appareil3%29/814|0/%28brand3%29/Nikon
Nikon APS is well ahead and Nikon FF is even further ahead , in fact when you consider the fact that E-P5 fanboys boast about the 1/8th of a stop better high ISO than the E-M5 they are hugely far ahead lol
I’ll assume that Nikon is well ahead. As a matter of fact, I don’t need to know, much less to start DXO like manhood measurements.
As some blogger wrote and asked the question : how good is good enough? Simple enough. Well not quite, because we never know how good we *will* need and we all tend to overestimate our personal needs. My personal theory is that for something in the vicinity of 90% of the community, the need in IQ and overall performance is well covered by discontinued models of them all: Nikon, Canon, M43, NEX, Pentax and you name it. However, novelties create needs that about 90% of the community allegedly needs. Its the world we are in 🙂
So yes. Nikon outperforms M43, even with 43 glass. Fine. You know what? I won’t argue…
Agree completely.
Who cares if Nikon is a stop ahead or whatever it is. In theory it should be around 2/3 stops anyway given equal technology.
And if you have to go back to 2008 it shows how little progress has been made since then in sensor tech in Nikon (and all other APSC brand) cameras.
As half the people on photography sites measure a camera by its sensor only, it shows how much money they have wasted by buying the latest and greatest.
Quite frankly nobody would have noticed if they’d stuck to their D90.
The time is rapidly approaching when we buy a camera based on its functionality and features only, just like the film days, as all the sensors from 1″ upward will be good enough for most people.
“Who cares if Nikon is a stop ahead or whatever it is. In theory it should be around 2/3 stops anyway given equal technology.”
Canon APS which is smaller than Nikon/Sony/Pentax APS should be 2/3 better the Nikon APS should be.75 stops better which regarding noise it is.With regard to DR,color depth it is actually more than a stop behind which is disappointing.
@jules
Jules,I am a 100% mFT user .My comment was strictly in response to the posters claim that the E-P5 outperforms his Nikon DSLR .To find a Nikon DSLR that is outperformed where it counts in image quality by an E-P5 you would need to go back to 2007.
I get very fed up with the mutual masturbation society posts.That a certain group of typically Olympus users post ad-lib mFT main claim to fame is in it size to performance ratio.mFT serves me perfectly well however that does not mean I have to accept lies that are posted here all the time.There are posters on some mFT forums who make claims that the E-M1 is as good as FF ! which is blatantly ludicrous .
They usually support this with the “good enough” claim you infer about above lol. Which is like saying my ford focus is as fast as a Ferrari as long as you do not go over 70mph
The Ferrari one is the metaphor of the century 😀
It isn’t impossible to design a tool that functions well and looks great, the gx7 and many other cameras prove that. With the amount of time that was spent developing the em1, it feels like it was intentionally designed to be ugly. With a camera especially, a beautiful design is one you are going to want to use more. If your camera doesn’t grab your eye every time you head for the door, then what’s the point in having one of these tiny take-anywhere cameras?
My GH2 is pretty damn homely, but somehow I manage to shoot with it. I like the look of my GX7, but that’s not why I got it.
When I’m heading out the door, I tend to think which lens I’ll mount and what others to carry, rather than the beauty of the camera. Everything else is superfluous.
output is everything, and i dont mean the surplus in IQ, but the character of the format/lens combo.
the asian ken rockwell.. no clue but a big mouth….
don´t know why anyone with 3 braincells left would watch that moron…..
Lighten up Francis
It’s called ‘entertainment’. People should stop being so uptight and take everything personally. I love watching Kai, and yes…I have the E-M1 and I love it.
then they should not call their busllhit “reviews”… the moron does not even know how to hold a camera properly.
and he sure has no clue about taking pictures…
You are just an angry noob, go out and take pictures of wall cracks or what ever it is you call “art”.
You’re the moron who’s upset over a YouTube video!
You are making angry child noises. This is a hobby not kidney transplants.
You are right. I’d much rather see some expert talk about more meaningful things like 200% crops of facial hair. a 4% increase of image quality and several mathematical theorems on how this camera will allow people such as you and I to take better photos than the camera released last year that is basically the same F%$%^^ing camera. Good points Brutha!
They are caricatures of themselves and they know that “stupid” attracts viewers.
Heh, I kept waiting for that guy to drop the E-M1 as he wooshed it around and tried to work 2 handed buttons with no strap on it. At least put a hand strap on, they are $4 for a bag of them!
Bit of fun = waste of time. But it’s kind of refreshing to hear reviewers conclude by saying, “I’ll keep my money.” I considered both these cameras as a replacement for my E-M 5, and I’m leaning toward the same conclusion as Kai.
Same here 🙂 just started having loads of fun with livetime bulb mode and experimenting with flashes. There is still so much to learn, instead of lusting after new gear …
@Ranger9 I needed a second m43 body and I bought Em1. Being not interested in video at all, I was already going toward Em1 instead of Gx7.
If you don’t need a second body, be happy with Em5, these are my 2 cents.
Yeah, I wouldn’t trade my OM-5 for either of these cameras, unless I got the GX7 for its better video (although it’s crippled there, too, because of no mic port). Not any real gain in stills ability, especially if you shoot RAW. I have GH2/3 bodies to cover video. Although it’s subjective, I like the looks of the GX7 better, but, again, I have a GH3 if I want to look professional – if that word can be used in the context of m4/3.
Interesting to note they compare the latest and best from P&O as closer in specs with higher rez EVF and WiFi connect ability and built in larger grips than EM5. As noted their comments are very subjective and based on personal preferences as after all both these cameras are very very good. I wouldn’t place too much emphasis on weatherproofing as a camera is no better than its weakest link and most m4/3 lenses are not waterproofed at present except for a few very expensive ones. Most cameras these days are built to withstand rain but not even the EM1 is designed for water submergence and both cameras come with sturdy magnesium steel alloy chassis and bodies. If I didn’t already have way too many cameras, I would love to have either camera with the GM1 as a companion carry around camera.
Why does every review mentioned “freezeproof” but never elaborate on what it means?
I tend to enjoy Kai’s videos. This one was also funny, yet at the same time there was very little to learn from it. Ok, they may think the GX7 is good looking and the E-M1 ugly. And Kai’s friend is a designer, which proves that he knows what he is talking about…
—
In continuous shooting, the E-M1 performed well at 10fps — according to the video. But then, it was claimed that the GX7 could shoot at 40fps virtually producing 16Mpx movies! Really? Of course, the Panasonic manuals are not very clear on this, but isn’t the 40fps at a reduced resolution? Some 5Mpx or around that? In http://www.wexphotographic.com/blog/panasonic-gx7-announced-new-csc-with-tiltable-viewfinder-revealed, it is stated “The Panasonic GX7′s burst mode is set to 5fps at its standard setting, which drops to 4.2fps when AF tracking is enabled. And, when such speeds are deemed to be too slow, this can be boosted up to 40fps at a reduced resolution.” Still, it seems difficult to find the real specs…
—
In any way, funny video, but basically lots of uninteresting claims on design, price, etc, and several factual errors. On price: Arguments are in line with “oh, a Tata has 4 wheels and a Lexus has 4 wheels, so why should the Lexus cost more than the Tata?”
—
So, Kai’s concept is funny at the outset, but it seems to get stale. Do I say this because I am disappointed about his take on the E-M1? Not really. I would think the same if he made a similar presentation of the Df. Or if he laughed at the price of the D4 in comparison to that of the 6D, etc.
—
In summary, for me Kai’s reviews are on the verge of getting boring. 🙂
To me, the GX7 is just a Olympus Pen knock off.
Yeah, only to you and the rest of the Olympus Defense Force…
Yes, done right!
+1
😀
The E-M1 is better in the same way that tanks are better over cars. Ugly, rugged but somehow comforting. Won’t win you any style points on your way to theatre though 😉
Tanks…unnecessarily expensive, unwieldy/impractical, and overkill 99% of the time?
Two points about Kai style.
* You’ll notice that he speaks a v. good English, in fact British English for an Asian. Just compare to his buddy who is probably more like the average Chinese.
This of course allows him understatement and humour, which other reviewers don’t have, having to be more literal.
* he gives away his attitude, mentioning twice ‘hipsters’, and treating cameras as if they were ways of dressing, fashion statements. Probably for his age bracket. moneyed youngsters, this is at least as important as the camera’s features.
Success in m4/3 is largely due to Asians, to women and youngsters so the criteria of the Western aging (male) population are different and less relevant.
So for a hipster the GX7 is better, probably because it creates more consensus in his age group.
Features between cameras not being so different, that might be the winning argument after all.
And so ease of use is also a v. important criteria, where, alas, Olympus has not yet reached the best standards.
So you see, even in a lighthearted, understated review, some real elements come to the forefront.
What do you earn by listening to a list of features, if you don’t know how pleasant in use is a camera in daily life?
Note that I will stick to my E-M5, but it took me a loong time to get comfortable with it. Some might never have done it.
Also sticking with the EM-5, although I’d love any excuse to buy another. Unfortunately the EM-1, wonderful though it may be, is too big and too heavy for the format, and I have no need for regular 4/3 capability… EM-1 is essentially the same size as a 135-format Sony A7 (and the about the same price as well). The GX-7 or EM-5 are about as large as I can see getting in this small format, but would welcome some EM-1 tech in an EM-6.
Yes, indeed. What I am curious to see id if the ‘E-M6’ will have PDAF-on-sensor too. Or if Oly will chose a two tier solution like Sony.
Having built in HDR,Time Lapse, and colour director expected. If they keep the size small, it would give more choice in the range.
E-M1 is too big and to heavy?? It’s barely bigger than the E-M5. And for anyone who uses the optional grip with the E-M5 it’s actually smaller and lighter. In general the handling is a million times better. The buttons are placed much more sensibly. There’s direct button access to most settings for quick and easy changes.
Having handled the A7 (briefly) I found the ergonomics to pretty much totally suck.
Yes, the EM-1 is most definitely larger and heavier than the EM-5, and hence too big and too heavy for the micro 4/3 format. You give up ultimate quality for smallness- that’s the compromise.
If I have to give up smallness, no sense to compromise on quality. Hence, there are larger format cameras the same size as the EM-1.
And that opens up an entire door for Nikon and Canon DSLRs offering a larger format and two kit zooms and a built-in flash and better image quality for half the price of an EM-1 body alone.
I don’t wish to open the door here to yet another debate. In my opinion the EM-5 and the GX-7 is the high point of justifying the existence of the micro 4/3 format: the perfect balance of price, features, size. I don’t wish to go larger, or if I must I jump a format or two.
Behold the new E-M10!
Just a note….
The GX7 is NOT the competition for the EM1, rather they should be putting it up against the GH3…you know, the very FIRST ever magnesium alloy, weather sealed pro quality micro 4/3 camera, which has been selling extremely well for the past year now…
The GX7 appeals to the same folks to who would be interested in the E-P5. The EM1 is more for those who would rather go for the GH3.
And just to head it off at the pass, before it becomes troll fodder, remember that the GH3 has the exact same 16mp Sony sensor as do many of the Pens, EM5, and is darn close to what they put into the EM1. It’s not just a great video camera, it can shoot stills just as good as any Olympus camera. And I say that as an Olympus “fan boy.”
FWIW….
— Olympius
Im asian and i dont understand what Lok was trying to say most of the time…
They should get another guy to be Kai’s sidekick.
Actually if DigitalRev is supposed to be the zenith of camera reviews it does it’s job rather well: only nerds buy cameras, correction: only SOME nerds from China/Japan buy cameras. The rest of the world just uses their smartphones. Actually I correct again: even in China/Japan only nerds use cameras. Global conclusion: cameras are for old people and nerds 😛
I might just pick up a used DSLR for holiday landscapes other than that cameras are DEAD (except for the pro market, a friend of mine is a pro photographer and of course he needs the good stuff)
This is disturbingly insightful.
Troll
I kind of like Lok and his Chinese accent is rather charming I think. I agree that it’s hard to understand what he’s saying sometimes. It would be nice if he speaks slower and works on his pronunciation. I suggest Kai teaches him a trick or two.
I usually really enjoy DigitalRev videos but stopped watching this one after about 20 seconds. They had completely written off both cameras before they even started comparing them.
“Ridiculously overpriced for mirrorless”
“Made in China”
Not happy with DigitalRev and I think they get worse and worse every video. These cameras deserve better.
The thing that annoys me about DRTV is that they don’t take the time to get to know the camera anymore. Actually, a lot of people here are like that too. Bash the hell out of a camera without even ever touching it. Not all features are created equal. It seems like the trend now is to look at a camera’s spec sheet and trash it if it doesn’t sound too impressive. “Oh EM1 is still 16MP and costs $1400, what a rip off!!” I used to have an EM5 and the upgrade was well worth it for me. Better EVF, better IBIS, no AA filter, better build quality and sealing, better handling, more customizable and most importantly the Raw files are so malleable! The raw files are just amazing to work with. I could keep going but that’s already enough for me to justify the price. I have a D800E as well and I HATE using it. I have the 24-70mm 2.8 and 35mm 1.4. It takes a lot of work to make use of that sensor. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an awesome sensor, but besides that I don’t really like anything about that camera. Maybe people are just uncomfortable with a smaller sensor camera with a PRO label on it. At $1400 it’s still cheaper than a decent lens for a FF frame camera. And as far as look goes, when I first saw the EM1 I was like UGH. But now that I see it person with the 12-40 2.8 attached, it’s gorgeous. My 25mm 1.4 looks pretty sweet on it too. I don’t need to justify my purchase in any way but it makes me sad to think that so many people might get dissuaded from trying such an amazing camera because there is so much BS online to filter through. Can we go back to comparing photographic skills and not camera specs?! I’m seeing so many fresh out-of-college photographers that don’t know how a lick about composition but think they need a MKIII or a D800. Stop polluting the well!
Sorry about this question, but In which town the video review takes place?
Hongkong?
Yes, it’s Hong Kong, you can see Nathan Rd and the fashion boutiques at the ground floor of the Peninsula Hotel (check at 2:56).
Once again a good and funny review. Kai is spot on as usual.These are good M43 camera’s but very very expensive for a M43. To expensive for what you get. The EM1 is butt ugly and the GX7 looks good. The performance is about the same. GX7 is clearly the winner but still to expensive. These kind of camera’s should cost about 500 euro.
But the M43 lovers over here won’t see the truth. They are lovestruck and only crying about Kai. Nobody with a pair of brains is going to buy these M43 camera’s. For example you could get a NEX6 or FUJI XE1 for about 600 euro. These camera’s will blow any M43 camera away in picture Performance.
Yes M43 is nice but they just can not compete with APSC or FF. So please Oly and Pani get real and give us small and cheap camera’s or make some decent APSC or FF camera’s for those high prices.
Oh someone still wait for their Fuji to focus. Sigh… how sad. Btw how do you get a pair of brains? Just get lost trash.
quangzizi
Why are you so mad?
Anyone who thinks like you think should buy what you buy. Anyone else who thinks differently should buy somehting different. For whatever reason. The truth is just one variable. And it is so inconsistent you can better rely on your own erroneous thinking. So it is a GX7 for me.