It’s time to talk about the direct E-M5 successor. While we are all waiting to get some rumors about the possible specs let us all know what you are hoping for:
No, what the anti-shock setting does is close the shutter and cuts off liveview. After the delay, the exposure proceeds to open the shutter – expose – and closes. The initial opening for the exposure is still a problem.
Electronic first curtain remove the need to close the shutter before the shot. It is closed only after. Two advantages:
* less wear on the shutter
* no vibration
I’d actually love to see the return of articulating screens to the Oly lineup on at least one model. They’re simply more versatile and are also an easy solution to protect your screen. Does no one shoot vertically from low angles anymore?
Yes, that’s one of the very, very few disadvantages even the E-M1 still has compared to the E-30. Not being able to freely tilt *and* swivel the screen really makes me feel kind of handicapped. After being used to working with the tilt-only display of the E-330, at first it felt slightly awkward having to fold out the screen sideways when I bought the E-30, but I’ll definitely miss it if and when I switch to the E-M1.
yes, but a imagine rather an absolutely new system : the camera is always held horizontally, but the sensor can be used horizontally OR vertically, thanks to a new form : a 4/4 square which allows 4/3 or 3/4 or even 3.5/3.5 ! the non used part of the screen or viewer would be free for the infos !
How do you explain then that every singular camera (let speak about the APS-C ones) with 14 bit/color has a greater color depth (and almost always wider dynamic range) than the 12 bit/color counterparts ?
With reference to removing the 5-axis stabilisation noise – if you have v1.7 firmware it only does it when the IBIS is activated i.e. on half-shutter press. I’d rather have a popup flash.
What I find interesting in this list are the least desired items.
Bigger body, Hybrid VF, Bigger sensor a most interesting list ‘at present’.
My choice, On sensor PD, No AA filter and 4+ Mp VF; but then I’m waiting for my E-M1 to partner my E-M5. An E-620 will, and a Pen might, go.
There is little wrong with the E-M5. The only important improvements (to me) would have to do with ergonomics (button layout) and video (25p support). Actually, the E-M5 is the mirrorless version of the D700 in the sense that it will remain a compelling package for a long time. It’s probably useful in more situations than any other camera currently on the market.
That is true and I will use mine for shure for a few years from now, if I manage to not break it 🙂
Nevertheless it is interesting what comes next and maybe with only improvements and no draw backs it will be the same for the next model.
I never really found the need to the tiny flash anyways because typically its either underpowered or would just cast shadows on lenses ie 12-35 kind of sizes.. even the 12-50 which it came with… it rarely comes in handy except if i want ttl trigerring of my fl36.. I don’t think a built in pop up flash would change those 2 factors too much.
instead of a em-6 i’d like a firmware update for the em-5 with focus peaking and all the goodies possible. –the focus peaking trick using the art filter is ok but still
+1
From day 1 on, there were some firmware options in the E-M5 that have never been improved…
So next time I will buy an Olympus camera, it has to be perfect right from the start, because hoping for Olympus firmware updates is senseless.
In the E-M1 for example, the focus point indicator still disappears in C-AF, a clear and annoying firmware bug that probably will never be fixed.
Sneye hits the nail on the head there. Better ergonomics, better video. And to be honest I don’t really mind about those. It would be nice to have the same viewfinder as EM1 too, but frankly the EM5 is just brilliant as it is, it would take a huge jump for me to upgrade.
The most useful thing about a built-in flash is the ability to control off-camera flashes, saving having to buy one just for that. Built-in radio control for new radio-controlled flashes would be much better, of course…
PAL framerates and a much better video encoder would be on my list.
But the control facility provided by the flash can still be performed perfectly well by the add on mini-flash provided with OM-Ds, and EVF would get far more use.
(Although I will confess when I found the GH3 Service Menu one thing I noticed was “Flash Actuations – 0”, so decided I should fire it off to make sure it works. Oh, and no, I haven’t used it since either… Then again I use my Canon cameras for Flash work as I prefer their system for that.)
They can be made more powerful, E-5 had GN15 flash. They can be made bounceable ( L1 flash for example ). It’s the manufacturers that make them useless in order to force us to buy external flashes.
Try taking a picture of your friends/family inside a dimly lit restaurant where the lightning source is behind them. No matter the lens, you can:
a) take a nice picture of the lamp and lots of dark faces
b) use flash to brighten the shadows and make the most of such bad lightning
c) tell your your friends/family to move the table so you can make a good photo 🙂
Finally someone that knows enough about photography to understand how bad in-body-flash is. Thank you for bringing the reason to this conversation. And as comments below already explained the included flash is only to control external flashes. Any direct flash makes image flat and full of amateur shadows.
As for improvements for new camera either E-M6 or E-M2:
Fully articulating screen is a must for convenience but also for perfect screen protection when stowed away in your bag. Also continuous improvement of focusing speed when using FF 4/3 lenses. The only reason we stay with the system is because we build collection of system lenses and when performance of that system is lagging behind new M 4/3 lenses you then consider if it is even worth starting over to invest in new lenses when in few years they may decide to use different system. E-M1 improved tremendously on usability of FF 4/3 lenses but there is still much room for improvement.
Nobody is saying that built-in flash, by itself, produces beautiful results, but you can use it for fill-flash, as a remote controller and for snapshots in a dark place.
BTW, the Fuji X100 does a beautiful fill with the built-in flash.
Oly4Life
“….Fully articulating screen is a must for convenience but also for perfect screen protection when stowed away in your bag. Also continuous improvement of focusing speed when using FF 4/3 lenses. The only reason we stay with the system is because we build collection of system lenses and when performance of that system is lagging behind new M 4/3 lenses you then consider if it is even worth starting over to invest in new lenses when in few years they may decide to use different system. E-M1 improved tremendously on usability of FF 4/3 lenses but there is still much room for improvement.”
I agree, but would have preferred a E-7 with optical finder.
Have been using E-M1 since Oct 2nd. Using 12-60mm, 50-200mm, and other lenses, but the MF-3 adapter doesn’t feel like it is going to last long (alum construction). The 12-50 is too small compared to 12-60 (which I find to be very comfortable and longer focal length with the E-M1). Just received a call that my 12-40 is in. Have high hopes for that one, but feel it is a compromise in focal length for a smaller size.
Had a homecoming parade, tailgaters and football game in a light rain the whole day. The E-M1 with the 90-250mm was a dream (actually focus almost as fast as E5). Never covered it up in plastic, it got wet but still works three weeks later.
none of these features ! what I want is:
– Better sensor performances (noise, DR, etc…)
– Bigger view finder like E-M1
– Maybe phase AF for continous AF, if it works well but I can live without that
I agree with everything you listed JF, and also no AA filter. These changes are so doable and reasonable. This would make the EM5 an even better stills camera.
upgrade from yep,..with new sensor DR and ISO improvement that would be a REAL upgrade from E-M5,.plus the Phase Detec -AF ,.but also don’t forget the 1/8000 max SS and base low ISO 100 or maybe 50,.Time lapse 999 frame,.and affordable price
+1
-upgrade the IQ quality (dynamic range, automatic CA corrections…)
-add the EVF from E-M1 (in terms of magnification, refresh rate…)
-refine metal body construction and dials/buttons and better grip (but stay with the modularity of additional big grip on a flat body)
-update the shutter speed up to 1/8000s with nice soft shutter sound 😉
New must have feasible feature for near future advanced m43 bodies:
– Full swivel LCD (please Oly!!!)
– 14 bit RAW files
– 1080 50/60p video
– real ISO 100
– C1/C2 custom setting on the top dial
(all of this is disappointingly missing on the E-M1 imho)
– menu option for on/off embedding all set of lens correction in RAW (CA included) for both Oly/Pana lenses
Desired features borrowed/enhanced from current E-M1 / GM1:
– PDAF on sensor for faster AF in single and better tracking in continuous
– E-M1 viewfinder
– Pana electronic shutter mode for zero vibration/silent shoot/timelapse
OT now but long term very desired features:
– global shutter with electronic shutter only (YES!) up to 1/16000 (and crazy X-sync too)
– any sort of sensor technology improvement (micro splitter, Foveon, X-trans, organic or so on)
– 1:1 (yes, multi aspect ratio sensor return) option in RAW
The E-M1 is the only m43 camera with C-AF that works and I think it would be difficult to sell many E-M6s if it didn’t also come with C-AF (no doubt Olympus will improved upon their “first draft” of the E-M1’s implementation). (second side note: the E-PL7 and E-PM3 will probably get “C-AF that works” too)
Effective marketing, price points and distribution are still pressing matters for Olympus.
This list is a joke! Would you seriously upgrade your E-M5 for a new model with 20Mpx sensor or improved EVF? The key feature that pused me to upgrade were the 2EV steps difference from the new sensor to the previous one from Panasonic. I think 16Mpx and 12EV dinamic range steps are fine for me and I wont be upgrading my camera unless I see something similar, lets say a new 14EV sensor, not just high Mpx count or any other fancy upgrade 😛
Not really, the peak DR for OM-D does not exceed 12.5 Evs, whereas the entry level APS-C Nikon D5200 provides 13.9 Evs. I would say (from my experience), for the comfortable shooting landscape 13 Evf is a minimum. When M43 provides 14 Evs, it it will be the Rubicon into the professional world.
I see what you are saying Marco but I bet you no longer spend hours in front of your monitor getting that gorgeous B&W look in your images. Those changes that you apply are already locked in a ‘micro instruction’ where a few clicks of the mouse run a whole list of instructions (on a series of images and not just the one).
Only my two penneth.
Fully articulated lcd
Built in flash
Improved menu organisation
Lower price
Maybe improved aesthetics, though not a high priority
Wow, a 4+ megapixel EVF? That would be quite a jump from the current 0.79MP!
(For anyone who isn’t paying attention, we’re talking about pixels, not that stupid ‘dots’ BS. ‘Dots’ is a retarded way of saying ‘subpixels’, which in most cases is equal to 3x the number of pixels.)
It will be interesting to see how Oly handles the new situation: There are FF mirrorless cameras available, not much more expensive than the EM1.
Even more interesting: How will buyers react? The EM1 is maybe a better photo making machine compared to Sony A7? (Never used any of them, just my assumption.) How many need/want to pay for the extra image quality from FF sensor?
Is m43 system solid enough not to loose market share to FF mirrorless? Personally I think it is. But I believe Oly/Pana will need to lower prices on their high end cameras.
Note: I am NOT a m43ista – use a D800 as main system and etremely happy with what it delivers. Unsure about which second, more candid, system to go for and a return to m43 is not impossible.
I’ve just had the E-M1 a few days, and haven’t touched the new Sony’s, but so far, compared to the EM5 and GH2 it is a dream camera.
Is it prefect, no.. but so far I’m so glad I made the switch from em5. The vf, pdaf and controls just feel so great. Haven’t enjoyed a camera this much since the d700.
I also got a fuji x100 since people said it gives it close to x100s performance with new firmware. Urgh, I do find it intriguing, and I love the ef-x20 flash with a ttl cable (Olympus, you should do this!) But I still find myself fighting it half the time, with exposures all over the place in a mode, and focus still sometimes hit and miss. Plus, it’s so slow…
I don’t think 4+ Megapixel EVF possible in the near future that 12m dot,
current EVF only 2.4m dot about 0.8 Megapixel.
I would like to see 2 Megapixel Bigger EVF equal to FF OVF,120 FPS and better low light performance will be perfect
1) integrated Flash
2) Auto Panorama stitching (Olympus, what are you waiting for?)
3) Auto stitch of moved picture in one picture!
(like the basketball player which they already have in their adverteising…)
4) finger touch of the menu (like Panasonic)
5) WiFi to PC/MAC
6) stylisher silver look
Another vote here for a better ISO 100 and not just a fiddled hobbled reduced dynamic range ISO 200.
Come on Oly. You make some nice fast primes and it’s time to give users a body to match. Wide apertures aren’t just for low light. Time for a body with a max shutter speed of 1/8000 and a very good ISO 100 if not 50 too that’ll enable users to use wide aperture primes and leave the ND’s at home.
No Touch screen and no lcd,
only evf, built in, optional OVF/EVF.
mic imput and audio levels control,
Detachable Grip as EPL-5
SDK for creating new apps.
open firmware
Dual Sd cards.
lots of buttons and dials.
articulating flash.
very retro look, similar to the ep5
Automatic in-camera correction of chromatic aberration for any m43 alliance lens.
My old D90 already has this (for its range of lenses of course).
Also would be nice to have semi-raw: all the corrections, but no compression.
Black and white only with a higher bit depth tif output (but that’s really really low on my list)
1. A multi-aspect ratio sensor for full support of the 3:2 dSLR ratio without just chopping the top and bottom off of the 4:3 rectangle. (Yeah, I know that’s never going to happen because even Panasonic gave up on that in their GH line.
If it’s as good as the Em 1, you’ll be very happy. I’ve had my Em 1 for about 4 days now. It’s absolutely incredible — especially when paired with the Panasonic 25mm 1.4 and the Olympus 60mm 2.8 macro. All I want to do is go around taking pictures…
Nothing on the list for me. In fact there are a few things really important for photographer on it. For me I still miss distance scale and DOF visible in displays. It’s a very important thing for landscape photographers, especially when we miss it on our lenses.
Olympus won’t make any of the components themselves, anyway. Now they just buy everything in from Sony, Epson, Sigma, etc. What an absolute joke of a company they are have become! I guess they are too busy engaging in corporate fraud to actually build their own cameras. Even the vacuum manufacturer Panasonic is a far more authentic camera maker now. RIP THE REAL (AND FORMALLY GREAT) OLYMPUS OF OLD (when they used to design and build the best 35mm cameras about, not this small sensored, outsourced junk).
That’s right. Only buy from AUTHENTIC camera manufacturers! They need to make the sensor themselves, and the equipment the sensor is made on, and the silicon for the die, and the sand for the silicon, and the very rock that the sand came from. Same for the body, an AUTHENTIC manufacturer would mine the magnesium salts, process them into magnesium, and then, but only then, die-cast it into parts for the camera body. On molding machines that have been made and designed by that company of course. Same for little plastic buttons: drilling equipment, crude oil drilling, refining, polymer production, injection molding machines.. And let’s not talk about lenses… Sand, glass, … All those salts that are vapor deposited to make AR coatings… THAT is what an AUTHENTIC camera company would be experts in and spend their rTHAT is what an AUTHENTIC camera company would be experts inesources on. Not bullshit like image stabilization, autofocus, sensor integration, lens design or camera handling.
I would really like to see a smaller size, not bigger. I want a light weight MFT camera with a view finder and all the performance of a pro-camera. If I wanted bigger, I could just buy a DSLR. The whole reason I invested in the MFT platform is because I wanted smaller and lighter. So I really hope the E-M6 is smaller and lighter than the E-M5 but just as great a camera.
Accidentally I clicked on your profile and… discovered really beautiful pictures! How do you PP them? It is not a simple BW conversion, right?
Have a great time and light 🙂
I used LR5 for most of them and tweaked from there. I like high contrast and very strong shadows (noise as well, depends on the mood I am at) but not many people like it.
I can create a preset when I get home and send it to you via email or something.
I use the histogram and matrix metering to do the exposure, it helps a TON!
My asks:
1) Electronic first-curtain shutter
2) Exposure comp in M mode with Auto-ISO enabled
3) On sensor PDAF
4) another customizable function button or two on the front
Plus other improvements already seen in other models:
— Mysets on control dial
— 1/8000 and ISO 100
— Better EVF
— Focus peaking
— No AA filter
— Wifi
How about improving the quality of your products, Olympus? How about a commitment to improve customer service especially if you want to support “pro” gear? These changes would have a bigger impact on your bottom line than any new products.
My EM-5 is still at Olympus because of the sticky shutter problem. The eye piece fell off within a week. My FL-300R was recalled for potential overheating.
Interesting comment, any issues I’ve had with an Olympus camera have been dealt with in a very quick manner (never more than a week). While a now ancient Minolta rangefinder was never truly repaired by Minolta for a faulty Flash trigger and an early Nikon DSLR which had an exposure issue (it was inconsistant) was never fixed as Nikons lab found no problem yet one of their technicians (after using it with my authority) agreed that there was an exposure issue with that body.
Seems this quite depends on where exactly you are on this planet… I had a similar experience as you did, through it took a little longer then a week due to limited availability at the time, they simply replaced my camera after receiving 3 example pictures demonstrating the problem, no questions asked, no fuzz whatsoever. Second case concerned the known display bezel issue, again quick return, no questions asked, but ‘issue’ fixed.
However, I have heard enough problem stories from some of my friends in the USA to realize that it doesn’t always work out like that, especially not overthere, especially cameras spending lots and lots of time in ‘internal shipment’ now that Olympus centralized and actually outsourced their repairs.
One not on the list is size. I’d like to see it a bit smaller with a heavy emphasis on button placement and button feel. By being slightly smaller I think it would better differentiate itself from the EM-1.
That and if Oly can get their act together with a high quality high bitrate video implementation I’d add the E-M5II as a second body to my beloved E-M1.
I presume new EM-5 would have all the upgrades from EP-5/EM-1: last generation EVF, sensor & IBIS, 1/8000 shutter, wi-fi connectivity, focus peaking.
+ for best adventure camera:
– solution to viewfinder cup & hotshoe cap loosing syndrome
– Better ergonomics & buttons without going bigger (Same additional grip philosophy)
+ best video camera:
– 25p (!!!)& better codecs
– focus peaking while shooting video with legacy lenses!
– Cdaf+Pdaf for easy video continuous tracking
+ best legacy lens camera
– internal ND filter
– Focus peaking again
The EM-5 is brilliant, but a couple of changes are absolutely essential. A fully articulated screen. A more accessible location of the cable release socket.
These would be a bonus. 50ISO. A couple of customizable buttons on the front. Lighter weight. Sames price as EM-5.
Why not take this opportunity to make the EM-5 successor (EM-6) the video-orientated camera line from Olympus??
Reasons: -The EM1 is the flagship line for “Still Photographers” and is doing excellent at addressing their needs. – The PEN line is an excellent choice for enthusiasts or families wanting a blend of great features at a lower price. Enter the EM-5 (6) line- a chance to address the growing market of video enthusiasts/indie filmmakers who want a truly hybrid system that is portable, has great glass, and gives professional quality video results! IMHO This makes an overall clearer choice for customers which line best suits their needs and why pricing will be where it is depending on the line.
My necessities to purchase the EM 6 without hesitation:
+ improved bit rates that match at least those of the GH3
+ strong codec like Pro Res (learn from BM)
+ mic and headphone input WITH audio monitoring
+ hdmi out for live monitoring on external screen during recording
+ 24p, 30p, 60p and even tho it doesn’t effect me in the US…the PAL countries deserve support too!! (25/50p)
Not necessities but hopefuls:
+ Use a less pronounced grip (kinda like the Sony A7) on the EM 6 to keep it’s design less DSLR-ish (just personal preference) I personally liked being able to choose between having my grip on or not with the EM 5
+ But take quality of buttons and knobs from EM 1
+ Global shutter would be amazing
+ RAW video would be cool option but again not truly practical at the moment
+ Improved Dynamic Range
+ Probably a few other minor things I can’t think of right now
– DON’T FRET about Panny doing a 4K camera, most people don’t need anywhere near that anytime in the near future! It will keep your cost lower than them too! Plus NO AMAZING IBIS!
-DON’T FRET just yet about Sony, even if they DO get IBIS from you…they’ve got a lot of catch up work to do with glass, they will be more expensive, they’re still using AVCHD codec, and there are still compelling reasons to want a Micro 4/3’s system.
What Olympus accomplished with IBIS in video mode gave people a taste of what a truly portable hybrid system could be like (no tripods, no steadicam necessary) now if they can only follow through on that teaser and give people professional quality video that can go actually go with them anywhere…IMHO it could be a truly massive success! Imagine the possibilities!
Long time reader of this blog – First time comment – Apologies for the long rant
How can they improve on the EM-5, without getting into the way of the EM-1? If all the improvements of the EM-1 are in the EM-6 and then some, who will buy the EM-1??
I fear we might not get as much as everyone hopes. And if that is true, who will buy a slightly upgraded EM-5?
Well it won’t have the Pro body and control like E-M1 so that will be the major difference. Olympus from time to time have lower model surpass the upper model on some features (E-pl1/e-pl2> E-P2 etc)
I feel PDAF is only worth it for 43 lenses so I would resurve that for the top camera! – CDAF for the m43 lenses is very good and tracking with a bit of clever work could be as good as PDAF soon…
3 areas I would love to see improved in the EM5mkII:
“and tracking with a bit of clever work could be as good as PDAF soon…”
Not with using CDAF.
The reason is really very simple: CDAF does not and cannot know how far away a subject is, it can only try if it is in focus by racking focus back and forth. There are clever tricks that can minimize this, but there exist no clever tricks that can prevent this simply because the information needed for preventing this is not available and the system has to guess this information. No matter how good it gets at guessing (and there are a few nice tricks relating to size for example), its still a guess and bound to be wrong every so often.
That means continuous AF implemented with CDAF will always have some tendency to ‘wobble’, how much depends, but it cannot be eliminated completely.
This is somewhat of an issue for still images, as it will cause a higher number of out of focus images or more unpredictable delay before images are taken, and it is very visible in video.
The solution doesn’t have to be PDAF, there are alternative ways to get the proper information, but it is impossible to solve completely with CDAF as it cannot provide the required information.
I just though of something: If all new pro-lenses are waether sealed, and the other lenses are not (the 12-50 being the only non-pro weather sealed lens if i am not mistaking (is the 60 macro pro or not?)), what would the benefit be of maintaining a weather sealed body which is not targeted at the pro user?
This would position the EM-1 clearly above the EM-6 with the better body quality and weather sealing and take the EM-6 down a notch by removing weather sealing.
I’m not sure what Olympus will come up with that doesn’t step on the Em1’s toes. What I really want is a better EM1.
Fully articulated side hinged LCD
PDAF on sensor + video
Focus Peaking in video
Bigger buffer
Better viewfinder
Popup flash (I actually do want this as a little flash can be nice without having to carry anything else)
Higher bitrate 1080p video (40+ Mbps)
Wifi
I want a camera with no video capabilities at all. Only stills, with proper dials for every basic option (exposure compensation, ISO, shutter speed). Simple menu à la Leica or à la Ricoh GR, aimed at photographers. No art filters. Only. Pure. Photography.
Yes, but coming from OM heritage I’d like it small and compact (as Em5 already is), high quality built, made to last. Nikon Df is just a dinosaur: I love the controls (at first sight), I love the fact that it’s purely a still camera, I don’t like size, weight, humongous lenses, clunchy shutter sound, mirror.
Most of what’s on that list is not important to me.
GPS is all I really, REALLY REEEAAAALLLYYY want. It’s on every phone and pocket camera by now, why not on “real” cameras? Don’t need anything fancy just geotag the damn photos already! It’s so BASIC!
No more video crap, MORE than enough as it is. Why don’t those who want video buy a dedicated VIDEO cam?
Better evf? Sure but not enough to upgrade for me
Better battery life? Again, sure, but not enough to upgrade for me
Wifi? Yeah, why not, could be useful (but it is NOT a good alternative for a proper GPS)
1. New sensor, maybe of the organic type that are in development around the place. Better dynamic range, 100 base ISO, lower noise.
2. Fully controllable bracketing options. Let us decide what we want to do. For example, 1,2,3,7,9 whatever brackets, what ev spacing we want, allow us to put in a delay trigger 2sec or 10sec, and then after the delay, take all the shots, automatically, with no further shutter triggers required…so so simple please do it!
3. Same size form factor, I like my Em5 because of it’s size most of all!
4. New menu interface, utilise the touch screen more, allow us to use the screen to navigate and set our options just by swiping and pressing.
5. Built in wifi, this is a given these days.
6. Small built in pop up flash. Ever seen what the Fujifilm X-F1 has? Little switch, little flash, works surprisingly well.
7. Would love some sort of distance calculation in the viewfinder/on screen. If the sensor had pdaf this maybe an option? Show the distance to the focus point. Knowing when you are focused at a certain distance would allow easy setup for zone focusing, street style shooting.
Why do so many people want what the E-M1 is?? Oh, and EVERYBODY wants a cheaper price.
To be honest, I chose 4+ MP EVF (not sure if this means bigger in size in general or just a higher resolution. I’m more after a bigger sized one, without lowering the resolution) Button Layout (not improved, I quite like the E-M5 but different) and WiFi capabilities.
What is a sony advanced LCD system. Can’t find any search reference in the first page so it must be totally unimportant.
Ovf? OVF? OVF?? why? ’cause fuji has one’ OVF will die along with the mirror. Unless its a real rangefinder.
Olympus needs to remember that the advantage of this powerful system is the lenses. For me it’s the bright lenses. So what Oly need? Unfortunately none of these are in the list:
a) ISO 50 & 100
b) Shutterspeed 8000 (preferably 16,000)
c) Focus peaking (many have mentioned)
d) Global shutter for virtually silent shooting
Other prefernces maybe more fit for E-M2
d) EVF magnification 0.8x
e) E-1 m43 variant
i) Viewfinder on the left side instead of the middle. Allows for thicker grip and still plenty of room for big lenses. The current thin grip means I curl my fingers at an angle
f) LCD on top with settings so a quick glance I can change settings quickly without looking at EVF or rear LCD
Make it a no-compromise still photo camera. Don’t compromise it with PDAF in the sensor. Don’t compromise it with sensor or other designs necessary for better video. Just update it with these features:
– 20MP sensor with no AA filter and higher IQ than everything else in M43
– ISO 100 (and if necessary to do so, forget ISO 12800, or higher ISO)
– 1/8000 sec
– VF-4 spec EVF
– small AF box and other firmware improvements
– bigger built-in grip
– Focus Peaking
– Built-in flash
– 2 SD card slot
– centred tripod mount
– better positioned and larger buttons, dials, controls
And don’t bother putting in PDAF (they can buy the E-M1), no need to have higher res video or bitrate (go and buy a proper videocam). Don’t do anything else, just keep the price low, like $999.
And don’t listen to those who keeping asking for better video. They make a lot of noise everywhere but they are definitely a very small minority of buyers of this camera.
I agree with most of your thoughts on what’s needed. In particular the bit about video. Add 25/50, yes, that’s sensible but any more. No.
The brilliant technical brains who tell us its already there just enable it (for all their weird and wonderful ideas) don’t seem to have any real idea on what is involved, cost, hardware, software and so on. They want to have a full productive RED?
But as they keep saying its all in the em5 already, just make it work. Yes? No. Look at the price difference.
Pushing the pixel density past the current 16 MP would be difficult. Notice the 24 MP of the Nikon/Sony APS-C sized sensor (roughly the same density, yes?) used in the D7100 is a bit noisy. It may take a while to provide better sensors for all formats.
A bigger grip/bigger battery would probably be quite useful (for the E-M1 also), along with the enhanced viewfinder and 1/8000th of a second shutter from the E-M1.
Do you know that the RX100’s sensor is already 20MP and it is nearly half the size of the M43 sensor? and that it’s IQ is really nice and not affected by the high MP per unit area?
– Better EVF
– GPS
– Proper implementation of custom modes
– Better battery life (perhaps by increasing the grip on RHS to accomodate a bigger battery?)
– Ditch the weather-sealing and magnesium frame – go plastic for lighter and cheaper.
– Less gimmicky kit lens that doesn’t try to do everything and look like a chipolata.
Frankly, I don’t even see the need for an em5 replacement. It’s the pen series that have been totally leapfrogged by the gx7/gm1. What olympus should be doing (but probably will not) is to replicate the features (particularly the 5 axis ibis and weather sealing) and controls (particularly the dedicated dials and direct access controls) of the em1 into 1) a rangefinder body with the same evf as the em1 (to challenge the gx1, not to mention the fuji xe2) and 2) a tiny lightweight body (to challenge the gm1). But even more than that it needs to develop a few good pancake lenses, starting with a retractable standard zoom.
And speaking of dedicated controls – have you seen the nikon df? It brings all kinds of memories and nostalgia to me, as my first (and last) serious camera was an fe2. I gave up using it when I realized that I was too old to lug it around, particularly with a suit and tie. I am never going back to that kind of size and weight, but I also never reconciled myself to the modern type of controls, where you have to memorize an infinity of button combinations and menu structures. So I just wish that olympus, with its new camera(s?) went for retro controls, instead of retro styling. But, again, I know that it will not gonna happen. Unfortunately. Because only dinosaurs like me still remember how much easier (and quicker to work with) were those old style controls.
179 Responses
* electronic first curtain!
* integrated flash
Isnt electronic curtain the case?
Or how does the anti shock function work?
Anti shock is a short delay. No electronic shutter on the E-M5 in still mode, but it obviously have some sort of elctronic shutter for video.
But than the shutter is open and if there would be no electronical first curtain the image would be overexposed.
No, what the anti-shock setting does is close the shutter and cuts off liveview. After the delay, the exposure proceeds to open the shutter – expose – and closes. The initial opening for the exposure is still a problem.
Electronic first curtain remove the need to close the shutter before the shot. It is closed only after. Two advantages:
* less wear on the shutter
* no vibration
and maybe also a shorter release lag time.
Sony does that on all its NEX and SLT cameras.
I’d actually love to see the return of articulating screens to the Oly lineup on at least one model. They’re simply more versatile and are also an easy solution to protect your screen. Does no one shoot vertically from low angles anymore?
Yes, that’s one of the very, very few disadvantages even the E-M1 still has compared to the E-30. Not being able to freely tilt *and* swivel the screen really makes me feel kind of handicapped. After being used to working with the tilt-only display of the E-330, at first it felt slightly awkward having to fold out the screen sideways when I bought the E-30, but I’ll definitely miss it if and when I switch to the E-M1.
I agree ; for macro it would be almost usefull
yes, but a imagine rather an absolutely new system : the camera is always held horizontally, but the sensor can be used horizontally OR vertically, thanks to a new form : a 4/4 square which allows 4/3 or 3/4 or even 3.5/3.5 ! the non used part of the screen or viewer would be free for the infos !
Ah, but then there would be no market for vertical grips. 🙂
But seriously, this would be a great feature. I don’t know why no one has implemented this yet.
Because a square sensor would double it’s price. Economies of scale.
It would also mess with the IBIS for sure.
I would be happy to see focus peaking.
Agree – focus peaking + GPS.
+100!
+101
Can not believe this wasn’t on the poll list as it is a glaring defect in the EM-5 that they could, but don’t, fix with a firmware update.
Exactly!
+102
I want a complete focus peaking function, i.e. focus peaking while shooting videos with legacy lenses
Don’t worry. Focus peaking is in the E-P5 and E-M 1, so it will be in the E-M6 for sure.
+102
Yes, focus peaking, please.
How about the most important feature: cleaner sensor / less noise? And 14-bit raw would also be nice.
There is actually no camera available that uses the 2 more bits for more than noise…
So I’d rather go with the smaller filesize.
* Full articulated screen
* Focus peaking
* Improved dynamic range/color depth (if necessary by going to 14 bit/color)
Sorry, it was a wrong thread…
How do you explain then that every singular camera (let speak about the APS-C ones) with 14 bit/color has a greater color depth (and almost always wider dynamic range) than the 12 bit/color counterparts ?
+1. This really should be addressed since base ISO is still pretty noisy
Are you blind? Base ISO is not noisy.
Articulated screen + bult in flash + focus peaking.
+1 !
With reference to removing the 5-axis stabilisation noise – if you have v1.7 firmware it only does it when the IBIS is activated i.e. on half-shutter press. I’d rather have a popup flash.
What I find interesting in this list are the least desired items.
Bigger body, Hybrid VF, Bigger sensor a most interesting list ‘at present’.
My choice, On sensor PD, No AA filter and 4+ Mp VF; but then I’m waiting for my E-M1 to partner my E-M5. An E-620 will, and a Pen might, go.
Electronic shutter for time lapse so we don’t wear out the mechanical one.
There is little wrong with the E-M5. The only important improvements (to me) would have to do with ergonomics (button layout) and video (25p support). Actually, the E-M5 is the mirrorless version of the D700 in the sense that it will remain a compelling package for a long time. It’s probably useful in more situations than any other camera currently on the market.
That is true and I will use mine for shure for a few years from now, if I manage to not break it 🙂
Nevertheless it is interesting what comes next and maybe with only improvements and no draw backs it will be the same for the next model.
What I really want it’s a built in flash.
+1
I hate carrying that stupid little clip-on flash. I want a built-in flash like the Stylus 1’s.
I never really found the need to the tiny flash anyways because typically its either underpowered or would just cast shadows on lenses ie 12-35 kind of sizes.. even the 12-50 which it came with… it rarely comes in handy except if i want ttl trigerring of my fl36.. I don’t think a built in pop up flash would change those 2 factors too much.
I’d rather just up the iso and use a fast prime.
instead of a em-6 i’d like a firmware update for the em-5 with focus peaking and all the goodies possible. –the focus peaking trick using the art filter is ok but still
+1
From day 1 on, there were some firmware options in the E-M5 that have never been improved…
So next time I will buy an Olympus camera, it has to be perfect right from the start, because hoping for Olympus firmware updates is senseless.
In the E-M1 for example, the focus point indicator still disappears in C-AF, a clear and annoying firmware bug that probably will never be fixed.
– VF-4 or better
– BSI sensor or any other drastic sensor improvement
– set of f/1.2 autofocus primes
Where is the “no hump” option
In the PEN line.
🙂
ooh! you mean like with no EVF?
Sneye hits the nail on the head there. Better ergonomics, better video. And to be honest I don’t really mind about those. It would be nice to have the same viewfinder as EM1 too, but frankly the EM5 is just brilliant as it is, it would take a huge jump for me to upgrade.
The same mind here 🙂
improved weather sealed!!!
Built in flash? They are useless. Under powered and usually non-directional.
+1, even in Pen 5 it would have been better to place an EVF in the space occupied by the flash, would have made a far better camera.
The most useful thing about a built-in flash is the ability to control off-camera flashes, saving having to buy one just for that. Built-in radio control for new radio-controlled flashes would be much better, of course…
PAL framerates and a much better video encoder would be on my list.
But the control facility provided by the flash can still be performed perfectly well by the add on mini-flash provided with OM-Ds, and EVF would get far more use.
(Although I will confess when I found the GH3 Service Menu one thing I noticed was “Flash Actuations – 0”, so decided I should fire it off to make sure it works. Oh, and no, I haven’t used it since either… Then again I use my Canon cameras for Flash work as I prefer their system for that.)
They can be made more powerful, E-5 had GN15 flash. They can be made bounceable ( L1 flash for example ). It’s the manufacturers that make them useless in order to force us to buy external flashes.
Built-in flashes are definitely not useless.
They are great for fill-flash and for activating remote flash units.
Also in a dark restaurant, that tiny flash can make a difference.
The result won’t be art, but I’ll still have a picture of my friends.
Try an Olympus 17mm F1.8 or a Panasonic 20mm F1.7 and you won’t need flash to take a picture of your friends/family inside a dark restaurant! 🙂
Try taking a picture of your friends/family inside a dimly lit restaurant where the lightning source is behind them. No matter the lens, you can:
a) take a nice picture of the lamp and lots of dark faces
b) use flash to brighten the shadows and make the most of such bad lightning
c) tell your your friends/family to move the table so you can make a good photo 🙂
I have the 17mm f/1.8. Sometimes that is enough. Sometimes it isn’t.
Finally someone that knows enough about photography to understand how bad in-body-flash is. Thank you for bringing the reason to this conversation. And as comments below already explained the included flash is only to control external flashes. Any direct flash makes image flat and full of amateur shadows.
As for improvements for new camera either E-M6 or E-M2:
Fully articulating screen is a must for convenience but also for perfect screen protection when stowed away in your bag. Also continuous improvement of focusing speed when using FF 4/3 lenses. The only reason we stay with the system is because we build collection of system lenses and when performance of that system is lagging behind new M 4/3 lenses you then consider if it is even worth starting over to invest in new lenses when in few years they may decide to use different system. E-M1 improved tremendously on usability of FF 4/3 lenses but there is still much room for improvement.
Nobody is saying that built-in flash, by itself, produces beautiful results, but you can use it for fill-flash, as a remote controller and for snapshots in a dark place.
BTW, the Fuji X100 does a beautiful fill with the built-in flash.
“Finally someone that knows enough about photography to understand how bad in-body-flash is.”
Sounds like someone just finished their Photography 101 course and hasn’t learned how to actually use the tools at their disposal yet.
Oly4Life
“….Fully articulating screen is a must for convenience but also for perfect screen protection when stowed away in your bag. Also continuous improvement of focusing speed when using FF 4/3 lenses. The only reason we stay with the system is because we build collection of system lenses and when performance of that system is lagging behind new M 4/3 lenses you then consider if it is even worth starting over to invest in new lenses when in few years they may decide to use different system. E-M1 improved tremendously on usability of FF 4/3 lenses but there is still much room for improvement.”
I agree, but would have preferred a E-7 with optical finder.
Have been using E-M1 since Oct 2nd. Using 12-60mm, 50-200mm, and other lenses, but the MF-3 adapter doesn’t feel like it is going to last long (alum construction). The 12-50 is too small compared to 12-60 (which I find to be very comfortable and longer focal length with the E-M1). Just received a call that my 12-40 is in. Have high hopes for that one, but feel it is a compromise in focal length for a smaller size.
Had a homecoming parade, tailgaters and football game in a light rain the whole day. The E-M1 with the 90-250mm was a dream (actually focus almost as fast as E5). Never covered it up in plastic, it got wet but still works three weeks later.
none of these features ! what I want is:
– Better sensor performances (noise, DR, etc…)
– Bigger view finder like E-M1
– Maybe phase AF for continous AF, if it works well but I can live without that
I agree with everything you listed JF, and also no AA filter. These changes are so doable and reasonable. This would make the EM5 an even better stills camera.
upgrade from yep,..with new sensor DR and ISO improvement that would be a REAL upgrade from E-M5,.plus the Phase Detec -AF ,.but also don’t forget the 1/8000 max SS and base low ISO 100 or maybe 50,.Time lapse 999 frame,.and affordable price
YES! even better…and it still has a place with these changes below the M1 and at a lower pricepoint.
+1
-upgrade the IQ quality (dynamic range, automatic CA corrections…)
-add the EVF from E-M1 (in terms of magnification, refresh rate…)
-refine metal body construction and dials/buttons and better grip (but stay with the modularity of additional big grip on a flat body)
-update the shutter speed up to 1/8000s with nice soft shutter sound 😉
What’s wrong with the E-M1?
New must have feasible feature for near future advanced m43 bodies:
– Full swivel LCD (please Oly!!!)
– 14 bit RAW files
– 1080 50/60p video
– real ISO 100
– C1/C2 custom setting on the top dial
(all of this is disappointingly missing on the E-M1 imho)
– menu option for on/off embedding all set of lens correction in RAW (CA included) for both Oly/Pana lenses
Desired features borrowed/enhanced from current E-M1 / GM1:
– PDAF on sensor for faster AF in single and better tracking in continuous
– E-M1 viewfinder
– Pana electronic shutter mode for zero vibration/silent shoot/timelapse
OT now but long term very desired features:
– global shutter with electronic shutter only (YES!) up to 1/16000 (and crazy X-sync too)
– any sort of sensor technology improvement (micro splitter, Foveon, X-trans, organic or so on)
– 1:1 (yes, multi aspect ratio sensor return) option in RAW
Ciao 🙂
I vote for an E-7, since I don’t want a small camera that can’t focus well and spends its time physically destroying lenses.
+ 1,000,000
The E-M1 may be many wonderful things, but it’s no E-5 successor, that’s for sure.
They way they screwed up PDAF on that camera is going to come back and bite Oly in the bottom, just you wait and see.
– Olympius
+1
They already have an improved E-M5, it’s called the E-M1.
– Olympius
To quote Olympus:
“The Olympus OM-D E-M1 is the successor model to our professional DSLR, the E-5, as well as flagship of our compact system camera line.”
The E-M5 is still a part of that camera line and will be directly replaced.
The top 3 with over 40% each all make sense.
The E-M1 is the only m43 camera with C-AF that works and I think it would be difficult to sell many E-M6s if it didn’t also come with C-AF (no doubt Olympus will improved upon their “first draft” of the E-M1’s implementation). (second side note: the E-PL7 and E-PM3 will probably get “C-AF that works” too)
Effective marketing, price points and distribution are still pressing matters for Olympus.
This list is a joke! Would you seriously upgrade your E-M5 for a new model with 20Mpx sensor or improved EVF? The key feature that pused me to upgrade were the 2EV steps difference from the new sensor to the previous one from Panasonic. I think 16Mpx and 12EV dinamic range steps are fine for me and I wont be upgrading my camera unless I see something similar, lets say a new 14EV sensor, not just high Mpx count or any other fancy upgrade 😛
absolutely +1 the limited dynamic range is the one thing that I really want improved on the om-d.
‘limited dynamic range’? What are you talking about – the EM5 already has one of the widest dynamic ranges available on any sensor.
Not really, the peak DR for OM-D does not exceed 12.5 Evs, whereas the entry level APS-C Nikon D5200 provides 13.9 Evs. I would say (from my experience), for the comfortable shooting landscape 13 Evf is a minimum. When M43 provides 14 Evs, it it will be the Rubicon into the professional world.
Who are the crazy 38 (so far) guys asking for a Black&White sensor? Me I was #8 😉 Along with no AA filter and better grip/layout.
#49. A lot of things in the list just make it like the em1…
I’d love to see a B&W only Pen, but I think it wouldn’t sell as well if it were an OM-D.
I think the price would scare alot of people, as the custom sensor would prob cost alot.
Yes Ulli, I agree, but still a “limited edition” would be appreciated by b&w addicted.
I see what you are saying Marco but I bet you no longer spend hours in front of your monitor getting that gorgeous B&W look in your images. Those changes that you apply are already locked in a ‘micro instruction’ where a few clicks of the mouse run a whole list of instructions (on a series of images and not just the one).
Only my two penneth.
Fully articulated lcd
Built in flash
Improved menu organisation
Lower price
Maybe improved aesthetics, though not a high priority
Wow, a 4+ megapixel EVF? That would be quite a jump from the current 0.79MP!
(For anyone who isn’t paying attention, we’re talking about pixels, not that stupid ‘dots’ BS. ‘Dots’ is a retarded way of saying ‘subpixels’, which in most cases is equal to 3x the number of pixels.)
It will be interesting to see how Oly handles the new situation: There are FF mirrorless cameras available, not much more expensive than the EM1.
Even more interesting: How will buyers react? The EM1 is maybe a better photo making machine compared to Sony A7? (Never used any of them, just my assumption.) How many need/want to pay for the extra image quality from FF sensor?
Is m43 system solid enough not to loose market share to FF mirrorless? Personally I think it is. But I believe Oly/Pana will need to lower prices on their high end cameras.
Note: I am NOT a m43ista – use a D800 as main system and etremely happy with what it delivers. Unsure about which second, more candid, system to go for and a return to m43 is not impossible.
I’ve just had the E-M1 a few days, and haven’t touched the new Sony’s, but so far, compared to the EM5 and GH2 it is a dream camera.
Is it prefect, no.. but so far I’m so glad I made the switch from em5. The vf, pdaf and controls just feel so great. Haven’t enjoyed a camera this much since the d700.
I also got a fuji x100 since people said it gives it close to x100s performance with new firmware. Urgh, I do find it intriguing, and I love the ef-x20 flash with a ttl cable (Olympus, you should do this!) But I still find myself fighting it half the time, with exposures all over the place in a mode, and focus still sometimes hit and miss. Plus, it’s so slow…
My point, em1 just hits so many positive points!
AF should be better. With E-M5 and 75-300 it’s almost impossible to make good pics of slow, big birds in the air.
the same E-M5 just with the new EVF
Just better video quality !!!! and 1080P with 60fps of course.
Otherwise the EM5 is a cool camera, of course it should get the EM1 improvement (No AA filter .. ..)
– Solve the shutter shock issues
– VF4 sized EVF
– On-sensor PDAF
– 1/4″ wider body for more room for buttons
– all the other goodies from the E-P5
24p video, such a simple essential it is mind boggling that all of them don’t have that.
Other things like focus peaking, an audio in (and out! For monitoring) jack, HDMI out, etc would all be nice too.
In Camera HDR, since I Love the Jpegs of Olympus and don´t want to spend Time with Post Processing
1) Better video (bitrate, codec/compression, more framerates)
2) Mysets on control dial
3) Fix shutter shock
4) 1/8000 and ISO 100
5) Better EVF
I will only upgrade my EM-5 if at least #1 becomes a reality. If Panasonic gets a good IBIS in video mode, my next body will be Panasonic.
+1. Less aliasing in video
I don’t think 4+ Megapixel EVF possible in the near future that 12m dot,
current EVF only 2.4m dot about 0.8 Megapixel.
I would like to see 2 Megapixel Bigger EVF equal to FF OVF,120 FPS and better low light performance will be perfect
1) integrated Flash
2) Auto Panorama stitching (Olympus, what are you waiting for?)
3) Auto stitch of moved picture in one picture!
(like the basketball player which they already have in their adverteising…)
4) finger touch of the menu (like Panasonic)
5) WiFi to PC/MAC
6) stylisher silver look
sorry forget something:
-> App Access (to Sony PlayMemory Store )
😉
Another vote here for a better ISO 100 and not just a fiddled hobbled reduced dynamic range ISO 200.
Come on Oly. You make some nice fast primes and it’s time to give users a body to match. Wide apertures aren’t just for low light. Time for a body with a max shutter speed of 1/8000 and a very good ISO 100 if not 50 too that’ll enable users to use wide aperture primes and leave the ND’s at home.
No Touch screen and no lcd,
only evf, built in, optional OVF/EVF.
mic imput and audio levels control,
Detachable Grip as EPL-5
SDK for creating new apps.
open firmware
Dual Sd cards.
lots of buttons and dials.
articulating flash.
very retro look, similar to the ep5
How about a base ISO of 50 and better High ISO performance than the EM-1. Maybe get the ISO performance back to the EM-5 with on sensor PDAF.
I want a socket for an external flash
Automatic in-camera correction of chromatic aberration for any m43 alliance lens.
My old D90 already has this (for its range of lenses of course).
Also would be nice to have semi-raw: all the corrections, but no compression.
Black and white only with a higher bit depth tif output (but that’s really really low on my list)
Completely unrelated news:
New Lumix 35-100mm f2.8 review at Photozone
1.Faster switch to EVF with the proximity sensor
2.Built in Flash
3.Allow quick switching between AF modes (multiple vs single point, even when turning the camera off)
4.better configuration of FN buttons (why the hell can’t i set my L-FN button to control zoom electronically like i can on other FN buttons?)
5.1/8000 or ISO 100, or both!
5.Can select myset via mode dial.
I agree with everything if and also no AA filter. These changes are so doable and reasonable. This would make the EM5 an even better stills camera.
* Full articulated screen
* Focus peaking
* Improved dynamic range/color depth (if necessary by going to 14 bit/color)
Although if the camera comes in 2014 it would be naive to expect wider DR/color depth than those of E1…
1. A multi-aspect ratio sensor for full support of the 3:2 dSLR ratio without just chopping the top and bottom off of the 4:3 rectangle. (Yeah, I know that’s never going to happen because even Panasonic gave up on that in their GH line.
2. Dedicated button/dial/switch for bracketing.
OFFTOP: Sony A7R DxOmarked:
http://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Camera-Sensor-Database/Sony/A7R
Overall Score 95
Portrait
(Color Depth) 25.6 bits
Landscape
(Dynamic Range) 14.1 Evs
Sports
(Low-Light ISO) 2746 ISO
Still – a bit behind D800E in DR/noise
If it’s as good as the Em 1, you’ll be very happy. I’ve had my Em 1 for about 4 days now. It’s absolutely incredible — especially when paired with the Panasonic 25mm 1.4 and the Olympus 60mm 2.8 macro. All I want to do is go around taking pictures…
I can’t vote. All I want is 24p.
24p
24p
24p
24p
24p
24p
24p
24p
24p
24p
24p
24p
Nothing on the list for me. In fact there are a few things really important for photographer on it. For me I still miss distance scale and DOF visible in displays. It’s a very important thing for landscape photographers, especially when we miss it on our lenses.
That’s a good one. The Fujis have that and it is very convenient.
Olympus won’t make any of the components themselves, anyway. Now they just buy everything in from Sony, Epson, Sigma, etc. What an absolute joke of a company they are have become! I guess they are too busy engaging in corporate fraud to actually build their own cameras. Even the vacuum manufacturer Panasonic is a far more authentic camera maker now. RIP THE REAL (AND FORMALLY GREAT) OLYMPUS OF OLD (when they used to design and build the best 35mm cameras about, not this small sensored, outsourced junk).
Same joke as Apple, eh?
That’s right. Only buy from AUTHENTIC camera manufacturers! They need to make the sensor themselves, and the equipment the sensor is made on, and the silicon for the die, and the sand for the silicon, and the very rock that the sand came from. Same for the body, an AUTHENTIC manufacturer would mine the magnesium salts, process them into magnesium, and then, but only then, die-cast it into parts for the camera body. On molding machines that have been made and designed by that company of course. Same for little plastic buttons: drilling equipment, crude oil drilling, refining, polymer production, injection molding machines.. And let’s not talk about lenses… Sand, glass, … All those salts that are vapor deposited to make AR coatings… THAT is what an AUTHENTIC camera company would be experts in and spend their rTHAT is what an AUTHENTIC camera company would be experts inesources on. Not bullshit like image stabilization, autofocus, sensor integration, lens design or camera handling.
I would really like to see a smaller size, not bigger. I want a light weight MFT camera with a view finder and all the performance of a pro-camera. If I wanted bigger, I could just buy a DSLR. The whole reason I invested in the MFT platform is because I wanted smaller and lighter. So I really hope the E-M6 is smaller and lighter than the E-M5 but just as great a camera.
Hmm, I would not mind a B&W version…I would love it actually.
Accidentally I clicked on your profile and… discovered really beautiful pictures! How do you PP them? It is not a simple BW conversion, right?
Have a great time and light 🙂
Thank you!
I used LR5 for most of them and tweaked from there. I like high contrast and very strong shadows (noise as well, depends on the mood I am at) but not many people like it.
I can create a preset when I get home and send it to you via email or something.
I use the histogram and matrix metering to do the exposure, it helps a TON!
Hello, I sent you a message with my email on FB. My initials are MB.
My asks:
1) Electronic first-curtain shutter
2) Exposure comp in M mode with Auto-ISO enabled
3) On sensor PDAF
4) another customizable function button or two on the front
Plus other improvements already seen in other models:
— Mysets on control dial
— 1/8000 and ISO 100
— Better EVF
— Focus peaking
— No AA filter
— Wifi
How about improving the quality of your products, Olympus? How about a commitment to improve customer service especially if you want to support “pro” gear? These changes would have a bigger impact on your bottom line than any new products.
My EM-5 is still at Olympus because of the sticky shutter problem. The eye piece fell off within a week. My FL-300R was recalled for potential overheating.
Interesting comment, any issues I’ve had with an Olympus camera have been dealt with in a very quick manner (never more than a week). While a now ancient Minolta rangefinder was never truly repaired by Minolta for a faulty Flash trigger and an early Nikon DSLR which had an exposure issue (it was inconsistant) was never fixed as Nikons lab found no problem yet one of their technicians (after using it with my authority) agreed that there was an exposure issue with that body.
Olympus, best I know.
Well, my E-M5’s sensor got damaged by a laser beam at a party, and they replaced it, for free, in about 10 days, no questions asked.
Seems this quite depends on where exactly you are on this planet… I had a similar experience as you did, through it took a little longer then a week due to limited availability at the time, they simply replaced my camera after receiving 3 example pictures demonstrating the problem, no questions asked, no fuzz whatsoever. Second case concerned the known display bezel issue, again quick return, no questions asked, but ‘issue’ fixed.
However, I have heard enough problem stories from some of my friends in the USA to realize that it doesn’t always work out like that, especially not overthere, especially cameras spending lots and lots of time in ‘internal shipment’ now that Olympus centralized and actually outsourced their repairs.
Well, I’m in the USA.
Good to hear there isn’t just ‘horror stories’ from overthere (I already knew, but its still good to hear)
E-M1 without full FT support and on sensor PDAF in a smaller body with less buttons… NOW!
One not on the list is size. I’d like to see it a bit smaller with a heavy emphasis on button placement and button feel. By being slightly smaller I think it would better differentiate itself from the EM-1.
That and if Oly can get their act together with a high quality high bitrate video implementation I’d add the E-M5II as a second body to my beloved E-M1.
I presume new EM-5 would have all the upgrades from EP-5/EM-1: last generation EVF, sensor & IBIS, 1/8000 shutter, wi-fi connectivity, focus peaking.
+ for best adventure camera:
– solution to viewfinder cup & hotshoe cap loosing syndrome
– Better ergonomics & buttons without going bigger (Same additional grip philosophy)
+ best video camera:
– 25p (!!!)& better codecs
– focus peaking while shooting video with legacy lenses!
– Cdaf+Pdaf for easy video continuous tracking
+ best legacy lens camera
– internal ND filter
– Focus peaking again
The EM-5 is brilliant, but a couple of changes are absolutely essential. A fully articulated screen. A more accessible location of the cable release socket.
These would be a bonus. 50ISO. A couple of customizable buttons on the front. Lighter weight. Sames price as EM-5.
FULLFRAME SENSOR
It is full frame already :D. A full 4/3 sensor.
Another sheep got catched by Canons marketing 😀
4/3 is fullframe, KB is FF, Nikon 1 is FF.
An APS-C body with KB lenses is no FF…
Android OS! Oh Yeah!!!
This will mean GPS and excellent wifi support.
I can use the camera to remotely monitor and tons of other things.
Those tons of other things will run your camera out of memory. Eventually you’ll end up waiting for it to reboot, loosing that photo..
Dear Olympus,
Why not take this opportunity to make the EM-5 successor (EM-6) the video-orientated camera line from Olympus??
Reasons: -The EM1 is the flagship line for “Still Photographers” and is doing excellent at addressing their needs. – The PEN line is an excellent choice for enthusiasts or families wanting a blend of great features at a lower price. Enter the EM-5 (6) line- a chance to address the growing market of video enthusiasts/indie filmmakers who want a truly hybrid system that is portable, has great glass, and gives professional quality video results! IMHO This makes an overall clearer choice for customers which line best suits their needs and why pricing will be where it is depending on the line.
My necessities to purchase the EM 6 without hesitation:
+ improved bit rates that match at least those of the GH3
+ strong codec like Pro Res (learn from BM)
+ mic and headphone input WITH audio monitoring
+ hdmi out for live monitoring on external screen during recording
+ 24p, 30p, 60p and even tho it doesn’t effect me in the US…the PAL countries deserve support too!! (25/50p)
Not necessities but hopefuls:
+ Use a less pronounced grip (kinda like the Sony A7) on the EM 6 to keep it’s design less DSLR-ish (just personal preference) I personally liked being able to choose between having my grip on or not with the EM 5
+ But take quality of buttons and knobs from EM 1
+ Global shutter would be amazing
+ RAW video would be cool option but again not truly practical at the moment
+ Improved Dynamic Range
+ Probably a few other minor things I can’t think of right now
– DON’T FRET about Panny doing a 4K camera, most people don’t need anywhere near that anytime in the near future! It will keep your cost lower than them too! Plus NO AMAZING IBIS!
-DON’T FRET just yet about Sony, even if they DO get IBIS from you…they’ve got a lot of catch up work to do with glass, they will be more expensive, they’re still using AVCHD codec, and there are still compelling reasons to want a Micro 4/3’s system.
What Olympus accomplished with IBIS in video mode gave people a taste of what a truly portable hybrid system could be like (no tripods, no steadicam necessary) now if they can only follow through on that teaser and give people professional quality video that can go actually go with them anywhere…IMHO it could be a truly massive success! Imagine the possibilities!
Long time reader of this blog – First time comment – Apologies for the long rant
any way they can slim down that massive hump?
How can they improve on the EM-5, without getting into the way of the EM-1? If all the improvements of the EM-1 are in the EM-6 and then some, who will buy the EM-1??
I fear we might not get as much as everyone hopes. And if that is true, who will buy a slightly upgraded EM-5?
‘who will buy a slightly upgraded EM-5?’ People are already buying a slightly upgraded EM-5, it is called the EM-1.
Hence, why I say make the EM5 successor more video orientated to differentiate the lines a bit, keep the EM1 relevant to it’s target audience.
Well it won’t have the Pro body and control like E-M1 so that will be the major difference. Olympus from time to time have lower model surpass the upper model on some features (E-pl1/e-pl2> E-P2 etc)
I feel PDAF is only worth it for 43 lenses so I would resurve that for the top camera! – CDAF for the m43 lenses is very good and tracking with a bit of clever work could be as good as PDAF soon…
3 areas I would love to see improved in the EM5mkII:
Video: 20mbit/30mbit/40mbit
1080 – 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p
720 – 120p, 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p
In camera processing:
HDR,
Image stacking,
Panorama,
Focus peaking in video and photo mode.
Remote options:
Full Wifi comprehencive control via android & Iphone
SDK for PC
Teatherd shooting with PC and app.
“and tracking with a bit of clever work could be as good as PDAF soon…”
Not with using CDAF.
The reason is really very simple: CDAF does not and cannot know how far away a subject is, it can only try if it is in focus by racking focus back and forth. There are clever tricks that can minimize this, but there exist no clever tricks that can prevent this simply because the information needed for preventing this is not available and the system has to guess this information. No matter how good it gets at guessing (and there are a few nice tricks relating to size for example), its still a guess and bound to be wrong every so often.
That means continuous AF implemented with CDAF will always have some tendency to ‘wobble’, how much depends, but it cannot be eliminated completely.
This is somewhat of an issue for still images, as it will cause a higher number of out of focus images or more unpredictable delay before images are taken, and it is very visible in video.
The solution doesn’t have to be PDAF, there are alternative ways to get the proper information, but it is impossible to solve completely with CDAF as it cannot provide the required information.
I just though of something: If all new pro-lenses are waether sealed, and the other lenses are not (the 12-50 being the only non-pro weather sealed lens if i am not mistaking (is the 60 macro pro or not?)), what would the benefit be of maintaining a weather sealed body which is not targeted at the pro user?
This would position the EM-1 clearly above the EM-6 with the better body quality and weather sealing and take the EM-6 down a notch by removing weather sealing.
Or am i just seeing ghosts 🙂
Just to clarify: I don’t care about weather sealing that much, if it means keeping the same price and adding
– 1/8000
– 100 ISO
– Focus peaking
– Wifi support
– ….
I’m not sure what Olympus will come up with that doesn’t step on the Em1’s toes. What I really want is a better EM1.
Fully articulated side hinged LCD
PDAF on sensor + video
Focus Peaking in video
Bigger buffer
Better viewfinder
Popup flash (I actually do want this as a little flash can be nice without having to carry anything else)
Higher bitrate 1080p video (40+ Mbps)
Wifi
I want a camera with no video capabilities at all. Only stills, with proper dials for every basic option (exposure compensation, ISO, shutter speed). Simple menu à la Leica or à la Ricoh GR, aimed at photographers. No art filters. Only. Pure. Photography.
You mean like the Nikon Df?
Yes, but coming from OM heritage I’d like it small and compact (as Em5 already is), high quality built, made to last. Nikon Df is just a dinosaur: I love the controls (at first sight), I love the fact that it’s purely a still camera, I don’t like size, weight, humongous lenses, clunchy shutter sound, mirror.
Most of what’s on that list is not important to me.
GPS is all I really, REALLY REEEAAAALLLYYY want. It’s on every phone and pocket camera by now, why not on “real” cameras? Don’t need anything fancy just geotag the damn photos already! It’s so BASIC!
No more video crap, MORE than enough as it is. Why don’t those who want video buy a dedicated VIDEO cam?
Better evf? Sure but not enough to upgrade for me
Better battery life? Again, sure, but not enough to upgrade for me
Wifi? Yeah, why not, could be useful (but it is NOT a good alternative for a proper GPS)
1. New sensor, maybe of the organic type that are in development around the place. Better dynamic range, 100 base ISO, lower noise.
2. Fully controllable bracketing options. Let us decide what we want to do. For example, 1,2,3,7,9 whatever brackets, what ev spacing we want, allow us to put in a delay trigger 2sec or 10sec, and then after the delay, take all the shots, automatically, with no further shutter triggers required…so so simple please do it!
3. Same size form factor, I like my Em5 because of it’s size most of all!
4. New menu interface, utilise the touch screen more, allow us to use the screen to navigate and set our options just by swiping and pressing.
5. Built in wifi, this is a given these days.
6. Small built in pop up flash. Ever seen what the Fujifilm X-F1 has? Little switch, little flash, works surprisingly well.
7. Would love some sort of distance calculation in the viewfinder/on screen. If the sensor had pdaf this maybe an option? Show the distance to the focus point. Knowing when you are focused at a certain distance would allow easy setup for zone focusing, street style shooting.
13% of the readers here actually expect a hybrid OVF/EVF system? I’m speechless.
“On sensor phase detection autofocus (full FT lens support) (44%, 2,027 Votes)”
Why do so many people want what the E-M1 is?? Oh, and EVERYBODY wants a cheaper price.
To be honest, I chose 4+ MP EVF (not sure if this means bigger in size in general or just a higher resolution. I’m more after a bigger sized one, without lowering the resolution) Button Layout (not improved, I quite like the E-M5 but different) and WiFi capabilities.
“CharlesNew! 11 minutes ago | Reply
13% of the readers here actually expect a hybrid OVF/EVF system? I’m speechless.”
They mean this: http://www.finepix-x100.com/en/story/viewfinder
Of course, you can never get a true OVF with a mirrorless camera.
For people like me who do not post process photos, it would be nice to have in camera stitching of Panarama and HDR shots.
What is a sony advanced LCD system. Can’t find any search reference in the first page so it must be totally unimportant.
Ovf? OVF? OVF?? why? ’cause fuji has one’ OVF will die along with the mirror. Unless its a real rangefinder.
JimD
New! 3 seconds ago | Reply
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What is a sony advanced LCD system. Can’t find any search reference in the first page so it must be totally unimportant.
Ovf? OVF? OVF?? why? ’cause fuji has one’ OVF will die along with the mirror. Unless its a real rangefinder.
Why is my other comment being moderated?
Olympus needs to remember that the advantage of this powerful system is the lenses. For me it’s the bright lenses. So what Oly need? Unfortunately none of these are in the list:
a) ISO 50 & 100
b) Shutterspeed 8000 (preferably 16,000)
c) Focus peaking (many have mentioned)
d) Global shutter for virtually silent shooting
Other prefernces maybe more fit for E-M2
d) EVF magnification 0.8x
e) E-1 m43 variant
i) Viewfinder on the left side instead of the middle. Allows for thicker grip and still plenty of room for big lenses. The current thin grip means I curl my fingers at an angle
f) LCD on top with settings so a quick glance I can change settings quickly without looking at EVF or rear LCD
I think the E-M6 would be an interesting video rig but not out of the box. Add a “video grip” which would
a) Uncompressed video output
b) audio monitor (headphone) output
c) microphone input
Allows the base camera to work for photographers and grip those who need more.
Advanced full-tilt screen, better video, ELECTRONIC SHUTTER. Thanks.
Make it a no-compromise still photo camera. Don’t compromise it with PDAF in the sensor. Don’t compromise it with sensor or other designs necessary for better video. Just update it with these features:
– 20MP sensor with no AA filter and higher IQ than everything else in M43
– ISO 100 (and if necessary to do so, forget ISO 12800, or higher ISO)
– 1/8000 sec
– VF-4 spec EVF
– small AF box and other firmware improvements
– bigger built-in grip
– Focus Peaking
– Built-in flash
– 2 SD card slot
– centred tripod mount
– better positioned and larger buttons, dials, controls
And don’t bother putting in PDAF (they can buy the E-M1), no need to have higher res video or bitrate (go and buy a proper videocam). Don’t do anything else, just keep the price low, like $999.
And don’t listen to those who keeping asking for better video. They make a lot of noise everywhere but they are definitely a very small minority of buyers of this camera.
and:
-Quick access to *named* saved setting
-Usable continuous focus
I agree with most of your thoughts on what’s needed. In particular the bit about video. Add 25/50, yes, that’s sensible but any more. No.
The brilliant technical brains who tell us its already there just enable it (for all their weird and wonderful ideas) don’t seem to have any real idea on what is involved, cost, hardware, software and so on. They want to have a full productive RED?
But as they keep saying its all in the em5 already, just make it work. Yes? No. Look at the price difference.
Why built in grip tho ? I’m happy with the HLD6 grip on my EM-5. I can take it off and make my camera more compact if needed.
Quite interesting that no Olympus user prefers the really good Panasonic innovations:
– virtual touchpad
– pinpoint focus
– touch AE
and so one?
Why? 😀
Pushing the pixel density past the current 16 MP would be difficult. Notice the 24 MP of the Nikon/Sony APS-C sized sensor (roughly the same density, yes?) used in the D7100 is a bit noisy. It may take a while to provide better sensors for all formats.
A bigger grip/bigger battery would probably be quite useful (for the E-M1 also), along with the enhanced viewfinder and 1/8000th of a second shutter from the E-M1.
Do you know that the RX100’s sensor is already 20MP and it is nearly half the size of the M43 sensor? and that it’s IQ is really nice and not affected by the high MP per unit area?
My wishlist;
– Better EVF
– GPS
– Proper implementation of custom modes
– Better battery life (perhaps by increasing the grip on RHS to accomodate a bigger battery?)
– Ditch the weather-sealing and magnesium frame – go plastic for lighter and cheaper.
– Less gimmicky kit lens that doesn’t try to do everything and look like a chipolata.
Frankly, I don’t even see the need for an em5 replacement. It’s the pen series that have been totally leapfrogged by the gx7/gm1. What olympus should be doing (but probably will not) is to replicate the features (particularly the 5 axis ibis and weather sealing) and controls (particularly the dedicated dials and direct access controls) of the em1 into 1) a rangefinder body with the same evf as the em1 (to challenge the gx1, not to mention the fuji xe2) and 2) a tiny lightweight body (to challenge the gm1). But even more than that it needs to develop a few good pancake lenses, starting with a retractable standard zoom.
And speaking of dedicated controls – have you seen the nikon df? It brings all kinds of memories and nostalgia to me, as my first (and last) serious camera was an fe2. I gave up using it when I realized that I was too old to lug it around, particularly with a suit and tie. I am never going back to that kind of size and weight, but I also never reconciled myself to the modern type of controls, where you have to memorize an infinity of button combinations and menu structures. So I just wish that olympus, with its new camera(s?) went for retro controls, instead of retro styling. But, again, I know that it will not gonna happen. Unfortunately. Because only dinosaurs like me still remember how much easier (and quicker to work with) were those old style controls.
Everything’s been covered pretty well, but I’ll throw a tillable flash unit for SOME bounce in the supplied flash module.
Get on it Olympus.
Yes, tiltable flash would be nice, like on the GX1.
I want:
-hi res viewfinder
-pinpoint focus (bird, wildlife shots)
-phase detection autofocus (moving subjects)
-focus peaking (manual focus lenses)
-ISO 100
Please don’t make the body bigger!
And the tilt screen is great as-is!