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Official: New Olympus E-M5 announced (continually updated)

Important: I will continually update this post with new links to news/previews image samples and preorders. But please do not reload the page every 30 second otherwise the server will crash 🙂 Latest additions are always on top of each category:

Check price, specs and Preorders

Black E-M5 body at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Silver E-M5 body at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here)
Black E-M5 body with 14-42mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Black E-M5 body with 12-50mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Silver E-M5 body with 12-50mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
FL-600R wireless flash at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
MMF-3 Four Thirds adapter at Amazon (Click here) and Adorama (Click here)
HLD-6 power battery holder at Amazon (Click here) and Adorama (Click here)

Reviews, previews, interviews…

Click on ISO number to see the image sample: ISO 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800, 25600
ThePhoBlographer
Adminringlights and Gakuranman thoughts on the E-M5
75mm and 60mm lens info at Photographyblog, Quesabesde (spanish) and DC.watch (japanese).
Hands-on at Quesabesde (spanish).
Hands-on at ePhotozine.
Hands-on review at Techradar. And E-P3 versus E-M5 again at Techradar.
Pekka Potka
Hands-on at Engadget (with video)
HOT! The official OM website!
HOT! Preview at Dpreview
Super HOT!Full interview with Mr. Terada from Olympus at Clubsnap.

Interesting info

Olympus Australia says the new 75mmf /1.8 and 60mm f/2.8 lenses will be available by end of the year. What the hell???
Mr. Tarada (Olympus) said “The new 16mp Live MOS image sensor produces lower noise at High ISO and boasts Dynamic Range that is a 1/3 improvement over current sensors” About a possible future peaking feature: “I feel that magnified focusing is still better“. About future lenses: “Yes, we can consider the possibility of faster and wider prime lenses.”
In Japan (Click here) yo can order the body or kit and get either a free MMF-3 or 32Gb Class 10 SD card.

Image samples

Super HOT! Official Olympus image samples at Olympus Japan.
Sexy pictures of the camera at Kineda.
Hands-on pictures at Cnet USA.
http://blog.bergencountycamera.com/wp-content/gallery/olympus-e-m5/b1112958.jpg
http://blog.bergencountycamera.com/wp-content/gallery/olympus-e-m5/p1020152.jpg
http://blog.bergencountycamera.com/wp-content/gallery/olympus-e-m5/p1130148-sm.jpg
http://blog.bergencountycamera.com/wp-content/gallery/olympus-e-m5/s2221124-sm.jpg

Videos

Attaching the grip on the E-M5 on youtube.
Hands-on video review by Dpreview.
french E-M5 presentation on youtube
Olympus OM-D E-M5 hands-on video preview at TheVerge
Hands-on by Photographyreview on youtube.
HOT!Hands-on and speed test by ThePhoBlographer on youtube.
First video hands-on on youtube (by RedDotPhoto).

Press release

Imaging Resource
DC.watch (japanese)
Focus Numerique (french)
Photographyblog
Sansmirror
Olympus Japan (japanese)
Letsgodigital
Photoscala (german)
Quesabesde (spanish)
Cnet US
Visual Science Lab
PDN Pulse
Amateur Photographer
Dpreview
Olympus Australia
Olympus Australia E-M5 press release (.pdf).
Olympus lens press release (.pdf)

Poll

Before to vote read carefully all previews and reviews. Don’t jump to a conclusion too early 🙂

[poll id=”116″]

Camera images (Click on image to enlarge)

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425 Responses

    1. live tone curve adjustments 😀 no more photoshop!!!

      dial on grip 😀

      live bulb feature 😀

      function button on the new lens!

      echo feature in movie sounds really mad 😀 (leaves a momentary residual image of a subject’s movements when activated during movie recording)

      same level of weatherproofing as E-5 😀

      10 out of 10

          1. Yeah, not that deep. one press to get to EV. One press to get to shadow adjust. another press to get to highlights. But the E-M5 control is much better. I can see the results of the adjustment live, but it’s subtle. I stumbled across a case where it showed up big time, looking into a sunset with a cloud just above the horizon, with streams of light pouring out of it… adjusting the shadow made a bit change.

      1. Very nice collection and well presented…The only thing I am lusting for there is that 75mm f/1.8 lens.

        I hope that that lens is released before the 4th quarter. It looks spectacular.

  1. Sound like a pancake lens is coming. Wonder if this will be a zoom or prime.

    CS: Any plans on introducing pancake lenses in future ?
    TT: No comment ha ha. Its under consideration

  2. It’s a gorgeous and very capable looking camera. Now I will have to choose between this and the NEX-7. Hopefully new lens announcements in the coming months will make up my mind.

    Would love to get my hands on a Fuji X-Pro 1 as well, but the price might be too prohibitive.

    1. The camera looks great in the video.

      And I smiled to see that Mr. Terada wears a titanium Casio Pathfinder with his suit. Japanese stuff is the best : )

    1. You have to remember that all that “revolutionary” stuff — re the viewfinder, DR, etc. — meant “revolutionary relative to previous Olympus products.”

      This is their first camera with a built-in EVF, so within their line it’s a big deal.

        1. Put in my order! This is definitely the first time I’ve ever even considered buying a camera new, let alone preordering one.

  3. I don’t know for the the rest of the world but I definitely will buy this.. hopefully the 75 f/ 1.8 coming very soon.
    Admin thanks alot for all your hard work..

    1. Me too…too bad the 75mm will take untill end of the year before being available. I will look at other options for this focal lenght or keep using my current 50 mm

  4. DAMN!
    Why it took Olympus 3 years to come out with this is beyond my comprehension…
    Talk about lost opportunities!

  5. @ admin, you have done a great job over the past few weeks on this launch, thanks. EM-5 looks good for me and rumours were pretty much accurate.

  6. Well, so now we know what’s in the “hump” – it needs all that space for the EVF due to the diopter adjustment lens. The very front of the pyramid is just for design, but it’s only a few mm away from the EVF screen. Hopefully now all the “hump haters” can chill….

    1. Actually, the infamous hump is there because the new IBIS takes up a lot of space – check the Finnish Ninja’s preview.

  7. Well, so now we know what’s in the “hump” – it needs all that space for the EVF due to the diopter adjustment lens. The very front of the pyramid is just for design, but it’s only a few mm away from the EVF screen. Hopefully now all the “hump haters” can chill.

  8. From the Oly press release:

    “The 16MP Live MOS chip drives image data off the sensor at a blazing 240 frames-per-second, a 2X speed increase in Continuous Autofocus, with reduced image blackout enabling photographers to track fast action, Maximum frame rates in sequential shooting have also increased more than 2X with a max frame rate of 9-fps in Single AF. A new 3D tracking AF system can follow the subject through the X-, Y- and Z-axes to dramatically improve focus on moving subjects.”

      1. i just read it there, but before i read the engadget preview:
        “In addition to autofocus speed, it bests the E-P3 in low-light performance, offering an image sensitivity range of ISO 100-25,600.”

          1. 🙁 indeed. I like high ISO capabilities but I would really rather see ISO50 and 100. Heck, I used to shoot a lot of Kodachrome 25 in my Contax G days!

          2. It’s not a fiction. I can’t shoot wide open on a bright day with ISO200 and 1/4000s max shutter speed unless I slap an ND filter on the lens. That’s not real convenient.

            In the film days if you were shooting on a bright, sunny day you could put some ISO25 or 50 in the camera and be a happy shooter. With ISO200 minimum your creative options are limited…

  9. It looks like Olympus did a very nice job designing the EM-5. Between this camera and the MMF-3, however, there seems to be no improved support for SWD lenses. There are also no μ43 lenses of comparable quality to my 12-60. I’ll sit out a new camera for now. Perhaps next year.

    1. Yea unfortunately I don’t think Olympus has the technology to make the adapter which would give any of 43 lenses with Af speed that would match with E series camera. I have 14-35 and 35-100 and I was so excited to get this camera too. Oh well.

      1. They hold a patent for an adapter with phase detect, but I suspect that comparing the installed base of 4/3’s lenses with µ4/3’s, they decided not to go into production with it.

    2. Me too. I’m hoping for either an E-530 or a 43Ds/M43 hybrid that will focus my 12-60 and 50-200 quickly and reliably. Unfortunately, that hope has been fading with each new announcement for a few years now.

      Other questions that I hope to see answered soon: Does this E-M5 have focus confirmation for manual lenses, and how fast is the EVF?

  10. Just read the dpreview hands-on. Additionally to the two FN Buttons you can assign your different function to the movie button and to two buttons of the four way controller. And there is even a function button on the 12-50! So lots of opportunities to customize. And let’s not forget the two function buttons on the battery grip!

  11. DPReview claims 60 fps in 1080p mode 60 or 30 in 720p. I don’t know how this can be correct. The Australian Oly site also says: “The new 16 megapixel LiveMOS sensor with a maximum 240fps frame rate captures broadcast quality Full HD video.” No sign of 24p, though, regardless.

  12. 1080 60i at 20Mbps. Where is the superior to Panasonic GH2 video? The GH2 can do 1080 60i 30p & 24p NTSC or 50i 25p & 24p PAL at 24Mbps. The only M43 camera that will have a superior video mode to the GH2 will be the GH3.

  13. Throw 24p in there and I’ll buy it in a heartbeat. Otherwise I guess it’ll stand alongside the X Pro1 as a camera that I’ll ogle at the camera store without buying one. I never imagined that the new Pentax mirrorless would end up being the better video camera. Oh well.

  14. on the olympus website, if you preorder, looks like you get the small flash that comes with it. does anyone know if that is the same on amazon?

  15. I’ve gotta say, for what looks like the best micro four thirds camera by far the pricing actually seems pretty reasonable. Well done Olympus!

  16. And here I am awake at 4.15AM… on the interned, watching the birth with everybody else! 🙂

    Congratulations Everybody!
    Congratulations OLY, You are the parent of almost perfect black and white twins! 🙂

    PS. Please price it competitively here in Croatia, I might get 2. 🙂

    1. Hah, well 25600 would only look good if printed as a postage stamp methinks.

      As long as I can up it to 3200 with good noise ratio I will be happy.

  17. Can someone explain to me this silver lens business for their premium lenses. Putting the beautiful silver 12mm on a black E-M5 looks awful. If you want to use the premium primes, and still maintain an attractive package, you have to go for the silver body. But some of us (me) want the black body. Why isn’t Olympus releasing these lenses in black, and for that matter, at their price, why aren’t they weather sealed. I understand this is merely a cosmetic issue, but let’s face it, Olympus is appealing to the buyers through the beauty and nostalgic look of their camera.

    1. Personally I’d like the silver body but with a WHITE leatherette, that would be a perfect match with the silver lenses.

      As is I prefer the all black version to the retro looking silver body, but as you say, it is not a very good match with my silver lenses ! And I do already have 4 Olympus silver lenses and two Contax G silver lenses.

  18. So really the only cons that matter to myself are the minimum ISO and maybe video output if I get into videography in a large way.

    Otherwise, looks like I’m not waiting until Photokina! Panasonic won’t release anything of merit. Sony’s lens lineup won’t mature for at least another year. Samsung is scaling back and we just saw what Pentax brought out (Marc Newson you disgust me!). Who’s left; Ricoh, Leica and Canon?

    1. I want a WHITE and silver version please. Two colors suit the pyramid shape better, but it looks too retro for my taste, I don’t want to return to the seventies !
      The black version looks more contemporary, but it’s line is not as smart as the bicolor model, plus it won’t fit that well with the silver lenses.
      And I’m so happy to shoot with my white E-P3.

        1. I don’t get it ? Labor Day ? Is that the 1st of May ? is that a special joke ?

          I’m shooting with a white camera everyday. And I don’t work anymore, I’m fully retired.

          I’m not yet sure to get one OM-D, since I already have the white E-P3 and the G3. So I may well still shoot with the white E-P3 after the 1st of May.

          1. It’s a joke. In the US, the first day of September is Labor Day. As this pretty much marks the end of summer, one is not supposed to wear white after Labor Day. Applying this old rule to the camera color amused me. Since you don’t hail from the US this does not apply to you anyway. 😉

  19. I wonder if Oly will release a similar spec in 4/3 line. They should consider to release E-xx/E-x with similar spec (with higher sensitivity in low light).

  20. I’m a bit confused. In some pictures the grip is a very big one, and in some other pictures the grip is a smaller one. So is it changeable or something?

    1. grip comes in 2 parts. you can have the big vertical grip or you can take that off and only have the side grip. you can take the whole thing off and not have any grip too.

  21. The best news I get out of this is an initial report confirms very fast AF on moving objects using 240 fps and in low light. If the new IBIS is improved to work well at all speeds then this will be even more attractive. Since it uses the same sensor as G3 it is more than likely that Pany through its processing and software to come up with the same speeds using 240 fps but as noted in the report that comes at a cost in resolution. This fast fps seems to indicate that some sort of electronic shutter is used to enable this performance.

    Looks like this E-D5 camera will be a very attractive alternative.

  22. Anyone notice if the material covering the black camera is the same as the chrome version? They look different on the Olympus website. The chrome version has a more leather look. The black one has a cross-hatched material. Can someone confirm this?

  23. IR mentioned it has a very quiet shutter. It will be interesting to hear comparisons.

    http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/omd-em5/omd-em5A.HTM

    “When we first tried the E-M5, we noticed that the shutter sound was considerably quieter than the E-PM1 I’d brought along. Then we got out the Sony NEX-7 and put it in electronic first curtain mode, its quietest setting, and the E-M5 was quieter than that as well. Very impressive. The E-M5 is likely to be an excellent street camera.”

    1. Being quieter than the E-PM1 wouldn’t be hard. My number one gripe about the Mini. Can wake a sleeping baby…

    2. There is one of the video showing comparing shooting speeds and the shutter noise of the E-P3 was significantly lower, but it could just be the position of the microphones ?

  24. I appreciate that the high ISO pictures are of a realistic light level to require that sensitivity. I don’t really care about gradations of very dark colors in a daylight lit scene. These show me how a picture I might take would look.

    1. The bicolor model suits the pyramidal shape better, that’s why.. But I’d like a white cover looking less retro than the black leatherette.

  25. I think it is fair at this stage to say the E-M5 has been positively received by the main review sites… just have to wait and see what their detailed reviews say, but a promising start. Long live m43.

  26. I think I am sold to the OM-D series. If not this iteration, probably the next. But what to do with my huge and heavy E-3 and my amazing SWD lens??? Though choices…..

    1. Keep it, for superior ergonomy and optical quality, and wait for the E-7 that’s going to have the same sensor and IBIS.

  27. Just e-mailed Olympus N. America and Japan: Hopefully we can have some explanations/ clarifications/ thoughts. E-mail as follows.

    Dear Olympus, I’ve held out hope for you since the e-300 in 2004, and thought the E-M5 would have been the day you became mainstream and adopted by many, but just like the let down of not releasing the futuristic E-3 Body design and not implementing video on the e-330, you’ve come up with the first of designs, but for some reason lacked what people are looking for.
    The e-300 different viewfinder style, kind of neat, small and dark….but affordable. The camera that got me into video and a huge fan of DSLRs, couldn’t wait for video to take up this form.
    The E-330, first live view DSlr, should have been able to record video. The articulating LCD screen was innovative, but not innovative enough to buy over an e-300.
    The E-3, from the mockups I saw it had a curved battery grip, super cool, but you decided to go with the traditional square grip design…I have no idea why. You had almost 2 years from the E-330 to the E-3 to implement at least some form of video but didn’t. Lame.
    The E-5. You had two years to at least match the 5D mkII video specs, but couldn’t come close and could only manage 1280 x 720 @ 30fps, compared to 24fps or 30fps @ 1920 x 1080 of the Canon 5DMKII.

    Today you’ve released a let down of a camera, although the body is cool, and the 5 axis IS is way cool, you almost completely ignore the video aspect of this camera. While I don’t know the exact specs of this camera due to conflicting sources, I haven’t seen 24fps listed anywhere.
    People like me who are in the video field know DSLRs are the way of the future and traditional camcorders are out. This is what you’ve missed in the video market. 24fps, 25fps, 30fps, 50fps, 60fps. Option of 1920 x 1080 and 1280 x 720 for all frame rates, along with record time limited to size of memory card, instead of avoiding European taxes by limiting recording lengths. The current videographers don’t want to use should mount cameras anymore, we know small cameras can beat the quality of the large cameras and are waiting on a company to set the standards of future video. Right now Canon probably has the video category pretty secure with Panasonic close behind, but you and Panasonic use the same mount, why not combine your forces to beat Canon in the video game? The M4/3 system has a smaller sensor than Canon. If you want to stick with the 4/3 sensors, which is fine with the upcoming Panasonic lenses, but the software side of your system needs to be pushed much further. Thanks to people like Vitaliy_Kiselev and the people working with him to hack the GH2 we can see the potential of the 4/3 system. Why aren’t they a part of PanOly? Users want to be able to customize their cameras, we aren’t stupid, we know there is more potential in the cameras than we are given.
    I hope the implementation of 24fps is applied to the M5 before the official release. You have great ideas, but are almost always lacking with ideas, that while may be difficult to execute, seem like common sense steps from a consumers point of view.

    1. Seriously? You sent that? Olympus is a company focused on great glass and still images. They are not what you want if video is your game. They will likely never be – they can’t possibly compete with the R&D of a Panasonic or Canon AND make high-quality cameras for stills. Their imaging department just isn’t that big.

      Your mail is going to right in their trash box, sorry to say.

    2. It’s a bit too late, or rather way too early, for the annual airing of grievances. What’s next? The feats of strength?

    3. I believe a condition of Olympus using Panasonic’s sensor is to not have a better video mode than Panasonic. The best Panasonic sensor from the GH2 is witheld from Olympus. This G3 sensor simply cannot produce the quality of video that the GH2 sensor can. If you want fantastic video you need to buy the GH2 or wait for the GH3 at Photokina.

    4. I believe a condition of Olympus using Panasonic’s sensor is to not have a better video mode than Panasonic. The best Panasonic sensor from the GH2 is witheld from Olympus. This G3 sensor simply cannot produce the quality of video that the GH2 sensor can. If you want fantastic video you need to buy the GH2 or wait for the GH3.

      1. I’ve already got a GH2, I pre-ordered it a month or two before it came out. It’s a shame that consumers don’t want companies to be as good as possible and accept limitations.

        To Steve: “They could easily be what I want, just put a true 24fps, 30fps, and 60fps.”

        To TheEye: agreed, although what I’m asking for could possibly be added in firmware. I don’t know this for certain sense I haven’t worked on the project, but it looks like the sensor doesn’t refresh at 60fps so 60fps could be out for legitimate reasons.

        To James: I haven’t seen that information public anywhere before…although it certainly does make sense.

        Maybe if more people requested these updates and gave some reasons why they are necessary we could see more progress than the slow upgrades we have now…although I admit the 5 axis stabilization is really cool…but if Panasonic continues on their path we will only have lens IS. It would be very nice to have a camera system that used IBIS and had good video modes. I’m telling you, people into video don’t want the big cameras that you’ve seen in sports and news, we want small ones. Which ever camera manufacture that can incorporate a good video camera into a DSLR will do very well, or at least keep people from changing systems. Olympus has not succeeded in that aspect with this camera.

        We have over 1000 users judging from the polls I see on 43 rumors, why not join together to try and make change?

        Certainly many voices are stronger than one persons.

        Eric.

        1. Eric, if it was a matter of “Just” putting in some video modes they would be there. I suspect this is not an insignificant technical challenge and there is likely some considerable costs involved. As Olympus’s game is stills with video very low on the list of considerations, why not focus your limited resources where they are best suited?

          It’s the same philosophy Olympus had with the E-System. They will never be able to compete in the megapixel race, so why try? Focus on image processing, durable cameras, and great optics.

          1. The fact is that Olympus put some real effort into developing the video mode on this one, which makes it disappointing that they didn’t take the small steps necessary to make it a viable option. The video-capable IBIS is an awesome feature, one which probably wasn’t easy to do properly. They put a zoom-rocker on the kit lens. They sell a hotshoe mic. They clearly are interested in catering to the video market.

            The features which make this an appealing stills camera also appeal to video users. Weather-sealing is a big deal, and a great draw over the GH2. Same with the IBIS. People are disappointed with the video mode’s failings because they had been excited about the camera’s potential. A couple small changes (which could be changed in firmware) could’ve made this camera a real contender in the video market.

    5. Well I don’t think there are that many people who want video. I don’t want to be limited in still shooting by concession made to video shooters. If the video specs are important for you, get a true video camera. We want a camera excelling in taking stills, video is secondary in a still camera.

  28. If it had pop-up flash and full swivel screen, I’d buy it.
    Waiting for PEN Pro or GH3.
    ps – the hump is 3/8″ too tall! yes, it matters 😉

    1. There are certainly many people who buy DSLRs primarily for video. Just because it has no interest to you doesn’t mean there aren’t that many. I’ve heard people complain about video features taking away from the still funnctions many times and I don’t understand why. If the video features are good enough more videographers will buy the camera and spend more money not only on the camera but the lens system also. More cameras bought, the more money can be put into research….or at least help ensure a system survives.
      Video is important but why should I have to buy a dedicated video camera? Having dedicated video systems takes away resources that could be dedicated towards DSLRs if the divisions were combined.
      We want a camera that is excelling in both stills and video. Video is secondary in a still camera….but this is NOT just a still camera.

  29. I’m really not getting all the hump hate. It only looks big because the rest of the body is small. It’s only a tiny bit taller than the G3 or GH2.

  30. What an excellent camera. I’m pretty sure that it will blow away both D4 and D800. We no longer care about these bulky and pricy FF anlymore ! Bravo EM-5

    Thank a lot for our Admin. Good job !!!!!!!!!!!

    1. “It’s the first mirrorless camera with a magnesium alloy body”

      Are they serious? Nex 5N & Nex 7 didn’t come to mind..

      1. I think the statement was right. It reads “magnesium alloy+weatherproof+dustproof”. I think that’s what he meant by “first” on any mirrorless cameras.

        “It’s the first mirrorless camera with a magnesium alloy body—weatherproof and dustproof, yo!”

      2. Very serious CAMERA , dont compare sony NEX with even epm1 , thats awfull, NEX are cameras for only point and shot, imposible to work in manual, with a simple stabilization system,and the only good thing is the ISO , but i hate the colors of the nex TOO INEXPRESIVE COLORS !!!
        I have one , and im really crazy to sell it , i dont like at all !!

      3. I think the Nex-7has “just” a magnesium top/front around its internal frame(back/bottom is plastic). The E-M5 however is built like the E-1/3/5 which means a full magnesium body/frame, which is much more rigid. I remember it was demonstrated during the release of the E-3 or E-5 by standing on the body with your full weight.

        1. Why do people get offended when we talk about other brands? I’m torn between the Nex 7 and E-M5. I need ISO 3,200 on occasion, I will have to wait for the tests. Weather proofing was the best decision Olympus made and is a huge plus.

          Anyway, thanks for the clarification guys, but this does prove that the reviewer was mistaken, as Ulli states that the E-5 has a magnesium body and I did a search and seems it’s weatherproof too.

          1. E-5 isn’t mirrorless.
            PS People aren’t offended…they’re just correcting you.
            Nex-7 is great cam but will look more tempting this time next year. Apparently Sony will offer 6-7 new lenses through out the year. Right now the lens line up for nex system looks thin.

        2. I bet the E-M5 doesn’t have a full Mg body like the E5. I have seen 5 clips and pics of the E-M5 Mg frame and all they ever show is the top and the front (as 2 separate pieces). Seems strange that it never occurs to them to show the back section, like they always do with the E3 or E5 Mg frames.

      4. Magnesium body of NEX is nothing but a marketing hype. There is a reason that DM-D has a magnesium body. – outdoor usage. The best backpacking camera ever with many wide angle lenses. Does NEX has any good wide lens? No.

  31. Even though this camera was hyped up, I’m not feeling any of the let-down I felt after the E-5 release. This looks like a solid upgrade but the two new lenses are what I am really excited about

  32. Nice camera look forward to some image reviews. Will be interesting to see what Panasonic comes out with in the GH3 and if I can hold on to my cash long enough to find out.

  33. I’m sold, especially on the weatherproofing and the size. Love the black and silver. This will sound trite, but will go really well with a Rolex Submariner! My kids are getting better at skiing now, and I really want this on my shoulder in NZ by July. The controls look to me like I can handle them with gloves on. I think a microphone purchase is coming as well. The new kit lens will be great on a ski field, plenty of light around there!

    Gonna plan a side-trip through Singapore on the way to get it, if I can wait that long……

    1. Checked out the different ISO images. Looks useable to ISO6400. Currently I limit my E-PL1 to ISO1600, or ISO800 if I want to do prints. This will make the kit lens quite useful!

  34. Pre-ordered black body and grip.
    I’ve been waiting for this since I put down my OM-4T and Motor Drive 2 after 20 years with the OM system………..
    Since I first used an E-10, my first digital camera, this is the camera I knew Olympus could make.
    Olympus, thank you so much!

    1. Indeed … they took their sweet time though!!
      I better start redeeming those mountains of aluminum cans I have here, ME WANT, drool drool drool drool

  35. Generally speaking, it looks like an excellent small camera. Having said that, I am really interested to see just how much better dynamic range will be with the new sensor – that’s the big one for me. Unless it is considerably better than previous sensors, I’m not interested. Other factors of lessor but still considerable importance will be just how well it handles higher ISO, low light shooting and how well it focusses in low light situations. If Olympus has ticked all these areas then I’m certainly interested!

    1. If it’s only 1/3 EV improvement over old 12MP sensor then it’s below G3/GX1 sensor which has half EV better DR.

  36. I’ve just seen the preview in dpreview and the size comparisons with the G3 and the EOS 1100 are revealing, it’s actually very small! I love my GH2, but at this point I would probably prefer the E-M5

  37. it will be interesting to see if this delivers autofocus that can track birds in flight…. I know not important to all but …….

      1. Du you know for a fact how the new tracking AF works?
        It has been said that it recognizes patterns in the subjects and track these. It can even track accelerating motion. And it analyzes how the patterns change size to track motion towards or away from the camera. I don’t think conventional CDAF does all this.

        1. However, none of the wuick previews even tried to track something moving. Maybe Olympus didn’t give permission to do that? Honestly, this focussing on a static object while the camera is perfectly still too – doesn’t make sense as a test.

  38. Sorry Panasonic you just didn’t get it and wanted to spread out your technology to different series of cameras and not putting it all into one. RIP GF1 hello Olympus.

  39. Intervalometer at last!

    I hope the bracketing shooting was implemented right this time (One click to shoot them all).

    1. are you using sequential drive mode? it is one click (keep button pressed) to shoot the brackets. That doesn’t suit you?

  40. dpreview.com classified the E-M5 to be at “enthusiast level”. Obviously they see it one level below professional. Show me, please, one single professional photographer in the whole world who is not characterized through some kind of enthusiasm!

    Maybe the E-M5 is the ideal tool for full-time professionals such as dedicated wedding photographers and reporters of all kind of coverage. What really matters is weight. If the equipment is too heavy, you are not going to use it. What really matters is the sound level of the shutter. Gizmodo (see link above) tells us the shutter of E-M5 is more silent than NEX cameras, and very silent “even at machine-gunning” .

    I would not be surprised if the MMF-3 adapter (ZD lenses on mFT bodies) had been the very last component to be ever announced for the FourThirds system. Any rumors about the future of non-micro FourThirds?

    1. There was some controversy about their categorisation of certain cameras as “enthusiast” and others as “pro”, I think their logic is; any pro will be using FF, so the M4/3 camera that a Pro would buy would be a very compact one (GX1 etc) and they have categorised all Built in EVF M4/3 cameras as enthusiast on the basis that they are a whole system, not a “spare camera”

      or something

      I would argue that weight (to a point) is not a concern for Pro level photographers.

      1. > I would argue that weight (to a point) is not a concern for Pro level photographers.
        Yep, some 150 grams more weight is meaningless if it gives built in proper size grip (+high capacity battery inside it) and proper controls instead of those crammed into left over space.
        Actually because of oversize LCD for body size (decide if you want camera or travel TV!) high end body itself would have to be wider.

        That specified battery life of 650 shots with TWO batteries is awfully low for enthusiast/high end use.

    2. Dpreview sees all 43/m43 as at least 1 level below. They are one of the few sites I will not be visit for full reviews. They must hate the fact that people buy them and many pros use them. I think they are stuck in an anti 43 paradigm. They and some others who will write as if 43 m43 is below them. These sites could not understand live view, articulated screens (Look at the E330 reviews) and even mirrorless! Horror of horrors and EVF, or OVF only covers 95%. They are dragged yelling and screaming into reality. I don’t know what they would have said about my old SR7 and SRT101!

      1. I read the full GH1 review on dpreview before bying it and it didn’t give up because of the review, to the contrary…

    3. Mr Terada is quoted in an interview linked at the top of this article as saying:

      “We continue to be firmly supporting the E-system”

      1. They always say this. But they never say: “We will be developing the E-system”!

        You can probably hope for an E-7 with the EM-5 sensor, and that’s it.

  41. I think this is a great camera! No disappointment here. Although I would have liked to see the kit with the 14-42 available here in NL as well. It would have saved me some money for prime lenses. But I guess the 12-50 has its advantages (12mm, macro, weather sealing).

    Looks like a great user! 😀

  42. Looks nice. the Lumix G3 side by side shots on DPReview assuage my concerns about bulk

    As for the cost; Weather sealing is certainly worth something although you’ll need to be using a weather sealed lens I guess, I’m not totally convinced about the controls though, will need to handle/fondle one to see. Styling hits the target for me (ex OM10 owner) but I’m still not convinced that I’m going to pay twice the price of my (already great) G3 for the difference between the two … once prices have dropped towards the end of the year though I rekon Santa may put one of these in my stocking, along with the 60mm macro! Rumours of a scuba housing are also welcome to me.

  43. I have only had a quick shufty, but does anyone know what the X_Sync will be for this body? MY E-PL1 is down to 1/160 second and even this is not fast enough when using off camera flash to capture BMX and SK8 photos. TIA, DJ 😉

    1. As I posted earlier.
      Dpreview sees all 43/m43 as at least 1 level below. They are one of the few sites I will not be visit for full reviews. They must hate the fact that people buy them and many pros use them. I think they are stuck in an anti 43 paradigm. They and some others who will write as if 43 m43 is below them. These sites could not understand live view, articulated screens (Look at the E330 reviews) and even mirrorless! Horror of horrors and EVF, or OVF only covers 95%. They are dragged yelling and screaming into reality. I don’t know what they would have said about my old SR7 and SRT101!

    1. If there is no big firmware update planned for higher bitrate and 24p, the GH2 will be still better in this area I think. I also doubt there is a fantastic GH2 crop mode (ETC) available on Oly.
      Another disadvantages for me are:
      – not fully articulating screen (can’t shoot pictures of myself)
      – capacitive screen (cannot use with gloves)
      – 30 min limit
      – don’t see any 14-140mm comparable kit

      But the big advantage for me is the body image stabilization, sealing and two dials.
      Still think the GH3 will make a bigger step in m43 technology.

      1. the m.zuiko 14-150 is comparable to 14-140:
        it is msc (movie still compatible) – smaller and lighter and cheaper (without OIS obviously)
        not a bad lens at all, it comes as a kit with most if not all pen models. Might not come with E-M5 though…

        1. Thanks, I returned one GH2 when found the issue with horizontal line/bar that appears with high ISO in dark areas of movie … now finding the good one 🙂
          OM-D looks ok but the crop feature and overall movie quality on GH2 keeps me from looking at Oly 🙂
          And the GH2 stills quality is good for me – it limits me much less than my own shooting abilities 🙂

    1. *Sign*

      Me too. I really hope to see somethink like focus peaking on EM-5. I have lots of manual focus lens. For now, I should stay with NEX, at least until Oly offers an assisting tool for manual focus system like NEX, Nikon, or Canon.

      1. They do offer this, it’s the zoom magnification. It works great and I use it with my old Contax G lenses and my Voigtlander 40/1.4 all the time.

    2. I was hoping it was able to super-impose a magnified view on the frame… but looks like that didnt happen. It’s a bit hard to shoot on the street with a legacy lens and only the magnified view seen on your screen

  44. As I’m a 3:2 shooter, that’s big news (if true!) OM-D seems to have MULTI APSPECT SENSOR, SO rather a modified GH-2 sensor, not bad!

    kirk tuck wrote today:

    “So I asked a few probing questions. As you can see from the specs the sensor is 16 megapixels. I wanted to know if, similar to the Panasonic sensor in the GH2, you could use other aspect ratios such as 16:9 and 3:2 without losing resolution. The answer I got was “yes.” All but the 1:1 aspect ratio. If this is true (and I have no reason not to believe it) this will make me happy.”

  45. New words in English?
    * the Hump = E-M5
    * humping time = quality photographic time with the Hump

    Ok — although I personally would like to see a much reduced size of the hump, I have (quickly?) reconciled myself with it for the following reason: I accept the explanation that the new IBIS system takes so much space that it was (for now) not possible to reduce it — and keep the hotshoe.

    Still, I think it should be reduced in the future! It is towering like the Paramount mountain in the intro of Indiana Jones movies!

  46. On the OM-D site you can see some see-through renderings of the hump/EVF.
    I think there is clearly enough space to have included a built in popup flash.

    Otherwise they could have used the wasted space to put in a bigger EVF or some nifty folded design with real prisma to magnify the view to 1.2 maybe even 1.4 or so.

    Will Olympus ever support 25p/50i. The world isn’t just NTSC. We need PAL compatibility too. Guess I’ll need a GH2/GH3 for video however I do like E-M5 styling and all that.

    1. Just checked the Olympus UK website and no PAL framerates shown. However I’ve noticed that specs on camera manufacturer websites are not always reliable for the first week or two – they get updated and corrected. Nevertheless, if this camera is not offered with 25p/50p then I can’t buy it. Bitrates are not great either but need to see some video before making a judgement.

  47. Hmmm… It’s smaller than a E-P3 + VF2 in almost all dimensions! …and it’s weather sealed. I’ve bought the E-P3 for climbing, but now I’ll have to start thinking 🙂

  48. Not clear if HDMI out works in live view to shot and record video ¿?
    or only playback same pen and E-5 cameras

  49. Great design, I like the silver version too! Nice Leatherette!

    Thank you Olympus! Looks like a very interesting camera!

    1. yeah this lens sounds intriguing…bet it’ll be super sharp. The new 75mm sounds sexy and will get all the attention but this 60mm might be for me.

  50. I think the OM-D does look miles better than the Pens.. But Mr Oly man, please can we have lenses in black… I keep putting off buying the 45 1.8 in case it comes out in black! Same with the others.

    1. +1
      Yeah, black, matt and no glittering chrome!

      BTW, fast f2.0 mFT Top-Pro-Zooms (12-35, 35-100) WANTED! All metal-build, PLEASE!

      Cheers

    1. It’s not much bigger and that’s definitely not all:

      1. It has 5 axis IBIS that works with all lenses.
      2. Dual control wheels and several assignable buttons.
      3. Tracking AF
      4. Acessory port
      5. Optional grips
      6. Magnesium alloy body

  51. OLYMPUS E-M5 not for videomakers,
    but if I were just a photography enthusiast would be the right choice.
    I love the design, looks like a war machine!
    Next step: waiting for GH3!

    1. +1
      videofunctions couldn´t been any worse
      all I wanted from oly was

      PEAKING
      1080 50/60p
      28mbit/s or maybe a little more
      the stabilization they have could make the EM-5 better than GH2 in all areas.. but It´s just better for photographers..

      1. Exact, peakingcould also not be strictly necessary, Tilting LCD is all right, EVF is so good, 5-axis stabilization is much throat, 20Mbit/s could be fine if the image quality was superior to GH2 (as read somewhere), but without 60p and 24p is not going anywhere

      2. yes, stabilization of all manual lens is a blow to GH2,
        I see difficult to IS integrate in body GH3 to counterattack

        1. Why “counter-attack”? Are they competing with their own partners?!

          They better target Fuji or someone else. New batteries, PLEASE! 😉

  52. Questions that remain (for me at least):

    1. Somewhere I read: Pre-order SILVER body with BLACK 12-50mm. Instead of Siver/Silver. This seems odd… hope it’s a mistake and they don’t choose to always bundle the black lens and make the silver lens a separate purchase only!

    2. The Japanese deal mmf-3 or 32GB SD card. The page is only Japanese at the moment afaik. I’m really curious, though, whether all of us will have access to that deal or not. Bummer if not!

    1. Pretty sure you need an address in Japan. I’ve done the deal previously for the E-P1 and E-P3. Pretty sweet, since you can pre-order the camera on a site like Amazon and then send Olympus your receipt and tab off the retail box when the camera arrives. Got myself the MMF-1 first time and a 32GB card the second. Assuming I pre-order the E-M5, I’m not quite sure what to grab this time. I don’t own any 43 lenses, so the new adapter, although weather sealed, isn’t that attractive to me.

    2. Ya, you have to be in Japan to get that deal. And it’ll be under Japanese warranty with a Japanese only instruction manual. I live here, and I got my EP3 with the wooden grip special offer.

  53. I think it’s really ugly and all the parts on the back just don’t look right. I have an OM1 and it’s nicer to look at the this!

    Dissapointed I avoided the Nex 7 for so long!

  54. The VF2 viewfinder is shit. Anybody able to find anything anywhere to suggest that the viewfinder in this isn’t? No review I can find actually talks about response, colour rendition, etc. It’s as though reviewers are a bunch of scrubs.

    1. You didn’t look hard enough, scrub. 😛

      120fps maximum EVF display rate in still shooting with 29ms display lag enables sequential shooting display with minimal viewfinder delay (default frame rate is 60fps, adjustable to 120fps).

  55. Also. Also. The OM series aren’t considerably larger and managed to fit a roll of film in the back. And the Zuiko lenses were tiny, including the (excellent) zooms. Why can’t Olympus just recreate that small size body, huge viewfinder but with a digital sensor? I don’t really get it.

    1. did you see,at all, how small actually E-M5 is?

      also m43 zuikos can’t be the same size as OM zuikos because they have to fit focusing motor in m43 zuikos

    2. The OM series also didn’t have to fit tons and tons of electronics in the body. If it were as easy as “mount a sensor in a film body” everyone would have done that 10 years ago.

  56. I am impressed and will decide whether to buy depending on reviews.
    I think Olympus have continued their system camera tradition with this release and i think should be congratulated.
    I am also considering the Fuji Pro. But it is yet unclear which non-fuji lenses could be adopted and how to use manual focus with that camera.
    The Olympus system will be cheaper and offer probably very good image quality accessories and operability.
    The Fuji system will be expensive and also likely offer offer superior image quality.
    It all depends on time and money for me.
    Both are tempting.

  57. I liked that interviews of Mr.Tarada. 🙂

    No blendtech, no bullshit!

    For the first time Olympus appear to be taking things more seriously.

    Look forward to using the EM-5! Everything is looking fabulous so far! 🙂

  58. Seems to be a nice photo camera over all, but who messed up the video mode so terribly? 60i/30p/60p formats only even for the cameras to be sold in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia or most countries of South America? Hey, we are 50Hz country! That’s a deal breaker.
    I never thought Olympus might repeat the mistake Panasonic made with the GH2: It needed a lot of protests from all over the world to make them rethink their ridiculous “No 25p” decision and finally the new firmware added it – better late than never. I really hope Olympus is going to offer 50i/25p/50p before the E-M5 hits the shelves. It should be noted that a lot of people are buying m4/3 only for shooting video, so this feature is much more important than digital effects for photos or other toy functions.

      1. Yes, many video enthusiasts in PAL countries can’t consider this camera, nice as it is, until the appropriate frame rates are provided. I like it but Olympus must seriously consider a firmware update to allow 25p or even 50p if possible. Otherwise they will simply lose potential customers.

        1. Different frame rates should be possible with a firmware update. Didn’t Panasonic fix the GH-1 frames rates with firmware? Alternatively, we could all pitch in and buy a couple of these for Vitaliy ;-).

    1. Amen. Will make for a excellent journalist camera. But the rest of the world needs PAL version.

      My editor likes the video from my E-P2 with PanaLeica 25/1.4 and 50/2.0 macro but hates the 30p. Will even hate me more if I get this over a GH2.

    1. True! I hoped they would team up with Oympus and show the new weather-sealed pro lenses with m43 first weathersealed “pro” camera. Would be nice, but unlikely. And then they drop some tidbits about the GH3 …

      1. If waiting to photokina to present this lens, i think bad politic of Panasonic,
        if i have 1000€ to spend, i buy now 12-35mm now, if not disposable to buy lens i use this money to buy E-M5 and not possible buy future GH3.

    2. I would prefer Olympus faster F2.0 mFT-versions (12-35 and 35-100 mm) of their FT-Top-Pro-Line (14-35/35-100 mm)!

      And, I miss a F2.0 10 mm, too!

      Matt-black and all metal-build!

      PRO = pro-camera + fast pro-lenses!

  59. Disappointed.

    no built in flash
    no focus peaking
    no PDAF ( via sensor or adapter )
    no proper grip ( with addon grip, camera’s much larger )
    no ISO 100
    no articulated screen, just tilt
    no high speed sync ( my E-PL1’s 1/160 ISO 100 is better than E-M5’s 1/250 ISO 200 )
    no AVCHD
    no HDR
    no in camera panorama
    no buy

    I didn’t expect revolution – organic sensor, magic viewfinder, etc. but I expected flagship model to carry older models’ features and some other interesting functions competitors have introduced. Built in EVF, better sensor, IS and AF are nice, but my 1300 euros are going Nokton 17.5mm F0.95 way.

    I’ll skip E-M5, I’m keeping E-PL1 and looking forward to price drops of 2011 bodies and E-ML5 announcement in a few months time.

  60. To buy or not to buy…..
    As G3 owner I see the EM5 tops the G3 in every aspect except image quality. My main reason to change camera is for improved IQ. Sure though that the EM5 is lots more pleasant to work with. The results will probably be similar, maybe a nudge better from EM5.

  61. Many of those minuses listed above are just differences of opinions and need or just plain nitpicking.
    Only features one could miss on a casual occasion is flash, in camera HDR and Panorama. as that would save us from the need to do this in PP, even for less important photo occasions.

    Even HDR can be avoided since we now have a live curves feature that can eliminate 50% of my PP work. And it will probably be recorded into RAW, something HDR function is not doing.

    Do you guys think that we can bring down or pull up the midpoint on the curves graph with finger? 🙂

  62. I like this camera. My only quibble is the lack of a fully-articulating screen. However, with the extra-large LCD, I understand why the design had to go with a tilt-screen instead of a fully-articulating screen.

    1. Paging poster Michael Meissner!

      How was it that you configured a remote viewing screen for Oly cameras?

      Given that the EM-5 does not have a fully-articulating screen, I’ll need some type of remote viewing mechanism to frame shots while holding the camera out over ledges, buildings, bridges, etc.

  63. Wow, nice. I like the IBIS, improved sensor (I hope!), EVF, tilting LCD, and Oly JPEGs. Here’s hoping the test results are commensurate with the feature set.

    I think would’ve made the $$stretch for this over the G3, if it’d been out last summer. As it is, I don’t think I’ll trade in the G3, but I’m glad to see the scene staying competetive and I’m looking forward to where this might drive things when I’m ready to upgrade in a year or two.

  64. Olympus should strike the privileges of the PhoneyBlowgrapher and give Admin some cred by donating him a full E-M5 kit like they gave Robin Wong an E-5 for popularizing Olympus.

    Hands on “fondling” time??? I’ve seen kids showing Lego or Star Wars toys more respect on Ytube going over all the cool new features.

    The Phoneyblabber merely tosses the camera around and is joking with others about a conveyor belt? Get real or get lost man.

    1. “Olympus should strike the privileges of the PhoneyBlowgrapher and give Admin some cred by donating him a full E-M5 kit like they gave Robin Wong an E-5 for popularizing Olympus.”

      Yes. I concur.

  65. Cuantas más quejas sobre los 24p y los 25p y que aumenten al bitrate a 35 mbps como mínimo seguro que los japoneses sacan un firmware lo mismo que hizo Panasonic con la gh2.
    Vitaliy no quiere hackear esta cámara porque no puede ya que el firmware se actualiza por internet, no como en la Panasonic que era un simple archivo.
    Además creo que Vitaliy no sabe nada sobre esta cámara. Tienen que ser desde fábrica la modificación.

  66. The more complaints about 24p and 25p and increase the bitrate to 35 mbps at least certain that the Japanese take a firmware as he did with the Panasonic GH2.
    Vitaliy does not want to hack this camera because it can not because the firmware is updated online, not like in the Panasonic was a simple.
    Plus I think Vitaliy knows nothing about this camera. They must be from the factory modification.

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