E-M5 Owner - Comments, Critique, Reviews, and what-nots :-)

[Oly5050]

OK after shooting more, a few more things to note :

1. Fingertip grip : I realize that without the grip, the best way to hold the camera is not the traditional way like a DSLR. After all this is not a DSLR, but an OM-D. Haha...in any case, I find that the best way for me to hold the camera is actually to hold it with the tips of my thumb, and the rest of the fingers. Basically, I put my thumb on the thumb rest, and the tips of the fingertips on the front of the camera. My palm is not touching the camera.

2. OK, I made a mistake. tsammyc just highlighted this in a post above. When you switch off the EVF eye sensor, which I did, because I found that whenever I wanted to use the touch screen function, the eye sensor gets activated inadvertently and my screen goes out. Crazy. So I decided to turn it off. And when you do that, and press the EVF toggle button, you CAN preview the shots that you have taken thru the EVF. Oh happiness and thanks, tsammyc!


3. Do you all find the direction of the on-off switch a bit wierd? On the E5's you flick down to ON, but now in the E-M5, you flick up instead. I found it a little strange coming from the E5. In any case, minor issue.

 

[snip3r]

Kai reviewed the OM-D

[video=youtube_share;vlngvkBxLME]http://youtu.be/vlngvkBxLME[/video]

 

[tsammyc]

OK after shooting more, a few more things to note :

1. Fingertip grip : I realize that without the grip, the best way to hold the camera is not the traditional way like a DSLR. After all this is not a DSLR, but an OM-D. Haha...in any case, I find that the best way for me to hold the camera is actually to hold it with the tips of my thumb, and the rest of the fingers. Basically, I put my thumb on the thumb rest, and the tips of the fingertips on the front of the camera. My palm is not touching the camera.


2. OK, I made a mistake. tsammyc just highlighted this in a post above. When you switch off the EVF eye sensor, which I did, because I found that whenever I wanted to use the touch screen function, the eye sensor gets activated inadvertently and my screen goes out. Crazy. So I decided to turn it off. And when you do that, and press the EVF toggle button, you CAN preview the shots that you have taken thru the EVF. Oh happiness and thanks, tsammyc!


3. Do you all find the direction of the on-off switch a bit wierd? On the E5's you flick down to ON, but now in the E-M5, you flick up instead. I found it a little strange coming from the E5. In any case, minor issue.

That fingertip grip is not an Oly original idea. It's from an optional accessory used by Leica and Fuji users. They claim it adds 1-2 stops of stability to a Leica. Haha. I hold the OMD the same way as you. I actually find an EVF on top like the EP3's VF2 or the NEX-5N EVF better because with the OMD, I have to hold the camera unnaturally high when I look through the viewfinder and it can be tiring on the arms.

While I'm happy at being able to view playback through the EVF, you have to press 2 buttons to get it there while shooting. The play button then the live view button. When you are shooting, the thumb is next to the live view button (on the side of the EVF), but the rubber cup from the EVF makes the button effectively in a valley and its very difficult to press with the side of the thumb. I have to use my fingernail (seems like some other people are resorting to this as well). This is an ergonomic mistake. Generally, the buttons don't have a positive feel and are tiny. I might try the optional grip to improve things....

No problems with the on/off switch.

 

[rhema83]

Actually, the E-M5 shutter release is already quite muted. The PENs are actually much louder with a more pronounced "clack". And as you know, these are just the shutter without the mirror slap. The E-M5, is more muted. But can you check, maybe the reason why you feel the shutter is "resonating", maybe because you are unknowingly taking double exposures. It happened to me this evening again. I had changed my multiple exposure to 9 fps (high) from 5 fps (low) because I wanted to show it to some people. Later on, when I was taking photos, I kept thinking, wah the shutter got quite some vibration. Then I realized I was shooting double exposures and the shutter was going twice...but its so fast, you think its just a very "heavy" shutter. Once I turned it down to 5ps, it was back to normal.

I am very sure it was a single shot. I don't mean that the shutter actuation reverberates (i.e. echoes). What I mean is the actuation causes an impact to transmit from the shutter to my hands (and face when using the EVF). It's like putting your hand on the wall when somebody is hammering a nail into that wall. The sturdy wall doesn't vibrate much, but you can feel the blunt impact: thud, thud, thud. It is the same for the OM-D shutter.

Now that I thought about it, my 60D exhibited the same "impact" when in live view shooting mode, but the effect is significantly smaller. Mind you, this is very different from the mirror slap of a DSLR in that it doesn't transmit through the air. Therefore only the photographer himself can feel it. So it has no impact on the discreetness of the camera. In fact the lack of mirror slap is already a great leap in terms of stealth capability!

Just to add, it is VERY hard to take a single shot when in high speed continuous mode. 9fps is extremely quick. I won't even try, especially when the correct technique is to hold down the shutter button until the shot is over.

At the moment I set my EVF's eye sensor on and set the image review to 1 sec. So immediately after the shot, it will appear in the EVF for 1 sec unless I half-press the shutter again. That should be good enough to see if the shot is a bad failure and needs to be retaken. If more detailed inspection is required, I will use the rear LCD screen.

The buttons are a bit small and spongy, but that is because Olympus needs to weather-seal the camera. The on/off level is awkward but it is not a show-stopper. The thumb dial is a little too far though. Need to stretch my thumb away from the thumb grip to access it.

 

[rhema83]

Kai reviewed the OM-D

[video=youtube_share;vlngvkBxLME]http://youtu.be/vlngvkBxLME[/video]

He spent a lot of time comparing the OM-D with the old film OM. Which is a shame because it is never meant to replace those classic SLRs. It only pays homage to them in terms of styling and the spirit of its technical design, to pack a big punch in a small body. Get pass the old attachments to the OM SLRs and one will realise that this OM-D is actually a damn fine camera.

 

[Johnbon]

He spent a lot of time comparing the OM-D with the old film OM. Which is a shame because it is never meant to replace those classic SLRs. It only pays homage to them in terms of styling and the spirit of its technical design, to pack a big punch in a small body. Get pass the old attachments to the OM SLRs and one will realise that this OM-D is actually a damn fine camera.

He probably got sentimental attachment to the old om. The pics he took look pretty darn good and he does like the ep3. Lok has an EP camera too. Probably if they called it ep4 his approach would be different.

 

[albertri]

He spent a lot of time comparing the OM-D with the old film OM. Which is a shame because it is never meant to replace those classic SLRs. It only pays homage to them in terms of styling and the spirit of its technical design, to pack a big punch in a small body. Get pass the old attachments to the OM SLRs and one will realise that this OM-D is actually a damn fine camera.

well you know Kai.... well atleast he's not that harsh compare to other system he just bluntly hate Sony

 

[Oly5050]

That fingertip grip is not an Oly original idea. It's from an optional accessory used by Leica and Fuji users. They claim it adds 1-2 stops of stability to a Leica. Haha. I hold the OMD the same way as you. I actually find an EVF on top like the EP3's VF2 or the NEX-5N EVF better because with the OMD, I have to hold the camera unnaturally high when I look through the viewfinder and it can be tiring on the arms.

Interesting...I din know that this fingertip grip thing is supposed to be more stable. Conceptually, it feels like you are just holding the camera daintily. In any case, Olympus has been emulating Leica quite a bit. In fact, that was one of the objectives, to be as good or like Leica. I had the opportunity to use some Leica lenses and I did realize that there were many things that Olympus emulated eg. the collapsible lens format (which I still do not like). Is there any reference on this finger tip hold concept from Leica?

Good point on the EVF location. Initially, I was not used to it and I put my eye to the level of the accessory port above and EVF and I wonder why the EVF is not looking. Then I realized that I am looking above the EVF!! Yah...maybe I might need to get a black VF2 in the future.

 

[Oly5050]

At the moment I set my EVF's eye sensor on and set the image review to 1 sec. So immediately after the shot, it will appear in the EVF for 1 sec unless I half-press the shutter again. That should be good enough to see if the shot is a bad failure and needs to be retaken. If more detailed inspection is required, I will use the rear LCD screen.

EVF PREVIEW

Damn...you are absolutely right about the EVF preview. You CAN set for shot preview as you described. Is that in the manual, because I went through it and I did not read about it.

So just to summarize, I set my EVF auto switch to off because I find that the sensor is too sensitive and it goes off if my hand is even momentarily above it, although it might be like 5 cm away. I now set my preview to 0.3 seconds. So if I select to use EVF, I will get a 0.3 second preview of my shot. Bad thing is that it increases the black out time, but like you say, just tap the shutter and it will go away. I think that is a nice compromise. BUT, to do a actual preview, I still need to press play and the EVF button. For some reason, it does not let you automatically play your shots on the EVF when it is on. I think we should all feedback this to Olympus and make sure that this is fixed in the next firmware.

 

[Oly5050]

Just to add, it is VERY hard to take a single shot when in high speed continuous mode. 9fps is extremely quick. I won't even try, especially when the correct technique is to hold down the shutter button until the shot is over.

Thank goodness, so its not just me.
Yup, 9 fps is really quick. Like I said before, I used to leave my shutters at high fps, and at about 5-6 fps cameras, my finger can control to just take one shot. But with 9 fps, I am not used to it. So it is set by default to fps low or 5 fps. That means that if I want it to take very fast multiple exposures, I will need to deliberately activate it, before I can use it. It is good and bad, I guess.

 

[CrimsonS]

Kai reviewed the OM-D

[video=youtube_share;vlngvkBxLME]http://youtu.be/vlngvkBxLME[/video]

Boring review. It should be renamed comparing of OM vs OMD which isn't technically right in the first place.

 

[rhema83]

Here is a photo to commemorate the acquisition of my first Leica-branded lens: the DG Summilux. Notice how nicely the chunky Summilux matches the black E-M5 body. This is the exact combo I have been looking for all this while! It not only looks gorgeous; the weight is very balanced as well. I can imagine how the Summilux mounted on smaller cameras like EPL and GF can make it feel very front-heavy.

So far the "rattlesnake" aperture phenomenon has not happened yet. I won't rule it out but I won't be frequently using this lens in bright daylight. It is really easy to hit the 1/4000s limit at f/1.4, even if you are already at ISO200. Get an ND filter if you intend to use it for thin DOF applications in the day.

The Olympus accessory on the lower left is the external flash which is included in the E-M5 kit.

By rhema83 at 2012-04-15

Did I say the E-M5 + Summilux look absolutely gorgeous?

 

[esoeij]

Here is a photo to commemorate the acquisition of my first Leica-branded lens: the DG Summilux. Notice how nicely the big Summilux matches the black E-M5 body. This is the exact combo I have been looking for all this while. So far the "rattlesnake" aperture phenomenon has not happened yet. I won't rule it out but I probably won't be using this lens in bright daylight. It is really easy to hit the 1/4000s limit at f/1.4, even if you are already at ISO200. Get an ND filter if you intends to use it for thin DOF applications in the day. Btw the Olympus accessory on the lower left is the external flash which is included in the E-M5 kit.

By rhema83 at 2012-04-15

Congrats! Can't see yr photo on my iPhone, but time to update yr signature!

 

[NiVleK]

Here is a photo to commemorate the acquisition of my first Leica-branded lens: the DG Summilux. Notice how nicely the chunky Summilux matches the black E-M5 body. This is the exact combo I have been looking for all this while! It not only looks gorgeous; the weight is very balanced as well. I can imagine how the Summilux mounted on smaller cameras like EPL and GF can make it feel very front-heavy.

So far the "rattlesnake" aperture phenomenon has not happened yet. I won't rule it out but I won't be frequently using this lens in bright daylight. It is really easy to hit the 1/4000s limit at f/1.4, even if you are already at ISO200. Get an ND filter if you intend to use it for thin DOF applications in the day.

The Olympus accessory on the lower left is the external flash which is included in the E-M5 kit.

By rhema83 at 2012-04-15

Did I say the E-M5 + Summilux look absolutely gorgeous?

You got it first hand? Can pm me the price and which shop?

 

[rhema83]

You got it first hand? Can pm me the price and which shop?

I bought it used.

SLRR quoted me $807 without hesitation, but is out of stock.

 

[laserzx]

Here is a photo to commemorate the acquisition of my first Leica-branded lens: the DG Summilux. Notice how nicely the chunky Summilux matches the black E-M5 body. This is the exact combo I have been looking for all this while! It not only looks gorgeous; the weight is very balanced as well. I can imagine how the Summilux mounted on smaller cameras like EPL and GF can make it feel very front-heavy.

So far the "rattlesnake" aperture phenomenon has not happened yet. I won't rule it out but I won't be frequently using this lens in bright daylight. It is really easy to hit the 1/4000s limit at f/1.4, even if you are already at ISO200. Get an ND filter if you intend to use it for thin DOF applications in the day.

The Olympus accessory on the lower left is the external flash which is included in the E-M5 kit.

By rhema83 at 2012-04-15

Did I say the E-M5 + Summilux look absolutely gorgeous?

Have anyone tried to fit the E-M5 + Summilux into the Black Rapid SnapR35. Thinking of getting this SnapR35 as a bag for E-M5.

 

[snip3r]

I bought it used.

SLRR quoted me $807 without hesitation, but is out of stock.

how's the rattlesnake on those lens that you have? care to share?

 

[As7eroidS]

mine:

 

[As7eroidS]

 

[hyperFocal]

When i first got the E-M5 and tested at home, the PL25 rattles quite loudly when alternately my aim between the table lamp fluorescent tube and a darker corner of the room. However, when i tried that again the next day, it didn't rattle as much. Now, it doesn't rattle at all. Strange. Lens break in?

Edit : oh, the rattle is back.

how's the rattlesnake on those lens that you have? care to share?