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

[Oly5050]

Problems with their cameras or problems with their hearing? :bsmilie:

I meant camera...
But maybe their hearing too sensitive too.

 

[Afroja86]

Putting together a thread for people who have just gotten their E-M5 cameras to put their thoughts and critiques about the camera down. I will start first. As usual, some photos of the camera and with various native m4/3 lenses.

 

[cannedpineapples]

Putting together a thread for people who have just gotten their E-M5 cameras to put their thoughts and critiques about the camera down. I will start first. As usual, some photos of the camera and with various native m4/3 lenses.

Where's your thread? Remember to add [ HOT!!! ]

 

[MrKang]

The following is my "first impression" review after playing with the E-M5 for a few hours:

Ergonomics
As the ex-owner of a Canon 60D, I find the Olympus E-M5 very compact. It is not as tiny as a Canon S95 but is still substantially smaller than any DSLR. Despite its small size, the E-M5 feels very dense and solid. It reminds me of the iPhone 4 and the unibody Macbook Pro. The textured grip and rear thumb rest make the E-M5 quite comfortable to hold, even one-handed. However, my fingers are long and so I find the rear buttons somewhat cramped. The thin body aggravates the problem and the results are painful right thumb joints after spending an hour or so pressing the rear directional buttons to explore the menus. Fortunately, the camera's buttons are very customisable and so I can map the most commonly used functions to the easily accessible top buttons (Fn2, REC, Fn1). Another gripe I have is the location of the right strap lug. It is annoying as I have to slot it between my index and middle fingers in order for me to access the top buttons comfortably. The included strap is hard and so it chaffs the softer skin between my fingers. The EVF takes time to get used to. In order to see the biggest image I selected Mode 3, but that also means overlaying all the info and icons on the image itself. This is very different from a 60D where the information is separate from the image. I also noticed the "hum" from the IBIS system, which sounds more like the spinning of a laptop exhaust fan. It is not loud and I soon forgot about it.

Performance
The sensor performance is as I expected from a flagship micro-4/3 camera. At ISO6400 the files are at least as good, if not better than my 60D. This makes using slower zoom lenses (e.g. the 12-50mm kit lens) more viable in dim lighting. However, I had trouble with the AWB under fluorescent lighting and the photos looked very yellowish. Turning off the "keep warm lighting" setting didn't help significantly and so I had to select the WB manually to achieve correct colours. The ESP metering is quite reliable under good lighting but can get iffy for high contrast scenes or under dim light. The 5-axis IBIS is positively awesome. With a half-press the shutter button, the image in the EVF immediately stops shaking. It compensates for at least 2 stops, maybe even more (1/10s exposure at 50mm is no issue). One thing I noticed is that the shutter feels "heavy". Each shutter actuation resonates in the entire camera, and feels even stronger than the mirror slap of my 60D. This is quite surprising considering that there is no mirror to flip.

Customisation
This is where the E-M5 really shines. Since it is uncomfortable to use the rear buttons, I mapped the most commonly used functions to the top buttons. For example, I assigned ISO to REC since I rarely take videos. I also assigned AF/MF selection to Fn1 and switched on Auto MF Assist. This way, accidentally touching the MF ring will not set off the 10x magnification while I am in S-AF mode, but that manual fine-tuning capability is easily accessible with one press of a button. I also customised many other things, from how the two control dials behave under each shooting mode to what menus to show. One can really tailor this camera to his needs and preferences. Sweet!

Overall
The E-M5 has given me a good first impression and I am satisfied with it so far. The real test will be my 3-week stint to Europe next month. In the meantime, I will add more stuff to this review as I discover more about the E-M5. Stay tuned!

By rhema83 at 2012-04-12

Reading your post make me feels more like to switch from 60D to EM-5. The only thing that stopping me is the EVF. I'll miss the true view.. Xp

 

[johncchooi]

Any bros collected their MMF3 or 32GB sd card alr?

 

[cannedpineapples]

U mean it doesn't come with the cam? Gotta get from Oly Sg?

 

[esoeij]

U mean it doesn't come with the cam? Gotta get from Oly Sg?

No they don't. They are not part of the standard package. The free gifts were a promo for early birds who pre-ordered. Yes must collect from Oly Sg.

Any bros collected their MMF3 or 32GB sd card alr?

I saw one MMF3 for sale in BnS already.

 

[Daniel Wee]

For those who were asking if the E-M5 performs corrections for the Lumix 7-14mm F4, you'll be happy to know that the answer is "Yes". I did a quick test just now and it is very evident that the JPEG has the corrections but the RAW file does not.

Daniel

 

[ijnek]

damn,...i'm sold...
lol
another look into the beautiful view finder and i bought the cam.
dunno if i need the kit lense, i hv the 14-54 mk II....

 

[esoeij]

damn,...i'm sold...
lol
another look into the beautiful view finder and i bought the cam.
dunno if i need the kit lense, i hv the 14-54 mk II....

Could depend on whether you need to video with it. I will face the same dilemma as you when my silver set arrives. But prob will keep it for the fast AF, video n smaller form factor.

 

[ijnek]

i dun video, but main difference is my mmf1 adaptor is not weather-sealed...
will hv to use it, it's still new and in the blue-seal.
if it doesn't extend when zoom, tat might b useful...

 

[esoeij]

i dun video, but main difference is my mmf1 adaptor is not weather-sealed...
will hv to use it, it's still new and in the blue-seal.
if it doesn't extend when zoom, tat might b useful...

Might be worth switching to a mmf3. Otherwise yr lens n body is weather sealed but not the adaptor, like quite a 'waste'.

 

[zixaw]

Image stabilization is amazingly good. I was trying done manual focus lens and for me there is normally some movement. Not with the OMD, the IS just works. Even intentionally moving the camera to recompose you will feel that you have not moved because the IS is that good. In fact recompising feels sluggish initially.

A question, is there a default button to trigger zoom in while focusing?

 

[prawn]

Does every Pre order got the MMF-3? i preorder body only on the second days of the IT show (from John 3:60) but don't have the free gift lei, only have 16gb class 4 card.

 

[chuakimsiangjeremy]

Just collected my 32gb class 10 card frm olympus today.. its the sandisk extreme card

Any bros collected their MMF3 or 32GB sd card alr?

 

[esoeij]

Just collected my 32gb class 10 card frm olympus today.. its the sandisk extreme card

Is it the 45mb/s version?

 

[chuakimsiangjeremy]

Yes it is.

Is it the 45mb/s version?

 

[fengwei]

Don't own an OM-D yet, today played it again at clubsnap 10 ann dinner, together w/ the 75/1.8. Man, that combo really worked very well under complicated light condition, focusing is fast, and pretty spot on most time. The wb is pretty good, at least on OM-D's screen the results are better than my Pentax K5 or Pany G3.

Now need to save up for the 75/1.8, might get an OM-D by Christmas when the price is better...

 

[NazgulKing]

Anyone has an impression on the DR of the camera at high ISO? Having fiddled around with the Ricoh GXR, I find M43 cameras with the older 12MP sensor tended to look very "contrasty" because of the low DR at high ISO.

 

[CrimsonS]

Don't own an OM-D yet, today played it again at clubsnap 10 ann dinner, together w/ the 75/1.8. Man, that combo really worked very well under complicated light condition, focusing is fast, and pretty spot on most time. The wb is pretty good, at least on OM-D's screen the results are better than my Pentax K5 or Pany G3.

Now need to save up for the 75/1.8, might get an OM-D by Christmas when the price is better...

Would love to see some picture taken with the 75f1.8. Do you have the pricing?