Today, I had the chance to extensively use the Olympus E-M1 and 12-40mm f/2.8 lens, alone and with a Olympus chaperoned group on a photo walk.
My first impressions of the lens are that its quite amazing compared to any other micro Four-Thirds zoom lens and as good as the 14-35 f/2.0 and 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 lenses. Its well worth the US$999.99 that theyre supposedly asking for it. The manual focus clutch mechanism was as odd and brilliant as it is on the the 12mm f/2.0 lens.
The E-M1 is not as clearly or easily great.
Yes, its very fast. There is no half-press of the shutter release. I got a photo every time. The Super Control Panel is different but still amazingly useful, easily beating my GH3s Quick Menu, for me anyway.
Holding it is uncomfortable. Rather than curves like the E-5 or GH3, it has angles. This should not be a problem with the micro Four-Thirds lenses, including the 12-40mm f/2.8 because theyre so incredibly tiny and light. I can see it as a problem using my light (for Four-Thirds) 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5. I hold my current camera bodies one-handed by the grip at times. I dont think that would last long, as the angles would work into my hand. I can appreciate that they wanted to make the body as small and light as possible, but professionals will be using it for hours on end, most likely. It shouldnt be designed as a casual tool.
That brings me to the next issue. The rear display seems to be on most of the time, and of course, its not fully articulated, so you cant turn it inward. It would show me the photo I just took, even though that drains the battery and isnt what I would want. The clarity of the display is very good. The EVF is much, much better than the EVF of the GH3. Since I wasnt able to photograph sports, I dont know if its fast enough for manual focus in that situation. I suspect it will be okay, whereas the GH3s EVF is not so good.
The controls are not exactly easy to understand, coming from the E-1, E-5, or GH3. The exposure compensation was not at zero when I was handed the E-M1 and it took some time to be able to change it. Sure, taking time to acclimate myself to it would do wonders, but its not intuitive, as the E-1, E-5, and GH3 are.
Since Phase One Capture One doesnt yet support the E-M1, I only shot JPEG files and I find them to be quite good.
Id say that its better than a casual camera body, worse than a professional model but it takes photos as well as a professional model. Hopefully, the next body will be re-designed for comfort, instead of being an assemblage of already available parts to keep costs low.
My first impressions of the lens are that its quite amazing compared to any other micro Four-Thirds zoom lens and as good as the 14-35 f/2.0 and 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 lenses. Its well worth the US$999.99 that theyre supposedly asking for it. The manual focus clutch mechanism was as odd and brilliant as it is on the the 12mm f/2.0 lens.
The E-M1 is not as clearly or easily great.
Yes, its very fast. There is no half-press of the shutter release. I got a photo every time. The Super Control Panel is different but still amazingly useful, easily beating my GH3s Quick Menu, for me anyway.
Holding it is uncomfortable. Rather than curves like the E-5 or GH3, it has angles. This should not be a problem with the micro Four-Thirds lenses, including the 12-40mm f/2.8 because theyre so incredibly tiny and light. I can see it as a problem using my light (for Four-Thirds) 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5. I hold my current camera bodies one-handed by the grip at times. I dont think that would last long, as the angles would work into my hand. I can appreciate that they wanted to make the body as small and light as possible, but professionals will be using it for hours on end, most likely. It shouldnt be designed as a casual tool.
That brings me to the next issue. The rear display seems to be on most of the time, and of course, its not fully articulated, so you cant turn it inward. It would show me the photo I just took, even though that drains the battery and isnt what I would want. The clarity of the display is very good. The EVF is much, much better than the EVF of the GH3. Since I wasnt able to photograph sports, I dont know if its fast enough for manual focus in that situation. I suspect it will be okay, whereas the GH3s EVF is not so good.
The controls are not exactly easy to understand, coming from the E-1, E-5, or GH3. The exposure compensation was not at zero when I was handed the E-M1 and it took some time to be able to change it. Sure, taking time to acclimate myself to it would do wonders, but its not intuitive, as the E-1, E-5, and GH3 are.
Since Phase One Capture One doesnt yet support the E-M1, I only shot JPEG files and I find them to be quite good.
Id say that its better than a casual camera body, worse than a professional model but it takes photos as well as a professional model. Hopefully, the next body will be re-designed for comfort, instead of being an assemblage of already available parts to keep costs low.