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Olympus EM-5 - first review (ultra brief)

PostPosted: Tue May 29, 2012 3:18 pm
by ozimax
I have owned a silver Olympus OM-D Em-5 now for about 10 days. I haven't really had much time to take many photos, but here's a few initial thoughts:

Build quality
Exceptional. The Chinese/Japanese technological collaboration on this one has ensured a home run. The camera is surprisingly heavy and very small, which I actually like. I purchased the accompanying two piece grip. You can use it with one or both parts. The first section of the grip gives a much approved purchase on the camera. The second part adds vertical shutter/assorted controls. The machining of everything is top notch.

Image
photo by Ozimax, on Flickr

Buttons and dials
There are so many buttons that it is maybe a bit of overkill. You can customize this camera to the nth degree. I find that the buttons are way too small for my hands, and it's something I will have to get used to. The "play image" button in particular is hard to get to, but I imagine I could programme a more easily reachable button to do the same thing if I was to actually read the manual!

Shutter(s)
The shutter sound is sensational, and very quiet, unlike the other m4/3 cameras I have used in recent years. I must add that with the complete grip attached, you have three shutter buttons, yes, three. Take your pick...

Screen
The screen is as good as any I have used. I haven't used the swivel up/down function as yet, but it will no doubt come in handy some day. The touch screen to focus, shoot and review is pretty amazing technology.

Focus
Coming from a Canon 5D Mkii perspective, the focusing capability of the EM-5 is lightning fast. When photographing kids, it seems to hit the eye point every time, which what I need, as I photograph a lot of kids.

ISO
6400 is very usable. I have some 6x8 prints in at Camera House, so I should get to see the high ISO capability soon. For web usage, ISO 6400 is a doddle. I have not tried to shoot raw as the format is not yet supported. Hopefully this will be remedied soon.

Image quality
Excellent. It is no 5D, that's for sure, but for what I do, I think I will like it very much.

Lens
The only package I could get was with the 14-42 kit lens, which I already own. (Anyone want to buy a brand new 14-42mm ii lens?) What really makes M4/3s shine are the primes. I also picked up an Olympus 45mm F1.8. This little gem is destined to be a classic, if you can find one to buy. It is sharp, with nice OOF detail (bokeh). Sure, it's not being used on a full frame, and it sure doesn't compete with my previous 5Dii/70-200ii combination for portraits, but it is still very good.

The proceeds of my Canon gear sale are now exhausted, but I may have to sell/raise/beg some more moolah to acquire the upcoming 75mm F1.8, which I feel will be a classic portrait lens.

It's very early days, but I'm so far very pleased with my switch to the new system. I would expect this camera to remain unobtainium for some time yet.

Ozi.

My mate Sam, 45mm @ F1.8
Image
Sam1 by Ozimax, on Flickr

My friend Bethany, 45mm @ F1.8. (Notice the right eye in focus? The newer Pen series cameras give the ability to choose which eye to focus on, when using facial recognition etc)
Image
Bethany1 by Ozimax, on Flickr

Re: Olympus EM-5 - first review (ultra brief)

PostPosted: Tue May 29, 2012 3:30 pm
by aim54x
Congrats on your purchase.....I have had a good play in store of this little beast. It is a wonderful little unit, very SLR-like....did someone leave their D3/1D MK IV in the clothes dryer?

Loving the images you have there. I cant wait to see the 75mm f/1.8 as well!

Re: Olympus EM-5 - first review (ultra brief)

PostPosted: Tue May 29, 2012 3:47 pm
by ozimax
aim54x wrote:....did someone leave their D3/1D MK IV in the clothes dryer?


It looks like that! :biglaugh:

Re: Olympus EM-5 - first review (ultra brief)

PostPosted: Tue May 29, 2012 4:09 pm
by CraigVTR
They are two great shots, the bokeh on the shot of Sam is soooo smooth. :up:

Re: Olympus EM-5 - first review (ultra brief)

PostPosted: Tue May 29, 2012 8:04 pm
by Matt. K
A good looking camera indeed. Love to see and hear more about it.

Re: Olympus EM-5 - first review (ultra brief)

PostPosted: Tue May 29, 2012 10:14 pm
by the foto fanatic
Lookin' good Ozi! Have fun with it.

Re: Olympus EM-5 - first review (ultra brief)

PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2012 1:35 am
by surenj
Wawawee!

Re: Olympus EM-5 - first review (ultra brief)

PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2012 8:09 am
by ozimax
surenj wrote:Wawawee!


Translation? :)

Re: Olympus EM-5 - first review (ultra brief)

PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2012 10:36 am
by sirhc55
ozimax wrote:
surenj wrote:Wawawee!


Translation? :)



An interesting one.

There are two interpretations of the word wawawee, the first being “Oh! my God, my bollocks are caught in that machine” and the second is wawa meaning (as a baby) I am crying but I feel better because I am having a wee.

Take your pick :biglaugh:

Re: Olympus EM-5 - first review (ultra brief)

PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2012 11:36 am
by ozimax
sirhc55 wrote:There are two interpretations of the word wawawee...the second is wawa meaning (as a baby) I am crying but I feel better because I am having a wee.

Take your pick :biglaugh:


Chris your grasp of etymology is astounding. :biglaugh:

Re: Olympus EM-5 - first review (ultra brief)

PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2012 3:54 pm
by surenj
:biglaugh:

ozimax wrote:Translation?

Borat says this sort of thing when he likes something.

Re: Olympus EM-5 - first review (ultra brief)

PostPosted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 12:19 am
by surenj
ozimax wrote:Translation?

I figured out the direct translation.

OMD > OMG.