GH3 and EM5 ISO 3200 JPG test

Not RAW but I really like what I'm seeing. The feather on the color samples and the coke ad are a couple of places on the images I checked.

GH3 3200

EM5 3200

Site with the tests and RAW downloads.

--
It's easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.

12-50mm on OM-D and 14-140mm on GH3.

So, detail comparison won't be fair. It's more lens comparison than camera comparison. They could have known better how to compare cameras. Also GH3 had firmware 0.5.

Not the same lenses, but both are considered average. Focus spots are not the same either and that doesn't help. I still like how the solid colors hold up on the GH3. For me the most important test is RAW but I can't look at those on my work computer.

--
It's easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.

I checked the RAWS and not accounting for detail due to different lenses they look really close to me noise wise. The GH3 had some color noise at 12800 that the EM5 lacked but was slight.



GH3 3200 crop

OMD 3200 crop

Both were opened with ACR cropped and saved as JPG with level 12 compression in photoshop.

Thanks for doing that. The 3200 is what I'm really interested in. I'd like to be able to use it for low light shoots if possible. My GH2 was OK up to about 1250 but hard to sell a customer a 1600 shot.

--
It's easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.

One reason I hate JPEG engine comparisons ... almost meaningless to an enthusiast.

--
http://kimletkeman.blogspot.com

Yes, but they do give you RAW to play with like the ones above. No matter what you do someone won't like it. I am just happy to see more data to look at and I'm happy with the results I'm seeing.

--
It's easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.

... to write the differences up. And I included the G5 to make it interesting ...

My conclusion is that any differences are entirely equivocal.

OM-D E-M5 versus GH3 versus G5 at 3200iso in RAW (LR4.3)

YMMV of course.

--
http://kimletkeman.blogspot.com

So why did you buy the OMD or did you borrow it from someone? My reallife (I did a few studio like comparisons though) experience with Gh2 and EPl5 (equiv to G5 and OMD) is different as you know. DR is notably better in the EPL5, noise seems to be indeed a stop or so better (may be 2/3s). I will try to do a set up myself with both cams see what I can come up with this weekend.

??

Buy or borrow? I was quite clear that the images were copyright focus numerique. They shot under equivalent conditions and I processed to equivalent images. Full stop.

You may come to different conclusions, but that does not negate mine ...

--
http://kimletkeman.blogspot.com

have to agree, if you want to see how the sensor really performs then you need raw data.

--
The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.

Nice read, thanks for taking the time.

--
It's easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.

Thanks for the comparison: I really feel the price for the E-Pl5 justified:). This seems to be the top of CMOS tech now and maybe it will be for 1-2 more years.

cwatson1982 wrote:

Sorry, I was and am in a rush so didn't read that. I thought this forum was about debating, but apparantly not for you. Of course there are already many reviews, also more deterministic ones than yours that show the difference is their and it is real.

If we look at the NEX6 and 5R we see that IQ wise they score virtually the same compared to their predecessors. So i do not expect much gain this year fro Oly/Panny with Sony sensors. However: panasonic might catch up with its own sensors. seems to be quite a task tough, canon sensor do also not perform as well as Sony at base ISO especially.

Thanks

I left a reaction on your blog.

I included the GH2 (which I own) in the comparison and even then differences are marginal.

Thanks for saving me money.....

It might be good to know that your processing includes sharpening and noise reduction. This is what made the comparison much easier for real detail left.

Well...I have the EPL5 and the GH2 and the GH2 will see little use in the stills departement. That is for sure. EPL5 is visbly better in each and every way when it comes to IQ. So is GH3 without a doubt. When I had Gh2 and saw OMD pics I thought: well..it is not better than my GH2 itseems. With LR4.3 i could also get the pics to look much better. But now that I have EPl5 it is clear to me that the OM-D, EPL5/EPM2 and GH3 a notable step up. At all ISO ranges. On fora things canget a bit black and white, most of all when people  tend to disagree they tend to become more like that...I say G5 and GH2 are good camera's with good sensors and good IQ. itis a bit like Nikon DSLRs and Canon DSLRs....Nikon sensor is better at low ISO especially, but the IQ of the Canon is very good nevertheless. I can imagine with current price difference, if you do not need the best video out there under 5000 euro or so, the G5/GH2 will be a good choice.

You do realise the GH3 has a lot more new stuff to offer than just a new sensor?

Better video even than a hacked GH2 - now officially broadcast quality codec

OLED LCD and EVF

Wi-fi

Weather sealed

Front and rear control dials

Lots of customizable function buttons, etc, etc.

Ofcourse! I would be most interested in the silent shutter- preventing of shutter shock.

But if you spend 1000€ you can also invest in a very good lens, which might have a bigger impact on your results. If you have virtual unlimited budget, yes always go for the latest and greatest. For mere mortals it is always wise to see how much the gain really is.

Those grapes tasting a bit sour?

Not to put too fine a point on it, but I ask everyone who asserts the heavy dominance of the OM-D for links with direct tests showing the 1+ stops of high ISO and / or the dramatic improvement in DR in real imagery. So far NADA.

So this thread inspired me to create my own from images that a 3rd party created under controlled conditions. Not perfect conditions necessarily, but certainly adequate to show at least a hint of the dominance of the sensor at high ISO.

That's how I debate. That you have a problem with it is not at all a surprise to me.

--
http://kimletkeman.blogspot.com