Olympus PEN E-P5 Hands-on Preview

May 2013 | By Andy Westlake

Preview based on a pre-production Olympus PEN E-P5 with Firmware 0.9

When Olympus introduced the original Micro Four Thirds PEN E-P1 almost 4 years ago in June 2009, it was the first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera to adopt a compact, 'rangefinder-style' body that made no pretence to look like an SLR. It also saw the company striking out in a direction it's followed ever since - designing attractive yet capable little cameras that consciously draw on its long-running film camera heritage. Indeed the SLR-style OM-D E-M5 was one of last year's biggest hits, and even pipped the 36MP full frame Nikon D800 to the title of 'Best Camera of 2012' in our reader poll.

The PEN E-P5 - the fourth model in the E-P range - continues this theme, while adding an array of updates that make it easily the most desirable PEN yet. It includes many of the features that made the E-M5 such a compelling package, such as the same 16MP MOS sensor, advanced '5-axis' in-body image stabilization (now with automatic panning detection), 9 fps continuous shooting, and tilting rear touch screen. It also inherits the refinements debuted on the PEN E-PL5, such as enhanced in-camera RAW conversion, a broad-range 'HDR bracketing' mode, and the ability to specify whether you wish to use in-lens or in-body image stabilization with Panasonic OIS lenses. On top of this it adds-in a top shutter speed of 1/8000 sec, a 'peaking' display to assist manual focus, and this year's must-have feature: built in Wi-Fi for connection to your smartphone or tablet.

Olympus PEN E-P5 specification highlights:

16MP MOS Four Thirds format sensor
Twin control dials (front and rear) with '2x2' dual-mode option
1/8000 sec top shutter speed, 1/320 sec flash sync
'5-axis' image stabilization with automatic panning detection ('S-IS Auto')
ISO 'LOW' (100 equiv) - ISO 25,600
Up to 9fps shooting (5.0 fps with continuous AF)
Focus 'peaking' display
Intervalometer and Time Lapse movie creation
1.04m dot 3" LCD touchscreen display - tilts 80° upwards and 50° downwards
Built-in Wi-Fi for remote shooting (iAuto only) and image transfer to smartphone or tablet
Optional VF-4 electronic viewfinder: 2.36M dot LCD, 0.74x magnification (equiv), eye sensor

One key change compared to previous E-Px models is a rearrangement of the controls - gone are the thumb roller and tiny rear dial, replaced by 'proper' front and rear dials that protrude horizontally from the top plate. The E-P5 features what Olympus calls a '2x2' dial interface: a small lever on the back of the camera switches these dials from controlling exposure parameters to changing ISO and white balance. If you don't like this arrangement, the lever can be customized to a couple of other options (described later in this preview).

The E-P5 places emphasis on speed: it has a top shutter speed of 1/8000 sec, which Olympus says should help make best use of the company's F1.8 prime lenses, allowing them to be shot wide open in sunlight. This is aided by the addition of an ISO 100-equivalent 'LOW' setting, although this will likely come at the expense of some highlight clipping. The E-P5 also offers a fast startup time of just 0.5 sec, 1/320 sec sync with the built-in flash (1/250 sec with external units), autofocus tracking at 5 fps, and a fast shutter release mode with a lag of just 44ms (via a custom setting).

Additional features

In traditional Olympus fashion the E-P5 gets a few new features compared to previous models. There's a 'Super-spot AF' mode that allows extremely precise positioning of the AF point when using magnified live view, very much like the one seen on recent Panasonic models. It gains timed intervalometer shooting, along with the ability to assemble time-lapse movies in-camera. The Live Bulb mode, that allows you to monitor the progress of long exposures while the shutter is open, now features an on-screen histogram to help monitor exposure build-up. The image stabilization system is also now always active by default, to provide a stabilized live view feed (especially useful when using telephoto lenses).

The E-P5 also gets Olympus's 'Photo Story' feature that first appeared on the XZ-10 enthusiast compact. This is essentially an extension of Art Filters, allowing you to generate multi-image composites rather like the pages of a photo book, in a wide variety of themes. It may not be something enthusiast photographers will use all the time, and arguably better suited to lower-end PEN models, but it's good to see Olympus continuing to come up with new ideas.

Colour options

The E-P5 comes in three colour schemes; black, silver and white. The all-black version that we've used for this preview has a textured matte finish which we expect will be appreciated by street photographers - it looks particularly fine when coupled with the black versions of the M.Zuiko Digital 17mm 1:1.8, M.Zuiko Digital 45mm 1:1.8 and M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm 1:1.8 lenses announced alongside. The camera also comes in a very handsome silver-and-black finish that harks back to Olympus's classic cameras from the 1960s and '70s, and a white version with beige grip. Olympus will also be offering a limited edition model with a wooden grip, and a range of premium accessories such as leather cases.

Silver E-P5 with black 14-42mm kit zoom and VF4 viewfinder	White E-P5 with silver 14-42mm lens

Kit options

The E-P5 will be available either body-only for approx. £900/€999/$999, with the M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6R II collapsible zoom for £1000/€1099, or with the M.Zuiko Digital 17mm F1.8 and VF-4 EVF for £1350/€1449/$1449.

If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).

Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions.

Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of the image, clicking on the image will display a larger (typically VGA) image in a new window.

To navigate the review simply use the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular section either pick the section from the drop down or select it from the navigation bar at the top.

DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C.

Comments

Total comments: 336

No viewfinder, but a built-in flash - exactly to my liking. Too bad the screen only tilts vertically.

I heartily dislike Oly's for-the-vitrin design and find the Pana G-serie very nice in my hand; still i might move from Pana to Oly - lots of interesting m43 lenses have no optical image stabilisation, but an Oly body gives me IS instantly; while Pana prefers to design yet another new, dull 14-42 instead of delivering stabilized gourmet optics.

2 upvotes

In other words...
Want a camera with flash? get the Pen.
Want a camera with viewfinder? get the omd...

Why can't just build one camera and built it right?
Fuji proved it's possible.

6 upvotes

Why don't you just buy fuji if its so perfect?
Just curious.

10 upvotes

I do agree with what you say up to a point. One might argue . . . "If you have a flip up screen, then why bother with a viewfinder, and one that attaches to boot". There are individuals that live in areas with a lot of sun, strong sun I might add. The back screen, whether it flips up or not is rendered practically useless in areas with intense sun. So the viewfinder is a nice option. A flip up screen allows one to take photos at different angles, especially low to the ground shots, but again, when the sun is strong, forget it. The EVF on the OM-D will not allow much flexibility in this regard, but the attachable viewfinder does. It will flip up allowing for low to the ground shots when one can't use the flip screen in very high sunny locations. I know, because I live in one of those areas and the back screen is as useless as a chocolate teapot, but the flip EVF that I use on my E-P3 is a godsend.

3 upvotes

I do have a Fuji.
Just wishing the best for the Olympus as well...

11 upvotes

I really like my E30. But I think Fujitsu will get my money next. This just isn't cutting it for me.

1 upvote

There is a rumor of "Pro PEN" that I figure will have EVF and weather sealing but I cannot imagine it being cheaper than $1500 body only.

The next OM-D could possibly be the hybrid 4/3, m4/3 Olympus has been talking about. All the features of Pro PEN but look like a DSLR and being able to shoot 4/3 lenses. It is not going to be cheaper than E-5 at lunch so $1700 at least.

2 upvotes

"Want a camera with flash? get the Pen.
Want a camera with viewfinder? get the omd...

Why can't just build one camera and built it right?
Fuji proved it's possible."

IBIS? OM-D can take a lot of flashes, and one comes right in the box. Need it - just clip it on (and it's practically weightless). How are you going to stabilize that 60mm macro on your compact Fuji to use it with that built-in VF, with a 20lb 5.5ft tripod? ;)

2 upvotes

hahah annoying isn't it? business is business i guess...

0 upvotes

Then why are you commenting here?

0 upvotes

Wonder whether
- it has Anti-Shock (e.g. 1/8s) like OM-D!?
- HDR-Bracketing ALWAYS uses burst (and suffers from shutter shock)!?
- HDR-Bracketing can be combined with interval timer!?

0 upvotes

If by anti-shock you mean stabilization, then yes. It would be cool to mix bracketing with interval timer, though I doubt they implemented it.

0 upvotes

No, by Anti-Shock I don't mean IS, I mean the Anti-Shock feature ;-P

It's a delay beteween 2 and 3, see below, to reduce shutter shock (slightly blurry image, similar to images without mirror lock in DSLRs):

1 Press shutter release button
2 Shutter closes
3 Shutter opens
4 Sensor is exposed
5 Shutter closes
6 Shutter opens
[see e.g.: http://cameraergonomics.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/micro-43-shutter-shock-revisited-omd-em.html]

I'd really know how the HDR-bracketing and time lapse feateres are implemented and whether anti-shock is availably...

0 upvotes

DPR wrote: "Another feature offered by the E-P5 in concert with the OI.Share app is geotagging of your images by syncing with your smartphone's GPS system. The app records a GPS log of where you've been during the day, and then appends location to your images based on the time they were shot when you sync over Wi-Fi. "

Can you elaborate a little? Does that change EXIF on the SD card in the camera itself, or only transferred images are changed?

0 upvotes

What I understand is the app logs your location and sync with photo on the computer. I cannot imagine the battery on both device last very long if it is always on.

0 upvotes

GPS does not have to be "always on", if you are not moving really fast, it can wake up every few minutes, update position in a few seconds because all the satellites are almost in the same places (and knowing the time passed, you can calculate the new locations in the microsecond), and go to sleep again.
Not equipping compact cameras with GPS module, when most compacts are used for travel most of the time, is just stupid.

3 upvotes

Right on, Peevee. Plain stupid.

0 upvotes

It makes sense for this to cost about the same as the OM-D. In a sense it is both an upgrade and a downgrade from that camera.

Advantage OMD: viewfinder, weather sealing, cool optional battery grip.

Wash: sensor, IBIS, two-dial controls, metal body, annoying Olympus menu design. The ISO '100' is a gimmick.

Advantage EP5: smaller, focus peaking (!!) and autofocus improvements, max shutter speed, flash sync speed, wifi, time lapse options, some crap to do with art filters.

I always shoot people with (indirect) flash and run up against my GH2's 1/4000 max speed all the time so those new features are pretty tasty. None of the OMD exclusives are that big a deal to me.

7 upvotes

When I gave up my EP-3 to my wife, I moved over to the X-Pro1, but I did miss the EP-3 but some of the annoying things seem to be addressed by this update for me.

OMD always seemed too close to a dSLR for my taste. Nice design and good ergonomics, but still a shade to big.

The sensor performance of the OMD is impressive. I have processed thousands of files from that camera and very impressed by the level of dynamic range from it so I'm not worried about lack of improvement there.

For me though, the 1/8000 sec and even the pushed ISO 100 resolves my issues with the pen. I always found that with something like the PanLeica Lens, I was always running out of shutter speed or ISO. These two updates is a huge deal for me.

I like the fact that Livebulb is part of this, and I'm seriously considering picking one up when it is released.

1 upvote

Kinematic, it sounds like a good fit for you, but do not get too excited about the ISO 100 option. This is the same sensor as the OM-D. Olympus did not expand the sensor's capabilities in any real way. The 'extra stop' of ISO is just an in-camera gimmick that gives you a few options with respect to automatic flash syncing but will still clip the highlights the same as if you overexpose by a stop at ISO 200.

Comment edited 31 seconds after posting

3 upvotes

Very true, Tim, but DxOMark's measurements tell us it's technically possible to pull a E-PL5 to "ISO 107" and end up with a well-exposed image (and this corresponds fairly well with my experience shooting the E-M5). In this case, it might be that the E-P5 at "ISO 100" is a slight bit overexposed, but nothing even close to a full stop.

4 upvotes

Focus peaking is black or white only for some stupid reason. Not much better than the E-M5 keyline art filter approach.

3 upvotes

I have the E-P3 and love it. I can't imagine how much nicer this will be, especially with the same sensor as the OM-D and an improved 5-axis stabilization system.

One thought. I'm sure that, like any other camera that comes along, there will be a lot of mumbling and grumbling. Like the old saying . . . "You can please some of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time". So know matter what a camera company brings out, there will always be those that find fault. So I will sit back and maybe even laugh a little now and then about some of the negative comments from mostly negative people.

Let the games begin. It should be a hoot.

6 upvotes

I really wish this degree of user configuration was on other cams too..

It looks better with big lens and EVF then with native lens and EVF (that EVF is tiny bit.. huge).

Well, looking forward to reading full review.

2 upvotes

Hope I'm wrong, but it still looks as if Oly won't allow exposure comp when using Auto-ISO in M mode.

Overall, though, nice improvements and a very handsome camera. It bodes well for the next OM-D.

0 upvotes

You're not wrong

1 upvote

A shame. Thanks for your reply and the informative preview, Andy.

0 upvotes

I'm not exactly sure how it works on Pentax, but the camera doesn't seem to have enough dials to control exposure compensation in addition to aperture and shutter speed.

On the other hand, with the dual mode dials, you could just click to the second mode and adjust ISO. I suppose it's not auto in that case which might be a pain if the light in changing a lot, but closer than we've gotten in the past.

0 upvotes

Pentax has an explicit TAv mode on the dial which functions the same as manual with auto iso but allows exposure compensation. Handy...

0 upvotes

Both Pen EPL-5 and E-P5 seem to be very nice new cameras, though not at the Sony NEX-6 level. I'm not really a big fan of retro design.

1 upvote

E-PL5 is below the NEX-6 level, E-P3 is above it. :)

6 upvotes

I would say Oly does not have a camera at NEX-6 level, OM-D is above it, all PENs are in different class (no built-in VF).
Panasonic G6 is on NEX-6 level.

0 upvotes

24p, time after time, nothing. How hard can it be? It would be a sweet video platform...

0 upvotes

Am not sure it will come with the GX2. but I am another looking forward to a Panasonic rangefinder style camera the size of the GF1 with an internal EV. The PEN is a nice camera (although expensive and with a big expensive add-on EVF) but I prefer Panasonic ergonomics and controls.

0 upvotes

Don't like big expensive VF-4 (although it is free in the E-P5+17mm kit, and at $279, pretty cheap compared to, say, $450 Sony FDA-EVM1K or $600 Sony FDA-V1K), you can always buy small $99 VF-3.

1 upvote

Will the Oly VF2 work with the EP5?

0 upvotes

I would think so since it's still AP2 connector

0 upvotes

Who in the heck wants a little camera with a big lens and a even bigger clip on viewfinder? Crazy, just crazy.

2 upvotes

That's the beauty of interchangeable system cameras like this one. Choices of lenses and accessories (like EVFs), big and small, to fit each photographer's needs

9 upvotes

"A big lens"

Haha. It's the same size as my EP1. With the Panasonic 20 it fits in a pocket. Why people feel obligated to have a viewfinder on all the time is a mystery to me. With the collapsible zoom it fits in a jacket pocket. Though in my snobbish opinion that zoom is best used as a paperweight.

3 upvotes

No comments on the BLACK 75mm?

0 upvotes

Too easily mistaken for a cheap zoom. If silver costs the same then the cachet is free.

3 upvotes

Only the plastic 45mm is better in black, the real metal in 12mm, 17mm and 75mm looks great in silver. And will probably continue to look better than blacks when the lenses are 100 y/o and all scratched. :)

0 upvotes

The camera looks loaded. It's almost a little too busy, though. And I'm not a big fan of detachable viewfinders. I agree with the focus on features, not IQ, simply because IQ is good enough now in any camera 4/3 sized or above, and even in many compacts.

0 upvotes

420g with battery?! The Nex-6 and X-E1 weigh only 350g, and the nex-3n 269g. Is this camera made of LEAD?

1 upvote

I wonder if you missed the part of the spec sheet on the 2nd page where it says: Body Material - Metal.

It's not like this is the first PEN E-Px that weighed more than the competition.

3 upvotes

The X-E1 is also made of metal.

Comment edited 6 minutes after posting

1 upvote

Speaking of such, ad those comment about the Range Finder styling. I have finally come to realize why Fujifilm's XE-1 is so much better styling wise better even than the E-Pen and its sibling the X-PRO 1, Fujifilm and Olympus is guilty of trying to induce too much infusion of well new twist to the plot by making the shoulder faird in and slanted. when XE-1 just keep it sort of straight. My old Olympus FT do not have much of a slanted shoulder, by all account its straight and so do all those old camera, that made up part of the image of the retro styling , ( sort of boxy ) By trying to made them less boxy, Olympus and Fujifilm actually made them less styling wise as appealing .. just my 2 cents. The metal build and the heft of it is also part of that styling and an appeal that's hard to quantify unless one actually use it

1 upvote

The slanted top panel goes directly back to the original PENs of the 1960s, which were not actually rangefinders at all. I think it looks pretty good here. The XE-1 looks good, too, but a little naked on the front -- the other Fujis in this series with a viewfinder window look more classiicly rangefinder. Overall, though, I do like the recent retro cameras as they just look like good examples of handsome design -- something the melted Hershey bar aesthetic of most modern cameras seems to have forgetten. I get the form-follows-function argument, but there's no reason a well-designed camera can't be good looking, too.

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

3 upvotes

"The X-E1 is also made of metal."

Just top and front. And its screen is fixed 2.8", not tilting 3".

2 upvotes

Page 7, Focus Peaking..., 2nd paragraph, last word, should be "E-P5".

0 upvotes

9 FPS pricked my ears up!

1 upvote

5 FPS with C-AF ???

0 upvotes

Unless C-AF is substantially improved over the E-M5, it doesn't matter anyway. With 9FPS in S-AF you can get several frames before your subject has had a chance to move far enough to noticeably affect focus.

The upside to contrast-detect focus is that S-AF is an amazingly good thing. Downside? C-AF is amazingly bad. C-AF and tracking are two of the true DSLR advantages that persist at this juncture.

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

4 upvotes

The VF4 seems to be massive... Almost comparable to the 1D and visually well look bigger than the NEX 7 and definitely much bigger than the old VF2. Wonder would the refresh rate be able to keep up.

1 upvote

The view is higher than in 1D X, but a not as wide - in keeping with 4:3 ratio of the sensor.

0 upvotes

I think it'll be perceptibly as big as the 1Dx then since headroom always gives a bigger view compare to breath. Much like a 24" 16:10 screen looks as big as a 27" 16:9 screen.

1 upvote

There's one feature that wipes all other mirroless system for now and that's the 1/8000 shutter speed. Not to mention the 5 axis in body stabilisation too.

4 upvotes

1/8000, do you need that?

4 upvotes

Shamael, yes.

It allows you to use f1.4 in broad daylight, for shallow depth of field.

5 upvotes

That's right and it'll allow freezing of fast actions better than 1/4000... Flash sync up to 1/320 too.

These 2 feature alone place the E-P5 into the 'serious' camera category.

3 upvotes

1/8000 is seriously nice for getting a little bokey on a sunny day, but they had me at 1/320 flash sync. Plus the wireless flash protocol. Plus 5-axis IBIS. Anyone want to buy a GH2?

2 upvotes

"It allows you to use f1.4 in broad daylight, for shallow depth of field."

ND filters too. And its good for videos.

1 upvote

Would you prefer to use a Filter or just shoot without one?

0 upvotes

Can't say I care much for that EVF.

I think my GH3 has little to worry about.

1 upvote

What? No mirror box? No prism?
Canon 5d has nothing to worry about either.

1 upvote

Is this viewfinder magnification comfortable?
In the Fuji X-E1 review, you mention the similar magnification of the Sony Nex 6 viewfinder as being excessive, making it difficult to frame correctly without moving your eyes.

1 upvote

Good specs, but overpriced. I was waiting to compare to the G6 that has also very good specs and better handling and no need to buy an EVF.

IQ is so similar now with these 16 megapixels sensors that people have to choose the cameras for other reasons.

Let's see if the GX2 has one built in EVF range finder style.

Anyway Olympus did well on this camera but I think people will prefer the OMD.

It is a camera only for those who really like the EP series.

4 upvotes

This, just like E-M5, is the camera for those who are tired of plastic sht where EVERY corner has been cut, and are ready to pay for and enjoy the difference for years.
The rest... the majority I guess... will probably buy a G, or a Rebel, or Samsung.

1 upvote

What's the over/under point on the price point of the body only being $600? I say 1 year from now.

0 upvotes

It's likely that prices drop once early adopters have paid for the privilege of getting the camera first. That is usually the way. Also, Olympus keeps a fairly high cadence when it comes to introducing new models in this line, so it's likely than in 2 years time there will be a replacement premium Pen, which will drive down prices even lower and allow for more second-hand bargains.

If you can wait a couple of years, you definitely get more value for your cash. That is the upside to the fast depreciation of digital camera technology.

1 upvote

Price drop is the reason I held off the OMD for a while, but surprisingly the price has remained relatively high for Oly. I really think the latest tech in Oly is helping them support their prices. These are not just compact or good cameras any more, they are GREAT cameras. Oh, and the OMD and now EPL5 offer AMAZING control and customization.

4 upvotes

wait till there is a new OMD, as long as nothing replaces it, it stays high in value. If any OM-6 will come, and it surely will, then all looks different, and even if it just gets the few gadgets and features added from this one here.

0 upvotes

I waited OMD for 6 mos (from May2012~Nov2012), the price was the same, the only discont I got was $100 off OMD, that was the same deal in July2012, even as we speak now May 2013, the brand new OMD price the same.

So I think this hot sell ep5 will at it's MSRP for long time.

0 upvotes

big camera, small sensor. nothing new, progressive, interesting here to see
...

1 upvote

You are deluding yourself when you assume your personal preferences are the universal standard to which cameras should be judged. All that you wrote is, like, just your opinion, man.

I'm confident that the vast majority of people won't find any of the cameras on this site the least bit interesting. Not the D800, not the MX1, none of them. But they know better than to spend their time on a website about digital cameras.

Sure, it's bigger than a phone camera, and it doesn't even have a full-frame medium format sensor like a Phase One back, but you know, for some people that's a compromise they're happy with. You might not be interested, but that hardly makes you a unique snowflake: Most won't be. But again, most will be smart enough not to click in on this news story, and hardly any of them will be forced at gunpoint to buy this camera against their will.

20 upvotes

Many are like "no peaking no deal." Others are like, why no ISO100 or ISO50 bla bla bla... Others treat every camera without GPS like they are from the film age. There's always something to complain about. Your need to complain is so great that having nothing you want is enough to make you happy. 1/8000, improved IS, HDR, new control layout, faster performance, great IQ, peaking, wifi, huge high rez backwards compatible EVF now with a lock, improved tilt lcd, is not interesting to anyone?

13 upvotes

I can only concur, such is the depth of knowledge by some posters it is surprising they are not successful manufacturers themselves! Its only a camera, if it doesn't suit - don't buy it, but leave it at that.

0 upvotes

big Macx has spoken, hugh. :-)

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

0 upvotes

@LWW

Many posters ARE successful camera manufacturers, if you get my drift... ;)

0 upvotes

Ho hum, its the big camera, small sensor line again.

0 upvotes

I hear you, Pablo. Anyone not using a Phase One or Pentax 645D is a loser.

2 upvotes

A winner? I am afraid this nice-looking camera will also loose money for Oly (just check their annual and quarterly business reports)... It seems like either targetting the wrong crowd or the wrong pricepoint ...

0 upvotes

OM-D was specifically named in the 9-months report (annual report was delayed) as the only bright spot in the imaging division losing money.

0 upvotes

Pity it's more expensive than the OM-D, in the UK at least (£899 vs £839). Can't see someone getting this over the OM-D, unless they *really* need the enhancements.

1 upvote

Actually, a lot of people don't value viewfinders, but would really get excited by WiFi among the features (play with it once after the purchase and and then will never use it).

1 upvote

Can't wait to see the sibling rivalries on the m43 forum. Both E-P5 and E-M5 produce religious following, and true believers always zealously fight the infidels from another camp.

7 upvotes

I find it peculiar that you would find joy in such a thing. Frankly, I find the comparison to religious zealotry to be both exaggerated and condescending.

7 upvotes

oh but then some people seem to awake each morning looking for a reason to argue.

4 upvotes

@jadmaister: No they don't.

13 upvotes

An appropriate post for someone with your handle (i.e. forpetessake)

Comment edited 10 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

Very nice preview. I look forward to your opinion on how it operates.

Apparently, this camera introduces substantial improvements to the Olympus M43. Shorter shutter time and flash sync, focus peaking and the lever for switching between exposure control and iso/wb are all significant, in my opinion. This combined with the 'M5 sensor makes for an attractive camera, while still lacking two "killer features" of its bigger sibling: The built-in EVF and the weather-sealing. It's probably a sensible differentiation from the point of view of Olympus, while it still leaves a gap for those longing for a camera with a built-in viewfinder, but no 'hump'.

Personally, I like the visual design of the camera a lot, though the lack of a removable grip is a pity for those who like to customise their camera. The new "full-sized" EVF accessory won't win many prices for its outwards appearance, but the technology is very interesting, and I hope it will be reviewed in tandem with the camera.

1 upvote

Prices of m4/3 are now twice of DSLRs such as Nikon D3100, 5100 and three times high performance compacts such as the LX7. Then their lenses are also $ 1,000 easy.

2 upvotes

You're comparing the price of a flagship model to the base models of another manufacturer?

9 upvotes

You forgot to mention that the flagship models are still trailing behind the base models of another manufacturer. There isn't any other major system that gives so little bang for the buck.

2 upvotes

@forpetessake - Show me a better value DSLR than the Panasonic GX1 @ $249?

4 upvotes

That's alright, you don't need to try as I am sure you'll try to prove 'better' with a measuring stick...

2 upvotes

totally agree. for some years I've been in the m43 camp, but can't be happier with my move to the NEX system. - you get much more from legacy glass, as the cropping isn't so substantial. you can even get with the speed booster the FF image look and DOF. besides, the cheap NEX 5N sensor is still way ahead of the M5 or the EP5. I had the OMD and it made me really happy when I sold it. It is just a camera for low light scenes without movement. Daylight is something that you'd better not try with it's noisy ISO 200...

1 upvote

No, these cameras are not nearly as good as OM-D is. Try to operate a D3100 or even a D7100 in LiveView! It is arkward.

2 upvotes

@Pablo4, I've owned both the 5n and OMD and I have to say you're talking from the wrong orifice, or maybe it is the right one in your case.

8 upvotes

@Pablo4 Dude, if you are after legacy lenses support or bigger heavier lenses for smaller crop factor .. m43 was deffinately the wrong market for you!! and let me be a bit blunt here, your NEX also sucks if thats your requirements ..

1 upvote

photo perzon: knowing you, you'll have two of these next week.

1 upvote

PP will buy one EP5, let everyone on every forum know about his unfettered love for it and the system, and then find the next shiny object in exactly two months minus a day, that being the return time limit for many online retailers.

2 upvotes

"Prices of m4/3 are now twice of DSLRs such as Nikon D3100"

If you are going to compare to previous-gen plastic cameras without controls, why don't you compare prices of E-PL2 or E-PM1 or GF3?

1 upvote

I guess this this camera do not support 4/3-lenses any better than the OMD?

1 upvote

I guess not, except you might be able to get around the slow AF with older 43 lenses by using the focus peaking instead.

1 upvote

The OMD is way faster with 4/3-lenses than the 4/3-cameras are when used in LiveView.

1 upvote

hey don_ - why are you trying to impersonate Captain Beefheart? Shame on you dude.

Don Van Vliet (R.I.P.) was an artist, specially in his latter life and deserves a bit of respect.

0 upvotes

Interesting hands-on report, nice camera. One observation, though: the customisable mode dial (applying MySets to it) isn't actually new for this model as stated in the article - this very useful feature is already available on the E-PL5 and has been since its launch - that model was the first (and hitherto only) Pen to offer it. Nice to see this feature spreading to new models though.

3 upvotes

Thanks, I've updated the preview to reflect this.

3 upvotes

This is a far too limited WiFi functionality.
I still wait for the first manufacture to have an Open WiFi API to let others develop a full control applications.

This would be amazing!

1 upvote

atleast its there .. if it lets me release my shutter button remotely and giving me a glimpse of live view on my phone .. thats all i care!!

2 upvotes

Full remote control? Who buys a compact camera with great IBIS to put it on a tripod (which you would need to lug with you) and control remotely? This is a camera to hang around your neck whole day, along with a small bag or a belt (or just pockets) with lenses, something you would not like with a DSLR or even APS-C mirrorless. WiFi is just unnecessary, SD reader will transfer your pics much faster, and physical controls on the camera YOU HOLD ALREADY are much better.

1 upvote

The camera I wanted...I am happy and sad. This is what I wanted when I was making my decision btw OMD and NEX-6.

OMD was too expensive and lacked built-in flash. The PENs of the time lacked 5 axis IBIS. I've posted that my perfect PEN would have 5 AXIS IBIS and a built-in flash and a touch screen (as other PENs and OMD already do).

This could have been my perfect camera as coming from P&S I never cared too much for EVF although with my NEX-6 I learned how useful it is especially in bright light.

This looks like a great camera - one I could have picked over the NEX-6 but it's too late now...I am happy for Oly though - I feel like they listened.

I do wonder if movie AF is better then OMD...

1 upvote

Too late? Did you sell your soul or something?

(If not, there's always craigslist. Just sayin'...)

2 upvotes

Consider the price of E-P5 + EVF vs. NEX-6, you will have enough money left over to buy the next NEX-6 that's sure to have many compelling features as well. It is never smart to spend a lot of money on camera body, E-P3 is worth 1/3 the original cost and that's only after 2 years.

1 upvote

to ptox - it would not be smart of me to take the hit on the NEX-6...I have the camera with kit and tele for a great price and I have a 4 year warranty with accidental on it.

If I try to dump the system now I would take a huge hit - E-P5 is unlikely to be worth the loss + cost...that would probably put me over OMD pricing. Would not be a sensible decision...so yeah too late for me :)

Comment edited 14 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

So is it really gonna work for micro 4/3? More and more compact
cameras will show up with full frame and they are stuck with
a small sensor...

6 upvotes

Sensor technology has moved on tremendously in the past few years. You don't need a big sensor any more. Another point: the savings in size and weight are more noticeable in the lenses than in the bodies. Try comparing a full-frame lens with the equivalent M43 lens and you're looking at double the weight or more.

13 upvotes

WHEN it happens, then oly will have to figure out something, right now they are just going along with business as usual.
Im patiently wating for someone someday to release a full frame mirrorless with some high quality 24 F2,35 F2,50 F2,85 F2. Done and done.

3 upvotes

Bigger sensor means bigger lenses. If weight is not a consideration, might as well have begun with a DSLR in the first place.

4 upvotes

So many misunderstandings in few replies. 1) Yes, sensor technology had a good run, no, it's not going to continue forever. The physical limits are very close, the ideal m4/3 sensor cannot be better than non-ideal modern FF sensors. 2) It will happen very soon and Oly needs to figure it now, or it will be too late. 3) The bigger sensor doesn't mean bigger lenses. Equivalent lenses are not much different in size. Faster lenses are bigger in size.

2 upvotes

So you are saying that lens size is independent of sensor size as long as the total light gathered by the lens remains the same? Interesting if true, is this proven anywhere?

1 upvote

First up, NOBODY has a ILC with FF sensor (barring of course the VG900 video camera and the Leica M). Secondly, if other manufacturers build FF fixed lens models like the RX1, there is absolutely ZERO stopping Olympus from doing the same thing, just because they sell m43's stuff. m43's isn't meant to compete against DSLRs. Lastly sensor tech hasn't even nearly approached the limits of what is possible.

2 upvotes

There are obvious advantages with larger sensors: greater control over limiting DoF at any given aperture [although of course conversely this can be a disadvantage when you want a deeper focus range - particularly in low light]. The physics also means that all things being equal there is also going to be greater sensitivity and less noise especially at the higher ISO settings.

However, it's very easy to figure out the size/weight savings on m4/3 long lenses when one considers that fitting a 'FF' 24-70 f2.8 lens on a m4/3 body [via an adapter] will give you an f2.8 lens with equivalent AoV to 48-140mm.

Obviously native lenses do not need the additional bulk of the adapter and if you look at the Panasonic 35-100mm f2.8 zoom [70-200mm eq AoV] you have a lens no bigger than you'd expect for a 35-100mm lens on a 35mm format body. That's because the imaging circle is only half the size.

Rocket science it's not. The 'all or nothing' of enthusiasts of either format is frankly silly.

0 upvotes

if FF was the hit and will make all other sensor sizes obsolete, why do we have then things like a Pentax Q, a Nikon 1, a Sony RX100, and so on. According to your philosophy, apsc should have buried all those sensors, including 4/3, since a long time

0 upvotes

1) NZScott's point should be self-evident: Improved sensor technology means that you don't need as large a sensor to get good IQ. Large sensors are still needed for some applications, but certainly not only because you need clean prints at 13x19, or even 20x30.

2) Full-frame lenses tend to be less expensive in normal focal lengths, but more expensive in Telephoto. (Relatively) cheap full-frame cameras sound like a great deal, but they're what people in the grocery business would call a "loss leader", you know, the Thanksgiving turkeys they practically give away, just to get you in the store so that you will buy everything else.

0 upvotes

Large sensor compacts are killing the Canon G series. People buy interchangeable lens cameras for a different reason.

0 upvotes

I never thought of it that way, but you're right about inexpensive full frame sensors being a loss leader. With an aps-c camera you can get adequate reach and shutter speeds with a 180 or 200mm f/2.8 lens. But to get the equivalent magnification on a full-frame you need at least a 300mm and those lenses are almost $6,000. If you want a 400mm, it's like $9,000.

0 upvotes

I guess we know what the next OM-D camera will have! If the next gen OM-D has the same specs, I might be tempted to upgrade just for the Flash Sync and Shutter Speed improvements. The WiFi would take care of the family portrait sessions (although a $20 remote shutter release could do the job, too :) )

0 upvotes

Yep I thought the same.
However I hope the next OM-D will not just have these features but also a new sensor with better High ISO performance.

0 upvotes

Not likely. I'm thinking this sensor is in it for the long haul. More likely they'll *tweak* the engine to do noise reduction junk similar to the Panasonic G5 -> G6 update. Olympus strikes me as similar to Canon in regards to sensor tech and the update lifecycle.

1 upvote

mrmiguel .. very pessimestic .. this is the first generation of Pen cameras using 16mp sensor .. I am hopeful Oly will keep updating its sensor more often in future!!

0 upvotes

That depends on SONY. If SONY have newer sensor tech Olympus can tap, it will happened. Track record doesn't looks though with E-30's 12mp unit being used for 4 year on all Olympus cameras.

0 upvotes

I dislike the phrase "all new" when applied to features that are only mild tweaks of existing features - it shows that a journalist is parroting a company's press release.

Still, this is an interesting preview. There are some great new features - the ISO 100, focus-peaking and smaller focus-point option being three that I would use a lot.

8 upvotes

last summer the "all new" iPhone 5 had it's announcement. They sold it as all new. In fact the most parts are the same, or work the same as they did on the 4s.

It's just how things work these days.

0 upvotes

Thank you - I've just phoned all known PERTH -Australia OLYMPUS fans to let them know of this post !

0 upvotes

That either mean a lot of people or very few people. Kinda need to clearify what you think of the camera.

1 upvote

Hmm, this could well find it's way into my travel bag.
Specs look impressive, especially the introduction of IBIS - and focus peaking for my MF lenses.
Was sort of hoping Nikon would come up with a smaller, portable, camera like this. The Nikon '1s' don't really impress me.

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

2 upvotes

With evf this is a lot more expensive than a Nikon V2. I should hope it will offer more. What it won't have is af that is faster, more accurate, or better able to track moving subjects. The Nikon 1 focus system is still a wonder. The V2 can also shoot at 15fps with af active. All Nikon really needs is a sensor with better dynamic range, and better designed controls.

Meanwhile, this Olympus looks very tasty, though the unexciting WiFi specs and price leave me cold. Oh, and plastering 'OLYMPUS PEN' across the front makes it look like a Chinese knockoff. Ugly. I like the control dials and flexibility of the fully customizable controls. Nice, though overcomplicated.

1 upvote

Well, it depends on the eye of the beholder, I guess. The 'OLYMPUS PEN' is written like it was on the classic models from the 1960'es that introduced the design used on these.

2 upvotes

don't put accents on ISO 100, the native sensor is 200 ISO, that 100 is just a step down, not a real 100 ISO. The Sony NEX-7 sensor has 100 ISO native.

1 upvote

The $1449 package includes the new VF-4 EVF.

1 upvote

Yep....a free VF4 if you add up the cost of the 17mm with the camera.
Decent deal

2 upvotes

Nice looking camera, but time-lapse function looks odd.

720P only (why suck limit ?)
.AVI container..
and what means 10 FPS ?

On photo rumors'spec list, they announce a maximum of 99 frames for interval shoting, it means you can make a 4s movie at 25img/s..

0 upvotes

10 second max for time lapse movies.... There's a video demo on RedDotPhoto's YouTube channel just been uploaded

0 upvotes

The intervalometer could make this the camera of choice for KAP - Kite Aerial Photography....tempting replacement for my venerable GF1

0 upvotes

...and here:
Other creative features include new interval shooting that sets a time interval between 1 second to 24 hours, as well as how many shots the camera will capture in a series (1 to 99) during that time to create images that show the growth of a plant, the drifting of clouds, moving crowds or a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis.
"

0 upvotes

At about the same price, why would anybody want this over OM-D?

7 upvotes

At the same price, why would anyone pick this over X-E1? X-E1 even comes with EVF.

8 upvotes

I take it you're offering to have someone read the article for you and report back? Allow me:

- 1/8000 shutter
- ISO 100
- Focus Peaking
- Even better IBIS
- Improved rear screen
- WiFi
- Built-in flash

If you don't care about weather sealing and prefer / don't mind an external EVF, it's better in every way than the EM5. I guess that's the reason one or two people might buy it?

16 upvotes

Peiasdf: well, let's see... there's the much faster AF, the IBIS, the 1/8000 shutter, the smaller lenses, more lenses, the faster operation, the wifi...

7 upvotes

The missing EVF is a big piece which should have been reflected in the price.

Rest of the features are nice to have, but not material.

3 upvotes

... not material to YOU.

So you should have asked, "why would *I* want this over the OM-D?"

(Asked yourself, I mean. In your head. Not here.)

Comment edited 28 seconds after posting

4 upvotes

@Peiasdf

I think, the image quality of the E-P5 is better than the one from X-E1. And the system is broader, so i can choose from many different bodys, OM-D, E-PM2, E-P5, etc... (I´d wish, since i am a Nikon Fan-Boy, Nikon would produce such high quality, tiny cameras, but they wasted engineering power with such toy like J1, V1, etc... In the area of small system cameras i will go with olympus. )

0 upvotes

1/250 flash sync!

0 upvotes

I saw 1/320 flash sync... even better. I gave my EP-3 to my wife, and sold my three primes to a fellow photographer. I might just get back into this with this kind of feature set.

0 upvotes

Photo Story harkens back to the SP-320, where you could do an amazing amount of in-camera post-production work.

1 upvote

Thanks for posting. We have the P, PL and Mini lines + OM-D. Wonder what's next for OM-D?

1 upvote

Probably all of the improvements we see here plus a few other tricks. Better WiFi, I hope, since this is very weak. Just follow what Panasonic and Samsung are doing. Even Sony has done better than this, and theirs is not great. I'd also hope for on-sensor pdaf, but they seem not to be moving that way. Their cdaf performance is quite good so maybe they don't think they need it. Video has never been a strength, so maybe they can make some improvements there.

2 upvotes

Total comments: 336