OM-D. Silver or Black? OMG, this is so difficult!

stimmer said:

Looks a lot better with the 45 and 75mm, and matches the black very well too. Plus the silver won't peel off.

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I'm pretty sure you don't have to worry too much about any paint peeling off. Today's magnesium bodied cameras are electrostatically powder-coated. In other words, microscopic dry paint particles are electrically bonded to the metal that they are coating. This creates an extremely strong paint finish because the paint particles virtually become part of the metal. Just look at any of Canon and Nikon's pro magnesium bodies. They can take a serious beating, and the only way any paint will "peel off" is if a chunk or layer of magnesium gets chipped off, because the power coat "paint" is actually part of the magnesium. So just don't ding or chip your magnesium body, because that's practically the only way the paint will come off.

Also, the silver body gets a layer of silver powder-coat paint, too. When you're looking at a silver E-M5, you're definitely not looking at bare metal. You're looking at a painted surface. So any paint "peel off" issue would still apply to the silver body.

stimmer said:

I like the leather texture better as well.

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Me too.

Melbourne Park said:

However, black is common now, and plastic cameras are mostly black. It's also easy to cover an alloy body with black, but its very difficult to do the reverse (ie black to silver).

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You're way off base. Alloy bodies are not black. Metal alloys, like the magnesium alloy of camera bodies, are naturally grey or silver in color, not black. So painting a metal alloy body is not a case of "black to silver" as you claim.

According to this Polish review, the black E-M5 is more slippery and harder to grip.

Will silver ones cost more and get delayed more if most people prefer it?

Any updates on the paint peeling off issues?

Does it affect the silver version?
--
BoxWatcher

Sergey Borachev said:

This is the only remaining question for me. Black or silver E-M5?

Click to expand...

Let me help you out.

Silver of course since:

1. The finish will last much longer than on the black version.

2. It will look good with silver as well as black lenses (and no, you won't be able to avoid the silver-only ones, such as the 45/1.8 and 75/1.8 ).

3. The "leather" is on the silver version only (I like it too).

4. The "leather" is reportedly more ergonomic (less slippery) than the material used on the black version.

5. Silver cameras look less threatening. Noone will take you for a pro. They'll just think you are out for a few snaps with your P&S. Or your outdated film camera.

Anders W said:

Sergey Borachev said:

This is the only remaining question for me. Black or silver E-M5?

Click to expand...

Let me help you out.

Silver of course since:

1. The finish will last much longer than on the black version.

2. It will look good with silver as well as black lenses (and no, you won't be able to avoid the silver-only ones, such as the 45/1.8 and 75/1.8 ).

3. The "leather" is on the silver version only (I like it too).

4. The "leather" is reportedly more ergonomic (less slippery) than the material used on the black version.

5. Silver cameras look less threatening. Noone will take you for a pro. They'll just think you are out for a few snaps with your P&S. Or your outdated film camera.

Click to expand...

Thanks, Anders.

My first post was nearly 2 months old, and I have learnt a lot more since. I agree with all your points here. And the film look is important to me

Olympus will sell you replacement leatherette cover kit of your choice. Simply peel off leatherette and replace with the texture of choice.

Regards.

Anders W said:

Sergey Borachev said:

This is the only remaining question for me. Black or silver E-M5?

Click to expand...

Let me help you out.

Silver of course since:

1. The finish will last much longer than on the black version.

2. It will look good with silver as well as black lenses (and no, you won't be able to avoid the silver-only ones, such as the 45/1.8 and 75/1.8 ).

3. The "leather" is on the silver version only (I like it too).

4. The "leather" is reportedly more ergonomic (less slippery) than the material used on the black version.

5. Silver cameras look less threatening. Noone will take you for a pro. They'll just think you are out for a few snaps with your P&S. Or your outdated film camera.

Click to expand...

--
Like others here, I suffer from chronic GAS.
Gear Acquisition Syndrome.
a few hundred nautical miles SW : 17º 52S, 149º 56W

Anders W said:

Silver of course since:

1. The finish will last much longer than on the black version.

Click to expand...

Why? What makes silver paint last any longer than black paint? They are both paint. If anything, black should be better because it's a lot easier to re-touch if it gets scratched or chipped. It's a lot harder to match the color of silver paint, whereas black is just black and it's very easy to re-touch.

Anders W said:

2. It will look good with silver as well as black lenses (and no, you won't be able to avoid the silver-only ones, such as the 45/1.8 and 75/1.8 ).

Click to expand...

Actually, I love the look of the silver lenses on the black bodies. Frankly, I think the silver on silver of silver lenses on silver bodies is too much silver for my taste.

Plus, what if Oly introduces black versions of their silver lenses? Then you have the ultimate stealthy camera if you have a black body!

Anders W said:

3. The "leather" is on the silver version only (I like it too).

Click to expand...

I also like the "leather" on the silver version. But it's not enough to push me to silver.

Anders W said:

4. The "leather" is reportedly more ergonomic (less slippery) than the material used on the black version.

Click to expand...

I guess it depends on how sweaty your hands get. But again, it's not enough to push me to silver. I don't think the black body's grip is that much more slippery!

Anders W said:

5. Silver cameras look less threatening. Noone will take you for a pro. They'll just think you are out for a few snaps with your P&S. Or your outdated film camera.

Click to expand...

On the other hand, with a black body, people may not notice your camera at all. Besides, why can't the black version also be mistaken for an outdated film camera? Old outdated film cameras came in black, too.

Len_Gee said:

Olympus will sell you replacement leatherette cover kit of your choice. Simply peel off leatherette and replace with the texture of choice.

Regards.

Click to expand...

Yes, most people don't realize that the grip is just adhesive-backed tape that can be peeled off. The same applies to DSLR grips too, as you can see from the video tear-down of a Canon DSLR (jump 25 seconds into the video to see him peel off the grip tape):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAWGScQeC5g

I wouldn't be surprised if people started selling different third-party "leather" grips for the E-M5, like the Aki Asahi crocodile embossed "leather" grip I just ordered for my E-PM1:

http://aki-asahi.com/store/html/E-PM1/Leather/EPM1_LeatherKit.php

This is great news! Where can you order the replacement? Is there a part # for it?

Len_Gee said:

Olympus will sell you replacement leatherette cover kit of your choice. Simply peel off leatherette and replace with the texture of choice.

Regards.

Anders W said:

Sergey Borachev said:

This is the only remaining question for me. Black or silver E-M5?

Click to expand...

Let me help you out.

Silver of course since:

1. The finish will last much longer than on the black version.

2. It will look good with silver as well as black lenses (and no, you won't be able to avoid the silver-only ones, such as the 45/1.8 and 75/1.8 ).

3. The "leather" is on the silver version only (I like it too).

4. The "leather" is reportedly more ergonomic (less slippery) than the material used on the black version.

5. Silver cameras look less threatening. Noone will take you for a pro. They'll just think you are out for a few snaps with your P&S. Or your outdated film camera.

Click to expand...

--
Like others here, I suffer from chronic GAS.
Gear Acquisition Syndrome.
a few hundred nautical miles SW : 17º 52S, 149º 56W

Click to expand...

I have the silver one, and it looks good. It feels good. But the part of the body where the paint has allegedly come off someone's camera is actually black.

Silver suits silver lenses and black lenses. Black, IMO, only suits black lenses.
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/argyllphotos

T3 said:

Anders W said:

Silver of course since:

1. The finish will last much longer than on the black version.

Click to expand...

Why? What makes silver paint last any longer than black paint? They are both paint. If anything, black should be better because it's a lot easier to re-touch if it gets scratched or chipped. It's a lot harder to match the color of silver paint, whereas black is just black and it's very easy to re-touch.

Click to expand...

The "silver" finish (I think it's actually chrome or something like that) will last longer because the metal underneath is more plated than painted with it. If you are used to the metal cameras of the past (I started out with Konica SLRs in the 70s), you will know that the brass (which was the material underneath in those days) will show through on the black bodies after a little while whereas the "silver" ones will continue to look more or less as new (if you handle them with a reasonable amount of care).

T3 said:

T3 said:

2. It will look good with silver as well as black lenses (and no, you won't be able to avoid the silver-only ones, such as the 45/1.8 and 75/1.8 ).

Click to expand...

Actually, I love the look of the silver lenses on the black bodies. Frankly, I think the silver on silver of silver lenses on silver bodies is too much silver for my taste.

Plus, what if Oly introduces black versions of their silver lenses? Then you have the ultimate stealthy camera if you have a black body!

T3 said:

3. The "leather" is on the silver version only (I like it too).

Click to expand...

I also like the "leather" on the silver version. But it's not enough to push me to silver.

T3 said:

4. The "leather" is reportedly more ergonomic (less slippery) than the material used on the black version.

Click to expand...

I guess it depends on how sweaty your hands get. But again, it's not enough to push me to silver. I don't think the black body's grip is that much more slippery!

T3 said:

5. Silver cameras look less threatening. Noone will take you for a pro. They'll just think you are out for a few snaps with your P&S. Or your outdated film camera.

Click to expand...

On the other hand, with a black body, people may not notice your camera at all. Besides, why can't the black version also be mistaken for an outdated film camera? Old outdated film cameras came in black, too.

Click to expand...

Nah. A magpie might find your camera more noteworthy if it's silver than if it's black. But humans not. And although the black version might be mistaken for an outdated film camera or a P&S as well, it is less likely to be. I think most people these days are likely to equate big and black with "serious camera" and small and non-black with "not so serious camera".

StephenL said:

I have the silver one, and it looks good. It feels good. But the part of the body where the paint has allegedly come off someone's camera is actually black.

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Oh sh*t! So none of us can escape the black peeling altogehter? Perhaps those of us who get silver will have to start by polishing the black parts so as to make them more "silvery" right from the beginning. I have heard of people with silver bodies doing that with their black hot shoes.

StephenL said:

Silver suits silver lenses and black lenses. Black, IMO, only suits black lenses.
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/argyllphotos

Click to expand...

T3 said:

I wouldn't be surprised if people started selling different third-party "leather" grips for the E-M5, like the Aki Asahi crocodile embossed "leather" grip I just ordered for my E-PM1:

http://aki-asahi.com/store/html/E-PM1/Leather/EPM1_LeatherKit.php

Click to expand...

I'd go for a white one : it should look good with the silver finish.

But I'd also be hesitant concerning any sticked Skin : the Pens all have a very shiny surface, on which the skin should stick well, but what about the irregular leatherette finish of the silver model and worse the fabric finish of the black model ?

--
rrr_hhh

rrr_hhh said:

T3 said:

I wouldn't be surprised if people started selling different third-party "leather" grips for the E-M5, like the Aki Asahi crocodile embossed "leather" grip I just ordered for my E-PM1:

http://aki-asahi.com/store/html/E-PM1/Leather/EPM1_LeatherKit.php

Click to expand...

I'd go for a white one : it should look good with the silver finish.

But I'd also be hesitant concerning any sticked Skin : the Pens all have a very shiny surface, on which the skin should stick well, but what about the irregular leatherette finish of the silver model and worse the fabric finish of the black model ?

Click to expand...

I think you misunderstand. You would first peel off the existing grip tape from the E-M5 (the "irregular leatherette finish" on the silver model, and the "fabric finish" of the black model). Then you apply the new grip tape! The new grip tape replaces the existing one. It does not sit on top of the existing one.

For example, here's a normal X100, with its standard grip tape:



And here's an X100 with the standard grip tape removed, and replaced by an Aki Asahi custom grip tape:



As you can see, the new grip tape is not applied on top of the old grip tape. You peel off the old one, and put on the new one.

Anders W said:

Anders W said:

Why? What makes silver paint last any longer than black paint? They are both paint. If anything, black should be better because it's a lot easier to re-touch if it gets scratched or chipped. It's a lot harder to match the color of silver paint, whereas black is just black and it's very easy to re-touch.

Click to expand...

The "silver" finish (I think it's actually chrome or something like that) will last longer because the metal underneath is more plated than painted with it. If you are used to the metal cameras of the past (I started out with Konica SLRs in the 70s), you will know that the brass (which was the material underneath in those days) will show through on the black bodies after a little while whereas the "silver" ones will continue to look more or less as new (if you handle them with a reasonable amount of care).

Click to expand...

Not true at all. The underlying metal of the E-M5 is not brass, nor is it "plated". The underlying body is magnesium alloy, just like many DSLR bodies. And it's electrostatically powder coated, just like magnesium DSLR bodies. And these black magnesium alloy DSLR bodies can take an enormous amount of abuse, without the black paint wearing off of them. I have never seen any of today's magnesium alloy bodies show any paint wear. My Canon 40D and 5D, both black painted magnesium alloy bodies, show no paint wear even after years of regular use and abuse. A black magnesium alloy E-M5 should be no different.

Furthermore, you simply can not compare today's paint technologies and processes to the methods used by old film SLR's from the 1970's!!! LOL. If that is the basis for your conclusion that the silver E-M5's paint will wear better than the black E-M5, then you are woefully mis-informed and mis-guided. Today's paint processes, if properly applied, are much more durable and wear resistant than what they were using three decades ago!

There is nothing magical about the E-M5's silver paint. It's no different from the E-M5's black paint, aside from the color. Therefore, there's no reason why the silver E-M5 "will continue to look more or less as new" while the black one will not! It's just silver paint on magnesium metal, just like the black one is black paint on magnesium metal. And both should wear equally well if applied correctly.

DonovanDwyer said:

This is great news! Where can you order the replacement? Is there a part # for it?

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You might want to wait for Aki Asahi's leatherette kits. They already offer a ton of other leatherette kits for other camera models, in a variety of colors and textures.

http://aki-asahi.com/store/

It's only a matter of time before they offer leatherette kits for the E-M5.

Here are some leatherette kits Aki Asahi offers for the X100:

http://aki-asahi.com/store/html/X100/leather/X100LeatherKit.php

Hello,

Sorry my English is not my first language.

What do you mean by "grip tape"?

Is it some kind of special tape I must use?

Or is it glue to use?

Thanking you.

T3 said:

rrr_hhh said:

T3 said:

I wouldn't be surprised if people started selling different third-party "leather" grips for the E-M5, like the Aki Asahi crocodile embossed "leather" grip I just ordered for my E-PM1:

http://aki-asahi.com/store/html/E-PM1/Leather/EPM1_LeatherKit.php

Click to expand...

I'd go for a white one : it should look good with the silver finish.

But I'd also be hesitant concerning any sticked Skin : the Pens all have a very shiny surface, on which the skin should stick well, but what about the irregular leatherette finish of the silver model and worse the fabric finish of the black model ?

Click to expand...

I think you misunderstand. You would first peel off the existing grip tape from the E-M5 (the "irregular leatherette finish" on the silver model, and the "fabric finish" of the black model). Then you apply the new grip tape! The new grip tape replaces the existing one. It does not sit on top of the existing one.

For example, here's a normal X100, with its standard grip tape:



And here's an X100 with the standard grip tape removed, and replaced by an Aki Asahi custom grip tape:



As you can see, the new grip tape is not applied on top of the old grip tape. You peel off the old one, and put on the new one.

Click to expand...

Len_Gee said:

Hello,

Sorry my English is not my first language.

What do you mean by "grip tape"?

Is it some kind of special tape I must use?

Or is it glue to use?

Thanking you.

Click to expand...

The "grip tape" is merely the textured grip material that you see on the E-M5 camera body (and many other cameras). It can be removed, and replaced by other "grip tape", like the ones sold by Aki Asahi, shown below. The "grip tape" is merely a textured material with a strong adhesive on the back. You pull it off, then replace it with a different one. Aki Asahi sells various grip tape kits in various textures, custom cut for specific camera models.

You can see an example of "grip tape" being applied to a camera on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuXKQad2W08

Kung Pao Panda said:

T3 said:

rrr_hhh said:

T3 said:

I wouldn't be surprised if people started selling different third-party "leather" grips for the E-M5, like the Aki Asahi crocodile embossed "leather" grip I just ordered for my E-PM1:

http://aki-asahi.com/store/html/E-PM1/Leather/EPM1_LeatherKit.php

Click to expand...

I'd go for a white one : it should look good with the silver finish.

But I'd also be hesitant concerning any sticked Skin : the Pens all have a very shiny surface, on which the skin should stick well, but what about the irregular leatherette finish of the silver model and worse the fabric finish of the black model ?

Click to expand...

I think you misunderstand. You would first peel off the existing grip tape from the E-M5 (the "irregular leatherette finish" on the silver model, and the "fabric finish" of the black model). Then you apply the new grip tape! The new grip tape replaces the existing one. It does not sit on top of the existing one.

For example, here's a normal X100, with its standard grip tape:



And here's an X100 with the standard grip tape removed, and replaced by an Aki Asahi custom grip tape:



As you can see, the new grip tape is not applied on top of the old grip tape. You peel off the old one, and put on the new one.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...