My take on the Olympus E-P5

Michael Jardine wrote:

Excellent review, thanks for sharing! I too have an E-PL5 and considered upgrading to the E-P5, to the extent that I stopped off at Yodobashi Camera in Tokyo while in transit, just to play with it. I too loved it but decided to wait, mainly because of the price. Now, there are two other Olympus cameras, the OMD EM-1 and EM10, and I'm wondering if you would mind commenting on what made you decide to purchase the E-P5, given those two offerings?

Hi Michael,

Well, my purchase decision was prompted by a somewhat unusual occurrence; I found at my local camera shop a pristine used E-P5 with VF-4 for $750 USD. On top of that, they were willing to give me $375 for my own E-PL5 with VF-2. So, for $375 I got a no-hassle upgrade. It was hard to turn down.

I had been interested in the E-P5 since its announcement last year. The 1/8000 shutter, 5-axis IBIS, ISO 100, VF-4, and dual dial controls really got my camera lust going. I very much enjoyed my E-PL5, but I always considered it a bit fiddly in operation. Not awful, mind you, but not all that optimum. The E-P5 solves that in spades.

If I were purchasing new at the moment, I most likely would have gone for an E-M1. As it is, I'm very happy with the E-P5. I can honestly say I'm not lusting after an E-M1 in any way at the moment.

I did look at your gear list (you knew I would). Very nice stuff. I just cannot convince myself that I need two or more systems. Sure, it would be nice, but mirrorless and EVF-viewing have radically changed the way I do photography. Prior to using Pens, I was using Olympus DSLR (E-1 and E-5). Live view, live histograms, blinkies, and deadly-accurate CDAF changed my photographic life. I've come to accept that m4/3 is all I really need as a hobbyist. It's way good enough.

Jim Pilcher
Summit County, Colorado, USA