Reading mode: Light Dark

XM-1 vs. micro 4/3 ?

Go to last post
Marco Cinnirella

Marco Cinnirella

Veteran Member
Messages
8,575
Solutions
6
Reaction score
2,962
Location
Surrey, UK
How do IQ? And AF speed compare XM1 vs. GX7 or EM5 for example in raw?

i already have an EM5 but am contemplating an XM1 plus kit lens as a take anywhere high ISO champ, but am wondering if the AF will disappoint compared to m 4/3 and just how massive the high ISO gap is versus an EM5?

--
"When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence." Ansell Adams.
 
Last edited:
Marco Cinnirella said:
How do IQ? And AF speed compare XM1 vs. GX7 or EM5 for example in raw?

i already have an EM5 but am contemplating an XM1 plus kit lens as a take anywhere high ISO champ, but am wondering if the AF will disappoint compared to m 4/3 and just how massive the high ISO gap is versus an EM5?
Click to expand...
 
Marco Cinnirella said:
How do IQ? And AF speed compare XM1 vs. GX7 or EM5 for example in raw?

i already have an EM5 but am contemplating an XM1 plus kit lens as a take anywhere high ISO champ, but am wondering if the AF will disappoint compared to m 4/3 and just how massive the high ISO gap is versus an EM5?
Click to expand...
 
I bought an OMD EM-5 a couple of years back because I wanted to be able to travel with a full compliment of lenses but not have to carry all my Nikon gear. It did very well and I was very pleased with my purchases, but did find it a bit frustrating at times and it wasn't quite on a par with my D700 if I'm being fussy. I'd still take it again if size was a priority. Aside from lack of control over depth of field IQ was pretty good even at high ISO.

Since then I have bought into Fuji X with an XE-1 and an XT-1. This has made both of my other systems (D700 and OMD) pretty much redundant. It gives better IQ than the OMD with less noise through the ISO range from base to ISO3200 (as high as I'd go). It is also much more useable than my OMD as it has more room for the dials that I like to use and the buttons are much better spaced. As for the menus - oh joy! The OMD is horrid in that respect. It drives me nuts! Thank heaven for the XT-1. The only caveat for me is a few gaps in the lens line-up. Fuji lacks long lenses that match the quality (speed and aperture) of Nikon or the reach of Olympus. It also lacks a decent 1:1 macro lens. The Nikon and Olympus gear will be sold when Fuji release lenses that I want to spend the money on.

--
www.andrewsandersphotography.co.uk
 
Last edited:
Hi Marco,

I have both EM5 and X-M1. From a usability perspective I like the EM5, AF is fast and accurate and I have some M43 primes to go with it and a grip, however, I find the X-M1 IQ to be quite a bit better (my opinion). The X-M1 AF is a little bit slower but it is accurate and the AF points are easy to select. In day-to-day use I have seldom lost a shot due to AF speed. The 16-50 kit lens is very good for a kit lens.

The one big thing I miss in the X-M1 compared to the EM5 is a viewfinder. Overall I'm really happy with the X-M1 which I bought to test out if I liked Fuji X, if I could replay that purchase now I would have gone for the X-E1.

Steve
 
Arfa Pint said:
Hi Marco,

I have both EM5 and X-M1. From a usability perspective I like the EM5, AF is fast and accurate and I have some M43 primes to go with it and a grip, however, I find the X-M1 IQ to be quite a bit better (my opinion). The X-M1 AF is a little bit slower but it is accurate and the AF points are easy to select. In day-to-day use I have seldom lost a shot due to AF speed. The 16-50 kit lens is very good for a kit lens.

The one big thing I miss in the X-M1 compared to the EM5 is a viewfinder. Overall I'm really happy with the X-M1 which I bought to test out if I liked Fuji X, if I could replay that purchase now I would have gone for the X-E1.

Steve
Click to expand...
Thanks very much Steve - some posters have ignored the point that I asked about the X-M1 (because it's in my price range) while you didn't, which I appreciate. Could you possibly elaborate on what aspects of IQ are better with the X-M1? I shoot raw, do you? I note that you say you have both X-M1 and EM5 - could you tell me under what circusmatnces you might choose to use one over the other?
 
Marco Cinnirella said:
Thanks very much Steve - some posters have ignored the point that I asked about the X-M1 (because it's in my price range) while you didn't, which I appreciate. Could you possibly elaborate on what aspects of IQ are better with the X-M1? I shoot raw, do you? I note that you say you have both X-M1 and EM5 - could you tell me under what circusmatnces you might choose to use one over the other?

--
"When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence." Ansell Adams.
Click to expand...
Marco,

Do have a check on the price of the X-M1 compared to the X-E1. You could be in for a big surprise as the E body only is if anything cheaper than the M-1 at the moment so don't rule it out on price grounds! If you add the 18-55 instead of the 16-50, the price will change of course and the overall cost is about €250 more but many would argue that the extra speed and quality of this lens make it worth it if you can swing it. If not, then the sensor at least is exactly the same as on the X-E1 and you could probably pick up a used 16-50 for very little.

I had an E-M5 but sold it eventually after getting the X-E1. I shoot RAW and process in Photo Ninja which is certainly the way to go for TransX imho. Don't use Lightroom which is known to be inferior for landscape in particular (I now use LR mnly just for cataloguing + the rare image that PN has some difficulties with for some reason) . This way, the image quality is noticeably if not dramatically better than Olympus. Specifically, images are rendered in a smoother, more natural way and edge sharpness as well as far distance for landscapes are rather clearer and more detailed than with Olympus when using comparable lenses. Dynamic range is pretty decent with both cameras -- only a marginal advantage to Fuji probably. Low light gives up to about a stop. You'll get some grain at ISO 6400 but only very slight loss of colour fidelity. Colourwise, slightly more green with Fuji, I've found, and some find Fuji colours simply richer but I'm not sure if I can categorically confirm that. There's nothing much wrong with Olympus --indeed I recently got a very cheap E-PM2 to use my remaining oly lenses -- but my eyes tell me that Fuji has a sufficient quality difference in RAW to be worthwhile. If Fuji's not good enough, then there are always those Sigma Merrills being sold off cheap -- now that is IQ!

David
 
dko22 said:
Marco Cinnirella said:
Thanks very much Steve - some posters have ignored the point that I asked about the X-M1 (because it's in my price range) while you didn't, which I appreciate. Could you possibly elaborate on what aspects of IQ are better with the X-M1? I shoot raw, do you? I note that you say you have both X-M1 and EM5 - could you tell me under what circusmatnces you might choose to use one over the other?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Marco Cinnirella said:
David thanks for a very thorough answer - p.s. - are you David Kilpatrick, Minolta/Sony guru? I ask as I thought yo were user DavieK on here ? Anyways, great answer, thanks very much. are you saying, BTW that the X-E1 is better than the X-M1 ?
Click to expand...
 
Marco Cinnirella said:
Arfa Pint said:
Hi Marco,

I have both EM5 and X-M1. From a usability perspective I like the EM5, AF is fast and accurate and I have some M43 primes to go with it and a grip, however, I find the X-M1 IQ to be quite a bit better (my opinion). The X-M1 AF is a little bit slower but it is accurate and the AF points are easy to select. In day-to-day use I have seldom lost a shot due to AF speed. The 16-50 kit lens is very good for a kit lens.

The one big thing I miss in the X-M1 compared to the EM5 is a viewfinder. Overall I'm really happy with the X-M1 which I bought to test out if I liked Fuji X, if I could replay that purchase now I would have gone for the X-E1.

Steve
Click to expand...
Thanks very much Steve - some posters have ignored the point that I asked about the X-M1 (because it's in my price range) while you didn't, which I appreciate. Could you possibly elaborate on what aspects of IQ are better with the X-M1? I shoot raw, do you? I note that you say you have both X-M1 and EM5 - could you tell me under what circusmatnces you might choose to use one over the other?
Click to expand...
 
Marco Cinnirella said:
Many thanks David - very useful. I have PhotoNinja, LR and DXO Optics so between them should be able to get decent raw processing with the x-trans raws I imagine. I found a decent deal with the X-E1 and 18-55 lens - is that lens a keeper?
Click to expand...
 
M1 is considerably faster than E1. And it's not just AF, it's faster in everything, including processing and writing speed because it has a newer generation processor. It also has more features like face detection and others (don't remember them all now). M1 is also considerably smaller and easier to carry around. RAW IQ is the same. If you can get by without VF, M1 is a better choice. I never lost a shot because of lack of VF.
 
vivanchenko said:
M1 is considerably faster than E1. And it's not just AF, it's faster in everything, including processing and writing speed because it has a newer generation processor. It also has more features like face detection and others (don't remember them all now). M1 is also considerably smaller and easier to carry around. RAW IQ is the same. If you can get by without VF, M1 is a better choice. I never lost a shot because of lack of VF.
Click to expand...
Sorry, I'm old school - I just like having an EVF or OVF because that's how I have shot for 30 years! The only exception is my tiny little RX100, which I can hold pretty steady and use the LCD. I have micro four thirds cameras if I want good video, fast AF and face detect. It also came down to price - I can get an X-E1 + 18-55 lens for virtually just the retail price of the lens - no such deals were available for X-M1 plius the 18-55.
 
Yes, I can understand this :-)
 
Marco Cinnirella said:
David - just as a follow-up I have ordered an X-E1 + 18-55 kit for a decent price new - thanks very much for your advice and I'm looking forward to trying out the camera soon
Click to expand...
 
dko22 said:
I shoot RAW and process in Photo Ninja which is certainly the way to go for TransX imho.
Click to expand...
C1P and Aperture produce equally excellent images WRT demosaicing - see my direct comparisons. It's "only" LR and LightZone that shouldn't be used (and, now that it's declared discontinued, Aperture shouldn't be purchased at its recent price if you don't already have a license).
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top