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E-M1: buy now or wait for new model?

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Mark B UK

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The recent price reductions and the two promotions running in the UK (free grip, £150 rebate on lenses) is tempting me to upgrade my E-M5 for an E-M1, in which case I will also buy the 25mm 1.8, and possibly also invest in a Panasonic 14-140 mk2.

What hoods me back is a suspicion that the E-M5 may be replaced early next year, and I wonder whether it could include features such as PDAF across the whole frame (which I'd value) and 4k video (which I wouldn't) and possibly others I can't guess at.

What's the view on this? Buy, or wait? Also, if I buy, silver or black?
 
Mark B UK said:
The recent price reductions and the two promotions running in the UK (free grip, £150 rebate on lenses) is tempting me to upgrade my E-M5 for an E-M1, in which case I will also buy the 25mm 1.8, and possibly also invest in a Panasonic 14-140 mk2.

What hoods me back is a suspicion that the E-M5 may be replaced early next year, and I wonder whether it could include features such as PDAF across the whole frame (which I'd value) and 4k video (which I wouldn't) and possibly others I can't guess at.

What's the view on this? Buy, or wait? Also, if I buy, silver or black?
Click to expand...
My dealer tells me with an air of certainty that February will see the replacement for the EM5.

Wait or buy, that is up to you to decide.
 
I had the EM1 for about a month, and it was a beautiful camera in almost every way. I sold it because I realized I wanted better video specs, and I disliked the menu system. However, I would have kept it anyway if the video specs were better. So I switched back to Panasonic. If the EM1 right now is all the camera you want, then I say go for it. Keep in mind it is only PDAF when you use 4/3 lenses on it. With native m43 lenses it is CDAF only (still very good). But, if you are already doubting what you may want, it may be best to wait and see what the EM5 successor is before buying now. Even though you may not care for higher video specs, I still think it adds value to the camera when it comes time to sell it. There are many Panasonic users who wish Olympus would mate their IBIS with higher spec video. If you wait for the new model and find it's not all you wished it was, there will still be many cheaper EM1's available.
 
In the E-M1 with mft lenses both the pd-af and cd-af systems are used in C-AF and C-AF w/Tacking. In S-AF on the cd-af system is used.
 
NCV said:
Mark B UK said:
The recent price reductions and the two promotions running in the UK (free grip, £150 rebate on lenses) is tempting me to upgrade my E-M5 for an E-M1, in which case I will also buy the 25mm 1.8, and possibly also invest in a Panasonic 14-140 mk2.

What hoods me back is a suspicion that the E-M5 may be replaced early next year, and I wonder whether it could include features such as PDAF across the whole frame (which I'd value) and 4k video (which I wouldn't) and possibly others I can't guess at.

What's the view on this? Buy, or wait? Also, if I buy, silver or black?
Click to expand...
My dealer tells me with an air of certainty that February will see the replacement for the EM5.

Wait or buy, that is up to you to decide.
Click to expand...
Did you get that in writing? Have any of you considered that the E-M5 may just fade into the sunset and Olympus will move forward with just two OM-D models; the E-M1 and the E-M10. If they improve the E-M5 too much and offer it at a lower price than the E-M1, it would severely hurt E-M1 sales. If they improve the E-M5 so it just sits ahead of the E-M10 and the price is much higher, it might not sell and if the price is low enough, they might kill the E-M10 market.

Look at the Pen line; the EPM is basically gone, the EPL has received two upgrades in a short span, and I don't see anyone talking about the next generation EP-5.
 
It does seem like the true E-M5 replacement will be announced at CP+ photo show, which is late January or very early February. So it should be in stores in March.

No leaks on the specs and other details. It is still planned to be the mid-level camera in the OMD series. Still it just might have better and newer features than the E-M1. So it just might be mid-level in size only and the number of direct control buttons and dials. Then again it might not get some of the more expensive E-M1 features, like the larger EVF and on-sensor PD-AF.

I am guessing the rumors and leaks will start in late December. Until then just people's want lists.

Dave
 
Mark B UK said:
The recent price reductions and the two promotions running in the UK (free grip, £150 rebate on lenses) is tempting me to upgrade my E-M5 for an E-M1, in which case I will also buy the 25mm 1.8, and possibly also invest in a Panasonic 14-140 mk2.

What hoods me back is a suspicion that the E-M5 may be replaced early next year, and I wonder whether it could include features such as PDAF across the whole frame (which I'd value) and 4k video (which I wouldn't) and possibly others I can't guess at.

What's the view on this? Buy, or wait? Also, if I buy, silver or black?
Click to expand...
Appears that your main interest is improved C-AF (you say you value PDAF across the frame), and you would consider 4K video nice to have.

Since you seem to use native m43 lenses i believe you will get somewhat better C-AF with the EM1. However, i believe a key improvement is the 0s anti shock mode in the EM1 that takes away shutter shock induced blur. This is also available for the EM10 but not the EM5. This would for me be the main reason to switch now.
 
bs1946 said:
NCV said:
Mark B UK said:
The recent price reductions and the two promotions running in the UK (free grip, £150 rebate on lenses) is tempting me to upgrade my E-M5 for an E-M1, in which case I will also buy the 25mm 1.8, and possibly also invest in a Panasonic 14-140 mk2.

What hoods me back is a suspicion that the E-M5 may be replaced early next year, and I wonder whether it could include features such as PDAF across the whole frame (which I'd value) and 4k video (which I wouldn't) and possibly others I can't guess at.

What's the view on this? Buy, or wait? Also, if I buy, silver or black?
Click to expand...
My dealer tells me with an air of certainty that February will see the replacement for the EM5.

Wait or buy, that is up to you to decide.
Click to expand...
Did you get that in writing? Have any of you considered that the E-M5 may just fade into the sunset and Olympus will move forward with just two OM-D models; the E-M1 and the E-M10. If they improve the E-M5 too much and offer it at a lower price than the E-M1, it would severely hurt E-M1 sales. If they improve the E-M5 so it just sits ahead of the E-M10 and the price is much higher, it might not sell and if the price is low enough, they might kill the E-M10 market.

Look at the Pen line; the EPM is basically gone, the EPL has received two upgrades in a short span, and I don't see anyone talking about the next generation EP-5.
Click to expand...
 
I suspect that the E-M5 Mark11 will be on display at the Photography Show at the NEC in March; but there will be a queue, and I shall be in it!

Peter Del
 
Thanks everyone. It seems there's a consensus that the next OMD will be a replacement for the E-M5, and that we'll see it in early 2015.

What I wonder though is whether it will occupy the same position in the range, ie below the E-M1, or whether it will take the spot the original E-M5 held at the top of the range, in which case the E-M1 would do what the E-M5 did when the E-M1 came out and fall in price, becoming the mid-range model.

Has anyone here received any hints from people at Olympus as to which scenario is correct? If the next E-M5 will sit below the E-M1, there's no downside to me upgrading; on the other hand, if it's likely to top the range, I should probably hold off.
 
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Olympus does not seem to have the most resources to push new camera models at the moment.

I expect the E-M1 to linger around significantly longer (1.5 years+?). The E-M5, though, is showing its age now, and I would say it is reasonable to believe that it is next in line for an update. Perhaps within 6 months for the announcement?

As for colour, I would go for black.

Loading…

m43photo.blogspot.de
 
bs1946 said:
NCV said:
Mark B UK said:
The recent price reductions and the two promotions running in the UK (free grip, £150 rebate on lenses) is tempting me to upgrade my E-M5 for an E-M1, in which case I will also buy the 25mm 1.8, and possibly also invest in a Panasonic 14-140 mk2.

What hoods me back is a suspicion that the E-M5 may be replaced early next year, and I wonder whether it could include features such as PDAF across the whole frame (which I'd value) and 4k video (which I wouldn't) and possibly others I can't guess at.

What's the view on this? Buy, or wait? Also, if I buy, silver or black?
Click to expand...
My dealer tells me with an air of certainty that February will see the replacement for the EM5.

Wait or buy, that is up to you to decide.
Click to expand...
Did you get that in writing? Have any of you considered that the E-M5 may just fade into the sunset and Olympus will move forward with just two OM-D models; the E-M1 and the E-M10. If they improve the E-M5 too much and offer it at a lower price than the E-M1, it would severely hurt E-M1 sales. If they improve the E-M5 so it just sits ahead of the E-M10 and the price is much higher, it might not sell and if the price is low enough, they might kill the E-M10 market.

Look at the Pen line; the EPM is basically gone, the EPL has received two upgrades in a short span, and I don't see anyone talking about the next generation EP-5.
Click to expand...
 
Mark B UK said:
The recent price reductions and the two promotions running in the UK (free grip, £150 rebate on lenses) is tempting me to upgrade my E-M5 for an E-M1, in which case I will also buy the 25mm 1.8, and possibly also invest in a Panasonic 14-140 mk2.

What hoods me back is a suspicion that the E-M5 may be replaced early next year, and I wonder whether it could include features such as PDAF across the whole frame (which I'd value) and 4k video (which I wouldn't) and possibly others I can't guess at.

What's the view on this? Buy, or wait? Also, if I buy, silver or black?
Click to expand...
Not saying that it's not a better camera, but it's not clear from your post what you want to gain from upgrading?
 
Mark B UK said:
The recent price reductions and the two promotions running in the UK (free grip, £150 rebate on lenses) is tempting me to upgrade my E-M5 for an E-M1, in which case I will also buy the 25mm 1.8, and possibly also invest in a Panasonic 14-140 mk2.

What hoods me back is a suspicion that the E-M5 may be replaced early next year, and I wonder whether it could include features such as PDAF across the whole frame (which I'd value) and 4k video (which I wouldn't) and possibly others I can't guess at.

What's the view on this? Buy, or wait? Also, if I buy, silver or black?
Click to expand...
Didn't plow through the replies so may be redundant in noting while the IQ doesn't differ hugely between the two, the E-M1 is a significant upgrade in capability and responsiveness. For anyone with 4/3 lenses it's a "no brainer" but even lacking that there are many benefits to the transition.

And if you do this, the E-M5 replacement will be announced within hours and we'll all find out what goodies it will include, so there's an added gift to humanity.

Am skeptical on-sensor PDAF will migrate to the E-M5 but we may well see the faster shutter and better EVF. I think there will also be some unique capability, which I doubt will be 4k video.

Cheers,

Rick

p.s. Black.

--
Equivalence and diffraction-free since 2009.
You can be too; ask about our 12-step program.
 
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I would. I bet we will be seeing the EM-5 refresh here in the next 3-4 months. Might be worth holding out for and, if its not much of an upgrade, I'm sure you'll be able to pick up an EM-1 for easily as cheap as you can get one now. Camera bodies always drop in price with time.
 
Fredrik Glckner said:
Olympus does not seem to have the most resources to push new camera models at the moment.

I expect the E-M1 to linger around significantly longer (1.5 years+?). The E-M5, though, is showing its age now, and I would say it is reasonable to believe that it is next in line for an update. Perhaps within 6 months for the announcement?

As for colour, I would go for black.

http://m43photo.blogspot.de
Click to expand...
With the previous DSLR models, the top of the line cameras were replaced at about 3 year intervals. I would not expect a replacement for the E-M1 before there was some real increase in sensor characteristics (IQ/MP/& or/PDAF capability changes).
 
For the mortal and common photographer, I can not think of any feature/gizmo/function that the E-M1 might be missing.

so buy now.
 
sigala1 said:
Mark B UK said:
The recent price reductions and the two promotions running in the UK (free grip, £150 rebate on lenses) is tempting me to upgrade my E-M5 for an E-M1, in which case I will also buy the 25mm 1.8, and possibly also invest in a Panasonic 14-140 mk2.

What hoods me back is a suspicion that the E-M5 may be replaced early next year, and I wonder whether it could include features such as PDAF across the whole frame (which I'd value) and 4k video (which I wouldn't) and possibly others I can't guess at.

What's the view on this? Buy, or wait? Also, if I buy, silver or black?
Click to expand...
Not saying that it's not a better camera, but it's not clear from your post what you want to gain from upgrading?
Click to expand...
Mainly PDAF and a bigger and sharper EVF.
 
Mark B UK said:
sigala1 said:
Mark B UK said:
The recent price reductions and the two promotions running in the UK (free grip, £150 rebate on lenses) is tempting me to upgrade my E-M5 for an E-M1, in which case I will also buy the 25mm 1.8, and possibly also invest in a Panasonic 14-140 mk2.

What hoods me back is a suspicion that the E-M5 may be replaced early next year, and I wonder whether it could include features such as PDAF across the whole frame (which I'd value) and 4k video (which I wouldn't) and possibly others I can't guess at.

What's the view on this? Buy, or wait? Also, if I buy, silver or black?
Click to expand...
Not saying that it's not a better camera, but it's not clear from your post what you want to gain from upgrading?
Click to expand...
Mainly PDAF and a bigger and sharper EVF.
Click to expand...
In that case there's no point in waiting for a new model. I doubt that the next E-M5 mark II will have PDAF.
 
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