POLL: Potential OLYMPUS OMD EM-1 11 buyers -- Your Expectations?

millardmt · Dec 3, 2016

I own a bunch of Olympus cameras -- more than I have got Panasonics -- but anecdotal reports on this forum and elsewhere have long led me to believe that Olympus' quality control sucks. (I've personally had three E-P5 dials fail to function. I've also had three of these dials simply detach and fall to the ground, too.)

As many here have pointed out, no one but Olympus really knows the abolute repair incidence of its products, but I personally have grave reservations about their durability. Even accepting that all "cameras" nowadays are nothing more than pieces of "ephemera" -- that is, 'consumer electronics' never meant to last for very long -- I have just not been impressed.

Anyway, here's the deal. I want to start shedding my "micro" lenses and start buying some older 4/3rd's glass. Which means I have to get an EM-1 body with on-sensor PDAF. And I would do that in a flash right now except for the potential for 1) stripped strap lugs, 2) front/rear control dial failures, 3) fried EVF screens, 4) separated rubber grips, etc.

So I want your opinion. I don't have $2,000 -- I'll have to save up for the new Mk.11 body. But I wouldn't pay $20 for it if I thought it'd be liable to go crashing to the ground unexpectedly because a strap lug stripped out. Even more importantly, i am resolved to have nothing further to do with a company that won't *acknowledge* that there's a problem with its product(s).

(Thanks, Marc)

So what about you? DO YOU ..?

JaKing · Dec 3, 2016

I expect it to be fine.

The only piece of Olympus gear I have ever had any kind of problem with is my E-M1 (rear dial and crap on sensor).

I don't count the cocking lever jamming on one of my OM-1 bodies - it had been solidly used for 30+ years, and not abused, or babied, after all.

There are currently 8 bodies and 20+ Olympus lenses lurking around the house.

keithinmelbourne · Dec 3, 2016

I have recently jumped over to M43, after selling off many of my Canon L lenses and a IDs MkIII body.

My first purchase was an EM-5II, which turned out to be completely unusable because of software glitches. I took it back to the store after a week of struggling with it. They tried to get it to work. They couldn't, so they immediately gave me a new body.

The new body is working perfectly. I now have a slew of new lenses and an EM1MkII on the way. I am hoping that these 2 bodies keep me going for a few more years to come. It is too late for me to go back and completely change a camera system again. Luckily, M43 users can choose bodies from Olympus, Panasonic and YI, something that is not possible for DSLR users.

ristar · Dec 4, 2016

I've had a E-PM1 since November 2012 (15,969 shutter count) and a E-M10 since May 2014 (14,445 shutter count) and have had no problems with either so far; hopefully it stays this way. The higher shutter count of the E-PM1 surprises me a little but I used burst shot much more heavily in the hopes of counteracting shutter shock and the comparatively bad IBIS.

acahaya · Dec 4, 2016

My first E-M1 was replaced in time for a photo trip to Mexico by Olympus Europe. It did not have any other problems. The cam had a sensor defect (the first i had with more than 10 Oly cameras) and Oly sent me the replacement cam before they received the defect one to make sure i had a working cam for my trip.

My replacement E-M1 has no fried EVF, no lost eyepieces, no fallen off dials, no broken strap lugs .... no nothing.

I use it since January 2014 and it has more than 100000 exposures.

Do i expect the E-M1.2 to be as reliable as the Mark I: Yes.

Should you buy one: No because if you expect trouble there will be trouble.

Sabine
________________
www.acahaya.com

paul cool · Dec 4, 2016

for the price i am expecting a faultless product mechanically ,software may need future upgrades to smooth things out if they missed some bugs .

Although if you look at comparison on olympus website the original is magnesium and the mk2 is aluminium and magnesium so take that as gauge i just hope the paint does not wear off as easily my mk 1 where my strap rubs .

Skeeterbytes · Dec 4, 2016

My two EM1s have functioned without fail despite heavy use (same as four previous Olys). Expect same from new camera, of course.

Rick

nik9669 · Dec 4, 2016

Let's face it: Olympus are marketing this as a Pro product.

They've really shot themselves in the foot if they can't resolve basic issues like these on the strength of their Mk1 experiences.

Otherwise, the Pro market is dead. Then they have to discount heavily for the enthusiasts to buy it, or the product is dead.

Michael M Fliegel · Dec 4, 2016

Over three years with my EM1. No issues.

millardmt · Dec 4, 2016

paul cool said:
for the price i am expecting a faultless product mechanically ,software may need future upgrades to smooth things out if they missed some bugs .

Although if you look at comparison on olympus website the original is magnesium and the mk2 is aluminium and magnesium so take that as gauge i just hope the paint does not wear off as easily my mk 1 where my strap rubs .

Ah, thank you Paul. I had forgotten that current and future body composition will be significantly different. This will be important to my research. (Unfortunately, I'd also forgotten that the new body will be equipped with a fully-articulating-screen -- a feature I've tried and absolutely loathe.). Rats.

I'm beginning to think I haven't thought this through sufficiently.

I'm going to wait and see what further feedback this post attracts before making a final decision.

Thanks again, Marc

Sergey Borachev · Dec 5, 2016

millardmt said:
paul cool said:

for the price i am expecting a faultless product mechanically ,software may need future upgrades to smooth things out if they missed some bugs .

Although if you look at comparison on olympus website the original is magnesium and the mk2 is aluminium and magnesium so take that as gauge i just hope the paint does not wear off as easily my mk 1 where my strap rubs .

Click to expand...

Ah, thank you Paul. I had forgotten that current and future body composition will be significantly different. This will be important to my research. (Unfortunately, I'd also forgotten that the new body will be equipped with a fully-articulating-screen -- a feature I've tried and absolutely loathe.). Rats.

I'm beginning to think I haven't thought this through sufficiently.

I'm going to wait and see what further feedback this post attracts before making a final decision.

Thanks again, Marc

Teething problems in M43 products are real and should be considered.

JaKing · Dec 5, 2016

Of course, no other manufacturers have ever had any "teething problems" ...

Sergey Borachev · Dec 5, 2016

JaKing said:
Of course, no other manufacturers have ever had any "teething problems" ...

--
br, john, from you know where
My gear list and sordid past are here: https://www.dpreview.com/members/1558378718/overview
Plus an E-M1 MkII on its way ...
Gallery: http://canopuscomputing.com.au/gallery2/v/main-page/

Well, I have never heard of so many problems elsewhere that are like what we have here. Some of these are simply too basic, mechanical, and too easy to avoid for us to brush off as hard to design or foresee, e.g.. strap lugs that comes off, LCD bezels with cracks from overtightening, eye cups that keep falling off, hoods (PRO 12-40mm) that also come off and get lost with the slightest knocks, lids that just disintegrate when dropped on the ground. You have to wonder what kind of QC and design reviews they have for such simple problems. These are not some obscure or hard to see software problem or some new internal circuit.

JaKing · Dec 5, 2016

Ever hear about the Canon 1DIII/IV AF problems?

Nikon D800 (etc, etc) oil on sensors?

No one wishes these things to happen, but they do occasionally. To any/all manufacturers.

Pixnat2 · Dec 5, 2016

During the last decade, I had nearly all Olympus flagships (E-1, E-3, E-5, E-M5 and E-M1).

I was really confident about 4/3 Olympus quality : built like tanks with excellent QC. I never had a single problem with 4/3 cameras and lenses.

But m4/3 has started an new era of QC problems. With both E-M5 and E-M1 I had constant QC problems (dial failing, screen cracking, unglued leather, strap falling).

The most worrisome problem I had - and the one that decided me to leave Olympus - was the 12-40 broken mount.

Maybe it was my bad luck, since many apprently never had problems, but it was too much for me. Enough was enough.

Now, I sincerly hope that Olympus has fixed their QC problems. If in one or two years, the E-M1-MKII has proved reliable, maybe I will return.

But for now, my strategy is "wait and see".

--
Cheers,
Frederic
http://www.azurphoto.com/

millardmt · Dec 5, 2016

Pixnat2 said:
During the last decade, I had nearly all Olympus flagships (E-1, E-3, E-5, E-M5 and E-M1).

I was really confident about 4/3 Olympus quality : built like tanks with excellent QC. I never had a single problem with 4/3 cameras and lenses.

But m4/3 has started an new era of QC problems. With both E-M5 and E-M1 I had constant QC problems (dial failing, screen cracking, unglued leather, strap falling).

The most worrisome problem I had - and the one that decided me to leave Olympus - was the 12-40 broken mount.

Maybe it was my bad luck, since many apprently never had problems, but it was too much for me. Enough was enough.

Now, I sincerly hope that Olympus has fixed their QC problems. If in one or two years, the E-M1-MKII has proved reliable, maybe I will return.

But for now, my strategy is "wait and see".

brianric · Dec 5, 2016

JaKing said:
Ever hear about the Canon 1DIII/IV AF problems?

I had a 1D3, which was the reason I switched to Nikon at the time.

JaKing said:
Nikon D800 (etc, etc) oil on sensors?

No one wishes these things to happen, but they do occasionally. To any/all manufacturers.

--
br, john, from you know where
My gear list and sordid past are here: https://www.dpreview.com/members/1558378718/overview
Plus an E-M1 MkII on its way ...
Gallery: http://canopuscomputing.com.au/gallery2/v/main-page/

cnyram · Dec 5, 2016

millardmt said:
Pixnat2 said:

During the last decade, I had nearly all Olympus flagships (E-1, E-3, E-5, E-M5 and E-M1).

I was really confident about 4/3 Olympus quality : built like tanks with excellent QC. I never had a single problem with 4/3 cameras and lenses.

But m4/3 has started an new era of QC problems. With both E-M5 and E-M1 I had constant QC problems (dial failing, screen cracking, unglued leather, strap falling).

The most worrisome problem I had - and the one that decided me to leave Olympus - was the 12-40 broken mount.

Maybe it was my bad luck, since many apprently never had problems, but it was too much for me. Enough was enough.

Now, I sincerly hope that Olympus has fixed their QC problems. If in one or two years, the E-M1-MKII has proved reliable, maybe I will return.

But for now, my strategy is "wait and see".

Click to expand...

n3eg · Dec 5, 2016

I expect someone will find something to complain about.

For 3.5 years now I've been using my E-PL5 amidst the constant complaints from others about the "fiddly" (that's the word they've used) rear dial. I've gotten used to using a fingernail on it, and it's never gotten any worse. No big deal here. It did hang up once and I had to pull the battery. More often though I've left it in 2X DTC, or forgotten I was in P instead of A mode, or accidentally turned on shutter delay, or some other self-induced malfunction. And yes, I held a long tele lens by the end to prove shutter shock does exist. It's still my favorite camera.

POLL: Potential OLYMPUS OMD EM-1 11 buyers -- Your Expectations?

POLL: Potential OLYMPUS OMD EM-1 11 buyers -- Your Expectations?

Forum Enthusiast

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Forum Enthusiast

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Member

Veteran Member

Forum Enthusiast

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Forum Enthusiast

Veteran Member

Leading Member

Veteran Member

Similar threads

Keyboard shortcuts