Sad Used Prices for EM-1 first edition

Gary from Seattle wrote:

Tom Caldwell wrote:

averacpa wrote:

Just out of curiosity, today I checked KEH for selling (to KEH) prices on both my EM1 and GX7 camera bodies both in excellent plus condition. While the EM1 only fetches $95 dollars US, they will give me $129 for the GX7 yet the EM1 is superior in so many ways.

Owning both cameras mentioned I would dispute your assertion that the E-M1 is superior.

The GX7 was and remains a classic - a prefect rendition of the RF-Style body in digital format.

The interface is very intuitive and Panasonic certainly fitted it up with every bit of technology they had when it launched. Unlike my E-M1 my GX7 has been 100% reliable and has had a lot more use. Today I still use it in parallel with a GX85 and GX9 - in no way do I consider the GX7 inferior for practical use.

In terms of percent of value, the $600 GX7 bought new is holding up so much better than the EM1 (also bought new), which in my case was overhauled by Olympus last year for green blobs in the EVF. They replaced the viewfinder and the rear dial and brought the camera back to specs, although the rear dial in my opinion was not needed (already replace once and working perfectly).

My E-M1 had evf “blobs” (developed within months of ownership) which were fixed with the dodgy back wheel (as supplied). The repaired wheel survived but despite careful use the blobs eventually returned. Furthermore the I (personally) think that the GX7 interface is about perfect and intuitive whilst the E-M1 interface has to be learned and assimilated over a much longer period of time. Luckily the Olympus repair centres have a good reputation as they must be needed more often. I would rather own stuff that never fails.

None of my several Panasonic camera bodies have ever developed “blobs” in the evf and I of course use identical dioptre settings and use them in a similar manner.

So the need for your Olympus to be serviced back up to specs has been the answer your own curiosity. You did not mention if the GX7 needed to be repaired.

Anyone buying a second hand E-M1 will no doubt take into account the lottery of their reputation for breakages - and I see that neither of use mentions “strap lugs”.

The E-M1 is a great camera, I quite like it as a device.

Hardly. Early manufactured EM-1's had the problem with the rear dials.

My argument - GX7 bodies didn’t.

My 2014 camera had that problem and was repaired,

Best that they don’t need repairing in the first place - they are well out of warranty now and if one of the known issues appears it will cost the hapless new owner of second hand goods much more than the buy price to repair.  This unknown has a bearing upon the second hand prices of E-M1 bodies.

although I could always make the camera work.

Mine also,  I just twirled the rear wheel harder and it responded - I did not even know it was broken as it came that way out of the box  - QC issue?  The blobs in the evf I just lived with until I realised the rear wheel was faulty - thank you dp M4/3 forum for discussing it. Might as well fix both annoying issues on a single trip to the repair centre. The fixed wheel was marvellously responsive.  Olympus Australia tried to deny me warranty even thought the camera was Australian sourced, within warranty period and was known merchandisable quality issues that should have been repaired without cost warranty or otherwise.

My 2015 EM-1 I had no issues whatsoever for 4 years of shooting mostly in an outdoor environment. As to lugs, I can't think of a worse way to carry a camera than dangling from my neck as I walk, swinging back and forth.

I agree I use wrist straps for security and have never dangled a camera from neck strap since 2000.  All the more curious as to how the evf became sun-burned when none of my others ever did.

With my EM-1 II where I expect bird opportunities I carry it with the 300 F4 in my hand by the grip.

Ah, a birder - we are not all birders, but I also carry my cameras by the grip - even RF style bodies - the wrist strap helps balance the camera body and grip via a loose grasp - the strap being more of a balancing factor than something to dangle from.

The grip is so good it is not an issue.

Great grip - no argument from me.

Perhaps I might carry it that way for two hours at a time, which is a surprise for me with that combo. When I perceive no opportunity for images I carry it in a chest-mounted bag- no swinging, no discomfort.

The EM-1 I is still an excellent camera and on many hikes it will remain my go to camera because it is quite small and produces great images.

I am sure it is - but buying a second hand one is an unknown as to what issues might be forthcoming.  Is there such a thing as a multiple year old E-M1 that has no evf screen burn issues?  Everyone should check theirs closely.  The burns on my replaced evf are micro-dots that I have to specifically notice - unlike on the original which could hardly be overlooked.

I do think IC Focus Stacking is better with the EM-1 II and the sensor is better for astro/landscape. The main issue with the EM-1 I and I am sure with the GX7 also is mediocre performance in C-AF for birding.

This is not an E-M1 performance issue but obviously very poor QC on an otherwise sophisticated camera tool.  Making strong remarks about how good a camera it is/was is an accepted fact - the issue was that the camera had reliability issues which were well known and required a back to base fix.  My issue is not on how good the camera is/was but the baggage it carried as breakdown prone which is obviously reflected in it second hand resale value.

If a Panasonic camera had such QC issues I am sure that they would also be trotted out regularly.

As I am not a birder and I find the GX7 grip good enough for my purposes.  If I decided to shoot birds then I am sure that my G9 with great grip and Panasonic 200/2.8 with or without one of the two TC adapters would work just fine.

As I have well noted none of my many Panasonic camera bodies has ever broken down other than damage that was my own careless fault.

I am also sure that the EM-1ii has had better QC and will not depreciate as badly as the E-M1.

I am still quite happy with the images they both take and will hold onto them for a while longer. Funny how many of Nikon film cameras are still selling used for more than their original cost (if in good condition).

Try buying a Panasonic GM5 these days.