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OM-5 or Pen-F
- Thread starter GutiWong
- Start date
Skeeterbytes
Forum Pro
The backup supply will die from lack of use and then one must set the clock each time they power on the camera. Not fatal but a PITA. Lenses are unrelated.
Whether the shutter should be periodically cycled I don't know. Shutters are typically lubricated and the lubricant can thicken with time; running the shutter through the speed range helps stave that off.
Perhaps none of that affects a future collector willing to pay a premium for an NIB copy of a camera considered desirable. Then it's just transferring it from one shelf to another. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
NZ Scott
Veteran Member
Charging the battery occasionally will reduce its lifespan, not extend it.
The two main factors that affect battery life are age and charging cycles.
Skeeterbytes
Forum Pro
Not the camera main battery, I'm addressing the life of the internal battery/capacitor that keeps the clock running when powered down. Am led to believe they will fail if not intermittently charged.
He needn't even charge the boxed battery, can simply install the one from the camera he's using.
... I would say that the OM-5 is the all-around better choice. You really give up nothing but the cool looks of the Pen F. I'll admit that when buying the thing I was seduced by the "shiny object" phenomenon of it it as it is a really sharp design and even more so I'd say with the sliver version (I have the black). It's a fine camera, no doubt and I don't quite regret buying the thing as I got a very good deal on it, but having used it for a few years, I'm thinking of upgrading for something that has greater features and capabilities, like weather sealing and better focusing abilities. I really value the (admittedly only slightly) bigger 20 mps sensor, so I can't give up that. I'm thinking of the EM-1 mkII, which checks all of the boxes for me except for the super-compact form factor, though it still doesn't seem anything like huge, like Panasonic's competitor, the G9 does (a very cool looking camera, but if I feel like I may as well go FF if I'm going that large). I kind of think too that the the fact that the EM-1 has such an ample grip and that I won't need an accessory one like I do with my Pen F (I never use it without that thing) somewhat makes up for the bulkier form factor of the thing. The OM-5 that you're looking at might be the best of all worlds, with the smaller form factor, weather sealing, sturdy build, fast focusing, etc but is likely to be much more than a gently used EM-1 mkII and that camera seems like it has everything that I need... and maybe even a better grip. If you can afford the Om-5 though than I'd go for it. Unless you're going to have an extra camera body and don't mind having one that's a bit less well speced than I'd skip the Pen F.
Also, bedsides the fact that the Pen F isn't weather sealed, I feel like It's less sturdy than the EM-1 line or those new OM cameras... which might not seem like such a big deal, but since I already had an expensive repair (that left me without the thing for a LOOOONG time) on my Pen F, I'm wary of anything that isn't known to be super rugged. My Pen F was pretty gently used and certainly never dropped, dunked or any such thing, but the EVF stopped working after a few years (and I haven't even put that many clicks on it). I realize that it might have just been up to poor luck on my part and had nothing to do with the build quality of the camera, but since I don't like to gamble, I will be getting something much more rugged the next time around...
Also, bedsides the fact that the Pen F isn't weather sealed, I feel like It's less sturdy than the EM-1 line or those new OM cameras... which might not seem like such a big deal, but since I already had an expensive repair (that left me without the thing for a LOOOONG time) on my Pen F, I'm wary of anything that isn't known to be super rugged. My Pen F was pretty gently used and certainly never dropped, dunked or any such thing, but the EVF stopped working after a few years (and I haven't even put that many clicks on it). I realize that it might have just been up to poor luck on my part and had nothing to do with the build quality of the camera, but since I don't like to gamble, I will be getting something much more rugged the next time around...
I'm no expert on this sort of thing, but I believe that what you're saying is probably true. that batteries that get no use at all are more prone to failure. I bought a rechargeable bike light years ago that I didn't even end up pulling out of the box until recently. The battery was totally beat and hence the thing was useless (the battery is unfortunately built into the thing). When I contacted the manufacturer and told them of my issue they said it was likely because the thing sat on a shelf for so many years without every being charged... They may have just been feeding me a line, but I think that there is something to the idea that a rechargeable battery can only sit so long without being charged before it dies.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/128435329@N08/
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Albert Valentino
Forum Pro
Exactly. The camera battery is different from the internal battery that holds all the settings and firmware. It has long life and is charged by the camera battery, if there is no camera battery, it goes flat, then then eventually the internal battery also goes flat.
As mentioned above, just put in a battery to charge or keep the internal battery charged.
L
Lupata
Guest
Sounds plausible , thanks
I have no intentions of selling it, so I may as well open it up, charge it up and occasionally use it. I quite like the Pen F's they suit my way of working, so it is a keeper.
I just sold my film, Leica M3 and lens as I figured out I might as well divorce nostalgia. I've had it for about 30 years and not used it much in the last eight so it's better off with someone that wants to use it.
I haven't bought a new camera since to 2016 so opening the box is this like having a new camera can't complain. It's a new PEN F
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Rmark
Senior Member
It is a 7 year old camera. Also wondering if parts are still available if it does need repairs
NZ Scott
Veteran Member
The camera internal battery is the same as any other - charging reduces its lifespan.
You will, of course, have to reset the time and date when you take the camera out of storage, but this is not a biggie.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottkmacleod/
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Let me correct that for you: It is a 7 year old camera design.
They only stopped selling it with the transition from Olympus to OMDS 2 years ago. Parts should not be the problem.
Why can’t Oly make the OM1 especially, but also the OM5, a beautiful object?Yeah, the PEN-F is a beautiful object and has a great compact form factor. There's no shame in buying it on those grounds. But the OM-5 is a better tool in almost every other way.
I think Fuji has succeeded in doing that with its cameras in a way that Oly/OM really neglects (with the exception of the PEN-F)
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Skeeterbytes
Forum Pro
Sitting unused will eventually render the internal power supply non-functional sooner than occasionally powering the camera. Heck, my E-510 still has a functioning clock power supply. Sixteen years later. I keep the battery in all my boneyard cameras and charge it at the time change, so 2X/year. Finding all the chargers is a PITA--I should have a system.
Rick
For me, OM-1 has excellent building quality. It is quite handsome.Why can’t Oly make the OM1 especially, but also the OM5, a beautiful object?Yeah, the PEN-F is a beautiful object and has a great compact form factor. There's no shame in buying it on those grounds. But the OM-5 is a better tool in almost every other way.
I think Fuji has succeeded in doing that with its cameras in a way that Oly/OM really neglects (with the exception of the PEN-F)
But OM-5......
I think OM System can make it more beautiful and stylish to sell it at a much higher price. If they do it, then discussion of this post will not be happened.
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Sam Bennett
Veteran Member
They certainly could, and there were even silver versions of the E-M1 Mark I and Mark II. If I was to guess, these models didn't sell particularly well - likely since people perceive these cameras as the "pro" or more "serious" models in the lineup, and for better or worse that translates to an all-black camera for Sony, Canon and Nikon.Why can’t Oly make the OM1 especially, but also the OM5, a beautiful object?Yeah, the PEN-F is a beautiful object and has a great compact form factor. There's no shame in buying it on those grounds. But the OM-5 is a better tool in almost every other way.
I gues, for bodies anyway. But then if you look at the most expensive supertelephotos from pretty much any brand, they are always white or pearl!They certainly could, and there were even silver versions of the E-M1 Mark I and Mark II. If I was to guess, these models didn't sell particularly well - likely since people perceive these cameras as the "pro" or more "serious" models in the lineup, and for better or worse that translates to an all-black camera for Sony, Canon and Nikon.Why can’t Oly make the OM1 especially, but also the OM5, a beautiful object?Yeah, the PEN-F is a beautiful object and has a great compact form factor. There's no shame in buying it on those grounds. But the OM-5 is a better tool in almost every other way.
Sam Bennett
Veteran Member
True, but that's for function, not form. Originally that was to minimize the effects of expansion on long lenses that are often sitting in the sun on the sidelines of sports games or in the savannah. Now you could argue its a bit of both, since it's become an iconic look for Canon.I gues, for bodies anyway. But then if you look at the most expensive supertelephotos from pretty much any brand, they are always white or pearl!They certainly could, and there were even silver versions of the E-M1 Mark I and Mark II. If I was to guess, these models didn't sell particularly well - likely since people perceive these cameras as the "pro" or more "serious" models in the lineup, and for better or worse that translates to an all-black camera for Sony, Canon and Nikon.
Skeeterbytes
Forum Pro
IIUC doubly important for lenses with fluorite elements.True, but that's for function, not form. Originally that was to minimize the effects of expansion on long lenses that are often sitting in the sun on the sidelines of sports games or in the savannah. Now you could argue its a bit of both, since it's become an iconic look for Canon.I gues, for bodies anyway. But then if you look at the most expensive supertelephotos from pretty much any brand, they are always white or pearl!They certainly could, and there were even silver versions of the E-M1 Mark I and Mark II. If I was to guess, these models didn't sell particularly well - likely since people perceive these cameras as the "pro" or more "serious" models in the lineup, and for better or worse that translates to an all-black camera for Sony, Canon and Nikon.
Definitely. And what function does all-black offer?True, but that's for function, not form. Originally that was to minimize the effects of expansion on long lenses that are often sitting in the sun on the sidelines of sports games or in the savannah. Now you could argue its a bit of both, since it's become an iconic look for Canon.I gues, for bodies anyway. But then if you look at the most expensive supertelephotos from pretty much any brand, they are always white or pearl!They certainly could, and there were even silver versions of the E-M1 Mark I and Mark II. If I was to guess, these models didn't sell particularly well - likely since people perceive these cameras as the "pro" or more "serious" models in the lineup, and for better or worse that translates to an all-black camera for Sony, Canon and Nikon.
Nothing as far as I know. All-black bodies will heat up faster in direct sun compared to silver ones. Same with orher all-black telephotos like the 300 f4.
Why reserve non-black for just a few options? The OM5 is less premium than the OM1 but is silver. The OM1 is marketed for wildlife photography, a situation in which it will likely be exposed to sun… It makes no sense
The only explanation is that these colors are not assigned by function but for branding. For lenses the pearl signifies bragging rights. For bodies, for some reason, all black signifies it is premium and feature packed. Or that their marketing researchers thought they couldnt sell enough silver to justify making it.
Fuji does a better job on aesthetics. I think if oly did better on that I would not be torn between the two as I consider my next system.
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I was once told all black vs silver bodies do not reflect the light and therefor minimize the risk of having a detrimental effect on the photo.
Shame on Panasonic. Often it's only a small defect. You could try specialized digital camera repair shops which have the skills to measure voltage and solder and not only exchange parts. You may have to look abroad for that skill set to countries where labour is cheaper than the replacement parts.
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