Now that DPR confirmed that E-M5 is a killer camera...

[mring1]

My opinion only....but I think Oly's surrendered the m4/3s HG zoom design/development to Pany. I really hope I get proved wrong on this, but the drive to incorporate video capability into zooms really changes the design considerations. And I just don't think you're going to see fast, still camera-focused, zoom lenses from either Pany or Oly like the 4/3s designs that we all loved. Oly will provide HG primes, but even those will have to incorporate video elements in their designs.

In some respects, traditional 4/3s users are kind of "along for the ride" now. The demographic that's driving lens design wants video as a primary element, and you won't see a design that doesn't incorporate video capability.

While that's not the best of news, the good news is the buzz the EM-5 has created bodes well for the long term development of m4/3s. Considering what the state of 4/3s was this time last year, I think all of this is hopeful for the system...even if it's neither "one" nor "beautiful."

 

[mpjohans]

You learn every day.

 

[Taylormade]

For me, the hi iSo capability and fast primes of the OM-D outweigh the focusing ability of the V1.

 

[Braxton7]

That was a really good review. 4/3 sensors have come a long way since I've been on this forum. I'll wait for the E-7 though or just keep using what I have. I have no complaints.

 

[Melvinphoto]

I read through the review and was pleased to read such generally favourable comments. Good for Olympus. The review indicates a lot of the excellent reasons for which I also would like to get an E-M5, to be used as a second camera.

Unless I missed it somehow, however, one aspect that is not dealt with in the review, is the camera's compatibility and capability when using other lenses than the dedicated µFT-lenses. Not just legacy OM lenses or lenses of whatever other brand, but notably, the FT Zuiko lenses.

Now of course, this is something that is not the subject of any other camera's review on DPR, so for reasons of consistency it is logical that DPR does not go into that, but for us FT-users, it is of course a very important consideration : how well will we be able to use our FT lenses? For some of us, that question may even be vital.

The question is also relevant in general, given the fact that Olympus has made clear that for the company, a merger into "one beautiful system" is the ultimate intention.

The review deals with the E-M5 as the top model of the µFT line, and seen as such, I am sure that it deserves its very high rating and the Gold Award. If I had unlimited means, I would certainly get one (but I knew that already).

As a camera that is a step towards the merger of systems, the result is less clear.
And that is the reason that may make me wait some longer.

E-M5 looks like a very nice and well performing cam. The new sensor is as good a 4/3 sensor can be. The wait for the merge of the system took me too long. Loads of great 2.0 zuiko glass, 300/2.8 and still no descent AF tracking or state of the art body that challenges these lenses. My 2.0 glass + e5 is on sale. I will miss my zuiko's 150/2.0 and 12-60 most, couldn't find anything close from Nikon. Look forward to my D800E that (hopefully) arrives this week.

--
Roel Hendrickx

lots of images : http://www.roelh.zenfolio.com

my E-3 user field report from Tunisian Sahara: http://www.biofos.com/ukpsg/roel.html

--
http://www.redeker-photography.com

 

[Ross the Fidller]

...I just ordered the GH2 for that reason.

Most of my lenses are Olympus 4/3, that I bought before switching systems.

I appreciate that many photographers on this forum are not into video, but I think there is a giant "do not get it" aspect to the video resistance.

Remember the "problem looking for a solution" quote about live view? DPR was on the wrong side of that argument. Now you guys are on the wrong side of the video argument.

A camera without a good video spec is an absolute non-starter in today's market, especially with so many cameras that offer an excellent video spec.

The EM-5 does do video, but the output formats are very limited, so it does not measure up to the GH2, not even close. Given a choice between a stop or a stop and a half at high ISO (so that low-light pictures which are inferior to start with, that I tried to not shoot in the first place, will be slightly less inferior) or a superior video spec, I choose the superior video spec.

If this camera does not sell as expected, it will be because it does not measure up in video. Canon, Panasonic, Sony, and now Nikon all do excellent video. Olympus has to follow suit. Those Olympus colors with a good video spec would be an awesome combination, one I'd buy right away.

Somehow, I don't think there is too much concern about it's video limitations while there is more enthusiasm over everything else about the camera. It is foremost a stills camera with the added feature of video (including a video optimised kit lens) & that's just the way I like it.
--
Ross

 

[gfraser7]

nope! Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

 

[gfraser7]

then again, I've never gotton a fully confident focus on any of my 4/3 gear, to be honest. I don't think AF accuracy has been up to N or even C standards in 4/3 land.

Thanks. I'm glad to hear someone say this.

 

[stimmer]

Absolutely, the best camera Olympus has produced.

They only need a 12-60 and 50-200 type lens to fit in the picture and it will do just about everything we need.

Oh, and iso 100 with a 1/8000 shutter speed would be appreciated.

E7 will be super if this is any indication. Just wish they cold have moved faster but they had to wait for the sensor tech to catch up. They would have retained a lot of people they lost along the way.

Oh, and they gave up the 620 line way too soon.

 

[boggis the cat]

My preference would be to buy an E-30 update (preferably with weather-sealing) to better complement the E-5.

All cameras (and systems) involve trade-offs, and at the moment the Micro system doesn't handle my Standard FT lenses well -- in particular the 12-60 and 50-200 SWD. So I'd prefer an E-30 size (or even smaller) body with a decent OVF and the latest sensor capabilities for available-light shooting.

Buying Micro as a replacement system means having to duplicate lens capability at a higher cost (if even possible), so I'd likely only get the E-M5 and 12-50 initially then possibly wait until a PDAF capable upgrade comes along. (A new body costs less than a half-dozen lenses.)

The Standard / Micro system split is a bit of a headache when considering your options, really. Perhaps when (if?) Micro gets some better specified lenses the best route will be obvious.

 

[TrapperJohn]

The frustrating part is - the handling with HG ZD is now in the useable if not luxurious category. It's just the AF speed that holds it back - too slow for anything other than static subjects. And they've been working on it, it's a lot more consistent and accurate than it was on the Pens, just not quite there.

Either shrink the ZD legends, now that telecentricity isn't as critical as it once was, or fix the slow AF. And do it before Panny makes a somewhat sharp clone of them. Update the lens circuitry if you have to and offer a retrofit - I'd gladly pay $200 or so to get my 50-200 focusing fast on the EM5. Certainly, owners of the very pricey SHG glass would pay even more.

These beauties are too good to become obsolete. And with them on tap, you're really into serious camera territory. Less lenses to carry is also smaller, or have they forgotten that?

 

[Oliver85]

yes, but not as good as the NEX-7, they believe.

OM-D - 80%
NEX-7 - 81%

basically they are saying that the OM-D is really good but not the best?

 

[TrapperJohn]

When asked about recreating the HG ZD zooms for M43, they 'are considering it'. If you know Olympus statements, that could mean anything.

With the release of the EM5, they have a body that handles a lot better with larger glass than the mini rangefinder style. So the handling is more or less there.

Olympus may also be surprised at the level of interest that the EM5 generated, a lot more than I would have thought. In reality, it's not that much better in raw performance than, say, the Panny GH2 or even G3, but something about the EM5 has hit a 'sweet spot', and quite a few large system owners are now looking at it as a small solution.

Interesting side benefit: right now, people aren't thinking of Olympus for accounting scandal. They're thinking of Olympus for an excellent little camera.

So the superb HG zooms may yet reappear, either with fixed AF, or recreated for M43. Sadly, I'm afraid there won't be another intermediate 4/3 body, that would fall into the market that M43 is currently stealing sales from.

But, I try to look on the slightly less dim side. If they can't get AF on ZD up to snuff, I may finally be able to pick up a 35-100 or 150F2. For what I would do with them, fast AF isn't something that is absolutely necessary.

 

[Raist3d]

When asked about recreating the HG ZD zooms for M43, they 'are considering it'. If you know Olympus statements, that could mean anything.

With the release of the EM5, they have a body that handles a lot better with larger glass than the mini rangefinder style. So the handling is more or less there.

Olympus may also be surprised at the level of interest that the EM5 generated, a lot more than I would have thought. In reality, it's not that much better in raw performance than, say, the Panny GH2 or even G3, but something about the EM5 has hit a 'sweet spot', and quite a few large system owners are now looking at it as a small solution.

I have to say this is quite possible. After all the shootings in the dark they seem to have been partially doing with micro four thirds, maybe they heard now a very loud clang! I am very interested to see how they develop the OMD line.

Interesting side benefit: right now, people aren't thinking of Olympus for accounting scandal. They're thinking of Olympus for an excellent little camera.

True.

So the superb HG zooms may yet reappear, either with fixed AF, or recreated for M43. Sadly, I'm afraid there won't be another intermediate 4/3 body, that would fall into the market that M43 is currently stealing sales from.

But, I try to look on the slightly less dim side. If they can't get AF on ZD up to snuff, I may finally be able to pick up a 35-100 or 150F2. For what I would do with them, fast AF isn't something that is absolutely necessary.

From my view, if this is the way Olympus can have a healthy marketshare, so be it, and kill 4/3rds. By that I mean, just do the token body with the new sensor and let those who still want the big lenses keep shooting with them. The marketing statement here is powerful enough to make it worth while if they can do it even at cost.

--

Raist3d/Ricardo (Photographer, software dev.)- "You are taking life too seriously if it bugs you in some way that a guy quotes himself in the .sig quote" - Ricardo

 

[safeashouses]

You had me at " I think the camera is too small, it's really small." What was all that other stuff you were on about?

 

[CollBaxter]

No one beats Nikon in the AF department and canon is the close second. IMO . The rest are still in the starting blocks. The AF on the E-30/5 is a major improvment though.

--
Collin

(Aficionado Olympus DSLR )

http://collinbaxter.zenfolio.com/
http://www.pbase.com/collinbaxter

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. (George Carlin)

New Seventh Wonder of the World.

 

[RoyGBiv]

No I will not buy one, because I want the full functionality (AF speed) without any adaptor of my present Zuiko's.

A possible E7 with same sensor, tweaked a notch further and better/good C-AF capabilities.....yessss...that's the camera I want! No problems with the size of the E5.

Best route however: new professional m4/3rds camera + lenses with same IQ, speed and reach as 12-60SWD / 50-200SWD.

If they made a m4/3 body that could operate these SHG zd lenses on par w/ the e-X, there is not much reason an adapter would kill the deal, right?
--
'I have no responsibilities here whatsoever'

 

[TrapperJohn]

One thing I will commend Olympus on, they've been very reactive to the market with M43, what with the quick release of the EP2 when the lack of VF was hurting EP1 sales, and the EPL series that were more oriented towards the P&S owner moving up. And now the EM5, the first attempt at a full featured enthusiast camera.

So this interest from serious amateurs in the EM5 as a 2nd system could place emphasis upon getting HG ZD AF on the EM5 or a follow on. You got them hooked on size and those lovely little primes. These are just the people who would go for HG ZD, if AF were good, so that the EM5 not only suppliments the larger system, it now more or less replaces the larger system. Especially now that the '4/3 sensor penalty' has been, for all practical purposes, pretty much eliminated.

Opportunity knocks, Olympus. And that doesn't happen very often in this industry.

 

[mujana]

Too bad, that Olympus doesn't show decent AF tracking the way you wish. Too bad, that you're leaving Olympus now. You have shot some stunningly beautiful pictures with your Olympus gear. I wish you all the best with the D800E. I bet you'll like it (certainly in the AF department).

 

[Joesiv]

I read through the review and was pleased to read such generally favourable comments. Good for Olympus. The review indicates a lot of the excellent reasons for which I also would like to get an E-M5, to be used as a second camera.

This seems like a good approach, get an E-M5 with a couple bright primes, something like a 12mm f2, and shoot it along side an E5 with the bright zooms. You get an instant second body, so less lens' swapping, it's lighter and compact, and doing something that 43 doesn't quite do (fast wide primes).

The nice thing is, opposed to getting a different make like a 600D or X1Pro etc, you have the same .ORF formats in 4:3, so you can keep the same workflow and general color work.

One of the most annoying thing for me shooting dual system (nikon/olympus) was deciding which aspect ratio to deliver to clients, 3:2 for easy 4x6 prints, or 4:3 for easy enlargements...
--
Cloverdale, B.C., Canada
Currently shooting: Nikon D3S, D700
http://www.joesiv.com