A Mini Review

I picked an E-P5 in Bangkok this weekend and I've been using it exclusively for a couple of days. This is a bit of a mini review.

I am a photojournalist. My "big" cameras are Canon 5D Mark III with the 24mm L, 50mm L, 100mm f2 and 200mm f2.8 lenses. I've been using Micro 4:3 cameras for a few years now as a backup or complement to the Canons. They fill the same role in my camera ecosystem that Leicas rangefinders did in manual focus days and Contax G2's did in the autofocus film days did. My M4:3 lenses are the Panasonic 14mm f2.5, 20mm f1.7 and Olympus 45mm f1.8. My previous M4:3 bodies were the Panasonic GF-1 and GX-1. This is mostly a comparison to the GX-1. I used the Panasonics with their accessory viewfinders, I also have the VF-4 for the E-P5. I work with the EVF about 95% of the time.

Straight to the conclusion: I really like the E-P5. It's faster than the GX-1, the autofocus is better, high ISO is better (although I haven't gone above 1600 with the E-P5 and never went above 1600 with the GX-1). There seems to be more dynamic range in the raw files from the E-P5 compared to the GX-1, though neither can match the 5D Mark III (and I don't expect them to). I really like being able to use ISO100 and 1/8000 of a second on the E-P5, truth is I use low ISO and high shutter speeds (to get shallow f-stops) a lot more often than I use high ISO. I wish the E-P5 could go down to ISO50.

This is my first camera with image stabilization. (I'm old school.) I never owned a Canon lens with IS (like I said, I'm old school.) Holy cow! I was oh so wrong. I can handhold my Canon with the 24mm at 1/15, sometimes 1/8. I always thought the GX-1 was more prone to image blur from movement (that's me, YMMV) so I tried to keep it to 1/30 and never went below 1/15, even with the 14mm. Last night I made pictures with the Olympus at 1/6 that were acceptably sharp. It was an exercise class and people were moving, so they're blurry, but the background was sharp, which was the idea when I made the photos.

At this point, I still prefer the ergonomics of the GX-1 a little. This is a tricky thing because ergonomics, unless it's a really messed up design, can be learned. I've had the GX-1 for 18 months now and a GF-1 for about a year before that, so I am very comfortable with that camera. This is my first Olympus and I am still learning it. The more I use the Oly, the more I like it. Some things I wasn't sure about, like the multi-function lever on the back, are absolutely brilliant. The two control dials are also a great feature and a huge improvement over the thumbwheel thing on previous Pens.

How fast is the E-P5? Really fast. Close to dSLR speeds I think. The autofocus, especially with the 45mm f1.8 Olympus lens, feels about as fast as the AF was on my 5D Mark II with the 100mm f2 lens (back when I had a Mark II). The 5D Mark II was not known as an AF speed freak, but I think that performance out of the Pen is pretty good. The speed also translates to responsiveness. I turned down the fps from the defaults (9fps hi speed, 5fps low speed) to 7fps and 3fps because I was shooting a lot more than I intended. And for what I need 7 and 3 are plenty.

The autofocus is reliable enough that I've turned off the assist light. It's really distracting, especially if you're working in a church, temple or mosque. So far, the camera has focused on everything I've expected it to. The ability to quickly pick AF points is great and very well implemented.

Almost every button can be reprogrammed, which is nice but very confusing. You will want to keep the manual handy when you're learning this camera. It's a shame that (at least in Asia) the manual is a .pdf. I really wish it was a printed book. I copied it into my Evernote, but I would like to have a printed copy I could carry with me. The Olympus menus are completely new to me and require a lot of exploration to figure out. Right now, I would say it's an issue of it being new and relatively unknown. There are no disasters that make me say "what were they thinking?!?!?"

So far, the only thing I've been really disappointed with is battery life. If you buy one of these you will want to buy at least one extra battery. I've exhausted my battery each day I've gone out with the camera to photograph in Bangkok. Granted it's still new, so a lot of time I using the LCD to fiddle with menus and settings, but I would like to be able to get more than 300 frames out of a battery.

Image quality is excellent. At low ISOs it's a little better than the GX-1 but the files seem to have more Dynamic Range than the GX-1, a great thing since I frequently wrestled with blown highlights on the GX-1. At ISO 800-1600, the E-P5 is considerably better and noise is easily controlled in LR5.

I work exclusively in raw and process everything in Lightroom 5. I didn't even install the Olympus software on my computer. I haven't shot any JPEGs with this camera yet, so I haven't tested Olympus' legendary JPEG engine. I will be working in raw + JPEG when I am on deadline assignments though. Then I will be using the camera's wifi to send JPEGs to my iPhone for editing and transmitting using Photogenie.

Is it worth the upgrade cost? That's the big question. I don't have any previous Olympus bodies, so I can't compare it to the older Pen series. If you have an E-M5, I would guess not since this seems to be an E-M5 in a Pen body. If you're using Panasonic bodies older than the GX-1 I would say absolutely. This is the camera I wish the GX-1 was - if you have a GX-1 and wish it had better dynamic range and better high ISO, was faster and had 1/8000 shutter speed and in body stabilization, then absolutely, this is the camera for you.

A few photos:

Made in a mosque in Bangkok during Ramadan.

Pouring juice before Iftar at the mosque.

Serving iftar.

A sleeping tuk-tuk driver. ISO1600.

Religious instruction at a Bangkok mosque.

Exercise class, 1/6 of a second shutter speed, ISO400.

Same class, ISO1600, 1/50th.

These are all sized down considerably. There are full size versions of most of them in my archive on my website. Thanks for looking.

Thank you this interesting mini-review, which I found helpful. However, if you nearly always use the camera with an evf attached, why not just get the OMD? Is it the lower ISO & higher shutter speed of the EP5? I would expect the EP5 with evf attached to be bulkier than the OMD, if it is anything like the GX1 (which I have and like).

Great review of the camera so far. Let us know what your thoughts are after you've spent more time with it. Just got back from a ten day vacation with the E-P5.

I actually find it more responsive and even more customizable than the E-M5. Only annoyances for me right now is the grip and the clunky wifi integration.

Valid question. It is a little bulkier (and more expensive) than the OMD. I chose it over the OMD for a couple of reasons:

1) the built in wifi, which so far I've only used messing around in my apartment.

2) the VF4 is by all accounts better than the EVF in the OMD. When I go out with just the body and 20mm Panny, I pull the EVF and pop on a VF1 I got for really cheap.

Placing the Pen and GX1 side by side with their EVFs on and they appear to be about the same size, but the Pen has a little more volume and takes up more space in the bag.

toxinoz wrote:

Thank you this interesting mini-review, which I found helpful. However, if you nearly always use the camera with an evf attached, why not just get the OMD? Is it the lower ISO & higher shutter speed of the EP5? I would expect the EP5 with evf attached to be bulkier than the OMD, if it is anything like the GX1 (which I have and like).

The "clunky" description works for me. I'm still trying to figure it out.

mrmiguel wrote:

I actually find it more responsive and even more customizable than the E-M5. Only annoyances for me right now is the grip and the clunky wifi integration.

That's quite the grown-up assessment [g].   I was enjoyable reading a rational perspective - and for a mini review it was rather comprehensive.   Much appreciated.

I'm not inspired, as I pretty much feel the same about the E-M5 (we've developed a very tight bond with each other [g]).   I had to chuckle about the AF assist light - I tape mine over because it's an unnecessary attractor and distraction when shooting 2s timed exposures.

That is to say, "I approve of this (your) message."  

First thank you for an excellent and helpful review.

Besides DSLR I still have GF-1 (with low res EVF) and was thinking of upgrading to E-P5 + VF-4 over OM-D just on the merits of VF-4 alone. Can you please comment on your experience with VF-4? I'm concerned about lag and narrow dynamic range.

Also what's your experience with using Lumix 20 1.7 on the Oly body? I've read that with OM-D AF with this lens is slow and noisy and there's some banding.

Thanks again.

I forgot about the wifi, probably because, for me, I can't see a ready use right now. Yes, it seems the EVF4 is better than the OMD inbuilt evf. Hopefully the OMD upgrade (maybe late this year?) will see some of the EVF 4 features (quality/resolution, but NOT the tilting, because it would add too much bulk).

Anyway, enjoy & keep us posted on your ongoing experiences with the EP5, please.

I haven't had any problems getting the iPhone and E-P5 to pair (iPhone 4S, current iOS) but it has to pair every time I try to use it even though the camera says it only has to be done once. Scanning the bar code on the back of the camera seems like a good idea, but it's a little awkward when you're walking around on the street and have to start juggling multiple items.

grey0135 wrote:

Are you having trouble pairing your E-P5? I've only succeeded twice. I've installed the profile onto my iPhone, made sure the E-P5 wireless connection was activated (in the phone's Wi-Fi settings menu), but it usually fails to pair. I'm thinking of going to a shop to see if I can pair my phone with a display camera.

Thanks. The AF assist light is like turning on one of those laser pointers and it's really disruptive. I thought about taping it over, but I decided to just turn it off.

The VF4 compared to the GF1 EVF is night and day. There's no comparison. The best is to compare the GF1 EVF to a 1980s color tube TV set and the VF4 is a 2013 high end HD flat screen TV set. I was satisfied with the GF1 EVF mostly because I had nothing to compare it to. Now that I've worked the EVF for the GX1 and especially the VF4 / E-P5 I can't imagine going back. Also hat tip to Olympus for making the VF4 and E-P5 backwards compatible so the VF4 works with older PENs and you can slide older EVFs onto the E-P5, I wish Panasonic had been that forward thinking.

I haven't noticed any lag in the viewfinder in most of what I do. There's none when I making single frames or working in low fps (which I have set to 3fps). I have noticed lag when I work at high fps (which I have set to 7fps) and low shutter speed (say 1/30 or 1/15 and lower). I think it's because there's less time between each exposure. I'm not actually a very technical person so I don't know if that makes sense.

I love the Panny 20 and I was really nervous about pairing the 20 (and my Oly 14) to the E-P5. So far so good. I haven't had any banding issues. I am not a "pixel peeper," I open the photo in LR, make my edits and export the photo. I blow it up to 100% to check sharpness but so far I haven't seen any banding including in the few photos I've made at ISO1600.

The other complaint about the Panny lenses on Oly bodies is the noise (aural not digital) and constant focusing of the lenses. This has not been the case on my body. I do have continuous autofocus turned off though.

The 20mm f1.7 is the slowest focusing M4:3 lens I own. It was that way on the GX1 and it's that way on the E-P5. It's the lens' design. I wish Panasonic had redesigned the AF of the 20 when they released the Mark II of that lens last month but they didn't. It looks like all they did was update the lens' appearance.

jack

klopus wrote:

First thank you for an excellent and helpful review.

Besides DSLR I still have GF-1 (with low res EVF) and was thinking of upgrading to E-P5 + VF-4 over OM-D just on the merits of VF-4 alone. Can you please comment on your experience with VF-4? I'm concerned about lag and narrow dynamic range.

Also what's your experience with using Lumix 20 1.7 on the Oly body? I've read that with OM-D AF with this lens is slow and noisy and there's some banding.

Thanks again.

grey0135 wrote:

jackkurtz wrote:

The "clunky" description works for me. I'm still trying to figure it out.

mrmiguel wrote:

I actually find it more responsive and even more customizable than the E-M5. Only annoyances for me right now is the grip and the clunky wifi integration.

Are you having trouble pairing your E-P5? I've only succeeded twice. I've installed the profile onto my iPhone, made sure the E-P5 wireless connection was activated (in the phone's Wi-Fi settings menu), but it usually fails to pair. I'm thinking of going to a shop to see if I can pair my phone with a display camera.

Hi RV Abbott, I read your P5 review with great entusiasm and also the problem you experienced with the WiFi-connection. I have not had any of those issues. The camera connects perfectly every time. I'm using Android on a Samsung S4. Read the QR-code once, that's it. But the camera doesn't stay connected. Next time it's turned on, I have to "push" the wifi "button" on the lcd, the qr-code displays, and If my phone is connected to another network I have to shut that down and start the P5-network.

Trond

I went out yesterday with the E-P5 and worked a little on the streets of Bangkok. Shot JPEG+RAW, although the JPEGs were black and white (because I was feeling a little retro).

I am pretty disappointed with the battery life of the E-P5. I made about 200 frames, and the camera was switched "on" for about five hours, maybe 4.5 hours and by the time I headed home the battery was dead. Completely, totally, unable to even power up, 100% dead. I finished the day with the backup battery. I bought a second battery with the camera but I would buy a couple of more batteries before I go on an overnight road trip away from power with this camera.

At $50 (US) or more per battery the cost quickly adds up.

My battery life so far is about 1/2 - 1/3 of what I get with the GX-1.

Oh, and I was very happy with the quality of the B&W JPEGs. Very sharp with no blown highlights and nice shadow detail.

Hmm. I'll try that. When the bar code comes up I assume I have to repair the camera and iPhone.

thanks.

Thanks! Wow that's going back if you remember my use of the G2. My 4:3 lineup is a matter of luck more than anything. I got the 20 with the GF1. It was the only M4:3 lens I had for a long time. Panny/Leica 25mm f1.4 is/was too expensive and too big. My original purchase of M4:3 gear was to replace my Canon G10/G11/G12 G Whatever. The GF1 and 20 was just a little bigger and a lot more capable than the G series cameras.

I got the 14 next and bought it just before the Oly 12mm was released. As soon as the 12 came out, I had a twinge of buyer's remorse. I've gotten over that now because 1) I think the 12 is over priced by about $200 - $300. If it was $500 (for black) I'd think about it real hard. and 2) it's too big. I love the fact that I can put the 14mm into my jeans pocket.

I got the 45 last because I needed something for head and shoulders "mug" shots. I really like it. Amazing is a word I use a fair amount with this lens. Thanks to LR I can tell you how many pictures I have with each lens and I can tell you the 45 gets a lot of use.

A lot of my blog photos are made with the M4:3. The easiest way to tell them apart is the M4:3 photos are 4:3 format, the Canon photos are 3:2 (I do very little cropping so the photos are in their original format.) Both of the BW photos are M4:3, all of the iftar photos are 4:3, of the other blog entries, it's a mix with both 4:3 and Canon.

Jack

snack wrote:

Thanks for the review, Jack. I remember your images a few years ago from the Contax G2..what a great camera.

Coincidentally, you have the same m4/3s lens line up as I do. I'm wondering why you didn't succumb to the Pan/Leica 25/1.4 hype, as well as the Oly 12/2 hype followed by the Oly 17/1.8 hype?

I know why I didn't. First it's the size. These lenses are tiny (14, 20 & 45). The whole reason for using m4/3s is to take advantage of the high quality in the small package...especially the lenses. Second, I love the 40mm focal length. And the 45/1.8 has no equal.

I will be following your blog. Were the recent Thailand shots taken with m4/3s?

jackkurtz wrote:

There seems to be more dynamic range in the raw files from the E-P5 compared to the GX-1, though neither can match the 5D Mark III (and I don't expect them to).

But, E-P5 has more dynamic range than 5DIII, which is in the middle between GX-1 and E-PL5 (same sensor as E-P5).

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Compare-Camera-Sensors/Compare-cameras-side-by-side/%28appareil1%29/839|0/%28brand%29/Olympus/%28appareil2%29/795|0/%28brand2%29/Canon/%28appareil3%29/754|0/%28brand3%29/Panasonic

That is unless you use ISO 100 on E-P5 which seems to be fake ISO reducing DR (just like ISO 50 on Canons). And E-P5's real ISO in RAW files should be about ISO 100 when it's set to ISO 200 (base ISO).

Interesting. That hasn't been my experience, but I haven't shot with them side by side. I've been using the E-P5 pretty much exclusively this week and left my 5D Mark III locked up. I'll have to work with them side by side  and run them through LR at the same time. Thank you for posting the link.