Many words have been printed about this pro-level camera and you've no doubt read all the technical discussion so I won't rake over the coals. All the technical discussion and tests show it to be an excellent pro-level shooter.
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So .. what can you DO with an EM-1? So far, I'd answer “just about anything you'd like to do”.
Ergonomics: The EM-1 has great ergonomics, even better than the EM-5 which I also own and use. It is very easy to set up QUICKLY once you note where everything is.
It is WAY ahead of the Canon, Nikon and Sony mirrorless cameras in this regard.. The "big three” marketers of camera gear, in THEIR mirrorless products, keep you mired in endless menus and that means that by the time you're ready, the shot may be GONE.
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Proof of the pudding:
Even the EM5 with good lenses leaves the large cameras behind in difficult situations. These were shot with the 45mm and 75mm Zuiko lenses:
http://photohounds.smugmug.com/Performing-arts/Eurobeat-by-Supa/
Here are some (mostly) EM-1 pics – the difference is quite small and handling, robustness, features, and available quality lenses take on far more significance.
http://photohounds.smugmug.com/Gear-tests/Zuiko-75mm-f18/
Please feel free to compare EM-1 and EM-5 shots.
If you want a crop or an image for study, please let me know through that site.
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The EVF in the EM-1 is visibly better than the EM-5's already very good one. It shows you quite clearly what the picture will look like. So much so, that I'm rarely surprised by anything that lands on my computer. Both cameras have PROVED that OVFs are greatly superior in dim light . With the EM-1, there's little to suggest it is not a glass finder ...
In-camera DOF preview that does not dim the finder? PRICELESS.
With the Eurobeat pics above, at the end of the night, the other 'togs and I compared pictures (I was the official bloke). The OVF shooters each had between 5 and 10 keepers from their tripod-bound behemoths to show for the night's work. When they looked at the quality and quantity I had produced (you HAVE to get everyone), there was stunned silence.
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This has repeated itself elsewhere, later – except the ribbing about small cameras!
A word on Sensor “size” marketing ..
Just in case you don't know, a 20MP sensor has only 11% more LINEAR “resolution” than an EM1 or EM-5. (square root after division) In fact only when you approach DOUBLE the number of pixels does the difference become noticeable (IF the lenses can keep up).
See the girl operating the video camera below? I saw only a silhouette and raised the EM-5 to my eye. It saw her perfectly! In fact TAKING CHANCES in the dark is very well facilitated by the OMDs!
http://photohounds.smugmug.com/Performing-arts/Music/
I've had over a hundred cameras, some as workhorses, some as working collectors items (I know, I know ..)
I'm so glad I ditched Canon and Minolta and my F3s early on. They ARE/WERE good cameras, but compact with EVF, sharp lenses and the touch screen makes great results.
Even fast action shooting is quite easy. Try setting up shooting with the TOUCH SCREEN. If set up correctly, it focusses fast on the SPOT you touched and shoots immediately – it works very well indeed – more keepers, especially for kids and sports!
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Having been shooting stage and music since the 1980s, my experience is that, OVFs of ANY quality are far less useful for fast, accurate shooting in dim light. I don't miss that handicap – or the smell of darkroom chemicals – AT ALL.
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DUST PROBLEMS in CaNikSon beasts! The EM-1 is my 4th Oly digital camera. I change lenses anywhere I want, and while dust is of course POSSIBLE with any camera, I never noticed ANY.
I don't WANT to learn how to CLEAN A SENSOR, I want to shoot good pictures.
Touching a sensor with anything at all just isn't my idea of 'safe'.
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The EM-1 – is it worth it? For me, yes. I really like it, the usability, robust feel, many well-placed controls and particularly speed of set-up is better than the EM-5. However, the diminutive EM-5 set benchmarks for compact cameras. In my opinion the IQ so close you cannot always easily tell the difference – it certainly isn't worth arguing about. Pixel peepers can see small differences between the already excellent EM-5 and the EM-1. I'm more interested in usability and the EM-1 has that in spades.
As I share my 'old' EM-5 with a family member, I still have access to it. I still use this camera at times and if I needed to buy another back-up body it would be the EM-5, probably not another EM-1.
Why? The EM-5 is a a TINY and excellent semi-pro PRO camera, much smaller ha any entry-level APSC cam, it compactness advantage over them is undeniable. The EM-1 justifies its place by making set-up options and speed to a whole new level and having a solid feel in the hands. The weight advantage (for similarly spec'd gear) is still evident over the HUGE cameras.
Accessories:
I also no longer need many accessories I bought for the EM-5 as the EM-1 has it all IN the camera.
. Intervalometer
. HDR
. Time Lapse Video
. Wi-Fi for remote control or sharing pics on shoots or at the dinner table
Useful features and available lenses? Yep.
. Extensive bracketing options which are all very fast to set up.
. The new lever, allows one to effectively have FOUR dials (I put my second pair of favourite functions there).
. The two 'shoot-mode' buttons on top of the 'film canister spot' make set-up even faster.
. Superb quality, very good even with the kit lenses.
. Plenty of PRO grade glass from Oly and Panasonic.
There's NO excuse for missing a shot with an EM-1 you've had for more than a week
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Compared to days of old?
A FULL frame camera like the Mamiya RB67 had 4.5 TIMES the image size of the Miniature FMF (full Marketing Frame) 35mm. The EM-1 easily outperforms the Mamiya RB67 for image quality and OOF effects. I was astonished by HOW MUCH both OMDs beat this large and loved camera by with 1/20th the image area – let alone how they absolutely dust 35mm.
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We have come a long way indeed. Compare a few samples here ..
http://photohounds.smugmug.com/6x7-early-80s
The EM1 is an excellent tool - with fixed lenses, used correctly, it can produce IQ equal to the best - unless you regularly print over 50x60cm (20x24”).
If you see my gear list, and have a look at my picture site, you'll see what these things are capable of. EXIF data is available for most shots – NOT the Mamiya RB-67 shots of course - If you need one that is not, please ask: via the site and I'll uploade the missing data
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** The flip screen and touch screen makes table top photography a BREEZE ** !
I set a 2 second delay and touch the area I want sharpest focus. THESE were done that way ..
http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-m4MRD/
Saves your BACK, too
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The EM-1 enables VERY pleasing results easily without too much mas and volume filling up your luggage.
So there's my non-technical, in use take on the EM-1. Measurebators WILL waste their (and yours if you permit them to) . Forget vexatious fools who shoot rarely and argue a LOT !! Enjoy your photography and don't obsess about gear and its technicalities.
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Technical arguments you may waste time on today will be USELESS 50 years from now.
NO ONE will care WHAT camera it was taken with (in fact most don't care - NOW),
Time spent on making images however, will be remembered and probably appreciated.
Photography to me, is about communicating you world view with IMAGES, not about brochures and technical discussions that waste your shooting time and dampen you enjoyment of this wonderful pursuit.
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Waiting for the 40-150/f2.8 - and maybe the 300/f4 for a little birding
– I expect RAZOR sharp results from both!
