EP5 vs GX7

Hi all,

I am wondering whether there is an EP6 due out soon. I can't find one on Oly's uk site, though I am aware of the EPL6. Haven't had a chance to check it out but I believe that the L designation puts it below the EP range? In recent days I have become quite taken with the minimalist look and quality construction of the PENs. Am I right that the EP5 has most of the internals of the EM5? Obviously this is a good thing- the EM1 does not seem a huge leap. I feel that, much as the GH4 is wonderful, as it is exactly the same size and weight as my Nikon D5100 and I prefer a more rangefinder/discrete camera, I will not buy that model.

Feedback would be appreciated re PEN vs GX7.

The EP5 is a new model than the EM5 and has a more advanced shutter than the EM5. The EP5 is much more like the D7100 than your camera (I have both). What I really like about the EP5 besides style, is that fact that without the EVF and using a pancake lens it can fit into a large pocket and become a real stealth camera, with the EVF it works much like an EM5 or DSLR.

If you are interested in stills I'd go EP5, Video the GX7. The big deal is that the EP5 with a fast card does OK video and with IBIS you take video in the stealth mode and can do video without a tripod - not so with the GX7 whose IBIS works only with stills. Yes, Pany lenses have a very good OS  which works great for stills and for short take standing video. 5 Axis IBIS is the only system I know of that allow for run/gun/walking videos without an external stabilization device that takes some serious skill at using.

In the end both are great cameras and you have to decide what your needs are.

The EP5 is indeed the best model in the PEN line. There is no upgrade coming any time soon.

Yes, this camera offers most of the core features of the OMD line along with a series of nice refinements, such as 1/8000 max shutter speed, focus peaking, wifi, and with the latest firmware, an electronic-first shutter release to neuter shutter shock (this is a big one). It only lacks weather sealing.

It measures up well to the GX7. The difference comes down to the Panasonic having a built-in EVF vs. the attachment for the EP5, and better video on the GX7 vs better IBIS on the EP5.

broody wrote:

The EP5 is indeed the best model in the PEN line. There is no upgrade coming any time soon.

Yes, this camera offers most of the core features of the OMD line along with a series of nice refinements, such as 1/8000 max shutter speed, focus peaking, wifi, and with the latest firmware, an electronic-first shutter release to neuter shutter shock (this is a big one). It only lacks weather sealing.

It measures up well to the GX7. The difference comes down to the Panasonic having a built-in EVF vs. the attachment for the EP5, and better video on the GX7 vs better IBIS on the EP5.

Don't forget the GX7's better out-of-the-box handling and ergonomics, better interface, electronic shutter and Silent Mode, Extended ISO 125, Constant Preview in M mode… a great, if underrated, camera!

shutterbud wrote:

I know this is anathema to every single review site on earth, but I do not like the flipping screen and tilting EVF on the GX7. Having used the GX1 for more than two years, I have no need of either. I like solid cameras with no dangly bits to rip off or faff about with. The one lens I could not live without is my 25/1.4 and if I buy another u4/3 I will definitely be buying a 42.5/1.2.

Will I have problems with these lenses on a PEN? This is a very important factor,

I love my GX7 but if you do  not like the tilting screen why start a thread to compared it with another camera??? Just buy the E-P5. And if you are concerned about parts falling off defensively buy an Olympus body. I don't recall ever reading a thread about any Olympus bodies where the rear dial wheel does not respond, EVF burnouts, dials falling off, cover peeling off. It's like they were design by a higher being. But no camera is perfect. Good luck.

There is no problem with the sturdiness of the GX7.  It is solid and an excellent performer.  I also used the GX1 (with the add-on EVF) for a couple of years...the GX7 is a much better body.  There are times when the EVF comes in handy even if you do not use it all the time and having one which folds down into the body rather than having the extra piece on top is a plus.  Adding the eye cup makes that EVF very pleasant to use.  My GX7 carries the wide to short telephoto lenses and my GH4 does the longer and heavier stuff.  The best combination I have had so far.

shutterbud wrote:

Hi all,

I am wondering whether there is an EP6 due out soon. I can't find one on Oly's uk site, though I am aware of the EPL6. Haven't had a chance to check it out but I believe that the L designation puts it below the EP range? In recent days I have become quite taken with the minimalist look and quality construction of the PENs. Am I right that the EP5 has most of the internals of the EM5? Obviously this is a good thing- the EM1 does not seem a huge leap. I feel that, much as the GH4 is wonderful, as it is exactly the same size and weight as my Nikon D5100 and I prefer a more rangefinder/discrete camera, I will not buy that model.

Feedback would be appreciated re PEN vs GX7.

I'm sure you can sense that both the gx7 and the ep5 are favorites for some of us.  I can assure you that both are wonderful cameras, capable of delivering outstanding images.  In fact, most of us gx7 and ep5 owners will never be as good as our cameras.  For an objective review, I suggest you read the thorough reviews that dpreview has prepared for these cameras.  Then, if possible, go to a camera store and see how each of them fits your hand. Finally, make a decision, with complete confidence that whichever choice you make will be a good one.

Do you need EVF?

LMNCT wrote:

...There are times when the EVF comes in handy even if you do not use it all the time and having one which folds down into the body rather than having the extra piece on top is a plus. Adding the eye cup makes that EVF very pleasant to use...

Coming from the E-M5, when I wanted some of the new features like WiFi and 8000/s I first tried the GX-7 and hated the EVF that stuck out so far from the body. I wanted the smaller body to have something that could more easily go into cargo shorts or coat pocket with a prime and the way that EVF stuck out it made it annoying to take in and out of my pockets. Also hated that the EVF to LCD autoswtch relationship was not something I could just switch manually. Many times handling that camera the LCD live view would turn off because I brushed an area close to the EVF by accident. I prefer the Olympus where, if I don't like the autoswitch I could turn that off and just toggle with a button.

Funny thing was it wasn't until after I was testing the GX-7 that I discovered that I had overlooked that Olympus had made the EP5. I bought a deal last year that had the 17mm and VF4 bundled for an awesome price and jumped on it. The firmware update thankfully fixed any SS issues that were the camera's fault.

Even though the EP5 doesn't have the VF attached all the time, I actually found I preferred that to an eyecup that stuck out that I could do nothing about. On the rare times I need the VF, I could attach it (although it does make it bulkier than the GX-7, of course). Most times, I don't need the VF at all.

I may upgrade out of the EP5 if they definitely make an EP6 with video more on par with the Panasonics (IE 60fps & better quality/bitrates) or GX-(8)? has full-time IBIS and fix of my EVF peeves.

These are my preferences for wanting a micro 4/3 that fills a specific role for me, but you may feel differently on what's more important if this is to be your main camera.

I owned a GX7 which I gave to my son and now I have an OMD E-M10 which I recommend you consider along with EP5. I didn't like the GX7 because it has little buttons everywhere and to me, a very sensitive touch-screen. I took the GX7 on an extended vacation to Latin America. I was constantly loosing shots or get bad shots because I accidentally pressed the wrong button or something on the touch screen. I used my 64 gig iPhone as a backup and found using the Panasonic WiFi a real pain to connect and transfer images with.

The E-M10 is newer than the EP-5 and I believe they share the same sensor, but, the E-M10 has a newer processor. The E-M10 has the advantage of an excellent EVF which would be a shoe mounted option on the EP5 at several hundred dollars more. The GX7 also has an excellent EVF that tilts and which I never used that way.

The E-M10 is the smallest of the 3, if that matters to you. However, all 3 cameras are close in size and weight and any one of the 3 will take great pics with either Olympus or Pansonic lenses.

The Olympus Wifi system is far more user friendly. However every little thing on the Olympus cameras is customizable and the menus are for more complex.The GX7 also has NFC which the E-10M does not. In my case, I use iPhones and iPads and neither offers NFC; it is an Android feature.

All 3 cameras come with an excellent 3" tilting touch-screen LCD that becomes extremely hard to see in bright daylight. While I felt the Panasonic screen was too sensitive, I find my E-M10 screen to be not quite sensitive enough, but at least it doesn't instantly react if I accidentally touch it.

The E-M10 has a 3-axis IS system in the body and the EP5 has a 5-axis IS system. Panasonic puts the IS in the lenses but not everyone.

Hope this helps.

shutterbud wrote:

I know this is anathema to every single review site on earth, but I do not like the flipping screen and tilting EVF on the GX7. Having used the GX1 for more than two years, I have no need of either.

Try them first. I had my doubts, but the tilting EVF is really great! The GX7 is SO much better than the GX1, which I also have, it's not even funny!

Pic Man wrote:

Also consider what lenses you want. Panasonic lenses don't always play nice (purple fringing, purple blobs on 7-14, high ISO banding with 20mm) on Olympus bodies. The Panasonic 7-14 is the worst offender. I bought a panasonic body because of this lens but if you are mostly interested in Olympus lenses then either body will be fine. They are both excellent, so go to a shop and try them out and see which one fits best.

Second this suggestion: decide on the lenses first.  They are interchangeable, but they do work best on their respective bodies.  I also switched to the GX7 partially because of the 7-14mm.  I also love the look, ergonomics, controls, tilting EVF, and silent shutter.  I also love the 14-140mm II lens, the 25m, and hoping to get the new 15mm.  I had the E-M5 and don't regret switching one bit.

jeffharris wrote:

shutterbud wrote:

I know this is anathema to every single review site on earth, but I do not like the flipping screen and tilting EVF on the GX7. Having used the GX1 for more than two years, I have no need of either.

Try them first. I had my doubts, but the tilting EVF is really great! The GX7 is SO much better than the GX1, which I also have, it's not even funny!

The BEST thing you can do is go into a shop and fondle the cameras. You need a visceral response to the thing otherwise you won't get he best out of it.  This is the main reason I ended up with the E-P5. I picked up and fiddled with as many m43 bodies as I could, and at the end of driving sales people mad, there was no way I wasn't going to walk out with an E-P5.

The hardest choice was......black or silver?