E-M10, E-PM2 and OMD5 sensors

I have had an E-M10 for about a year and just love it. As a second "Convenience" camera I use a Canon S100 but have never been thrilled with it. So while scanning Amazon I noticed that they had the E-PM2 body for C$213 . I decided that at that price it would replace the Canon while sharing E-M10 bits and pieces. Reading the Amazon Blurb it boasts that the sensor is from the OMD5 - is that correct and is that the same sensor as my E-M10?

The E-M5, E-M10 and E-PM2 all have the same Sony 16MP sensor, the E-M1 has a Panasonic 16MP sensor. The E-M5 and E-PM2 have the TruePic VI processor, the E-M10 and E-M1 have the still current (same as in E-M5 II) TruePic VII processor.

Tony Tomlin wrote:

I have had an E-M10 for about a year and just love it. As a second "Convenience" camera I use a Canon S100 but have never been thrilled with it. So while scanning Amazon I noticed that they had the E-PM2 body for C$213 . I decided that at that price it would replace the Canon while sharing E-M10 bits and pieces. Reading the Amazon Blurb it boasts that the sensor is from the OMD5 - is that correct and is that the same sensor as my E-M10?

Yes sensor is the same in all three cameras.  Some differences in processing engine. I have an e-pm2 and I would not recommend it.  It is one of the worst cameras for shutter shock and there is not much you can do about it (even using 1/4 second anti-shock doesn't help much) except avoid exposures between 1/80th and 1/320th which is problem. Also the image stabilization is not good and tends to cause more trouble than it is worth and I usually leave it off.  I have certainly taken some great images with the camera (great sensor) but once I got an ep-5 with 0 second anti-shock and 5-axis IBIS I seldom if ever use the e-pm2. If you are used to the E-M10 you will be disappointed with the e-pm2.

Same sensors. I bought an E-PM2 as an alternative to my E-M5 and I've never been disappointed with the camera.

Well that's a couple of different opinions! I guess I will have to see which is correct when I receive the e-pm2

Thanks for the sensor and processor information

Did some reading on shutter shock and realise that I had an E-PL2 and an E-PL5 and was never aware of any problem. However, I confess that if I had any blurred shots I would have blamed myself.

Tony Tomlin wrote:

Did some reading on shutter shock and realise that I had an E-PL2 and an E-PL5 and was never aware of any problem. However, I confess that if I had any blurred shots I would have blamed myself.

I didn't want to be negative but just wanted to give you a heads up on some issues with the e-pm2. Like I said I have taken a lot of pictures that I am very happy with... I just feel like I have to work harder at it than I do with my ep-5 and my keeper rate is much lower.  Here are a few things I have found:

1. Some people claim the low ISO performance of the e-pm2 is the best of all the M43 cameras because that is what DXO said.  Two explanation... sample variation or the 2 axis stabilization generates less heat.  In any case it is possible to get as good a picture with the e-pm2 as with any other M43 camera including the EM-1 or EM-5.

2. Compared to your em-10 the IBIS is dodgy on the e-pm2.  I have the best luck with stabilized Panasonic lenses with the menus set up to "Len IS priority".  For Oly lenses I leave it on unless I use a tripod in which case I turn it off.  Unlike your EM-10 where you can leave IBIS on on a tripod I have noticed the epm-2 with IBIS on a tripod is trouble. Don't expect the same performance as the IBIS on your em-10... it is not even close.

3. The Shutter shock issue has  life of it's own on these forums and the e-pm2 is a prime offender if it does exist, and in my experience it does.  Some lenses are worse than others and 1/4 second anti-shock helps a bit but still not 100% and the delay can be a problem.  Keeping shutter speed above 1/320 is your best bet.

Some people complain about lack of buttons and menu diving but there are a few buttons you can "map" for how you use the camera and you should be able to get by fine.

The camera is small and light... I usually use the Pana 12-32 pancake zoom or the 20mm 1.7 and it makes for a great light weight combination that can be fit in a large pocket and used without drawing attention.

Have fun and enjoy.

levimax wrote:

Tony Tomlin wrote:

Did some reading on shutter shock and realise that I had an E-PL2 and an E-PL5 and was never aware of any problem. However, I confess that if I had any blurred shots I would have blamed myself.

I didn't want to be negative but just wanted to give you a heads up on some issues with the e-pm2. Like I said I have taken a lot of pictures that I am very happy with... I just feel like I have to work harder at it than I do with my ep-5 and my keeper rate is much lower. Here are a few things I have found:

1. Some people claim the low ISO performance of the e-pm2 is the best of all the M43 cameras because that is what DXO said. Two explanation... sample variation or the 2 axis stabilization generates less heat. In any case it is possible to get as good a picture with the e-pm2 as with any other M43 camera including the EM-1 or EM-5.

2. Compared to your em-10 the IBIS is dodgy on the e-pm2. I have the best luck with stabilized Panasonic lenses with the menus set up to "Len IS priority". For Oly lenses I leave it on unless I use a tripod in which case I turn it off. Unlike your EM-10 where you can leave IBIS on on a tripod I have noticed the epm-2 with IBIS on a tripod is trouble. Don't expect the same performance as the IBIS on your em-10... it is not even close.

3. The Shutter shock issue has life of it's own on these forums and the e-pm2 is a prime offender if it does exist, and in my experience it does. Some lenses are worse than others and 1/4 second anti-shock helps a bit but still not 100% and the delay can be a problem. Keeping shutter speed above 1/320 is your best bet.

Some people complain about lack of buttons and menu diving but there are a few buttons you can "map" for how you use the camera and you should be able to get by fine.

The camera is small and light... I usually use the Pana 12-32 pancake zoom or the 20mm 1.7 and it makes for a great light weight combination that can be fit in a large pocket and used without drawing attention.

Have fun and enjoy.

Thank you so much for the extra information. I plan to use the E-PM2 just as you do and as I did with my Canon, when I am out and about but not on photo excursions. I have the Panny 20mm F1.7 and plan to keep that on the PM2. I usually shoot in aperture priority but if I see shutter speed going into that danger zone I may shift to Shutter and try to get over 1/320. I am sure it will give me more satisfaction than the Canon and share all my M4/3 accessories.

Regards Tony T

Ah, the PM2 and 20mm is a perfect combination! No shutter shock at all. At the longer end of the 14-45 and 40-150 things were bad.

2. Compared to your em-10 the IBIS is dodgy on the e-pm2.

Guy Parsons proved a while ago that Olympus 2-Axis IBIS causes softness in all images and is best switched off when not needed , I managed to re-create this with 100% repeatability in the EPL5 and it`s a total pain in the ass unless you use Panasonic OIS lenses and switch "Lens OIS priority" on as it means you`ve got to switch it on and off all the time if you want to make the most of the pixel level sharpness of these cameras - the softening isn`t anything like as bad as shutter shock , it`s more like adding a heavy AA filter .

the Oly 2-Axis IBIS isn`t fantastic anyway , 3-Axis in the Em10 is a lot better and from my tests it`s not as good as the 2-Axis in the GX7 (which doesn`t suffer the softening issue).

Funny you mention this on the Olympus earlier IBIS- I found the same problem on the older 4/3rds e-620. Back then I mentioned it and I got stoned

you`d have to be Stoned to buy an E620 - LOL !!

Seriously, I`d never heard of the issue until Guy mentioned it and I tried it on the EPL5 I had here and Yup, it`s true - in the past I used the Panasonic 14-45 on my M43 bodies because all the other M43 kit lenses at the time either had had issues (like the Original Mk1 Oly with its wobbly fromt end) or were too optically challenged (Panny 14-42 Mk1 and PZ) ..

Thankfully with the superb Panny 14-42 Mk2 HD being tiny and there`s now the excellent Panny 12-32 , these little Olys only need IBIS for primes  but this is where you see the issue Guy mentions , I was wondering why my perfect copy of the Panny 14mm F2.5 was softer on the EPL5 than my 14-42-IIHD was despite being as sharp or sharper on the EM10 or GX7 now I know