Is the EM-1 still a good choice? Or better waiting for an update?

Guys, I need your help! I´m considering buying an EM-1 due to its form factor. Now, there is a kit option available including the 12-40 and 40-150 Pro lens. I´ve tested the camera, and I was disappointed about its image noise which is noticeable even at ISO 200. I found the pictures a little to nervious. Further, the autofocus seemed to be inconsistent sometimes. Well, I only had it for a single weekend and therefore I was not too familiar with it. However, I think the Oly lens collection is extraordinary - especially for their prices- and the EM-1 in-body IBIS is fantastic. The dynamic range seems to be behind the competitors. Further, the absence of an electronic shutter mode is a further disadvantage.

In contrast, Fuji offers bulky and quite expensive lenses; many without any image stabilization and Sony´s lens collection is limited and their building quality seems to vary (even within the Zeiss branded Sony lenses).

1. So my question is would you go for the EM-1 kit or would you wait for the Sony a7000/ Fuji T2/X-Pro2 or for an EM-1 Mark II?
2. Who of you is using the FL600 flash system for portrait low light situations?

Many thanks in advance for sharing your experiences and thoughts!

fratzi wrote:

Guys, I need your help! I´m considering buying an EM-1 due to its form factor. Now, there is a kit option available including the 12-40 and 40-150 Pro lens. I´ve tested the camera, and I was disappointed about its image noise which is noticeable even at ISO 200. I found the pictures a little to nervious. Further, the autofocus seemed to be inconsistent sometimes. Well, I only had it for a single weekend and therefore I was not too familiar with it. However, I think the Oly lens collection is extraordinary - especially for their prices- and the EM-1 in-body IBIS is fantastic. The dynamic range seems to be behind the competitors. Further, the absence of an electronic shutter mode is a further disadvantage.

In contrast, Fuji offers bulky and quite expensive lenses; many without any image stabilization and Sony´s lens collection is limited and their building quality seems to vary (even within the Zeiss branded Sony lenses).

1. So my question is would you go for the EM-1 kit or would you wait for the Sony a7000/ Fuji T2/X-Pro2 or for an EM-1 Mark II?
2. Who of you is using the FL600 flash system for portrait low light situations?

Many thanks in advance for sharing your experiences and thoughts!

Well it seems that you have found the EM1 unsuitable for your usage. It also sounds as if you have discounted Fuji and Sony's offerings. Perhaps you should look at what Canon and Nikon have to offer.

I've never heard of the word "nervous" being an attribute of image quality - what do you exactly mean by that?

fratzi --

You are right about these optics: they are stunning. But acquiring these two lenses -- without internal stabe -- is more-or-less a commitment to Oly.  I have the 12-40 (and resisted the 40-150 so far . . .) and it is certainly the finest mid-zoom that i've ever used, going back four+ decades.  i absolutely love that lens.  So i'm hooked on Oly as my small form factor kit for the foreseeable future.

The Fuji and Sony systems are something of a different choice.  Actually the system choice decision is the big one.  Of the two Fuji would attract me more: their lenses are (almost) uniformly excellent but you are locked into one vendor.  The bodies are quirky (well, they are across the mirror-less world), but seem to be quite photographer-centric.  Fuji also gets bonus points for a coherent lens map . . .  that they follow!  What a concept.

Oh Sony, Sony, Sony.   Stunning bodies for sure.  Gawd knows that they know their way around sensor design; their latest BSI 42meg FF chip is a stunner (with no less than 399 on-chip PDAF sensors!)  But, really, what is their camera and lens strategy?  APSC?  semi-mirrored SLRs?  Full Frame?  E mount?  A mount? As a consumer i just don't see that they are dedicated to any single path.  i've lost count of their zig-zags since acquiring Minolta.

Forgive me Sony fans.

i chose first Panny m4/3 (due to cost on close-out bodies) and now Oly.  I am thrilled with the richness of the m4/3 lens and body choices and reasobably confident going forward that they will continue.  Fuji would make me happy too (though at somewhat higher prices).  Good luck.

fratzi wrote:

Guys, I need your help! I´m considering buying an EM-1 due to its form factor. Now, there is a kit option available including the 12-40 and 40-150 Pro lens. I´ve tested the camera, and I was disappointed about its image noise which is noticeable even at ISO 200. I found the pictures a little to nervious. Further, the autofocus seemed to be inconsistent sometimes. Well, I only had it for a single weekend and therefore I was not too familiar with it. However, I think the Oly lens collection is extraordinary - especially for their prices- and the EM-1 in-body IBIS is fantastic. The dynamic range seems to be behind the competitors. Further, the absence of an electronic shutter mode is a further disadvantage.

In contrast, Fuji offers bulky and quite expensive lenses; many without any image stabilization and Sony´s lens collection is limited and their building quality seems to vary (even within the Zeiss branded Sony lenses).

1. So my question is would you go for the EM-1 kit or would you wait for the Sony a7000/ Fuji T2/X-Pro2 or for an EM-1 Mark II?
2. Who of you is using the FL600 flash system for portrait low light situations?

Many thanks in advance for sharing your experiences and thoughts!

Think about this:  There will ALWAYS be an update coming, now, or twenty years from now.

If you didn't like the em1, you could grab a em10 for cheap, building up a nice lens collection as time goes on, and buy the new upgraded em1II when it comes out.

Frankly, if you don't find the noise and dynamic range acceptable, then Micro 4/3 is not for you - the current best Micro 4/3 cameras all have approximately equivalent IQ. I find it quite good, and don't agree with your assessment, but that's neither here nor there - your opinion is valid for you, but if that's the particular shortcoming that is holding you back, I don't think you'll be satisfied with the next upgrade.

But really, the only legitimate reason to wait on an upgrade for the E-M1 is if you want Panasonic's class of video along with Olympus' class of IBIS and the Olympus form factor and ergonomics. As still-image cameras, Micro 4/3's better cameras are pretty maxed out until a fundamentally better sensor shows up, and I don't mean negligibly and barely measurably better like the one in the E-M5 Mk II or the GH4.  It's possible that AF will continue to improve across the next upgrade, but that's a guess, and I find the E-M1's current AF with the latest firmware to be pretty good - and certainly as good as anything Fuji has.  Sony's limitations are not with their bodies, but rather, with their APS-C lens lineup.

As for an electronic shutter, I find that the 0-second delay serves the same purpose as an electronic shutter for my needs.

fratzi wrote:

Guys, I need your help! I´m considering buying an EM-1 due to its form factor. Now, there is a kit option available including the 12-40 and 40-150 Pro lens. I´ve tested the camera, and I was disappointed about its image noise which is noticeable even at ISO 200. I found the pictures a little to nervious. Further, the autofocus seemed to be inconsistent sometimes. Well, I only had it for a single weekend and therefore I was not too familiar with it. However, I think the Oly lens collection is extraordinary - especially for their prices- and the EM-1 in-body IBIS is fantastic. The dynamic range seems to be behind the competitors. Further, the absence of an electronic shutter mode is a further disadvantage.

In contrast, Fuji offers bulky and quite expensive lenses; many without any image stabilization and Sony´s lens collection is limited and their building quality seems to vary (even within the Zeiss branded Sony lenses).

1. So my question is would you go for the EM-1 kit or would you wait for the Sony a7000/ Fuji T2/X-Pro2 or for an EM-1 Mark II?
2. Who of you is using the FL600 flash system for portrait low light situations?

Many thanks in advance for sharing your experiences and thoughts!

Roger Engelken wrote:

fratzi wrote:

Guys, I need your help! I´m considering buying an EM-1 due to its form factor. Now, there is a kit option available including the 12-40 and 40-150 Pro lens. I´ve tested the camera, and I was disappointed about its image noise which is noticeable even at ISO 200. I found the pictures a little to nervious. Further, the autofocus seemed to be inconsistent sometimes. Well, I only had it for a single weekend and therefore I was not too familiar with it. However, I think the Oly lens collection is extraordinary - especially for their prices- and the EM-1 in-body IBIS is fantastic. The dynamic range seems to be behind the competitors. Further, the absence of an electronic shutter mode is a further disadvantage.

In contrast, Fuji offers bulky and quite expensive lenses; many without any image stabilization and Sony´s lens collection is limited and their building quality seems to vary (even within the Zeiss branded Sony lenses).

1. So my question is would you go for the EM-1 kit or would you wait for the Sony a7000/ Fuji T2/X-Pro2 or for an EM-1 Mark II?
2. Who of you is using the FL600 flash system for portrait low light situations?

Many thanks in advance for sharing your experiences and thoughts!

Think about this: There will ALWAYS be an update coming, now, or twenty years from now.

Well said! Moreover, digital cam updates are not always for the better...

It's my only choice and I just ordered a new one

It ticks more boxes for me when it comes to pro's and cons for my use atleast.

I don't see much noise at all, very usable to 3200 ISO from my experience. Getting your exposures right will eliminate most noise.

Feel free to view my DPR gallery OR flickr and view @ 100% to look for noise

All those are good cameras. Buy the one that meets your needs well and fits your style of shooting (and your hands!), and don't regret your decision.

Tony8232 wrote:

I just read a review on the EM10 MkII and they noted an improvement in high ISO noise.

I take that with a grain of salt. Every six months we see a new camera with SO MUCH LESS HIGH ISO NOISE. Yet somehow, high ISO noise still exists. You'd think by now that we'd be shooting ISO 10000000000 with no noise whatsoever, given the ridiculous claims made by each new camera release.

I bet that 90%+ of people here on this forum couldn't tell the difference between a high ISO shot from the EM10 and the EM10ii. (I haven't done the experiment yet on myself, but I'm betting that I won't be able to see any real difference between GX7 and GX8 shots, for example -- other than the few additional pixels!)

Go for the E-M1 + 12-40/2.8 combo right off the bat. It is arguably the best m43 kit out there, particularly if you are coming from the DSLR world. It is reasonably priced, easy to use and delivers very good quality photographs. If you don't like it, sell it and move on to one of the larger format cameras you mentioned. But I expect you will be more than satisfied.

Look here - just over $1300 for the OMD E-M1 + 12-40/2.8 PRO lens combo.

http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-OM-D-E-M1-Camera-12-40mm/dp/B00Q2KWSLG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1440519150&sr=8-2&keywords=olympus+e-m1+%2B+12-40

If you don't like it, split the kit and sell on e-bay. You will get your money back.