EM1 vs EM1ii CAF

i've recently switched from FF to u43 and currently have a PenF and some lenses, including the 40-150 f2.8 which I got a great deal on and bought thinking that at some point I would add a second body for occasional sports photography (mainly lower league football and motorsport).

for occasional use, is it worth going for the EM1ii or is the EM1 with the latest firmware updates sufficiently fast (in terms of CAF)?

bear in mind that up to now i've photographed the footie with a 5Dii and an old 80-200 f2.8 and have been pretty happy with the results so that should give you an idea about my (low?) expectations.

With good light the E-M1 is o.k. in C-AF since fw 3.0

Motocross: https://flic.kr/s/aHskF5S7y1

Example:

horsth wrote:

With good light the E-M1 is o.k. in C-AF since fw 3.0

Motocross: https://flic.kr/s/aHskF5S7y1

Example:

Should an example of C-AF not be sharp ? Which nothing in this photo is

Thanks, you are right, we'll take the next one in the row from the gallery

Motocross: https://flic.kr/s/aHskF5S7y1

horsth wrote:

You are right, we'll take the next one in the row from the gallery

Now , that is much better The biker chasing him at the back adds to the feel of the image

Fun 4 all wrote:

horsth wrote:

Thanks, you are right, we'll take the next one in the row from the gallery

Motocross: https://flic.kr/s/aHskF5S7y1

To me the first picture you posted looked like it suffered from shutter shock or an un-stabilized lens.

I am curious how you think any kind of  image stabilisation will help with a 1/2000th sec photo , same story with shutter-shock

Was surely the photographer. Here a similar one. Hopefully sharp:

horsth wrote:

Was surely the photographer. Here a similar one. Hopefully sharp:

Well said every single time I have a poor image there is only one culprit

C-AF on the E-M1 II is different, much snappier, much more reliable and much more to configure. For the occational action or sports shot and if you do not need to reliably produce usable images the E-M1 I is perfectly OK and a lot cheaper.

There have been threads with sample shots from forum users owning the cam and Horst also has some excellent BIF from the E-M1 II on his flickr account.

The bokeh of most mFT lenses including the 40-150/2.8 is rather ugly if the bg is close to the subject and has lots of structure.

Sabine
________________
www.acahaya.com

SandroS wrote:

thanks horsth - some nice shots there.

i take it these are CAF shots? did you use any particular mode? single point/cluster/auto?

would be great to see some EM1ii examples too.

on a side note, i really don't like the bokeh of the 40-150mm in some situations. this isn't a dig at your work of course, just an observation and I'm not looking forward to seeing the same in my own shots. it's a real disappointment for what is otherwise a fantastic lens (very sharp, fast to focus, relatively small and light and so on).

Yes C-AF. Sports and action I shot only C-AF with the E-M1. I think this was the 3x3 AF-block. You are right, the boken can be a problem of the 40-150mm pro, also the 300mm pro is slightly concerned. The trouble occurs with many highlights in backgrounds close to the subject. In such cases one must be be really careful how to frame. On the other hand, these lenses are extraordinary good and sharp even with a TC and all that is no problem for Lightroom afterwards in pp.

I haven't shot sports with the mkII so far, but what I've seen from BIF shooting, the mkII is even one class better. But for football and similar outdoor sports the mkI is absolutely sufficient.

SandroS wrote:

i've recently switched from FF to u43 and currently have a PenF and some lenses, including the 40-150 f2.8 which I got a great deal on and bought thinking that at some point I would add a second body for occasional sports photography (mainly lower league football and motorsport).

for occasional use, is it worth going for the EM1ii or is the EM1 with the latest firmware updates sufficiently fast (in terms of CAF)?

bear in mind that up to now i've photographed the footie with a 5Dii and an old 80-200 f2.8 and have been pretty happy with the results so that should give you an idea about my (low?) expectations.

If you don't already own the oly 12-40, I think the better option is to pick the EM1 with the 12-40 combo ($1,299) and forgo the EM1ii. I have an EM10, and a GX8 and ample playtime with an EM1. The AF speed and accuracy on the EM1 is right up there with the GX8 and miles ahead of the EM10. The PEN-F's AF system is just not great for freezing motion reliably, just like my EM10 (I normally use MF zone focusing instead).

TL:DR: Save your money. Get the EM1 and a great 12-40 thrown in for $700 less than the EM1ii.