E-PM2 replacement

I've recently dropped my Olympus E-PM2 . Looks intact, but won't fire up anymore, so I'm looking at my options.

I really like the compact form, so much more chances that I carry it around

I have a good lens selection that suits my needs.

20mm for all around family events, street

45mm for action better isolated and portraits

75mm for longer reach on kids sports

40-150mm when the light permits it for kids sports and small video clips of sports

25mm not as much use, but good alternative in between 20-45

14mm rarely use it, 20mm is more practical

And a couple of adapted lenses for fun

I would like to have a little better autofocus performance, specially in sports. Integrated flash could also be interesting, only if it can swivel to bounce. The ability to push iso iso higher than 6,400 in video mode would be also be fun.

I don't want to spend too much, specially because it doesn't look like the sensors have improved much in m43 and cameras are increasingly bigger, not as much pocketable.

It looks like my options would be between gx85 and e-m10ii

What's your thoughts?

Thanks

I switched several years ago from a E-P3 to a Lumix GX85 and have not looked back. The GX85 has been stellar for me.

I doubt there is any camera that meets all of your desires.

Other than the older E-PL1, E-PL2 cameras, I'm not aware of any Olympus camera with a built-in flash that tilts. And even there, I believe you are hampered by the limited flash power on the built-in flash (when you do a wall/ceiling bounce, you lose a lot of light -- so even if the under-powered built-in flash is ok for straight on shooting, it just doesn't have the power to do much of a ceiling bounce).

While there are cameras that use the FL-LM3 ciip-on flash that does flip, I'm not sure it has enough power to do an adequate ceiling bounce. Note, the FL-LM3 is much bigger than the FL-LM1 that came with your E-pm2.

You mentioned E-m10 mark II. That is a fine camera. However because it has the built-in viewfinder, it will be taller than your E-pm2. If you aren't planning on using the viewfinder on a daily basis, and have the VF-2/3/4 external viewfinder, you might want to look around for the E-PL8 which was the last camera to support the accessory port for the external viewfinder and SEMA-1 microphone. Given the E-PL8 is marketed as a low end camera, I would imagine the menu style is similar to the E-PM2, while the E-m10 mark II has the more traditional Olympus menu style. Olympus had sold a lot of E-m10 mark II's and E-PL8's in their USA outlet store as reconditioned, but lately I haven't noticed as many, so their stock may be drying up.

Be sure to try out the GX cameras in person (and then buy it from the salesperson that provided the extra service of trying it out in the store). I find the tiny GX viewfinder to be nearly unusable when shooting outdoors. I don't appear to have the rainbow color image problem some people have with the viewfinder, but with my 62 year old eyes and tri-focals, it is just too small to use on a daily basis.

In terms of viewfinder, there are 3 types. See my previous article for more detail:

• https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/62705829

I bought the E-m10 mark II last year specifically for the OLED viewfinder, and I often pick it up over the E-m1 mark I if I know rain is unlikely.  It does not have a deep grip, so the larger lenses are more awkward in handling (there is a non-battery grip available, but it does make the body thicker).

Note, Olympus has new and improved the E-m10 mark III and E-PL9 models, reorganizing the menu systems, eliminating some things (like wired shutter release which instantly removes it from my list of cameras to own). The only thing that the E-m10 mark III has that is an advantage IMHO over the E-m10 mark II is it shoots 4K video, and it evidently does not have a crop factor (I only shoot 1080p video, so it isn't a feature I need -- and when I shoot video, I use the G85, not an Olympus camera).

For the 16MP cameras like the E-m10 mark II, the sensor is roughly the same as the sensor in your E-PM2. Sure there are some tweaks here and there and some improvements, but it is essentially the same. That means noise behavior will be similar. The 20MP cameras had a little bump in high ISO performance.

If you were still considering the E-m10 mark II and could have a larger budget, I might suggest looking at the Pen-F. It has a lot of 'fun' for a smaller camera, and it has the 20MP sensor. It has an OLED viewfinder so you can use it with polarized sunglasses. However, it does look like the Pen-F is going to be a one-off camera, and there will be no successor.

rz350 wrote:

Find a used ep-5. Make sure the firmware is up to date. Use the "Diamond" setting to avoid shutter shock. It has everything you want and need in an M43 camera. Super in camera IBIS. Very easy to use. Make sure the dials change aperture and shutter speed as you rotate them.

IIRC, the E-P5 uses a different battery (BLN-1) than the E-PM2, E-M10 mark II, and E-PL8, etc (BLS-50).  Which means you need to consider the cost of buying new batteries to the total package.

There are various threads about BLN-1 third party batteries compared to the more expensive Olympus branded batteries.  Part of the issue is Olympus uses a slightly different  chemistry for BLN's and you don't top off the battery if you are mixing batteries and chargers.  Also, the third party batteries will appear to have less charge, because the BLN cameras (E-m1 mark I, E-m5 mark I/II, E-P5) set their low voltage limit somewhat higher due to the chemistry.

Agreed, if you don't want an EVF, the EP5 would be a nice upgrade. Not sure if they are still offered refurb'd. For flash, I would just get the small FL-300R which can be tilted back.

The OMD-10 II is the best bargain in MFT.

But if you loved your PM2 (I loved mine) you will just adore the newest PL9.

No viewfinder, but it’s a vastly better PM2.

Biggest change will be 3 axis stabilization.

Wifi

Electronic shutter option

Better screen

Built in flash

You can buy refurb PL9 bodies on EBay for about $300.

But the OMD M10 II is slightly cheaper.

ericeric wrote:

I've recently dropped my Olympus E-PM2 . Looks intact, but won't fire up anymore, so I'm looking at my options.

I really like the compact form, so much more chances that I carry it around

I have a good lens selection that suits my needs.

20mm for all around family events, street

45mm for action better isolated and portraits

75mm for longer reach on kids sports

40-150mm when the light permits it for kids sports and small video clips of sports

25mm not as much use, but good alternative in between 20-45

14mm rarely use it, 20mm is more practical

And a couple of adapted lenses for fun

I would like to have a little better autofocus performance, specially in sports. Integrated flash could also be interesting, only if it can swivel to bounce. The ability to push iso iso higher than 6,400 in video mode would be also be fun.

I don't want to spend too much, specially because it doesn't look like the sensors have improved much in m43 and cameras are increasingly bigger, not as much pocketable.

It looks like my options would be between gx85 and e-m10ii

What's your thoughts?

Thanks

My oldest daughter has the E-PM2 and I had a chance to shoot with it a few years ago. Produces great photos.

I also have the E-M10 ii - and the advantages for the E-M10 ii include in body image stabilization, which greatly improves my ability to take lower light photos, include indoor photos of people. Because of that, I prefer the E-M10 ii. The E-M10 ii also has optional electronic shutter for silent shooting, which I like too; I believe the E-PM2 is mechanical shutter only.

I bought my E-M10 ii body-only for $299.