Anyone using an em10 mk 2 or 3?

[Henry Falkner]

I retain my E-M10 II as a backup for my E-M10 IV.

The E-M10 IV has a firmware update, version 1.1, available since February 28 2022, which I installed. That firmware is intended to improve fix-focus-lens focusing, but my early tests imply that it also helps with focusing my zoom lenses.

In my perception, the AF on the E-M10 II is slow because of the size and complexity of its menu. Every time you press the shutter, the camera has to go through all of that menu, time that therefore is not available for focusing. Getting a faster SD card reduced my AF problem, but the custom part of the menu goes 3 levels deep. I have disabled those custom functions which are duplicated in the Super Control Panel.

I much prefer the E-M10 IV. Here are two random shots from last Monday -





Henry

--
Henry Falkner - E-M10 Mark II and Mark IV, SH-1, SH-50
http://www.pbase.com/hfalkner

 

[kangarooinoz]

Newcastle

 

[kangarooinoz]

Nice shots. Is the mark 4 much of a step up in image quality?

 

[kangarooinoz]

Thanks everyone.

And out of the kit lenses. The 14-42 and the ez version, which should I go for?

 

[Henry Falkner]

Nice shots. Is the mark 4 much of a step up in image quality?

Quality is quite similar in most instances.

However, I do appreciate the increase from 16 MP to 20 MP when I enlarge crops from the camera originals to do 33x23 inch prints, to get the 300 dots per inch that the Warehouse Stationary print kiosk insist on.

When I pan with flying gannets, I can never guarantee that they will be dead center after I pressed the shutter button, so crops are inevitable.

Henry

 

[wharfhouse]

Thanks everyone.

And out of the kit lenses. The 14-42 and the ez version, which should I go for?

In don't think you will see much difference in image quality. The original 14-42 is a "normal" lens with the usual zoom ring whereas the EZ is a pancake design that extends on powering up and has an electronic zoom. The EZ is prone to breaking the internal ribbon cable after a few years use due the extending on powering on however. If you have a bit more to spend the 12-45 Pro f4 is a well worthwhile upgrade though.

 

[David5833]

I've had my E-M10ii for nearly four years and I recommend it highly. Aside from being a beautiful little gem IMHO, it is very functional. I like its tilt screen better than the flip-out screen on my E-M5iii. It is highly customizable, has four mysets, three Fn buttons, and all settings on the mode dial can be reassigned to various functions; in regard to customization I like it more than my E-M5iii. I've never had a glitch of any kind with it. My only complaint is that I don't like the position of the Fn1 button so I don't use back button focus with it, but it is a pleasure to use otherwise.

I have the 14-42 IIR. It's surprisingly good for a kit zoom and with the 10ii makes a super small and light travel combo.

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/143821723@N06/

 

[Yar1971]

Thanks everyone.

And out of the kit lenses. The 14-42 and the ez version, which should I go for?

Lenses are totally different story. First, tell us what You need in terms of focal length (FL) range. Starting with standard kit may be not the best approach at all

Depending on Your needs, You may go into:

1. 2 kit solution (2 slow zooms) + a fast WA prime

2. 1 travel zoom (14-150 or 14-140) + 1-2 fast WA primes

or

2a. 12-100/4.0 + fast WA primes heavy/expensive

3. 1 universal zoom (12-60/3.5-5.6) + fast WA primes

4. 1 universal fast zoom only (12-40/2.8, 12-60/2.8-4.0)

Do You need longer tele for wildlife, distant people or not?

If yes, then only 1. and 2. aproach is valid, with 2a. in some easy cases. Note, 14-42 of any type is part of 1. option only, and You will loose <14 mm opportunity, which can be useful from time to time, even if You're not devoted for WA shooting. I personally use option 2., as I know that often there's no time for lens swapping in surprising situations when long tele is needed. Contrary to WA side. My motto is:

"Landscapes and buildings do not escape from the frame. Animals, people and vehicles do."

In case You don't need longer tele, options 3. and 4., but 4. way is expensive. So I would personally recommend 3.: 12-60 zoom has very good zoom range, starts from 12 mm, is not extremally expensive, reasonable weight/size. 1-2 primes for lowlight do not add too much weight/volume to the whole set. I can recommend O. 17/1.8 or P. 15/1.7 as most universal addition. If budget constrains make You to postpone it, You may start with cheap P. 14/2.5 instead. This was my way: 14-150 as a basic kit, then + 14/2.5, replaced later with 17/1.8, finally added 12/2.0 to the set (there was no 10/2.0 at that time, 9/2.8 slightly too big to maintain small size/weight of the whole set for serious hiking).

Of course, in 3. option You may stay with 14-42 zoom for budget reasons, but I would treat it as temporary solution only. 12-60 would be much more universal.

Regards

-J.

 

[Henry Falkner]

Thanks everyone.

And out of the kit lenses. The 14-42 and the ez version, which should I go for?

I have the electronic 14-42 pancake lens, it came with the 40-150 and the E-M10 II. Changing between the two lenses with cruise ships coming from a far distance to as close as 100 feet was a pain, and I got the 14-150 II lens. Now on the E-M10 IV, this is the lens I use 90-% of the time.

The 14-42 and the 40-150 are now in the bag containing the E-M10 II. The 14-42 still gets very little use. the 40-150 serves for medium distance stills while the Mark IV does the video on a tripod with the 14-150.

For moon shots, the 75-300 is used with both E-M10 bodies.

Henry

--
Henry Falkner - E-M10 Mark II and Mark IV, SH-1, SH-50
http://www.pbase.com/hfalkner

 

[motormatic]

I own an EM10-III. I've read all of the negative stuff about its menu system, but I don't really care

To be honest, if I hadn't started on a MkI I'd have no complaints with the MkIII. It's only when you're used to using a feature all the time and the new camera lacks it that you start to complain

 

[motormatic]

The 14-42 and the ez version, which should I go for?

The EZ especially if you buy the optional lens cap makes the camera work like a point and shot. It extends and retracts on power cycles and caps and uncaps the lens for you (but it precludes using filters or lens hoods). The EZ also focuses a bit closer than the RII and of course is more compact, you can fit the camera in a large jacket pocket

The EZ zoom ring is really just a switch. If you like to have precise control over zooming, especially if you like to preset the focal length before you shoot, the RII is better.

Opically I didn't see any difference between them.

 

[aliasfox]

I’d recommend another E-M5ii if you can swing it, for the simple reason that the E-M10 series uses a different battery. With another E-M5ii, you can reuse the existing battery and have spares for when you’re out all day. It’s the reason I have an E-M1 and E-M5ii - one set of batteries and one charger.

That said, if you’re leaning towards a new camera soon, Oly/OMDS doesn’t use that same battery in the E-M5ii anymore, but the Pens, E-M10iv and E-M5iii can all be used with the same battery as the E-M10ii.

 

[BenRut]

I have the EM10iii and really like it. Ergonomics are great. EVF is nice. Flippy screen is useful. Lovely camera.

My main complaint is the plastic build quality. I also feel the black/silver version attracts quite a lot of attention in public. But I'm an anxious man.

 

[Michael Meissner]

Thanks everyone.

And out of the kit lenses. The 14-42 and the ez version, which should I go for?

I had the 14-42mm EZ lens briefly when I bought the Olympus Air A10 before returning it, I've had the 14-42mm mark II lens since I got one of the earlier cameras, but I haven't used it in 5+ years ago since I upgraded lenses. So I can't say from personal experience which is better.

In general, I've seen remarks that some feel the 14-42mm II-R lens is just slightly sharper than the 14-42mm EZ lens. However, the EZ lens packs smaller.

The 14-42mm EZ lens is one of the few lenses in the lineup that has an electronic zoom instead of mechanical zoom. This means when you move the lens zoom ring, it doesn't actually move the lens elements in/out, but it sends a signal to the camera, and it in turns sends signals back to the lens motors to go back and forth. This means the lens can adjust the zooming speed based on options in the menu. If you are recording video, it can mean if you zoom while recording, it can be smoother that many people get with mechanical zooming.

Another feature is if you put the camera into wireless control mode where you control it via a phone app on you android/apple smartphone, you can zoom the lens from the app. With most lenses, you either have to adjust the zoom manually or use a contraption that fits over the lens and allows you to control the zoom at a distance. For example, I use it on other cameras to record birds at the feeder. I put the camera outside, and then go inside where the birds can't see me, and I can watch the birds and click on the shutter to take pictures, without me hovering over the camera.

 

[New Day Rising]

Newcastle

No worries. If you were in Melbourne I could have lent you mine.

After the 10 mkiii came out I picked up the 10 mkiii with the 14-42 pancake on a Camera House special for $500. A bargain for a great little camera.

 

[Woody Meristem]

I bought an M10 ii and liked it so much that I bought two more. One has the long telephoto, one the short telephoto and one I use for macros and landscapes. I love the ergonomics, although I did add third-party grips for more secure handling (https://www.ebay.com/itm/1648558117...c6SSvl2S2Rd6nE5XqwRlI)EkWXQcUCERoCuukQAvD_BwE ; unlike the Olympus grip, these allow for battery changes without removing the grip and have built-in ARCA-Swiss rails. I'm primarily a nature photographer (birds, mammals, insects, flowers, waterfalls and landscapes) but only shoot BIF on rare occasions and then only raptors and waterfowl -- I don't have the reflexes to do flying songbirds or flying insects.

I purchased all my M10 ii cameras used, one on eBay and two from MPB (I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them again, the cameras were better than rated and looked brand new).

 

[jimrpdx]

I just reacquired a 10.ii as the GX7 I bought had a bad evf. Turned out to be a simple fix - so now I'm confronted with two great bodies from the past when going out to shoot.

If only all my problems were as pleasant!

 

[kangarooinoz]

Oh true.

Just on that. Is the mark 3 much better?

The mark 2s are about $400 second hand and probably 5 or 600 for the mark 3.

I was just going to go the mark 2 if it's got the same sensor. But I'm open to suggestions about the mk 3

 

[Isola Verde]

Shortly before my birthday last year, not long after selling an E-M10 II I'd never properly enjoyed, it seemed the right time to try the original Mk1 of the E-M1, that being by then more than a £1,000 cheaper than at its launch!

Although not quite as hefty, it was still the biggest digital camera I'd bought since Canon's D60, some 20 years previously - and I doubt I'll ever be taking it on any vacation that requires a flight...

Nonetheless its a real joy to shoot with, and performs well with every lens I've attached, including EF optics left over from that D60 on adaptors, through M43 optics from 9-150mm - plus there's stabilisation, focusing and a large EVF that are each about as good or better than I've otherwise had.

Most importantly, moving forwards, its use has led me through to the lighter and smaller E-M10 Mk IV - about which I recall we corresponded in one of your previous threads - whose features do ideally match my needs when off on one of our trips!

The M1i is a tough old beast but I'd encourage you to buy from somewhere reputable as the oldest ones may have had quite a few years' hard use by now!

Peter

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Pictures...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132932913@N02/albums

 

[New Day Rising]

Oh true.

Just on that. Is the mark 3 much better?

The mark 2s are about $400 second hand and probably 5 or 600 for the mark 3.

I was just going to go the mark 2 if it's got the same sensor. But I'm open to suggestions about the mk 3

Ted's Cameras Second Hand have the mark 2s for $299 and mark 3s for $399. They deliver or will send to your nearest store for Click and Collect.

I've bought a few things from them second hand. They have been excellent condition (my X-T2 that I got a few months back, which was cheaper than I had ever seen, was basically brand new unsold stock) and come with 12 months warranty.