Most are missing why the E-M1 mark II sensor is often better than even APSC or FF

[Fun 4 all]

I see some spirited discussions over the DxO rating of the new OMD sensor. Some are exited to see it rated near equal for SNR18 to the best APS-C sensors. They are excited to see it matching slightly older APS-C sensors in measurements for DR. And still others are saying the OMD may really still be a little bit behind.

It really doesn't matter. The new sensor is in the ball park and so the question of IQ drops well down the list of considerations. Well behind lens, weather resistance, features, comfort, speed, and what I consider to be very important, rolling shutter.

So now almost everyone agrees the OMD is close enough (DxO says it is equal or almost equal to many), it is time to look at what REALLY differentiates these sensors. Sensor Read Out Speed. The E-M1 Mark II is the first ILC with an M43 or greater size sensor that almost never has a penalty for using the electronic shutter. Not only does this mean the camera may last longer, but it also means it can operate faster. 60 FPS with RAW file output is now possible. It means the camera can capture images other cameras cannot! And video with virtually no rolling shutter is finally here.

For those wanting numbers Cinema5D and other site's have tested most ILCs and here are some results.

• The E-M1 mark II scored ----------------10ms.
• Blackmagic Ursa Mini, and Sony FS7 ---14ms.
• a7s II FF 4K ------------------30.4 ms (30.2-30.6)
• XT2 4k ------------------------ 30.7 ms
• a7R II--------------------------- 33.3 ms (35.6-32.2-32.8-35.3-32.6-31.1)
  RX100 IV 4K ----------------- 36.6 ms (36.4-36.7)
  a6300/a6500 4K 24fps --- 39.0 ms (39.2-38.9)

So the new OMD is 4 times faster than the newest Sony APSC sensors (And does not over heat) and 3x faster than the 12MP A7S. Is also faster than many dedicated video cameras.

In fact, the new OMD is close to film for rolling shutter*!

It is now safe to leave the camera in electronic shutter mode and shoot at 9 - 60 FPS while still getting the same results (Except under extreme conditions). For this reason it can be said that this new sensor "overall" is competitive and under many circumstances better than other sensors on the market.

* - All motion picture film cameras with rotating mirror shutters have by definition a rolling shutter. Arriflex and Panavision cameras have rolling shutters. The leading edge of the shutter wipes across the film plane at the beginning of exposure and the trailing edge wipes across the film plane at the end of exposure. It shows up as vertical distortion on fast pans, but for normal movement following ASC guidelines isn't noticeable. Compared to digital cameras it is insignificant. But it is there and does affect image blur and distortion on fast motion. It is roughly 5ms for 24fps 180 degree shutter.

 

[Martin.au]

Might be worth verifying if that's for just the video readout (so not the full sensor), or the full sensor readout.

For photographers, full sensor readout is often more important.

Agree with the piece though. For me the readout speed and long exposure noise are the biggest developments with the E-M1 II.

 

[KTMfan]

I can't wait to see global shutter. ASAP. Yesterday, if at all possible Get rid of that clackety shutter once & for all

 

[SpikeT]

Agree. I think the ability to use the electronic shutter in almost all conditions is a significant step. I wrote about this:

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No need to use mechanical shutter any more!

 

[Fun 4 all]

Agree. I think the ability to use the electronic shutter in almost all conditions is a significant step. I wrote about this:

http://www.pattayadays.com/2017/01/thoughts-on-the-olympus-e-m1-ii-after-one-month/

No need to use mechanical shutter any more!

All great points there!

And no more mechanical shutter is a huge deal.

 

[FLruckas]

=No rolling shutter.

If you're gonna throw BM in there you might as well list them all.....

And the 4k URSA mini is global shutter as well.....

 

[gary0319]

Agree. I think the ability to use the electronic shutter in almost all conditions is a significant step. I wrote about this:

http://www.pattayadays.com/2017/01/thoughts-on-the-olympus-e-m1-ii-after-one-month/

No need to use mechanical shutter any more!

Great read, Spike, thanks.

But, more than your engaging literary skill, you make a good point. I have been edging towards using the e-shutter exclusively with my E-M1 II. I've had great luck with it using C-AF, and even with some tracking, but have not tried it with S-AF. Thanks to your blog post, it will be tried the next time out.

 

[SpikeT]

Agree. I think the ability to use the electronic shutter in almost all conditions is a significant step. I wrote about this:

http://www.pattayadays.com/2017/01/thoughts-on-the-olympus-e-m1-ii-after-one-month/

No need to use mechanical shutter any more!

Great read, Spike, thanks.

But, more than your engaging literary skill, you make a good point. I have been edging towards using the e-shutter exclusively with my E-M1 II. I've had great luck with it using C-AF, and even with some tracking, but have not tried it with S-AF. Thanks to your blog post, it will be tried the next time out.

I shot a wedding yesterday. Loads of photos of groups of people who were shot with S-AF at 18fps, which with a stab of the shutter usually gave me 5-6 shots. And I usually needed all of those to find the one shot where nobody had their eyes shut through blinking!

The more I use this camera, the more I appreciate how amazing it is. I took more than 1000 photos yesterday, many at F1.2; only one was out of focus (probably my fault). So confidence inspiring.

And of course no chance of missing a suitable image for the bouquet toss; just set it at 60fps!

 

[Wu Jiaqiu]

Agree. I think the ability to use the electronic shutter in almost all conditions is a significant step. I wrote about this:

http://www.pattayadays.com/2017/01/thoughts-on-the-olympus-e-m1-ii-after-one-month/

No need to use mechanical shutter any more!

i've been using a camera with no mechanical shutter for almost 2 years now

 

[Paul De Bra]

Sony is the main sensor maker. It makes sensors for m43, aps-c, ff... Because of physics it is unlikely that they will at some point be unable to make an aps-c sensor a bit better than the best m43, and a ff sensor a bit better than the best aps-c.

They seem to have produced a good new m43 sensor, so soon we should see an aps-c sensor arrive that does the same and is a bit better because larger, and then a ff sensor that is a bit better still because larger.

As long as there is one sensor maker that does all three we should not expect them to start to favor m43, especially since they make cameras for aps-c and ff and thus should have more interest in making these the very best they can and making m43 just good enough so m43 manufacturers will stay with them.

 

[Free Jazz]

M43 ISO 1300 (30db)

means

APS ISO>2000

FF ISO>5000

so, it' just a hyper leap.

 

[Juan Regoyos]

But if the limit of quality his progressively higher, what sense would have a FF with extraordinary results at 102.400iso? It would be just as extraordinary in M4/3 at 25.600iso ... is it really needed more? Many years ago it was used as standard large format or at last, 6x6, But Leica appeared with the 35mm (the now FF) ... not comparable in quality, but it was imposed by size, weight and convenience while the quality of the films improved ... despite it has (too) not as narrow DOF at full aperture (… another typical complain against M4/3)

--

JReg

 

[Fun 4 all]

1. FLruckas wrote:

=No rolling shutter.

If you're gonna throw BM in there you might as well list them all.....

And the 4k URSA mini is global shutter as well.....

Read my post again. Ursa mini is 14 ms.

 

[MatsP]

Agree. I think the ability to use the electronic shutter in almost all conditions is a significant step. I wrote about this:

http://www.pattayadays.com/2017/01/thoughts-on-the-olympus-e-m1-ii-after-one-month/

No need to use mechanical shutter any more!

I very seldom use the mechanical shutter on my humble EM1 mk1. I have only got problems with the electronic shutter in certain types of artificial light.

 

[NCV]

M43 ISO 1300 (30db)

means

APS ISO>2000

FF ISO>5000

so, it' just a hyper leap.

No it does not.

If you are talking about noise, then the relationship depends also on the sensor design.

When will people understand this and finish with this equivalence idiocy.

 

[woodybrown]

If indeed Sony were to apply the same technology to an apc-s and a full field, sensor, wouldn't sensor readout speed still be faster with the M43 sensor as readout speed would necessarily decrease in proportion to sensor size?

 

[bryanbrun]

No need to use mechanical shutter any more!

Don't you pay an exposure penalty when using the electronic shutter? That has been the case with every other camera so far.

 

[Fun 4 all]

No need to use mechanical shutter any more!

Don't you pay an exposure penalty when using the electronic shutter? That has been the case with every other camera so far.

Absolutely not.

Now you realize why this sensor is superior.

 

[SHood]

If indeed Sony were to apply the same technology to an apc-s and a full field, sensor, wouldn't sensor readout speed still be faster with the M43 sensor as readout speed would necessarily decrease in proportion to sensor size?

Correct. Using same sensor technology the smaller sensor would always have a faster sensor readout.

 

[Tommi K1]

It really doesn't matter. The new sensor is in the ball park and so the question of IQ drops well down the list of considerations. Well behind lens, weather resistance, features, comfort, speed, and what I consider to be very important, rolling shutter.

The 16Mpix sensor became already on the same ballpark in the real world results. You really needed to push usual settings or picture requirements to get differential to APS-C.

So now almost everyone agrees the OMD is close enough (DxO says it is equal or almost equal to many), it is time to look at what REALLY differentiates these sensors. Sensor Read Out Speed. The E-M1 Mark II is the first ILC with an M43 or greater size sensor that almost never has a penalty for using the electronic shutter. Not only does this mean the camera may last longer, but it also means it can operate faster. 60 FPS with RAW file output is now possible. It means the camera can capture images other cameras cannot! And video with virtually no rolling shutter is finally here.

Remeber, m4/3 is the mount, 4/3" is the sensor size

And you are so absolutely correct that the IQ from the sensor doesn't matter these days. It is exactly the handling, physical settings possibilities etc that are very important. And that 60 FPS, it is just something amazing on such a body and lens combinations that allows you to get great manual focus shots or pre-focus shots.

For those wanting numbers Cinema5D and other site's have tested most ILCs and here are some results.

• The E-M1 mark II scored ----------------10ms.
• Blackmagic Ursa Mini, and Sony FS7 ---14ms.
• a7s II FF 4K ------------------30.4 ms (30.2-30.6)
• XT2 4k ------------------------ 30.7 ms
• a7R II--------------------------- 33.3 ms (35.6-32.2-32.8-35.3-32.6-31.1)
  RX100 IV 4K ----------------- 36.6 ms (36.4-36.7)
  a6300/a6500 4K 24fps --- 39.0 ms (39.2-38.9)

So the new OMD is 4 times faster than the newest Sony APSC sensors (And does not over heat) and 3x faster than the 12MP A7S. Is also faster than many dedicated video cameras.

And some say that it is Sony designed and fabricated sensor.... While it just magically beats all the sensors Sony has put out? Well known that Sony puts out best sensors for itself when new ones.

In fact, the new OMD is close to film for rolling shutter*!

It is so good that you don't need to worry about it. That is so amazing thing.

It is now safe to leave the camera in electronic shutter mode and shoot at 9 - 60 FPS while still getting the same results (Except under extreme conditions). For this reason it can be said that this new sensor "overall" is competitive and under many circumstances better than other sensors on the market.

Totally so. I can see one of the extreme conditions to be when a golf player swings the driver and you need to get the shot from just after the moment when it touches the ball. But even a mechanical shutter has a rolling shutter effect as the slid moves across the sensor.

* - All motion picture film cameras with rotating mirror shutters have by definition a rolling shutter. Arriflex and Panavision cameras have rolling shutters. The leading edge of the shutter wipes across the film plane at the beginning of exposure and the trailing edge wipes across the film plane at the end of exposure. It shows up as vertical distortion on fast pans, but for normal movement following ASC guidelines isn't noticeable. Compared to digital cameras it is insignificant. But it is there and does affect image blur and distortion on fast motion. It is roughly 5ms for 24fps 180 degree shutter.

This is the thing that is putting it well in context what Olympus has done with the sensor.

And I find it interesting that Olympus did not put these values out on the camera release, instead they put these usual marketing "2x" and "3x faster". Sure thing but how much does it help when a old lady steps to car store and the sales person say "This car is 2x faster than your current one"? And then you don't have context that the current one goes 165km/h easily so what is up to number?

Maybe the camera marketing teams should start to put out three kind material for gear heads, pixel peepers and then for typical photographer?

Anyways, the speed really is key thing with E-M1 Mk2. And it is a game changer totally.

Even some people talk down the "Pro-Capture" (would have been nice to be talked only as "Pre-Capture") by its capability radically lower the skill requirements for anticipating moments and just react when it happened.

So high speed that offer such possibilities and now when the IQ is argumentally even by the DXO worshippers level so it isn't anymore just by visually noticed to be on same level, it seems to put all to go crazy.

So did Olympus succeed what they did? Clearly so.

And I can't wait what Panasonic GH5 can really do when it gets in hands....