Body & Design
In common with Olympus' range-topping Four Thirds DSLRs, the E-M5 is weather sealed, as is the accompanying flash unit. The 12-50mm F3.5-6.3 kit zoom is similarly sealed. Additionally, owners of high-end, weather-resistant Four Thirds lenses will have the choice of buying the MMF-3 adapter - a sealed version of the Four Thirds to Micro Four Thirds adapter.
 |
The E-M5, its add-on flash, optional grip and primary kit zoom lens are all rigourously gasketted to help keep water and dust out of the entire package. |
 |
There's even a version of the Four Thirds to Micro Four Thirds adapter with seals to prevent unwanted ingress. |
Compared to its rivals
The E-M5 may have borrowed the style of a DSLR but it's a lot smaller than one. Here we compared it to the Canon EOS 1100D (Rebel T3), itself not a particularly large example of the breed. As you can see the E-M5 is smaller in every respect, despite offering a much greater degree of direct control. The Rebel has a built-in flash, which the Olympus lacks, but the clip-on unit is so easily fitted in a pocket that it makes almost no difference when carrying the cameras.
 |
Olympus
PEN E-P3 |
Canon Rebel T3
(EOS 1100D) |
Panasonic DMC-G3 |
Sony Alpha
NEX-7 |
Olympus OM4 |
The Olympus is a touch larger than most mirrorless cameras (including the NEX-7 which also has a built-in viewfinder), but it's small compared to an DSLR.
Compared to the Panasonic DMC-G3
 |
In simplistic terms, the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic DMC-G3 are pretty similar cameras, offering similar 16MP sensors and built-in viewfinders. But, for the extra money, the E-M5 offers twin control dials, a magnesium alloy body, weather sealing, in-body image stabilization and a 1.44M dot viewfinder (rather than a 1.44M dot equivalent, field-sequential design).
And, of course, once you've considered those specification differences there's also the aesthetic difference between the two, with the OM-D having a more distinctive look. |
 |
The E-M5 features more control points than the G3, with Panasonic relying more on the touchscreen including a configurable on-screen function menu to help close the gap. The E-M5's screen, meanwhile, is higher resolution and based on an OLED panel, for a brighter, wider gamut image. It only flips up and down, rather than swinging out from the body.
The E-M5 has an eye-sensor to switch automatically between EVF and rear-screen use - something the G3 sorely lacks. |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 27, 2015
|
Apr 13, 2015
|
Dec 4, 2014
|
Nov 15, 2014
|
Zhi Yuen Yap finds living in New Zealand a blessing and a curse. Getting off the beaten path to find unique locations can mean braving harsh, unpredictable weather and inhospitable terrain. Based on his photos, though, we'd say he's been pretty well rewarded for his troubles. Take a look at his work and find out more about him in our Q&A. Read more
Roller derby is a bit of an unconventional sport, so it's fitting that James McDaniel uses a somewhat unconventional system to photograph the action. He's been shooting roller derby with Micro Four Thirds cameras and lenses for the past couple of years. With no formal training in sports photography, he found himself with some exciting new equipment and an opportunity to photograph a fast-paced sport up close. He hasn't looked back since - see his work and read our Q&A. Read more
After the CP+ show in Yokohama closed last week, editor Barnaby Britton journeyed out to Olympus's design facility in Hachioji to speak to executives and engineers. Among the people he spoke to was Hirofumi Imano, Division Manager of Product Strategy. In a broad-ranging interview, Mr. Imano explained the company's strategies for competing in a tough market, the genesis of the OM-D line, opportunities in video and why he thinks Canon and Nikon might not be making high-end mirrorless cameras.
After the CP+ show in Yokohama closed last week, editor Barnaby Britton journeyed out to Olympus's design facility in Hachioji to speak to executives and engineers. Among the people he spoke to was Hirofumi Imano division manager of product strategy.
Olympus has issued a firmware update for the OM-D E-M5, adding two new features that owners should welcome: an extended 'Low' ISO setting and smaller AF points. The ISO 100-equivalent setting promises lower noise, and enables shooting of fast primes at closer to maximum aperture in daylight, but comes at the cost of earlier highlight clipping. Also being added to the E-M5 is the ability to select smaller AF target points for more accurate focusing. Get the update
The Diana Instant Square is a retro-inspired camera with manual controls that's fun to shoot in good light, but largely unpredictable in its operation.
The EOS RP is Canon's latest full-frame mirrorless camera, with diminutive dimensions and a diminutive price. Find out how it stacks up and get our thoughts in our early review.
The Leica Q2 is a fixed-lens, full-frame camera sporting a new 47.3MP sensor and a sharp, stabilized 28mm F1.7 Summilux lens. It's styled like a traditional Leica M rangefinder and replaces the hugely popular original Leica Q (Typ 116), launched in 2015.
Fujifilm's GFX 50R takes the image quality from the existing 50S model and wraps it in a new body with new controls and a lower price of entry. Is that enough to tempt you to pick one up for yourself? Find out how the GFX 50R performs in our full review.
The Mavic Air hits the sweet spot for many drone users, combining compact size with high performance and good image quality. Find out what makes it so useful, and why it might just be the best travel-friendly drone on the market today.
If you're looking for a high-quality camera, you don't need to spend a ton of cash, nor do you need to buy the latest and greatest new product on the market. In our latest buying guide we've selected some cameras that while they're a bit older, still offer a lot of bang for the buck.
A question frequently asked on the Internet is 'what's the best DSLR?' In this buying guide we've answered that question – but also whether it's the right question to be asking in the first place.
What's the best camera for under $500? These entry level cameras should be easy to use, offer good image quality and easily connect with a smartphone for sharing. In this buying guide we've rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing less than $500 and recommended the best.
Whether you've grown tired of what came with your DSLR, or want to start photographing different subjects, a new lens is probably in order. We've selected our favorite lenses for Sony mirrorlses cameras in several categories to make your decisions easier.
Whether you've grown tired of what came with your DSLR, or want to start photographing different subjects, a new lens is probably in order. We've selected our favorite lenses for Canon DSLRs in several categories to make your decisions easier.
Comments