Oooh I do love this camera! What do you reckon? 📸 (Also, something I should have mentioned in the video: to have full weather sealing we need to pair it with a weather sealed lens too. But also, even if you don’t, I think weather sealing is worth it even to have a bit of peace of mind during light rain etc!)
Combine it with the somewhat odd and very underappriciated 12-50 for a fully weathersealed combo, should be obtainable from the classifieds for about £200. At least, thats what I got mine for and that was with some other bits and bobs as well such as the battery grip, a 45 f:1.8, the 9mm BCL and a nice lowepro bag. There is also the E-M5MkIII, its a lovely little piece of kit.
Now I'm really appreciating the weather sealing, 5-axis stabilization, and viewfinder. All things not present in my latest tiny camera crush (the GX850). Olympus really did make this a systems camera, with the two-piece optional grip that could hold an extra battery and give you a perfect portrait grip, plus that innovative macro light. All things that stopped working in the latest iteration of the E-M5!
I reckon that I (kinda) followed your advice and went for the E-M5 Mk III as my foray in M43! The bargain is that I found the Oly 25mm f/1.8 on, uh, the other MPB, for £130! It was rated as in excellent condition, the "catch" being that it's missing the decoration ring. I tried to look it up and it seems like I don't need that. Did I goof up?
@@nicojan Congratulations on your E-M5 Mk III--it's an excellent entry point into the world of m4/3! You got a great deal on your 25mm. The "decoration ring" I believe is just the tiny plastic collar that comes off so that you can attach the lens hood. I wouldn't worry about it, it's just a decorative thing. (Unless you're OCD, in which case it might bug you... 😉)
The screen button is to save power if your battery level is low or if your are shooting at night and don't want a bright screen in your face. Also dont turn on a camera without a lens attached because the static from the sensor will pull in dust to the body.
I just picked up my EM-5 ii and Im SO HAPPY WITH IT! It was so much smaller than I thought it would be, and im THRILLED that it's weather sealed! I never would have looked at this, but it really is the star of my camera cabinet now. Thank you so much for the info! ❤
I think this camera is the the best bang for the buck. I got one last July and used it quite extensively until it broke in February (the shutter got stuck). I spent quite a lot of time choosing a replacement, but in the end I got another E-M5, because for £124 that I paid to MPB there is almost no alternatives (mirrorless camera with EVF). I took my best photos with this camera. And, surprisingly, even after I got Fujifilm X-T20 I kept getting back to E-M5. I liked its colours, ergonomics and build quality more. Eventually, I sold Fuji.
Great to see older tech getting the praise it deserves, I've been using the em10 MK2 for 3 years and love it, especially with the 45mm f1.8 and old 50mm manual primes. Enjoying your work 👍
Agreed (a bargain buy). When Covid hit this was the camera I bought to see if m4/3 was good enough for deer stalking. With walking being the only permitted exercise, I ended up with an M1v3 and a 100-400mm zoom which was, and still is, brilliant for wildlife. As a bonus I learned how to walk almost silently...
The EM5 was the first OMD model followed by the EM10, which I had, and than the EM1. The EM5 had a serious shutter shock problem, plus the EM5 was the first Olympus weather sealed camera and the gaskets used for the wether sealing were causing control dials to actually break off. Begrudgingly, Olympus fixed those issues on the EM5.
I actually managed to pick up an EM1mk1 from MPB for £179! Also a ridiculous camera - and weather sealed! I still have that, but also an EM10 mk3s. Although the EM10 isn't weather sealed, it's still an amazing camera. Olympus cameras missing their eye pieces seems to be a 'thing', as I've bought several over the years with the same problem 😊 It's great to see you championing older designs, which are still more than capable bits of kit, whilst working as a pro with all the latest equipment. Please keep it up 👍🙂
This was my first interchangeable lens camera and I bought it back in 2012/13ish right around when it came out. I have abused this thing for a decade and it's only started having issues in the last year with some occasional shutter timing issues but otherwise has held up great. I understand why yours was missing the EVF guard thingy, mine slips off all the time lol. Sometime I plan on upgrading and while I was looking at getting a lumix, i'm still so in love with the design language and form factor of the EM-5 series. Great midrange lineup! Not as expensive or nice as the OM-1 but so much more pocketable and stylish haha, really underrated IMO
love the e-m5. I still use the Mk1 e-m10, which is a decent little fellow for a hobbyist/traveller but have always wanted to upgrade to the e-m5. When they were fresh, the e-m5s were slightly on the high side but these days we can get them at quite a bargain price, which is great news.
Great video! Two comments: 1. I got my EM-5 used (from a seller in Japan) and had exactly the same display problem when I first turned it on! Fortunately, it came with the instruction manual, so it was quickly solved. (And the stupid "display off" seems to be a default setting!) 2. I recently picked up a Nikon D200 body for $60 US plus shipping. Proper weather sealing, though it is an APS-C DSLR (it's a beast compared to the size of the Olympus), so affordable weather sealed cameras are out there. You can keep the fiver. 😊
So glad I wasn’t the only one with the screen issue 😂 it’s so funny - I’ve been very into photography for two decades or more and sometimes there’s just something odd like that that makes me feel like a total beginner all over again!
This was the camera that introduced me to M43. I loved the IBIS, form factor, and handling. With the Panasonic 14mm or Oly 17mm it is perfect for street or everyday photography. Picked one up last year with a low shutter count and virtually no wear. But it still had shutter issues, which are common for the model. I then replaced it with the mk II, and finally with the OM-5 (which has been on sale here in the US). Could not be happier with the OM-5.
@@c.augustinI've seen a lot where they will take a photo, the shutter will get stuck and then they have to be turned off/on again before another photo is taken
@@rafrick Stuck shutter and turning off/on again sounds like something that should be fixable by a firmware update, but maybe it is actually hardware related. I might have a look into it to decide if I should stay away from the original E-M5 (but having weather sealing for a decent price does sound nice, since I don't use Live Composite with outdoor shooting, and for indoor I have my E-M10II and Pen F ;-)).
I still have my EM5 that I bought back in 2014. That viewfinder button also allows you to set the automatic LCD/viewfinder mode on and off. So if your camera is held out at arms length the LCD is on and if you bring it up to your eye it switches automatically to the viewfinder and turns the LCD screen off. Which is good if you have the LCD touch to focus and/or shoot turned on and you don't want to be taking random shots with your nose lol.
I have a em5 and I have traveled all over the world shooting various photo projects for non- profit philanthropic organizations. It is rugged and the IBIS is incredible! The images are on a par with anything out there and I have enlarged the images the images to poster size without discernible noise. I still use it as a back up to my em1 mark ii.
also, big thanks to the talented Nerds who donated their wonderful Live Composite images to this video! We share all kinds of M43 images over on the Micro Four Nerds Facebook group... 15k members strong, and full of so many talented photographers. You should totally join... just sayin' 😆
Haha wouldn’t that be a plot twist! I think once I realised that cameras don’t need to be great at both video and photo, the Oly line up has SO much to offer for photography 📸🙏
Emily would be perfect as an ambassador! We need more, as we've lost so many Olympus and Panasonic ambassadors. (If they were smart, the alliance should create a "Micro Four Thirds Ambassador" program.)
Thank you so much for pointing me in this direction! I have been a Lumix m4/3 user since 2015 beginning with the gx7 and after passing through various models I now have the g9, which I love. But I was looking for something smaller and cheaper for a combo of every day use to throw in a bag but with style and quality. I am a simple person and love what for me are intuitive Lumix menus, so have always been wary of Olympus. I was planning to go back to gx7 for my second camera. However, after watching your video I knew what was on offer here was very much for me, even if I have to work on menu learning. Luckily for me I was able to get a good one at a reasonable price before MPB sold out - I suspect thanks to your video. I have only had chance to take it out twice, and yes the menus will test my tiny little brain, but boy do I love the camera and what fabulous results. Thanks again for enlightening me. Lots of fun lies ahead I am sure! 😊
For around $230 you have the Olympus OM10 II which is the most remarkable of the OM10 series, which has direct access to customs modes and a tilting screen, perfect for street photography. It is 16 mpx but this is not a problem for this use. The only real drawback is that you can't program a minimum shooting speed.
Ive been using mine for 3 years. I just picked it up for a small walk around, my OWN little cheap Ricoh GR, if you will. Turns out that the image quality out of this now 11 year old mini beast is amazing. Still. If you put the Lumix 14mm f/2.5 on it you have the perfect little walk around street camera. I sometimes toy around with upgrading it to the Mark II or III version but don't see the need. I have my Sony's for my Weddings and such. This is the perfect camera for the $200 they are asking for it now.
Just ordered Em5 today after seeing your video. Loved your videos and your work. Looking forward to use this camera as this is gonna be my first camera in my life. Many more to go.
Life Composite is in the EM-10 Mk II, and then some, and overall I would think that it is contender - but no weather sealing! Thanks for making me aware that the old EM-5 did have weather sealing (and 16 MP like the EM-10II, if I remember correctly) and might be a good choice for an outdoor camera. Since I do have a Pen F and use pixel-shift hi-res mode only for "scanning", I should definitely think about it (then my EM-10II might have the IR conversion I bought it for in the first place ;-)).
Started with an EM-10 mark1 a few years ago. Looked at the mark2 also because it was already available. And the E-M5. But I never saw a reason to upgrade past it. They all used the same 16mp contrast-AF sensor for a long time. A bit better stabilization, more art filters, stuff like that. Weather-sealing if you have the lenses for it, but most smaller budget m4/3 lenses aren't. After a while I just said to myself "I only upgrade my m4/3 if it is to something with phase-AF, and a handhold-highres. Because that are the only features that really transform the photography experience / what I can do with it". Upgraded to an in-store-demo-model E-M1 mark3 a month ago. Still can't believe what a beast it is compared to my older one :). Still selling my E-M10 mark1 and my Sony A7m2.
I picked one up for the bargain of the century on your recommendation. It is absolutely amazing. Even in low light with the 14mm f2.5 I am blown away by the results. Thank you very much. Keep up the good work.
Four years ago, when I tired of having my DSLR digging into my shoulder, I went shopping for the best value/performance mirrorless I could find. And that was clearly the EM5. I got mine for about $225 from Keh, here in the US. Another $125 got me the Lumix 12-32 (a little gem). And boom, I was in business. Added a couple of more lenses later. Sure, I'd like to have a newer mirrorless, but the EM5 serves me fine. The one thing I don't like is the EVF, which is rather coarse and difficult to focus with MF lenses. For the bare bones budget, it's still the real deal. P.S. Just to report, now in Apr. '24, the price of the EM5 has bumped up a bit, toward $300. Apparently, enough folks saw this video and made note.
I got an em5 mk3 (yeah. plastic, and yeah, cost a bunch more, even second hand), mostly for the high res shot mode (I scan negatives with it), but also for weather sealing, for taking it on holiday. The olympus menu system was clearly designed by a late 80s assembly language programmer, but other than that, I absolutely love it. The ergonomics are cracking.
I bought my EM5 brand new in 2012 and it is still going strong. It's been on two overseas trips, dozens of walk around shoots, and a number of paid shoots. The battery grip makes it look like a baby pro DSLR, it's so cute. The still image quality still holds up today. Crazy to think it's so cheap now.
Hi Emily, By sheer cosmological coincidence I also picked a minty Olympus E-M5 Mark 1 recently for Aussie $199; plus its original kit lens, the 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 EZ (with macro!) for another Aussie $99 (or a princely sum totalling 160 British Pounds). Alfred North Whitehead observed that modern philosophy is a series of footnotes to Plato. The same might be said about modern cameras: all digital cameras since 2012 are merely footnotes to the design of the Olympus E-M5 Mark 1. Best regards, Jay (the nerdy philosopher)
Late to the party but just wanted to mention that because I stumbled accross this video, (which also introduced me to your channel) I picked up a E-M5 mkii over christmas and it's earned itself a permanent spot in my bag. I still haul the big Canon out from time to time when I'm going out for a fully focused photography day but this camera is now my everyday carry. Thanks for introducing me to m43!
Its been more than 10 years and I'm still so happy using the em5. The newer sensors on my consumer-oriented EP7 do some things slightly better but I keep going back to the EM5 for its ergonomics and control.
I just bought an EM10ii and I’m still learning about it, but when I saw the EM5 doesn’t have live composite, I looked to see if the EM10ii does, and it does! If one doesn’t need/prioritize weather-sealing, don’t sleep on the other features of an EM10ii that could make up for it, at a similar price point.
I love this room which after the lock down brought me back to photography. It has so many hours that for amateur use it never fails and in the hands of an expert it can still give excellent results.
Hi Emily, thanks for the video. Just bought an original E-M5 coupled with Olympus 45mm f1.8, 12-45mm f4 pro and LUMIX 35-100mm f4-5.6 after watching your video, and after using it for two days, I found it so liberating to shoot. Now I decided to sell my Leica M11 and get another MFT camera: Panasonic GX9. Cheers mate.
@@MicroFourNerds I really like the quick sleep mode. I have set it to turn off screen and sleep after 3 seconds of standby and just half press to wake it up. Really suits street photography especially since the on/off switch has kind of a long throw and is located on the left side of the camera. I have taken a lot more shots now than with my previous sony nex 5t because of this feature. It helps you to not hesitate when a good opportunity for a good photo presents itself!
@MicroFourNerds I bought a used E-M10 mk II with the pancake zoom lens for £200 during lockdown (from LCE with warranty). Its an absolute bargain and has 5-axis stabilisation like the E-M5 but not the original E-M10 that only has 3-axis
I got the em5 mark ii for 250 US and I love it . I am thinking about buying the battery grip for it. I only have vintage manual focus adapted lenses but would love a reasonably priced zoom lens .
This was the camera that switched me from full frame to m43 back in 2012. It took some of my favourite photos, even by today's standards in 2023. To prove how weather sealed it is, I accidentally left it outside, under a broken gutter, in a tropical storm for half an hour 🤦 Dried it off and voilà, perfectly fine. I bought the mkii as well and then the GH5 as i was doing more video, but I think of this camera often. It really was ground-breaking at the time and I fell in love with it the moment I picked it up.
That button on the side of the "pentaprism housing" can be set up to toggle between the super control panel and the image allowing you to make quick changes without going into the menu system. In A or S mode I like to set up the back dial for aperture or shutter and the front dial to do exposure compensation. It allows you to see the changes to the exposure in the view finder. I've had 3 Em-5 cameras. The first cost $137 (body only), the second cost $179 with a 14-42 and 40-150 kit lenses, flash, and camera bag, and the third with a 14-150 lens for $200. They all still work (I gave one to my wife and one to my son, and still use one myself) They have come up some in price Post Pandemic but are still a good value as mentioned. They are great cameras for people who want a "camera" to take pictures and remind me of the original OM-1 I bought back in the 70's.
Funny you should say about the screen not working, initially, until you found the right button. When I got my first Olympus - the EM10 MKII - I couldn't understand why there was no change in the EVF, despite me altering aperture and shutter speed. After much trawling around Internet forums, I discovered that 'Live Boost' was activated (brightening the viewfinder for low light shots) and once I found that in the menu and disabled it, things worked fine; and it's a camera I love.
Oooh you've rekindled my love for my old E-M5 Emily! I never should have abandoned it for the GX85-->Em5 Mk III-->GX7-->GX850. Luckily it's in my daughter's possession, so I'm going to ask for it back (she also has my GX85). I had so many good memories with it. It was a camera that I *loved*--its magnesium build made it so solid and satisfying to use. By comparison, I don't *love* my EM-5 Mk III, I merely *like* it. I know its plastic construction is just as solid, but it doesn't have the same tactile feel. The only downer about the E-M5 is its relatively low res screen and viewfinder, but it was par for the course 11 years ago.
I bought this camera in 2013 with the 17mm and 45m. Loved this camera so much I made a complete switch from Nikon. Ended up what the EM1.2, EM1X and the Pen F. and all the Pro lenses from the 300mm F4 on down. I have now switched back to Nikon but kept the Pen F.
Everytime I see your TH-cam stuff and the photos you present I feel a real desire to own and try a M43 camera and I'd do that hopefully some point in the foreseeable future...it is only that I can't afford any camera right now even if it is cheap and old due to a special circumstances that I"m passing through unfortunately...and to be honest I should admit that your stills and how talented they show make me feel like to have such a system...you are gifted...I mean see the way you compose, frame and edit your photos...wow...I’m more than impressed, so good for you!
I really love the EM5 MKI. I used a Pentax Q for my bike rides and I wanted something that had more quality. I had A6000 but the colors were horrible. I got an OM5 at a good price and with good optics, no complaints about quality. Great to have the M43's depth of field for what I do, a sealed body and great IBIS for taking photos without getting off the bike. It is true that there is some grain even at base ISO but I like it since it makes it very film-like.
I had and loved the EMD5. I gave it to a co-worker who wanted to get started with photography. I wasn’t using it so I gave it to him. Hope he is enjoying it. I’m sorry I gave it to him. You didn’t mention this feature but The EMD has five axis IBIS. Like all Olympus IBIS enabled bodies, it works great. IBIS is Like heated seats in my Prius. I never knew I wanted it until I hit it. Once I had it, I can never go back. Always impressed with the colors produced from the EMD5. Very vibrant. Just bought an used EMD1 Mii B/C I misplaced my Panasonic G9 and was going to go to a video workshop. The 1Mii was only $400. Cheaper than a used G9. Found the G9 at the last moment. So now I have both the G9 & EMD1 Mii. Hoping for the same vibrant colors. These two bodies are comparable and one may have to go. Still need to set this thing up. Good news bad. The Olympus menu is very deep B/C of all the features. Once it is set up the fun begins. The EMD5 is a bargain at $200. The primes you will use with this body are more expensive. If you are already in M43land you have some lenses. Hope this vid doesn’t cause a run on EMD5s and raise their prices like the Fuji X100V. If so it is all your fault. You copped that 5 at a banger price. Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)
I had an EM-5 mkiii that I swapped out for the EM-1 mkiii to use with bigger m43 lenses, but now I'm looking at adding one of these as a small carry camera. It's just such a great size!
Thanks for the recommendation. I picked one up with a HLD-6 grip two batteries and no lens for $140 usd. Only 4000 shutter count. Its such a fun camera.
The E M10, M5 and M1 cameras are all very good with each having it's own advantages and disadvantages. I still use my M10 mark ii and I had an M5 mark ii that I sold for an M 1 mark ii. I'm thinking about getting an M5 mark iii to use along with the M1, but I'll never get rid of my M10 mark ii! I believe that it's hard to beat the micro four thirds system if you shop for used lenses and bodies and there are many choices on lenses and many of the prime lenses are a bargain!
I owned a 1999 Bentley that had many quirks similar to your screen not working due to a hidden button, it seems quality things have quirks built in on purpose! It makes them more fun to use. As for MPB, they are my first stop for used camera equipment.
The E-M5 is great. I owned one. I slightly prefer the E-M10 line because they are just a little more modern, a little smaller, and lighter; while offering basically the same function set. The entire e-M10 line also comes with dual dials, which is indeed very nice to have for a manual shooter. The E-M10 also tends to be a little cheaper than the E-M5, you can find them for €100-150. These benefits outweigh the weather sealing, which is indeed nice to have. My favorite is actually the E-M10 II which costs about the same as the E-M5, but is more modern and a little smaller and lighter. The E-M10 II also has Live Composite Mode. I think I know the function of that button. My best friend had the same issue you had and asked me to fix his camera. Which I gladly did because I figured I knew what the problem was. Afterward, he then asked me the same question: "Why did Olympus include that button?" After some thought I answered him that it was probably there to make it easy for the user to turn off the LCD screen, perhaps in order to draw less attention; perhaps for wildlife photography; or for nighttime photography.
Great video! I have a soft spot for older cameras, and nice to see a younger person who appreciates the 'vintage' stuff too that are actually really good and ones that work! AND thanks to this video I caught a camera store Ebayer trying to pass off a M5 as a M5 ii ( so he was charging double the cost ) I was kind enough to send him a polite message pointing that out ( I'm sure it was a mistake....) lol, but, glad to know the subtle differences in the next generation bodies seeing yours here. Thanks again, love all the little cameras you have!
I watched this video last week and found me an EM5 for $160 in eBay! Love it! I also have the EP5, but with the same lens the autofocus is so much faster in the EM5
It is exactly what I shoot on a regular basis wonderful camera. You are my favourite TH-cam photography channel I enjoy the content and the presentation, honest and informative we need more of this
The rear monitor screen on/off FEATURE is to save battery power. IF you do not need to review on screen but only in viewfinder, that is the way to go. There are similar feature on many mirrorless. FWIW, welcome to the experienced DSLR user moving to Mirrorless. Many a Nikon Z9 user had the same issue, and the Z9 monitor/viewfinder switch button is well hidden, for the novice, on the left hand side of the viefinder box, almost flat. Hence even more difficult to notice, albeit clearly labeled on the surface. Enjoy!
The EVF sensor, which switches between evf and live view, goes faulty on Olympus cameras as a common fault. If this happens you can go into the settings and select manual switching using that side button to the evf, as was done in this camera.
The Sony A3000 has the same 'turn off the LCD' function button. I believe the purpose is to save battery life. You can still see important information in the evf. I buy them for next to nothing frequently because people think they are broken. Light as a feather and 20MP. Since you like tiny cameras, I guess you would like it.
I'm about to buy a first camera for my son (11) and looking at Micro 4/3 systems (possibly an E-M5 with a 12-42 lens), but everywhere I go there's little available, and nothing new. Is this a bad time to start on a micro 4/3 system, is it becoming obsolete?
Cheap or maybe cheaper in the US. Mpb is great. The mark II adds a high res composite mode. But I think the reason they are cheap is the mark III moves up to a 20mp sensor and then the om system one really adds computational photo bells and whistles. I hope to get one of these eventually, maybe the Ii or iii
I love picking up a bargain and this, or the mk2, are cameras on my radar. The weather sealing is a bonus and one thing I’d like to see OM systems do is release smaller, weather sealed primes for these em5/om5 bodies. I’d pick up a weather sealed 17mm f1.8 in a flash if they ever released it. I did get an em10iii for £160 in excellent condition online from a high street shop during Black Friday sales last year. It had only taken just over 2,000 shots. I still can’t get over that bargain! It’s a great little camera, but I avoid using it in the rain due to lack of weather sealing.
So tempted to pick one of these up. I use an EOS M5 and it's a perfectly decent camera - performs well, small and light, and great picture quality, but it doesn't bring me joy - it just feels, plastic and "functional". I'm been thinking about dipping my toes into m43 and the EM-5 mkiii looks ideal to me as a replacement for me EOS M5. But I'm considering pickup one of these original mki versions up with a lens or two to try out. If I decide I like it, then I could always upgrade to the mkiii later and use the same lenses.
I bought a Mk3 as an upgrade from an EM10 mk2 and EM1 mk1. Very happy with it. I tend to use the EM10 as my backup body since they use the same battery. Love the deep grip on the EM1, though. For some reason, TH-cam is converting your £ sign in the title to a $ sign. I guess because I am in the US, but that is an odd thing for them to change.
Another great video thank you for sharing. Have the EM10 for years now it’s still going strong. Wanted camera with a flash over weather sealing but horses for courses I suppose. The EM10 gets more clicks than my EM1 mkii simply because it’s more portable. The focus system is not the greatest but I’ve been able to manage that short coming. Wish the battery life was better too but I do have the extra hand grip which works great for heavier legacy lenses. These are great cameras capable of professional results even in 2023. Your photo editing is breath taking BTW. Cheers.
@MicroFourNerds Hi Emily. I’ve been on somewhat of a journey since I watched this video a few months ago. At that time I was using a Lumix GX8 but was struggling with the shutter shock issue. I had never considered trying an Olympus camera but took the plunge on an E-M5. Since then have purchased an Olympus Pen E-P5 with the extra EVF and I’m blown away! Perhaps you would consider including it in your tiny camera series?
TBH I couldn't give a fig for "weather sealing". For a start it's not that good and cameras still need some care, they are delicate instruments. Then after about two years the seals dry out and they're not weather sealed any more. Imo there's more advertising hype around weather sealing to make you lust after a new camera than actual function; water vapour (gas) will still get in to fog the lens. At best improved dust sealing. What has the E-M5(1) got over the E-M5ii - that tilt screen is far more useful than the flip-out on a small camera.
I used this camera for about 10-years, but eventually got the EM10 mark 4 for $300 to replace it. There were two reasons for the replacement, - there is no proper focus peaking on the Em5-m1 and since the viewfinder is low resolution, I really struggle to get a focus focus with my primes. I have to 'zoom in' with a hotkey button, try to focus, and then take the shot -- it was just a hassle. - it started to fall apart. Dials didn't always stick, buttons being soft and gooey feeling; it started to not work reliably. There's other annoyances with it, like poor video quality and no clean HDMI output, but I have my other cameras for that. The low-light performance was starting to look its age though also, with lots of grain, and it became harder and harder to do post-processing on the results to get them up to modern standards. Trying to crop down on 16-mp doesn't leave much left. I do call my Mark 4 a replacement though, and not an upgrade, as there's a cheap and sluggish feeling from using it. It does have a 20-mp sensors though, so more and cleaner pixels to work with, but I just feel I miss my shots more often with it.
Oh, I'm kinda jealous that you are able to buy this camera for such a good price 😅 I found only a couple of Olympus om-d cameras locally and they cost about $600 for em-5 and $400 for em-10. And now I'm figuring out if the weather sealing is still working on a 10 years camera or the cheaper version will be enough for me 😁
Almost immediately they came out with the mark 2 and no one cared about this first generation. I've owned mine since I think 2012 and its been around the world with me Japan, Singapore, Canada, Malaysia, Philippines and from Los Angeles to New York. In sun, snow, heat, rain and salt. Simply rinse and repeat. It still works flawlessly at 16 mp and its like a mini dslr. The image and video stabilisation way better than my Sony 5100 and a6000. Anyways although if I only had the money for one camera the EM5 is a great EDC camera. With a pancake lens it's jacket pocketable and with the Olympus 45mm prime, wow what a great pair. Like I said with a weather sealed lens you can literally rinse it of after a day on the beach or filming a hunt or a muddy mountain bike race. Having spent extensive time in foreign lands you realise that it is beyond most peoples reach and the importance of having fun wile on the adventure with a durable camera like this is way more important than mega-4-6-8k video 50+mp photos are. The newest most advanced cameras are awesome but we all should have a fun camera that your not always worried about damaging or getting stolen with you. I even have a cheap Kodak digital with zero worries about damaging, loosing or getting stolen. Your sponsor will even replace if camera doesn't work for a number of days. They replaced one of mine that quit the first week I had it no questions asked. And I still use the replacement camera to this day.
Thnk you so much I have just found your channel and I think your video's are so witty and insightful. I just ordered my first micro 4-3rds camera (i use an aps-c fuji xt-1). Based on your videos,i bought an Olympus OM-D E-M10 zilver + 14-42mm F/3.5-5.6 EZ ED MSC lens for only 239 euros. Can't wait to try it.
Im glad I found this video, I’d like to get back into shooting street photography and I won’t dare go near my wife’s Fuji XT-100. You have a lense you prefer, budget minded?
I was able to find an Olympus E-600 for $65 (US) with both 14-42mm and 40-150mm lenses at a rummage last year. It was barely used. It only had 708 shutter clicks. It's not m4/3, but it is smaller than my Canon 6D full frame, but I love it. I just bought the 50mm macro lens for it.
I have the E-M5 new since 2014. Upgraded from the Olympus PEN E-PL1. Loved using the E-M5 with the HLD-6 grip and mostly used the Panasonic 20mm F1.7, Olympus 45mm F1.8 and some Minolta SR mount lenses. The E-M5 served me well but I had problems with the mode dial where the A/P kept on flickering and I had to take the battery out the camera to fix it short term. Sometimes when a photo was taken it should show the preview but when I go to transfer the photo to PC, it turned into a black frame photo (just a black image). Last year I bought the E-M5 Mk II used because I wanted to repurpose the batteries, the HLD-6P part of the grip and of course the great lenses :) The Mk II over the OG may not be much but really liking the Focus Stacking with the 60mm Macro and the live composite modes.
Your videos are amazing, thank you. I’m stuck between getting this and the m5 ii. The make ii isn’t that much more expensive, but I am attracted to the simplicity of this camera. But I’m also drawn to the mark ii, which I can get for maybe $100 more. I also am having a hard time finding a good multi day weather sealed hiking lens that isn’t too big. The best option seems to be the 12-45mmF4 lens. Not many pancake weather sealed options it seems?? Thank you for your videos!!
I bought an excellent example (in black) from a friend for 200$Cdn. I also have a mark ii in silver and two of the original E-M1s. Live composite and silent shutter are the only really useful things missing so the original E-M5 is my everyday carry. I have the EZ 12-50mm lens which is also weather sealed (it was the kit zoom introduced with the E-M5). Together they make a great package, with a 25mm f1.7 Lumix in the (very small) bag, just in case.
I have a EM10 mark 2. I love it, but is it worth upgrading to this? I love your videos and I respect your opinion. I am a hobby photographer by the way.
Thank you for this video. It helps me justify my purchase of the same unit 2nd hand late last year from its first owner (complete with both grips and battery grip for 180 SGD ~ 104 GBP), though I have since sold it off to upgrade to the Mark II version. The copy I was able to use had slow shutter issues with single shot mode but was otherwise in pristine condition. It looks like you haven't enabled Super Control Panel on yours, based on the confusion the display selection button solved. I love your content. New to your channel. I love the m43 love. Keep up the good work!
I like the Olympus operating system and their filters and presets. I own an Olympus point-and-shoot. And I looked at and considered buying a PEN series earlier this year before buying a Panasonic Lumix GX85 (which I love). But I would definitely consider picking up one of these or an older PEN at some point. Do I have a M4/3 problem? Oh, no! 😅
I'm very new to photography and your review has convinced me to give this a try via MPB next payday. As a beginner what budget lens would you suggest that I get to pair with this? I hope it is ok to ask advice like this.
Love my em5-mkii, got it in 2020 unused 2nd hand for a good deal. Would consider the em5-mkiii or OM5 in future for better video, but I've heard the tripod mount thread isn't as strong in the plastic bodies..May have to check out your presets Emily🙂
I was going to get one of these when transitioning from Canon, but the price difference between this and an original e-m1 wasnt a significant amount, so i went with that. The Olympus older model support is superb, so always worth a good look on a budget.
Hi Emily I hope you are well. I just purchased and EM5 mkii to add to my MFT collection. It was an insane cheap price in a CEX store and the shutter count was under 1800! Just now trying to decide what lens to match with it…….i really must have a clear out!
For the button to turn on the screen... I like that idea. I use the evf on my Sony a6000 often because I have poor near vision and the evf let's me adjust for that. It senses when I'm using the evf and automatically turns off the screen, I assume to save power. But I would like to manually control that.
Brilliant find ! I too experienced the affect of that small button being pressed inadvertently . I too resolved it with the help of seeing the solution on line. It is certainly something all Olympus users should know - and I thought I knew it all with their cameras lol. As for bargains ; I acquired my EM 10 ii new from Olympus with a free extended warranty and of course the kit zoom iiR. And all this for £350. I then received a Billingham Digital Bag and two sigma Art lenses - the 30 and 60 . All these were gifted to me . I had given away my old digital camera to my nephew when visiting us and while that was still a great camera , it hurt my neck if I wore it all day . This no longer happens . I certainly think more people should look at used Olympus gear at MPB, as I always get my used gear from them and found their rating system spot on . I also love their prices too ha ha . I know that there are other excellent camera stores out there who sell used gear and from comments I have heard I think they are as good as my favourite used store . But , as I have not used them personally, I cannot leave a personal recommendation other than for MPB.
I’m so glad I wasn’t the only one thwarted by that tiny function button!! And so happy to hear you love MPB - I spend way too much time on there bargain hunting haha 😊
I too was relieved to find that somebody else more recently discovered the button . It seems that it was designed to help those who only wanted to use the camera like a conventual film camera .
Got myself a 2nd hand, also modified, EM5, all black, well used. But I'm thinking I'm finally ahead of the hype. Hype, is the only reason al the other similar smaller cameras are well above 200. Thanks a lot for the recommendations! Could you do a menu/functions/setup/in-use video on this?
I managed to pick up one of these new in 2015 for about $450 australian dollars. Couple of sigma prime lenses off ebay and it still is producing very pleasant images.
Not sure I'd trust weather sealing on a 10yr old camera? FWIW The Olympus OM-D EM10 mark ii has almost all the same features (except weather sealing) but adds a pop-up flash and it's smaller still and still metal... and Live comp. It's IMHO the best bargain m43 camera you can get. I got mine in 2018 (used) and haven't found anything I want more...
I got a LUMIX G1 for €30 from mpb the other day and it’s an absolute hoot to shoot. I’ll make a video on it soon. As far as features for money go, micro four thirds is unbeatable
I feel like I'm very late to the party as I have just come to your channel, but I will answer the bargain weather sealed camera question. Pentax K-50. Easily found under £200 and dating from around the same period. I have had the K-50 and loved it (made me very much a Pentax user) and also the OM-D E-M5. I rate both cameras extremely highly and I will give the nod the the E-M5 as being a nicer overall camera, with the K-50 being bulkier and having better noise control at high ISO. I find Pentax K lenses to be cheaper on the whole, but that said, you are still correct on how great this body is. Subsequently I am both a heavy Pentax and Olympus user.
I had no clue my E-PL6 also has this Live Time / Bulb mode. ( no composite mode sadly) Thanks for mentioning this feature. Almost have this camera for 10 years, now I'm wondering what else am I missing. Now I'm wondering if my old E-PL1 had this feature.
I recently got the EM-5 Mark III brand new for 820 U$D. I would say it is the best value for money for this price range. I use it for Wildlife videos on my TH-cam channel with a 36 dollar 300mm Nikon vintage lens.
I have a EM5 mark 2 which I absolutely love but I wish it had the tilting screen instead of the flip-out screen. Incidently you can pick up older Pentax DSLR's like the K10D, K20D, K7, K110D for LESS than £100 on E-Bay and all of Pentax DSLR's have weather sealing AND shake reduction system that is almost as good as Olympus :)
Oooh I do love this camera! What do you reckon? 📸
(Also, something I should have mentioned in the video: to have full weather sealing we need to pair it with a weather sealed lens too. But also, even if you don’t, I think weather sealing is worth it even to have a bit of peace of mind during light rain etc!)
Combine it with the somewhat odd and very underappriciated 12-50 for a fully weathersealed combo, should be obtainable from the classifieds for about £200. At least, thats what I got mine for and that was with some other bits and bobs as well such as the battery grip, a 45 f:1.8, the 9mm BCL and a nice lowepro bag. There is also the E-M5MkIII, its a lovely little piece of kit.
@@JensMHA perfect solution!
Now I'm really appreciating the weather sealing, 5-axis stabilization, and viewfinder. All things not present in my latest tiny camera crush (the GX850). Olympus really did make this a systems camera, with the two-piece optional grip that could hold an extra battery and give you a perfect portrait grip, plus that innovative macro light. All things that stopped working in the latest iteration of the E-M5!
I reckon that I (kinda) followed your advice and went for the E-M5 Mk III as my foray in M43! The bargain is that I found the Oly 25mm f/1.8 on, uh, the other MPB, for £130! It was rated as in excellent condition, the "catch" being that it's missing the decoration ring. I tried to look it up and it seems like I don't need that. Did I goof up?
@@nicojan Congratulations on your E-M5 Mk III--it's an excellent entry point into the world of m4/3! You got a great deal on your 25mm. The "decoration ring" I believe is just the tiny plastic collar that comes off so that you can attach the lens hood. I wouldn't worry about it, it's just a decorative thing. (Unless you're OCD, in which case it might bug you... 😉)
The screen button is to save power if your battery level is low or if your are shooting at night and don't want a bright screen in your face. Also dont turn on a camera without a lens attached because the static from the sensor will pull in dust to the body.
I just picked up my EM-5 ii and Im SO HAPPY WITH IT! It was so much smaller than I thought it would be, and im THRILLED that it's weather sealed! I never would have looked at this, but it really is the star of my camera cabinet now. Thank you so much for the info! ❤
I think this camera is the the best bang for the buck. I got one last July and used it quite extensively until it broke in February (the shutter got stuck). I spent quite a lot of time choosing a replacement, but in the end I got another E-M5, because for £124 that I paid to MPB there is almost no alternatives (mirrorless camera with EVF).
I took my best photos with this camera. And, surprisingly, even after I got Fujifilm X-T20 I kept getting back to E-M5. I liked its colours, ergonomics and build quality more. Eventually, I sold Fuji.
Great to see older tech getting the praise it deserves, I've been using the em10 MK2 for 3 years and love it, especially with the 45mm f1.8 and old 50mm manual primes. Enjoying your work 👍
8:34 if you go for the E-M10 instead, you'll get the live composite and focus peaking, which is absent in the E-M5.
YESSSSSS THE OG E-M5! Love it!
Agreed (a bargain buy). When Covid hit this was the camera I bought to see if m4/3 was good enough for deer stalking. With walking being the only permitted exercise, I ended up with an M1v3 and a 100-400mm zoom which was, and still is, brilliant for wildlife. As a bonus I learned how to walk almost silently...
The EM5 was the first OMD model followed by the EM10, which I had, and than the EM1. The EM5 had a serious shutter shock problem, plus the EM5 was the first Olympus weather sealed camera and the gaskets used for the wether sealing were causing control dials to actually break off. Begrudgingly, Olympus fixed those issues on the EM5.
I actually managed to pick up an EM1mk1 from MPB for £179! Also a ridiculous camera - and weather sealed! I still have that, but also an EM10 mk3s. Although the EM10 isn't weather sealed, it's still an amazing camera. Olympus cameras missing their eye pieces seems to be a 'thing', as I've bought several over the years with the same problem 😊 It's great to see you championing older designs, which are still more than capable bits of kit, whilst working as a pro with all the latest equipment. Please keep it up 👍🙂
This was my first interchangeable lens camera and I bought it back in 2012/13ish right around when it came out. I have abused this thing for a decade and it's only started having issues in the last year with some occasional shutter timing issues but otherwise has held up great. I understand why yours was missing the EVF guard thingy, mine slips off all the time lol. Sometime I plan on upgrading and while I was looking at getting a lumix, i'm still so in love with the design language and form factor of the EM-5 series. Great midrange lineup! Not as expensive or nice as the OM-1 but so much more pocketable and stylish haha, really underrated IMO
Small tip If you use the art filter that looks like a cartoon you can use that as focus peaking for manual lens.
It can be combined with the 10x zoom and programmed to the function key. Like you said, great for manual focus lenses.
Spot on comments and I agree with the review of the OMD-EM5 M43 camera. I love your videos and I will continue to follow your channel.
love the e-m5. I still use the Mk1 e-m10, which is a decent little fellow for a hobbyist/traveller but have always wanted to upgrade to the e-m5. When they were fresh, the e-m5s were slightly on the high side but these days we can get them at quite a bargain price, which is great news.
Great video!
Two comments: 1. I got my EM-5 used (from a seller in Japan) and had exactly the same display problem when I first turned it on! Fortunately, it came with the instruction manual, so it was quickly solved. (And the stupid "display off" seems to be a default setting!)
2. I recently picked up a Nikon D200 body for $60 US plus shipping. Proper weather sealing, though it is an APS-C DSLR (it's a beast compared to the size of the Olympus), so affordable weather sealed cameras are out there.
You can keep the fiver. 😊
So glad I wasn’t the only one with the screen issue 😂 it’s so funny - I’ve been very into photography for two decades or more and sometimes there’s just something odd like that that makes me feel like a total beginner all over again!
This was the camera that introduced me to M43. I loved the IBIS, form factor, and handling. With the Panasonic 14mm or Oly 17mm it is perfect for street or everyday photography. Picked one up last year with a low shutter count and virtually no wear. But it still had shutter issues, which are common for the model. I then replaced it with the mk II, and finally with the OM-5 (which has been on sale here in the US). Could not be happier with the OM-5.
I am VERY excited to try the OM5 some time soon. Seeing an updated version of this em5 will undoubtedly be impressive!
Good to know about the shutter issues - can you be a bit more specific?
@@c.augustinI've seen a lot where they will take a photo, the shutter will get stuck and then they have to be turned off/on again before another photo is taken
@@rafrick Stuck shutter and turning off/on again sounds like something that should be fixable by a firmware update, but maybe it is actually hardware related. I might have a look into it to decide if I should stay away from the original E-M5 (but having weather sealing for a decent price does sound nice, since I don't use Live Composite with outdoor shooting, and for indoor I have my E-M10II and Pen F ;-)).
Which lens are you using with it?
I still have my EM5 that I bought back in 2014. That viewfinder button also allows you to set the automatic LCD/viewfinder mode on and off. So if your camera is held out at arms length the LCD is on and if you bring it up to your eye it switches automatically to the viewfinder and turns the LCD screen off. Which is good if you have the LCD touch to focus and/or shoot turned on and you don't want to be taking random shots with your nose lol.
I have a em5 and I have traveled all over the world shooting various photo projects for non- profit philanthropic organizations. It is rugged and the IBIS is incredible! The images are on a par with anything out there and I have enlarged the images the images to poster size without discernible noise. I still use it as a back up to my em1 mark ii.
also, big thanks to the talented Nerds who donated their wonderful Live Composite images to this video! We share all kinds of M43 images over on the Micro Four Nerds Facebook group... 15k members strong, and full of so many talented photographers. You should totally join... just sayin' 😆
Keep promoting Olympus and you will soon be an ambassador hahaha. Anyway, it's always a great camera that I always promote too. I love the E-M5.
Haha wouldn’t that be a plot twist! I think once I realised that cameras don’t need to be great at both video and photo, the Oly line up has SO much to offer for photography 📸🙏
Emily would be perfect as an ambassador! We need more, as we've lost so many Olympus and Panasonic ambassadors. (If they were smart, the alliance should create a "Micro Four Thirds Ambassador" program.)
Thank you so much for pointing me in this direction! I have been a Lumix m4/3 user since 2015 beginning with the gx7 and after passing through various models I now have the g9, which I love. But I was looking for something smaller and cheaper for a combo of every day use to throw in a bag but with style and quality. I am a simple person and love what for me are intuitive Lumix menus, so have always been wary of Olympus. I was planning to go back to gx7 for my second camera. However, after watching your video I knew what was on offer here was very much for me, even if I have to work on menu learning. Luckily for me I was able to get a good one at a reasonable price before MPB sold out - I suspect thanks to your video. I have only had chance to take it out twice, and yes the menus will test my tiny little brain, but boy do I love the camera and what fabulous results. Thanks again for enlightening me. Lots of fun lies ahead I am sure! 😊
For around $230 you have the Olympus OM10 II which is the most remarkable of the OM10 series, which has direct access to customs modes and a tilting screen, perfect for street photography. It is 16 mpx but this is not a problem for this use. The only real drawback is that you can't program a minimum shooting speed.
Ive been using mine for 3 years. I just picked it up for a small walk around, my OWN little cheap Ricoh GR, if you will. Turns out that the image quality out of this now 11 year old mini beast is amazing. Still. If you put the Lumix 14mm f/2.5 on it you have the perfect little walk around street camera. I sometimes toy around with upgrading it to the Mark II or III version but don't see the need. I have my Sony's for my Weddings and such. This is the perfect camera for the $200 they are asking for it now.
Just ordered Em5 today after seeing your video. Loved your videos and your work. Looking forward to use this camera as this is gonna be my first camera in my life. Many more to go.
Life Composite is in the EM-10 Mk II, and then some, and overall I would think that it is contender - but no weather sealing! Thanks for making me aware that the old EM-5 did have weather sealing (and 16 MP like the EM-10II, if I remember correctly) and might be a good choice for an outdoor camera. Since I do have a Pen F and use pixel-shift hi-res mode only for "scanning", I should definitely think about it (then my EM-10II might have the IR conversion I bought it for in the first place ;-)).
Started with an EM-10 mark1 a few years ago. Looked at the mark2 also because it was already available. And the E-M5. But I never saw a reason to upgrade past it. They all used the same 16mp contrast-AF sensor for a long time. A bit better stabilization, more art filters, stuff like that. Weather-sealing if you have the lenses for it, but most smaller budget m4/3 lenses aren't.
After a while I just said to myself "I only upgrade my m4/3 if it is to something with phase-AF, and a handhold-highres. Because that are the only features that really transform the photography experience / what I can do with it".
Upgraded to an in-store-demo-model E-M1 mark3 a month ago. Still can't believe what a beast it is compared to my older one :). Still selling my E-M10 mark1 and my Sony A7m2.
I picked one up for the bargain of the century on your recommendation. It is absolutely amazing. Even in low light with the 14mm f2.5 I am blown away by the results. Thank you very much. Keep up the good work.
Four years ago, when I tired of having my DSLR digging into my shoulder, I went shopping for the best value/performance mirrorless I could find. And that was clearly the EM5. I got mine for about $225 from Keh, here in the US. Another $125 got me the Lumix 12-32 (a little gem). And boom, I was in business. Added a couple of more lenses later. Sure, I'd like to have a newer mirrorless, but the EM5 serves me fine. The one thing I don't like is the EVF, which is rather coarse and difficult to focus with MF lenses. For the bare bones budget, it's still the real deal. P.S. Just to report, now in Apr. '24, the price of the EM5 has bumped up a bit, toward $300. Apparently, enough folks saw this video and made note.
I got an em5 mk3 (yeah. plastic, and yeah, cost a bunch more, even second hand), mostly for the high res shot mode (I scan negatives with it), but also for weather sealing, for taking it on holiday. The olympus menu system was clearly designed by a late 80s assembly language programmer, but other than that, I absolutely love it. The ergonomics are cracking.
I bought my EM5 brand new in 2012 and it is still going strong. It's been on two overseas trips, dozens of walk around shoots, and a number of paid shoots. The battery grip makes it look like a baby pro DSLR, it's so cute. The still image quality still holds up today. Crazy to think it's so cheap now.
Yes with the battery grip in place, it looks like a baby E-M1X. 😆
Still shoot with my EM5 as well! It sat collecting dust for a bit but brought it back out in the last year and love it
Hi Emily,
By sheer cosmological coincidence I also picked a minty Olympus E-M5 Mark 1 recently for Aussie $199; plus its original kit lens, the 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 EZ (with macro!) for another Aussie $99 (or a princely sum totalling 160 British Pounds).
Alfred North Whitehead observed that modern philosophy is a series of footnotes to Plato. The same might be said about modern cameras: all digital cameras since 2012 are merely footnotes to the design of the Olympus E-M5 Mark 1.
Best regards, Jay (the nerdy philosopher)
What a great price you got everything for!
Late to the party but just wanted to mention that because I stumbled accross this video, (which also introduced me to your channel) I picked up a E-M5 mkii over christmas and it's earned itself a permanent spot in my bag. I still haul the big Canon out from time to time when I'm going out for a fully focused photography day but this camera is now my everyday carry. Thanks for introducing me to m43!
Its been more than 10 years and I'm still so happy using the em5. The newer sensors on my consumer-oriented EP7 do some things slightly better but I keep going back to the EM5 for its ergonomics and control.
when you mainly use the evf, it is nice to be able to switch of the back screen (or only show some basic info)
Aaaah I see! That makes sense thank you 🙏
I just bought an EM10ii and I’m still learning about it, but when I saw the EM5 doesn’t have live composite, I looked to see if the EM10ii does, and it does! If one doesn’t need/prioritize weather-sealing, don’t sleep on the other features of an EM10ii that could make up for it, at a similar price point.
I love this room which after the lock down brought me back to photography. It has so many hours that for amateur use it never fails and in the hands of an expert it can still give excellent results.
Hi Emily, thanks for the video. Just bought an original E-M5 coupled with Olympus 45mm f1.8, 12-45mm f4 pro and LUMIX 35-100mm f4-5.6 after watching your video, and after using it for two days, I found it so liberating to shoot. Now I decided to sell my Leica M11 and get another MFT camera: Panasonic GX9. Cheers mate.
just bought an Olympus em10ii this week for $200 and its awesome!
👀 bargain!!!
@@MicroFourNerds I really like the quick sleep mode. I have set it to turn off screen and sleep after 3 seconds of standby and just half press to wake it up. Really suits street photography especially since the on/off switch has kind of a long throw and is located on the left side of the camera. I have taken a lot more shots now than with my previous sony nex 5t because of this feature. It helps you to not hesitate when a good opportunity for a good photo presents itself!
@MicroFourNerds I bought a used E-M10 mk II with the pancake zoom lens for £200 during lockdown (from LCE with warranty). Its an absolute bargain and has 5-axis stabilisation like the E-M5 but not the original E-M10 that only has 3-axis
I got the em5 mark ii for 250 US and I love it . I am thinking about buying the battery grip for it. I only have vintage manual focus adapted lenses but would love a reasonably priced zoom lens .
The Live Composite is the reason I got into Olympus. I now have the E-M5 II and the E-PL7, both with this amazing feature 🤩
This was the camera that switched me from full frame to m43 back in 2012. It took some of my favourite photos, even by today's standards in 2023. To prove how weather sealed it is, I accidentally left it outside, under a broken gutter, in a tropical storm for half an hour 🤦 Dried it off and voilà, perfectly fine. I bought the mkii as well and then the GH5 as i was doing more video, but I think of this camera often. It really was ground-breaking at the time and I fell in love with it the moment I picked it up.
That button on the side of the "pentaprism housing" can be set up to toggle between the super control panel and the image allowing you to make quick changes without going into the menu system. In A or S mode I like to set up the back dial for aperture or shutter and the front dial to do exposure compensation. It allows you to see the changes to the exposure in the view finder.
I've had 3 Em-5 cameras. The first cost $137 (body only), the second cost $179 with a 14-42 and 40-150 kit lenses, flash, and camera bag, and the third with a 14-150 lens for $200. They all still work (I gave one to my wife and one to my son, and still use one myself) They have come up some in price Post Pandemic but are still a good value as mentioned.
They are great cameras for people who want a "camera" to take pictures and remind me of the original OM-1 I bought back in the 70's.
Funny you should say about the screen not working, initially, until you found the right button. When I got my first Olympus - the EM10 MKII - I couldn't understand why there was no change in the EVF, despite me altering aperture and shutter speed. After much trawling around Internet forums, I discovered that 'Live Boost' was activated (brightening the viewfinder for low light shots) and once I found that in the menu and disabled it, things worked fine; and it's a camera I love.
Oooh you've rekindled my love for my old E-M5 Emily! I never should have abandoned it for the GX85-->Em5 Mk III-->GX7-->GX850. Luckily it's in my daughter's possession, so I'm going to ask for it back (she also has my GX85). I had so many good memories with it. It was a camera that I *loved*--its magnesium build made it so solid and satisfying to use. By comparison, I don't *love* my EM-5 Mk III, I merely *like* it. I know its plastic construction is just as solid, but it doesn't have the same tactile feel. The only downer about the E-M5 is its relatively low res screen and viewfinder, but it was par for the course 11 years ago.
I bought this camera in 2013 with the 17mm and 45m. Loved this camera so much I made a complete switch from Nikon. Ended up what the EM1.2, EM1X and the Pen F. and all the Pro lenses from the 300mm F4 on down. I have now switched back to Nikon but kept the Pen F.
This camera and company was so under appreciated. Such a great camera and the weather sealing is fantastic.
Everytime I see your TH-cam stuff and the photos you present I feel a real desire to own and try a M43 camera and I'd do that hopefully some point in the foreseeable future...it is only that I can't afford any camera right now even if it is cheap and old due to a special circumstances that I"m passing through unfortunately...and to be honest I should admit that your stills and how talented they show make me feel like to have such a system...you are gifted...I mean see the way you compose, frame and edit your photos...wow...I’m more than impressed, so good for you!
Is there a video on how to optimise the autofocus on this model? I purchased this camera and struggle with the autofocus frequently being off target.
I really love the EM5 MKI. I used a Pentax Q for my bike rides and I wanted something that had more quality. I had A6000 but the colors were horrible. I got an OM5 at a good price and with good optics, no complaints about quality. Great to have the M43's depth of field for what I do, a sealed body and great IBIS for taking photos without getting off the bike. It is true that there is some grain even at base ISO but I like it since it makes it very film-like.
I had and loved the EMD5. I gave it to a co-worker who wanted to get started with photography. I wasn’t using it so I gave it to him. Hope he is enjoying it. I’m sorry I gave it to him.
You didn’t mention this feature but The EMD has five axis IBIS. Like all Olympus IBIS enabled bodies, it works great. IBIS is Like heated seats in my Prius. I never knew I wanted it until I hit it. Once I had it, I can never go back.
Always impressed with the colors produced from the EMD5. Very vibrant. Just bought an used EMD1 Mii B/C I misplaced my Panasonic G9 and was going to go to a video workshop. The 1Mii was only $400. Cheaper than a used G9. Found the G9 at the last moment. So now I have both the G9 & EMD1 Mii. Hoping for the same vibrant colors. These two bodies are comparable and one may have to go. Still need to set this thing up. Good news bad. The Olympus menu is very deep B/C of all the features. Once it is set up the fun begins.
The EMD5 is a bargain at $200. The primes you will use with this body are more expensive. If you are already in M43land you have some lenses. Hope this vid doesn’t cause a run on EMD5s and raise their prices like the Fuji X100V. If so it is all your fault. You copped that 5 at a banger price.
Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)
I had an EM-5 mkiii that I swapped out for the EM-1 mkiii to use with bigger m43 lenses, but now I'm looking at adding one of these as a small carry camera. It's just such a great size!
Thanks for the recommendation. I picked one up with a HLD-6 grip two batteries and no lens for $140 usd. Only 4000 shutter count. Its such a fun camera.
The E M10, M5 and M1 cameras are all very good with each having it's own advantages and disadvantages. I still use my M10 mark ii and I had an M5 mark ii that I sold for an M 1 mark ii. I'm thinking about getting an M5 mark iii to use along with the M1, but I'll never get rid of my M10 mark ii! I believe that it's hard to beat the micro four thirds system if you shop for used lenses and bodies and there are many choices on lenses and many of the prime lenses are a bargain!
I owned a 1999 Bentley that had many quirks similar to your screen not working due to a hidden button, it seems quality things have quirks built in on purpose! It makes them more fun to use. As for MPB, they are my first stop for used camera equipment.
The E-M5 is great. I owned one. I slightly prefer the E-M10 line because they are just a little more modern, a little smaller, and lighter; while offering basically the same function set. The entire e-M10 line also comes with dual dials, which is indeed very nice to have for a manual shooter. The E-M10 also tends to be a little cheaper than the E-M5, you can find them for €100-150. These benefits outweigh the weather sealing, which is indeed nice to have. My favorite is actually the E-M10 II which costs about the same as the E-M5, but is more modern and a little smaller and lighter. The E-M10 II also has Live Composite Mode.
I think I know the function of that button. My best friend had the same issue you had and asked me to fix his camera. Which I gladly did because I figured I knew what the problem was. Afterward, he then asked me the same question: "Why did Olympus include that button?" After some thought I answered him that it was probably there to make it easy for the user to turn off the LCD screen, perhaps in order to draw less attention; perhaps for wildlife photography; or for nighttime photography.
Great video! I have a soft spot for older cameras, and nice to see a younger person who appreciates the 'vintage' stuff too that are actually really good and ones that work! AND thanks to this video I caught a camera store Ebayer trying to pass off a M5 as a M5 ii ( so he was charging double the cost ) I was kind enough to send him a polite message pointing that out ( I'm sure it was a mistake....) lol, but, glad to know the subtle differences in the next generation bodies seeing yours here. Thanks again, love all the little cameras you have!
I watched this video last week and found me an EM5 for $160 in eBay!
Love it! I also have the EP5, but with the same lens the autofocus is so much faster in the EM5
It is exactly what I shoot on a regular basis wonderful camera. You are my favourite TH-cam photography channel I enjoy the content and the presentation, honest and informative we need more of this
The rear monitor screen on/off FEATURE is to save battery power. IF you do not need to review on screen but only in viewfinder, that is the way to go. There are similar feature on many mirrorless.
FWIW, welcome to the experienced DSLR user moving to Mirrorless. Many a Nikon Z9 user had the same issue, and the Z9 monitor/viewfinder switch button is well hidden, for the novice, on the left hand side of the viefinder box, almost flat. Hence even more difficult to notice, albeit clearly labeled on the surface. Enjoy!
That little gem back in 2015. It was my workhorse for years. Battery grip and all. Still comes with me to shows.
How about reviewing the Lumix DMC GX-7? Similar to the E-M5 being magnesium, but a different style of body. (Have you got a GX-7? I love mine to bits)
The EVF sensor, which switches between evf and live view, goes faulty on Olympus cameras as a common fault. If this happens you can go into the settings and select manual switching using that side button to the evf, as was done in this camera.
The Sony A3000 has the same 'turn off the LCD' function button. I believe the purpose is to save battery life. You can still see important information in the evf. I buy them for next to nothing frequently because people think they are broken. Light as a feather and 20MP. Since you like tiny cameras, I guess you would like it.
I'm about to buy a first camera for my son (11) and looking at Micro 4/3 systems (possibly an E-M5 with a 12-42 lens), but everywhere I go there's little available, and nothing new. Is this a bad time to start on a micro 4/3 system, is it becoming obsolete?
Cheap or maybe cheaper in the US. Mpb is great. The mark II adds a high res composite mode. But I think the reason they are cheap is the mark III moves up to a 20mp sensor and then the om system one really adds computational photo bells and whistles. I hope to get one of these eventually, maybe the Ii or iii
I got the EM1 for $200 last month. I am in love with it.
I love picking up a bargain and this, or the mk2, are cameras on my radar. The weather sealing is a bonus and one thing I’d like to see OM systems do is release smaller, weather sealed primes for these em5/om5 bodies. I’d pick up a weather sealed 17mm f1.8 in a flash if they ever released it. I did get an em10iii for £160 in excellent condition online from a high street shop during Black Friday sales last year. It had only taken just over 2,000 shots. I still can’t get over that bargain! It’s a great little camera, but I avoid using it in the rain due to lack of weather sealing.
So tempted to pick one of these up. I use an EOS M5 and it's a perfectly decent camera - performs well, small and light, and great picture quality, but it doesn't bring me joy - it just feels, plastic and "functional". I'm been thinking about dipping my toes into m43 and the EM-5 mkiii looks ideal to me as a replacement for me EOS M5. But I'm considering pickup one of these original mki versions up with a lens or two to try out. If I decide I like it, then I could always upgrade to the mkiii later and use the same lenses.
I bought a Mk3 as an upgrade from an EM10 mk2 and EM1 mk1. Very happy with it. I tend to use the EM10 as my backup body since they use the same battery. Love the deep grip on the EM1, though. For some reason, TH-cam is converting your £ sign in the title to a $ sign. I guess because I am in the US, but that is an odd thing for them to change.
Another great video thank you for sharing. Have the EM10 for years now it’s still going strong. Wanted camera with a flash over weather sealing but horses for courses I suppose. The EM10 gets more clicks than my EM1 mkii simply because it’s more portable. The focus system is not the greatest but I’ve been able to manage that short coming. Wish the battery life was better too but I do have the extra hand grip which works great for heavier legacy lenses. These are great cameras capable of professional results even in 2023. Your photo editing is breath taking BTW. Cheers.
I always look forward to your videos. I have been looking at this model for vintage lens photography. Thank you
I want to try my Nikkor Series E 75-150mm
@MicroFourNerds Hi Emily. I’ve been on somewhat of a journey since I watched this video a few months ago. At that time I was using a Lumix GX8 but was struggling with the shutter shock issue. I had never considered trying an Olympus camera but took the plunge on an E-M5. Since then have purchased an Olympus Pen E-P5 with the extra EVF and I’m blown away! Perhaps you would consider including it in your tiny camera series?
TBH I couldn't give a fig for "weather sealing". For a start it's not that good and cameras still need some care, they are delicate instruments. Then after about two years the seals dry out and they're not weather sealed any more. Imo there's more advertising hype around weather sealing to make you lust after a new camera than actual function; water vapour (gas) will still get in to fog the lens. At best improved dust sealing.
What has the E-M5(1) got over the E-M5ii - that tilt screen is far more useful than the flip-out on a small camera.
Did NOT know about the LIVE TIME feature. Thank you! Well DONE!
I used this camera for about 10-years, but eventually got the EM10 mark 4 for $300 to replace it. There were two reasons for the replacement,
- there is no proper focus peaking on the Em5-m1 and since the viewfinder is low resolution, I really struggle to get a focus focus with my primes. I have to 'zoom in' with a hotkey button, try to focus, and then take the shot -- it was just a hassle.
- it started to fall apart. Dials didn't always stick, buttons being soft and gooey feeling; it started to not work reliably.
There's other annoyances with it, like poor video quality and no clean HDMI output, but I have my other cameras for that. The low-light performance was starting to look its age though also, with lots of grain, and it became harder and harder to do post-processing on the results to get them up to modern standards. Trying to crop down on 16-mp doesn't leave much left.
I do call my Mark 4 a replacement though, and not an upgrade, as there's a cheap and sluggish feeling from using it. It does have a 20-mp sensors though, so more and cleaner pixels to work with, but I just feel I miss my shots more often with it.
Oh, I'm kinda jealous that you are able to buy this camera for such a good price 😅 I found only a couple of Olympus om-d cameras locally and they cost about $600 for em-5 and $400 for em-10. And now I'm figuring out if the weather sealing is still working on a 10 years camera or the cheaper version will be enough for me 😁
Almost immediately they came out with the mark 2 and no one cared about this first generation. I've owned mine since I think 2012 and its been around the world with me Japan, Singapore, Canada, Malaysia, Philippines and from Los Angeles to New York. In sun, snow, heat, rain and salt. Simply rinse and repeat. It still works flawlessly at 16 mp and its like a mini dslr. The image and video stabilisation way better than my Sony 5100 and a6000. Anyways although if I only had the money for one camera the EM5 is a great EDC camera. With a pancake lens it's jacket pocketable and with the Olympus 45mm prime, wow what a great pair. Like I said with a weather sealed lens you can literally rinse it of after a day on the beach or filming a hunt or a muddy mountain bike race. Having spent extensive time in foreign lands you realise that it is beyond most peoples reach and the importance of having fun wile on the adventure with a durable camera like this is way more important than mega-4-6-8k video 50+mp photos are. The newest most advanced cameras are awesome but we all should have a fun camera that your not always worried about damaging or getting stolen with you. I even have a cheap Kodak digital with zero worries about damaging, loosing or getting stolen. Your sponsor will even replace if camera doesn't work for a number of days. They replaced one of mine that quit the first week I had it no questions asked. And I still use the replacement camera to this day.
Thnk you so much I have just found your channel and I think your video's are so witty and insightful. I just ordered my first micro 4-3rds camera (i use an aps-c fuji xt-1). Based on your videos,i bought an Olympus OM-D E-M10 zilver + 14-42mm F/3.5-5.6 EZ ED MSC lens for only 239 euros. Can't wait to try it.
Im glad I found this video, I’d like to get back into shooting street photography and I won’t dare go near my wife’s Fuji XT-100. You have a lense you prefer, budget minded?
I was able to find an Olympus E-600 for $65 (US) with both 14-42mm and 40-150mm lenses at a rummage last year. It was barely used. It only had 708 shutter clicks. It's not m4/3, but it is smaller than my Canon 6D full frame, but I love it. I just bought the 50mm macro lens for it.
I have the E-M5 new since 2014. Upgraded from the Olympus PEN E-PL1.
Loved using the E-M5 with the HLD-6 grip and mostly used the Panasonic 20mm F1.7, Olympus 45mm F1.8 and some Minolta SR mount lenses.
The E-M5 served me well but I had problems with the mode dial where the A/P kept on flickering and I had to take the battery out the camera to fix it short term.
Sometimes when a photo was taken it should show the preview but when I go to transfer the photo to PC, it turned into a black frame photo (just a black image).
Last year I bought the E-M5 Mk II used because I wanted to repurpose the batteries, the HLD-6P part of the grip and of course the great lenses :)
The Mk II over the OG may not be much but really liking the Focus Stacking with the 60mm Macro and the live composite modes.
Your videos are amazing, thank you. I’m stuck between getting this and the m5 ii. The make ii isn’t that much more expensive, but I am attracted to the simplicity of this camera. But I’m also drawn to the mark ii, which I can get for maybe $100 more. I also am having a hard time finding a good multi day weather sealed hiking lens that isn’t too big. The best option seems to be the 12-45mmF4 lens. Not many pancake weather sealed options it seems?? Thank you for your videos!!
I bought an excellent example (in black) from a friend for 200$Cdn. I also have a mark ii in silver and two of the original E-M1s. Live composite and silent shutter are the only really useful things missing so the original E-M5 is my everyday carry. I have the EZ 12-50mm lens which is also weather sealed (it was the kit zoom introduced with the E-M5). Together they make a great package, with a 25mm f1.7 Lumix in the (very small) bag, just in case.
I have a EM10 mark 2. I love it, but is it worth upgrading to this? I love your videos and I respect your opinion. I am a hobby photographer by the way.
Thank you for this video. It helps me justify my purchase of the same unit 2nd hand late last year from its first owner (complete with both grips and battery grip for 180 SGD ~ 104 GBP), though I have since sold it off to upgrade to the Mark II version. The copy I was able to use had slow shutter issues with single shot mode but was otherwise in pristine condition. It looks like you haven't enabled Super Control Panel on yours, based on the confusion the display selection button solved.
I love your content. New to your channel. I love the m43 love. Keep up the good work!
I like the Olympus operating system and their filters and presets. I own an Olympus point-and-shoot. And I looked at and considered buying a PEN series earlier this year before buying a Panasonic Lumix GX85 (which I love). But I would definitely consider picking up one of these or an older PEN at some point. Do I have a M4/3 problem? Oh, no! 😅
Hahaha we need to start a “m43 addicts anonymous” 🤣
I'm very new to photography and your review has convinced me to give this a try via MPB next payday. As a beginner what budget lens would you suggest that I get to pair with this? I hope it is ok to ask advice like this.
Love my em5-mkii, got it in 2020 unused 2nd hand for a good deal. Would consider the em5-mkiii or OM5 in future for better video, but I've heard the tripod mount thread isn't as strong in the plastic bodies..May have to check out your presets Emily🙂
I was going to get one of these when transitioning from Canon, but the price difference between this and an original e-m1 wasnt a significant amount, so i went with that. The Olympus older model support is superb, so always worth a good look on a budget.
Hi Emily I hope you are well. I just purchased and EM5 mkii to add to my MFT collection. It was an insane cheap price in a CEX store and the shutter count was under 1800! Just now trying to decide what lens to match with it…….i really must have a clear out!
For the button to turn on the screen...
I like that idea. I use the evf on my Sony a6000 often because I have poor near vision and the evf let's me adjust for that. It senses when I'm using the evf and automatically turns off the screen, I assume to save power. But I would like to manually control that.
Brilliant find !
I too experienced the affect of that small button being pressed inadvertently . I too resolved it with the help of seeing the solution on line. It is certainly something all Olympus users should know - and I thought I knew it all with their cameras lol.
As for bargains ; I acquired my EM 10 ii new from Olympus with a free extended warranty and of course the kit zoom iiR. And all this for £350. I then received a Billingham Digital Bag and two sigma Art lenses - the 30 and 60 . All these were gifted to me . I had given away my old digital camera to my nephew when visiting us and while that was still a great camera , it hurt my neck if I wore it all day . This no longer happens .
I certainly think more people should look at used Olympus gear at MPB, as I always get my used gear from them and found their rating system spot on . I also love their prices too ha ha .
I know that there are other excellent camera stores out there who sell used gear and from comments I have heard I think they are as good as my favourite used store . But , as I have not used them personally, I cannot leave a personal recommendation other than for MPB.
I’m so glad I wasn’t the only one thwarted by that tiny function button!! And so happy to hear you love MPB - I spend way too much time on there bargain hunting haha 😊
I too was relieved to find that somebody else more recently discovered the button . It seems that it was designed to help those who only wanted to use the camera like a conventual film camera .
Got myself a 2nd hand, also modified, EM5, all black, well used. But I'm thinking I'm finally ahead of the hype. Hype, is the only reason al the other similar smaller cameras are well above 200. Thanks a lot for the recommendations! Could you do a menu/functions/setup/in-use video on this?
I managed to pick up one of these new in 2015 for about $450 australian dollars.
Couple of sigma prime lenses off ebay and it still is producing very pleasant images.
Bargain!! And wonderful that it’s still kicking butt a good few years later 🙌📸
Not sure I'd trust weather sealing on a 10yr old camera?
FWIW The Olympus OM-D EM10 mark ii has almost all the same features (except weather sealing) but adds a pop-up flash and it's smaller still and still metal... and Live comp.
It's IMHO the best bargain m43 camera you can get.
I got mine in 2018 (used) and haven't found anything I want more...
I got a LUMIX G1 for €30 from mpb the other day and it’s an absolute hoot to shoot. I’ll make a video on it soon. As far as features for money go, micro four thirds is unbeatable
I feel like I'm very late to the party as I have just come to your channel, but I will answer the bargain weather sealed camera question. Pentax K-50. Easily found under £200 and dating from around the same period. I have had the K-50 and loved it (made me very much a Pentax user) and also the OM-D E-M5. I rate both cameras extremely highly and I will give the nod the the E-M5 as being a nicer overall camera, with the K-50 being bulkier and having better noise control at high ISO. I find Pentax K lenses to be cheaper on the whole, but that said, you are still correct on how great this body is. Subsequently I am both a heavy Pentax and Olympus user.
I had no clue my E-PL6 also has this Live Time / Bulb mode. ( no composite mode sadly) Thanks for mentioning this feature.
Almost have this camera for 10 years, now I'm wondering what else am I missing.
Now I'm wondering if my old E-PL1 had this feature.
I recently got the EM-5 Mark III brand new for 820 U$D. I would say it is the best value for money for this price range. I use it for Wildlife videos on my TH-cam channel with a 36 dollar 300mm Nikon vintage lens.
I have a EM5 mark 2 which I absolutely love but I wish it had the tilting screen instead of the flip-out screen. Incidently you can pick up older Pentax DSLR's like the K10D, K20D, K7, K110D for LESS than £100 on E-Bay and all of Pentax DSLR's have weather sealing AND shake reduction system that is almost as good as Olympus :)