I bought this camera new in 2015, and I still use it in 2024! Of course, I use it as a quick on-the-go camera because I know that it's solid and has a lot of great features that even contemporary apsc crop cameras do not.
I bought the mrk ii a couple of years ago. I already had a pair of E-M1s but I wanted the HR mode for a project I was doing..but then the E-M1s fell apart within a short time of one-another. Not complaining, as they were both *extremely* well used, but I had to look at replacing them both and I felt I had to upgrade to the E-M1 mrk ii... Making the E-M5mrkii redundant? Not at all. This is a jewel of a camera. I love the action of the dials; so smooth yet precise, and the general solidity of the camera. It reminds me of the swiss watch feel of the old OM-4. With the Fotodiox grip the handling has transformed from small and fiddly to perfect with a smaller lens up to the 12-40mm f/2.8 or the Lumix 8-18mm f/2.8-4. That grip completes the camera for me, making it the perfect size with no compromise. Even the slight increase in weight only adds benefits, and the camera now sits in my day-to-day sling with the 17mm f/1.8 and another lens, depending. My little, inconspicuous, non-intrusive mate... Super-portable, fuss-free (once set-up) and an joy to use. Love it
regarding the size, it is completely modular. The external grip you can get for will fix that pinky issue you mentioned. And the vertical grip is chefs kiss. It's amazing ergonomically, gives you an extra battery and I love being able to shoot in portrait mode with its dedicated shutter button.
I have an E-M5ii in silver and two original E-M1. Although I prefer the handling of the E-M1, I have noticed that the screen on the E-M5ii looks punchier. These cameras are truly great.
I've been using an EM5 Mk2 since it was a current camera. I use it with the 12-100 or 100-400 typically, but sometimes use a few other primes. Part of me wants to upgrade to a more modern em1 or om1 because I find the grip more comfortable, and I'm curiious about all the fancy new features. But I haven't been able to convince myself it's worth it. I know how to get good images out of the em5 mk2, and, at the end of the day, I don;'t know that I'd get much better spending for the upgrade. Maybe in a few more generations...
Hi Eli, I love M43 systems and purchased my em5ii a year ago to complement my gx80 and I love it. Obviously I can mix and match my lenses and the economy - price advantages are unbeatable. Yep, this is still a great camera in 2023 and it's look and feel remains tops. This camera combination is all I need. Thanks for the Video. Ross
That's my next purchase! As a travel/street photography and it's weather sealing. I also want to buy a Panasonic GX7 or GX8 just for the rangefinder style of the camera !!! Would be a great addition to my Fujifilm XE2! My dream cam would be the PEN F ! Just as a stylish look ❤😂! Great video !
One of the biggest draws for me towards this camera is being weather sealed! That is important to me and I also like the idea about rotating the screen so I can protect it and not stare at the screen but be more purposeful with my pictures!
The weather sealing really is fantastic! The screen is nice, I only use it myself if I'm shooting at an odd angle or on a tripod - I much prefer to use the evf
@@Elifarnhillthat’s exactly what I plan to do! I have an Olympus TG6 that I got for a really good deal but still wnat something more professional! It’s a great travel pocketable camera but still wnat interchangeable lenses! I like the camera mindset where I walk around looking for shots vs just having a phone for pictures plus I have an older phone so it’s not very good😂
My 1st Olympus camera was the E'-M 10 iiis, just bought the E-M 5 ii They are good enough for my needs, Walking in the park with my dog's, and at home next to the forest. I'm Taking photographs of the birds, squirrels, gators, boar, and the old wolf that comes to my yard everyday for his meal I set out for him. Northwest Florida, near the Alabama line. Stop searching for the latest upgrade, have fun with whatever you carry with you.
Thanks for sharing. The EM5/EM5II are very capable for most applications. 16MP is very reasonable IMHO. If you use Lightroom, you can get the software to generate a pretty good higher resolution files if you need to. I've been buying 2nd hand EM5/EM5II when they are real cheap as they will cost less than a repair in case one of them breaks :).
Hi! Just found your channel and going through your vids, I've been thinking about entering m43 with an em5/em10 but was looking at the pana lenses, 12-32 and the 12-60, have you felt any incompatibilities between the 2 brands?
Maybe it's me, but out of all the systems out there, Olympus has the best lenses. I owned every brand, high-end, mid, consumer lower end. Olympus is the only camera and lenses that bring enjoyment, saves your money, makes me feel like bring my EM 5 ii with me everywhere, everyday. Just pure fun to use.
I have a love-hate relationship with this camera. Frankly, it's just too damn complicated! I've tried wrestling with the menu system but I always had a nagging feeling that I don't know what I'm doing. Having said that, if I keep it simple and just stick to aperture priority or P mode I often get impressive results.
Nice review! Does it do focus stacking? I know it didn't come out originally but conflicting reports say firmware updates gave it to that... some say it only works with some lenses, some say all, some say none... which is it???? I have the G9m2 and wish I'd known it didn't have focus stacking! (It doesn't even have the post-focusing feature the G9 has.)
Thank you! I’m currently on firmware version 2.1 and don’t have it available, but I’ll upgrade to the latest at some point and try to get an answer for you!
It does do focus stacking and bracketing. Bracketing (combine them on your computer) with any lens or stacking (combined in the camera) with only certain lenses... unless you install hacked firmware that lets stacking work with any autofocus m4/3rds lens.
You don't have to use the dial to select the focus point. You can just touch the screen to select the focus point and, optionallu,, to take the picture with one touch. ,
I own one already, but for the most part, it sits in its own case waiting for me to go and use it, prob is, I usually shoot with my OM-1 or the Mk II version of it..... on the shelf also are my E-M1 Mk II and Mark III in front of my E-M10Mk II too many choices, but none are bad ones............
Hi Eli, I am interested in buying this OM-D E-M5 MK2 Titanium Edition or a OM-D E-M10 Limited edition, i both can get them around the same price (between €200 & €300. Which one do you recommend? I had a Canon EOS R before, but I am looking for a small camera that I will be travelling with around Europe to capture my travels. Best regards
I'd choose the E-M5 mark 2 personally just because of the weather sealing and the slightly bigger size fits better in my hand The E-M10 is a bit smaller so if you're going somewhere where moisture / dust isn't a big concern then the smaller size might be an advantage if you've to pack lightly Either option should serve you pretty well for your travels!
Great review. I added the grip & battery, which solves the small-size problem. I have a lot of lenses and adapted lenses but I just acquired the 12-45 f4 which is fantastic enough to remain on the camera most of the time. I have the E-PL 10 Pen, which is for the street.
The factory grip: highly recommended. I’m using the adjustment knob on it all the time. The complaints about having to take it off to swap the battery are moot as it’s buckets easier and more quick than swapping a 35mm film cartridge.
Very interesting video! 🎉 I have it since 2014 and loved it. But… I struggle with AF specially when taking pictures of my 2yo kid and my dog. I was thinking on upgrading to the OM-5 but… meeh it looks as if the tech in the OM-5 is old (micro usb, old menus not upgraded to the ones of the Om1) i din’t know… it gives the dign as it is not as future proof as the EM5 mk2 was when released. What are tour thoughts? Is it worth the upgrade? Any tip to improve the AF of my Mk2?
It's not the newest features that get the photo. It's learning your camera, its faults and limits, and learning the work around. You can give a skilled photographer a old junk camera and he will catch the focus, exposure, etc everytime. Give a unskilled person the best camera int he world, he still will take crap photos. Don't waste your money. Just have fun with whatever you have. It's that simple.
Hey Eli, I can’t decide between the E-M5 mkii and E-M10 mkiii. Where I am the M10 is $50 cheaper. This would be my first camera and I’ll mostly use it for travel, family photos, on hikes, etc. Would appreciate your input on which you think is the better buy!
I'm just subscribed to your comment because I myself really wanna know if someone kindly answer it 😅 I also want to buy my first camera and my worry is that sensor in emii is too small (my smartphone has 1 inch sensor) Other than that looks like a solid choice to get into photos, I'm interested more in street and maybe landscape and portrait photos
The E-M10 III has a cheaper body - plastic and not weather sealed, slightly worse viewfinder, slightly worse IBIS, one stop slower mechanical shutter. Many features of the E-M5 II and E-M10 II were removed in order to simplify it. Unless you really want the 4K video of the E-M10 III, or hate flippy screens and need a tilt screen, get the E-M5 II.
I 3D printed a big grip recently and it seriously improves the ergonomics, I'll check out a metal one though - it'd look a lot nicer than the 3D print!
Hi Eli, hope you are well. Quick Q please? I need a replacement m43 as my little Panny is dying. Budget and feature set pinpoints E-M5 mkII or G90. G9 a little large and over budget. Both are in the €450-500 range. I know they are quite different in size and handling. Which would you personally choose? I respect your opinions a lot 😊 Cheers! Ohyeah, I should add, our usage cases are very similar.
Hi Mike, I'm good thanks, I hope you are too! I'd go for the E-M5ii - it has less megapixels than the G90, but I've never found myself really wanting more than 16 (and you can use the high resolution mode to get a 64 megapixel raw if you really need) The menus are a bit challenging to get used to at first, but I've slowly gotten used to them and only have to google things very occasionally now 😂 The dials and buttons on the top of the E-M5ii also makes shooting with it very tactile and fun! I've been pairing mine with the little 20mm F1.7 by Panasonic and even using the "art" filters and its a really nice shooting experience! Not that it really affects the shooting experience, but I think the E-M5ii is a very nice looking camera too - which makes me want to take it out more and more! I hope that helps you pick a new body! 😁
@@Elifarnhill Good to hear! Yes, I am fine thanks 😊 Honestly, that’s really helpful Eli, thanks so much for taking the time for such a detailed reply. The size, form, tactile nature of the Oly is what appeals the most about it to me. As you say, if it helps me carry it around more often, that has to be the most important thing, I completely agree. Megapixels mean nothing really, anything from 12-16 is fine. More MP only means more noise on smaller sensors. Right, so I’m off to look at an Oly at the weekend. Thanks again for your help. Cheers!
Tengo una M5 Mark II y es una cámara estupenda. Además una de las grandes ventajas es su capacidad de configurarla. Tiene la posibilidad de memorizar cuatro modos de fotografía y configurarlos para acceder a ellos desde el díal de modos (por ejemplo en el modo Auto, Art, Scn, etc.). Además cuenta con un visor electrónico que muestra una imagen de gran tamaño. Y esa caracteristica que te permite hacer fotos de 40 megapíxeles (con tripode)... Tengo una OM5 pero sigo disfrutando de la M5 MarkII como segunda cámara 😁Enjoy it🙃😉
I recommend it to you. The image stabilizer is incredible. The possibility of using digital ND filters and shooting 50 megapixel images freehand, combined with its Procaptur mode... make it a great tool but very light and small. Regarding image quality there is a big leap in relation to the ability to obtain information in the shadows (without chromatic noise even at high ISOs)@@Elifarnhill
@@Elifarnhillhope you do get to try…tempting, but don’t hammer nails with it. Not sure it’s great for video though. Take a look at Micro Four Thirds Nerd review of a few months ago titled something like Does this newest micro 43 offer enough?
I bought this camera new in 2015, and I still use it in 2024! Of course, I use it as a quick on-the-go camera because I know that it's solid and has a lot of great features that even contemporary apsc crop cameras do not.
One of the amazing features pf this little tank is its high resolution mode. It's amazing for any landscape photography when there's no motion.
Very true, it's a great feature to have! Especially if you want to crop in a lot when editing!
Love it!, Interested in your tips for video with the em5ii!
It's coming soon!
I bought the mrk ii a couple of years ago. I already had a pair of E-M1s but I wanted the HR mode for a project I was doing..but then the E-M1s fell apart within a short time of one-another. Not complaining, as they were both *extremely* well used, but I had to look at replacing them both and I felt I had to upgrade to the E-M1 mrk ii...
Making the E-M5mrkii redundant? Not at all. This is a jewel of a camera. I love the action of the dials; so smooth yet precise, and the general solidity of the camera. It reminds me of the swiss watch feel of the old OM-4. With the Fotodiox grip the handling has transformed from small and fiddly to perfect with a smaller lens up to the 12-40mm f/2.8 or the Lumix 8-18mm f/2.8-4.
That grip completes the camera for me, making it the perfect size with no compromise. Even the slight increase in weight only adds benefits, and the camera now sits in my day-to-day sling with the 17mm f/1.8 and another lens, depending. My little, inconspicuous, non-intrusive mate...
Super-portable, fuss-free (once set-up) and an joy to use.
Love it
I'm still using the original EM5. Thinking of upgrading you the EM1 mk3
i see alot of people say go for the em5 II because of the metal body, the mk3 is plastic. not sure if that's the only reason
regarding the size, it is completely modular. The external grip you can get for will fix that pinky issue you mentioned. And the vertical grip is chefs kiss. It's amazing ergonomically, gives you an extra battery and I love being able to shoot in portrait mode with its dedicated shutter button.
I have an E-M5ii in silver and two original E-M1. Although I prefer the handling of the E-M1, I have noticed that the screen on the E-M5ii looks punchier. These cameras are truly great.
I've been using an EM5 Mk2 since it was a current camera. I use it with the 12-100 or 100-400 typically, but sometimes use a few other primes. Part of me wants to upgrade to a more modern em1 or om1 because I find the grip more comfortable, and I'm curiious about all the fancy new features. But I haven't been able to convince myself it's worth it. I know how to get good images out of the em5 mk2, and, at the end of the day, I don;'t know that I'd get much better spending for the upgrade. Maybe in a few more generations...
A comfortable grip can be a good reason to upgrade! I've seen grips for the em5 mk2 on aliexpress and I may pick one up
Do you use for wildlife? :)
Hi Eli, I love M43 systems and purchased my em5ii a year ago to complement my gx80 and I love it. Obviously I can mix and match my lenses and the economy - price advantages are unbeatable. Yep, this is still a great camera in 2023 and it's look and feel remains tops. This camera combination is all I need. Thanks for the Video. Ross
Hi Ross, I'm glad you liked the video!
But isn’t the gx80 smaller and has better video?
curious what case/scenario you choose between them?
İ have lumix gx80, is it worth to also buy m5 ii, too?
Cool video. The E-M5 II is a superb camera, and the versatility is amazing. Still relevant.
Thank you! It's become my everyday carry camera
That's my next purchase! As a travel/street photography and it's weather sealing. I also want to buy a Panasonic GX7 or GX8 just for the rangefinder style of the camera !!! Would be a great addition to my Fujifilm XE2! My dream cam would be the PEN F ! Just as a stylish look ❤😂! Great video !
One of the biggest draws for me towards this camera is being weather sealed! That is important to me and I also like the idea about rotating the screen so I can protect it and not stare at the screen but be more purposeful with my pictures!
The weather sealing really is fantastic!
The screen is nice, I only use it myself if I'm shooting at an odd angle or on a tripod - I much prefer to use the evf
@@Elifarnhillthat’s exactly what I plan to do! I have an Olympus TG6 that I got for a really good deal but still wnat something more professional! It’s a great travel pocketable camera but still wnat interchangeable lenses! I like the camera mindset where I walk around looking for shots vs just having a phone for pictures plus I have an older phone so it’s not very good😂
Everything Eli said.
Art filter bracketing is the bomb.
15mm pana-leica killing it. 45mm 1.8 Oly as well. Plenty of options.
you earned a subscriber ❤ Sir do you still suggest me EM 5 Mark 3 in 2024 to buy for macro photography and other daily purposes ..please relply
My 1st Olympus camera was the E'-M 10 iiis, just bought the E-M 5 ii
They are good enough for my needs, Walking in the park with my dog's, and at home next to the forest. I'm Taking photographs of the birds, squirrels, gators, boar, and the old wolf that comes to my yard everyday for his meal I set out for him. Northwest Florida, near the Alabama line. Stop searching for the latest upgrade, have fun with whatever you carry with you.
Thanks for sharing. The EM5/EM5II are very capable for most applications. 16MP is very reasonable IMHO. If you use Lightroom, you can get the software to generate a pretty good higher resolution files if you need to. I've been buying 2nd hand EM5/EM5II when they are real cheap as they will cost less than a repair in case one of them breaks :).
You're spot on! Personally I find 16MP ideal most of the time but if I need more then Lightrooms higher resolution is perfectly suitable!
Yes and Lightroom's better Denoise feature which allows you to push the ISO a bit more if you have a need to.
Hi! Just found your channel and going through your vids, I've been thinking about entering m43 with an em5/em10 but was looking at the pana lenses, 12-32 and the 12-60, have you felt any incompatibilities between the 2 brands?
Hi Miguel, I've used both those lenses on my Em5 and I've had no issues at all, they work very well on it!
Maybe it's me, but out of all the systems out there, Olympus has the best lenses. I owned every brand, high-end, mid, consumer lower end. Olympus is the only camera and lenses that bring enjoyment, saves your money, makes me feel like bring my EM 5 ii with me everywhere, everyday. Just pure fun to use.
purchased one for just over 300usd, hard to find or argue a better camera for the money.
I have a love-hate relationship with this camera. Frankly, it's just too damn complicated! I've tried wrestling with the menu system but I always had a nagging feeling that I don't know what I'm doing. Having said that, if I keep it simple and just stick to aperture priority or P mode I often get impressive results.
I've got a M1 and have been thinking of upgrading but they lost me with the MIII with the plastic body.
It's a shame because the metal bodies feel so high quality!
Nice review! Does it do focus stacking? I know it didn't come out originally but conflicting reports say firmware updates gave it to that... some say it only works with some lenses, some say all, some say none... which is it???? I have the G9m2 and wish I'd known it didn't have focus stacking! (It doesn't even have the post-focusing feature the G9 has.)
Thank you! I’m currently on firmware version 2.1 and don’t have it available, but I’ll upgrade to the latest at some point and try to get an answer for you!
It does do focus stacking and bracketing. Bracketing (combine them on your computer) with any lens or stacking (combined in the camera) with only certain lenses... unless you install hacked firmware that lets stacking work with any autofocus m4/3rds lens.
You don't have to use the dial to select the focus point. You can just touch the screen to select the focus point and, optionallu,, to take the picture with one touch. ,
I own one already, but for the most part, it sits in its own case waiting for me to go and use it, prob is, I usually shoot with my OM-1 or the Mk II version of it..... on the shelf also are my E-M1 Mk II and Mark III in front of my E-M10Mk II too many choices, but none are bad ones............
Hi Eli,
I am interested in buying this OM-D E-M5 MK2 Titanium Edition or a OM-D E-M10 Limited edition, i both can get them around the same price (between €200 & €300. Which one do you recommend? I had a Canon EOS R before, but I am looking for a small camera that I will be travelling with around Europe to capture my travels. Best regards
I'd choose the E-M5 mark 2 personally just because of the weather sealing and the slightly bigger size fits better in my hand
The E-M10 is a bit smaller so if you're going somewhere where moisture / dust isn't a big concern then the smaller size might be an advantage if you've to pack lightly
Either option should serve you pretty well for your travels!
Hello Live Composite also has G9)))
I love this camera so much, I actually picked up 2 on Ebay!
I'm glad you love it! I've been shooting with mine a lot recently and it's a joy to use!
Great review. I added the grip & battery, which solves the small-size problem. I have a lot of lenses and adapted lenses but I just acquired the 12-45 f4 which is fantastic enough to remain on the camera most of the time. I have the E-PL 10 Pen, which is for the street.
A great setup that.
Thank you! I'm tempted to pick up a grip, or even a cage just to make the camera a bit bigger
The factory grip: highly recommended. I’m using the adjustment knob on it all the time. The complaints about having to take it off to swap the battery are moot as it’s buckets easier and more quick than swapping a 35mm film cartridge.
Very interesting video! 🎉
I have it since 2014 and loved it. But… I struggle with AF specially when taking pictures of my 2yo kid and my dog. I was thinking on upgrading to the OM-5 but… meeh it looks as if the tech in the OM-5 is old (micro usb, old menus not upgraded to the ones of the Om1) i din’t know… it gives the dign as it is not as future proof as the EM5 mk2 was when released.
What are tour thoughts? Is it worth the upgrade? Any tip to improve the AF of my Mk2?
It's not the newest features that get the photo. It's learning your camera, its faults and limits, and learning the work around. You can give a skilled photographer a old junk camera and he will catch the focus, exposure, etc everytime. Give a unskilled person the best camera int he world, he still will take crap photos. Don't waste your money. Just have fun with whatever you have. It's that simple.
Hey Eli, I can’t decide between the E-M5 mkii and E-M10 mkiii. Where I am the M10 is $50 cheaper. This would be my first camera and I’ll mostly use it for travel, family photos, on hikes, etc. Would appreciate your input on which you think is the better buy!
I'm just subscribed to your comment because I myself really wanna know if someone kindly answer it 😅
I also want to buy my first camera and my worry is that sensor in emii is too small (my smartphone has 1 inch sensor)
Other than that looks like a solid choice to get into photos, I'm interested more in street and maybe landscape and portrait photos
The E-M10 III has a cheaper body - plastic and not weather sealed, slightly worse viewfinder, slightly worse IBIS, one stop slower mechanical shutter. Many features of the E-M5 II and E-M10 II were removed in order to simplify it. Unless you really want the 4K video of the E-M10 III, or hate flippy screens and need a tilt screen, get the E-M5 II.
Hey , this camera is solid to use with a grip , I got a Pro Metal Black Camera Handle for Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II
it fits the design perfectly !
I 3D printed a big grip recently and it seriously improves the ergonomics, I'll check out a metal one though - it'd look a lot nicer than the 3D print!
Hi Eli, hope you are well. Quick Q please?
I need a replacement m43 as my little Panny is dying. Budget and feature set pinpoints E-M5 mkII or G90. G9 a little large and over budget. Both are in the €450-500 range. I know they are quite different in size and handling. Which would you personally choose? I respect your opinions a lot 😊 Cheers!
Ohyeah, I should add, our usage cases are very similar.
Hi Mike, I'm good thanks, I hope you are too!
I'd go for the E-M5ii - it has less megapixels than the G90, but I've never found myself really wanting more than 16 (and you can use the high resolution mode to get a 64 megapixel raw if you really need)
The menus are a bit challenging to get used to at first, but I've slowly gotten used to them and only have to google things very occasionally now 😂
The dials and buttons on the top of the E-M5ii also makes shooting with it very tactile and fun!
I've been pairing mine with the little 20mm F1.7 by Panasonic and even using the "art" filters and its a really nice shooting experience!
Not that it really affects the shooting experience, but I think the E-M5ii is a very nice looking camera too - which makes me want to take it out more and more!
I hope that helps you pick a new body! 😁
@@Elifarnhill Good to hear! Yes, I am fine thanks 😊 Honestly, that’s really helpful Eli, thanks so much for taking the time for such a detailed reply. The size, form, tactile nature of the Oly is what appeals the most about it to me. As you say, if it helps me carry it around more often, that has to be the most important thing, I completely agree. Megapixels mean nothing really, anything from 12-16 is fine. More MP only means more noise on smaller sensors. Right, so I’m off to look at an Oly at the weekend. Thanks again for your help. Cheers!
лучше m10 mark ii или m5 mark ii?🥲
Tengo una M5 Mark II y es una cámara estupenda. Además una de las grandes ventajas es su capacidad de configurarla. Tiene la posibilidad de memorizar cuatro modos de fotografía y configurarlos para acceder a ellos desde el díal de modos (por ejemplo en el modo Auto, Art, Scn, etc.).
Además cuenta con un visor electrónico que muestra una imagen de gran tamaño.
Y esa caracteristica que te permite hacer fotos de 40 megapíxeles (con tripode)...
Tengo una OM5 pero sigo disfrutando de la M5 MarkII como segunda cámara 😁Enjoy it🙃😉
I would like to try an OM5 one day, it looks very versatile!
I recommend it to you. The image stabilizer is incredible. The possibility of using digital ND filters and shooting 50 megapixel images freehand, combined with its Procaptur mode... make it a great tool but very light and small. Regarding image quality there is a big leap in relation to the ability to obtain information in the shadows (without chromatic noise even at high ISOs)@@Elifarnhill
@@Elifarnhillhope you do get to try…tempting, but don’t hammer nails with it. Not sure it’s great for video though. Take a look at Micro Four Thirds Nerd review of a few months ago titled something like Does this newest micro 43 offer enough?