Olympus OMD-EM5 II Camera Review - Best Mirrorless Camera Ever?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 พ.ค. 2015
- Olympus OMD-EM5 mark 2 Camera Review - Could it be the Mirrorless camera ever? Its like having 3 cameras in 1 but it's not perfect. Fully tested after two months of use. How does it compare to the Sony a6000? Watch and find out.
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Check out my blog for lenses for this system that I recommend at www.lavikkaphotography.com/blog - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
At 15:20 you pointed out a problem setting auto-ISO on the touchscreen. Apparently that problem has been resolved with firmware updates. The touchscreen on my EM5 mark 2 works perfectly.
Great camera!
About 2 minutes in I went..oh this review is just awesome. I've not found even decent photos of that EVF anywhere and you managed to get video to focus inside the thing! Well done!
Wouldn't mind having a followup 5 years later.
You only need to specify a lens' focal length for IS when using adapted third party lenses. With any M43 lenses or adapted Olympus 4/3 lenses you will not be required to do anything for the IS to work as intended.
Years ago all 35mm cameras had no grip. Now it seems without a grip people can't hold their cameras anymore? Give me a break. Who shoots without holding onto the lens?
Never had a problem with the eyepiece nor with the sensitivity of the touchscreen. I bought mine used for under 500$ and I love it. Amazing quality in this little machine. I came from FF and never going back.
You make really good reviews. thumbs up :)
This is really a nice camera. Tempted to get one and uses it with my A7ii.
Thanks for the review and looking forward to see more things about it.
Thanks for discussing the pros and cons in a way that makes sense without tons of jargon!
excellent, practical, REAL WORLD review and advice. Honestly, other reviewers should watch yours as an example of how it should be done.
Great review, you helped make up my mind about buying this camera! Thanks!
Thanks for the great review David. I'm new to your channel, and already I am hooked in. This extremely well made and unbiased review of yours is going to be an important part of my decision for a new camera. Cheers and have a great New year!
+Niladri Haldar Lots of new micro four thirds reviews coming soon!
Thanks for the heads up.... cant wait!
This information is very important to me. Thanks ..
Thanx, I filmed a band who didn't pause between songs, I could not stop recording, It was evening and it got darker. My camera can't adjust iso or exposure while recording, I was super glad you mentioned you can't change those whilst recording, And, I was thinking about the a6000 too, and you said it can.. You da man.. Thanx! :)
Great Review, I am coming from a Nikon 3100 to this camera and I can't wait till it gets here.
Bought this camera two weeks ago and loving it. Coming from both DX and Full Frame Nikon's it is quite a surprise just what it can do.
Thanks for your review, looking forward to any further info you may wish to share.
Tom B
Excellent review!
Great review. So, sooo tempting...
Excellent review with a good overview of the pro's and cons.
I appreciate the review...though a novice, I found it helpful and look forward to learning more about it's use.
Great review thanks for the info, I want to buy a M4/3 camera and this helped me choose the Olympus with my eyes open.
What a great and complete review ( :
Hey Dave. You can also think of getting a half case if not a battery grip. I found that really helpful to the grip on my ep-2
Fabulous review, especially on the most important aspect of any camera: usability.
What I would really like to know is where and how you got my daughter's kindergarten rendition of our home (your first shot).
Anyhow, I really like your style and attention to the details that matter most to anyone thinking of shooting with a camera.
Cheers.
I do love the Olympus battery grip. It makes holding it way more comfortable.
Excellent overview of a very nice and innovative camera. I'd probably jump to this from the A6000 but its hard to justify the price difference between them. On the other hand having this with the RX10 in my bag would make a really flexible combination for the video. I could see myself also using the high res mode for certain landscape and abstract stills shooting.
The grip critique is "spot on", the smaller overall size makes it difficult to grab. I disagree regarding the optical viewfinder, I find it to work great, even with "cheater" reading glasses on. Good review.
Even though this review is old on an older camera, the information contained is still pretty good.
I have the EM5 MKII. I also have the grip kit and the extra battery kit. I highly recommend getting the grip first. It gives you the ability to monitor your audio recording as it has a headphone jack. The Battery kit is nice but it is not on the camera as often as the grip is. I only use the battery kit when I know I will be shooting a lot of video or stills. Having twice the battery power is nice.
The problem with the eye piece coming off......there is an answer.....Superglue. Since gluing it on, it has not fallen off once.
There were several firmware updates to this camera since the video was published.
The need to tap the screen to move the menu is now no longer an issue.
There were a couple of extra software defined modes that are kind of nice.
The lens firmware is up to date as of 2019 with the 1.1 firmware update.
I have the Olympus 60mm macro lens and it works extremely well with the High definition photo mode. Well worth getting if you do product shots or want to photograph anything non moving.
Lens options. I recommend first getting prime lenses. The Panasonic and Olympic lenses are excellent. Look on the Tube for reviews.
I then got the 12-40 Olympus Pro lens. Great lens. It is on my camera the most. Make sure you get the grip before you get this lens. Makes it so much nicer.
I also have the 7-14 Olympus pro lens. Another fantastic lens. It is on my camera when shooting real estate or anything indoors. Gives a 14-28 35mm view.
I also have the 75-300 II Olympus zoom...gives me a 150 to 600MM reach. Awesome lens.
Not having 4k is really not much of an issue. Video on the OM5 MKII is not its main reason for being. It does work and makes great video....just not 4/K.
Get a decent camera strap. Preferably one that screws into the mount on the bottom. Those rings on the side of the camera makes noise. I have found that a cheap wrist band works great and does not make noise. I always put the wrist band on first before I move around with the camera.....dropping a camera is not a good thing.
Some people wince at getting this camera in today's market of 2019. Afraid of too little megapixels...16.....many think that is not good enough for today.
I am here to tell you that most people will not notice that you have 20 or more megapixels. They just won't. I have a Sony A7 RIII and while it is a great camera, the camera I use most is the Olympus EM5 MkII. The size, the weight, the lens selection and image quality makes the Olympus still a great choice in 2019. You can get one for a fraction of what they sold for new in 2015. A rumored MK3 is supposedly in the works.
HI, What really excellent reviews. Thank you very much. I'm a rookie and now concern about getting a mirrorless camera. This one, EM5 II and Canon EOS M5, which one do you admire more? I'm in dilemma now.
Hey there, great review as always! You mentioned you have a stabilizer for your a6000... Which one do you have and would you recommend it? Thank you, and keep up the great work!
+Joshua Gaus Its a steady cam thingy amzn.to/1PKTaVw. works pretty well but is hard on the wrist during long filming.
I just got the Olympus grip HLD-8G and it really helps.
Outstanding and unbiased review: you tell the good and the bad of the camera.
What I'd like to know is the firmware you are using at the time of the review and a bit of update as far as new one will be out. I don't seems to have your same issues with eyepiece cover and tapping at the screen. I'll try to replicate your issue with the "setting wheel" not allowing you to came out of sleep as well: these seem to be software issues which means they could be sorted out with new firmwares. I hope you noticed them Olympus as well: this is the fastest way to get them sorted out.
Leptospirosi This is firmware 1.1 there is a small update to 1.2 but I haven't tested it yet.
Is it a all metal camera? Great video...
Hi David, love your videos. I recently purchased EM5 ll myself and 2 of the pro lenses and absolutely love it. I just wanted to mention that the issue you have with the touch screen is probably not an issue at all. It's designed to touch and double tap. You touch the setting you want to adjust and then double tap to open up that particular adjustment or just use the front wheel to make the adjustment. It could just be your screen but I have not encountered the response issue you mentioned. Keep the reviews coming. Have a great New Year !
+Craig Siluk Yah I don't think my screen is all that sensitive.
+Lavikka Photography Yeah, i've got no issue on mine. You can scroll through the menus with the thumb dial and change parameters with the front dial once selected. I don't use the touch screen at all except for video focusing and if i hand my camera to someone else and get them to just frame and touch the screen to focus and shoot.
+Lavikka Photography
Probably find the screen is that way to avoid ones nose from accidentally changing a setting while looking thru the view finder.
On my EM-1 I just hit the OK button first then use front & rear dials to make changes while still looking thru the view finder. cheers
I just bought this used camera in 2020 and I'm very satisfied with it
Great review Thanks
Gee, what difference two months and actual experience with the Olympus can make to your camera review. Your Mar 12, 2015 _ Olympus OM-D E-M1 compared to Sony a6000 was a loop-side effort. You had practical, direct experience with the Sony and none with the Olympus but yet you compared them anyway. There is no substitute for experience even if your a professional like yourself.
You do very good reviews (when talking from experience) and I enjoy them and learn from them. I'm a subscriber and continue to look forward to your next video.
p.s. Sorry you didn't talk about that beautiful 12mm Rokinon lens you kept waving in front of us, but happy to hear your going to do a review that will include the lens soon.
+Karl S I did do a review of the rokinon. th-cam.com/video/SdpeV86yuFo/w-d-xo.html
I got a chance to view it today. I found it very helpful, you demonstrated and answered the very questions I had concerning the lens and it's use on a 4/3 mirrorless camera. Your test helped me decide to finally purchase the lens.
Many thanks
Just about to upgrade to this so I see you can have the settings on the back and use the view finder for live view and when U love ur eye back the settings stay on the back screen?
Great review, maybe the preset issues will get fixed in firmware updates in the future. seemed like programming issues they can easily fix. The touch screen sensitivity likely can not be upgraded, yet what a great set of features, throw in 4k and it is the best camera in the segment, especially with weather sealing and affordable lens possibilities. The on board stabilization is way better and high res seems perfect for still life studio work.
Amazing reviews as always. I can't wait for more videos on this camera. I am right now thinking of 3 cameras and can't decide between EM5 Mark II, Sony A6000, Sony A7R. If you had to choose 1 which one would you choose? You know what every time you post something on dpreview asking for apsc and full frame and m4/3 systems people say this is better and that is better but they never back it up or see photos comparing. Can you please do a video of comparing em5 Mark II vs a6000 vs A7R I think it would be AMAZING!! especially with you honest reviews. Thanks
Mustafa Ahmadzai I kind of did that here in a way. The second gen of the A7R and a6000 are supposed to be announced any day. Those will be image stabilized and will make for a better comparison. But this camera is like having both. Noise wise its also equal to the a6000.
***** Where did you hear about the no IBIS and 25 AF points? The murmurs more or less died last I heard ever since that new ad campaign thing. The last thing I heard was some claim about some adequate degree of weather sealing : a77ii-level, so they say, which is hardly EM-1 level protection, but certainly a significant step up. That said, as far as the a6100/a7000, I've heard no news whatsoever about IBIS or a slower AF system.
Honestly, I feel like IBIS should be a basic requirement for mirrorless, at least so long as you are in a system where adapting lenses is or will be a common workflow (which it clearly is for both E mount and m43). Maybe not a big concern yet for Samsung and their NX mount, but who knows where that's going? You essentially raise old glass and even contemporary glass that has no OIS to applications it practically had no possibility of working in before, and that sells mirrorless with adapted glass to a level above using the glass on native bodies. I'm often quite torn between an Oly and the A6000. The a6000 is far higher quality for video than any Olympus cam, and the sensor is awesome... but then, the native E-mount lens lineup is pathetic at best, and the number of lenses that rank high on bang-for-the-buck can be counted on one hand. Aaah, so many conflicts.
On a side note, Lavikka Photography about the grip. Have you looked into either HLD-8(or 8G) or the ECG-2? Supposedly they improve the handling a lot, but they do make the thing a little bulkier. At the same time, they're both rather obscenely overpriced for what they are.
***** Yeah, well... Honestly, I'm not all that surprised about the lack of 4k. I think Sony hasn't quite learned to handle the heat management yet. It's probably just easier for Panasonic and Samsung because they have a lower-res sensor and more experience producing low-power ASICs respectively. I also wouldn't be surprised if Samsung could manage the heat well because of that bigger body in the NX1 that might give some room for dissipation; by comparison, their smaller NX500 can only do 4k by cropping to a 4k frame in the center. Sure, Sony could probably do that or rely on an external recorder like they did with the A7s, but I don't think either would fly simply because of the price point they'd be looking at. Too high for people to live with 4k crop and too low to require something as expensive as an external 4k recorder.
As much as I would like 4k in the new camera, I'd rank it at the bottom of things that I do care about (bear in mind that there's plenty that I don't care about that would obviously fall below that).
#1 most important thing is that they introduce a better range of lenses that are also affordable, but that's not really a point about the body, so there's not much point in going there. Other than a handful of primes (e.g. 50mm 1.8), I'd say there are precisely zero bargains on the E-mount. There's stuff that fairly priced and stuff that's grossly overpriced, but nothing that qualifies a bargain.
As far as what I _personally_ care about in a new body goes --
#1 is IBIS. I don't care if it's only 3.5 stops improvement vs the em5ii's 5 stops, it's still better than nothing. It means I can actually use lower ISO, and I can use legacy glass and feel a lot better about it.
#2 is weather sealing, mainly because I've ended up losing too many bodies to the lack thereof over the years... Maybe that won't be as much of a problem now because I live in a place that hardly ever sees crazy weather, but at the same time, it's far too expensive to live here, so I question the merit of staying here for too long. I'm kind of stuck here for the next few years as I'm working full time while simultaneously doing PhDs part time, but after that, I'm not sure.
#3 is ergonomics, especially in manual mode. The grip and so on on the a6000 is great, and by comparison the EM5ii is only decent with an add-on. For instance, the a6000 really only has one control dial, and so controlling multiple parameters in manual mode is a friggin' pain... you have the dial and the back wheel for aperture and shutter speed, but then you have to go into menus for ISO, go into different menus for compensation, etc. Even 1 extra dial could have improved this by leaps and bounds. Touchscreen touch-to-focus would be best, but I don't expect it to happen from Sony until everybody threatens bloody murder... the least they could do is make setting the focus point not such an unwieldy process as it currently is. The other sticking point of ergonomics is for video. A screen that can flip out into "selfie" mode is valuable for self-video, and having a friggin' mic jack and headphone jack (even if they have to put the headphone jack on an accessory grip like Olympus did).
#4 is more and better video codecs. At least give us options. It's really curious that when Sony pushed out a firmware update for XAVC-S support, they added it to the a5100 and the a77ii, but not the a6000? Really, Sony?
#5 is 4k video.
All that above is just my own priorities, of course. And I happen to be cynical to the point of not expecting Sony to deliver adequately any of them save maybe #4.
The ECM WM1. You see it in all of my videos.
***** I'm really not. My real expertise is _related_ (graphics, image processing, optics), but it's not photography specifically... I should also clarify that when I say I'm an optics expert, my specialty is actually optics at the quantum mechanical level (e.g. photon scattering behaviors, probability distributions of light paths, etc.)... similarly, "image processing" refers not to being good with LR or Photoshop, but knowing the hardcore math and science that makes them tick. My actual photography is pretty casual most of the time, and I'm almost always using either full auto or full manual and pretty much nothing in between. Now I'm just looking at upgrading from an at-this-point-not-so-reliable 8-year-old Canon DSLRs (for which I only have 2 lenses anyway), and a surprisingly-still-in-good-shape Lumix point-and-shoot... so I've just decided to spend some months looking at the market and trying stuff out in shops now and then to see how it feels. Like most people, I've decided to upgrade at a time when my wife has a bun in the oven.
On the mic thing, I think Lavikka Photography gave the same answer I would have - the Bluetooth hotshoe setup. The built-in-mic is okay, but I prefer to plug in a lav to it and use it like any other wireless setup. It's overpriced, but it's cheaper than other wireless arrangements, and it's a native multi-interface shoe device that can override your audio (whereas other setups would still require a mic jack to plug into). Just note that this setup was made for voice and commentary, so I believe the audio has a lot of the upper frequency ranges cut out for better stream compression. This is perfectly fine for speech, but you wouldn't want to record a musical performance or something over it. For that, your only good option is recording separately with a decent quality condenser and syncing in post.
The other option, if you have any intention of recording video and audio for more than 30 minutes at a stretch, is to use an external video recorder that has an audio line input. You'd need the external recorder anyway for going over the 30-minute limit (unless you go with Panasonic, that is), so might as well have one that has an audio input and you don't have to worry about syncing in post. Most of these, AFAIK, will actually retain 4-channel audio where two are coming from the camera and two coming from line-in, but since they're not mixed down, you can just delete one in post.
I own omd em5 II. None of the problems you mentioned exist on my camera. And all in all it sounds like software issues (except eye peace - although I don't have this problem either). Must have been fixed.
Great review wish they made the om-d e-m1 with that flippy screen.
It's time you start making many more videos, I been waiting and waiting. If you need ideas let me know I can give you some good ones other wise I will start making videos myself :D :D
Great review! I really like your cats! :P
There is no such thing as the perfect camera! But this is close! Very rugged, high quality solid body. Just bought this, can't wait to experiment.
great vid as always, will it go at par with 5d Mk3 in terms of image quality?
paddygamerboy:) It's a 16mp sensor so it will have a little more noise then 5D3 but it has more latitude. The High res function makes the Olympus worth while and blows the doors off of the 5d3 but everything has to be perfectly still.
Lavikka Photography you are the man :)
hi Lavikka, great tuturial about this camera... you helped me a lot
im thinking to get one of these for travelling and street photography.
about the eye viewer, can you just turn off the sleeping mode. i dont like to use the LCD when i shooting and im wondering if im going to lose shoots because of that?
about the touchscreen can you change the menus with the bottons?? I dont want to freak out everytime that i want to change something...
+jonnyli12 You can just use the EVF. Just leave the lcd closed. Yes you can navigate the menu with buttons. Its a very cool camera. I also have a list the best lenses for it at www.lavikkaphotography.com/blog
Great Review! :)
Does the stabilisation work for Rokinon Cine Lenses?
Because I have A7s and the steadishot mode doesn't work as these lenses dont have any electronics!
+HITEN BHATIA Yes it does. You just have to set the IS in the camera to the lens focal length. In this video I have it set on 12mm.
Would this be suitable for a beginner and if I could only have one lense that’s an all rounder for a newb what would people suggest. Cheers!
In the sample video he shows vs the a6000...Check out the dynamic range difference. It's substantial.
Thanks for your review. Really complete. Just want to know if is any deal on live exposure on lcd screen using instead of viewfinder. Did you find it responsive? Thanks again!
+Demián Serafino The LCD is great! No lag either.
THANK YOU Lavikka. i am comparing it with the OMD 5 M2 and OM 1 for Street photo..ANY THOUGHTS.?
Em52 has 64mp raw mode (need a Tripod) the Om1 has Phase detection AF. if you are hand held all of the time then OM1.
pls make a comparison reviews between that camera and the fuji xt20
Hi great video, but at the end when you state about the sensitivity about the screen, i have to say mine doesn't ever come up with the issues you have, maybe you have a faulty sensor / screen?
Yes I was thinking the same. Never had that issue with either of mine.
Great review, I am considering a M4/3 system as a general grab and go camera to save weight on my Nikon system. I have come down to the E-m5 ll and the E-M10 lll. I am having a hard time deciding whether to go with the newer sensor engine in the 10 or with older sensor engine in M5, but gaining hi res mode. Any thoughts and recommendations ? They are about same price range. I want to stay in a smaller budget as I am not giving up my Nikon D500 and 200-500 lens for my nature work.
If you don't care about 4k video then the em5-II is the better option in my opinion.
i had a problem with the evf, where the eye sensor is too slow/sensitive. ineed to remove the eyecup for it to perform normally
Thanks for the review, I'm interested in this olympus versus the Fuji x1t.
I shoot my own artwork sometimes to archive it, currently on a nikon D300, but I'm liking the hi-res capability of the olympus and it might just sway me.
Originally I was thinking of getting a smaller camera to take out and about to chuck in a bag with a sketchbook, something fairly compact... never expected to find something that could take the place of my Nikon; I was going to go full frame eventually but now I might not feel the need to. What's the dynamic range like in those hi-res shots?
+Barry Allan Scott The Dynamic range of 64mp raw is excellent at ISO 200. Same latitude as the 5ds R. I shoot lots of artwork for reproduction with this and this camera paired with the 45mm f1.8 and a polarizer holds up against The Pentax 645z in the studio. Just a little slow when shooting long exposures and strobes do work with this mode but again really slow. Temp controlled LED light panels work better with this. at 16mp it's on par with the d300 but with video capability and touch focus.
+Lavikka Photography That's seriously impressive, that it's on par with a 5d. Good to know it's got a good recommendation for shooting artwork. That could save me money on a full frame. I don't shoot with strobes though; I've got a pair of cheap 5500k continuous light bulbs that I use.
I had a play with the Fuji and Olympus at a camera shop yesterday, I liked the feel of the Xt1 and the viewfinder was amazing, I also liked the top dial arrangement. I know the fuji has a larger sensor.
On the plus side for the Olympus is the size of the camera (for me), better articulated flip screen, wider range of lenses. Image stabilisation is really good. I'm not a huge fan of the Olympus menu system and button layout however, but that hi res mode is really impressive.
From what I can tell by the images I've looked at, there's not a lot of difference in the pictures taken by both the Fuji and the Olympus...though I veer towards the tones/colour of the fuji ever so slightly.
Both cameras have their niggles too; I thought I was sold on the Fuji, but you've really given me some food for thought. I might just have to bindfold myself when I go into the shop and just live with the decision I make, I don't think it could be a wrong one.
Do the olympus lenses have an aperture ring on them?
Hi great video by the way: i was wondering what kind of mic you use fixed to your shirt?
RSteuermann Its the ecmwm1 and I did a review on it. it's a Sony mic.
You should only need to manually set the lens focal length on manual lenses - same as on the original em5. I LOVE these Olympus cameras.....
Thanks, very informative. I own OMD EM10 Mrk III and thinking upgrading to EM5 or EM1, still in doubt which one to choose? Any suggestions?
The OMD em1 II has a lot of advantages like phase dectection, 4k, and lower noise than any m43 camera.
hi, do OMD lineup have camera feature for studio environment? Kinda like in sony "liveview display ON/OFF". thx
rujakandroid Yes they do.
I believe that Olympus offers attachment grip as an accessory. Have you check that yet?
In the video examples I've seen from the EM5II, there seems to be a sort of rolling shutter effect? Is this from the stabilisation?
IBIS can do that on the wrong setting or its from slow shutter speeds. if you keep the shutter speed above 30 then it's ok. In good light at f1.8 with an nd filter you shoot at 200 for the shutter speed but record at 24p.
Thx! I noticed something weird when resetting presets. I usually have to make one change at a time, save preset once, knowing it probably won't save, then saving it again, which usually sticks. what's up with that?? Hoping for firmware update for that.
I don't know but mine does the same thing.
Hi David, thanks for the nice video review! I am an amateur photographer, who is planning on moving from a point and shoot / smartphones to a decent camera. I mainly do landscape photos and portrait photos as my wife and I are travelling at the moment, selfies and some street photos. We maybe doing some videos in the future. So, in short, we are looking for a daily all rounder camera.
I'd like your opinions if you were to choose between the Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A6300 vs Panasonic GX8? Many thanks!
I personally prefer Olympus. It's just a great camera and Olympus primes are perfectly sharp and small. The Gx8 has a shutter shock issue. The a6300 is a great camera too but the glass costs more and the lenses are much larger.
Thanks for the quick reply! Much appreciated.
I watched your review this morning, and impressed with how you present the subject. I have the Olympus E-M5 and have not been using it of late, but when I brought out yesterday, I was blown away with it speed and sharpness. I also had a Sony 6000 with a rokinon 12mm lens. You presented a adaptor that would allow me to mount the lens to the E-M5, but I have not been able locate one. Could you supply me with make and model of the adaptor.
Dick
Sure. Here you go. amzn.to/2d6dMwp
What kind of mic are you using?
Hey David, I've watched this review like 4 times, I have a canon 600d (t3i) that helped me a lot to learn about photography and I think is the right time to update, would you recomend this OMD EM5 MKii instead of a Canon 7D MK ii?
I'm not a wildlife or a sports photographer, I take mostly portraits, I need some help please!
+franklin rodríguez I would. The 7d2 is a great camera with a chappy sensor. So yes the em52 takes some getting used to but you will love it. I also have a lens list for it on my blog.
+Lavikka Photography thank you for the advice, I got the em5mkII for about 4 months now and 3 lenses and I am in love with it! I still learning to use it but is exceptionally , best dessition in my photography lifetime
I have the EM5 original - and although IQ is nice I just did not like the grip and hate the Display button being so small and so close to another button - so I just do not pick it up as much as it should - once I got my first Panasonic GX7 I just fell in love with the layout - Full Touch LCD etc etc and I like Flat top body over the large EVF hump on top - just makes it a drag to pull out of bags or put in - So yes now button issue fixed although I do not like the idea of power on on the left - I like holding camera in right hand and being able to turn camera on and off with the same hand - not a two hand operation - for street shooting important - as battery life not that super on life view bodies -
Just got my Panasonic GX8 and just love it - of course a marriage between Oly and Panasonic would be great :) the IBIS from Oly and High Res but the 20MP sensor and Touch LCD and Menu from Panasonic and the 4k Video and DFD AF from Panasonic - now with certain lenses the IBIS in the GX8 rivals the EM1/EM5 - So yes the EM5 M2 is fantastic but so is the GX8 - cute cats :)
Amazing as always.
Finally I sold off all my dslr gear. Should I wait for the next a6000 successor release.
Or look into this beast.
Daily ConsumerTech It's supposed to be announced any day.
Lavikka Photography I do like this camera. Em5 II syncs a 400th of sec so More lighting possibilities . Quality glass is cheaper but the body is more. The Olympus raw viewer software is also good. It really suites my work flow but any newer Sony has better video.
Lavikka Photography You say it syncs at 1/400th of a sec. Have you tried that with the YN560TX or similar trigger? I'm teetering on buying the EM5 ii but like to do a lot of strobist / OCF and don't like the 1/160 on the A6000 -- plus I want a longer portrait lens that Sony's 50mm 1.8 (like Olympus' 75mm 1.8). If the YN560TX system that I have would sync at 1/400th I'd be pushed over the edge on the buy button.
With the rf 603 triggers I get 320th of a sec. The 75mm is on my Acquire list so yah it should be good.
hello again Lavikka
Ok i noticed that you did this great Review on 5-26- when talking about screen sensitivity Not being enough, ..and having to keep poking at it to finally register :/
OK So a great point here is,,did it still have the first firmware? and if your answer is YES
PLEASE update it to the Now current Firmware Ver 1.2 Then Try to Duplicate that Screen Sensitivity Issue and come back here and let Me know if Olympus addressed that and or any other issues you may have noticed?
this way we can also not just see the differences resolved or not resolved,
but also we can make sure its an EM5 MKII issue, not a Isolated issue with Your MK2
so you can exchange it right away if needed,
and Yet at the Same time rule in or out the first firmware as being suspect,
Firmware Version 1.2 will correct that
and so if it does great we'll also know that your camera is fine as well, :)
it works so great that even with that New retail screen plastic its still sensitive,....
I'll be watching for Your Reply Lavikka :-)
to improve the view finder turn on high framerate mode in evf settings
Hey, do you think you could recommend me some good Rokinon or Samyang lens for the EM5 Mark ii. Or in general any third party lens (not olympus/panasonic) that work well with this micro 4/3 system.
Rokinon 12mm f2, 21mm f1.4 and Sigma 30mm f1.4 dc dn, 60mm f2.8 art dn. Check out my list of lenses at www.lavikkaphotography.com/blog
great camera, I love that it has IBIS and I now have adapted a TON of older lenses from many mounts including Practikar. Liecax2,
Olympus md, Olympus pen F.. Niklon Canon etc ..
Did you ever find a solution to the failing eye cup? Mine always pop off
Super glue
aaack! a necessary evil
Black silicone also works.
Lavikka your so right about the Grip,.or the lack of Grip,..there almost may as well be nothing there,..BTW what lens was that you had attached?
chevypowertogo It was a Rokinon 12mm f2. I reviewed it. Great lens for 4/3rds.
Well thank You Lavikka, i'll have to try one of those Out, i'll be watching for your next Camera Video, loving my new E-M5 II Still hate Olympus menu though, between the rediculus micro font size, and then the way they spread stuff out that actually belongs together on the same page ? WTH? :- They need barrow who evers doing Panasonic Menu layout, :- I Know your siting there Saying Yes Exactly :) Otherwise E-M5 II one neat little camera, you own one to right? saw you review one i think you said it was Yours anyway See you Soon :)
Yep I own one and the menu is a pain.
:-
Olympus systeemcamera, voor mij SUPER om overal mee naar toe te nemen, ik heb de OM-D EM 1 met 3 pro lenzen(objectieven) de 7-14 mm en 14-40 mm en 40-150 mm alle 2.8 en de teleconverter 1.4 alleen te gebruiken bij de 40-150 mm ik ben er heel blij mee lekker licht en handelbaar. grts Miel
I have the Mark 1 version and I love it. My only complaint is back button focusing - I cannot shoot any other way - I have reassigned one of the FN buttons at the back but, man it's small and fiddly to press. Takes some getting used to. Oh and you definitely gonna need a hand grip, makes operating the camera sooo much easier.
+Zeeem99 I got one. If only they could make this 10% bigger.
+Lavikka Photography I like the actual size of the body but I do agree that some of the more important buttons could be bigger. I also had to super-glue the eye piece on because it kept coming off!
I´m coming back to Olympus after a long time, trying Canon and Nikon. I hope this decission was right.
+blusharx PHOTO it was?
until now my decission to switch back to Oly seems quite right!
Looks very cool, but what about available lenses? DXOMark does not give Olympus lenses high marks, but I have to wonder if that's because they are testing at native 16 MP??? Any thoughts?
When it comes to lenses DXO is only testing how they react to their software. There are a lot of lens scores that don't make sense. I have a master list on my site www.lavikkaphotography.com/blog/2016/10/recommendations-for-micro-four-thirds
Thanks for the nice list on lenses. I think DXOMark has the same problems as MTF results. You can't test a lens without testing a camera at the same time. So, you can't compare MTF results for one lens on 16 mp camera with MTF results for a different lens on a 42 mp camera.
I use resolution charts to test my lenses with with the Nyquist limit theory. basically it's all about the detail in the magnification. So technically you can compare mft to ff but really only to 24mp. The way I tested the lens on lenses on the list was with High res mode on the newer Olympus bodies. In most cases this will out resolve my Sony A7r especially wide open. MFT is really designed to have the lease amount of diffraction by f2.8 to f4. On full frame its 5.6 - f8 with a few exceptions.
For you does it worth to switch from Sony A6000 to Olympus E-M5 II or E-M1, or Fuji XT1?
Most of my photography are done while traveling. But I am a bit disapointed about Sony lenses.
Anyway, good review !
+Pierrepod I don't plan on switching as every camera I own has purpose like good tool should but I do like Olympus a lot. Lately I've been considering the Panasonic GX8 or an OMD-Em1 if I find it cheap enough.
Super control panel requires two quick taps to activate the selected function on the screen, that is the reason you were having problems selecting functions with the SCP.
andres C. Actually it's four. Two quick taps to activate and two to open.
Lavikka Photography You are absolutely correct depending on how you use the SCP (Super Control Panel). I should have qualified my initial comment. The sequential double tap applies only if you are displaying the SCP as the default display in the LCD, which displays the SCP with no selected or highlighted function. Before going further, I asked forgiveness to novice users or non Oly readers, but the following will make sense to those who own and are familiar with E-M bodies.
Live View Users:
If your rear LCD is used for live view (like many users), you can press the "OK" button in the center of the directional pad to bring up the SCP. The SCP then appears with the last selected function/setting automatically highlighted in green. That does away with the initial double tap you described. From there, you can change the value of the highlighted function/setting with one of the control dials and use the other to scroll through the SCP's other functions. Alternatively, you may just tap once on the desired function/setting (instead of scrolling with one of the control dials) and use the appropriate control dial to change values without leaving the SCP screen. Your last option is to tap on the desired function/setting once, then double tap on the same function/setting taking you from the SCP to the Live Control screen (this is your second double tap). When in the Live Control screen, it will only display your selected function, whose value may be changed by way of the control dials or directional pad.
Super Control Panel LCD Display (not live view):
This also works if you are using the SCP as the default LCD setting (instead of live view). You can still press the OK button to activate the SCP (removing the initial double tap) and it will have the last selected function highlighted in green as well. From there you may either double tap the already selected function or other SCP function/setting to go to the Live Control screen or you may single tap another function/setting while changing values from the SCP with the control dial.
Your approach works, but it is not the one most experienced users will find the most efficient. Many users are likely to use live view in the rear LCD instead of the SCP. And even those who do use the SCP as the LCD display are more likely to use the OK button approach for its speed and reliability in function. The double sequential tap approach is unfortunately quirky as Olympus' touch screen implementation is not the best in the mirrorless world.
As such, the approaches I describe are a bit less quirky and are a more reliable way to get to the desired function/setting on the screen.
You should hear the Fuji X-T1 shutter. Sounds even better.
compared to Panasonic G7 would the extra money for EM5 ii worth it? Em5 ii is expensive than G7 but I'm more a landscape photographer, should I save the money and buy Em5 instead of G7? (just wanted some advice :D)
btw love the reviews very helpful
+triztan roman If your a landscape photographer then why not take advantage of the 64mp raw? As long as there is no movement is does extremely well.
How good is this for street photography? When you need lightning-fast autofocus etc?
Yes it is. Touch focusing is addictive.
I really want to buy this camera,but I sometimes like to shoot portraits, is this camera decent when it comes to portrait or is there something with a similar price that does better?
It's excellent for portraits. Especially with the 45mm f1.8 or 75mm f1.8. I use this camera a lot for weddings.
Davin, would you buy an em10 ii (essentially an em5 ii without weather sealing and a few features) or an a6000? Portrait photography and general family photos. Thanks.
+muttyhc No but not because the EM10 II isn't a decent camera. The weather sealing, better evf, fater burst and better video and 64mp high res mode make it worth the extra $200.
+Lavikka Photography So you would buy the a6000 instead? I think the video is the same on em10 ii and em5 ii? Basically I have been considering a6000 w/ 50 1.8, sigma 19/30 2.8 or em10 ii w/ 14-42ez/40-150/45 1.8 or possibly an A7 w/ kit and old manual lenses. a6000 is quite a bit cheaper than the second two and the em5 ii is out of my price bracket. Thanks
I have a few a6000s and I shoot my videos with them, even most of my landscape work but I really like the Olympus. Glass for the Olympus is cheaper too. Better primes. The A7 though..... Find one used and don't look back. Great camera! Really though If your primary goal is Photography you would be better off with an Olympus em5 II. EM 10 or an EM1. Em1 has the best noise control and fastest AF similar to the a6000.
Olympus works with most flashes much better then Sony. Using legacy glass is the same on all of these cameras.
+Lavikka Photography well currently I have a choice of em10 ii with lenses (14-42/40-150/45/25), used em1 body (add 25 1.8 initially), used a7 body (may add 28 f2/ manual glass canon fd etc) or an a6000 (add 50 1.8/ sigma 30). plan to do landscape, portrait and family/events (indoors likely). really want something that will just last and not need replacing in 12months. I've read that for handling and overall feel you can't beat omd, I tried them on store and liked all three models, however I picked up an a7 and really liked it too whereas I disliked the a6000 (felt too light/plastic - but I like its performance)
if I asked you to pick one of these options with my parameters above what would you go for? cheers again.
Either the omd Em whatever or the A7. I do love them A7s.
What's model of the external flash you're using inside the video?
FL-LM3 is the flash that came with the camera. but I use the nissin i40 in the field.
Hey what would you suggest for a microphone on this camera?? I want to get it but I need great sound quality!
any 3.5 mic will work. I use the Sony ECMAw4 or audio labs giant squid lapel mic.
thanks a lot!!
How would this compare to the Panasonic gx8. And can you use lenses between Panasonic and Olympus without losing any functionality.
+John Gregg The GX8 gives you 20mp and 4k video. Em5 II gives you 64 mp raw option and faster fps. Yes you can use lenses in between with no issues but if the lens is image stabilized then it may or may not work with the image stabilization on the body of the gx8.
John Gregg I own both the Olympus 5 here and the GX8 .The Olympus works better for me for the following reasons , less noise (less pixels but can’t tell the difference ) IS is inbody and works with any lens , no camera on the market can beat it .hi res image capture negates the need for FF for MOST reasons . The GX has issues with shutter slap , although f ware upgrade has helped but not solved . GX 8 more comfortable in the hand .the Olympus wins for me .
Hi. Which one would you use for video? A6000 or the em5 mark ii?
Kristoffer Tristan Ong See I use the a6000 for all of my videos but the em5 II does do decent video with image stabilization better then lenses with OSS. You just can't change the settings. The Sony is also better at higher iso's.
Lavikka Photography hi. I went ahead and purchased the em5 mark ii mainly because of its 5 axis ibis. You are right about the a6000 having better video. I also get this jello or waving effect on all of my videos using the em5 mark ii.
Great review, Cap'n. Your explanation with the furry big bird jacket busted my jaw. I'll bill you on that later. Hey, I have a very important question for ya. I am in the Philippines and getting accessories is a real BEOTCH. I've found a great lens (compatible), tripod, etc, BUT I cannot find the correct compatible audio cable for a microphone. Normally I had XLR's but no longer here in the Philippines. I will be using it almost exclusively for funeral videos we do here at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2485. As old men, unfortunately, I'm kept very busy doing these (sigh).So, I'm sold on the camera, and your review helped significantly.Thanks. Now, about that cable? And also, will it fit compatibly with standard micropone cables (mini-din, din, but not XLR) Thanks again. Need to make this decision quick while we have money in the fund. Your reply is needed as I trust your reviews, all of them.Thanks againGordonHonoring Veterans in life and in passing.
Thanks. Yes it has a regular 3.5mm mic port which is pretty common on most cameras now.
Do you prefer this to the sony A6300 or A6000 ? I am really considering the Sony till I picked an OMD up. Was surprised.
If you mainly do video then the a6300 is a must but if shooting is your thing then I prefer the Olympus hands down.
Hi. What about it getting over heated...hot humid weather and got to film sports for a total of 85 min minimum (rugby)... just better go to a camcorder?
I've never noticed an overheating problem at all but I think there is a video cut off limit of 30min.
can you use the hdr (button) while shooting handheld?
+rbaynosa You can bracket 3 in daylight but not as easy as the a6000.
+Lavikka Photography
thanks for the quick response. one more question, if hi res mode, weatherproofing, dual is and flat video profile was not important to me, is there still a compelling reason to get the em5 mk2 over the cheaper em10 mk2?
Not really. Em10 2 is a great camera.
hey Dave would you change the a7ii for this omd em5ii?
That is a very good question. A7II is an amazing camera. Sensor wise the Sony has huge dynamic range and low noise but...... The em5II has the high res mode and cheaper, lighter, sharper glass options. Micro 4/3rds are meant for primes! My A7R is collecting dust.....
Thanks :)
The M5II touchscreen sensitivity issue is a real turn-off for me. I'm looking to move from a Panasonic G6 to either an OM-D E-M5II or an OM-D E-M1 so I'm trying to find a good comparison review. I like the larger size of the M1, but I also like the flip out screen of the M5II. Are there any advantages that the M1 has over the M5II in terms of performance? (The 40MP is nice, but won't be a deal-clincher for me.)
+MrSonicAdvance image quality is the same at 16mp. The Em1 has little better af but doesn't have the articulating screen. Have you seen the PEN F yet. Not weather sealed but looks to be good.
+Lavikka Photography I've gone for the E-M5ii. I was sorely tempted by the E-M1, but the superior image stabilisation of the E-M5ii swung it for me. I'm buying an Olympus to get the image stabilisation, so once I got that straight in my head, the choice was obvious to me.
I'm getting a little buyer's remorse from not having the superior AF and ergonomics of the E-M1, but I know I've made the right choice for me. I suspect a little of the remorse is caused by paying a premium for the E-M5ii and missing out on the now bargain E-M1. :-D
Great review! I'm seriously looking at selling my 5DMK3 and switching over to a smaller camera. I'm looking at the Fuji XT1 and EM5 Mk2. I like the Fuji due to its bigger sensor and simple dials and buttons but I also want a better video function which the Fuji is lacking. I think the EM5 Mk2 fits what I'm looking for in a camera which is great for travel photography.
Allan Gascon I like the Fuji but it's pricey. The high res option on this camera makes it worth while and good glass is cheap!
Great selection of lenses too and love that retro look. I'm committed.
+Allan Gascon What about the XT-10? is there anything to do about XT-10 or EM10 Mk2(being launched in 2 weeks)?
I am just deciding between them ;)
Check out dpreview.com for both of them. My only issue with the xt-10 is lenses are pricey. The Em102 is slower then the em52 and no high res feature.
+Lavikka Photography i have already seen it but im just wondering about your feedback. I believe the em102 solve the screen sensibility issue for example. And im wondering if the body stabilizer is key to choose the olympus ( since lenses might be cheaper...). About the high res in video I have read that the em 10mk2 offers the best solution, over the xt10.
Im waiting for the em10mk2 to be launched so I can test in shop both, grip feeling.....
I went from the Lumix G5 16mp to the Sony A6000 just about 2 months ago!
I'm a novice, but I have to tell you that I really love my Lumix G5!
The problem I have is the 16mp!
I really want more which is why I bought the A6000.
Any thoughts?
Thank you.
Nick Baudean Are you not happy with the a6000?
Hi!! Sorry I did not realize until now that you replied.
No, I am very happy w/the a6000. I've been learning it and getting better in manual mode along w/3 lens now and I really like it. The Best Camera I've ever owned.
The scan rate of an electronic shutter still cannot meet that of a mechanical shutter. This is also the reason behind the more obvious rolling shutter effect of electronic shutter. So it does not surprise me that the sync speed of electronic shutter is slower.
so its like the old one, I guess that makes this most comparable to the lumix gx7? gx 8 is out now.
+Brian Cullen Yes. Same sensor.
with my best knowledge em5 and em5 mk2 has sony sensor, only the em1 has panasonic sensor in omd lines, ...may I ask how do you know if it has a panasonic sensor?
...thats like it is...
How would you compare the Olympus 17mm 1.8 lens to the 12 mm 2.0 for this camera? I can't decide which is best
I'm not a fan of the 17mm f1.8. It's sharp enough but has too much barrel distortion. Almost a fisheye effect. Here is my buying guide. www.lavikkaphotography.com/blog/2016/8/recommendations-for-micro-four-thirds
I forgot to add that I am a huge fan of the 12mm f2.0. Love that lens!
Thanks for the feedback... I'm a beginner and making a decision as to what lense I should buy first for all around landscape/street phtog has been hard.
Lavikka Photography is that lens a wide angle ? I just purchased the Olympus Mark 2 and looking for a landscape lens. Thanks