Just some rambling thoughts, and I know I have said something similar before, but yesterday I went out shooting with the gripped EM1 MK II and mainly using the Panasonic Leica 8-18 F2.8-4 (rather than my usual Olympus 7-14 F2.8), and I absolutely loved using it, it was a joy to use and the main thing is that is was
fun - something that's been lacking over the last few years with DSLR's where Canikon just seemed to want to get one over each other all the time.
I've had many cameras over the years starting with film (Nikon F4, F5 and even a brief fling with a Hassleblad 500CM), then onto digital where I've shot with most of the main APS-C and FF cameras Nikon produced (D2x, D3, D4, D100, D200, D300s, D7000, D7100, D7200, D500, D700, D800, D810 & D750) - yes waaaay to many, (and now all gone except the D500), but out of all of them, I'm sat here looking at the little Olympus, and I genuinely have to say, out of them all over 40 years, it and the Nikon F4, are probably my most favorite cameras of all time. It handles brilliantly, looks great, has a fantastic feature set and most importantly produces fantastic images. In my honest opinion, it's only the very latest generation of DSLR cameras and the latest Sony mirrorless that can beat it for image quality (but not necessarily for features).
When I check the OMD's images against those taken with my D7100 or earlier, it's only really the D7200, D500 and the full frame D4, D750, D800, D810, that can beat it on DR and high ISO (and sometimes not by much). it's certainly good enough for 95% of my shooting. Now I have the amazing Olympus 300mm F4 with that extra stop of light over my Panasonic 100-400 (or even my D500 with the Tamron 150-600), it even serves it purpose as a wildlife shooting camera as well (as my recent high ISO images of birds in a thread a few weeks ago can attest to). I've never really been into razor thin (mm) DOF that a full frame F1.2 or F1.4 lens can offer, and used to shoot them at around F4 just to get the whole eyes in focus, whereas on M4/3 I can shoot with my Nocticron 42.5mm F1.2 wide open and just have enough DOF (but with better light gathering characteristics and therefore lower ISO).
I do admit I spend far to much money on gear (it's my one vice), and was looking quite longingly at the new Panasonic G9, but to be honest, I'm not sure what that would give me that I don't' already have. From what I have read, it's high ISO and stills performance is about on par with the OMD EM1 II, and yes it does have a bigger EVF, twin UHS II card slots, an AF joystick and USB charging which are all nice, but then the EM1 II counters by being smaller and lighter, and has it's incredible Live time and Live composite modes, automated focus stacking, as well as (so I've read) a more mature high res mode.
Don't get me wrong, it's not a perfect camera (which one is), and some of those features I've mentioned above would be nice to have's on the next generation, but I do believe that Olympus will continue their tradition of giving us firmware updates that should improve things even further (small AF points, better AF tracking etc), and maybe even some new features like they did with the EM1 MK 1 ? So for me, at this moment in time, the OMD EM1 MK II (and it's older MK1 brother), and simply superb image making machines that are an absolute pleasure to use.
Ramble over
Now how sexy does this look
Late afternoon sun by Terence Rees, on Flickr[/URL]
Spin by Steve Vickers, on Flickr
Minster by Steve Vickers, on Flickr
York Xmas Lights by Steve Vickers, on Flickr
Macro rigg E M5II by Alf Branch, on Flickr
Dicyrtomina saundersi by Alf Branch, on Flickr
Grass and ice by Alf Branch, on Flickr
Buttermere startrails by Alf Branch, on Flickr
Tewet tarn dawn reflection by Alf Branch, on Flickr
Late afternoon sun
Mossy