Have you got it. What’s the verdict ?
Arrived today, had a quick test.
It's very good! It's the same sensor and firmware mostly, so I'm quite familiar, but of course in a smaller body you don't get the same stabilisation so live ND is missing (see post above - I loved live ND as well).
However, it has some real advantages over the em1 series cameras, notably:
- colour/black and white switch. All cameras should have this.
- art filters have more customisation than I'm used to - perhaps I just missed this in the em1 iii
- Tiny little pop up flash is useful in a pinch.
- the mode dial has "art" and "advanced photography" modes - art is fun for instant Instagram stuff, but the advanced photography makes it trivially easy to access multiple exposures, HDR etc.
- touchscreen seems super responsive compared to what I'm used to
- super light weight and small. Seriously, it's actually pocketable, unlike most popular fuji models or the nikon ZF, which is huge (for example).
Image quality is the same, obviously, as the em1 iii. Absolutely brilliant.
Drawbacks are... Well, the body feels more plasticky than I'd like. I do prefer the feel of the pen Epl7 which has a metal and plastic body, but the dials on this feel very sturdy.
And the autofocus system is contrast detect. Seriously, OM system, put phase detect in. I don't need it but the em1 iii had insane autofocus speeds...
Other than that, it's a fantastic camera for me. I will not be getting rid of the epl7 but they can live in the same bag.
Oh, and it came with the electronic zoom pancake kit lens, which I have a very positive opinion of from before. A bargain for £550. Could sell the lens for £100 if I wanted.
What I'd like to see from OM system next?
The same idea, but with metal body, weather sealing (even if only very basic level) and live ND. Don't care if it has the new 20mp stacked sensor or the old one, the old one is fantastic anyway.
And an EVF would be nice, although I imagine would require a larger body. Unless they can make it a Sony style pop out one where the flash is.
As it is, I'm thrilled. A pen f ii would really round this out - ep7 bargain camera for enthusiasts like me, and a pen f ii to compete with the fuji xe series, complete with weather sealing and evf. But would it sell? Not sure really.