Olympus OM-D E-M5, E-M1, E-M10 - Mk1, Mk2 & Mk3 Owners Thread

Nawty said:
Mediocre image quality is always down to the glass, not the sensor.
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As is always said good glass is the key and it doesn't always have to expensive, MFT have their share in that respect
 
Nawty said:
Mediocre image quality is always down to the glass, not the sensor.
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Also the person who presses the shutter button has a big impact. I know some of you on here would produce far better pictures with a cheap compact than i could with an all singing and dancing full frame DSLR. Image quality is not the be all and end all, having the camera with you at that specific moment in time is key.
 
joncro said:
Also the person who presses the shutter button has a big impact. I know some of you on here would produce far better pictures with a cheap compact than i could with an all singing and dancing full frame DSLR. Image quality is not the be all and end all, having the camera with you at that specific moment in time is key.
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Very true it's not about gear, people argue all the time about gear and pixels, neither will get you a great pic on their own
 
Gear IS an important part of what we do, but it's only a part and generally not the most important even though it often gets more attention. If I create an image using intentional camera movement or process it afterwards with strong filter effects then the camera and lenses will tend to be less important. If I shoot an image that needs to be nearly noiseless and with crisp detail then gear can be very important indeed. Because of sensor size, I can shoot images with my D610 that would look inferior with my Sony or the E-M10: that's not to say they are bad or inferior cameras, but they have certain characteristics that need to be recognised and worked with or around.

But of course you need to know what you want to shoot first and how you'd like it to look before you can start making informed decisions about what gear to use, rather than t'other way round.
 
First little test shot with my new EM5/12-50 combo to see if it will do what I need. Once I figured out how to boost the LCD screen so that I could see what was going on when underexposing the ambient I was happy. It's a fun little camera and very decent kit lens.

28592374306_06198bf15f_b.jpg
 
ancient_mariner said:
Gear IS an important part of what we do, but it's only a part and generally not the most important even though it often gets more attention. If I create an image using intentional camera movement or process it afterwards with strong filter effects then the camera and lenses will tend to be less important. If I shoot an image that needs to be nearly noiseless and with crisp detail then gear can be very important indeed. Because of sensor size, I can shoot images with my D610 that would look inferior with my Sony or the E-M10: that's not to say they are bad or inferior cameras, but they have certain characteristics that need to be recognised and worked with or around.

But of course you need to know what you want to shoot first and how you'd like it to look before you can start making informed decisions about what gear to use, rather than t'other way round.
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Of course not saying gear isn't important for different scenarios but differences aren't as great as they were, with so much better technology available today.
 
Robintaylor said:
Of course not saying gear isn't important for different scenarios but differences aren't as great as they were, with so much better technology available today.
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I'd agree with you too.

Sensor size also makes a difference when it comes to lens quality. A fairly mediocre resolution lens will give higher quality on a larger format than a smaller one, simply because the smaller sensor image has to be magnified more. Lens technology doesn't seem to have developed in the direction of providing super-high quality lenses at amazingly low prices, but rather to give physically smaller, wider ranges zooms of mediocre quality. That's a sweeping generalisation, and I know there are incredibly high quality lenses available IF you can afford them, but they aren't often supplied as consumer-level kit. I'd love to own a lens as good as my Zeiss 16-80 and with a similar range for the D610, but Nikon's FF offering is just poor.
 
RichardtheSane said:
Well my super cheap 12mm F2 had it's first outing on the weekend. I like it!

Heading into the city tomorrow, might pop it in my bag.


Cadence Noir by Richard Lindley, on Flickr
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I've been tempted to get this one for gigs. In fact I've been kicking myself that I didn't spot Jessops had them on offer grrr! I have the 12-40 PRO and the 17mm f/1.8 so I keep thinking it's just GAS... but I can't help wondering if that little extra aperture compared to the PRO makes a difference.
 
Bebop said:
I've been tempted to get this one for gigs. In fact I've been kicking myself that I didn't spot Jessops had them on offer grrr! I have the 12-40 PRO and the 17mm f/1.8 so I keep thinking it's just GAS... but I can't help wondering if that little extra aperture compared to the PRO makes a difference.
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If it helps, it's a whole stop faster :D
 
Picked up an Olympus 75mm 1.8 last week. They're quite a lens aren't they!? Really impressed.

GD300579.jpg by G.A.D, on Flickr

This is part of a plan to shift my 12-40 2.8 and 40-150 2.8 and go for primes instead.

Intended line up will be:

17mm 1.8
45mm 1.8 (love this lens but wondering if 75mm will make it redundant, will see)
75mm 1.8
75-300

Need something at the wide end. Had intended to go for an Olympus 12mm f/2 but have decided to go for something a little more unusual. Will report back when it arrives. Just need to sell the 12-40 and 40-150 now as I'm broke!
 
Can a kind OMD EM-5 mk ii owner answer me a couple of questions ? Or other OMD camera owners if they are the same ?

1 - How easy is it to chose a black and white filter - can it be assigned to a FN button or do you have to go into the menu ? Are the B&W images from the camera good - especially compared to fuji which are excellent.

2 - When you have taken a photo can you preview the shot in the EVF ?

3 - Best lens to go with this camera ?

thanks :)
 
gad-westy said:
Picked up an Olympus 75mm 1.8 last week. They're quite a lens aren't they!? Really impressed.

GD300579.jpg by G.A.D, on Flickr

This is part of a plan to shift my 12-40 2.8 and 40-150 2.8 and go for primes instead.

Intended line up will be:

17mm 1.8
45mm 1.8 (love this lens but wondering if 75mm will make it redundant, will see)
75mm 1.8
75-300

Need something at the wide end. Had intended to go for an Olympus 12mm f/2 but have decided to go for something a little more unusual. Will report back when it arrives. Just need to sell the 12-40 and 40-150 now as I'm broke!
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Thats the next Lens i'm thinking of, will be used for portrait shots of my daughters.
 
justa1972 said:
Can a kind OMD EM-5 mk ii owner answer me a couple of questions ? Or other OMD camera owners if they are the same ?

1 - How easy is it to chose a black and white filter - can it be assigned to a FN button or do you have to go into the menu ? Are the B&W images from the camera good - especially compared to fuji which are excellent.

2 - When you have taken a photo can you preview the shot in the EVF ?

3 - Best lens to go with this camera ?

thanks :)
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1. You can set Monotone in a Custom Myset and assign that to an unused dial position. Or on a button, but you need to hold the button down. As it's designed for momentary use.
Or press Ok for the Super Control Panel on the back and tap Colour styles and choose Monotone.
Or if you have Multi Function assigned to a button, press it and wheel to Colour Creator. Where you can scroll to monochrome. With Ok you can then jump in or out of monochrome via the Function button + OK for mono and Fn + Menu for colour.

2. Yes. Can't remember how to set auto preview though. But when the camera is up to you eye, press the play button
to see and scroll through all the pictures.

3. The 12-40 f2.8 is popular. I like the 14-150 for flexibility. Best lens is different for everyone. Adapted old lenses are strangely addictive.
 
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justa1972 said:
Can a kind OMD EM-5 mk ii owner answer me a couple of questions ? Or other OMD camera owners if they are the same ?

1 - How easy is it to chose a black and white filter - can it be assigned to a FN button or do you have to go into the menu ? Are the B&W images from the camera good - especially compared to fuji which are excellent.

2 - When you have taken a photo can you preview the shot in the EVF ?

3 - Best lens to go with this camera ?

thanks :)
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1- As Ian says, I have a 'myset' set as mono mode. Makes it pretty quick to select. That said, it's pretty fast in the super control panel too. The B&W modes are okay but not quite at Fuji level. I understand the Pen F delivers on that front so I guess a firmware update somewhere down the line might give us some new options.

2- Yes.

3- Impossible to answer but there are some beauties. The 45mm 1.8 is worth looking at for punching way above it's price tag.
 
joncro said:
Thats the next Lens i'm thinking of, will be used for portrait shots of my daughters.
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Really impressed with it. Put off buying one for a long time as I was dubious about how useful such a long focal length would be on m4/3 but now that I have it I can see myself finding plenty of excuses to use it. Had it with me at the beach yesterday with the kids. Once I've got them off the SD card, I'll post up some samples if any are worth sharing.
 
damianmkv said:
Just googled the price :eek: eeek
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Yeah. A bit eye watering though I was quite lucky on that front. Paid a fair bit less than the going rate.

In typical fashion, now that I have a new toy, it's a miserable evening. Tomorrow looks more promising.
 
gad-westy said:
Picked up an Olympus 75mm 1.8 last week. They're quite a lens aren't they!? Really impressed.

GD300579.jpg by G.A.D, on Flickr

This is part of a plan to shift my 12-40 2.8 and 40-150 2.8 and go for primes instead.

Intended line up will be:

17mm 1.8
45mm 1.8 (love this lens but wondering if 75mm will make it redundant, will see)
75mm 1.8
75-300

Need something at the wide end. Had intended to go for an Olympus 12mm f/2 but have decided to go for something a little more unusual. Will report back when it arrives. Just need to sell the 12-40 and 40-150 now as I'm broke!
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Pretty well my line up, just brought the 12 mm f2 to go with my Lumix 25mm f1.7 and 45mm and 75mm f1.8's. :)
 
niko said:
ooww- lens porn-your a bad, bad man:cool::clap: i want
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It is rather lovely I must admit!

Unfortunately weather is terrible here tonight so my first test shot is an indoor one. And since my wife is hogging the computer this is also my first try with wifi transfer to phone. My dependable furry model, Cassius. IMG_1470170780.391798.jpg
 
Just got an secondhand ECG-1 for my secondhand EM10. Wow!

What a brilliant difference it makes to the handling. Love it!
 
gad-westy said:
It is rather lovely I must admit!

Unfortunately weather is terrible here tonight so my first test shot is an indoor one. And since my wife is hogging the computer this is also my first try with wifi transfer to phone. My dependable furry model, Cassius. View attachment 70610
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cant wait to hear what you think after you have a chance to play a bit more, i take it 1st impressions are good? great to have that lovey friend to pose for you as well.
 
desf said:
Just got an secondhand ECG-1 for my secondhand EM10. Wow!

What a brilliant difference it makes to the handling. Love it!
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Can totally transform the camera. My first EM-5 (mark 1) was totally improved with the addition of the hand grip part (not the lower part). It made the camera far more secure in the hand and put the front dial in a much more convenient position. Never appreciated grips at all before that one. EM-5 ii isn't too bad without though I use a grip on mine when I need a tripod mount as it incorporates an L-bracket. Ironic that I now only use a grip when I'm using a tripod.
 
niko said:
cant wait to hear what you think after you have a chance to play a bit more, i take it 1st impressions are good? great to have that lovey friend to pose for you as well.
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First impressions are of a very solidly built lens, high quality construction throughout. It's big and heavy in m4/3 terms but not daft. Seems similar to the 12-40 2.8 when not zoomed. The fact that the aperture wheel doesn't work with Olympus bodies is a slight gripe though I knew that beforehand and it's not really needed. Of more annoyance is the lack of focus scale particular when you consider who this lens is likely aimed at. Obviously hard to justify the price but there are rarely bargains in the world of lenses. Indoor images look great for what it's worth but it isn't really why I bought it.

Bit of a long story but I'd made the decision to sell my 12-40 (in the classifieds right now, roll up, roll up...) in favour of switching to primes. I'd intended to purchase an Olympus 12mm f/2 but used ones are few and far between and I wasn't comfortable with the new price given that reviews weren't all 100% convincing (though many were). I started to look at the Voigtlander 10.5mm 0.95 but that is about £850+ and again reviews weren't all that solid though I bet it's a lovely thing to use. In reading these reviews, I'd become aware of the Panasonic option but everywhere had them on pre-order at £1200. I managed to pre-order one elsewhere and have ended up paying less than £1k due to a pricing error by the supplier (Cameraworld who were fantastic to deal with by the way). I got very lucky in hindsight though I didn't realise how good the price was when I first ordered it.

I imagine many people will be interested in this lens for the same reason as myself. I intend to use it for night shots and ideally for starry skies with foreground interest. The fact that the lens is acceptably sharp at the edges wide open and very good at f/2 (or so I understand) should mean far less noise in shots which always seems an m4/3 Achilles heel. We shall see!

I'm now glued to the weather forecast for the next few days but as things stand, it's not showing any promise until at least the weekend. Boooo!
 
thank you mate very helpful, i will have to think what to do with my lens collection at some point.
 
OlyPaul said:
Pretty well my line up, just brought the 12 mm f2 to go with my Lumix 25mm f1.7 and 45mm and 75mm f1.8's. :)
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Out of interest do you use the 45mm much with having the 75mm? I love the 45mm and it's cheap and tiny so very easy to justify hanging on to but I do wonder if it's going to get a little overlooked now.
 
I've been trying to decide between an XT-1 and an EM5 mk ii - looking on MPB there are 13 used EM5 bodies available !

Almost a bit concerning - are there any issues with it that would explain why people are getting rid ?
 
Don't worry. It's always a sign that something was popular. The EM5ii is a mature camera with a few generations of improvements behind it, since the EM5 mark 1. Which was a little unrefined in places. But tends to sell for a bargain price now.
 
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Yeah, the original EM5 lacks a few of the modern niceties (such as wifi and focus bracketing) and is a first gen product so lacks a little refinement but if the features fit your needs it is great as image quality hasn't moved on at all since then so IQ wise it is STILL bang up to date (which shows how far ahead of the game it was at the time) and it can be had for pittance.
 
Except for the cracked bezel and poor ergonomics. Which they solved in later models. Including the EM5ii.
 
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