Olympus OM-D E-M5
CNET Editors' Rating
Olympus has just announced the OM-D E-M5, which is its first addition to its new camera lineup that runs alongside its popular Pen-series cameras.
The new OM-D E-M5 sports a 16-megapixel Live MOS sensor, 3-inch OLED tilting screen and a 1.44 million-dot resolution electronic viewfinder. Apart from being able to shoot full-HD videos in 1080p, the shooter is also capable of capturing images at 9.2fps in its burst mode. Advanced users would be pleased to know that the camera provides customizability in the form of two function buttons and, like all the company's ILCs, it does RAW image capture, too.
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 comes in chrome and black. (Credit: Shawn Low/CNET Asia)
Olympus did tell us that aside from targeting advanced users, the camera is also being used to woo professionals who could be looking for a backup to their main workhorse dSLRs.
The Olympus OM-D E-M5(left) beside the OM-1 (right). (Credit: Shawn Low/CNET Asia)
After a brief hands-on with the E-M5 prototype over the weekend, we must say that its classic design did impress us--closely resembling the Olympus OM-1 SLR cameras of the film era. Also, if you put both cameras together, you'll notice that they share a similar design concept.
Dials to access frequently used settings can be found on the top panel.(Credit: Shawn Low/CNET Asia)
In our hands, the camera has a premium feel thanks to its magnesium-alloy body. It uses a texturized leather covering around the body is similar to those found on old vintage film cameras. We like how Olympus has implemented two dials on the camera's top panel which enables the quick adjustment of aperture, shutter speeds or exposure compensation on-the-fly.
One of the camera's highlights is its Five-Axis image stabilization which compensates for horizontal, vertical, rolling, yaw and pitch motion that's responsible for image blur. We tried out the camera with this feature enable and found it to capture really smooth videos while walking and panning with the camera without much camera shake.
We tested the E-M5's autofocus performance and it locked on our subject slightly faster than the Pen E-P3, which seemsto indicate that the company has made some refinements to its ILC autofocus system.
The company mentioned that the new camera is targeted at advanced users. We have to admit that It does to a certain degree, providing customizability via two functions buttons located at the top and rear of the snapper--where users can program frequently used settings. However, we found the rear function and playback button nestled slightly out of reach from our thumb at times.
The snapper's inbuilt electronic viewfinder makes viewing scenes a pleasure thanks to its 1.44k-dot resolution display. Besides displaying a 100 percent field of view, it also provides users with useful shooting information onscreen. The E-M5 also sports a 3-inch, tilting OLED touchscreen which lets users pinpoint focus and capture images with a single touch.
The Olympus HLD-6 battery grip. (Credit: Shawn Low/CNET Asia)
The HLD-6 is basically a battery grip and comes in two parts which, depending on user preference, can be used independently or together. When attached to the E-M5, the grip gives users the option of a vertical shutter button (which is useful when shooting portraits). The dials near the vertical shutter button control aperture and exposure, while another two function buttons allow access to frequently used settings--which can be assigned by the user.
The Olympus MMF-3 adapter. (Credit: Shawn Low/CNET Asia)
Featuring the same dustproof and splashproof construction, the MMF-3 adapter allows shutterbugs to use their Four Thirds dSLR lenses on the camera while maintaining full AF coupling with the shooter. Do note that you'll need to mount a weather-sealed lens with the E-M5 in order to ensure all-around weather protection.
The new OM-D E-M5 sports a 16-megapixel Live MOS sensor, 3-inch OLED tilting screen and a 1.44 million-dot resolution electronic viewfinder. Apart from being able to shoot full-HD videos in 1080p, the shooter is also capable of capturing images at 9.2fps in its burst mode. Advanced users would be pleased to know that the camera provides customizability in the form of two function buttons and, like all the company's ILCs, it does RAW image capture, too.
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 comes in chrome and black. (Credit: Shawn Low/CNET Asia)
Olympus did tell us that aside from targeting advanced users, the camera is also being used to woo professionals who could be looking for a backup to their main workhorse dSLRs.
Hands-on
The Olympus OM-D E-M5(left) beside the OM-1 (right). (Credit: Shawn Low/CNET Asia)
After a brief hands-on with the E-M5 prototype over the weekend, we must say that its classic design did impress us--closely resembling the Olympus OM-1 SLR cameras of the film era. Also, if you put both cameras together, you'll notice that they share a similar design concept.
Dials to access frequently used settings can be found on the top panel.(Credit: Shawn Low/CNET Asia)
In our hands, the camera has a premium feel thanks to its magnesium-alloy body. It uses a texturized leather covering around the body is similar to those found on old vintage film cameras. We like how Olympus has implemented two dials on the camera's top panel which enables the quick adjustment of aperture, shutter speeds or exposure compensation on-the-fly.
One of the camera's highlights is its Five-Axis image stabilization which compensates for horizontal, vertical, rolling, yaw and pitch motion that's responsible for image blur. We tried out the camera with this feature enable and found it to capture really smooth videos while walking and panning with the camera without much camera shake.
We tested the E-M5's autofocus performance and it locked on our subject slightly faster than the Pen E-P3, which seemsto indicate that the company has made some refinements to its ILC autofocus system.
The company mentioned that the new camera is targeted at advanced users. We have to admit that It does to a certain degree, providing customizability via two functions buttons located at the top and rear of the snapper--where users can program frequently used settings. However, we found the rear function and playback button nestled slightly out of reach from our thumb at times.
The snapper's inbuilt electronic viewfinder makes viewing scenes a pleasure thanks to its 1.44k-dot resolution display. Besides displaying a 100 percent field of view, it also provides users with useful shooting information onscreen. The E-M5 also sports a 3-inch, tilting OLED touchscreen which lets users pinpoint focus and capture images with a single touch.
Other Accessories
Some optional accessories announced are the Power Battery Holder HLD-6 and the Four Thirds Mount Adapter MMF-3.The Olympus HLD-6 battery grip. (Credit: Shawn Low/CNET Asia)
The HLD-6 is basically a battery grip and comes in two parts which, depending on user preference, can be used independently or together. When attached to the E-M5, the grip gives users the option of a vertical shutter button (which is useful when shooting portraits). The dials near the vertical shutter button control aperture and exposure, while another two function buttons allow access to frequently used settings--which can be assigned by the user.
The Olympus MMF-3 adapter. (Credit: Shawn Low/CNET Asia)
Featuring the same dustproof and splashproof construction, the MMF-3 adapter allows shutterbugs to use their Four Thirds dSLR lenses on the camera while maintaining full AF coupling with the shooter. Do note that you'll need to mount a weather-sealed lens with the E-M5 in order to ensure all-around weather protection.
Pricing And Availability
Pricing in Asia is unavailable at this time, but the OM-D E-M5 and additional lenses are slated for release in the region sometime between the end of March and early April.
About the author
Fueled by his passion for all things photography, Shawn decided that a writer's position reviewing cameras is the perfect job.
He now does reviews, how-to guides, and scours far and wide to cover anything camera-related under the sun. When he's not behind the desk, the former freelance photographer enjoys wandering about documenting his life with his beloved medium format film cameras.
The RMIT business graduate ventures to work every day with camera in one hand, and laptop in another, taking over the Internet one review at a time.
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