Retro revival Olympus OM-D heralds E-M5

[DPNow]

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Olympus wants its new E-M5 Micro Four Thirds mirror-less system camera to appeal to those who might have bought an Olympus DSLR if they had a compact model to offer. To do this Olympus has once again revived one of their yester-year brands, the illustrious OM. Hail the OM-D. We examine Olympus' retro revival strategy.

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[Ian]

Re: Retro revival Olympus OM-D heralds E-M5

It really does look like an OM film DSLR But it's packed with up to date technology including a 5-axis sensor shift image stabiliser, up/down tilting OLED capacitive touch screen with touch shutter, and what's claimed to be the world's fastest single shot AF performance. The 12-50mm (24-100 equivalent) kit lens has a power-zoom and macro mode. It's also dust and moisture sealed. So what do you think?

Ian

[mike_j]

Re: Retro revival Olympus OM-D heralds E-M5

It could almost tempt me back into the mFT fold, if the price drops to a reasonable level.

[Kurt]

Re: Retro revival Olympus OM-D heralds E-M5

A good looking camera and appears to address a lot of problems with the earlier systems. I would like to read a few opinions of those who have tried it out.

[Ian]

Re: Retro revival Olympus OM-D heralds E-M5

I'm off to Amsterdam tomorrow for some hands-on time with the E-M5, so I'll be feeding back info and, hopefully, sample images, tomorrow.

Ian

[Barr1e]

Re: Retro revival Olympus OM-D heralds E-M5

Looking forward to your report and pix.

Regards. Barr1e

[Ian]

Re: Retro revival Olympus OM-D heralds E-M5

Am back after a hectic day playing with the new Olympus OM-D E-M5. I posted samples on our Four Thirds User site here:

http://fourthirds-user.com/2012/02/image_samples_from_a_preproduction_olympus_omd_em5.php

I have also posted some back to back E-P3 to E-M5 high ISO samples here:

I have also just published some back to back high ISO comparison sample images between the Pen E-P3 and the E-M5 here:

http://fourthirds-user.com/2012/02/high_iso_comparison_between_the_olympus_pen_ep3_and_omd_em5.php

The E-M5 is a big step up for Olympus and I think Micro Four Thirds in general.

Ian

[yoshi]

Re: Retro revival Olympus OM-D heralds E-M5

Hi Ian, have you recognized any differences in pictures between OM-D EM-5 and other Oly mirrorless cameras. Oly disclosed recently that they used a Sony sensor on this OM-D, while they had used Pana sensors for long time on the mirrorless models. They kept it secret at the time of launch, as you know.

Or the image processing engine absorbs those differences in the sensors and the result picture quality is more or less similar? So that they all have similar Oly blue?
yoshi

[Ian]

Re: Retro revival Olympus OM-D heralds E-M5

Hi Yoshi, I was informed very early by a very reliable source in Japan that the E-M5 sensor was not a Panasonic. See my blog post on our Four Thirds User site:

http://www.fourthirds-user.com/forum/blog.php?b=532

I was extremely surprised but I had no doubt that the information was true. But I did not know who the manufacturer was. But it seems that now we do know

The colour is not very different from Panasonic sensor cameras in my view. The image quality in terms of high ISO noise, however, is significantly better - maybe by 2 stops compared to Olympus Pens and that is despite the E-M5 sensor having smaller photosites because the resolution was increased from 12 to 16 megapixels.

Ian

[yoshi]

Re: Retro revival Olympus OM-D heralds E-M5

I looked for an English source but could not find it.
It was revealed two days ago when the new Oly president was being interviewed by a non-camera related news agency. On the following day, camera a jounalist got confirmation from Oly that the news was correct. It could be that the new president did not know it was kept secret.

Here at roumor sites, lots of discussions are made as to why they kept it secret at the launch and why they disclosed it now. No persuasive comments are found.

Some are wondering if the Sony sensor or other Sony's will be used for future Oly compact system cameras as well. I'm sure that you are one of the people who can know it first. - or you already know it!?

What is interesting for me is that some Sony users want E-system lenses designed by Oly for their NEX system. Another guy says that he hopes Sony will turn from a sensor company into a camera company.

But anyway the info is correct. Now widespread here. (though among camera lovers' world only)
yoshi

[Ian]

Re: Retro revival Olympus OM-D heralds E-M5

Thanks Yoshi. I also have some hints from within the industry that Panasonic is not restricted to Panasonic-made sensors for their Micro Four Thirds cameras. It's possible that the GF5, launched earlier this year, may not have a Panasonic sensor. Panasonic did say it was a new sensor even though the resolution is unchanged from the earlier models, but strangely Panasonic has been reluctant to confirm or deny that the sensor is one of theirs

Ian

[John Perriment]

Re: Retro revival Olympus OM-D heralds E-M5

If Olympus and Panasonic are no longer using Panasonic sensors in their newest cameras, then who is? Could it be that Panasonic are about to pull out of sensor production as a cost cutting exercise?

[Ian]

Re: Retro revival Olympus OM-D heralds E-M5

If Olympus and Panasonic are no longer using Panasonic sensors in their newest cameras, then who is? Could it be that Panasonic are about to pull out of sensor production as a cost cutting exercise?

I don't see any evidence for that. Basically no matter who your corporate allegiance is to, you need to have the freedom to source the most appropriate components possible. Sometimes it could be X and at other times, Y.

Ian