Olympus OM-D E-M5 Review

My new go-to camera.

After years of travelling with a DSLR (and then equally many years put in deep storage), and similar number of years experimenting with the mirrorless GF1, I decided that it's time to fully embrace the MFT and totally abandon the DSLR world.

Reason? Ryanair.

With one hand luggage and 7kg cabin weight limit, it's simply not practical to be lugging around DSLR body and lenses. Of course they used to be a nicer airline and more lenient with carry on luggage. I also used to be single and fitter. That was then. Now flying with kids means that I could do with lighter and smaller gears and MFT seems to fit the bill perfectly as not only is the body smaller, the lenses are generally half the volume and weight of their DSLR counterparts with acceptable sacrifice in DOF and sensor size ISO noise.  More on that later.

Here's a good link to the issue of depth of field and background blur explanation and comparison: Full Frame Vs Cropped Sensor DOF Comparison - Photo.net Casual Photo Conversations Forum

Going from film manual Nikon FM2 to auto Canon 5D and then digital compact 4MP Canon A80, 8MP Canon 20D photo only with 118k pixels 1.8 inch LCD to 12MP Panasonic GF1 mono audio 720p HD video with 460k pixels 3 inch LCD to E-M5 with 16MP stereo 1080p Full HD video and 610k pixels OLED touchscreen made me realise two things. Firstly my upgrade cycles have a fixed interval of 3-4 years (1995, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2013) and secondly, whilst it allows me to appreciate advances in the various technology, the final output have not improved all that much IMHO.

The 5-axis in-body stabilisation is a godsend, and whilst not trumping in-lens OIS, it works for all lenses, mainly primes, which seldom come with OIS anyway. This is THE main reason for getting the E-M5 in terms of technology. For me, filming with prime lenses with better control of depth of field plus the fact that it sucks in loads more light and has less distortion, all helps to create more appealing videos. The downside was camera shake. It is no more, and I couldn't be happier.

Of course you may achieve the same with cheaper EPM2 or EPL5 (dual axis IBIS) or the latest EP5 (same 5-axis IBIS) but the former will keep me wondering what-if and the latter is simply too expensive. Not only that the E-M5 can be had for a discounted price (since it's launched a year ago in 2012), it comes with the built-in gorgeous retro-looking penta-shaped viewfinder, albeit just an EVF. I find myself using it most of the time, way more than I use the LCD for normal shooting.

Downsides are equally plenty but they are more annoying than seriously lacking except maybe the first one if you are into action shots. In no particular order:

• Contrast detection auto focus is crap, period.  In fact it is often worse at locking on than GF1 with the same lens.
• When using the EVF, shot preview appears inside and if you try to pull away expecting it on the LCD, as I'm used to on any DSLR, it has timed out, not there (as it thinks you want to switch from EVF to LCD).
• One shot preview info I use the most is the speed and ISO as a useful quick indication of the next setting change. This is only possible in the histogram info screen (see pic).
• SD card formatting is placed too near the top selection (in fact it IS the top) which scares me every time I accidentally activate it.
• Myset isn't clearly stating what is saved and what is not. And since I can't rename it means I can't remember what each one is for!
• Haven't worked out how AF tracking is moved/selected/locked.
• Why can't aperture be allowed to change while recording video?
• Buttons are narrow and shaped a bit weird and quite hard to hit accurately.

Earlier I mentioned my DSLR was in deep storage for long periods but it is not entirely true. Although I no longer travel with a DSLR except to Wimbeldon this year as I didn't have a MFT tele zoom at the time (compared with the uber fast 70-200 f4L!), all the while the DSLR+50mm f1.8 was filling a portrait gap with lovely bokeh that the 2x cropped MFT sensor was unable to match. The 20D's ISO performace easily beats the GF1 hands down but the new Olympus at least match the APS-C which is no mean feat given the smaller sensor size. And the arrival of Olympus 45mm f1.8 lens closes the gap even further with better overall sharpeness plus stabilisation while producing slightly less creamy bokeh (see comparison below).

APS-C vs MFT bokeh and ISO 1600 noise test

This is an inherent limitation of the MFT sensor, as well as the diffraction issue at high f-stops limiting landscape's opposite requirement on DOF.

Is the sacrifice worth the overall gain in convenience? You bet!